To George Washington from Hannah Crawford, 16 March 1787
From Hannah Crawford
Fayette County Pennsa March 16th 1787
Dear Genl
I make no Doubt but you have heard of the Resolution of the Legeslative Body of your State, passed in my favour which will Enable me to make you satisfaction for your great kindness to me.1 you may Depend on having the bond paid up as soon as I Draw the first years Allowance, money being So Scarce here and so Dificult to come at, that it will not be in my power to do any thing sooner. the first years Allowance becoms Due the 9th Day of Jany Next—I purpose making application to congress for the five years pay Allow’d to Offrs of the Continental Army, & if I Obtain a Certificate for it, it will be in my Power to Discharge a great part of the Debts Due the Creditors of my Deceased Husbands Estate, please present my Compliments to your Lady—I am withe much Real Esteem my Dear friend Your most Obliged & very Hume Sert
Hannah Crawford
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. For GW’s dealings with Hannah Crawford, see Hannah Crawford to GW, 4 June 1784, GW to Thomas Freeman, 8 May 1786, and John Minter to GW, 2 Mar. 1787. On 2 Dec. 1786 the Virginia house of delegates read Mrs. Crawford’s petition ”that her late husband, Col. William Crawford, was killed [by Indians] in the service of his country during the late war, leaving his family in very indigent circumstances; and praying relief.” The petition was referred to a committee, and on 9 Jan. 1787 the House accepted the committee’s recommendation “that the same allowance ought to be made [to Hannah Crawford] . . . as is allowed by law to the widows of officers of equal rank killed in the late war” ( 83, 150). William Crawford, his son-in-law William Harrison, and his brother Valentine Crawford’s only son, William, were tortured to death at Upper Sandusky in 1782.