Instructions for settling claims
Document 1795Provides general instructions for settling claims to Elias Langham, Superintendant of Military Stores at Shepherds' Town, VA. Gives details to Langham regarding pay of laborers, articles purchased, transportation costs, repair of arms, and stores rent.
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Elias Langham Esqr D[ept] of War, Accountants Office
Agent of Military Stores at Sepr 9th 1795
Shepherd's Towne Virg.co
Sir
For the arranging and Settlement of your future accounts at this Office as Superintendent of Military Stores, It becomes my duty to point out to you a System which will be your guide, and if strictly adhered to, will prevent your personal attendance at any future period in such Settlement. — As your accounts are now Settled up to the 31st of last month, your account of disbursements for the present month is to be rendered at the close thereof, and after that period quarterly. The first Quarter commencing the 1st of October 179[5].
You are to observe that the receipt only of any person is not considered as a Sufficient Voucher for a payment, but Such person must State an Account pointing out the Service or Article for which he charges, to which his Signature must be placed; and afterwards receipts on the bottom or back thereof for the Amount and where it happens that Such person cannot State his Account or write his name you are to be carefull to have a respectable evidence to his Mark.
The following are the principal heads under which you are to arrange your disbursements and the Amounts of the abstracts to be found under each, will be the Items to be inserted in your Quarterly Account Vizt. —
[underline: Pay of Labours.] — Such as the hire of persons in moving to a small distance all Military Stores; Washing Tents and Blankets, repairing Military Chests and Shoe Boxes; and every Article in your department excepting Arms, agreeably to the form of an Abstract Marked A herewith.
[underline: Articles Purchased] — every article purchased for the purpose of cleaning or preserving the Arms &c comes under this Head; observing to Specify particularly those Articles that are not Subject to immediate Consumption Such as Instruments or Tools for repairing Arms, need to be entered in an Abstract agreeably to form B.
[underline: Transportation] — Under this head are Ranked all Arms and Military Stores carried any considerable distance in Waggons or by Water, observing that the Number and Denomination of the Arms are to be inserted in the Abstract agreeably to the Form C.
[underline: Repairs of Arms.] — The number and denominations with the Charges for the Repairs of each denomination, to be entered in an Abstract agreeably to the form D.
Store Rent and other incidental expenses not ranked under any of the foregoing heads — are to be enumerated in an Account under the denomination of a Contingent Account, the Amount of which will also be placed as an Item in your Quarterly Account. —
As a compensation for your future Services as Superintendent of Military Stores, The Secretary of War has determined that you Shall be allowed at the rate of forty Dollars Pr Month, also when actually employed in Collecting Arms and Military Stores in the State of Virginia all reasonable travelling expenses for the support of your Self and your Horse will be allowed. —
I am Sir Yr &c
William Simmons
[The Abstracts referred to in the above follow in the next pages]
Pay of Labours.
Abstract of Monies paid by Elias Langham to Labours employed at the Public Magazine at [blank] in the Months of [blank] 179[blank]
[blank table with columns: No of Voucher | Dates | For what purposes employed | No of Men | No of Days | [daily] Pay D C | Amount Pay Dollars Cents]
Articles Purchased.
Abstract of Sundry Articles purchased by Elias Langham on the months of [blank] 179 for the use of the Public Magazine at [blank]
[blank table with columns: No of Voucher | Dates | Oyl (No / Value D C) | Nails (No / Value [pounds] D C) | [additional article columns] | State Dol[lars] Cents]
[blank table with columns: No of Voucher | Dates | Cannon (No Repairs D C) | Muskets (No Repairs D cts) | Rifles (No Repairs D cts) | Pistols (No Repairs D 05) | Swords (Repairs D 05) | State Dollars Cents]
C Transportation
Abstract of Monies paid by Elias Langham for the transportation of Arms Ammunition &c on the Month of [blank] 179[blank]
[blank table with columns: No of Voucher | Dates | Articles Transported (Muskets No | Pistols No | Ammunition No) | From what Place transported | To what Place transported | Amount Dol[lars] Cents]
Type
Letterbook
Description
Provides general instructions for settling claims to Elias Langham, Superintendant of Military Stores at Shepherds' Town, VA. Gives details to Langham regarding pay of laborers, articles purchased, transportation costs, repair of arms, and stores rent.
Date
09/09/1795
Author
Recipient
Sent from
War Accountant's Office
Document number
1795090921155
Page start
215
Notable persons
Elias Langham
William Simmons
Superintendant of Military Stores
laborers
Notable locations
Shepherds' Town
Virginia
War Accountant's Office
Notable items
articles purchased
arms
stores

