Autograph Letter Signed

His is Artful at Concealing Them from the Public, Etc.

Wigginton describes his suspicions regarding a wagoner who he suspects is stealing cannon balls from the public. He gets his 'negroes' to break into the house and take as many as is convenient at the time. He is very artful at concealing them from the public. His wagons generally travel at night with the balls covered with hay and straw.

1797

09

17

Falmouth

Philadelphia

Samuel Hodgdon

Seth Wigginton

wagoner

Philadelphia

Falmouth

cannon balls

hay

straw

theft

1797091780001

1

[Center Writing, top to Bottom] Fahn: 18 Sept

Samuel Hodgdon Esquire
[Indent] Intendant Stores U. States
[Further Indented] Philadelphia

[Bottom Right hand corner] Seth B Wigginton.
[Undecipherable] 20 ___ 1797

17
[Print from stamp] Received
from
State Dep't
Nov. 24 1894
R.P.O. 40I810.
132

67
[Top Right hand corner] Fahn: 17th Sept. 1797
Sir.
[Indent] When I last wrote you, [undecipherable] are
now to have had it in my power to give you full
information of the quantity [undecipherable]c. of shot deposited near
this place, but am disappointed e W. Jo. Perkins who
disputed[?] to get an accurate^ account of them from, inform me
he knows nothing of them more than that he was requested
by you to call &[?] report their situation, which he did, but
was not employed to do anything more with them

[Indent] I then made application to John Shode org who was
principal agent[?] for Jas Hunter at the time those Balls were
left on his Sands and he referred me to Col.o Williams Fin-
=nic of W_msburg who writes sws he did contract with
Col.o Isaac Lasee[?] at different times for large quantities of
military, or warlike Stores, but does^not reeoflel [?] any thing
of S this particular parcel, and recommended me to
May.or/ Pryor of Richmond/ who acted as D.b. Mil Stores
about that time, which I immediately did, Ur[undecipherable] a letter
from him last night Stating that he examined his
papers relative to his retiems[?] Ue[?] of Stores, but could not
find any account of the quantity mentioned, or
but observers it is possible. he may have overlooked it, and
that if its worth while to take a trip to Richmond I shall
have free ascess to all his Books [undecipherable] them As
it is uncertain whether I cou'd get a satisfactory account
of them by going there, I have not thought it desirable
to be at the expense of a journey to that that filaa [?] 'till there
was no other alternative left to get the information wanted

[Indent] I have had conversation with some of the what[?] dants[?] of
this place suspecting the person who Houred[?] the Balls in
question (without liking them know my intensions for so doing)
and they say they think he was Stated Capt. but do
not recollect his name, or place of residence _____ Since I
wrote you M. Hoome's waggons have [undecipherable] this
place [undecipherable] times Soaded with [undecipherable] Balls, and
I have contrived to have two of them taken out as the
waggon was passing, which I now have in my possession.
He is very artful in concealing them from the public, his
waggon generally go this here of a night, & the Ball covered
with Hay or Straw to prevent their being seen __ It can
be proved positively [<-- I can't figure out how to underline this] that he has brought them from
within fifty yards of the place or House where they
were deposited __ He gets his negroes (I am induced to believe)
to brake the{?] House & remove as many as is convenient at
one time, about 90 or 30 yards each night till they are
at a convenient place for the waggons to take them away
& they then nail up the planks again till a further
quantity is wanted __ Every art is used to get them away
undiscovered _ I believe he would have been detected in the
Fact (at least his servant) but two men who I employed
to watch the place of a night imprudently marked some
of the Balls they had just got out of the House - and I
have since then not seen his waggons [undecipherable] as usual - From
the appearance of what Shot is left I judge he has made
use of about two thirds of the quantity first put in the House

I state the above merely that you may Judge the better
of the proper mode of prosecution, and shall continue to get
usery information I can until you think proper to have
it commenced.

[Bottom right corner] I am Sir your m.o Obt Sevt.
Seth B. Wigginton

[Botton left corner, beneath the level of the signature] So soon as I can get the amount
first left at the place I shall [undecipherable]
to ascertain the gty remaining _