Letter: To James Madison, Secretary of State, from Thomas Cruse, 1806

Letter: To James Madison, Secretary of State, from Thomas Cruse, 1806¹
Thomas Cruse was the brother-in-law of Judge James Hamilton of Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Brewhouse Alexandria, 20 February 1806
Sir,
I have taken the liberty in behalf of my friend James Hamilton of Carlisle whose principals & talents must be known from his appointment of district Attorney in Pennsylvania, of stating that I have heard him once say that he had some intention of removing to the district of Columbia.
(I know he has a considerable property there.) Should Mr. Hamilton’s views still be this way & the Office of Chief Judge of the district be still vacant, perhaps he might have the honor of soliciting in person or by this appointment. I have wrote this day to Mr. Hamilton and doubt not but to have an answer by return of post in 10 or 12 days.
With great respect I remain etc. Thomas Cruse

Judge Hamilton (1752-1819) did not get the appointment, and he never moved to the District of Columbia.
Thomas Cruse (1762-1832) a wine merchant of Belfast, Ireland married Ann Hamilton of Belfast the sister of Judge James Hamilton of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Cruse was a passionate man who fought for his belief that Ireland should be free of English rule. He was a member of the Belfast “Blue’s” Volunteer Company and was imprisoned. He was forced to leave Ireland in 1799 for his participation in the 1798 uprising, and he and his family settled in Alexandria (then in the District of Columbia.) Belfast News Letter, August 3, 1798, and November 9, 1798.