GW at Philadelphia. Philadelphia merchant Samuel Church and his brother Sheppard wrote GW seeking the release of their brother John Church, who was being held in prison in Cuba by the Spanish government. They forwarded GW a letter written by John in Oct. 1791. GW forwarded this letter to Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the brothers back on 24 April, informing them that their brother was a subject of Spain and that this was a case in which the United States government should not interfere.