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"A Pedigree Partly Indian, Partly Batavian"

Governor Clinton's Reply to General Washington Concerning the Murder of a Van Tassel Family Member

Poughkeepsie 7th Sep'r 1778

Dear Sir, I have received your Excellency's Letters of the 27th of last Month & 1st Instant. I am greatly concerned for the unhappy Fate of Van Tassel, who I am informed always maintained good Character & his Family have afforded many Proofs of their Attachment to the Cause of their Country in which some of them have been great Sufferers. At the same Time as Capt. Colson has already Quit the Army Until it can be discovered to what place he has gone I think it will be most prudent to make as little stir about the Matter as possible. When this is the Case, if your Excellency's aid in securing him shall be necessary, I will take the Liberty of asking it. In the mean Time your Excellency will please to accept my warmest acknowledgments for the Regard you have paid to the Rights of the Civil Authority.

From: Public Papers of George Clinton, First Governor of New York, 1777-1795 - 1801-1804, Vol. IV, Published by the State of New York, Albany; James B. Lyon, State Printer. 1900.

["Mr. Van Tassel is Jno. Van Tassell, Enlisted Fourth Co., Fourth Reg, N.Y State Line May 5, '78 and
dec'd Sep 1 '78. Source: New York in the Revolution, Berthold Fernow, Albany, N.Y. 1887, p. 214]

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