Draft Letter

Circular Letter Regarding Counterfeiting

Pierce encloses a register of certificates which he believes may have been counterfeited by Phelon. He directs the officers how to deal with possible counterfeits.

Ltr, dis counterfeiting of certificates

1786

10

30

New York

This draft indicates that this letter was to be sent to the loan officers of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, and another state which is probably Virginia.

John Pierce

Loan Officers

John Phelon

New York

New Hampshire

Massachusetts

Rhode Island

Pennsylvania

Virginia

further register of certificates issued

counterfeited certificates

genuine ones

signature

payment of interest

counterfeit

certificates issued

You will receive my further register of certificates issued

counterfeit certificates of the same numbers markers and descriptions with the genuine ones issued by me

he has so well imitated my signature that it is almost impossible to detect them

request your attention to the detection of any person who shall offer such duplicates for

you will see if on the back of some of them there is not marked in small figures the number of the certificate in Phelon's hand

in which case you may be very certain that the certificate is a bad one and will require the utmost attention that the persons through whose hands the same has passed should be known.

1786103021001

1

Oct 30. 1786
Loan Officers of the
different States
Circular — Copied
New York October 30. 1786
Office of Army Accounts
Circular
Sir
Inclosed you will receive my further register of certificates issued — I have to request that you will be attentive to M reason to believe that John Phelon has passed counterfeited certificates with of the same necessities markes and descriptions with the genuine ones issued by me, and that he has so well immitated my signature that it is almost impossible to detect them. and I am therefore apprehensive that the Loan Officers may by this means have been imposed on, & have therefore to request that your attention to the detecting detection of any person who shall offer such duplicate for the payment of Interest and that you will see if on the back of some of them there is not marked in small figures the number of the certificate ^ in Phelon's hand in which case you may be tolerably very certain that the certificate is a bad one and will require the utmost attention that it be the persons through whose hands the same has passed should be known.
✓ N. H-
✓ Masst
✓ R. I.
N. Y.
Pen
Vira

The Loan Officers of the different States }