Office of Army Accounts New York October 18 1787 Sir, In compliance with your request relative to the claims for pay of Captain James Davis, Ens. John Sorrell, Thomas Sorrell & John Farrell. I beg leave to inform you that the Act of Congress of November [undecipherable] 1783 forecloses their claims. If Captain Davis had presented his claim in due season I should have rejected it in its present form, the pay Rolls of the Virginia Line being at Richmond puts it out of my Power to ascertain whether this Officer was included in them as a Supernumerary Officer of Colonel Heth’s Regiment, which might have been the case if the money still be in the hands of the paymaster of the Regiment, it is therefore necessary that Captain Davis should qualify to his not receiving his pay, or procure a Certificate from the paymaster that it has not been drawn from the United States. Farrel’s Claim is proper no other objection arrises that the Act of Congress to a settlement with him. [undecipherable] pay of those soldiers who died or were killed was always enclosed in the Pay Rolls to the day of their death, I therefore presume the United States is discharged from the Claim of Thomas Sorrell. Mr. Buckner has left me in the da[undecipherable] as of the time of service of Ensign Sorrell, altho’ he died after the War he does not say he continued to the End of it - [undecipherable] as [undecipherable] Mr. Dunscomb has not noticed him in any of his Returns to this Office, I suppose he must have resigned or have been Supernumerar, I would recommend Mrs. Sorrell to apply to the State for if her Son were enttitled to depreciation she will receive it, if [undecipherable] application will be unnecessary. I am Sir your Obed Sert Joseph Howell Junr