Letter to James Patton, Esq., Alexandria, Va., from Wm. B. Magruder, May 22, 1796 Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Debra Miller This collection of letters, bills etc. were sent to James Patton, Esq., Merchant in the old seaport of Alexandria, Va. The letters will encompass the latter 1700s - early 1800s. James Patton was b. ca. 1755 in Newton, Lima-Verry, County Derry, Ireland and he died in Alexandria, Va, date unknown at this time. He married Mollie Kincaid, place and date unknown. His parents were James Patton, Sr. (b. ca. 1734, Ireland, d. Jan. 16, 1821, Pennsylvania) and Mary Newell (b. ca. 1736 Ireland, d. June 7, 1806, Alexandria, Va.). ------------------------------------------------------------------ Georgetown, May 22nd 1796 Messrs. Ford, Patton & Co. Alexandria Gentlemen, Having understood that during my absence, one of you expressed some apprehension of the Bill I sold to you not being paid, when due; I beg leave to assure you that not only the Bill I have drawn in your Favor, but every Bill I have drawn since October last is and will be punctually paid, notwithstanding some of them (owning to the scarcity of money in England, and the Property on which they were drawn going to Holland and Germany), were not accepted. My Shipments were very large, & of course, my Draught on Mr. Christie, into whose hands I ordered the Proceeds, were very heavy; & he got alarmed, lest the vessels in which I shipt should be stopt during the winter by the ice, either here or on the Dutch and German coast. This was another cause of his noting some of my Bills; but you may rely, he is too much my Friend to allow one of them to return protested. I beg you to believe that I am incapable of drawing a Bill on the Prospect of its returning; & this Remark, I trust, would be unnecessary to any one better acquainted with me, than you are. I am, respectfully, Gentlemen, Yr. most obed Servant, Wm. B. Magruder