To George Washington from John Hudson, 10 December 1790
From John Hudson
⟨Hosp⟩ital December 10th day 1790
May it Please your Excellence
To hear this petition of one of your soldiers I am a native of Virginia I was bread and born up Rappahanook River in Essex County and was unfortunately taken with the Ruhmactick Pains and have no friend to help me hear I have Rote to my friends but cant git no answer and am naked for Cloths I have not a shift to help my self I am in the Pensilvany Hospital and may it Please your Honnour the most that greaves me is that I am the Only american that is in the Rume and the English Counsil supplys them with Cloths and they heave it up to me that I am in my own Cuntry and I fought for it and Cant git no supply from my Country I hope your Excellence will not take it a mis of my Making so bold as to Right to you I hope you will take it in Cosideration and order me sum Clothing of any kind I served in the sevens Virginia Rigmint ⟨In⟩ Capt. John Webbs Company so I hope your honnour will ⟨mutilated⟩ your obdent and Humble Servant
John Hudson
ALS, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters.
No information regarding Hudson beyond his own statement that he was from Essex County, Va., and a veteran of 7th Virginia Regiment (John Webb’s Company) has been found. Hudson made further appeals to GW for assistance on 11 Dec. 1790, 29 Jan. 1791, and 3 Feb. 1791 (all in DLC:GW). In his letter of 11 Dec. 1790, Hudson wrote that his father, Vincent Hudson, “has worked for you or your family.” No Vincent Hudson has been identified. John Hudson may have been the John Vincent Hudson convicted of forgery by the Philadelphia court of quarter sessions in 1788 and sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment, which penalty was remitted by the supreme executive council of Philadelphia on 10 Dec. 1788 ( Colonial ser., 15:619–20). In his household accounts for 10 Feb. 1791, GW noted giving Hudson fifteen shillings and on 2 May 1791 noted paying six dollars for Hudson’s passage to Virginia (Household Accounts, CtY, 26, 52).