Transcription
“To the honourable the Congress or Committee of Safety of the State of NEW-YORK:
“The Memorial of Frederick Philips, humbly sheweth:
“That on the 9th day of August last, your memorialist was, by order of his Excellency General Washington, taken into custody at his own house, and immediately sent prisoner from thence to New-Rochelle, where he was closely confined under guard for eleven days, and from thence removed to the State of Connecticut. A parole (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was presented to him, which he signed, and agreeable thereto has ever since been confined to this town and a small district round it. That your memorialist has thus been deprived of his liberty without any particular matter being alleged against him, or even having an opportunity of offering anything in his own defence. He therefore cannot help thinking that General Washington must have been induced to take this step in consequence of some misrepresentations.
“Your memorialist has already suffered great hardships and inconveniences, and if not permitted to return home before the severity of winter sets in, must still suffer many more, which, in his advanced stage of life and infirm state of health, he is ill calculated to undergo. But that all the personal inconveniences he has felt and is likely further to feel if not relieved are far from making so deep an impression on his mind as the circumstances of being separated from wife and numerous family, and thereby prevented from superintending his own affairs, particularly the education of his children, whose tender years require the most watchful attention of a parent’s care.”
“All which is humbly submitted to your Honours' consideration.
“FRED˙ PHILIPS.
“Middletown, November 26, 1776.”Language
English
