Honor’d and Confidential Friend

It is with heart felt grief, that I presume to address you; but knowing you, in your younger years, to be a near Neighbour to my deceased Father, Doctor Wm. Davis, and I doubt not a friend to his Ofspring, I now freely lay open my distress’d circumstances to you, as a Father, and Patron, and friend, in great need; and wish you, in your great benevolence of Soul, and mind, and through your extensive influence, to save me and my Family from sinking.

I had, at the beginning of these troubles, a pretty Interest of my own, but thro’ repeated misfortunes and losses, in business, during the late conflict, I am now reduced to so low an Ebb, that I scarcely know how to provide for my Family, from day to day. I know Honoured Sir your very great influence, and could you obtain a relief for my Family, (among your friends without my name being exposed) I should it happy a Family that from the beginning of the contest, were foremost in their Countrys cause. I have formerly given much of my time to the      gratis, as I could then afford it; but now Sir it is the reverse and if this Constitution is adopted, which I pray God it may I shall ever thank you for your Interest, in placing me in some office, whereby I might keep my Family from sinking at this my advanced Age, and I should accept it with a grateful heart. Sir may forgive this my freedom in writing you, and I shall esteem my self under vast obligations to you, your best endeavors, when opportunity presents, either now, or at any future period, to keep my Family from sinking, under their many heavy misfortunes, and what compleated them was; not long since, an Execution was levy’d on me, not for a Debt of my own, but for a considerable sum that I was bound for my Son, which sweep’t away what little I had left to support me at this time of life, and I never knew what it was to want before. Having a sufficiency before the war, and have met with repeated losses to the amount of £6000, and am now reduced to abject poverty. But endeavor to keep up my spirits, hoping a Door may be open’d for my relief. I have the honor to subscribe my self, every respectfully Sir your distress’d humble servant