Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-09-01

~ ~ OVCNRA vi lIc SONlllA
and Capt Philip Slaughter of Culpepper.
who were then officers in camp, and can
give you a full account Of this transaction.
| also refer you to a meeting of the Briga-
diers, and Field Officers, held at Camp Ra-
mapough. September "a, l779, by order of
the Commander in Chief, for making a
proper arrangement of the officers of the
Virginia line. Gen. Woodford, Mullen
burgh, Wood, and eight others, formed the
board. Of the s-upernumerary officers that
were recommended to Congress, and the
state of Virginia, l was ene-ny name
stands on the records of the State, as well
as filed in the archives of Congress there
YOU will see fifty-two officers returned, of
which | am the eighth on the list. ! more
over send you herewith a letter dated at
Mount Vernon, October 81, 1899, from
General Washington to myself, in answer
to one written to him, offering my services
if appointed in the provisional army these
statements and accompanying documents,
exhibit a correct view of my conduct and
standing as an officer.
In relation to the charge of my speculat-
ing on the widow and orphans of Colonel
Hugh Stephenson, | beg leave to make the
following statement. Col. Stephenson died
in August, 1875, leaving a widow, who af-
ter his death was delivered of a son, who
was heir at law to his fathers estate. In
the year 1888 or 81, Col. John Stephenson,
the brother and executor of Hugh, applied
to me to undertake the obtaining for the
widow and heir at law, what donations the
United States and State of Virginia had
allowed widows and the heirs of officers,
who either were killed, or died in the SER
vice. On his first application, | positively
refused having any agency in the business,
as my own affairs at that time required my
undivided attention. HE repeated his re-
quest, offering me at different times, one
half of the widows claim, if could obtain
it, together with one half of the donation to
the her at law | was at length prevailed
upon to undertake the business and how
ever advantageous the terms may appear
now to have been to me, they we're no more
than what at that period were usual, and
such as had been rejected by many to
whom Col. John Stephenson mad applied.
Success was doubtful, nor was | promised
any decentralization for my expense in case
OF failure. succeeded in obtaining the
remuneration due to the widow and heir at
law of CO.. III. Stephenson, and received the
stipulated compensation made by the Exc
cutor. Four or five years after this bust
ness had been closed, Mrs. Stephenson had
much injured her circumstances by pur-
chasing a tract of land in the Western
Countrywide title being bad, she lost it.
Some time after, her brother, Benjamin
Whaley, made application to me, alledging
that | had received too great a compensation
for my services. | instantly told him that |
would cheerfully refer the matter to any
two men of reputation in the county, of
has opn choice, to whose decision, after a
fair statement of facts, | would submit. He
chose two men, whose names mentioned
to you one of whom, having ever cherish
ed the most rancorous enmity against my
father, transmitted no small portion of it TO
me. They, after a short period of mock
deliberation, awarded against me the sum
OF s $50 66, which accordingly paid to the
widow. Isoon after informed Col. John
Stephenson of this affair, and stated to him
the injustice of the award, and that it might
affect my reputation. He assured me that
when his nephew arrived at age he would
compel him to do me justice, adding, that
he had no control over the widow, and that
any attempt on his part to convince her of
the injustice done me, would be vain
Some time in the year 1896, the heir at law
of Hugh Stephenson, died, and Col. John
Stephenson became heir to his landed es-
tate. In January, 1897, | called on Col.
John Stephenson in the state of Kentucky,
and continued at his house several days
He then informed me that he had it in his
power to do me justice, that he could not
remunerate me with money, but would as
sign me 1000 acres of the land which | had
been the means of obtaining, as an indem-
MITIGATION for the unjust award above men
toned. send you the patent to shew how
the title to this land descended, from Hugh
Stephenson to his son Richard, and then to
John, as heir, from whom it was transfer
red to me. | likewise enclose you a certi-
ficate of Capt. Glenn. More on this subject