[Willett, Marinus To W. Simmons Re: War] William Simmons Esq^r War office Philadelphia Wilmington 14^th December 1796 Dear Sir, In the year 1782 & 83 I commanded a regiment of Infantry raised by the State of New York and armed accoutred clothed and paid by the United States — they were called the New York State troops — Monthly returns were made of the regiment to Head Quarters and the Muster rolls and pay abstracts forwarded to the Office of the paymaster general of the United States by whom they were paid — I have from the person in whose possession the papers of M^r Pearce who was paymaster general are a Certificate witnessing the fact that I was commander of those troops and as such received pay and subsistance from the United States untill those troops were discharged which I am pretty clear did not take place untill the last of December 1783 — If I am rightly advised those papers are within your department — If so I shall esteem it a favour in you to forward me the kind of Certificate I have mentioned — Should the papers alluded to be in some other office permit me to request the favour of you to procure for me a Certificate from the officer with whom those papers are lodged, and you will add one more obligation to the many I already owe you — As I expect to remain some time at this place if the certificate is handed to D^r Baltimore who is a member of the Senate and usually comes to this his place of residence once a week it will come safe to my hands — or if it is Enclosed and directed to me there can be no danger but I will receive it by the post — Please to present my Compliments to M^rs Simmons and believe me to be with great regard Dear sir Wm Simmons Esq^r Your very humble Servt Marinus Willett