Correspondence with the West Point Paymaster
Item
Type
Letterbook
Title
Correspondence with the West Point Paymaster
Description
Instructs Freeman, Paymaster at West Point, to pay the bounty due to Andrew Simpson and Abraham Sykes. Instructs Freeman to send funds to the Corps for pay and forage, and to pass the remaining balance onto the Treasurer. Informs Freeman that the office has communicated with Lt. Col. Rochefontaine about paymaster duties, as Rochefontaine and Freeman have different ideas about what the position involves.
year created
1796
month created
02
day created
20
author
sent from location
War Accountant's Office
recipient
sent to location
West Point
in image
notable person/group
Nehemiah Freeman
William Simmons
Andrew Simpson
Abraham Sykes
Captain Thompson
Treasurer of the United States
Samuel Meredith
Stephen Rochefontaine
paymaster
regimental paymaster
commander in chief
officers
Accountant of the War Department
notable location
West Point
Department War Accountant's Office
notable item/thing
enclosures
bounty
pay and forage
pay rolls
duties
rules and regulations
pay, subsistence, and forage
muster rolls
receipts
old rules
document number
1796022021255
page start
437
transcription
Nehemiah Freeman Esqr. Department of War L. Pay Master Accountants' Office
West Point February 20th 1796
Sir
I received your letter of the 11th Jan together with its enclosures- The Bounty due to Andrew
Simpson and Abraham Lykes you will please to
pay, and transmit their receipts to this office which will be passed your credit, and
if there should be any error it will be charged to Capt. Morrison-
As to the monies remaining in your hands you will please to pay the Corps the whole amount of the money you received for their pay and forage, agreeably to the Pay Rolls examined here; Then any balance remaining in your hands is to be refunded to the Treasurer of the United States through this Office, where only you are to consider yourself accountable therefore.
I have written to Col. Rochefontaine fully as to my idea 435
of your duties as Pay Master - which differ materially with his - I am sorry that a difference of opinion should exist
However to prevent confusion in the Office. I am determined to pursue the same rules and regulations as has been the custom heretofore - with the Regimental Pay Masters of the Army - The Pay Master there is chosen by the Officers of the Regiment in behalf of themselves' & Soldiers and approved by the commander in chief who pronounces the same in general orders - The Pay Master then receives the Pay, subsistence, and forage of the Regiment on will authenticated Muster & Pay Rolls, and he is furnished with instructions how to apply the same he receipts to be accountable to the Accountant of the War Department and is held accountable on the books of this Office accordingly - agreeable to those regulations I furnished you with Instructions - It was proper that they should be attended to on your part - which has been done agreeably to my wishes in your accounts rendered here - The old Rules have been found by experience to be good ones, and I see no cause for alteration, and have mentioned it to Colo. Rochefontaine to be my determination to pursue the same line of conduct as has been custom heretofore -- The difference of opinion I hope will be done away with before long and that you will be able to pursue your duties as Pay Master without any of the disagreeable circumstance which have heretofore attended things.-
I am Sir (indecipherable)
William Simmons
West Point February 20th 1796
Sir
I received your letter of the 11th Jan together with its enclosures- The Bounty due to Andrew
Simpson and Abraham Lykes you will please to
pay, and transmit their receipts to this office which will be passed your credit, and
if there should be any error it will be charged to Capt. Morrison-
As to the monies remaining in your hands you will please to pay the Corps the whole amount of the money you received for their pay and forage, agreeably to the Pay Rolls examined here; Then any balance remaining in your hands is to be refunded to the Treasurer of the United States through this Office, where only you are to consider yourself accountable therefore.
I have written to Col. Rochefontaine fully as to my idea 435
of your duties as Pay Master - which differ materially with his - I am sorry that a difference of opinion should exist
However to prevent confusion in the Office. I am determined to pursue the same rules and regulations as has been the custom heretofore - with the Regimental Pay Masters of the Army - The Pay Master there is chosen by the Officers of the Regiment in behalf of themselves' & Soldiers and approved by the commander in chief who pronounces the same in general orders - The Pay Master then receives the Pay, subsistence, and forage of the Regiment on will authenticated Muster & Pay Rolls, and he is furnished with instructions how to apply the same he receipts to be accountable to the Accountant of the War Department and is held accountable on the books of this Office accordingly - agreeable to those regulations I furnished you with Instructions - It was proper that they should be attended to on your part - which has been done agreeably to my wishes in your accounts rendered here - The old Rules have been found by experience to be good ones, and I see no cause for alteration, and have mentioned it to Colo. Rochefontaine to be my determination to pursue the same line of conduct as has been custom heretofore -- The difference of opinion I hope will be done away with before long and that you will be able to pursue your duties as Pay Master without any of the disagreeable circumstance which have heretofore attended things.-
I am Sir (indecipherable)
William Simmons
Item sets
Document instances
In image | In source | Location in source | |
---|---|---|---|
[view document] (2 pages) | YAA01 (447 pages) | Collection: Miscellaneous Numbered Records (Manuscript file) 1775-1790's. (RG93) (M859) | Letterbook A, P. 434 |
Document names
Type | Name | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Author | William Simmons | War Accountant's Office | [n/a] |
Recipient | Nehemiah Freeman | West Point | [n/a] |