Autograph Letter Signed

Major Mahlon Ford & His Family, Loyal Federalists

Dayton attests to the exemplary character of Major Ford and his family who are loyal Federalists residing in a county in New Jersey infected with Jacobinism.

1799

03

20

Elizabethtown, New Jersey

New York

Alexander Hamilton

Jonathan Dayton

Major [Mahlon] Ford

his family

subaltern in my father's Regiment

Secretary of War [McHenry]

people of New Jersey

[William] McPherson

New York

Elizabethtown, New Jersey

Newark

Morris

post office at Newark

mail

the Major's character

political principles

head of the Federalists in Morris County

torrent of Jacobinism

Revolutionary War

scene insurrection

Government and Administration

precautions

selection of their militia

cautionary hint to our Governor

Jacobinism

In answer to your enquiry respecting the Major's character, I can assure you that he has ever been considered a good officer, and that I know him to be perfectly sound, correct and firm in his political principles. His family have been long looked up to as the head of the Federalists in Morris county, and have uniformly opposed themselves to the torrent of Jacobinism, more prevalent there than in any quarter of our State. He was a subaltern in my father's regiment during the Revolutionary war, and acquitted himself always well

I presume that neither the secretary of war nor yourself are ignorant, that that portion of the people of New Jersey which are most contiguous to the scene of insurrection are that most uninformed, and consequently not he best disposed to support the government of administration. Some, more than common, precautions should therefore be taken in the selection of their militia, or of their officers more particularly if any drafts should be made upon them for this service. As a certain number will doubtless be ordered to hold themselves in readiness to support McPherson, if required, it may be well for you to give a cautionary hint to our governor by letter.

1799032060001