Description:

Signer of the Declaration of Independence, William Floyd, accuses a young man of sending him "Counterfeit money...and I think I shall not do my duty to the public unless I have you prosecuted for it that may provide a place for you in the States prison where you may learn to be more honest for the future"

WILLIAM FLOYD (1734-1821) Autograph Letter Signed, "Wm Floyd," 1 page, 7.75" x 12.5", Western, New York, June, 22, 1817, addressed in his hand on the verso to Gilead Hotchkiss in Windsor, New York, angrily disputing a claim for money and then accusing the correspondent of paying him in "Counterfeit money..." Minor tape remnants to top margin, light uneven toning, usual folds and a few minor spots of soiling, else very good.

A terse and direct letter answering a frivolous demand for the repayment of a debt. Floyd opens his letter observing that: "I have Rec'd your Letter in which you demand thirty nine dollars and forty five cents paid me by Mr. Curtis for David Hotchkiss as Curtis informed me toward the Land which Hotchkiss had agreed for immediately after he had agreed for the Land and without taking a deed he went on to the Land and cut and Sold a Vast quantity of the finest Locust timer in the Country, this he continued to do for ten or twelve years without taking a deed or paying me any thing for the Land except the thirty nine dollars & forty five cents, altho [sic] I frequently urged him to do it, after ten or twelve years he wrote me that he would take a part of the Land - that Convinced me that he did not Intend to abide by his first agreement for the Land and I have since Sold it— Not I am Justly Intitled [sic] to the Interest of about five hundred Dollars for ten or twelve years, deducting out of it the thirty nine Dollars & forty five Cents – that is honestly my due[.]"

"As for your part young man you have paid me Counterfeit money and as I believe knowing it to be counterfeit — and I think I shall not do my duty to the public unless I have you prosecuted for it that may provide a place for you in the States prison where you may learn to be more honest for the future."

After addressing the letter to Hotchkiss "at Windsor in Broome County," he thought better of sending such an inflammatory letter and rewrote it, adding below the address the following note: "this Letter I was going to Send to Gilead Hotchkiss But I have sent him another which is more proper..." but not for the threat in the second paragraph, but because "this Letter contains a statement of the Business between David Hotchkiss and me"

According to genealogical accounts, Gilead Hotchkiss (1780-1871) was the son of David Hotchkiss (1740-1826). He was born in Naugatuck and migrated with his family to Windsor, New York around 1788. His father David, was among the Connecticut militia that captured Fort St. Frederic (Crown Point) in July 1759. Establishing himself in Broome County, New York, he became a prominent land owner and a deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Windsor. A search of newspaper accounts does not reveal charges ever being levelled against Gilead for counterfeiting. We can only assume that Floyd's letter had the desired effect and compelled Gilead to make amends.

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