Marinus Willett and Others to the New-York Congress

v2:1729

New-York, July 26, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: Having freely accepted of the honourable appointment which you have conferred upon us, as officers to serve in defending the rights and liberties of our injured and oppressed Country, permit us to lay before you the great inconvenience which we most unavoidably suffer from the necessity we are under of providing ourselves with clothing, arms, &c˙, if there is not some adequate provision made to enable us to take the field. Were we possessed of fortunes sufficient to support ourselves, we should be far from troubling you with our solicitations upon this score, and should esteem ourselves extremely happy in having the opportunity of sacrificing both that and our lives in so glorious a cause; but as that is not the case, we are constrained to solicit your bounty, not doubting but you will consider the peculiarity of our situation, and grant us such relief as in your wisdom shall seem meet.

We are, gentlemen, in behalf and by order of the officers of our Regiment, your very humble servants,

MARINUS WILLETT,
JAMES M˙ HUGHES,
JOHN BEEKMAN,
WILLIAM GOFORTH.

To the Honourable Provincial Congress for the Province of New-York.