Franklin County: William McAllen to Edward
McPherson, May 16, 1860
Summary:
William McAllen thanks Edward McPherson for his help concerning a legal
matter.
Honorable Edward McPherson
May 16th 1860
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
Dear Sir,
In accordance with your polite and kind offer, I take the liberty to enclose to
you, two affidavits to sustain the claim of Mrs Mary
Duncan for Bounty [unclear: Laid] for services of her deceased husband,
Adam S. [unclear: S.] Duncan in [unclear: War] of '12. Hitherto
we had made no further progress in the prosecution of the claim [added: (so far as proof of the services
went)] than the filing of the affidavit of John McFinney which was rejected by
the Department
[page 2]
on the ground that the witness was a deserter and therefore
disqualified from testifying. We had [illeg.] witnesses on hand,
(Shiller) but how to render [unclear: McFinney's] affidavit competent or
find another witness has been the difficulty-- This we conceive is now entirely
removed by the affidavits enclosed. There is on file full proof of the marriage,
widowhood, identity of the applicant &, and the death of the soldier,
and with the testimony which we have now been so fortunate as to obtain, we
cannot imagine any defect, irregularity or insufficiency to exist--
The number of the application is 280383. The delay has been unavoidable, here as the proof could not be sooner obtained.
Please have the enclosed affidavits presented to the [illeg.] of [deleted: ] and yourself informed of his action.
I found myself in such indifferent health, that I concluded I had better be at home and left Washington on Wednesday evening. My business with the foresaid was in a very unsatisfactory condition.
I beg leave to repeat my most sincere thanks for your very kind and [deleted: ] ongoing attention and highly valued good offices to [deleted: ] and myself when in Washington
My father is much obliged for the Directory and P. O. book you so kindly and at no little trouble obtained for him.
Very Respectfully
Yours truly
William Mc Allen
P.S. Has anything been done by Congress, conferring
authority -- on the Secretary of the Interior to
issue Duplicates of lost land Warrants, or is the
Department still refusing to issue them? Your
answer will again much oblige me, hoping that you will not put yourself to
much trouble about the latter inquiry
WmMc
A
