Raynor HCA 2013-01
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/10/2013
Rev War NY Quarter Master Nicholas Quackenbush’s Post-War Plea to Settle Accounts Autograph Letter of Nicholas Quackenbush, Assistant Deputy Quatermaster for the Continental Army at Albany, New York . Retained copy, unsigned, 7.5" x 9.25", 6p, 4to, New York, June 16, 1788. Minor fold splits, tape repairs at margins, very light dampstains, otherwise quite bright and clean and in very good condition. Fine financial content Autograph Letter (retained copy) to the Board of Treasury to settle his accounts, still outstanding five years after the close of the Revolutionary War. He writes, in small part: “...By a Resolution of Congress of the 8th Ult. I find that the Commissioners for settling the accounts of the Quarter Master General Department, is with the approbation of your Honorable Board authorized to commence suits in behalf of the United States against all persons in that Department who stand chargeable with public moneys and whose accounts shall not be lodged with the said Commissioner within four months computed from the day of passing said resolutions. In consequence of this Resolution I find myself in a very disagreeable situation. For let me act either one way or the other I am almost certain of incurring a prosecution unless some Cash should be granted to me shortly. At present I stand charged in the Books of the Quarter Master General with the Sum of One Thousand, Seven hundred and ninety two Dollars...as per account of same herewith. This Sum was advanced to me towards defraying the Expenses incurred in the Department since the first of January 1782 and all of which I have paid to the Creditors of the United States, and had it been sufficient or even nearly sufficient to have satisfied their just & due demands against the department, I should in that Case have been enabled to have closed my accounts long since and rendered them to the Commissioner’s But it’s being only about one Sixth or Seventh part of the debt I was necessitated to Contract, compelled me to distribute this small sum among the creditors on account of what was their due...I was well aware would have given very little or no satisfaction to him or the U. States...This alone therefore is one principle reason with me why the rendering of my accounts has hitherto been delayed...I am not only frequently threatened with prosecution but likewise accused for want of Integrity, which of itself to the innocent man is next to having his property wrested from him. My well knowing the urgent necessity there was for many of the supplies furnished & Services necessary to be performed in the expedition against Oswego in the winter 1783 under the Command of Coln. Willet and at the same time having every reason in the world to repose the fullest confidence in the repeated promises made to me by Coln. Pickering Q. M. G. induced me ins several instances...to pledge myself for the payment of some of the debts, at least for many of those which were made for fuel, boards & for the transportation of the same...”After much further explanation, he requests the sum of 4,000 pounds which he felt “...would be sufficient to pay of the whole debt .”
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