Understanding that you are the acting executor of your illustrious relative the late Genl Washington, I take the liberty respectfully to ask of you some information in relation to a bequest contained in his last Will. Feeling no personal interest in it, I had not seen his will or rather that part of it, which contains the bequests to individuals. Accidentally meeting with it a few months since, I was surprised to find an item to this effect; viz, "To Sally B. Haynie, a distant relation of mine I give and bequeath three hundred dollars."

Sally B. Haynie was the name of my mother; and the traditionary history of our family boasts her relationship to Gen: Washington through the Ball Family. My father was called Bridgar Haynie; he was a commissary in the war of the revolution; and being from the same section of Country he perhaps came under the immediate observation of Genl Washington. My father and mother lived & died in the adjoining County of Northumberland, the first, died some years before the General, the latter, a few years after him, the genl,: leaving myself and four other children.

From these facts, the following considerations seem to identify my mother and the person named in the will. 1st The idenity of name: both the given names, and the manner of spelling the surname. 2nd The description as to the relationship. 3rd The belief that no other family in Virginia spells their name in this way, (Haynie). 4th The fact that my father, from their respective situations in the army was probably acquainted with Genl Washington. 5th That in the situation in which my mother was, the sum of three hundred dollars would not have been inconsiderable.

These coincidences have established the reasonable belief among us that our mother was the legatee. And altho' we may be mistaken and the money may have been paid to some other person; yet we owe it to ourselves to ask of you whether it has been paid by any one; and if not, whether you know the person named H. We need not say, Sir, that independently of pecuniary considerations, we shall be proud to believe that our parent received this mark of friendship and respect from such a source. While I ask your indulgence for the liberty which I have taken, I must also beg the favour to hear from you touching this matter as soon as yr convenience will permit.

My address is to Nuttsville Lancaster Cty. I am very respectfully Your Obt Servant