Settlement of Accounts, with details
Document 1800Sec. of War determined Shepherd debited with sums of money after examination of accounts of John Mackey, late Pay Master at the armory of Harper's Ferry. Shepherd was charged on the books of the Office owing the government $2609.20.
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100 Match boat Blanketts . D°. 223. 67
1 Wheel barrow .......... 4. —
4 dozn Large Spoons ......... 4. —
D°. 231. 67
You will therefore please to make the necessary entries on the Books of the Superintendant of Military Stores —
Sam H.
W.S.
Lieut Willm J. Deveraux
Fort Moultrie, near Charleston Accountant's Office
S. C°. April 9th 1800
Sir
I have received your letter dated 2nd Ulto. inclosing your Recruiting accounts for settlement; which must remain suspended as no muster Role of your recruits of a sufficient late date has yet been received, whereby it can be ascertained whether they were mustered.
In order that you may be allowed the actual expences you were at for stationary & Postage of letters while Recruiting, it will be necessary that you should transmit an account thereof to this Office, certified on oath, which, when received, will be admitted to your credit on settlement of your Recruiting account —
Sam H.
W.S.
Mr Abram Shepherd April 9th 1800
Harper's Ferry Virga
Sir
On settlement of the accounts of John Mackey late Pay Master at the Armory at Harper's Ferry, it has been determined by the Secretary of War that you should be debited with the following sums — viz: —
For amount of Warrt N°. 3213 dated Sept 11 1798 in favor of Joseph Perkins on account of his compensation as superintendant ............... Dollars 50. —
For amt of Warrant N°. 3476, dated 11 Decr. 1798 in favor of James Brindley, on account of his pay & expences to & from Philada. & at the Potomac to survey the Waters & grounds for erecting the necessary buildings & Works, for the establishment of an armoury, for the use of the United States for which sum Joseph Perkins is to be accountable. 212. 2[undecipherable]
For this sum paid to you by John mackey & receipt dated 21 March 1800, & for which you are accountt. 2347. —
Making together Two thousand six hundred & nine dollars & [undecipherable] with which you stand charged on the Books of this Office —
Sam H.
W.S.
The Secretary of War. Accountant's Office
Sir April 9th 1800
I have received your letter dated the 7th Instt. requiring certain statements of expenditure in relation to the Indian Departmt. Before I can proceed to make such part as the Books of my Office will enable me to do, I must request to be informed the period they are to commence, & to what time to be extended. I think it proper at the same time to state the difficulties which arise and prevent me from furnishing the whole of the statements required. —
1st As relates to the expences of transporting Goods to pay Indian annuities:
No settlements have ever been made at this Office under that head, — The expence has been generally paid by the Quarter Master General, or his agents, and in some cases by the Agents for the War department, and these accounts previous to the 16 July 1798, (the date of the Act making alterations in the Treasury and War Departments) have been settled at the Treasury, and since that period the Quarter master's accounts are not in a situation to afford the necessary information. —
2nd The contingent expences for presents to Indians on their visits to the seat of Government, and expences attending their journeys during their stay, and on their return home. —
These items can in part be Stated when I am notified of the period they are to commence. There have been settlements made by the Agent of the War Department in Knoxville, and some payments on account thereof, have been made by the Quarter master General. From the manner the accounts are kept it will take a considerable time to select the items, and if an immediate necessity exists for furnishing them I shall be under the necessity of causing it to be done after the usual Office hours, as the number of Accots now under examination & which cannot well be suspended, require the constant attendance of all the Clerks in this Office. —
3rd Rations to Indians at the different military Posts within their respective nations. —
No accounts for rations have ever been rendered at this Office, previous to the passing of the act before mentioned, and since that period none have been examined or settled for rations to Indians. —
The last paragraph of your letter requesting information shewing the manner in which the accounts are kept, rendered, Checked, & settled in this Office — I can only reply to as relates to the items which have been settled here; In these cases for all monies expended, I have always required the sanction of the Secretary of War, under the powers vested in him by the President of The United States, this obtained, and a Warrant issued, the amount is charged to the General head of expenditure of Indian Departmt.
Type
Author's Letterbook Copy
Description
Sec. of War determined Shepherd debited with sums of money after examination of accounts of John Mackey, late Pay Master at the armory of Harper's Ferry. Shepherd was charged on the books of the Office owing the government $2609.20.
Date
04/09/1800
Author
Recipient
Document number
1800040921355
Page start
75
Notable persons
Abraham Shepherd
William Simmons
John Mackey
paymaster
Secretary of War
Joseph Perkins
superintendent
James Brindley
Notable locations
Harpers Ferry, Virginia
West Virginia
Philadelphia
Potomac River
Notable items
compensation
water
grounds
buildings
works
armory
books

