1786 letter from William Hartshorne to James Rumsey

Archive

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Jefferson County Museum

Name/Title

1786 letter from William Hartshorne to James Rumsey

Entry/Object ID

ARC917

Scope and Content

Letter from William Hartshorne addressed to James Rumsey, dated June 5, 1786, regarding materials, including iron, leather, tar, and gunpowder, to be purchased for the Potomac Company. The Potomac Company (Patowmack Company) (1785-1825) was chartered by George Washington in 1785. The company's goal was to clear obstructions and make safe passages on the Potomac River from Alexandria to Harpers Ferry. Washington chose James Rumsey, inventor well-known for his 1784 demonstration of a working model of a self-powered pole boat, as superintendent of the project. Rumsey had a brief tenure as superintendent and resigned in July 1786. William Hartshorne, native of Alexandria, served as treasurer of the Potomac Company. Colonel George Gilpin and Colonel John Fitzgerald, both mentioned in the letter, served as directors of the Potomac Company. Gilpin was an Alexandria merchant and Fitzgerald was an Irish immigrant who settled in Alexandria. Transcription of letter with annotations in Media.

Acquisition

Accession

417

Source or Donor

Allen, John, Jr.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Archive Details

Date(s) of Creation

Jun 5, 1786

Archive Size/Extent

1 letter

Archive Notes

Date(s): 1786 June 5