U.S. Office of Commissary General of Prisoners circular
Content Description
This collection contains a circular manuscript, single sheet - two pages, signed by John Mason, Commissioner General of Prisoners during the War of 1812, regarding returned American prisoners of war. The circular is written to to Joseph Whipple Esqr., Collector of the Customs, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Written from Washington D.C. on May 27, 1813.
Dates
- Creation: May 27, 1813
Creator
- Mason, John, 1766-1849 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is minimally processed and open for research.
Biographical / Historical
John Mason (1766-1849) was an American merchant, banker, soldier, planter, scion of the Mason family of Virginia, son of Founder George Mason. MAson was appointed by Thomas Jefferson as the first commanding general of the District of Columbia militia in 1802. He held that position until 1811., and through that role he became Commissioner General of Prisoners during the War of 1812. When the British invaded and burned Washngton D.C., Mason helped President Madison and other officials escape to Virginia. Mason wrote to President Madison on March 23, 1816, resigning his post as Superintendent of Indian Trade,and offering to wind up the Office of Commissary General of Prisoners
Extent
.04 Cubic Feet (1 legal sized folder )
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased from Howard S. Mott, Inc. by the Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia on July 21, 2021.
Subject
- Whipple, Joseph, 1738-1816 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the U.S. Office of Commissary General of Prisoners circular
- Author
- Rose Oliveira, Accessioning Archivist
- Date
- 2 September 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library Repository
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
P.O. Box 400110
University of Virginia
Charlottesville Virginia 22904-4110 United States