George Washington Papers
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To George Washington from David Jones, 20 August 1789

From David Jones

New York augt 20th 1789

Sir

Since my Conference with you, a Member of Congress informed me that a Bill will soon come before you, in which your Excellency will have the appointment of Commisioners to treat with the Indians,1 should I meet your aprobation to be one, you would releive an old Soldier, who never forsook the Cause of his Country, & Confer the greatest obligation on your Humble Sert

David Jones

P.S. I am Just going off at present for Philadelphia.

ALS, DLC:GW.

David Jones (1736–1820) of Newcastle County, Del., was ordained a Baptist minister in 1756. Becoming interested in missionary work among the Indians, he journeyed down the Ohio River in the company of George Rogers Clark on one of his early explorations of the Ohio country. Jones recorded his experiences among the Indians published as A Journal of Two Visits Made to Some Nations of Indians on the West Side of the River Ohio, in the Years 1772 and 1773 (Burlington, N.J., 1774). During the Revolution Jones served as chaplain with Arthur St. Clair, Anthony Wayne, and Horatio Gates, and in October 1785 he paid GW a visit at Mount Vernon (Diaries description begins Donald Jackson and Dorothy Twohig, eds. The Diaries of George Washington. 6 vols. Charlottesville, Va., 1976–79. description ends , 4:200). In 1792 Jones became minister at the Great Valley Baptist Church in Chester County, Pa., and, except for occasional trips to the frontier and his service as chaplain with Anthony Wayne’s forces during the 1792–95 Indian war, remained there until his death.

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