Damaged Pay Certificates
Document 1786The author refuses the request of a soldier to replace damaged Certificates because the fragments provided are in such poor condition that they cannot be matched with the appropriate records. The Commissioner of Army Accounts even made the effort to show the fragments to the Board of Treasury who also is of the opinion that the Certificates cannot legitimately be replaced.
New York 17th May 1786
Dear Sir;
Your letter of the 20th February last with the enclosures I laid before Mr. Pierce who has desired me to inform you that the certificates being so much broken that it is impossible to check them with the records of the Office, consiquently he cannot renew them. Mr. Pierce took the trouble to lay them before the Board of Treasury for their advice. The Board are also of opinion that the certificates cannot be replaced. I am sorry for the poor soldier’s loss - more particularly that it is not in my power to assist him. The qualification, with the Certificate, are enclosed.
I am, dear Sir,
Yours sincerely
Joseph Howell Jr.
Cap. Wm Whinnan
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