Discussing the depreciation of the Delaware Regiment's pay and claiming certificates of pay

1 / 2

100%

Archival document image, page 1. See transcription below.

Archival document image, page 2. See transcription below.

No human transcription currently available for this document.

This transcription was generated by machine using Anthropic's Claude Code (a mix of sonnet and opus models). It may contain errors or inaccuracies. Please verify against the document image. Learn more about our generative AI methodology.

Wilmington 7^th December 1789 I received your favors of the 25 September and 16^th October last together with sundry Papers respecting the Depreciation of the Pay Accounts of the Delaware Regiment, and immediately laid them before the General Assembly of this State who was then in Session, but being about to rise, nothing conclusive was determined on them. As I was principally concerned in making a Settlement of the Depreciation accounts, the two other Gentlemen were in the appointment, I feel myself under obligations to justify them as far as truth will support me. The Muster Rolls came into our hands in a very imperfect State many were missing, having, as the officers alleged, been captured at the battle of Camden. From the documents furnished me formed a list of the Regiment as perfect as we could — this we submitted to the officers, who, on some business of their own, were assembled at Dover. They made notes on our list, distinguishing those who were intitled from those who were not — and particularly noting Deserters. Some who had been returned as Deserters afterwards joined the Regiment and were pardoned. This list is still in my possession, and have referred to it in order to furnish an answer to your accounts. "Patrick Burke" has no notes affixed to his name. Cap^t John Wilson applied personally in his favor, and declared he was intitled to a Certificate. He lives in Kent County, and has been confined in the County Gaol for debt since the Certificate was granted him. No mention was ever made of his Desertion. "John Cullen" has no note affixed to his name by the officers, nor was any mention ever made of his desertion. "James Cash" is noted to be dead. His friends lived within 5 miles of Dover. No mention was ever made of his desertion. "William Dixon" "Daniel Disley" No notes against their names, and no mention has ever been made of their desertion. "John King," "Peter Records," Notes that they were discharged, but no mention was ever made of their desertion. "Thomas Donaldson," Certificate indorsed of his belonging to Spencers Regiment. "James Kenney" "James Kinney" these are two persons, both over paid. John

Type

Autograph Letter Signed

Description

McComb thanks Howell for sending him the letter which contained sundry papers noting the depreciation of the pay of the Delaware regiment. He put the papers before the Delaware General Assembly, but as the session was virtually over nothing substantive was determined. The muster rolls were allegedly captured at the Battle of Camden, and thus were incomplete. The attempt was made to make the rolls as correct as possible, but some errors or omissions may still exist. Several soldiers are named, on whose behalf a certificate of pay is sought. McComb explains the status of those claims (such as one soldier being dead, or almost identical names on a muster roll being noted as truly being two different people, and thus the two were paid) and explains the status of the unclaimed certificates.