Abraham Ten Broeck Military Letter in 1779 to George Clinton, Superb

With this cover letter written from Albany, militia Brigadier General Abraham Ten Broeck forwards returns of twelve regiments from his brigade to Governor George Clinton, who was also the commander of the New York militia. Ten Broeck also promised to forward the returns of the remaining five regiments when he received them.

[REVOLUTIONARY WAR.] Abraham Ten Broeck, Autograph Letter Signed, to George Clinton, March 20, 1779, Albany, New York. 1 p., 8.125" x 13". Expected folds; general toning; very good.

Complete Transcript
Albany 20th March 1779
Sir.
Immediately on Receipt of your Excellency's General Orders of the 1st Instant I had Seventeen Copies made & sent them to the Respective Colonels in my Brigade & as I do not know of any Exempt Associated Companies in my Brigade I could not send the Order to such tho there are several such Pretended Companies, but as they did not associate within the eight Weeks directed by the Militia Law, I have not acknowledged them such. I have Rec'd Returns only of 12 Regts, by no means Perfect in my opinion, such as they are, I here Transmitt your Excellency, as soon as I get the Remaining five, & can gett an Explanation of their Returns I shall Endeavour to send you a more Perfect Return,
With great Esteem / I remain
Your Excellency's Most / Obedient
Humble Servant
Abm Ten Broeck
His Excellency George Clinton Esqr

Abraham Ten Broeck (1734-1810) was born in New York City to the prominent merchant and politician Dirck Ten Broeck (1686-1751), who served as mayor of Albany beginning in 1746. Abraham Ten Broeck was sent to New York City to learn business and in 1751 to Europe to learn international business. During the 1750s, he served in the provincial militia, on the Albany City Council, and in the Province of New York Assembly. In 1763, Ten Broeck married Elizabeth van Rensselaer (1734-1813), with whom he had five children. In 1769, Ten Broeck became the co-administrator of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, a position he held until 1784. He became the colonel of the Albany County militia in 1775. He commanded a brigade of the New York militia at the Second Battle of Saratoga in October 1777. He was appointed brigadier general of the Tryon and Albany County militia, then of Albany County only. He resigned in March 1781. He was a member of the Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777 and served as chairman of its Committee of Safety in 1777. He was appointed mayor of Albany in 1779, serving until 1783. He again served as mayor of Albany from 1796 to 1798.

George Clinton (1739-1812) was born to Irish parents in the colony of New York. He served in the French and Indian War, first on a privateer in the Caribbean and then in the militia. After studying law, he began his practice in 1764, and also served in the New York Provincial Assembly from 1768 to 1776. In December 1775, the Provincial Congress commissioned Clinton as a brigadier general in the militia. In March 1777, he received a commission as brigadier general in the Continental Army. Four months later, in July, Clinton became the first governor of the State of New York and held the position until 1795 and again from 1801 to 1804. Clinton initially supported Alexander Hamilton's calls for a stronger federal government, but he became a prominent opponent of the ratification of the Constitution. Antifederalists supported him as a candidate for vice president in the first U.S. presidential election, but John Adams finished second in the electoral vote and became vice president. As a Democratic-Republican, Clinton served as Vice President to both President Thomas Jefferson and President James Madison (1805-1812).

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