Handwritten letter signed by Richard Varick, known as "the forgotten founding father," a Revolutionary War officer and later mayor of New York City (1789-1801). Letter pleads for aid from the government for the family of a deceased officer, Col. Peter Fell, and outlines his faithful service during the war under General Clinton. "I was informed during the Revolutionary War ... that the said Col. Fell by his great activity and extreme exposure, in wet and cold, and by night and by day, on the American lines, had very much impaired his health and had become severely afflicted by rheumatic affections in his limbs, which so much increased as entirely to disable him from walking and helping himself in any way ... until the day of his death." Dated 1827, with a postscript by Leonard Bleecker (brother of the NYC businessman after whom Bleecker Street is named) affirming what Varick has written. Letter measures about 9-1/2" x 8". This item can be shipped in-house.

Archival tape repair across clean center separation. See images.