Harpers Ferry December 9 1[?] Sir M^r Stacker has been so kind as to let me write a fe[w] lines in his letter to You of this Date when I arived hear I found I could have no accomoda[tion] for my family here I therefore returned to Phil[a] to make them Comfortable there as they wa[s] brepared for the Jurney hear as soon as I advise them they could be Received on my retu[rn] Imedietly waited on You and was the mer't day employed by Your orders on M^r Nicholson. then sickd to overhaul the old Musket [car]in the Store near arch Street and afterwards to apert M^r Nicholson inspecting Stocks Mus[kets] &c and in purchasing Iron for this place [and] in the interim Gotten my Children to board [with] Motherinlaw Comfortibly fixed in New Yor[k] &returned here I hope Sir You will be so Go[od] as to Give me A certificate for that Serv[ice] I am Sir Your Very Humble Serv[ant] Samuel Hodgedon Esq^r Tho^s Annely