To George Washington from Francis Peyton, 1 June 1788
From Francis Peyton
June 1st 1788
Sir
I have the Honor to inclose you an Acct which I am Satisfied you have forgot or thought it must have been paid by Mr Washington in your Absence which I suppose would have been the case had I have been in possession of Dawsons Order but as I had delivered it to you I had nothing to Support the Charge. I once Wrote to Mr Washington on the Subject requesting him to inquire of you as to it’s legality but never received any answer from him—if you remember the Matter and find no mistake in the Acct you will please Order me payment when Convenient1 I have the Honor to be with great respect Your Mo. Obt Servt
Francis Peyton
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. In November 1774 when GW conducted the sale of George Mercer’s Bull Run land in Loudoun and Fauquier counties, he stayed at Col. Francis Peyton’s house for three nights. Peyton at the time was a justice in Loudoun County and represented it in the House of Burgesses. The sale of Mercer’s land in Frederick County immediately followed, and it was held at the house of William Dawson, who was George Mercer’s overseer. “Mr Washington” is Lund Washington. The enclosed account shows Peyton’s charges of £19 against GW in November 1774 for William Dawson’s delivery to GW of a wagon of George Mercer’s wheat. Peyton credits GW with £5.10 for “Surveyors Compass & Chain” in 1775 and with £1.0.7½ for “Sundry Surveyors Instruments sent me from Philadelphia” on 1 June 1775 (DLC:GW). Peyton wrote GW about this account a second time on 12 Feb. 1789.