George Washington Papers

To George Washington from William Tilghman, 25 July 1793

From William Tilghman

City Tavern [Philadelphia]1 July 25. 1793

Sir

I had the honor of receiving, last night, a duplicate of your favor of the 21. instant & shall write immediately to some of my friends who will take pleasure in making the necessary Inquiries—On my return to Maryland, you shall be informed of the results of their researches, as well as of my own—It will give me infinite satisfaction if you should derive the least advantage from them.2

Mr Sydney George has promised to pay, from the proceeds of his present crop, a considerable part, if not the whole of his bond to Mr West. As that bond is outstanding, it is reasonable that Mr George should be indemnified for the payments which he shall make to you—I shall therefore take the liberty of drawing a writing of indemnification, which I must ask the favor of your executing, before I leave this City.3 I have the honor to be with the highest respect yr most ob. Serv.

Wm. Tilghman

ALS, DLC:GW.

1The City Tavern stood at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets in Philadelphia.

2No further reply from Tilghman concerning a possible estate manager for Mount Vernon has been found.

3The enclosed indemnification has not been identified. On the debt that Sydney (Sidney) George, Jr., a resident of Cecil County, Md., owed the Colvill estate, of which GW was an executor, and on fellow executor John West, Jr.’s possession of a bond from George in 1774, see GW to Tilghman, 3 April 1791, and note 2. On efforts to obtain payment for this bond after John West, Jr.’s death in 1777, see Thomas West to GW, 27 June 1786, Charles Little to GW, 15 Dec. 1786, and note 1, and GW to John Rumney, Jr., 24 Jan. 1788, and GW to Tilghman, 18 Aug. 1791. Tilghman enclosed another bond for this debt in his letter to GW of 16 Aug. 1793.

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