To George Washington from Edmund Randolph, 20 May 1794
From Edmund Randolph
Philadelphia May 20. 1794.
The Secretary of State has the honor of informing the President of the United States, that Mr Van Berckel, Resident of the United Netherlands here, has this moment announced to the Secretary in form his marriage with Madam Bacler de L’eval.1 The main object of this annunciation being, that it may [b]e2 communicated to the President, and the public; a short note is sent for the latter purpose to the Printers.3
AL, DNA: RG 59, Miscellaneous Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, Domestic Letters; LB, DNA: RG 59, George Washington’s Correspondence with His Secretaries of State.
1. Franco Petrus Van Berckel (d. 1836) married Rosalie Josephe Bacler de Leval at St. Michael’s and Zion Church in Philadelphia on 31 March (, 2d ser., 9:411). Bacler de Leval had emigrated from France in the winter of 1790-91, and by August of 1791 she was involved with William Duer and Henry Knox in a scheme to buy lands in Maine on which to settle French emigrants (Allis, William Bingham’s Maine Lands, 1:104-73).
2. Randolph wrote "me."
3. An announcement of the marriage appeared in the Gazette of the United States and Evening Advertiser (Philadelphia), 21 May.