Office of Army Accounts New York, April 24^th 1787 Sir, Your favor of the 9^th Instant is duly received agreeable to your request I have fully examined the Claim of the late Captain John Riess and feel myself unhappy that it is not in my power to relieve the widow, as I find the pay which Captain Riess claimed has been already drawn from the United States. It appears by the accounts of the Paymaster General of the Northern Army that Colonel Joseph Wood reciev'd on the 20^th of November 1776 the pay of the Regiment for the Months of August, Sept^r & October and that on the 16^th January 1777 Col^o Jno Fishburne Paymaster reciev'd of the said Paymast^r General the pay of the Regiment for the Months of November & Dec^r 1776 in which payments are included the pay of Cap^tn Riess amounting to £50. Pensyl^a Currency. It further appears by the inclosed copies of orders in favor of Colonel Wood that he receipts that he has receiv'd a large sum of money for the pay and arrears of pay of his regiment this money I presume was drawn for the pay of the Officers as well as the men and was to be in full to the 1^st April 1777 from which period the Regiment has been regularly paid by a Paymaster commissioned for that purpose — neither Colonel Wood or Captain Fishbourne have settled their accounts altho the former has been several times notified. It is therefore presumed if Captain Riess did not receive his pay from 1 August 1776 to 1 April 1777 that it still remains in the hands of those Gentlemen — that which still appears due Captain Riess and which the Commissioner is willing to allow is as follows viz. Expenses paid for hauling Baggage to the recruiting Party and sent to the Regiment from Trenton To Philadelphia 14 Dec^r Aug^t 13, Acc^t 13 — Oct. 24 10 Cash paid for provisions in D^o Jan 1 to 137 — 7. 73 Pay of a Drum & Fife from 63 days ment 2 Months lodging in 15^th at 8d each — 30. 23 Dol^rs 72. 47 The above amounting to Seventy two ⁴⁷/₁₀₀ dollars is all that can be admitted to the credit of Cap^tn Riess for which the Commissioner John Pierce by, will give his discharge on M^rs Riess presenting or transmitting a proper power To him — Sam^ll [signature: J Howell?] M^r Jn^o M. Taylor