From George Washington to James Gildart, 10 November 1764
To James Gildart
Williamsburg 10th Novr 1764.
Sir
The chief design of this Letter is to cover two Bills of John Poseys: for the amount of which please to give my Account Credit; that is, for £8.4.2¾ drawn on yourself, and £11.2.10¾ on Messrs Crosbies & Trafford.1
I shall direct Six Hhds of Master Custis’s Tobo to be put on board Captn Mulloy to your address on wch please to make such Insurance as you think the Tobo will bear, & advice me thereof—The charge of doing this must be placed to the young Gentlemans Account and credit given him for the nett proceeds.2 I am Sir Yr Most Obedt Hble Servt
Go: Washington
ALB, DLC:GW. GW wrote, “Sent by the America—via Bristol. Copy—by Colle. Tabbs—Ship.” The America, John Weatherson captain, cleared outward from the York River on 29 Nov. 1764. Tabb may have been one of two merchants, Thomas Tabb of Amelia County or John Tabb of Petersburg.
1. GW’s neighbor and friend John Posey was heavily in debt to GW at this time. GW records having received the two drafts from Posey on 22 Oct. 1764 (, folio 168). GW notes in 1765 that Trafford’s bill was returned protested and in 1767 that there was a two-shilling overcharge in Posey’s draft on Gildart (, folio 168). GW later shipped tobacco to the Liverpool merchants Crosbies & Trafford (see his letter to the firm, 6 Mar. 1765).
2. Instead of sending six hogsheads of John Parke Custis’s tobacco, GW sent eight by Capt. John Mulloy aboard the Johnson. See GW to Gildart, 20 Sept. 1765.