[Administrative notation, top right: Cole, Henry " Dennis " [strikethrough: Henry] John " Garrit 2^d N.Y. Regt Rev. letter] [Address:] M^r William Simmons Esq^r [undecipherable] Accountant War Office Philadelphia [Right margin notation:] [undecipherable] [Bottom text, inverted:] Nelly Cole from [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [p. 1^st] New York Nov^r 15^th 1796 Sir I have this day purchased the pay of John Cole for his Services as a Soldier in the Second New York Regiment and Also the pay of his three Brothers deceased to W^t Dennis Cole— Henry Cole, and Garrit Cole— that the Said John Cole became Entitled to by Law as the only surviving Heir, none of which said pay, he says has been, [undecipherable] a Deception and Chicanery, Seems to be the practice and Order of the day, as Respects Military Contracts— And Very little faith or dependance to be placed in Mankind— [strikethrough: undecipherable] I have placed the Ratification of the Contract upon your Certifying that Such pay to be due from the United States, by any Other Proper Officer Certifying this fact— I must beg it as a favour that you would let me know by next post if it Remains with you to Determine this point— if with Some Other Officer of [undecipherable] to Procure the [undecipherable] for [undecipherable] and also [undecipherable] the amount of pay is due [undecipherable] [undecipherable] W^m Simmons Esq^r [Accountant?] the one [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] Neay Street