Adamson Tannehill to Tobias Lear, 8 March 1790
Adamson Tannehill to Tobias Lear
Pittsburgh 8th March 1790
Sir
From the small acquaintance I had of you while at this place, have taken the liberty of requesting you, that if there should be any public appointment in this Country that may be the Gift of his Excellency the Presidt of the U. States, you would be pleased to mention me to him to that effect; Should address his Excellency on the subject, but a becoming modesty forbids it.
Therefore if any thing of the kind (that I may be thought Competent to) should offer, would esteem it a particular favor to make mention of me. His Excellency has some acquantance of me, which may probably have some weight.
Your granting me this favour, and leting me know the first convenient oporty will be gratefully acknowledged by Your Mo. Hble Servt
Adamson Tannehill
N.B. you lodged with me when at this place, which I recite as a memorandum to remember me by1
A.T.
ALS, DLC:GW.
Adamson Tannehill (1750–1820), a native of Frederick, Md., served during the American Revolution as a captain of riflemen and after the war settled in Pittsburgh. Until the mid–1780s Tannehill lived on Water Street between Market and Wood streets where he apparently operated a tavern, but around 1786 he moved to Grove Hill, a house on Grant’s Hill close to Pittsburgh. Tannehill was active in Democratic Republican politics, and “The Bowery,” a building on his Grove Hill property, became a center for political meetings ( 28). He received no federal appointment from GW’s administration.
1. Lear visited Pittsburgh in late 1786 on business for GW. See GW’s instructions to Lear, 30 Nov. 1786.