Letterbook

Letter from the Commissioner of Army Accounts

Discusses the missing papers of a regimental paymaster.

Letter from the Commissioner of Army Accounts

1786

06

14

Some parts of document illegible due to poor copying/scanning.
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Richard Fenner

John Pierce

Colonel Blount

Harrison

paymaster

army

Office of Army Acocunts

certificate

muster

pay

papers

1786061421001

1

Office of Army Accounts, June 14, 1786
Sir,
Your Letter of the 20th. May Ulto is received — The
attestation of Capt Ballard ought to be [undecipherable] to be
accompanied with the certificates of the Officers who were
knowing to the loss of his paper, and also of some of the officers
of the regiment regiment certifying their knowledge of the
accuracy and integrity with which he conducted the
business — I do not require such coroborating evidence
from the least supposition that that what the Capt.
has alledged is not just, but from a general rule
that the in cases of this nature the whole evidence that
which possibly can be procured ought to come before me, and
that the certificates attestation of disinterested persons evidences always has
more greater weight as have than that this of a person a person in
his own case, let his character be however just & unexceptionable.
I have attended to his account, and find that he
is charged with 2982 Dols rd by him on the 19th of April
1779 for two Months pay advanced on account of the regiment, which sum
he ought to have deducted from his next or another payment,
which has not been above but I cannot find that this has been the case, he is therefore accountable for the Sum over & above the regimental pay. I find also
that he agreeable to the numbered account that has been
received the [undecipherable] of October 1779 [undecipherable]
received from Mr. Harrison on the 15th of Augt 81 22,291 60/90 Dol
on account which I suppose ought to be charged to him
as it was I beleive an personal advance to him personally.
I have searched the Musters and cannot find
that Charges has been contained in the Rolls, and as he
has not produced any other evidence of his services
[I have not attempted his settlement]
The certificate of the arrears due to Isaac Nicholson
I have committed into the hands of Colo Blount who
will deliver the same to you.
June 14th 1786
To Major Richard Fenner
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Major Richard Fenner