By M Hildegers account it appears that some of the men were billeted. I with therefore that the 6^th [undecipherable: probable reading: Dures] may be answered to satisfaction as on that depends in great measure whether a balance will arise to the hostels or not. I should be happy in serving you sister or any of the family but in my official capacity I am guided by both the existing acts of Congress which will prevent me from acting further in the case of Capt Jones until sufficient vouchers are produced as that the Queries herein mentioned are answered to satisfaction There is no necessity of an application to Congress as the claim is not forfeited in consequence of the storage being made; the circumstance did not strike me when your brother mentioned the matter in Philadelphia last Summer. I am Sir Yours &c Joseph Howell Jun. Capt James M Jones Philadelphia April 21^st 1788. Sir I received the statement of Capt Jones account a few days ago would have wrote sooner but wanted to see M Morris to be sure of the day of the month that Capt Jones returned from Ticonderoga it was either the 16^th or 17^th of Nov 1776 — the next day after his return I enlisted a recruiting serjeant Drummers & Fifers they were recruiting until April 1777 in which time they drew no rations neither Serjeant Drummer & Fifer nor recruits — Capt Jones as he got them put them in his granaries & gave his serjeant Dunn to serve them with instead of bread; he had them in, some in an out house on the other side of the way from where we lived — I am sorry Milburn account is not allowed I am sure Capt Jones paid it — My whole dependance is on you Sir, to get that allowed that is in your power as I have a small family that almost are to bring them up.