FUNDAMENTAL
DOCUMENTS

ARCHIVES/
LIBRARY

ONLINE
RESEARCH
TOOLS

ONLINE
DOCUMENTS

ONLINE
SERVICES

OSL JOHN KELLY TO MEIGS

May it please your Excellency In consequence of the concimitant of War I in common with others of the Inhabitants of Michigan am reduc'd to the solitary means of seeking my living in this part of the Country without success of Employment And after a fruitless search from Urbana to the yellow spring, from thence to the settlement on Clear Creek and from thence to Dayton The Tenth Inst. I was Commanded from a Publick House to the Camp of the Kentucky Light Dragoons and there accused of being a British spy Col Simrall w ith others there search'd and Examined me but found not the least Vestage about me to substantiate the charge But on discovering that I was a Native of Ireland he fram'd an accusation founded on the principles of the Hereditary Rights of foreign Patentates and the odious and obnoxious Allien Law which was recognized by Thomas Scott Esq. one of the Judges of your Supreme Court for the State of Ohio and thereupon I was Commited to close confinement for fifteen Days or untill a due course of Law should discharge me And the few Words your Excellency was pleased at Urbana to give me when I apply'd to you for a pass they have also [illeg.] rested from me and still retain Sir, though honor to whom honor and Tri- bute is due is in my Democratic Creed I am tempted to wish that neither the Asserters of the Rights of foreign Kings nor the revivers of the Odious and obnoxious Allien Law newer may be had in honor of Office within the Juris- diction of the United States of America Sir the few Words you were pleased to give me at Urbana and that they detain from me were directed to Mr. Hunt to let me a fugitive from R. River have three Days Rations Sir with due diffidence and respects to your Merits I subscribe myself Your Excellencies Devoted humble servant

John Kelly

Dayton -- Prison
Sep. 23rd. 1812
To his Excellency
Governor Meigs