To George Washington from Josiah Parker, 6 March 1792
From Josiah Parker
Philadelphia 6th March 1792
Sir
No applicants for commissions in the Army have been made to me from the District of Virginia I represent or should have presumed to have made them known to you. to day I have received letters requesting I would take the liberty to Name Henry Beverly Towles, son of Colo. Olliver Towles of Spotsilvania as a candidate for a Lieutenancy. I know nothing of the young gentleman but he is warmly recommended to me as a sensible good young man. his being a Lieutenant in the late expedition in the Livies under Colo. Darke may be some recommendation to him.1
Mr Isaac Younghusband Son of Mr Younghusband of Richmond is allso recommended. I know him to be a Young Man of talents and have no doubt but will make a good Officer, he Solicits an ensigncy.2
Captn Saml Tinsley of Richmond has again written me he appears Solicituous to obtain a commission, his being an officer in the late war may be a recommendation to him.3
Lemuel Riddick who I formerly recommended and lately appointed Surveyor at Suffolk, was very desirous of a Commission & I still think [if] he had an appointment in the Army he would accept of it & I am flattered into a belief if he was he would do honor to it.4
Perhaps this ought properly to be directed to the Secretary of War but as I have an objection to troubling that Officer You will please excuse this trouble, and believe me with every respect & esteem Your most Obedient servant
J. Parker
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. GW appointed Henry Beverly Towles (d. 1794), son of Col. Oliver Towles (1736–1825), a lieutenant of infantry in the U.S. Army (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 14 Mar. 1792). Towles was assigned to the 4th Sub-Legion under Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne in September 1792 and was killed in the Battle of Fallen Timbers on 20 Aug. 1794.
2. Isaac Younghusband (d. 1794), son of Isaac Younghusband of Richmond, was a lawyer in Henrico County, Va., before GW appointed him an ensign in the 2d Infantry (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 9 April 1792). Later this year Younghusband was assigned to the 2d Sub-Legion, and he was promoted to lieutenant in January 1793.
3. Samuel Tinsley (c.1756–1833) served throughout most of the Revolutionary War as a captain in a Virginia state regiment. GW appointed him a first lieutenant of infantry (see GW to the U.S. Senate, 14 Mar. 1792), and in September 1792 he was assigned to the 3d Sub-Legion. Tinsley was promoted to captain in February 1794 and transferred to the 1st U.S. Infantry in November 1796.
4. Parker had recommended Riddick in a letter to GW of 19 Dec. 1791. For Riddick’s appointment as port inspector at Suffolk, Va., see GW to the U.S. Senate, this date.