George Washington Papers

To George Washington from Robert Rhodes et al., 15 September 1795

From Robert Rhodes et al.

Rhode Island Patuxett September 15th 1795

Sir,

Mr Zachariah Rhodes the present Surveyor at the port of Patuxett being about to Remove out of the district we desire that an office may be Continued at Said place and do Recommend Joseph Aborn as a very proper person for Said appointment and Request that he may be Commissionated accordingly.1

Robert Rhodes
[and 44 additional signatures]

LS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.

Robert Rhodes, who served as a militia captain during the Revolutionary War, was a merchant engaged in the coasting trade.

1On 19 Sept., Zachariah Rhodes wrote an official letter of resignation to acting Secretary of State Timothy Pickering in which he proposed to relinquish his office on 30 September. In a postscript, Rhodes also recommended Joseph Aborn (1765–1841) as his successor (DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters). GW nominated Aborn for the post on 10 Dec. (Senate Executive Journal, description begins Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America: From the commencement of the First, to the termination of the Nineteenth Congress. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C., 1828. description ends 194), and Aborn remained as surveyor and inspector at Pawtuxet until his death.

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