Letterbook

Treasury and Pay Office Affairs

The author apologizes for having allowed the recipient's letter of November 11 to be temporarily lost in the mass of paper in his office. Regarding the depreciation of the pay of officers who were prisoners it generally commenced from September 1, 1777 although there are exceptions. These amounts are available at the Treasury so the recipient might check their accounts to confirm the amounts paid to specific individuals.

1786

01

02

Nicholson from Comptroller General's Office. Cited in Howell to Nicholson, 01/16/1786.

John Nicholson

Joseph Howell

Cited document addressed to the War Office

Joseph Howell

John Nicholson

Mr. Milligan

Lieut. Henry Clayton

Captain William Coxe

10th Regiment.

William Bryan

an 18 months man

Colonel Butler

the next post

a number of other papers

your indulgence

the depreciation of the pay of Officers of the Army who were prisoners

exceptions to the rule

Continental money

account of settlements I made

period of commencement and ending of each

state of the monies

the Treasury

your list

recruiting amounts

discharge

the list you gave me

the rolls

it got shuffled amongst a number of other papers...shuffled from my memory

It was a general rule with me

he hath no discharge and is not on the list you gave me

1786010270055

8

Comprol Gls Office 2 Jany 1786

Dr. Sir

I suppose you have very reasonably concluded by this time that I forgot to answer yours of the 11 Novr as it is now so long since I wrote - When I received it I was very much hurried and seeing it call’d for sundry matters I could not just then turn to I laid it by, designing to get it ready for the next post - it got shuffled amongst a number of other papers, and amongst a number of other things the subject was shuffled from my memory - this morning I laid my hands on it again and begging


your indulgence and pardon for not doing it sooner I now sit down to answer it - It was a general rule with me to commence the depreciation of the pay of Officers of the army, who were prisoners from the 1 Sept 1777, but there were nevertheless exceptions to that rule when I saw from their accounts settled with the UStates that they were only allowed Continental money before that time I went back to 1 January 1777 - I furnished Mr. Milligan with an account of settlements I made for Officers who were prisoners, which contained not only the period of commencement & ending of each, but a state of the monies with which each was charged by me at settlements - This was done when the prisoners accounts were settled at the Treasury - perhaps you could now get it from them if it would be useful to you - Lieut Henry Clayton's Depreciation commenced 1 September 1777 - so all is right with him -

There was a Captn Wm Coxe late of the 10th Reg with me for his depreciation - he says he was deranged in 1778, if so you have omitted him on your lists - please write me, and if intitled to depreciation whether his rewriting amounts are settled -

I am sir

Jno Nicholson

Jos. Howell Esq

There is a Wm Bryan applies to me - says he was inlisted an 18 months man and waited on Col. Butler - he hath no discharge and is not on the list you gave me - Could you inform me from the rolls whether said Bryan served as such?

J.n.