Letter to Oliver Wolcott from Ezekiel Williams
Collection: National Postal Museum
Object type: Covers & Associated Letters
Date: June 1, 1785
Place of Destination: Connecticut
Place of Origin: New York
Medium: paper; ink
Dimensions: Height x Width (folded): 7 1/8 × 4 1/2 in. (18.1 × 11.43 cm)
Topics: Early Nation's Period (1776-1800)
Description: Ezekiel Williams, fearing his letter (2005.2027.7.2) would not be received and answered quickly, wrote detailed instructions on the letter's cover wrapper ((2005.2027.7.1) to the post rider asking him to deliver the letter personally. Williams was a Deputy Commissary of Prisoners during the war, and his letter is a frantic appeal to the Connecticut State Pay Table for help in paying wages owed.
Reference:
"Williams Letter, 1785," Out of the Mails exhibition (December 14, 2006-January 31, 2008), National Postal Museum, https://postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibition/out-of-the-mails-to-pay-or-not-to-pay/williams-letter-1785.
Genl n
New York 1 st June 1783
I arrived here last Wednesday Evening, bro't my Acc ts in order for a Settlement, which I was D r of due to the United States, which commenced Nov r 1777, got them lodged in Mr. Michelsons Office on Friday, Saturday he informed me that he had set his Clerks to work upon them but never was admitted to see them, 'till this day, when I was immediately informed, that before any Report could be made upon them, I must procure a certificate from a proper Office in the State, that I had rec d no monies from the State by them charged to the United States except the £200- which I have Credited the States in my Acc ts now under their Inspection, for which I rec d your order on the Treasurer or Mr. Skinner, Application to our Genl l Assembly in Jan y 1782
my State M o Acc ts is charged the State of Connecticut & must be settled at your Office, & will owe a balance on the order that I have rec d - All the order for Continental Money that I had, is charged to me on your Books, & I am accountable to the State only, and they to charge over what is proper to the United States. . . . .
On informing Mr. Michelson the Nature & Business of your Office, he told me yours was undoubtedly the proper Office for me to apply for such Certificate, I therefore make this Application to you; and altho' I am sensible this Letter will not reach you in your Office hours, you will not fail of sending me the Official Certificate by the return of this Post.
I out of my Business, from my family, & on Expenses here, Doing nothing & without a prospect (if a Settlement should be complicated) of Obtaining Money enough to bear my Expenses home, for all my wages and all the Monies I have Advanced since I was first made D r of Prisoners.
The Company of Prisoners, is cruel beyond Expression, and you may think (not being altogether unacquainted with my Dispo- sition) that every Week seems a year in this Situation - That I rest Assured (althe, it for a very little time, puts you out of Court, & gives you some trouble, you will not fail of answering my Request - and Oblige your most Obed t
Yours r Serv t E. Williams
P.S. I am in Search for the Bonds & the Court of Prisoners Acc t but have not yet come at them; but have no Idea of giving over, until I have - I hope soon, have got into a proper Channel & find them
yrs t at Serv t E. W.
Gentlemen, Court of Pay Table