George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Clement Skerrett, 13 July 1789

From Clement Skerrett

New York July 13th 1789

Sir

Haveing served my Country in the hour of distress, and done my duty with reputation, I beg leave to Offer myself a Candidate, for any of those Appointments, which your Excellency may please to Confer.

As an Aid to Genl Clinton, and haveing served as an Officer in the Maryland Artillery, I conceive I am not altogether unknown to your Excellency, and hope the above Circumstances may have weight in the decision of Appointments.1

The Honble Mesrs Carroll’s of Senate, & house of Representatives from Maryland and Collo. Grayson of Virginia, I have the honour to Offer as vouchers for my capacity & Integrity to discharge with reputation any Appointment, which I may be favor’d with—I beg leave to offer my sincere wishes for the prosperity & happiness of your Government, and to subscribe myself—Your Excellency’s Most Obedt and very Hble Servant

Clement Skerrett

ALS, DLC:GW.

Clement Skerrett was appointed a lieutenant in the 1st Continental Artillery in February 1778 and served as regimental quartermaster from June 1779 to June 1783. After the war Skerrett reopened the Stone House Tavern on the Philadelphia Road at the head of the Bird River in Baltimore County. GW occasionally stayed here on his travels to Philadelphia (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 5:154, 186, 237, 247). Skerrett did not receive a federal appointment, and in early 1790 he was still attempting to secure a post in the Baltimore customs from Otho H. Williams, the collector of the port (Otho Holland Williams Papers description begins Maryland Historical Records Survey Project. Calendar of the General Otho Holland Williams Papers in the Maryland Historical Society. Baltimore, 1940. description ends , 213).

1Presumably Skerrett is referring to either James or George Clinton, both of whom served as generals during the Revolution. No record has been found of Skerrett’s service in this capacity.

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