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Gc  MIL. 

974,6 
N46ne 
V.9 
1788922 


REYNOLDS   HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY  COLLECTION 


da 


3  1833  01104  2980 


S'H  C) 


JEJkl^'IEIiS 


OF    THE 


/ 


NFAV  TTAVFA   nOT.OXY 


IIISTOEICAL    SOCIETY 


4^ 


va 


TOL.  IX 


9 


PRINTED     FOR     THE     SOCIETY 

1918 


17889*^'^ 


(*.w 


Contents 


PAGE 

Prefatory  Note iv 

List  of  Officers v 

Committees     ■ :  .  ."^  .  .  vi 

List  of  ^Members *.....  vii 

Papers : 

I.  The  Hartford  Couveiition;    by  Simeon  E.  Baldwin-    1 

IL         Notes  on  some  of  the  Xew  Haven  Loyalists,  including  those 

graduated  at  Yale;    by  Fraxklix  B.  Dexter  29 

III.  The  Rev.  Harry  Croswell,  D.D.,  and  his  Diary;  by  Fraxklix 

B.  Dexter 40 

IV.  The   Removal   of   Yale   College   to   Xew   Haven   in   October, 

1716;    by  J'raxklix  B.  Dexter 70 

V.  The   Loss   of   the   Charter   Government   in   Connecticut:    by 

LEiiCEL  A.  "Welles 90 

VI.  Fighting  the  Revolution  with  Printer's  Ink  in  Connecticut; 

the  Official  Printing  of  that  Colony  from  Lexington  to  the 
Declaratum ;    by  Albert  C.  Bates 129 

VII.  A    Ride    across    Connecticut    before    the    Revolution;      by 

SiMEOX  E.  Baldwix 161 

M^II.  Tlie  Citizenship  of  the  Author  of  the  "Quatre  Lettres  d'un 
Bourgeois  de  Xew-Heaven  sur  I'unite  de  la  legislation" 
by  SiMEOx  E.  Baldwix    170 

IX.  Jared   Ingersoll,   Stamp   Master,   and   the   Stamp   Act;     by 

Edwix  S.  Lixes 174 

X.  A    Selection    from    the    Correspondence    and    Miscellaneous 

Papers    of    Jared    Ingersoll;      edited    by    Fraxklix    B. 

Dexter 201 

Index    473 


IPrcfator^  Bote 


The  iSTe^v  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society  has  published 
nine  volumes  of  its  papers  ;  Vol.  I,  in  1805  ;  Vol.  II,  in  1877  ; 
Vol.  Ill,  in  18S2;  Vol.  IV,  in  1888;  Vol.  V,  in  ISOI;  Vol. 
VI,  in  1900;  Vol.  VII,  in  1908;  Vol.  VIII,  in  lOU;  and 
Vol.  IX,  in  1918. 

The  Society  does  not  consider  itself  committed  to  the  sup- 
port of  the  positions  taken  in  any  of  the  papers  thus  published. 
■  For  the  statements  or  conclusions  of  each,  the  author  is  alone 
responsible. 

Among-  the  Society's  possessions  is  the  valuable  collection  of 
Ingersoll  Papers,  which  Bishop  Lines  obtained  for  us  when  he 
was  its  President.  Included  in  this  volume  are  the  more 
important  Letters  of  that  collection,  which  have  been  carefullv 
selected  and  annotated  by  Prof.  Franklin  B.  Dexter.  The 
Publication  Committee  takes  this  opportunity  to  express  its 
grateful  appreciation  to  ^Ir.  Dexter  for  his  generous  help,  and 
for  the  skilful  editing  which  no  one  else  is  so  well  equipped  to 
furnish. 


William  A.  BEAnDsLEv,  I 
Tno:\[AS  ^[.  Pkextice, 

SnrEOx  E.  Baldwin,  y 

WiLLisTox  Walker,  { 

Theodoke  S.  Woolsey,  i 


Publication 
Committee. 


//     vr 


©mccre  of  the  ll'lcw  Mavcn  Colony 
Ulicitorical  Socict\i 

1917*1913 


Prcftidoit  : 

willta:\i  a.  beardsley. 

First  Vice  President:  Second  Vice  President: 

ELI  WniTXI]Y.  •  ?URTOX  MAXSFIELD. 

Secretar;/:  Assistant  Secretary: 

THOMAS  M.  PREXTICE.  A.  rMcCLELLAX  MATHEWSOX. 

Treasurer: 
FREDERICK  L.  TROWBRIDGE. 

Advisory  Committee 
( Constituting  ^vith  the  above  named  a  Board  of  Directors)  : 
Arthcr  T.  IIadley,  President  of  Yale  University,  ex-oficio. 
David  E.  FitzGekald,  Mayor  of  tlie  City  of  Xew  Haven,  ex-officio. 
JOHX  E.  DouGiiAX,  Town  Clerk  of  Xew  Haven,  ex-officio. 

Honorary  Directors  in.  Permanency 
(With  power  of  voting  in  Board  of  Directors)  : 
Hexry  F.  English,  Hkxry  L.  Hotchkiss, 

George  B.  Adams,  '  Willistox  Walker. 

Directors  for  Three  Years: 
Theodore  S.  Woolsey,  Rctherford  Trowbridge, 

Henry  T.  Blake,  He.vry  H.  Towxsiiexd, 

F.  Wells  Williams. 

Directors  for  Tiro  Years: 
SiMEOx  E.  Baldwin-, 


Ln-INGSTOX  W.  Cleavel.\n-d,  Leonard  M.  Daggett, 

Andrew  Keogh.  , 

Directors  for  One  Year: 
Edward  A.  Bowers,  Francis  B.  Trowbridge, 

George  D.  Watrocs,  Osborne  A.  Day, 

Frederick  J.  Kingsbury. 

Librarian  and  Curator: 
Frederick  Bostwick. 

Colonial  Hall,  the  building  of  the  Society,  is  open  to  the  public  daily 
«xcept  holidays,  from  9.30  A.  m.  to  12.30  p.  M.,  and  from  2  i:  ii.  to  5  p.  it"; 
in  the  winter  months  closed  at  4  p.  m. 


StanMmj  Committees  for  1917^1918 


Executive  Connnittee: 
The  President, 

He.NUY    T.    BL.VKE, 

Henry  F.  English, 
BrRTON  ^Iansfield, 
Thomas  M.  Peextice. 

Finance  Committee : 

RUTHERFOKD   TeOWERIDGE, 

Eli  Whitney, 
George  D.  Watrous. 

House  Committee: 
Edward  A.  Bowers, 
Simeon  E.  Baldwin, 
Hen-ry  F.  English, 
Leonard  :M.  Daggett. 

Publication  Committee: 
The  President, 
The  Secretary, 
Simeon  E.  Baldwin, 

WiLLISTON    WaLKE-R, 

Theodore  S.  Woolsey. 

Committee  on  Papers  to  be  Read. 
The  President, 
The  Secretary,  ■ " 

F.  Wetxs  Williams. 
Frederick  J.  Kingsbury. 

Library  Com7)iittce : 
Andrew  Keogh, 
Frederick  Bostwick, 
Edward  A.  Bowers, 
Fbancis  B.  Trowbridge. 


Committee  on  New  Members: 
Henry  H.  Townshend, 
Roger  W.  Tuttle, 
William  M.  Hotchkiss. 

Committee  on  Placing  Memorial 

Tablets: 
Henry  T.  Blake, 
Simeon  E.  Baldwin, 
Andrew  Keogh. 

Committee  on  Relics: 
Livingston  W.  Cleaveland, 

RUTHE-RFORD   TrOWBRIDGE, 

Thomas  Hooker, 

A.  McClellan  :JLvtiiewson, 

Anson  Phelps  Stokes. 

Lailiex'  Auxiliary  Committee: 
Miss  Ger.vldine  Carmalt, 
Mrs.  Arnon  A.  Alling, 
Mrs.  WiLLiAit  A.  Be.4.edsley, 
Miss  Fannie  A.  Bowers, 
Mrs.  Frederick  F.  Brewster, 
Miss  ^iLvry  B.  Bristol, 
Mrs.  Leonard  M.  Daggett, 
Mrs.  Henry  F.  English, 
;Mrs.  ^Tax  Fariiand, 
:Mrs.  Josei-h  :NrAR.SHALL  Flint, 
Mrs.  H.  Stuart  Hotchkiss, 
]\Irs.  George  Harrison  Gray, 
Mrs.  Burton  i[ANSFiELD, 
]^1rs.  Joseph  B.  Sargent, 
Miss  Mary  E.  Scranton, 

Mrs.    liUTHERFORD    TrOWBRIDGE, 

Muss  Edith  Walker, 
Mr.s.  Arthur  M.  Wheeler, 
Mrs.  Eli  Wiuii^ex. 


fIDcmlKrs  ot  tbc  Society 


Monorars  /iBembcrs 

WiLUAM  C.  WixsLOW,  Boston,  Mass.        Edwin  S.  Lines,  yewark,  N.  J. 

CorresponMnci  /Iftcmbcrs 

L.  Ve31.\on  Briggs,  Eaywvcr,  Mass. 


Xite  /nbembers 


Roger  S.  Baldwin. 
Simeon  E.  Baldwin. 
Charles  X.  Baxter,  Branford 
L.  Wheeler  Beecher. 
Hiram  Bingham. 
T.  Whitney  Blake. 
Frederick  Bostwick. 
Edward  A.  Bowers. 
Miss  Fannie  A.  Bowers. 
George  C.  Bryant,  Aiisonia. 
Ericsson  F.  Bushnell,  y.  Y. 
William  H.  Carmalt. 
Franklin  B.  Dexter. 
Henry  F.  English. 
Mrs.  Henry  F.  English. 
Henry  W.  Farnam. 
Frederick  B.  Farnsworth. 


Citij. 


Franklin  Farrel,  Jr. 

George  H.  Ford. 

Edwin  S.  Greeley. 

Edward  A.  Harriuian. 

Henry  L.  Hotchkiss. 

Henry  Stuart  Hotchkiss. 

Miss  Susan  V.  Hotchkiss. 

Charles  B.  Rowland,  Greenicicli. 

Mrs.  Charles  B.  Rowland,  Greenwich. 

Mrs.  Joseph  B.  Sargent. 

jNIrs.  Elizaljeth  Pratt  Stevens. 

Henry  H.  Townshend. 

Rutherford  Trowbridge. 

Mrs.  Robert  B.  Wade. 

Miss  Alice  Johnstone  Walker. 

Eli  Whitney. 

Mrs.  E.  C.  Woodruff,  England. 


Wilbur  C.  Abbott. 
George  B.  Adams. 
Nelson  Adams,  Springfield, 
Frederick  M.  Adler. 
Mrs.  W.  F.  Alcorn. 
Arnon  A.  Ailing. 
Arthur  N.  Ailing. 
David  R.  Ailing.. 
John  W.  Ailing. 
Mrs.  Mary  S.  Andreini,  N. 
Charles  M.  Andrews. 
Ricardo  F.  Armstrong. 
Harry  Hall  Atwater. 
Frank  G.  Atwood. 
Samuel  R.  Avis. 


Bniuial  Members 

Leonard  W.  Bacon. 

Amos  F.  Barnes. 
Mass.  Thomas  R.  Barnum. 

George  J.  Bassett. 

Mrs.  Samuel  A.  Bassett. 

V^ernal  W.  Bates. 

John  K.  Beacli. 

Miss  Elisabeth  M.  Beardsley. 

William  A.  Beardsley. 
Y.  City.       Mrs.  William  Beebe. 

William  S.  Beecher. 

Thomas  G.  Bennett. 

Louis  B.  Bishop. 

Mrs.  Timothy  H.  Bishop. 

Henry  T.  Blake. 


vm 


MEMBERS    OF    TIIK    SOCIETY. 


Burton  L.  Blatchley. 

Clarence  T>.  Bolmer. 

Edward  M.  Bradley. 

Frederick  T.  Bradley. 

Mrs.  Frederick  T.  Bradley. 

George  T.  Bradley. 

Frederick  F.  Brewster. 

Jolin  W.  Bristol. 

Miss  Mary  B.  Bristol. 

Mrs.  Robert  A.  Brown. 

Fred  B.  Bunnell. 

George  F.  Burgess. 

Charles  E.  Burton. 

George  R.  Burton. 

Winthrop  G.  Bushnell. 

Eugene  A.  Callahan. 

Walter  Camp. 

LeGraud  Cannon. 

Minotte  E.  Chatfield. 

F.  Joseph  Chatterton. 

Herman  D.  Clark. 

Livingston  W.  Cleaveland. 

George  R.  Coan. 

Miss  Harriet  J.  Cooper.  •<' 

Frank  Addison  Corbin. 

Louis  C.  Cowles. 

Mrs.  George  M.  Curtis,  Meriden. 

Mrs.  T.  W.  T.  Curtis. 

Franklin  A.  Curtiss. 

Leonard  M.  Daggett. 

Mrs.  Leonard  M.  Daggett. 

Edward  S.  Dana. 

Miss  Susan  L.  Davis. 

George  Family  Day. 

Harry  G.  Day. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Day. 

Osborne  A.  Day.  V 

Eugene  DeForest.  '.'■'' 

Samuel  C.  Deniing. 

George  S.  Dickerman. 

William  H.  Douglass. 

Miss  Eliza  deForest  Downer. 

John  I.  H.  Downes. 

Miss  Caroline  E.  Dudley. 

Mrs.  Timothy  Dwight. 

Miss  Alice  M.  English. 

Benjamin  F.  English. 

Harold  K.  Enjrlish. 


James  English. 

Lewis  H.  English. 

Miss  Olivia  H.  English. 

Philip  H.  English. 

Alexander  W.  Evans. 

Winter  H.  Everest. 

Henry  W.  Farnam,  Jr, 

Miss  Katherine  K.  Farnam. 

Miss  Louise  W,  Farnam. 

Thomas  W.  Farnam. 

William  W.  Farnam. 

Max  Farrand. 

Bruce  Fenn. 

Harry  B.  Ferris. 

William  T.  Fields. 

Irving  Fisher. 

Samuel  H.  Fisher. 

Miss  Delia  C.  Fitch. 

Miss  Julia  Fleming. 

Charles  J.  Foote. 

Pierrepont  B.  Foster. 

John  S.  Fowler. 

Henry  Fresenius. 

Frank  B.  Frisbie. 

Mrs.  Ella  F.  Gilbert. 

Charles  E.  Graham. 

Frederick  D.  Grave. 

Arthur  C.  Graves. 

Mrs.  George  Harrison  Gray. 

Mrs.  Mary  F.  Woods  Greist. 

Frank  W.  Guion. 

George  M.  Gunn,  MUford. 

William  H.  Hackett. 

Arthur  T.  Hadley. 

Henry  A.  L.  Hall. 

Charles  S.  Hamilton. 

James  A.  Hamilton. 

Alfred  E.  Hammer. 

Mrs.  Lynde  Harrison. 

Mrs.  George  Seymour  Hastings. 

James  S.  Hemingway. 

Samuel  Jlemingway. 

Xatlian  W.  Hendryx.. 

John  Henney. 

Harrison  Hewitt. 

James  Hillhoase. 

Mrs.  James  Hillhouse. 

Carleton  E.  Huadlev. 


/■{<»<:     ■■(      .-•    ' 


1  ' ' 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY. 


IX 


>[r.s.  Horace  P.  Hoadley. 

Al'ol  Ilolbrcjok. 

Miss  Olive  E.  Holbrook. 

Miss  ;Mary  S.  Ilollister. 

Clarence  R.  Hooker. 

Miss  Elizabeth  R.  Hooker. 

Tlioinas  Hooker. 

'll»(mias  Hooker,  Jr. 

Arthur  T.  Hopkins. 

William  F.  Hopson. 

William  M.  Hotchkiss. 

Philip  Hugo. 

William  H.  Hull. 

F.  Thornton  Hunt. 

Samuel  W.  Hurlburt. 

Hobart  B.  Ives. 

L.  Erwin  Jacobs. 

Donald  L.  Jacobus. 

Allen  Johnson. 

Joseph  C.  Johnson. 

John  B.  Kennedy. 

Andrew  Keogh. 

Frederick  J.  Kingsbury. 

Mrs.  William  L.  Kingsley. 

Cornelius  L.  Kitchel. 

Isaac  L.  Kleiner. 

H.  M.  Kochersperger. 

George  T.  Ladd. 

Lyman  M.  Law. 

Mrs.  Julia  C.  Leavenworth. 

Wilson  H.  Lee. 

Miss  Ida  L.  Leet€. 

George  W.  Lewis. 

Allen  B.  Lincoln. 

C.  Purdy  Lindsley. 

H.  Wales  Lines,  Meriden. 

Harry  K.  LineSi 

Mrs.  Jane  B.  Linnell. 

Edwin  H.  Loclavood. 

Seymour  C.  Loomis. 

George  Grant  !MacCurdy. 

James  H.  MacDonald. 

Walter  E.  Malley. 

Mrs.  Austin  Mansfield. 

Burton  Mansfield. 

Mrs.  Burton  ^Mansfield. 

Edward  F.  :\ransfield. 

Stanlev  Mansfield. 


Jolin  T.  ^Manson. 

Mrs.  John  T.  ^iJanson. 

A.  McClellan  Mathewson. 

Charles  M.  Matthews. 

John  P.  McCusker. 

Virgil  F.  McXoil. 

Charles  S.  Mellen. 

Adolph  Mendel. 

Mrs.  Edwin  F.  Mersick. 

Eli  Mix. 

Mrs.  F.  Henry  ^Monroe. 

James  T.  ^Moran. 

Samuel  C.  ^Morehouse. 

James  A.  Munro. 

Charles  H.  Xettleton. 

Laurence  O'Brien. 

Arthur  D.  Osborne. 

George  L.  Paine. 

A.  Oswald  Pallman. 

Theodore  D.  Pallman. 

Thomas  F.  Paradise. 

Henry  F.  Parmelee. 

William  M.  Parsons. 

Greorge  Leete  Peck. 

George  W.  Peck. 

Henry  H.  Peck,  Waterbury. 

Milo  L.  Peck. 

Cyrus  Berry  Peets. 

Miss  Lina  M.  Phipps. 

Edwin  S.  Pickett. 

James  S.  Pitkin. 

Mrs.  Amy  B.  Porter. 

I.  Napoleon  Porter. 

Miss  Martha  Day  Porter. 

Thomas  ^I.  Prentice. 

!N[iss  Lillian  E.  Priidden. 

Horatio  G.  Redfield. 

Mrs.  Edward  :M.  Reed. 

Horatio  M.  Reynolds. 

Edward  D.  Robbins. 

Charles  L.  Rockwell,  Meriden. 

Mrs.  Emilie  Trowbridge  Rogers. 

Henry  Wade  Rogers. 

Edwin  P.  Root. 

Henry  C.  Rowe. 

F.  Howard  Russell. 

Mrs.  Thomas  H.  Russell. 

Charles  E.  P.  Sanford. 


X 


irEMBERS    OF    THE    SOCIETY. 


Mrs.  Henry  B.  Sargent. 

Ziegler  Sargent. 

Eniniott  A. SaundtTS,  ML-^JinicakajInd. 

Miss  Ethel  Lord  Scutield. 

Charles  0.  Scoville. 

Miss  Mary  E.  Scranton. 

William  D.  Scranton. 

George  Dudley  Seymour. 

Morris  W.  Seymour,  Litchfield. 

Harrison  T.  Sheldon. 

Simon  B.  Shoninger. 

Walter  C.  Skiir. 

Lucius  C.  Slayton. 

John  T.  Sloan,  Jr. 

Charles  H.  Smith. 

E.  Hershey  Sneath. 

Herbert  M.  Snow. 

H.  Merriman  Steele. 

James  E.  Stetson. 

Willis  K.  Stetson. 

Carleton  H.  Stevens. 
Ezekiel  G.  Stoddard. 

William  B.  Stoddard,  Miljord. 

Anson  Phelps  Stokes. 

Lucius  S.  Storrs. 

S.  Fred  Strong. 

Thomas  H.  Sullivan. 

Mrs.  Harriet  W.  Swan. 

Thomas  W.  Swan. 

Edward  Taylor. 

John  H.  Taylor. 

Ezra  C.  Terry. 

Clarence  E.  Thompson.  •":      ' 

Graham  F.  Thompson. 

John  Q.  Tilson. 

Mrs.  Bertha  H.  Touiisend. 

George  H.  Townsend. 

Raynham  Townshend. 

Charles  F.  Treadway. 

Miss  Caroline  II.  Trowbridge. 

Courtlandt  H.  Trowbridge. 

Elford  P.  Trowbridge. 

Francis  B.  Trowbridge. 

Frederick  L.  Trowbridge. 


Hayes  Quincy  Trowbridge. 
Mrs.  Thomas  R.  Trowbridge. 
Winston  J.  Trowbridge. 
Charles  A.  Tuttle. 
Roger  W.  Tuttle. 
Julius  Twiss. 
Victor  ilorris  Tyler. 
Mrs.  William  R.  Tyler. 
Isaac  M.  Ullman. 
Louis  'M.  Ullman. 
Mrs.  John  Clrich. 
Addison  VanXame. 
William  F.  Verdi. 
Charles  M.  Walker. 
Williston  Walker. 
Mrs.  Williston  Walker. 
Frederick  M.  Ward. 
Frederick  S.  Ward. 
Mrs.  Henry  A.  Warner. 
William  A.  Warner. 
Herbert  C.  \^arren. 
George  D.  Watrous. 
George  D.  Watrous,  Jr. 
Mrs.  George  H.  Watrous. 
Jesse  D.  Welch. 
Lewis  S.  Welch. 
Pierce  X.  Welch. 
Mrs.  Pierce  X'.  Welch. 
Lemuel  A.  Welles,  New  York. 
William  S.  Wells. 
Alfred  X\  Wheeler. 
Edwin  S.  WTieeler. 
John  Davenport  Wheeler. 
Roger  S.  White. 
Roger  S.  White,  2d. 
Mrs.  Eli  Whitney. 
Miss  Elizabeth  Fay  Whitney. 
Miss  Margaret  D.  Whitney. 
Charles  W.  Whittlesey. 
Frederick  Wells  Williams. 
Arthur  B.  Woodford. 
Rollin  S.  Woodruff. 
Theodore  S.  Woolsey. 
Albort  Zunder. 


\  1  'iJ-s      I 


THE    HARTFORD   CONVENTION 

Bv  SniEOx  E.  Baldwin,  LL.D. 

[Head  December  21,  1914.] 


Hartford  has  been  the  seat  of  three  Conventions  of  States. 
The  first  was  held  in  1779;  the  second  in  17S0.  Each  was 
attended  by  five  States,  New  York  and  all  New  England."  The 
third,  in  which  three  States  (all  of  New  England  except  New 
Hampshire  and  Vermont)  officially  participated,  was  that  the 
centenary  of  which  we  meet  to  celebrate. 

Of  gatherings  of  this  general  character  there  had  been  eleven 
between  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  the  Philadelphia 
Convention  which  framed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
During  that  stage  in  our  history  each  State  was  an  independent 
sovereign.  Each  was,  nevertheless,  a  member  of  a  combination 
of  States,  at  first  described  as  Continental,  and  after  March  first, 
17S1,  taking  the  shape  of  a  Confederation  under  a  written  Con- 
stitution. Was  it,  under  these  circumstances,  a  right  of  any 
number  of  States  less  than  the  whole  to  meet  in  convention  for 
either  discussion  or  action  on  public  affairs  of  common  interest ' 

In  January,  17S1,  while  the  union  remained  undescribed  in 
written  form,  Philip  Schuyler  moved  in  the  Senate  of  New 
York  to  request  tlie  Eastern  States  to  join  in  a  convention,  which 
should  form  a  perpetual  league  of  incorporation.  **He  would 
make  this  league,  however,''  subject  to  the  common  interest  of  all 
the  States,  ''and  invite  others  to  accede  to  it.'"'t 

Nothing  came  of  this,  but  two  years  later,  in  Eebruary,  17S0, 
the  General  Court  of  ^Massachusetts  voted  to  invite  the  other 
New  England  States  and  New.  York  to  meet  in  convention  for 
regulating  matters  of  common  conceru.     On  the  first  of  ^larch 

*  See  New  Haven  Coluiiy  IIi>t.  Sue.  rapcis.  Id.  o7. 
t  Bancroft,  History  of  tlie  lunstitutimi.  I.  'i'.'. 


^  THE    IIAKTFOKD    CO::v  VEXTIOX. 

Xew  Hampshire  declined  to  take  part  in  this  movement,  and  in 
Xew  York  there  was  similar  action  a  few  days  later.* 

On  the  first  day  of  April  this  matter  occasioned  some  discus- 
sion in  the  Continental  Congress.  ^Eercer  of  Virginia  obsen-ed 
that  to  hold  such  a  convention  would  constitute  a  dangerous  pre- 
cedent. Colonel  Bland  of  Virginia  said  that  he  had  always 
considered  ''young  Congresses''  of  this  character  as  improper, 
and  contravening  the  spirit  of  the  Federal  government.  Madi- 
son and  Hamilton,  as  stated  in  the  diary  of  the  former,  '"'disap- 
proved of  these  partial  conventions,  not  as  absolute  violations 
of  the  Confederacy,  but  as  ultimately  leading  to  them  and,  in 
the  meantime,  exciting  pernicious  jealousies. "f 

Biit  one  of  the  ten  gatherings  of  States  held  prior  to  that  of 
17S6  at  Annapolis  has  any  really  remembered  place  in  American 
history.  The  only  one  held  since  the  adoption  of  the  Federal 
Constitution  has  such  a  place,  and  that  secured  it  not  for  what  it 
did,  but  for  what  it  was  feared  it  might  do. 

The  Hartford  Convention  of  1S14  was  unquestionably  a  bi^dy 
of  men  who  might,  without  much  difficulty,  have  been  led  to  take 
a  position  beyond  the  verge  of  patriotic  duty.  Happily  its 
leadei-s  were  men  of  too  sound  judgment  to  urge  or  to  admit 
action  of  such  a  kind.  They  shared  the  thought  of  the  day, 
among  the  Federalists  of  the  ilamiltonian  School,  as  to  the  doc- 
trine of  States'  Eights.  But  they  had  also  a  sincere  attachment 
to  the  United  States,  and  fully  recognized  it  as  in  some  matters 
supreme. 

Among  the  rights  reserved  to  the  States,  however,  they  con- 
sidered, as  included,  that  of  meeting  for  consultation.  It  had 
been  frequently  claimed  and  exercised  before  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution.  It  was  not  prohibited  by  it.  Therefore,  they 
reasoned,  it  was  reseiwed. 

Harrison  Gray  Otis  took  this  position  in  his  ''Letters  in 
Defence  of  the  Hartford  Convention,  and  the  People  of  ^Massa- 
chusettvS,"  published  in  lS24.t 

•Journals  of  the  Lt'j,'is.Iature,  March  S,  10,  II. 
t  Elliott's  Debates,  V,  81. 
t  p.  28. 


4  THE    HArvTFORD    COXVENTIOX. 

ing  little  assistance  from  the  military  forces  of  the  United 
States.  .-„ 

She  had  no  sympathy  wirh  the  policy  which  brought  on  the 
"War  of  1S12.  Early  in  1S13  a  congratulatory  resolution  was 
introduced  in  her  legislature,  with  reference  to  the  recent  sink- 
ing of  the  British  sloop-of-war  Peacock  off  the  Demerara  river 
by  the  Hornet,  under  C(jnmiand  of  Lawrence. 

The  Senate  threw  it  our,  on  tlie  report  of  a  committee  headed 
by  Josiah  Quincy,  with  these  words  : 

"Resolved,  as  the  sense  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts,  that 
in  a  war  like  the  present,  waged  without  justifiable  cause,  and 
prosecuted  in  a  manner  which  indicates  that  conquest  and  ambi- 
tion are  its  real  motives,  it  is  not  becoming  a  moral  and  religious 
people  to  express  any  approbation  of  military  or  naval  exploits, 
which  are  not  immediately  connected  with  the  defence  of  our 
sea-coast  and  soil.'' 

The  defence  of  the  coast  and  soil  of  Xew  England  by  the 
forces  of  the  United  States,  which  had  been  feeble  up  to  the  time 
when  this  report  was  made,  became  still  feebler  during  the 
following  year. 

The  governments  of  ^lassachusetts  and  Connecticut  had 
refused,  at  tlie  beginning  of  the  war,  to  comply  with  the  request 
of  the  United  States  to  put  a  part  of  their  organized  militia  into 
service  under  the  ccmmand  of  otriccrs  in  the  regular  army.  The 
reasons  for  this  refusal,  which  they  set  forth,  were  that  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States  secured  to  each  State  the  right 
to  officer  its  own  militia  ;  that  the  federal  government  could  only 
call  for  their  services  whru  needed  to  execute  the  laws  of  the 
Union,  suppress  insurrectiuus  and  repel  invasions;  and  that,  at 
present,  there  was  no  such  need,  as  the  President  had  only 
informed  thciu  that  there  was  imminent  '"danger"  of  invasion. 
These  States,  thercfMre.  while  they  made  the  formal  •"detach- 
ment" of  as  many  of  their  militia  as  was  requested  under  the 
Act  of  Congress  of  A}»ril  li',  1^12.  refused  to  put  them  under 
the  command  of  otlieers  ..f  \\u-  n-gular  anuy. 

Governor  (rri-woM's  ai-Ti«»n  in  this  direction  was  unre- 
seiwedlv   appri'ved    by    tin-    (leiieral    Assembly.   .  A   committee 


THE    HARTFORD    CONVEXTIO:^T.  0 

appointed  to  consider  it  at  a  special  session  held  on  August  25tli, 
1S12,  used  this  language  in  their  reports 

''It  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  State  of  Connecticut  is  a 
free,  sovereigii,  and  independent  State ;  that  the  United  States 
are  a  Confederacy  of  States ;  that  "\ve  are  a  confederated  and  not 
a  consolidated  Kepublic.  The  Governor  of  this  State  is  under 
as  high  and  solemn  obligations  'to  maintain  the  lawful  rights  and 
privileges  thereof  as  a  sovereign,  free  and  independent  State'  as 
he  is  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  Fnited  States." 

The  terms  of  the  obligation  thus  des-cribed  are  quoted  from 
the  official  oath  for  our  Governors, — an  oath  soon  afterwards 
changed,  bj  the  Constitution  of  1818,  to  its  present  form,  in 
which  the  clause  in  qtiestion  is  not  found. 

Governor  Griswold  recommended  to  our  legislature  the  enact- 
ment of  a  law  to  raise  purely  State  troops,  which  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States  permits  in  time  of  war.  Such  acts 
were  passed  in  both  Connecticutf  and  ^lassachusetts.  The 
United  States  declined  to  pay  or  provision  troops  not  stibject  to 
their  orders,  and  the  States  felt  the  burden  thus  thrown  upon 
them  very  keenly.  Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war,  Cong-ress 
prepared  an  Act  authorizing  the  States  to  raise  and  officer  State 
troops,  to  be  employed  within  their  own  territory  or  that  of 
adjoining  States,  and  providing  for  their  pay  and  subsistence. 
Had  such  an  Act  been  passed  a  year  or  two  earlier,  said  the 
"Appeal  to  the  Citizens  of  the  United  States,"  pttblished  in 
1829,  in  answer  to  some  assertions  of  John  Quincy  Adams,  the 
Hartford  Convention  would  never  have  been  called. t 

The  Governor  of  Vermont  went  farthest  in  asserting  the  right 
of  each  State,  under  the  Constitution,  to  command  her  own 
militia.  On  Xovember  10,  1813,  Governor  Chittenden  ordered 
a  body  of  Vermont  militia  home  from  Plattsburgh  in  iiSTew  York, 
where  they  were  stationed,  under  command  of  a  United  States 
officer. 

•  Report  on  the  Governor's  Speech,  page  C. 

t  Session  Lawi,  OctobL-r  Session.  lSl-2.  (liap.  I,  and  October  Session,  1S14, 
Cliap.  0. 

t  Ailanis,  New  England  Federalism,  G3,  8iJ. 


il'   .-.,>  1<  I. 


I  ./i 


6  THE    HARTFORD    COXVEXTIOX. 

The  officers  of  the  militia  sent  the  Governor  a  letter  refusing 
to  obey ;  styling  his  proclamation  of  recall  one  of  "folly  and 
infamy,-'  but  sugaring  the  pill  by  the  remark  that  they  consid- 
ered its  issue  as  due  to  "evil  advisers"  by  whom  he  was  ''encom- 
passed."* "When  news  of  this  occurrence  reached  CongTess,  a 
motion  was  made  (January  0,  1S14)  that  the  Attorney-General 
prosecute  Governor  Chittenden  for  enticing  soldiers  to  desert, 
but  the  proposition  was  laid  on  the  table,  and  the  affair  passed 
over  in  silence. 

In  August,  1814,  Governor  Smith  of  Connecticut  recalled  the 
only  detachment  of  militia  which  this  State  had  sent  to  be 
enrolled  in  the  national  service,  f 

We  cannot  get  a  clear  idea  of  the  practical  relations  between 
the  States  and  the  United  States,  a  hundred  years  ago,  without 
keeping  steadily  in  mind  the  fact  that  their  theoretical  relations 
were  unsettled,  down  to  the  close  of  the  civil  war,  and  indeed, 
until  the  courts  had  pronounced  upon  the  law  that  must  be 
applied  in  solving  the  leading  problems  which  the  war  brought 
to  the  front. 

The  view  that  it  was  the  right  of  a  State  to  judge  for  itself  of 
any  violation  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  to 
secede  from  the  Union  if  its  decision  were  disregarded,  from 
the  very  beginnning  of  the  Federal  government  had  many  sup- 
porters in  the  Xorth  as  well  as  in  the  South.  It  is  almost  a 
necessary  corollary  from  the  Virginia  Resolutions  of  1703, 
drawn  by  ^^iadison. 

Senator  John  Taylor  of  Virginia,  in  ^Fay,  1794,  wrote  for 
^Madison's  information  an  account  of  a  long  conversation  which 
he  ha"d  had  with  two  of  the  leaders  of  Xorthern  political  opinion, 
Rufus  King,  one  of  the  two  first  Senators  from  Xew  York,  and 
Oliver  Ellsworth,  one  of  the  two  tirst  from  Connecticut,  and 
soon  to  be  the  Chief  Justice  of  the  United  States.  In  this  inter- 
view both  King  and  Ellsworth  said  that  by  reason  of  ditferences 
of  opinion  between  the  East  and  the  South,  as  to  the  scope  and 
functions  of  government,  the  Union  could  not  last  long,  and  that 

*  Records  of  GoveriKir  and  Ctnuicil  of  Veinioiit,  VI,  404. 
t  Morison.  Life  of  Harrison  Cray  Otis.  II,  lOo. 


;[ 


THE    HARTFOKD    COXVEXTION".  7 

therefore  they  cousidereJ  it  best  to  have  a  dissolution  at  once, 
by  mutual  consent,  rather  than  by  a  less  desirable  mode.  Taylor 
himself  stated  to  them  that  he  was  opposed  to  a  dissolution  of  the 
Union,  if  it  were  possible  to  preserve  it,  but  agreed  that  if  that 
became  impossible  an  amicable  separation  was  preferable. 

This  memorandum  was  a  confidential  one.  Madison  endorsed 
it  with  these  words:  ''The  language  of  3v  and  E  probably  in 
terrorem,"  and  it  was  never  printed  until  1905."  It  was  evi- 
dently treated  as  the  expression  of  an  esoteric  doctrine;  but 
bc>th  King  and  Ellsworth  were  men  of  their  word,  and  I  see  little 
reason  to  doubt  that  it  was  sincerely  held  by  these  two  statesmen ; 
as  it  certainly  was  by  many  of  their  constituents  at  the  Xorth 
or,  as  the  States  north  of  Maryland  were  then  termed,  '"the 
East.'" 

In  January,  1S04,  Timothy  Pickering,  then  Senator  of  the 
United  States  from  Massachusetts,  wrote  thus  to  George  Cabot : 

"I  do  not  believe  in  the  practicability  of  a  long  continued 
Union.  A  Xorthern  confederacy  would  unite  congenial  charac- 
ters, and  present  a  fairer  prospect  of  public  happiness,  while  the 
Southern  States,  having  a  similarity  of  habits,  might  be  left  to 
manage  their  own  affairs  in  their  o^\^l  way"  ...  "I 
believe,  indeed,  that  if  a  Northern  confederacy  were  forming, 
our  Southern  brethren  would  be  seriously  alarmed,  and  probably 
abandon  their  virulent  measures.  But  I  greatly  doubt  whether 
prudence  should  suffer  the  connection  to  continue  much  longer. 
The  proposition  would  be  welcomed  in  Connecticut; 
and  could  we  doubt  of  I^ew  Hampshire?  But  Xew  York  must 
be  associated :  and  how  is  her  concurrence  to  be  obtained  ?  She 
must  be  the  center  of  the  confederacy.  Vermont  and  jSTew 
Jersey  would  follow  of  course,  and  Ehode  Island  of  necessity. 
Who  can  be  consulted,  and  who  will  take  the  lead  ?"t 

The  next  month  Judge  Reeve  of  Litchfield  wrote  to  Senator 
Tracy  of  Connecticut :  'T  have  seen  many  of  our  friends,  and  all 
that  I  have  seen,  and  most  that  I  have  heard  from,  believe  that 

*  White.  Life  of  Lyman  Trumbull,  xxii,  note. 

t  Lodge,  Life  of  George  Cabot,  337.  • 


8 


THE    IIATtTFORD    COXVEXTIOX. 


we  must  separate,  and  that  this  is  the  most  favorable  moment. 
The  ditHculty  is,  how  is  this  to  be  accomplished?  I  have  heard 
of  only  three  gentlemen,  as  yet,  who  appear  undecided  upon  this 
subject/'" 

Governor  Griswold,  in  March  of  the  same  year,  wrote  to 
Oliver  Wolcott :  ^"T  have  no  hesitation  myself  in  saying  that 
there  can  be  no  safety  to  the  Xorthern  States,  without  a  separa- 
tion from  the  confederacy.  The  balance  of  power  under  the 
present  government  is  decidedly  in  favor  of  the  Southern  States ; 
nor  can  that  balance  be  changed  or  destroyed.  .  .  .  The 
question,  then,  is.  Can  it  be  safe  to  remain  under  a  government, 
in  whose  measures  we  can  ]iave  no  effective  agency  ?  .  .  . 
With  these  views,  I  should  certainly  deem  it  unforttmate  to  be 
compelled  to  place  any  man  at  the  head  of  the  Xorthern  interest, 
who  would  stop  short  of  the  object,  or  would  only  use  his  influ- 
ence and  power,  for  the  purpose  of  placing  himself  at  the  head 
of  the  whole  Confederacy,  as  it  now  stands.  If  gentlemen  in 
Xew  York  should  entertain  similar  opinions,  it  must  be  very 
import-ant  to  ascertain  what  the  ultimate  objects  of  Colonel  Burr 
are.  .  .  .  If  we  remain  inactive,  our  ruin  is  certain.  Our 
friends  will  make  no  attempts  alone.  By  supporting  Mr.  Burr, 
we  gain  some  support,  although  it  is  of  a  doubtful  nature  and  of 
which,  God  knows,  we  have  cause  enough  to  be  jealous.  In 
short,  I  see  nothing  else  left  for  us.  The  project  which  we  had 
formed  was  to  induce,  if  posssible,  the  legislatures  of  the  three 
Xew  England  States,  who  renuiin  Federal,  to  commence  meas- 
ures, which  should  call  for  a  re-union  of  tlie  Xorthern  States. 
The  extent  of  those  measures,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  they 
shall  be  followed  up,  must  be  governed  by  circumstances. ''f  A 
few  days  later,  Stephon  Iligginson  of  ^fassachusetts,  a  member 
in  earlier  life  of  the  Continental  Congress,  writes  to  Pickering: 
'T.have  seen  your  letters  {>>  'Mv.  Cabot  and  Mv.  Lyman  on  the 
question  of  separation,  whieh  is  a  very  delicate  and  important 
one,  considereil  in  the  abstract.  We  all  agree  there  can  be 
no   doubt   of   its   b.'ing   desiraljle;     but   of   the   expediency    of 

•  Lodge,  Life  of  (i.-.u-.-  Cal.ut.  442. 

t  Adams,  New  Enghind  Fi-doialiom,  '3o^^,  o'tT. 


TiiK    HAiri'i'oun  coxvKX  riox, 


9 


attempting-  it,  or  discussing  it  now  at  this  moment,  we  all  very 
much  doultt.  Tt  is  dangerous  to  continue  under  the  Virginia 
svsteni:  but  how  to  extricate  ourselves  at  present  we  see  not; 
and  if  we  remain  long  together,  we  shall  l>e  bound  with  so  many 
ligatures  it  will  require  great  efforts  to  get  extricated;  and,  in 
the  present  state  of  public  mind,  even  hero  no  attempt  can  be 
excited.  It  would  indeed  be  very  unpopular  to  suggest  the  i'lea 
of  its  being  either  expedient  or  necessary/""^ 

Hamilton  was  strongly  against  it,  writing  on  the  day  before 
liis  fatal  duel  with  Burr,  as  his  political  valedictory,  to  Theodore 
Sedg^vick,  tliat  "Dismemberment  of  our  Empire  will  be  a  clear 
sacrifice  of  great  positive  advantages  without  any  counterbalanc- 
iiicr  good,  administering  no  relief  to  our  real  Disease,  which  is 
Democracy,  the  poison  of  which  by  subdivision  will  only  be  the 
more  concentred  in  each  part;  and  consequently  the  more 
virulent. "t 

Some  of  the  Federalist  leaders  in  Xew  England  entertained 
quite  different  views. 

Governor  William  Plumer  of  Xew  Hampshire,  in  a  letter  to 
John  Quincy  Adams,  dated  December  20,  1828,  states  that  while 
in  the  Senate  of  the  United  States  in  1803  and  1804,  several  of 
the  Xew  England  Senators  and  Eepresentatives  informed  him 
that  they  thought  it  necessary  to  establish  a  separate  government 
in  Xew  England;  and  that  he  himself  then  favored  such  a 
measure  and  recommended  it  in  confidential  correspondence. 

There  can  be  little  question  that  Senators  Tracy  and  Hillhouse 
of  Connecticut  were  among  those  with  whom  he  conferred.  In 
a  letter  to  Judge  Gould,  dated  April  9,  1829, t  Hillhouse  denied 
that  he  "'ever  heard  or  knew  of  any  combination  or  plot  among 
the  Federal  members  of  Congress  to  dissolve  the  Union  of  those 
States,  or  to  form  a  Xorthern  or  Eastern  Confederacy.  Xor  do 
I  believe  there  ever  was  any  such  combination  or  plot."  This 
may  be  accepted  as  decisive  that  no  definite  plot  or  combination 

*  A(.lam>,  Xew  "England  Fetleralisni,  361. 

7  A.ianis.  Xew  En-land  Federalism,  365:  Proceedings  of  the  Mass.  Hist. 
S..C..  XL VI II.  76. 

t  Young,  The  American  Statesman.  453;  Adams,  Xew  England  Federal- 
ism, 100,  144. 


J .      '  'I 


I    , 


10 


THE    HARTFOED    COXVEXTIOX. 


was,  to  his  knowledge,  agreed  on,  but  is  not  inconsistent  with 
Senator  Phimer's  explicit  statement  that  Hillhoiise  obsen-ed  to 
him,  in  1S03  or  1S04,  that  "the  Eastern  States  must  and  will 
dissolve  tlie  Union,  and  form  a  separate  govermnent  of  their 
own ;   and  the  sooner  they  do  this,  the  better."* 

The  embargo  of  1S07  swept  an  important  ally,  Harrison  Gray 
Otis  of  ^Massachusetts,  at  least  half  way  over  to  Pickering's  side. 
Otis  wrote  to  Josiah  Quincy,  on  December  15,  ISOS,  a  letter 
containing  these  passages : 

'•It  would  be  a  great  misfortune  for  us  to  justify  the  obloquy 
of  wishing  to  promote  a  separation  of  the  States,  and  of  being 
solitary  in  that  pursuit.  .  .  .  ^Vliat  then  shall  we  do  (  In 
otlier  words,  what  can  Connecticut  do  ?  For  we  can  and  will 
come  up  to  her  tone.  Is  she  ready  to  declare  the  Embargo  and 
its  supplementary  chains  unconstitutional, — to  propose  to  their 
State  the  appointment  of  delegates  to  meet  those  from  the  other 
commercial  States  in  convention  at  Hartford  or  elsewhere,  for 
the  purpose  of  providing  some  mode  of  relief  that  may  not  be 
inconsistent  with  the  Union  of  these  States,  to  which  we  should 
adhere  as  long  as  possible  (  Shall  ^ew  York  be  invited  to 
join;  and  what  shall  be  the  proposed  objects  of  such  a  con- 
vention?"t  .•    .     -,.    ;.,       ;;■■..;:...    ■'.  -.    ■      • 

In  1S09,  Governor  Lincoln  of  ^lassachusetts,  a  Jefferson 
Democrat,  in  his  inaugural  message,  intimated  that  rumors  of 
an  intended  secession  from  the  Union  were  afloat.  The  Senate,  • 
in  answer,  said  that  ''the  people  of  Xew  England  perfectly 
understood  the  distinction  between  the  Constitution  and  the 
administration.  They  are  as  sincerely  attached  to  the  Consti- 
tution as  any  portion  of  the  United  States.  They  may  be  put 
under  the  ban  of  the  empire,  but  they  have  no  intention  of 
abandoning  the  Union.'*! 

Two  years  later,  Josiah  (Quincy,  as  a  representative  from 
Massachusetts  in  Congress,  declared  on  the  floor  of  the  House 

*  Adams,  Now  Eu;ilaiul   Ft'iipi-.tlisin.   Ii1ti. 

t  Adams,  Hist,  of  the  U.  S..  IV.  403:    Quincy,  Life  of  Jo>iah  Qiiiiicy,  164. 
t  Baldwin,  Xew  England  SL'i.'os>iunist».  in  tlie  New  Englandor  for  March, 
1S78,  152. 


•<) 


THE    IIAKTFOKD    COXVEXTIOX.  11- 

that  should  Louisiana  be  admitted  as  a  State,  it  would  be  so 
flagrant  a  disregard  of  the  Constitution  as  virtually  to  dissolve 
the  Union,  "freeing  the  States  composing  it  from  their  moral 
obligation  of  adhesion  to  each  other,  and  making  it  the  right  of 
all,  as  it  would  become  the  duty  of  some,  to  prepare  definitely 
for  separation ;  amicably  if  they  might,  violently  if  they  must." 
The  Speaker  ruled  the  concluding  portion  of  the  remarks  out  of 
order,  but  the  House  reversed  his  decision  by  a  close  vote,  in 
which  the  majority  was  chiefly  made  up  of  Federalists.  But 
the  Federal  party  in  general  did  not  share  these  sentiments. 
The  Federalist  legislatures  did  not.  In  1812,  those  of  Massa- 
chusetts and  Connecticut  both  affirmed  in  plain  terms  their 
devotion  to  the  Union  in  all  its  integrity. - 

In  1S09  the  Editor  of  the  Biclunond  ^yJl^g  was  prosecuted  for 
a  libel  against  Timothy  Pickering,  published  during  the  summer 
of  that  year.  The  statement  complained  of  was  that  Pickering 
had  been  concerting  with  George  Canning  a  separation  of  the 
Eastern  States  from  the  Union.  The  ^V]Lig  found  that  it  could 
not  support  the  charge,  and  published  a  retraction  on  May  20, 
1812. 

In  1813,  a  report  to  the  Massachusetts  legislature  on  the  Gov- 
ernor's address,  referring  to  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  went  as 
far,  in  binting  at  secession,  as  any  official  documents  of  that  era. 

''If,"  it  said,  ''the  President  and  Senate  may  purchase  land, 
and  Congi-ess  may  plant  States  in  Louisiana,  they  may  with 
equal  right  establisli  them  on  the  Xortliwest  Coast  or  in  South 
America.  It  may  be  questioned  hereafter  whether,  after  this 
formation  of  new  States,  the  adherence  of  the  old  ones  which 
dissented  from  the  measure,  is  the  result  of  obligation  or  expe- 
diency. .  .  .  We  regard  the  L^nion  as  only  one  of  the 
objects-  of  the  Constitution.  The  others,  as  expressed  in  the 
instrument  are  'to  establish  justice,  insure  domestic  tranquility, 
provide  for  the  common  defence,  promote  the  general  welfare, 
and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  posterity.' 
So  long  as  the  Union  can  be  made  the  instrument  of  these  other 

•  Holli^t^r,  Hist,  of  Connecticut,  II,  470.  . 


_i 


THE    IIAKTrOKT)    COXVEXTIOX.  13 

In  judging  the  course  of  historical  events,  however,  the  politi- 
cal theories  of  leading  statesmen  are  entitled  to  little  account, 
unless  they  retlcct  the  political  and  moral  convictions  of  the 
people  in  general.  Particularly  has  this  been  always  true  of 
Xew  England,  owing  to  her  early  system  of  universal  education. 
A  well-kno^Ti  American  author  said  of  the  Xew  England  of  a 
hundred  years  ago,  and  it  is  as  true  to-day,  that  it  was  one  of  her 
characteristics  "that  all  classes  read,  reflect,  and  form  opinions. 
These  give  direction  to  politicians,  not  politicians  to  thcni.'"'^ 

The  Hartford  Convention  was  the  expression  of  the  general 
feeling  of  the  people  of  Southern  Xew  England,  both  for  what 
it  said  and  for  what  it  did  not  say.  Xeither  in  the  South  nor  in 
the  Xorth  did  public  opinion,  in  ISli,  support  the  chiim  that  a 
State  could  secede,  or  as  the  phrase  then  was,  "■recede''t  from  the 
Union,  if  dissatisfied  with  the  methods  of  administering  it. 
The  Convention  was  called  with  the  hope  to  improve  those 
methods,  and  among  other  things  to  strengthen  the  Union  itself 
by  the  ordinary  process  of  constitutional  amendment  or  by 
calling  a  second  Constitutional  Convention. 

Xoah  Webster,  one  of  those  most  active  in  pushing  the  move- 
ment, which  was  started  in  "Western  ^Massachusetts  where  he 
then  lived,  declared,  twenty  years  later,  that  ^-'the  thought  of 
dissohang  the  Union  never  entered  the  head  of  any  of  the  pro- 
jectors, or  of  the  members  of  the  Convention.''!  When  it  ^v-as 
under  discussion  in  the  House  of  Eepresentatives,  of  which  he 
was  one,  he  argued  that  for  a  State  to  initiate  a  project  of  a 
Convention  of  the  States  to  improve  the  federal  constitution 
there  was  a  precise  precedent,  namely,  the  Convention  of  five 
States- held  at  Annapolis  in  IVSG,  which  virtually  convoked  the 
Constitutional  Convention  of  ITS".  Webster,  however,  clearly 
ignored  the  important  distinction  between  what  the  confederated 
States  could  do  before  the  Constitution  of  ITSO,  and  what  they 
could  do  after  that  instrument  had  made  them  the  United  States. 

*  S.  G.  Gooilrich,  Recollections  of  a  Life  Time,  I,  450. 

t  See  IX  Am.  Hist.  Review,  'JO. 

J  Welj-ter,  Collection  of  rapci-s  on  PriHtical.  Liteiuiy,  and  :\roral  Sub- 
jects. ?Ao.  Cf.  his  letter  to  Daniel  ^^^•l.-tel•  oi  Se[it.  G.  18,34,  given  in  IX 
Am.  Hist.  Rev.,  06. 


14 


THE    HAKTFOItD    CO^^VEXTIOX. 


Here  was  the  same  error  on  wliicli  Jefferson  Davis  founded  his 
first  inaugural  message  to  the  C  ontVderute  Congress  in  1862.* 

In  the  call  of  ]\Iassachuselts  for  the  Convention,  as  issued,  the 
objects  proposed  were  to  deliberate  on  the  dangers  to  which  the 
Eastern  section  of  the  Union  was  exposed  by  the  war ;  to  devise, 
if  practicable,  means  of  security  and  defence,  "not  rcpug-uant  to 
their  obligations  as  members  of  the  Union,"'  and  to  inquire 
whether  the  Constitution  of  the  "nation"  could  not  be  improved 
by  amendments  on  the  initiative  of  these  States,  or  through  a 
new  Constitutional  Convention. f  either  of  all  the  States,  as  pro- 
vided by  the  Constitution,  or,  if  that  mode  of  proceeding  should 
be  deemed  impracticable,  of  such  as  should  approve  of  holding  it. 
That  to  secure  such  a  convention  as  the  Constitution  provides 
for  would  be  impracticable  was  the  opinion  of  tlie  committee  on 
whose  report  the  resolution  was  adopted.:;: 

Both  the  resolution  and  the  call  were  promptly  referred  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  Connecticut  to  a  special  committee.  Its 
report  was  drafted  by  Eoger  IMinott  Sherman  (though  not  the 
chairman)  and  recommended  that  Connecticut  send  delegates, 
as  requested. §  The  paper  was  moderate  in  tone.  Connecticut 
has  never  been  inclined  to  move  in  the  field  eitlier  of  law  or 
philosophy  as  rapidly  or  as  uncompromisingly  as  Massachusetts. 

The  Massachusetts  delegates  to  the  Hartford  Convention  were 
appointed  by  the  terms  of  the  resolution  to  ''confer  with  delegates 
from  the  other  Xew  England  States,  or  any  other,  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  their  public  grievances  and  concerns;  and  upon  the  best 
means  of  preserving  our  resources ;  and  of  defence  against  the 
enemy ;  and  to  devise  and  suggest  for  adoption  by  those  respec- 
tive States  such  measures  as  they  may  deem  expedient;  and 
also  to  take  measures,  if  they  shall  rliiuk  it  proper,  for  procuring 
a  convention  of  delegates  from  all  the  United  States  in  order  to 
revise  the  Constitution  thereof,  ami  more  effectually  to  secure 
the  support  and  attachment  of  all  the  people,  by  placing  all  upon 
the  basis  of  fair  representiition."  ■   ,    i   ^ 

*  Davis.  "Rise  and  Fall  of  the  Cnnfcdorate  Government,  T.  232. 
t  Dwi^'lit,  History  of  tlio  Hartford  Convention,  343. 
1  Adani-s.  IHstory  of  tlie  United  States.  VIII.  225. 
§  Goodrich,  Recollections  of  a  Life  Time,  II,  27. 


THE    lIATJTrOUD    COXVf:NTIOX.  15 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  objects  tlnis  specified  arc  not  precisely 
those  mentioned  in  the  call.  The  most  important  deviation  is 
tliat  while  the  resolution  looks  ultimately  to  a  constitutiunal 
convention  of  all  the  States,  the  call  looks  to  an  extra-constitu- 
tional convention  of  a  part  of  them  only. 

The  Connecticut  delegates  were  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
delegates  that  might  be  sent  from  any  other  of  the  Xew  England 
States  on  the  subjects  proposed  in  the  ^Lassachusctts  resolution 
and  any  other  "for  the  purpose  of  devising  and  recommending 
such  measures  for  the  safety  and  welfare  of  the  States,  as  may 
consist  with  our  obligations  as  members  of  the  Xational 
Union,''* 

The  delegates  elected  from  the  three  States  which  participated 
in  the  Convention  were  carefully  selected  for  their  general  mod- 
eration and  good  judgment.  Xo  extremists  were  present.  James 
Hillhouse  and  Harrison  Gray  Otis  were  indeed  appointed,  but 
Josiah  Quincy  was  passed  by.  He  had  been  too  pronounced  in 
his  public  assertions. t  Hillhouse  was  not  known  in  his  own 
State  to  have  been  inclined,  ten  years  before,  to  transplant  the 
doctrine  of  the  Kentucky  and  Virginia  Resolutions  of  179S  and 
1799  to  Xew  England  soil.t  Eoger  Griswold  and  Senator 
Tracy,  probably  the  only  Connecticut  men  who  understood  his 
position  at  that  time,  were  now  both  dead. 

It  is  important  not  to  confound  the  consultations  of  1S03  and 
1804,  described  by  Adams  and  Plumer,  wdth  those  which  imme- 
diately preceded  the  Hartford  Convention.  Plumer  himself  had 
changed  his  views,  and  was  doing  what  he  could  to  oppose  any 
secession  by  Xew  England,  even  f(jr  a  time.  The  conferences 
of  1804  had  looked  towards  a  secret  meeting  of  a  few  individuals 
at  Boston.  It  was  not  until  ISOS  that  any  public  suggestion 
was  made  of  a  con.ference  of  delegates  regularly  appointed  by 
the  States,  to  act  on  a  proposition  to  establish  a  Xortheru  Con- 
federacy. Such  a  meeting  was  then  advocated  in  the  news- 
papers, and  Xew  Haven  was  named  as  a  suitable  place  at  which 

•  Dwight,  History  of  the  Hartford  Convention,  340. 

t  Quincy,  Life  of  .7(>>iah  Quincy.  .337. 

tSee  Wartield,  The  Ky.  Ken.lutions  of  170S.  174. 


16 


THE    HARTl-OIv'I)    COXVEXTIOX. 


to  hold  it."  But  it  wtis  not  until  the  annexation  of  Louisiana 
had  been  followed  by  an  embarao,  and  that  by  war,  and  that  by 
the  difference  of  views  between  tlie  Xew  Enii'land  States  and  the 
general  movement  as  to  the  ealliug  of  the  militia  into  its  service, 
that  the  movement  towards  a  possible  dissolution  of  the  Union 
gained  any  real  strength. f 

Disunion  at  this  time  was  feared  on  the  part  of  the  West,  as 
well  as  the  East. 

Charles  Carroll  of  Carrollton  wrote  to  Robert  Goodloe  Harper, 
on  December  4,  1814,  in  relation  to  the  British  expedition 
against  I^ew  Orleans,  "Should  the  enemy  succeed,  perhaps  the 
Western  States,  partly  by  force  and  partly  by  advantages  which 
the  British  may  hold  out  to  them,  may  be  induced  to  form  a 
separate  confederacy.  Their  separation  will  secure  the  union 
of  the  Atlantic  States,  and  form  the  best  security  for  Canada. "t 

A  clever  satire  on  the  calling  of  the  Hartford  Convention  was 
published  in  ^Yindsor,  Vermont,  in  1S15.     It  begins  thus  : 

''1.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  days  of  James  the  President, 
that  certain  infuriate  Princes  and  Xobles  of  the  Eastern  Prov- 
inces mutinized,  saying:  We  will  not  have  this  man  to  reig-n 
over  us. 

2.  i^Tow  the  dominions  of  James  were  very  extensive,  con- 
sisting of  eighteen  provinces  and  several  large  territories. 

3.  And  tliere  was  among  the  mutineers  one  Caleb  Bael 
parazim,  tetrarch  of  a  Province  that  lietli  toward  the  ZST.  E., 
bordering  on  the  sea-coast. 

4.  This  man  wrote  letters  to  the  tetrarchs  of  five  of  the 
provinces  which  lie  roundabout,  saying, 

5.  .  Appoint  ye  men  to  go  up  to  the  palace  of  a  city  that  lieth 
in  the  South  West  province,  that  we  may  consult  together,  and 
make  war  with  -lames  ami  with  the  people  of  the  other  provinces, 
and  separate  ourselves  from  them ; 

*  Young,  The  American  Statesman.  437,  441,  443,  440.  449. 

t  Se«  the  Extract-i  from  the  New  En<,'land  newspapers  collected  by  Frank 
M.  Anderson,  in  .1  Foraottin  I'luisr  of  th:  .Ycif  Emjlnnd  Opposition  to  the 
\Var  of  1S12,  :Mass.  Valley  Hust.  A^>"n  Proceedings,  Vol.  VI. 

}  Rowland,  Life  of  Charji'^  Carrull  of  Carrollton,  II,  307. 


THE    HAIMTOIU)    COXVEXTIOX.  17 

6.  That  it  niiglit  be  fulfilled  which  was  spoken  by  the 
prophet  John,  whose  sir-name  was  Ileurv,  savin'^- 

7.  The  legislature  of  ]\Iassachiisetts  will  give  the  tone  to  the 
neighboring  States;  will  invite  a  new  CongTess,  to  be  composed 
of  delegates  from  the  several  States;  and  erect  a  separate  gov- 
ernment for  their  common  defence  and  common  interest.'"* 

The  legislature  of  Vermont,  largely  through  the  efforts  of 
Chief  Justice  Xathaniel  Chipman,  voted  unanimously  to  send 
no  delegates  to  the  Convention.  Xew  Hampshire  appointed 
none;  but  two  of  her  citizens,  appointed  by  county  con\-entions, 
were  admitted  to  seats.  So  was  a  citizen  of  Vermont,  having 
similar  credentials  from  a  county  convention  described  in  the 
1  ermont  liepublican  as  '-composed  of  a  few  Lawyers,  Doctors, 
and  Merchants. "t 

When  Ehode  Island  followed  Connecticut  in  appointing  dele- 
gates, the  Boston  Centinel  of  November  9,  1814,  announced 
their  accession  under  the  head  line, 

SECOND  AXD  THIED  PILLARS  OF  A  XEW    -■ 
FEDERAL  EDIFICE  REARED. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  in  1S12  certain  correspondence  fell 
into  the  hands  of  our  government  which  showed  that  an  Eu"-- 
lishman,  one  John  Ilenrv,  under  secret  instructions  from  the 
Canadian  government,  had  visited  Boston  and  other  Xew  Eng- 
land points,  in  1S09,  to  learn  what  was  the  state  of  public 
opinion  with  regard  to  our  relations  with  Great  Britain.  His 
reports  indicated  the  existence  of  gi-eat  dissatisfaction,  and  their 
disclosure  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the  Federalist  party.  When, 
two  years  later,  tlie  Hartford  Convention  was  held,  Jefferson 
tormed  the  opinion  that  it  was  a  project  fomented  by  the  British 
ministry.  He  writes,  on  December  10,  IS  14,  to  John  Melish, 
that  tlie  British  conditions  of  peace  had  been  ^'desigiiedlv  put 
into  an  impossible  form  to  give  time  for  the  development  of 
their  plots  and  concerts  with  the  factionisls  of  Boston,  and  that 

*  Morison,  Life  of  irarri-.oii  Gray  Otis,  II,  12G. 

t  Records  of  Governor  and  CDUiK'il  of  Vermont,  VT,  4G2. 


18 


THE    IfAUTFOKD    COXVEXTIOX. 


they  are  liolJiug  uli"  to  see  the  issue,  nut  of  the  Congress  of 
Vienna,  but  that  of  Hartford,'' 

On  l)eceinl)er  27,  1814,  he  writes  to  M.  de  Serra  that  "'the 
negotiators  at  Ghent  are  agreed  uow  on  every  point  save  one,  the 
demand  and  cession  of  a  portion  of  ]\[aine.  This,  it  is  well 
known,  cannot  he  yielde>l  by  ns,  nor  deemed  by  them  an  object 
for  continuing  a  war  so  expensive,  so  injurious  to  their  com- 
merce and  manufacturers,  and  so  odious  in  the  eyes  of  the  world. 
But  it  is  a  thread  to  hold  by  until  they  can  hear  the  result, 
not  of  the  Congress  of  Vienna,  but  of  Hartford.  "When  they 
shall  know,  as  they  will  know,  that  nothing  Avill  be  done  there, 
they  will  let  go  their  liold,  and  complete  the  peace  of  the  world. 
by  agreeing  to  the  siatus  ante  beUinn/'^ 

So  in  writing  to  Lafayette  on  February  14,  IS  15,  he  speaks 
of  the  British  ministry  as  having  formed  some  hopes  of  carrying 
the  war  to  a  successful  issue  on  the  state  of  the  finances,  but 
"more  in  their  Hartford  Convention."  ''Their  fears/'  he  con- 
tinues, "of  Republican  France  being  now  done  away,  they  are 
directed  to  republican  America,  and  they  are  playing  the  same 
game  for  disorganization  here,  which  they  played  in  your  coun- 
try. The  iMarats,  the  Dantons  and  Robespierres  of  ]\Iassachu- 
setts  are  in  the  same  pay,  under  the  same  orders,  and  making  the 
same  efforts  to  anarchise  us,  that  their  prototypes  in  France  did 
there.  I  do  not  say  that  all  who  met  at  Hartford  were  under  the 
same  motives  of  money,  nor  were  those  of  France.  Some  of 
them  are  Outs  and  wish  to  be  Ins;  some  the  mere  dupes  of  the 
agitators  or  of  their  o^ti  party  passions,  while  the  Maratists 
alone  are  in  tlie  real  secret ;  but  they  have  very  different  mate- 
rials to  work  on.  The  yeomanry  of  the  United  States  are  not 
the  canaille  of  Paris.  We  might  safely  give  them  leave  to  go 
through  the  United  States  recruiting  their  ranks,  and,  I  am 
.satisfied,  thoy  could  not  raise  one  single  regiment  (gambling 
merchants  and  silk-stix^king  clerks  excepted)  who  would  support 
them  in  any  etTort  to  separate  from  the  Union. "t 

*  Writinrrs  of  Thomas  .JetrtT^on.  XI\'.  221.  22 j. 
jlbid.,  251. 


THE    IIARTFOUn    CONVENTION^.  19 

John  Quiney  Adams  liad  been  the  leader  in  charging  projects 
of  secession  on  the  Federalist  party.  lie  had  stated  his  convic- 
tions as  to  this  to  President  Jert'erson.  That  President  2\[adison 
believed  the  accusation  is  plain  from  his  Message  of  March  9, 
1S12,  accompanying  the  Henry  letters,  in  which  he  describes 
them  as  throwing  light  on  a  scheme  "of  destroying  the  Union,  and 
forming  the  Eastern  part  thereof  into  a  political  connection  with 
Great  Britain,''  President  John  Adams  accepted  his  son's  posi- 
tion with  reference  to  plots  of  disunion.  He  said  to  George 
Ticknor  of  Boston,  in  December,  ISl-t,  that  George  Cabot,  the 
President  of  the  Hartford  Convention,  w^anted  to  be  President  of 
Xew  England. 

The  Convention  was  looked  upon  with  great  ill  will  by  the 
Republicans,  or  as  they  were  now  coming  to  be  called,  the 
Democrats,  of  Hartford.  On  the  day  of  its  first  meeting,  a 
small  conipany  of  recruits  for  the  United  States  army  marched 
through  the  streets  with  muffled  drums  and  reversed  arms ;  the 
British  flag  was  displayed  at  half  mast  at  the  recruiting  station  ; 
and  the  bell  of  the  Baptist  church  was  tolled,  as  at  a  funeral, 
at  the  instance, — it  w^as  reported, — of  one  of  the  city  physicians, 
Dr.  Sylvester  AYells.*  He  was  repaid  for  it  by  the  following 
lampoon : 

"  And  is  it  true,  then,  Doctor  Wells 
You  got  the  folks  to  toll  the  bells 

Kindly  to  notice  the  Convention?  '  i   ,    i,.   i  '■ 

Unless  loud  fame  a  falsehood  tells 
Your  physic  often,  Doctor  Wells, 
Has  made  the  people  toll  the  bells 

Without  your  kind  intention. 

In  vain  you  tried  with  sapient  fate 
To  cure  the  evils  of  the  State 

By  federal  purgation. 
Democracy  will  ne'er  control  us  ,, . 

Its  horrid  slang  cannot  cajole  us 
Pray  give  your  patients,  give  a  bolus 

To  tlie  rulers  of  the  nation."! 

*  Goodrich,  Recollections  of  a  Life  Time,  II.  32. 

t  Conn.  Mag..  XII.  121.  The  verses  are  found  in  a  -Ms.  owned  by  Mrs. 
Anna  ^Morris  Perry  of  Hartford. 


20 


THE    HAnTFOnD    COXVEXTIOX. 


Major  Tliouias  S.  Jesup  of  Iventucky  was  at  this  time  Lead 
of  the  militarv  District  of  ■C'unnecticut.  The  Secretary  of  War, 
James  ]\[oiiroe,  ordered  him  to  superintend  the  recruiting  office 
at  Hartford,  and  while  there  to  report  to  him  the  doing-.s  of  the 
Convention  and,  in  case  any  sign  of  rebellion  appeared,  to  call 
on  the  Govei'nor  of  Xew  York  fur  military  aid.  Daily  reports 
were  accordingly  made  from  December  15,  ISl-i,  when  the  Con- 
vention opened,  nntil  January  2o,  1815.*  They  contained 
notliing  of  importance. 

The  Convention  sat  with  closed  doors,  and  great  was  the  solici- 
tude of  the  public  to  know  what  was  under  consideration. 

Would  they  make  a  threat  of  secession  ?  Would  they  be  for 
keeping  all  their  militia,  as  a  home  guard  ?  "Would  they  attack 
the  non-intercourse  Act  of  Congress  as  unconstitutional  ? 

The  best  guess  was  made  by  Josiah.  Quincy.  ''What  do  you 
suppose  will  be  the  result  of  this  Convention  V  asked  a  friend 
who  met  him  on  the  street  one  day,  when  it  was  in  progress.  "I 
can  tell  you  exactly,"  was  his  answer.  "'Can  you  indeed,"  said 
the  inquirer,  "and  what  will  it  be  ?"  "A  great  pamphlet,"  ho 
responded. 

It  was  freely  asserted  at  the  time  that  the  Convention  was 
working  for  a  peace  at  any  price.  This  was  certainly  unwar- 
ranted. Harrison  Gray  Otis  says  with  truth,  in  his  Letters  in 
Defence  of  the  Hartford  Convention  and  ilie  People  of  Massa- 
chusetts/] that  the  Convention  "was,  correctly  speaking,  a  icar 
measure,  rather  than  a  peace  measure.  It  was  one  of  a  series 
of  propositions  for  raising  men  and  money  for  puhlic  defence." 
.     .     .     It  was  "professedly  and  truly  a  Council  of  War." 

The  great  pamphlet,  which  had  been  predicted  by  Quincy, 
appeared  in  January,  ISl."),  in  the  shape  of  a  lengthy  and  well- 
drawn  report  of  the  conelusions  of  the  Convention. 

In  this,  after  expre^si(ln  of  the  conviction  that  the  people  of 
other  States  will  yet  come  to  feel  that  Xew  England  "cannot  be 
made  exclusively  tlu*  victim  of  a  capricious  and  impassioned 
policy,"  are  added  tin-  culy  {>a>sai!('s  looking  to  secession : 

*  Von  Hoist.  Hi-t.ny  .-f  tl..'  (mii-i  Uutinn  ,,f  tlio  Uiiito.l  States.  1750-1S3.5, 
2G.t:    HiMr.'tli.  lli-tMiy  ..f  tl.o  riiii.-.l  St;Ut-.  III.  X.  S.,  54t3. 
t  Pages  14,  21. 


THE    IIARTFORD    COXVEXTIOX.  21 

^'Finally,  if  the  I'liiou  be  destined  to  dissolution  by  reason  of 
tlie  multiplied  abuses  of  bad  administrations,  it  should,  if  pos- 
sible, be  the  work  of  peaceable  times,  and  deliberate  consent. 
Some  new  form  of  confederacy  should  be  substituted  among 
those  States  which  shall  intend  to  maintain  a  federal  relation  to 
each  other.  Events  may  prove  that  the  causes  of  our  calamities 
are  deep  and  permanent.  .  .  .  Whenever  it  shall  appear 
that  these  causes  are  radical  and  permanent,  a  separation  by 
equitable  arrangement  will  be  preferable  to  an  alliance  by  con- 
straint, among  nominal  friends,  but  real  enemies,  inflamed  by 
mutual  hatred  and  jealousy,  and  inviting,  by  intestine  divisions, 
contempt  and  aggression  from  abroad.  But  a  severance  of  the 
Union  by  one  or  more  States,  against  the  will  of  the  rest,  can  be 
justified  only  by  absolute  necessity."'     ... 

"That  Acts  of  Congress  in  violation  of  the  Constitution  are 
absolutely  void,  is  an  nndeniahle  position.  It  does  not,  however, 
consist  with  respect  and  forbearance  due  from  a  confederate 
State  towards  the  general  government,  to  fly  to  open  resistance 
upon  every  infraction  of  the  Constitution.  The  mode  and  the 
energy  of  the  opposition  should  always  conform  to  the  nature 
of  the  violation,  the  intention  of  its  authors,  the  extent  of  the 
injury  inflicted,  the  determination  manifested  to  persist  in  it, 
and  the  danger  of  delay.  But  in  cases  of  deliberate,  dangerous 
and  palpable  infractions  of  the  Constitution,  affecting  the  sover- 
eignty of  a  State,  and  liberties  of  the  people;  it  is  not  only  the 
right  but  the  duty  of  such  a  State  to  interpose  its  authority  for 
their  protection,  in  the  manner  best  calculated  to  secure  that  end. 
When  emergencies  occur  which  are  either  beyond  the  reach  of 
the  judicial  tribunals,  or  too  pressing  to  admit  of  the  delay 
incident  to  their  forms.  States  which  have  no  common  umpire, 
must  be  their  own  judges,  and  execute  their  own  decisions.  It 
will  thus  be  proper  for  the  several  States  to  wait  the  ultimate 
disposal  of  the  obnoxious  measures  recommended  by  the  Secre- 
tary of  AVar,  or  pending  Wfore  Congress,  and  so  to  use  their 
power  according  to  the  character  these  measures  shall  Anally 
assume,  as  effectually  to  protect  their  own  sovereignty,  and  the 
ric:hts  and  liberties  of  their  citizens.'' 


22  TilE     IIARTFOKD    rOXVEXTION, 


"With  this  view  thev  suggest  an  arrangement,  which  may  at 
once  be  consistent  with  the  honour  and  interest  of  the  national 
government,  and  the  security  of  these  States.  This  it  will  not 
be  difficult  to  conclude,  if  that  government  should  l>e  so  disposed. 
By  the  terms  of  it  these  States  might  be  allowed  to  assume  their 
own  defence,  by  the  militia  or  other  troops.  A  reasonal>le  por- 
tion, also,  of  the  taxes  raised  in  each  State  might  be  paid  into 
its  treasury,  and  credited  to  the  United  States,  but  to  l)e  appro- 
priated to  the  defence  of  such  State,  to  be  accounted  for  with 
tlie  United  States."  .  .  .  ''Should  an  application  for  these 
purposes,  made  to  Congi-ess  by  the  State  1-egislatures,  be  attended 
with  success,  and  should  peace  upon  just  terms  appear  to  be 
unattainable,  the  people  would  stand  together  for  the  common 
defence,  until  a  change  of  administration,  or  of  disposition  in 
the  enemy,  should  facilitate  the  occurrence  of  that  auspicious 
event.  It  would  be  inexpedient  for  this  Convention  to  diminish 
the  hope  of  a  successful  issue  to  such  an  application,  by  recom- 
mending, upon  supposition  of  a  contrary  event,  ulterior  pro- 
ceedings. Xor  is  it  indeed  within  their  province.  In  a  state 
of  things  so  solemn  and  trying  as  may  then  arise,  the  legislatures 
of  the  States,  or  conventions  of  the  whole  people,  or  delegates 
appointed  by  them  for  the  express  purpose  in  another  Conven- 
tion, must  act  as  such  urgent  circumstances  may  then  require." 

Among  the  recommendations  of  this  report  were  the  adoption 
of  suitable  measures  to  protect  the  citizens  of  the  States  repre- 
sented in  the  Convention  from  subjection  to  conscriptions  or 
impressments  not  authorized  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States,  and  an  immediate  application  of  these  States  to  the 
government  of  the  United  States  for  their  consent  to  the 
arrangement  as  to  taxes  above  indicated. 

Then  followed  a  specification  of  seven  amendments  to  the 
Constitution  which  the  States  were  advised  to  propose. 

The  first  only  has  since  been  adopted.  It  was  for  proportion- 
ing representation  in  Congress  to  the  free  population  of  each 
State.  That  was  not  to  come  until  slavery  had  been  abolished, 
half  a  century  later.  The  sixth  was  directed  against  aliens,  and 
would  have  made  anv  of  them,  thereafter  naturalized,  incliirible 


THK    HAIiTFORD    COXVEXTIOX.  23 

to  civil  office  uuder  the  federal  government.     The  scveuth  would 
have  confined  the  President  to  a  sin^'le  term,  and  forbidden  the 
choice  of  a  citizen  of  the  same  State  as  his  immediate  successor. 
The  report  concluded  with  the  two  following  resolutions : 

"Eesolved,  That  if  the  application  of  these  States  to  the  gov- 
orimient  of  the  United  States,  recommended  in  a  forefroinir 
resolution,  should  be  unsuccessful,  and  peace  should  not  be  con- 
cluded, and  the  defence  of  these  States  should  be  neglected,  as 
it  has  been  since  the  commencement  of  tlie  war,  it  will,  in  the 
opinion  of  this  convention,  be  expedient  for  the  legislatures  of 
the  several  States  to  appoint  delegates  to  another  convention,  to 
meet  at  Boston  in  the  State  of  ^Massachusetts,  on  the  third 
Thursday  of  June  next,  with  such  powers  and  instructions  as 
the  exigency  of  a  crisis  so  momentous  may  require. 

Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  George  Cabot,  the  Hon.  Chauncey 
Goodrich,  and  the  Hon.  Daniel  Lyman,  or  any  two  of  them,  be 
authorized  to  call  another  meeting  of  this  convention,  to  be 
holden  in  Boston,  at  any  time  before  new  delegates  shall  be 
chosen,  as  recommended  in  the  above  resolution,  if  in  their 
judgment  the  situation  of  the  country  shall  urgently  require  it." 

Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  were  the  only  States  which 
joined  in  the  proposal  to  Congress  for  the  seven  amendments  to 
the  Constitution.  Eight  States  expressly  refused  to  support 
them.  Xew  York  and  Pennsylvania  were  among  these,  and 
letters  from  their  Governors  were  laid  before  the  legislature  of 
Vermont  in  October,  IS  15.* 

The  people  of  the  United  States  generally  were  satisfied  with 
the  Constitution  as  it  then  stood.  They  looked  with  suspicion 
on  any  proposition  to  amend  it.  An  organization  for  its  defence 
was  formed  in  Xew  York  city  in  ISOS,  which  soon  spread  into 
Xew  England.  It  was  largely  composed  of  Federalists  and 
styled  the  Washington  Benevolent  Society.  Its  members  took 
an  oath  to  support  and  preserve  the  Constitution  against  the 
inroads  of  despotism,  monarchy,  aristocracy  and  democracy.f 

*  Records  of  tlie  Governor  and  C'ounril  of  Vermont,  VI,  455,  4G4;  Report 
of  Am.  Hist.  Association  for  18Uti,  II,  40. 

fMorison,  Life  of  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  II,  301. 


24 


THE     HARTFOUD    COXVEXTIOX, 


It  Lad  licKl  the  Ana-riean  people  together  fairly  well  for 
twenty  years.  If  it  were  to  be  radically  changed,  no  one  could 
predict  the  result. 

Bonaparte  said  that  a  Constitution  should  be  short  and 
obscure. 

That  of  the  United  States  is  certainly  short.  It  is  also,  in 
some  parts,  and  was  meant  to  be,  obscure.  Its  meaning  bas  been 
and  is  daily  being  gradually  interpreted  by  the  courts.  The 
judiciary,  in  exercising  this  funotion,  has  not  been  blind  to  the 
times.  It  has  thus  far  kept  fairly  in  accord  with  prevailing 
public  opinion.  If  new  readings  have  thus  been  devised,  they 
have  at  all  events  been  in  harmony  with  the  general  scheme  of 
the  original  document.  Every  amendment  is  necessarily  some- 
what inconsistent  with  that  scheme.     Else  why  adopt  it  ? 

Propositions  to  amend  the  Constitution  emanating  from  an 
irregular  convention  of  a  group  of  States  were  not  likely  to  find 
much  favor  outside  of  that  gi'oup. 

Xo  such  convention  of  otiicial  delegates,  to  deal  with  questions 
of  a  political  character,  had  been  held  since  that  of  1787  at 
Philadelphia.  Xone  such  has  ever  since  been  held,  and  none 
is  likely  to  be.  The  balance  of  power  between  State  and  nation 
is  delicatelv  adiusted  in  our  constitutional  svstem.  A  bodv  of 
the  character  of  that  which  met  in  Hartford  in  1814-  might 
easily  disturb  it. 

It  was  largely  this  sentiment  which  cast  an  odium  upon  the 
Hartford  Convention  which  has  never  l)een  completely  removed. 

Another  thing,  hardly  less  powerful  in  bringing  it  into  general 
disfavor,  was  that,  durimr  a  great  war,  it  was  a  movement  in 
acknowledged  opposition  to  the  policy  of  the  administration  as 
to  the  best  means  of  conductin::  that  war,  on  our  side.  It  was 
made  up  of  men  who  luul  virtually  pronounced  in  advance  that 
the  war  measures  ado}>ted  ly  the  President  and  Congress  were 
unwise,  if  not  unconstitutiunal. 

A  letter  which  Calvin  (loddard.  one  of  our  delecates,  on 
Xovember  1,  1^1K  wrote  trom  Xew  Haven,  where  he  was 
attending  the  Gemral  Assembly  a-  a  memlx-r  of  the  Council,  to 


THE    IIAETFORD    COXVEXTIOX. 


25 


Senator  David  Da^c'gett  at  Washington,  plainly  shows  the  tense 
feeling  of  the  leading  spirits  there.     We  find  in  it  these  words: 

"'Wc  must  not — will  not  submit  to  despotism.  I  am  a  repub- 
lican— truly — absolutely  and  entirely  so — born — bred — edu- 
cated to  be  so.  I  am  willing  for  the  sake  of  repose  to  make 
sacrifices,  but  not  to  become  a  slave  or  to  entail  slavery  upon 
srix  dear  little  ones  who  are  to  come  after  me.  If  heads  are  to 
l>e  lost,  one  is  less  valuable  than  six  in  my  estimation. 
I  am  no  rebel — have  no  scheme  of  severing  the  Union.  I  should 
consider  it  as  an  evil  of  no  small  magnitude  if  accomplished  by 
compact  in.  the  most  peaceable  way;  as  horrible  if  accomplished 
by  force.  But  there  are  evils,  it  must  be  remembered,  greater 
than  even  this.  Xew  England  are  not  yet  taught  to  be  slaves. 
It  will  be  a  difficult  lesson  for  them  to  learn.  AVe  do  not  mean 
to  threaten,  but  I  do  strongly  suspect  that  this  military  conscrip- 
tion, if  carried  into  effect,  will  raise  a  storm  not  easily  quelled. 
Indeed,  no  one  can  anticipate,  except  with  horror,  the  crisis  to 
which  the  United  States  are  arriving  by  means  of  this  accursed 
war.'*"" 

A  few  weeks  later  President  Madison,  in  a  letter  (Xovember. 
26,  1814)  to  Governor  JSTicholson  of  Virginia,  gives  the  view  of 
the  administration,  and,  we  may  say,  in  the  main  of  the  country, 
as  to  what  then  seemed  to  be  the  policy  of  Xew  England.  It 
runs  thus : 

''You  are  not  mistaken  in  viewing  the  conduct  of  the  Eastern 
States  as  the  source  of  our  greatest  difficulties  in  carrying  on  the 
war,  as  it  certainly  is  the  greatest,  if  not  the  sole,  inducement 
with  the  enemy  to  persevere  in  it.  The  greater  part  of  the 
people  in  that  quarter  have  been  brought  by  their  leaders,  aided 
by  their  priests,  under  a  delusion  scarcely  exceeded  by  that 
recorded  in  the  period  of  witchcraft;  and  the  leaders  are  becom- 
ing daily  more  desperate  in  the  use  they  make  of  it.  Their 
object  is   power.     If  they  could  obtain   it  by  menaces,  their 

*  The  DaL'sett  :M3>.  (1S14)   in  tlio  lil.iarv  of  Yale  UniverMtv. 


26  THE    TIATJTFOKD    COXVF.XTIOX. 

efforts  would  stop  there.  These  failing,  they  are  readv  to  go 
every  length  for  which  they  can  train  tlieir  followers.  Without 
foreign  cooperation,  revolts  k  separation  will  hardly  be  risked, — 
and  what  the  eti'eet  of  so  profligate  an  experiment  may  be,  first 
on  deluded  partisans,  and  next  on  those  remaining  faithful  to 
the  nation,  who  are  respectable  for  their  consistency  and  even 
for  their  numlx;rs,  is  for  conjecture  only.  The  best  may  be 
hoped,  but  the  worst  ought  to  be  kept  in  view.'''^ 

Mr.  Otis  published  his  ''Letters''  iu  defence  of  the  Convention 
in  1819,  but  it  fell  flat. 

It  was  generally  thought  unwise  thus  to  revive  an  old  contro- 
versy. Jeremiah  Mason  wrote  thus  of  it,  on  April  15,  1S20,  to 
Rufus  King : 

^'The  good  people  of  Xew  England  have  been  much  disturbed 
during  the  past  AYinter  by  the  appearance  of  the  ghost  of  the 
Hartford  Convention,  so  adroitly  conjured  up  by  !Mr.  Otis  in 
his  defence  of  the  character  of  the  defunct.  When  I  was  in 
Boston,  last  Autumn,  he  mentioned  to  me  his  intention  of  under- 
taking that  defence.  I  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  the  attempt. 
I  do  not  know  what  he  thinks  of  his  success,  but  I  am  told  that 
all  his  friends,  as  w^ll  as  the  friends  of  the  Convention,  are 
heartily  sorry  that  he  brought  this  unlucky  subject  back  from 
the  oblivion  into  which  it  was  fast  sinking.''t 

How  it  was  regarded  by  the  Democratic  leaders  of  the  day  in 
Connecticut  may  be  made  more  clear  by  a  reference  to  it  made 
by  a  pamphleteer,  styling  himself  ''a  Federal  Republican,"  in 
a  tract  published  at  the  othce  of  the  Hartford  Times  in  ISlT, 
entitled  "the  Politics  of  Connecticut."  In  this  the  Hartford 
Convention  is  described  as  ''the  foulest  stain  on  our  State 
esctitcheon.  .  .  .  This  Convention,"  he  proceeds,  "was  suf- 
fered to  engender  within  our  very  bosom  and  now  sits  like  an 
Incuhus  upon  the  breast  of  every  virtuous  citizen.'" 
It  was  "an  imperishable  monument  of  infamy  and  deposits  in 
the  archivL-s  of  the  nation  a  record  of  history  in  testimony  against 

*  Writ  ill  J.'--  of  James  ^Madison,  VIU,  319. 
t  Memoirs  of  J.  remiali  ^lason,  240. 


.  1     I  ;  I   r         1 


THE    IIAUTFOHD    COXVEXTION. 


27 


us,  which  overwhehas  us  with  astonishment  and  confusion,  and 
will  entail  opprobrium  upon  our  latest  posterity." 

Hai'rison  Gray  Otis  ran  for  Governor  of  !Massachusetts  in 
1S23.  His  part  in  the  Hartford  Convention  was  at  once 
recalled  and  served  powerfully  to  defeat  him.  This  squib,  pub- 
lished during  the  campaigii,  may  illustrate  the  feeling  of  the 

hour: 

"  Who  was  at  Hartford? 

I,  says  Sir  Harry, 

At  Hartford  did  tarry 

And  I  was  at  Hartford.  . 

Whom  mot  yon  at  Hartford?  ,(. 

Three  and  twenty  wise  men  , 

Separation  devising 

These  met  I  at  Hartford. 
And  honest  men  frown,  wlienever  they  mention 
The  names  of  Sir  Harry  and  the  Hartford  Convention."* 

The  people  are  generally  right  in  their  judgment  upon  large 
questions.  The  American  people  out  of  Xew  England,  as  a 
whole,  condemned  the  calling  of  the  Convention.  It  might  have 
led  to  serious  consequences.  If  the  requests  it  voted  to  make  at 
Washington  should  be  unheeded,  its  resolutions  provided  for  the 
holding  of  another  convention.  It  was  probable  that  they  would 
be  unheeded.  What  would  then  be  the  probable  outcome  of  a 
second  convention  ? 

The  question  became  unimportant  by  the  conclusion  of  the 
Treaty  of  Ghent.  The  commissioners  appointed  to  repair  to 
the  capitol  did  so,  but  the  news  of  the  peace  got  there  ahead  of 
them.  From  that  moment  there  was  nothing  but  distrust,  dis- 
like and  ridicule,  in  the  nation  at  large,  for  the  Hartford 
Convention  and  all  that  belonged  to  it. 

In  1S41  an  attack  was  made  in  a  letter  to  the  Xew  Yorh 
Erpress  upon  Daniel  Webster,  on  account  of  certain  of  his  votes 
in  the  House  of  Representatives,  during  the  War  of  IS  13.  One 
of  them  was  thus  described : 

"On  the  1st  of  December,  only  a  few  days  before  the  sitting 
of  the  Hartford  Convention,  he  voted  against  a  bill  to  provide 
additional  revenue  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  government 

*  Moriion,  Life  of  Harrison  Gray  Otis,  II,  242. 


28 


THE    HARTFORD    COXVKXTIOX. 


and  maiiitainiiii:  the  public  credit."  The  Xational  Intelligencer 
published  a  reply,  in- which  it  is  remarked  that  ''this  reference 
to  the  Hartford  Couvt-'ntion  is  merely  for  etfect,  and  to  make 
unfair  and  false  impressions ;  as  it  is  known  to  all,  who  are  not 
wilfully  ignorant,  that  ^Ir.  Webster  had  nothing  to  do  wirh  the 
Hartford  Convention.'' 

I  mention  this  incident  simply  as  showing  the  general  unpop- 
ularity attaching  to  those  who  were  identified  with  that  Assembly. 
This  is  well  illustrated  also  by  a  story  told  of  Eoger  IMinott 
Sherman.  Long  after  the  Convention  had  been  held,  he  was 
travelling  in  Virginia,  and  stopped  at  a  country  inn.  The  land- 
lord showed  gTeat  curiosity  in  questioning  him  as  to  who  he  was, 
where  he  came  from,  and  whither  he  was  going.  At  last  Mr. 
Sherman  said,  ''Sit  down  and  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it.  I  am 
from  the  Blue  Light  State  of  Connecticut.''  The  landlord 
stared.  '*!  am  a  deacon  in  a  Calvinistic  church."  The  land- 
lord was  evidently  shocked.  ''I  was  a  member  of  the  Hartford 
Convention."'  This  was  too  much,  and  the  landlord  walked 
sadly  away.^ 

Xot  far  from  the  same  time,  a  visitor  to  Hartford  from  a 
Southern  State  strolled  into  the  State  House  and  asked  to  be 
shown  the  room  in  which  the  Hartford  Convention  sat.  It  was 
the  one  used  as  the  Senate  Chamber,  and  over  the  President's 
chair  hung  the  picture  of  Washington  by  Gilbert  Stuart  which 
now  adorns  Memorial  Hall  in  the  Supreme  Court  building. 
It  may  be  recollected  that  the  portrait  is  rather  highly  colored, 
and  no  doubt  more  so  then  than  now.  The  stranger  turned  his 
eyes  to  it  and  asked  if  Washington's  picture  was  there  when  the 
Convention  sat.  "Certainly,"  replied  his  guide,  '"Well,"  said 
the  man,  looking  at  it  again,  ■'111  be  damned  if  he's  got  the 
blush  off  yet."t  :  .    .1  ,       ■ 

*  Goodrich,  Eecollections  of  a  Life  Time,  II.  47. 
if  Ibid.,  34. 


NOTES   ON   SOME  OF   THE   NEW   HAVEN 

LOYALISTS,    INCLUDING   THOSE 

GRADUATED   AT   YALE. 

By  Fkanklix  B.  Dextek,   Litt.D. 
[Read  January   IS,  1015.] 


A  good  many  years  ago,  while  spending  a  summer  in  London, 
I  was  interested  in  turning  over,  in  the  Government  Record 
Office,  the  manuscript  reports  of  the  Commissioners  appointed 
in  1783  to  review  the  applications  made  by  the  American  Loyal- 
ist refugees  for  compensation  for  losses  which  they  had  suffered. 
At  that  time  I  made  notes  of  the  testimony  in  cases  of  special 
interest;  and  some  of  these  notes  have  formed  the  basis  of  the 
present  paper.  I  should  mention,  however,  that  more  recently 
a  full  transcript  of  all  these  records  has  been  secured  for  the 
Xew  York  Public  Library,  in  New  York  City;  and  as  this 
transcript  can  be  freely  consulted  by  any  one,  with  very  slight 
trouble,  my  notes  have  no  longer  even  the  modest  value  which 
I  may  have  once  attached  to  them. 

Any  sketch,  however  slight,  or  superficial,  of  the  sentiment  in 
Connecticut  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution  must  be  based  pri- 
marily upon  our  historical  development.  , 

Under  the  self-government  provided  by  the  comparatively 
Ul>eral  charter  of  10 02,  this  Colony  had  been,  generally  speak- 
ing, quiet  and  prosperous  for  a  century;  with  the  consequence 
that  in  the  exciting  decade  before  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolu- 
tion, a  large  proportion  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  influential 
public  and  professional  men  doubted,  to  say  the  least,  if  they 
were  not  likely  to  be  better  off  under  existing  conditions  in  this 
favored  spot  than  they  would  be  if  independent  of  Britain : — 
this  beincT  not  merelv  a  conviction  in  relation  to  their  individual 


30 


XOTES    OX    SO^[E    OF    THE    XEW    IIAVEX    LOYALISTS 


welfare,  but  also  in  coiisideratiou  of  the  pennaiient  interests  of 
the  comniuuity. 

Foremost  in  the  opposite  scale  was  the  healthy  instinct  of 
loyal  cooperation  in  the  united  action  of  other  provincial  govern- 
ments, which  in  its  turn  involved  also  a  broader  and  more  com- 
prehensive self-interest;  and  in  most  cases  this  process  of 
deliberation  and  argument  resulted  in  the  ungrudging  support 
of  a  policy  of  armed  resistance. 

By  a  law  of  human  nature,  hesitation  in  taking  up  the 
attitude  of  rebels  was  at  first  especially  the  rOle  of  \he  older 
generation  of  public  men,  under  the  dominion  of  the  habits  of 
a  life-time.  Of  this  class  an  early  example  was  the  Governor 
of  the  Colony,  Thuuuis  Fitch,  of  'Xoi-walk,  born  in  1700,  and 
graduated  at  Yale  in  1721,  who  after  a  lifelong  service  of  the 
State,  culniinatiug  in  twelveyears'  tenure  of  the  chief  magis- 
tracy, was  relegated  to  private  life  in  176G,  for  regarding  it  his 
bounden  duty  to  take  the  oath  required  by  the  British  govern- 
ment to  put  in  operation  the  odious  Stamp  Act.  Of  course  I 
would  not  imply  that  Govenior  Fitch  is  to  be  classed  as  a  pro- 
nounced Loyalist ;  but  his  attitude,  and  that  of  the  four  members 
of  his  Council  who  stood  by  him  in  this  crisis  (John  Chester,  of 
Wetherstield,  Benjamin  Hall,  of  Cheshire,  Jabez  Hamlin,  of 
Middletown,  and  Fbenezer  Silliman,  of  Fairfield),  and  of  Jared 
Ingersoll,  of  Xew  Haven,  the  unhappy  Stamp- Agent,  was  prac- 
tically an  anticipation  of  tliat  of  many  others  who  were  active 
in  public  matters  eight  and  ten  years  later ;  and  when  the  need 
of  decision  arrived  for  these  also,  we  cannot  wonder  if  a  natural 
instinct  constrained  some  such  to  remain  faithful  to  their 
traditionary  obligations.  ,■   ,  ,;  .. 

Perhaps  I  may  illustrate  the  customary  ways  in  which  the 
thinking  men  of  this  next  generation  were  affected  by  the  prob- 
lem set  k-fore  tliem.  by  taking  the  examples  of  five  of  the  more 
conspicuous  public  niL-n  of  the  group  of  Yale  graduates  in 
Connecticut,— a  gi-oup,  however,  which  included  a  Targe  propor- 
tion of  the  leading  men  in  civil  life.  The  live  whose  names 
suggest  themselves,  and  who  were  all  about  sixty  years  of  an'e  in 
1774,  are  Gorge  Wylly>,  ,jf  the  Class  of  1720;    Elihu  Hall, 


NOTES    OX    SOME    OF    THE    XEW    IIAVEX    LOYALISTS.  31 

Class    of    1731;     Abraham    Davenport,    Class    of    173:?;     and 
Benjamin  Gale  and  Samuel  Talcutt,  Class  of  1733. 

Colonel  Wyllys,  of  Hartford,  had  grown  gray  in  official  servioe 
as  the  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  and  continued  to  hold  that  nseful 
station  acceptably  uutil  his  death  at  the  ripe  age  of  eighty-five; 
and  tliough  he  was  currently  understood  to  be  averse  at  first  to 
the  change  of  allegiance,  he  refrained  prudently  from  overt 
action,  and  not  only  outgrew  completely  the  faint  odium  of 
loyalty,  bnt  even  the  repute  and  recollection  of  it. 

Colonel  Elihu  Hall,  of  Walling-ford,  on  the  other  hand,  is  the 
sole  representative  in  this  gi-oup  of  pure  and  consistent  toryism. 
His  birth  and  family  connections  opened  to  him  tlie  best  that 
Connecticut  had  to  offer;  and  after  his  admission  to  the  bar 
his  success  as  a  lawyer  was  phenomenally  rapid.  An  extensive 
practice  led  to  repeated  trips  to  England,  which  increased  his 
attachment  to  the  mother  country,  and  ensured  his  choice  of  it 
as  a  refuge  after  war  began.  He  fled  from  Xew  Haven  to  Xew 
lork  in  January,  1779 ;  and  a  letter  is  preserved,  retailing  his 
report  to  British  authorities  of  conditions  in  Connecticut  at 
that  date,  which  is  as  untrustworthy  as  such  reports  were  apt  to 
be.  He  estimates,  for  example,  that  two-thirds  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Colony  are  in  favor  of  reunion  with  Great  Britain ; 
and  announces  that  Governor  Trumbull's  popularity  is  declin- 
ing— as  evinced  at  the  polls :  an  assertion  entirely  inconsistent 
with  all  other  evidence.  He  also  intimates  that  important  con- 
versions to  the  British  side  are  imminent;  but  unfortunately 
the  only  two  examples  which  he  specifies  do  not  display  shrewd 
judgment.  One  of  these,  his  own  brother-in-law,  the  Rev. 
Chauncey  Whittelsey,  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Xew  Haven, 
IS  abundantly  knowTi  as  of  unswerving  and  otherwise  unsus- 
pected patriotism ;  and  the  same  is,  so  far  as  I  can  learn,  true 
of  the  other  individual  named.  Colonel  Thomas  Seymour,  of 
Hartford.  Such  baseless  gossip  was  bound  to  react  on  the 
informer  and  his  value  as  an  adherent;  and  the  sequel  is  not 
out  of  keeping  with  this  prologue.  For  our  latest  glimpse  of 
Colonel  Hall  is  in  London,  after  the  war,  pleading  that,  having 
lost  his  large  American  property,  his  only  support,  in  an  infirm 


/  -■■;!' 


32  NOTES    ox    SOME    OF    THE    NEW   IIAVEX    LOYALISTS. 

and  lonely  old  ag-e,  is  his  pension  of  £S0  a  year,  which  will  not 
allow  him  to  keep  a  servant.  Others  of  the  London  colony  of 
refugees  add  their  testimony  to  the  dismal  picture, — to  the 
effect  that  he  has  in  earlier  life  been  confined  in  a  madhouse, 
and  now  squanders  the  little  he  has  in  liquor  and  debauchery. 

In  the  College  class  below  him  was  Abraham  Davenport,  of 
Stamford,  a  great-grandson  of  the  first  minister  of  Xew  Haven, 
a  prominent  memlx?r  of  the  Governor's  Council,  or  Upper  House 
of  the  General  Assembly,  and  Judge  of  the  County  Court.  He 
was  naturally  conservative  in  his  judgment  of  public  questions, 
and  it  was  no  secret  that  he  viewed  with  great  hesitation  and 
disfavor  a  rupture  with  Great  Britain ;  but  when  it  became 
necessary  for  the  Colony  to  range  itself  definitely  in  the  organ- 
ized struggle,  he  yielded  to  the  paramount  claims  of  the  common 
cause,  and  thenceforth  no  one  was  more  firm  or  more  constant  in 
it5  service.  .  ,  ■■.    •     .  - 

In  the  Class  of  1T33  were  Dr.  Benjamin  Gale,  of  Clinton, 
and  Colonel  Samuel  Talcott,  of  Hartford.  Dr.  Gale  was  a 
learned  and  skilful  physician,  of  very  pronounced  and  not  alto- 
gether orthodox  views  in  religion  and  pliilosophy.  He  took  also 
a  deep  interest  in  politics,  and  had  served  for  years  in  the 
Assembly.  He  was  one  of  the  most  striking  characters  of  his 
generation  in  Connecticut,  very  pessimistic  and  critical  in  his 
outlook,  and  acknowledging  no  man  and  no  group  of  men  as 
mast-er.  To  such  an  observer  the  revolutionary  movement  was 
full  of  danger.  He  was  fimily  attached  to  the  cause  of  liberty, 
as  he  conceived  it,  but  differed  conscientiously  from  his  neigh- 
bors and  associates  as  to  the  proper  mode  of  opposition  to 
Great  Britain;  but  in  the  issue,  even  this  perverse  and 
captious  critic  was  clear-sighted  enough  to  concede  that  one's 
preferences  as  to  mode  must  give  way,  in  cases  where  another 
mode  has  been  commonly  agreed  upon. 

His  classmate,  Samuel  Talcott,  son  of  the  Governor  of  the 
Colony,  and  therefore,  like  George  Wyllys  and  Abraham  Daven- 
port, placed  at  the  head  of  his  chiss  by  social  standing,  was  by 
inheritance  and  descent  counted  among  the  richest  and  most 
highly  favored  gentry  of  the  period.      In  middle  life  he  had 


NOTES    OX    SOMF.    OF    THE    XEW    HAVEX    LOVAEISTS.  33 

performed  his  due  share  of  civil  aud  inilitary  service,  and  now, 
in  a  leisurely  old  age,  his  circumstances  and  habits  illy  adapted 
him  to  welcome  tlie  hardships  of  the  Revolution.  In  the  result. 
however,  he  too  is  found  standing  firmly  by  the  new  State  govern- 
ment and  withholding  nothing. 

Like  these,  in  their  different  ways,  the  better  part  of  the 
nuiturer  intelligence  of  the  Colony  went  through  the  ordeal  of  a 
conflict  between  self-interest,  or  private  judgment,  and  public 
policy,  and  rallied  effectively  in  support  of  independence. 

Under  the  Connecticut  charter,  the  people  elected  their  own 
rulers,  and  accordingly  there  was  here  no  such  large  official 
class,  dependent  on  the  British  power,  as  in  the  other  American 
colonies;  and  what  constituted  the  largest  section  of  the  Tory 
party  in  most  of  the  neighboring  governments,  was  here  prac- 
tically non-existent. 

As  one  result  of  this  situation,  the  most  numerous  group  in 
Connecticut  of  those  who  were  by  personal  affiliations  predes- 
tined to  sympathy  with  Great  Britain,  was  the  body  of  mission- 
ary clergy  of  the  Church  of  England,  all  of  whom,  on  receiving 
orders  in  the  mother  country,  had  taken  a  special  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  cro^vn,  and  were  moreover  dependent  in  good  part 
on  the  stipends  furnished  by  the  English  "Society  for  the  Propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel." 

If  I  have  counted  correctly,  there  were  at  the  outbreak  of  the 
war  nineteen  Episcopal  clergy-men  in  Connecticut,  of  whom 
fifteen  were  Yale  graduates.  The  eldest  of  this  group,  the  Eev. 
John  Beach,  born  in  Stratford  in  1700,  and  gTaduated  in  1721, 
had  come  as  an  undergraduate  under  the  influence  of  Samuel 
Johnson;  then  Tutor;  and  after  his  settlement  in  the  Congrega- 
tional ministry  in  Xewtown,  while  Johnson  was  in  charge  of  the 
Church  of  England  mission  in  the  adjoining  tovmship  of  Strat- 
ford, he  was  led  by  the  same  intluence  to  conform  to  Episcopacy, 
and  eventually  to  accept  the  cure  of  missions  in  Xewtown  and 
Ttedding.  It  may  be  an  indication  of  the  weight  of  his  character 
that  the  proportion  of  Episcopalians  in  Xcwtown  before  the 
Kovolution  is  said  to  have  been  higher  than  in  any  other  town- 
slii{)  in  ( 'onneeticut.  He  is  specially  remembered  for  his 
3 


34 


XOTES    OX    SOME    OF    THE    XEW    HAVEX    LOYALISTS. 


intrepidity  in  continuing-  to  u?e  in  public  worship,  after  all  his 
fellow-presbytcrs  had  closed  their  church-doors,  the  appointed 
prayer  for  the  King,  Avhieh  inclu.led  a  petition  to  ''strengthen 
him  that  he  may  vanquish  and  overcome  all  his  enemies.'' 

Xext  to  Mr.  Beach,  at  least  among  those  of  Connecticut  hirth, 
in  leng-th  of  service  in  the  Colony,  was  the  Eev.  Jeremiah 
Learning,  born  on  the  confines  of  Durham  and  ]\Iiddletown  in 
1717,  and  graduated  at  Yale  in  1745.  lie  also  had  been 
touched  by  Samuel  Johnson's  influence,  and,  after  receiving 
orders  and  serving  temporarily  elsewhere,  became  in  1758  the 
minister  of  the  parish  in  Xorwalk,  where  after  twenty  years  of 
devoted  labor  he  suffered  unhappily  at  the  hands  of  both  parties 
to  the  war, — first  as  a  tory  from  wanton  exposure  while  lodged 
on  the  floor  of  the  county  jail  in  winter,  which  rendered  him  a 
wretched  cripple  for  the  rest  of  his  days,  and  secondly  from  the 
destruction  of  all  his  personal  effects,  a  year  later,  when  General 
Tryon,  though  himself  a  member  of  the  Venerable  Society  whose 
commission  Learning  bore,  with  equal  wantonness  burned  his 
house  and  his  church  in  the  invasion  of  Xorwalk.  He  was  then 
transported  within  the  British  lines,  but  after  the  peace  came 
back  to  Connecticut,  and  found  in  his  destitute  and  forlorn  old 
age  an  asylum  here  with  that  devoted  Churchwoman,  ]\Iadam 
Hillhouse,  in  whose  mansion,  known  to  us  as  Grove  Hall,  he 
died  in  ISOL 

The  most  blatant  and  most  notorious  member  of  this  group  of 
Church  clergy  was  Samuel  Peters,  of  Hebron,  born  of  Episcopal 
parents  in  1735,  and  gTaduated  at  Yale  in  1757,  who  became  a 
missionary  in  his  native  town  and  the  vicinity.  On  the  news 
of  British  troops  firing  on  Boston,  in  177-1,  his  arrogant  and 
offensive  attitude,  and  especially  his  activity  in  publishing  reso- 
lutions condemning  the  popular  opposition  to  Parliament,  pro- 
voked such  treatment  and  such  threats  that  he  fled  forthwith  to 
England. 

His  sworn  statements  of  his  resources  and  his  losses,  which 
are  still  on  file  there,  in  connection  with  his  applications  for 
compensation,  are  ludicrously  and  impudently  overdrawn.  He 
claims,  for  instance,  that  his  father,  who  was  a  plain,  ordinarily 


>-OTES    OX    SO^iE    OF    THE    XEW    HAVFX    LOVALISTS.  35 

well-to-do  farmer,  in  one  of  the  poorest  towns  in  Hartford 
County,  had  been  the  richest  citizen  of  the  entire  Colony,  and 
that  his  own  contiseatod  estate  was  valued  at  the  absurd  figure 
of  upwards  of  £40,000.  By  this  extravagant  tale  ho  succeeded 
in  gaining  a  pension  of  £200  a  year,  which  was  withdrawn  some 
twenty-five  years  later,  after  fuller  experience  of  his  pretentious 
unreliability. 

It  may  seem  like  slaying  the  slain  to  enlarge  on  the  falsehoods 
of  the  notorious  Parson  Peters ;  but  whenever  I  read  over  anew 
any  of  his  attemi)ts  at  narration,  I  am  reassured  thai  his  colossal 
powers  of  untruth  have  never  been  properly  appreciated.  Take, 
for  instance,  his  article  in  the  Political  Magazine  of  London,  on 
the  History  of  his  near  neighbor.  Governor  Trumbull,  of 
Lebanon,  who  had  striven  hard  to  protect  him  from  the  mob  in 
his  troubles,  but  whose  life  Peters  pretends  to  sketch  in  a  series 
of  the  most  outrageously  unblushing  and  libelous  falsehoods. 
In  justification  of  such  a  characterization  it  will  be  enoua-h  to 
recall  the  initial  statement  in  Peters'  biogi-aphy :— that  Jonathan 
Trumbull,  a  scion  of  a  family  of  unblemished  reputation,  was 
really  an  illegitimate  child,  and  probably  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
Samuel  Welles,  the  minister  of  the  town, — and  this  regardless 
of  the  plain  fact  that  I^Ir.  "Welles  vras  not  settled  in  Lebanon  until 
more  than  a  year  after  TrumbulFs  birth. 

It  only  emphasizes  Peters'  peculiar  character,  or  lack  of  char- 
acter, to  note  that  he  was  the  only  minister  of  the  Church  of 
England  in  the  Colony  who  thought  it  advisable  or  necessary  to 
forsake  his  post  for  a  foreign  asylum,  before  the  war  began; 
though  four  others,  James  Scovil  of  Waterbury,  Roger  Yiets 
of  Simsbury,  Samuel  Andrews  of  Wallingl'ord,  and  Richard 
Clarke,  of  Xew  ^lilford,  were  induced,  after  peace  was  declared, 
under  stress  of  poverty  by  the  removal  of  their  floclcs,  rather 
than  from  experience  of  enmity  or  odium,  to  accept  the  cure  of 
parishes  in  the  British  Provinces,  of  kindred  origin  and 
sympathies. 

There  remain  a  dozen  other  Episcopal  incumbents,  whom  I 
nave  not  mentioned  specifically,  who  retained  their  places 
through  the  Revolutionary  struggle,  with  more  or  less  discomfort 


36  ^•OTF.S    ox    SOME    OF    THE    XEW    IIAVEX    LOYALISTS. 

and  some  ill-usage,  and  ilnally  ac(|uiesced  peacefully  in  the 
results  accomplished.  Of  this  number  were  such  familiar  fig- 
ures in  this  vicinity  as  the  Hex.  Richard  3Iansfield,  Yale  1741, 
of  Derby,  the  Rev.  Bela  Hubbard,  Yale  175S,  of  Xew  Haven, 
and  the  Rev.  Abraham  Jarvis,  Yale  17G1,  of  Middletown — all 
of  whom  lived  to  be  doctorated  in  a  succeeding  generation  by 
their  Alma  Mater.  It  should  perhaps  be  noted  that  Dr.  ]Mans- 
field,  though  not  in  any  wise  to  be  classed  with  Peters,  had  once 
found  it  prudent  to  take  temporary  refuge  on  Long  Island,  on 
account  of  the  excitement  caused  by  the  report  of  a  letter  of  his 
to  a  British  officer,  which  merely  included  some  conjectural 
estimate  of  the  strength  of  Loyalist  sentiment  in  Western 
Connecticut. 

Many  lay-members  of  the  Episcopal  Church  were  also  avowed 
or  suspected  loyalists ;  but  comparatively  few  went  to  the  length 
of  exile.  In  such  a  conspicuous  case  as  that  of  the  Hon.  William 
Samuel  Johnson,  of  Stratford,  Yale  1744,  one  of  the  most  emi- 
nent lawyers  in  the  Colony,  he  must  be  credited  with  an  honest 
doubt  as  to  the  right  course  of  action ;  on  finding  himself  unable 
conscientiously  to  advocate  independence,  he  retired  definitely 
from  all  public  employment,  but  let  it  be  known  that  he  had  no 
inclination  to  aid  the  enemy,  and  Jiad  without  hesitation  con- 
tributed to  the  patriotic  cause :  and  when  peace  was  established, 
he  assumed  a  prominent  and  effective  part  in  the  councils  of  the 
State  and  of  the  nation. 

One  locally  well-known  lay-churchman  who  had  to  be  dealt 
with  for  his  loyalty  was  Ralph  Isaacs,  a  native  of  Xorvvalk,  who 
had  settled  in  Xow  Haven  as  a  merchant  after  his  graduation 
at  Yale  in  1761,  and  became  the  grandfather  of  the  Hon.  Ralph 
Isaacs  Ingersoll,  and  uncle  of  the  wife  of  the  elder  President 
Dwight.  He  was  a  rather  volatile  person,  and  was  early  mis- 
trusted as  a  sympathizer  with  the  enemy,  so  that  for  over  a  year 
he  was  held  under  observation  and  restraint  in  one  of  the 
interior  towns,  where  it  was  presumed  he  would  lack  opportunity 
of  making  trouble ;  but  he  soon  transgressed  by  taking  advantage 
of  his  partial  liberty  to  supply  his  neighbors  surreptiti':'usly  with 
rum.     After  a  further  period  of  surveillance,  he  took  the  oath 


.  '.r  .-i. 


t      :     '    :;/-;' 


'. .     .  // 


^'OTES    ON    SOME    OF    THE    NEW    HAVEN    LOYALISTS.  37 

of  fiilelity.  ami  lived  tlK'ncetorth  in  comparative  retirement,  and 
mostly  on  his  farm  in  ]k'anford. 

Another  lay-churchman  of  Xew  Kaven,  who  accompanied  ]\Ir. 
Isaacs  in  his  temporary  banishment,  was  Captain  Abiathar 
Camp,  a  native  of  Durham;  and  he  also,  after  a  like  period  of 
detention,  took  the  oath  and  was  allowed  to  return  to  his  resi- 
dence here.  But  his  allegiance  was  tickle,  and  finally  he  and 
his  family  went  olf  with  the  British  after  the  invasion  in  1779. 
He  had  been  a  successful  merchant,  and  in  presenting  in  17S3 
a  claim  for  compensation,  he  estimated  his  income  from  his 
business  at  £200  per  anrmm,  and  his  total  losses  at  over  £8000, 
though  this  claim  was  eventually  much  reduced.  It  may  be  of 
inte-rest  to  know  that  while  a  diligent  business  man  at  that  date, 
of  no  special  educational  advantages,  he  owned  a  library  of 
English  and  Latin  books,  valued  at  ten  guineas ;  and  also  that 
he  tiled  in  support  of  his  demands  a  certificate  of  loyalty,  fur- 
nished in  1786  by  his  quondam  fellow-to^vnsman,  General 
Benedict  Arnold, — which  document  praises  him  specifically 
for  activity  in  providing  guides  and  pilots  for  the  expedition 
which  Arnold  himself  had  conducted  against  Xew  London  in 
1781. 

Captain  Camp  died  in  Xova  Scotia  soon  after  the  adjudication 
of  his  claim.  I  should  add  that  there  were  included  in  his  com- 
pany in  exile  a  son,  Abiathar  Camp,  Junior,  who  had  entered 
lale  in  1773,  but  did  not  reach  graduation,  and  Avho  died  in  the 
Provinces  at  a  gi-eat  age  in  1841 ;  and  also  a  son-indaw,  Daniel 
Lyman,  Junior,  Yale.  17 70,  a  convert  to  the  church,  who  became 
eventually  a  Major  in  the  British  army. 

Besides'  the  Episcopalians,  there  was  one  other  minute  group 
of  less  conspicuous  sectarian  Loyalists. 

Eor  local  reasons  Connecticut  had  never  proved  congenial  soil 
for  Quaker  colonists;  but  abotit  176-1  the  disciples  of  Robert 
Sandeman,  called  Sandemanians,  who  imitated  the  Quakers  in 
being  conscientiously  bound  to  a  policy  of  passive  resistance  to 
^var,  and  thus  considered  themselves  obliged  to  remain  loyal  to 
King  George,  had  gained  a  scanty  foothold  here,  especially  in 
Danburv  and  Xcw  Haven. 


38  notp:s  ox  some  of  the  xew  ir.vvEX  loyalists. 

They  were  mostly  of  uudistiruruished  social  standins:  and  small 
political  iufluence.  The  best  known  of  the  group  were  Kichard 
Woodhnll,  Yale  1752  ;  Daniel  Humphreys  and  Joseph  Pynchon, 
Yale  1757;  Titus  Smith,  Yale  17G4;  and  Theophilus  Cham- 
berlain, Yale  17G5. 

Eichard  ^Yoodhull.  from  Long  Island,  had  been  a  favorite 
pupil  of  President  Clap,  and  had  therefore  been  employed  to 
fill  with  rather  indifferent  success  for  seven  or  eight  years  a 
College  tutorship.  He  remained,  after  his  first  conscientious 
protest;  peaceably  and  inconspicuously  in  ^ew  Haven  until  his 
death.  Daniel  Humphreys,  the  ablest  member  of  the  company, 
was  a  son  of  the  minister  of  Derby,  and  brother  of  General 
David  Humphreys.  He  practiced  law  here,  and  also  taught  a 
private  school  of  high  grade ;  but  removed  by  the  close  of  the 
war  to  Portsmouth.  Xew  Hampshire,  where  he  had  a  long  and 
rather  brilliant  career  at  the  bar.  His  classmate,  Joseph 
Pjnchon,  from  Spring-field,  had  inherited  a  good  estate,  and 
lived  in  digTiified  leisure  in  Guilford,  where  he  had  married. 
After  becoming  a  Sandemanian,  he  removed  to  Xew  Haven, 
perhaps  for  religious  privileges,  but  was  made  so  uncomfortable 
here  that  he  retired  within  the  British  lines,  thus  sacrificing  a 
large  portion  of  his  estate.  He  returned  a  year  or  two  after  the 
peace  to  Guilford,  and  is  to  be  remembered  as  the  ancestor  of 
well-known  Xew  Haven  citizens  and  of  President  Pynchon,  of 
Trinity  College.  Titus  Smith  and  Theophilus  Chaml>erlaiii, 
who  were  also  of  ^lassafhusetts  birth,  had  both  done  good  service 
as  missionaries  among  the  Indians,  and  after  their  abandonment 
of  Congregationalism  were  recognized  as  the  preaching  elders  in 
charge  of  the  obscure  handful  of  Sandemanians  in  this  city. 
Like  Pynchon,  they  felt  constrained  to  take  refuge  with  the 
British,  and  they  both  ended  their  days  in  Halifax, 

Aside  from  these  whom  I  have  enumerated,  the  next  most 
notable  company  of  Loyalist  exiles  from  the  Xew  Haven  town- 
ship was  the  family  circle  of  Joshua  Chandler,  Esquire,  Yale 
1747.  He  was  a  native  of  Woodstock,  and  a  fellow-townsman 
and  first  cousin  of  that  stout  Churchman,  the  Eev.  Thomas 
Bradbury  Chandler,  Yale  1745,  of  Xew  Jersey,  who  was  active 


NOTES    ON    SO^[E    OF   THE    XEW    HAVEN    LOYALISTS.  39 

just  before  the  Ilevolution  in  promoting  tlie  scheme  for  an 
American  Episcopate,  and  went  hiter  into  exile  as  a  Loyalist. 

Joshua  Chandler  had  adhered  to  tlie  Congregational  church, 
and  had  become  a  successful  lawver,  with  every  worldly  motive 
to  prompt  him  to  side  with  the  popular  current.  His  ample 
town-house,  built  early  in  the  same  decade  (1760-TO)  with  other 
notable  old  Xew  Haven  residences,  on  the  site  of  the  Tontine 
Hotel  and  tlie  new  Post-otlice,  and  thence  removed  in  1824  or  5, 
is  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Henry  B.  Sargent.  Like  other  well-to-do 
citizens  of  the  day,  Mr,  Chandler  had  also  bought  extensive 
landed  estate  in.  the  suburbs,  and  after  1765  lived  principally 
on  one  of  his  farms  in  iSTorth  Haven.  In  1775,  in  the  full  tide 
of  his  professional  and  political  reputation,  as  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  Selectman,  Deputy  to  the  General  Assembly,  and  Chair- 
man of  the  town's  Committee  of  Correspondence,  he  announced, 
from  conscientious  motives,  his  determined  loyalty  to  King 
George,  and  accepted  the  consequent  suspicion  and  obloquy, 
r'our  years  later  he  left  town  with  the  British  invaders,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Joseph  Miles,  of  Xew  Haven, 
three  daughters,  and  four  sons.  He  had  moved  in  the  first 
circles  in  the  community,  and  in  letters  sent  back  after  his  flight 
professed  a  strong  affection  for  his  native  country;  but  the 
records  of  the  London  commissioners  in  1783  who  received  his 
appeal  for  compensation  quote  his  statement  to  them  that  he 
had  remained  so  long  as  he  did  in  the  Colony,  as  thinking  that 
lie  might  thus  be  able  to  communicate  essential  information  to 
^Tcneral  Tryon  in  his  invasion,  and  in  other  ways  to  be  of  service 
to  the  home  government.  The  property  which  he  abandoned, 
to  the  estimated  value  of  about  £4000,  was  confiscated  by  the 
town,  and  he  recovered  compensation,  covering  three-fourths  of 
that  amount.  vl  •^::..  v'    i     ■ 

His  eldest  son  (John  Chandler,  Yale  1772)  alone  remained 
here;  but  his  career  was  blighted  by  the  opprobrium  of  the 
family  record.  The  second  son,  William  Chandler,  Yale  1773, 
liud  early  espoused  the  British  cause,  and  in  1777  raised  a  com- 
pany in  Xew  York  of  over  a  hundred  men  for  the  King*'s  service ; 
and  he  and  a  younger  brother  earned  infamy  by  aiding  to  pilot 


40  ^'OTES    ox    SOME    OF    THE    NEW    HAVEN    LOYALISTS. 

,    ,1the  British  in  tiieir  invasion  of  Xew  Haven.     It  is  a  satisfaction 

V'' ■   wto  know  that  ho  failed  to  secure  an  allowance  from  the  goveru- 

nieut  after  the  close  of  the  war,  except  a  paltry  annual  pension 

of  £40 ;   which  was  to  cease,  if  he  should  be  put  on  half-pay  as 

a  retired  army-officer. 

With  the  family  went  also  Amos  Botsford,  Yale  170.3,  a  son- 
iu-law  and  a  Xew  Haven  attorney,  who  stated  frankly  in  his 
later  application  for  compensation  that  he  was  obliged  to  flee  on 
account  of  the  odium  arising  from  the  action  of  his  brothers-in- 
law  as  guides  to  the  invaders.  He  claimed  that  he  had  aban- 
doned property  worth  over  £2500,  including  a  library,  chiefly 
of  law-books,  valued  at  £o7  sterling;  and  that  his  annual  pro- 
fessional income  was  about  £000,  of  which  he  had  been  able  tu 
lay  up  on  an  average  £225,  after  spending  £375  for  the  support 
of  his  family,  which  included  a  wife  and  three  children.  He 
"i  ■■'■'■  also  testified  that,  when  filing  this  application  in  Annapolis,  his 
.'  available  income  scarcely  exceeded  thirty  guineas  a  year :    an(d 

on  this  showing  ho  was  allowed  an  annual  pension  of  £224. 
■  There  remain  a  few  other  names  of  notable  Xew  Haveners, 

i  who  were  temporarily  or  permanently  disaffected.     One  such  is 

}  that  of  Judge  Thomas  Darling,  of  Woodbridge,  Yale  1740,  a 

son-in-law  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Xoyes,  pastor  of  the  First  Church  : 
a  stubborn,  cross-grained  person,  of  strong  convictions,  unable 
on  principle  to  accept  without  dispute  the  current  arguments  for 
renouncing  British  sovereignty,  but  judicious  enough  in  the  long 
run  to  restrain  himself  from  fruitless  opposition  to  the  moral 
sense  of  the  community  in  which  his  lot  was  cast.  With  him 
may  be  named  his  College  classmate  and  pastor,  the  liev. 
Benjamin  Woodbridge,  in  whose  honor,  when  the  farmers  of 
Amity  Parish  asked  for  town  privileges,  they  prefen-ed  the  name 
of  WoodbridgG- — a  sufficient  proof  that  imperfect  sympathy  on 
the  part  of  their  ol<l  pastor  with  the  new  political  order  had  not 
made  any  serious  breach  in  the  regard  of  his  people. 

The  two  classmates,  Darling  and  Woodbridge,  agi'eed  also  in 
their  theological  position,  both  being  firm  supporters  of  the  Old- 
Light  party,  which  some  of  the  patriotic  Xew  Lights  tried  t-:- 
discredit  generally,  as  applying  its  conservatism  to  the  political 


N0TES    OX    SOME    OF    THE    NEW    IIAVEX    LOYALISTS.  41 

tirlil.  But  in  fact  disatYectioii  was  not  limited,  among  the  Con- 
-n-irational  clergy,  to  the  conservatives.  Dr.  John  Smalley,  of 
Xew  Britain,  Yale  IToG,  a  leader  of  the  now  theology  of  the 
day,  may  serve  as  a  typical  instance  of  one  who,  starting  from 
a  reasoned  policy  of  non-resistance,  reproved  at  first  the  patriotic 
ardor  of  his  flock,  and  was  niily  slowly  and  laboriously  converted 
to  their  point  of  view. 

Within  College  walls  sentiment  was  overwhelminglv  on  the 
side  of  the  American  cause.  President  Ezra  Stiles,  the  typical 
!. road-minded  student  of  his  generation,  and  strictly  speaking 
jifirher  a  politician  nor  a  theologian,  had  been  from  the  first  an 
..utspoken  patriot;  and  Professor  Daggett's  fearless,  not  to  say 
i'.x>lhardy,  exposure  of  his  person  is  one  of  the  best  known  inci- 
Jnnts  of  the  attack  on  Xew  Haven.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  the 
■•nly  other  permanent  member  of  the  Faculty,  the  Eev.  Xehe- 
uiiah  Strong,  the  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Xatural 
Philosophy,  who  was  by  the  way  an  Old  Light  in  theology,  was 
•iecidedly  lukewarm  in  his  support  of  revolution,  and  perhaps 
lor  this  reason  in  part  was  provided  so  meagre  a  stipend  that  he 
found  himself  in  the  course  of  the  struggle  driven  to  resign  his 
post 

The  student  body  could  naturally  be  counted  on  as  enthusi- 
Jiitic  for  liberty,  with  a  few  marked  exceptions:  such,  for 
instance,  as  John  Jones,  a  native  of  Stratford,  of  the  Class  of 
nrr.,  who  went  directly  from  College  into  the  British  army; 
and  Jared  :Mansfield,  of  Xew  Haven,  of  the  following  class,  a 
nephew  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ptichard  Alansfield,  who  after  a  lawless 
and  broken  College  career,  was  among  those  inhabitants  who 
rt-mained -passively  in  the  town  when  the  British  troops  took 
povsession  of  it,  and  thus  laid  himself  open  to  the  charge  of 
■'■•ryi.m.  The  public  spirit  and  etHciency  of  his  later  career 
iiave  redeemed  the  memory  of  his  early  vagaries. 

One  peculiarly  interesting  connection  of  Yale  w^ith  the  con- 
^'•nding  armies  relates  to  the  family  of  Dr.  George  Muirson,  of 
^•'•Mg  Island,  who  spent  his  last  years  in  Xew  Haven,  and  had  in 
€-arly  life  taken  a  highly  notable  part  in  the  promotion  of  inocu- 
iation  for  the  small-pox  in  America.     Himself  a  loyal  Church- 


42  XOTES    ox    SOME    OF    THE    NEW    HAVEX    LOYALISTS. 

man,  two  of  liis  sons,  graduates  respectively  in  1771  and  177G, 
fonglit  in  the  war — the  elder  on  the  British  and  the  yoiina'er  on 
the  American  side, — an  unparalleled  instance  in  Yale  or  Xew 
Haven  history.  Besides  at  least  one  other  line  of  Xew  Haven 
descendants,  a  sister  of  these  yonths  was  the  paternal  grand- 
mother of  President  Woolsey. 

There  were  perhaps  somewhat  over  a  thousand  Yale  graduates 
in  active  life  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  it  is  a  satisfac- 
tory evidence  of  their  substantial  agreement  in  sentiment  that 
less  than  twenty-five,  or  2io  per  cent,  sided  at  once  and  per- 
manently with  the  mother  country  and  sought  refuge  in  British 
territory  or  died  in  British  military  service ;  of  this  number  the 
majority  were  employees  of  either  the  Crown  or  the  Church  of 
England. 

Besides  such  of  this  brief  list  as  have  already  been  noticed, 
only  some  half  dozen  more  of  the  Yale  Loyalists  were  persons 
of  any  special  distinction;  and  their  record  can  be  easily 
summarized. 

There  was,  for  instance,  the  Tiev.  Dr.  Henry  Caner,  of  Eng- 
lish birth,  the  son  of  that  master  builder  who  was  brought  to  J^ew 
Haven  in  1717  to  construct  the  original  building  named  Yale 
College,  and  who  through  the  marriage  of  a  granddaughter  into 
the  Hillhouse  family  furnished  a  name  for  our  (misspelt) 
Canner  Street.  Born  in  the  Church  of  England,  he  entered  her 
ministry  in  Fairfield,  after  his  graduation  in  1724.  and  proved 
so  attractive  a  preacher  that  in  1747  he  succeeded  to  the  rector- 
ship of  the  most  conspicuous  and  aristocratic  Episcopal  congTC- 
gation  in  Xew  England,  that  of  King's  Chapel  in  Boston. 
When  the  Revolution  came,  in  his  old  age,  he  accompanied  tlie 
British  on  their  evacuation  of  the  town,  and  finally  settled  down 
in  England  in  poverty  and  obscurity.  His  attested  loss  of  an 
annual  income  of  £200  was  at  length  made  up  by  an  equivalent 
pension;  and  he  attained  a  great  age,  which  made  him  for  eight 
years  the  oldest  surviving  graduate  of  Yale. 

A  second  venerable  Loyalist  of  prominence,  who  also  attained 
the  distinction  of  beine-  the  oldest  living  graduate,  was  David 
Ogden,  of  Xewark,   Xew  Jersev,   Class  of  1728,   the  loadinj]; 


yOTES    OX    SOME    OF    THE    XEW    HAVEN"    LOYALISTS.  43 

lawvtT  o^  tluit  rruviiico,  ;iikI  a  Judge  of  tlie  Supreme  Court. 
As  early  as  January,  1777,  his  active  sympathy  with  the  British 
If'l  him  to  seek  the  protectiou  of  the  troops  in  Xew  York  and  to 
receive  honor  there  as  a  political  counselor.  Then  followed 
exile  in  England,  where  he  lived  in  pitiful  illness  and  loneliness, 
on  borrowed  money,  under  the  care  of  a  servant,  until  on  the 
representation  of  his  losses  he  was  given  a  pension  of  £200,  which 
he  relinquished,  however,  in  extreme  old  age,  to  return  to  the 
asylum  which  he  craved  under  the  flag  of  the  United  States. 

Of  a  younger  generation  was  another  eminent  graduate,  who 
was  firm  in  conscientious  opposition  to  the  Kevolution,  William 
Smith  the  younger,  the  historian  of  the  Province  of  Xew  York, 
of  the  Class  of  1745.  As  a  lawyer  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his 
profession  for  ability  and  integrity;  and  after  he  felt  con- 
strained to  an  attitude  of  neutrality,  his  advice  in  matters  of 
law  and  policy  was  still  sought  by  his  former  associates  and 
freely  given.  Finally,  when  unable  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance 
to  the  new  government,  he  was  driven  into  the  British  lines, 
where  he  was  complimented  with  the  titular  rank  of  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  Xew  York,  and  after  the  peace  with  the  real  and  valid 
appointment  of  Chief  Justice  of  Canada. 

Three  years  younger  in  College  age  was  the  Kev.  Samuel 
Seabury,  a  native  of  Groton,  who  took  orders  in  the  Episcopal 
church,  in  which  he  had  been  reared.  The  approach  of  the 
Revolution  found  him  stationed  in  Westchester,  X.  Y.,  on  the 
Connecticut  border,  where  he  had  already  been  extensively 
occupied  as  an  anon;>Tnous  pamphleteer  in  behalf  of  the  claims 
of  the  Church  of  England,  and  in  opposition  to  the  union  of 
the  Colonies.  In  1774  he  printed,  still  anonymously,  a  series  of 
remarkably  able  and  even  brilliant  papers  in  criticism  of  the 
Continental  Congress,  the  authorship  of  which  he  avowed  in  his 
appeals  to  the  Commissioners  for  compensation  in  17S3, 
although  contradictory  statements  over  his  signature  are  also 
alleged  to  exist.  In  Xovember,  1775,  he  was  seized  and  brought 
to  Xew  Haven  by  a  posse  of  Connecticut  soldiers,  who  resented 
his  partisan  activity,  was  paraded  ignominiously  through  our 
streets,  and  was  kept  here  under  guard  for  a  mouth.      After  his 


44:  XOTES  OS  so.xrE  of  the  ni:\v  havex  loyalists. 

release  he  took  refuge  within  the  British  lines,  and  tliere 
received  an  appointment  as  Chaplain.'  from  which  he  enjoyed  to 
the  end  of  his  life  a  small  half-pay  pension.  His  later  career, 
as  the  first  Bishop  of  the  American  Episcopal  Church,  to  which 
office  he  was  chosen  after  the  peace,  while  still  in  Xew  York 
City,  is  too  well  known  to  need  rehearsal. 

Another  graduate  of  high  official  standing  who  adhered  to  the 
British    side   was   Judge    Thomas    Jones,    of   the    Xew    York 
Supreme  Court,  of  the  Class  of  1750.     He  held  court  for  the 
last  time  in  April,   177G;    and  after  repeated  experiences  of 
arrest  and  imprisonment  for  disaffection  to  the  American  cause, 
he  embarked  for  England  in  17S1.      In  17S3  he  estimated  his 
losses  at  upwards  of  £14,000  sterling;    and  a  small  pension  was 
assigned  him,  which  he  received  until  his  death  in  1702.     He 
is  now  perhaps  most  generally  remembered  as  the  author  of  a 
bitterly  partisan  History  of  Xew  York-  during  the  Bevolution. 
which  was  published  from  his  manuscript  in  1S79  ;   in  this  work 
he  refers  to  his  AJma-  Mater  as  '"then  and  still  a  nursery  of  sedi- 
tion, faction  and  republicanism.'" 
'      Another  of  the  same  group  was  Edmund  Fanning,  a  native 
of  Long  Island,  and  a  graduate  of  1757.     He  settled  as  a  lawyer 
in  ^NTorth  Carolina,  where  he  so  won  the  favor  of  Governor  Tryon 
as  to  become  a  trusted  and  influential  factor  in  the  public 
service.     When  Tryon  was  promoted  in  1771  to  the  Xew- York 
governorship.  Fanning  went  with  him,  and  there  also  held  impor- 
tant office.     In  177G,  as  an  ardent  Loyalist,  he  raised  and  took 
command  of  a  regiment,  remaining  in  the  field  throuo-h  the  war. 
Later,  as  a  reward  for  his  fidelity,  he  was  made  successivelv 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Xova    Scotia   and  of  Prince  Edward 
Island.     He  accompanied  Tryon  on  his  expedition  for  the  inva- 
sion of  Xew  Haven,  in  1770,  and  when  soliciting  an  honorary 
degree  from  Yale  a  quarter  of  a  century  later  claimed  that 
through  his  intervention  the  College  buildings  were  saved  from 
pillage  and  destruction, 

I  have  not  as  yet  emphasized  the  admitted  fact  that  a  consid- 
erable minority  of  the  lousiness  men  of  Xew  Haven  in  these 
pre-Revolutionary  days  are  credited  with  Tory  proclivities:   but 


NOTES    OX    SO^^E    of    TJTE    :!fF\V    KAVEX    LOYALISTS.  45 

it  is  fair  to  remember  that,  however  exasperating  the  differences 
in  opinion  may  have  been,  there  was  no  open  scan(hil ;  and  the 
vote  in  town-meeting  in  ITGG,  of  22()  to  4S  in  favor  of  support- 
ing the  Colony  otlieials  in  igTioring  the  Stamp  Act,  probably 
expresses  about  the  usual  strength  of  the  two  parties. 

In  any  account  of  ]Srew  Haven  society,  I  should  also  mention 
that,  after  the  trying  experiences  of  the  war  were  over,  and  the 
community  had  settled  down  again  into  its  ordinary  routine,  the 
development  of  interests  tended  to  consolidate,  in  their  opposi- 
tion to  the  older  and  more  conservative  elements,  the  greater 
part  of  the  Episcopalians  with  the  more  venturesome  commer- 
cial adventurers  and  the  restless,  drifting  fringe  of  the  popula- 
tion, who,  with  little  at  stake,  were  indifferent  to  hardly-won 
standards.  These  miscellaneous  elements,  the  nucleus  of  the 
future  Jeff'crsonians  and  Tolerationists,  absorbed  into  their  camp 
the  remnants  of  the  loyalist  faction,  and  so  conspicuous  a  part 
did  these  form  that  the  whole  group  was  often  described  as 
''Tories,"  and  classed  as  not  altogether  well-aft'ected  to  the 
Federal  government.  Thus,  President  Stiles,  when  he  com- 
ments in  his  Diary  on  the  inauguration  of  the  City  government 
in  17S4,  refers  w^ith  evident  asperity  to  the  numerous  Tory 
element — estimating  one-third  of  the  duly  enrolled  citizens  as 
"hearty  Tories,"  one-third  as  ''Whigs,"  and  one-third  as  "indif- 
ferent." Of  the  forty  voters  who  are  Episcopalians,  he  labels 
all  as  "Tories"  but  two,  and  includes  from  the  same  camp  from 
twenty  to  thirty  of  the  Eirst-Church  flock.  The  credulous 
President's  figures  may  have  been  v/arped  by  gossip  and  preju- 
dice; but  at  all  events  it  is  clear  that  thus  early  after  the  war 
a  considerable  weight  in  public  affairs  was  conceded  to  the  party 
which  embraced  the  former  Loyalists,  in  whom — so  far  as  local 
traditions  show — thore  was  no  pretence  of  reversion  to  dead 
issues,  but  a  healthy  and  active  interest  in  helping  to  work  out 
the  adaptation  of  the  familiar  conditions  of  life  in  our  old 
democratic  Colony  to  a  new  set  of  responsibilities  and  obliga- 
tions in  the  Union  of  independent  States. 


THE    REV.  PIARRY  CROSWELL,  D.D,  AND  HIS 

DIARY. 

By  Fkaxklix  B.   Dextei;,  Litt.D. 

■      '  [Read  January  17,1916.]  ' 


I  have  long  been  accustomed  to  count  it  a  matter  of  peculiar 
good  fortune  that  my  personal  recollections  of  Xew  Haven  go 
back  so  far  as  to  include  a  living  impression  of  almost  every 
one  of  that  group  of  notable  men  who  vrcve  the  conspicuous 
figures  in  this  community  at  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 

And  inasmuch  as  at  my  coming  here  in  1857  I  took  rooms  on 
College  Street,  at  the  corner  of  Crown,  it  is  natural  that  one  of 
the  most  distinct  in  that  panorama  of  stately  personages  who 
were  then  just  passing  otf  the  stage  was  the  Rev.  Dr.  Croswell, 
as  I  was  accustomed  to  see  him  almost  daily  on  his  walks  to  and 
from  his  house,  half  Avay  down  the  next  block,  on  Crown  Street. 

These  glimpses  of  him,  in  his  long  cloak  and  top  boots,  joined 
with  the  companion  picture  of  his  deliberate  march  up  and  down 
the  central  aisle  of  Trinity  Church  in  fidl  canonicals,  have  left 
with  me  a  striking  image  of  dignified  and  venerable  age,  not 
melancholy  and  forlorn  as  that  of  his  somewhat  older  neighbor, 
Ex-President  Day,  but  distinctly  suggestive  of  active  kindliness 
and  of  watchful  human  sympathy,  not  altogether  crushed  and 
broken  by  the  labors  and  sorrows  of  almost  eighty  years. 

Harry  Croswell,  the  seventh  of  eight  children  of  Caleb  and 
Hannah  (Kellogg)  Croswell,  of  West  Hartford,  Connecticut, 
was  born  in  June,  17 TS.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Charles- 
town,  !Massachusetts,  and  his  mother  of  West  Hartford,  where 
the  family  lived  in  humble  circumstances. 

He  was  bred  as  a  Congregationalist,  under  the  pastoral  care 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Xathan  Perkins,  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Col- 


REV.    IIAKRY    CROS\\'ET.T.,    D.D..    AXF"    HIS    DIARY.  47 

lege,  who  was  settled  iu  that  suburbnn  parish  for  two-thirds  of 
a  century. 

Xoah  Wel)ster,  the  lexicoirrapher,  was  also  a  native  and  early 
resident  of  West  Hartford ;  and  Harry  Croswell  at  the  age  of 
eleven  lived  for  one  winter  as  errand-boy  in  ^Fr.  "Webster's 
family,  receiving  help  in  his  lessons  in  partial  return  for  his 
services. 

After  leaving  school  he  became  a  clerk  in  a  country  store  in 
Warren,  in  Litchfield  County,  but  soon  juigrated  to  Catskill, 
]Sr.  Y.,  to  learn  the  printer's  art  from  an  older  brother,  who  was 
also  one  of  the  proprietors  of  a  weekly  newspaper,  The  Catskill 
Pacl-et. 

While  thus  occupied,  he  ventured  to  send  occasional  anony- 
mous contributions  to  that  sheet,  which  led  to  the  recognition  of 
his  promise  as  a  writer,  and  finally  to  his  instalment  in  the 
editorial  chair. 

In  August,  1800,  he  was  married  to  Susan  Sherman,  a  native 
of  Xew  Haven,  of  a  family  long  identified  with  Centre  Church, 
who  since  the  death  of  her  parents  was  living  in  Catskill  in  the 
family  of  an  older  brother. 

A  few  months  later  he  removed  across  the  river  to  the  flour- 
ishing city  of  Hudson,  where  he  established,  in  May,  ISOl,  in 
partnership  with  Ezra  Sampson,  a  Yale  graduate,  and  a  retired 
Congregational  minister,  an  independent  weekly  newspaper,  of 
high  character,  called  Tlie  Balance,  which  soon  attained  a  fair 
circulation,  and  is  still  esteemed  by  students  of  that  period  for 
its  exceptional  literary  excellence.  Jlr.  Sampson  was  a  prac- 
ticed essayist,  and  Mr.  CroswelFs  own  contributions  included 
frequent  poetical  efforts,  as  well  as  a  constant  supply  of  prose 
material,  especially  in  the  political  field.  During  the  most  of 
his  editorial  career  he  also  conducted  a  bookselling  business ;  and 
for  a  short  time  held  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  in  the  State  ^Militia. 

In  the  summer  of  1S02  he  undertook  further  the  publication 
of  a  small  occasional  sheet,  called  Tlie  ^yasp,  which  was  designed 
by  the  Federalists  of  Hudson  as  an  antidote  to  The  Bee,  a  Demo- 
cratic paper  just  begun  there;  of  The  Wasp  only  twelve 
numbers  were  issued. 


48 


KEV.     KARKV    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    HIS    DIARY. 


His  senior  partn.n-  withdrt-w  from  The  Balance  at  the  end  of 
1503;  and  earlv  in  ISOi  some  of  the  Democratic  State-leaders 
resolved  to  crush  Mr.  Croswell,  in  consequence  of  articles  \vhich 
he  had  published  rellecting  severely  on  President  Jefferson.  He 
was  made  defendant  in  several  libel  cases,  founded  on  matter 
which  had  aj.peared  in  The  Balance  and  the  defunct  Tra-s;>; 
and  the  courts  IxMng  controlled  by  his  opponents,  he  was  heavilv 
mulcted,  beyond  his  ability  to  pay.  One  of  these  suits  gained 
special  renown  from  the  appearance  of  Alexander  Hamilton, 
then  at  the  zenith  of  his  career,  as  one  of  the  volunteer  counsel 
of  :\Ir.  Croswell,  and  his  delivery  of  a  masterly  argument  in 
defence  of  the  liberty  of  the  press,  only  five  months  before  his 
tragic  death. 

At  the  close  of  ISOS,  'Mr.  Croswell  ventured,  unwisely,  to 
transfer  the  office  of  his  paper  to  Albany,  where,  however,  he 
failed  to  receive  the  party  support  of  which  he  had  been  assured. 
His  advertising  patronage  was  also  very  meagre,  his  subscription- 
list  small,  and  multiplied  libel  suits  continued  to  harass  him. 
A  climax  was  reached  in  the  Spring  of  1811,  when  one  of  his 
creditors,  who  was  a  leading  Federalist,  obtained  a  judgment 
against  him  for  a  small  debt  which  he  could  not  discharge,  and 
for  three  or  four  months  he  was  obliged  to  edit  his  paper  while 
confined  within  jail  limits.  Cut  to  the  quick  by  what  he  felt  to 
be  gross  disloyalty  on  the  part  of  a  representative  of  the  partv 
for  which  he  had  done  and  suffered  so  much,  he  announced  tha\ 
the  Balance  would  suspend  publication  at  the  end  of  the  current 
year,  expressing  franldy  also  his  disgust  at  the  falseness  and 
desertion  of  his  Federalist  patrons,  in  such  terms  that  he  was 
understood  to  renounce  his  former  associations,  and  was  even 
suspected  of  a  purpose  of  joining  the  Democrats.  In  fact,  he 
never  agaiii  attended  a  political  meeting  (unless  as  a  clerical 
duty),  or  exercised  his  rights  as  a  voter;  his  revulsion  from 
Federalism  was  so  entire,  that  in  later  life  his  tacit  sympathv 
was  evidently  with  the  Democratic  party. 

Early  in  1S12  he  conformed  to  the  Episcopal  Church,  receiv- 
ing ba])tism  in  July,  and  confirnuuion  a  week  later  at  the  hands 
of  Bishop  Hobart. 


.i;'i<.:f'i   "J 


KEV.    HAKRY    CKOSWELL,    D.D.,    .VXD    HIS    DIAKV.  4i) 

He  was  then  led  to  consider  the  claims  of  the  Christian 
ministry,  and  after  a  hasty  preparation,  under  the  direction  of  a 
yonng  clergyman  then  hoarding  with  him,  the  Kev.  Timothv 
Clowes,  who  was  rector  of  St.  Peter's  Church,  he  was  ordained 
Deacon  in  St.  John's  Church,  Xew  York  City,  by  Bishop 
Hobart,  on  :\Iay  8,  1S14,  being  then  nearly  30  years  of  age ; 
and  when  we  recall  that  for  upwards  of  ten  years  he  had 
been  prominent  in  the  public  eye  as  the  strenuously  combative 
editor  of  a  violently  partisan  journal  in  Hudson  and  the  vicinity, 
it  is  a  remarkable  tribute  to  the  respect  inspired  by  his  character 
that  on  the  first  Sunday  after  his  ordination  he  assumed  charge 
of  Christ  Church  in  Hudson. 

While  thus  engaged,  having  occasion  to  visit  Xew  Haven  dur- 
ing the  ensuing  summer  on  family  business,  he  was  invited,  on  a 
sudden  emergency,  to  conduct  the  services  for  a  single  Sundav  in 
Trinity  Church,  at  the  time  when  the  Eector,  the  Rev.  Henry 
Whitlock,  a  Williams  College  graduate,  of  about  Mr.  Croswell's 
age,  was  prostrated  with  a  fatal  illness. 

Mr.  Whitlock's  resignation  was  received  in  October,  and  on 
the  same  day  Mr.  Croswell  was  invited  to  fill  his  place,  with  an 
annual  salary  of  $1000,  the  same  that  he  w^as  receiving  in 
Hudson.  The  chairman  of  the  committee  of  notification  was 
the  venerable  Dr.  Eneas  Munson,  an  uncle  of  I\Irs.  Croswell. 

The  oft'er  was  especially  tempting,  for  the  sake  of  the  four 

sons  to  whose  education  he  was  looking  forward,  and  as  restoring 

his  wife  to  the  companionship  of  a  large  circle  of  relatives. 

, Accordingly,  his  acceptance  followed,  and  he  began  his  long 

ministry  here  on  Sunday,  January  1,  1S15. 

At  that"  date  the  Rev.  ]^athanicl  W.  Taylor,  eight  years 
younger  than  Mr.  Croswell,  had  been  for  three  years  pastor  of 
the  First  Congregational  Church  ;  and  the  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin, 
who  was  but  three  years  Mr.  Croswell's  junior,  had  been  settled 
over  the  United  Church  for  ten  years.  The  new  First  Church, 
or  the  "Middle  Brick,"  as  it  soon  began  to  be  called,  a  name 
changed  by  a  later  and  more  fastidious  generation  to  the  "Centre 
Church,"  had  been  dedicated  on  the  previous  Tuesday;  and  the 
Xorth  Church  then  building  was  rcadv  for  dedication  in  the 


50  EKV.     IIAUKV    CUOSWELL,    D.D.,    AND    HIS    DIAIIY. 

following  December.  Dr.  Dwiglit  was  the  President  of  Yale 
College,  and  pastor  of  the  College  Church,  but  was  soon  pros- 
trated under  the  painful  disease  which  ended  his  life  two  years 
later. 

!Mr.  Croswell  was  domiciled  in  a  hired  house  on  the  east  side 
of  Orange  Street,  just  above  Crown;  and  the  Trinity  Church 
of  that  day,  on  the  east  side  of  Church  Street  (which  was 
named  from  this  location),  and  a  little  below  Chapel  Street, 
was  an  old  wooden  structure,  with  long  round-topped  windows, 
doors,  vestibules,  and  inside  entrances,  which  had  undergone 
successive  enlargements  since  it  was  built,  60  years  before,  but 
was  so  inadequate  for  the  accommodation  of  the  perhaps  130 
families  of  iSTew  Haven  and  vicinity  who  made  up  the  parish, 
that  already,  in  the  previous  May,  the  corner-stone  had  been  laid 
of  a  new  stone  church,  on  the  Public  Green,  of  which  Ithiel 
To\vn  was  the  architect. 

Five  months  after  his  arrival,  ]\[r.  Croswell  was  admitted  to 
Priest's  orders  by  Bishop  Griswold,  of  the  Eastern  Diocese. 
Bishop  Jarvis,  of  Connecticut,  having  died  in  1S13 ;  and  in 
February,  ISIG,  he  was  instituted  into  the  rectorship,  on  the  day 
after  the  new  church,  which  was  heralded  as  the  first  attempt  at 
Gothic  in  church-building  in  Xew  England,  and  one  of  the 
largest  structures  for  that  purpose  in  America,  was  duly 
consecrated. 

A  large  increase  in  tlie  numbers  of  the  congregation  follow^ed 
at  once,  and  from  the  standing  of  Trinity  Parish  in  the  diocese, 
Mr.  Croswell  held  from  the  tirst  a  position  of  avowed  leader- 
ship ;  as  was  shown  in  particular  by  his  being  mainly  responsible 
for  directing  attcntioTi  to  a  clergyman  of  near  his  own  age,  the 
Pev.  Thomas  Church  Brownell,  of  the  Xew  York  diocese,  who 
was  elected  Bisliop  of  Connecticut  in  ISIS. 

In  April,  1S21,  wlun  he  was  in  his  43d  year,  and  had  lived 
in  Xew  Haven  for  six  years,  he  began  to  keep  a  Diary,  which  he 
continued  until  his  death,  in  lSr>S,  and  which  exhibits  a  remark- 
able record  of  in<iivitlual  activity,  and  of  the  shrewd  comments 
of  a  critical  observer  vu  persons  and  events  within  his  daily 
experience.  The  whole  amounts  to  nearly  5000  pages  of  manu- 
script, written  in  a  beantitiilly  minute  and  uniform  hand. 


REV.    HARRY    CROS\Vi:rL,    D.D.,    AND    HIS    DIAKV.  51 

"With  reference  to  this  Jocmuent  it  shonhl  be  remembered  that 
tlie  author  wrote  and  acted  under  certain  obvious  limitations. 
Embarrassed,  perhaps  not  altogether  consciously,  by  hi-s  lack  of 
College  and  ministerial  training,  and  wholly  without  those 
intimate  associations  with  his  contemporaries  which  naturally 
accompany  such  training,  he  felt  ill  at  ease  in  the  Yale  atmos- 
phere, and  chose  to  keep  aloof  from  the  friendly  advances  made 
by  gentlemen  of  the  College,  and  to  confine  his  social  relations 
almost  exclusively  to  the  families  of  his  own  parish.  The 
honorary  degTee  of  Master  of  Arts  was  conferred  on  him  at  Yale 
in  1817,  without  any  apparent  effect  on  his  feelings. 

Embittered  also  by  his  experience  in  the  political  arena,  he 
assumed  from  the  first  an  attitude  of  reserve  and  suspicion 
towards  those  of  differing  faith  or  practice,  which  tended  -to 
induce  and  to  aggravate  similar  feeling  and  action  on  their  part. 
His  conception  of  his  duty  to  Church  principles  prevented  easy 
or  natural  relations  with  dissenters,  so  that  much  of  the  best 
which  other  newcomers  found  here  was  to  him,  from  his  own 
choice,  under  the  ban,  and  the  stimulus  of  friendly  contact  and 
sympathy  in  intellectual  pursuits  was  so  far  denied  him. 

These  limitations,  on  the  other  hand,  made  the  concentration 
of  his  powers  on  the  daily  round  of  direct  pastoral  effort  more 
and  more  amazingly  effective.  He  did  little  reading,  beyond 
current  newspapers  and  Church  periodicals,  and  after  the  first 
few  years  found  the  composition  of  fresh  discourses  somewhat 
irksome;  but  outside  of  his  study,  the  incessant  and  varied 
demands  of  a  large  parish  were  full  of  absorbing  interest  and 
inspiration.  He  made  it  a  rule,  in  his  own  language,  "never  to 
suffer  anything  to  interfere  with  pastoral  duty"  ;  and  the  record 
of  days  without  number  is  completely  filled  with  the  recital,  not 
merely  of  more  strictly  ministerial  acts,  such  as  baptisms,  funer- 
als, and  marriages,  but  of  an  exhausting  round  of  visits  to  the 
sick,  the  afilicted,  and  the  needy,  among  his  own  parishioners, 
i^s  well  as  to  many  who  were  uncared  for  by  any  other  agency. 
His  house  was  also  a  centre  of  hospitality  and  of  service.  He 
enjoyed  informal  social  intercourse,  and  until  hampered  by  age 
and  infirmity  was  a  familiar  and  welcome  figure  in  the  homes  of 
Jds  people,  as  they  in  his. 


.T I :  I  ■ ; 


52  RKV.     irAIIUY    CKOSWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    HIS    Dl.VltV. 

On  tlio  other  hand,  formal  gatherings  of  a  fashionable  sort 
were  distasteful  to  him,  as  might  be  shown  by  many  extracts 
from  his  Diary  like  the  following,: — 

"July  0,  1844.     At  9  p.  m.  went  to  ]\[rs.  Keese's,  M-here  Mrs.  j 

Croswell  had  spent  the  evening.     Found  a  large  and  disagree-  j 

able  party  there,  an<I  after  enduring  the  customary  hardships  ou  | 

such  occasions  until  i-o  past  ten,  came  home,  and  made  a  new  | 

mental  resolution — not  to  get  caught  so  again."  j 

"December  3,  1844.     Took  tea  and  spent  the  evening  at  'Mr-.  \ 

Ingersoll's,  with  a  small  party — pleasant  enough,  but  the  time  ] 

thrown  away."  / '  | 

Akin  to  such  feelings  was  his  strong  disinclination  to  appear  \ 
in  public  on  any  show-occasion,  unless  required  by  his  duty  as  \ 
a  clergyman.      One  instance  out  of  many  may  illustrate  this  :• —    , 

"'October  9,  18:21.  This  being  the  day  assigned  for  the  Agri-  ] 
cultural  Fair  and  Cattle  Show,  I  was  solicited  by  the  Committee  ^ 
of  Arrangement  to  join  in  the  procession,  and  attend  on  the  ; 
exercises  at  the  meeting  house,  and  afterwards  to  dine  with  the  | 
Societv.  It  was  a  great  sacrifice  of  feeling  and  convenience —  1 
but  I  attended.  The  clergy  who  attended  were  Baldwin,  of  | 
Stratford,  Taylor,  congregationalist.  Hill,  baptist,  and  Yitch.  j 
professor  of  divinity  in  Yale  College.  Proceeded  from  the  from  j 
of  the  Court  house,  around  the  square,  to  the  Xortli  ^Meeting-  j 
House — where  we  were  foisted  into  the  pulpit  with  the  orator,  j 
Burraire  Beach,  Esq.,  of  Cheshire.  Taylor  read  a  psalm — and  j 
then  made  a  prayer.  Then  followed  the  oration.  Then  Hill  j 
read  a  psalm,  and  delivered  a  prayer  of  very  handsome  composi- 
tion, which  some  friend,  probably  Abraham  Bishop,  had  pre-  | 
pared  to  his  hand.  Tlien  he  read  another  psalm — and  thus  j 
ended  this  i>art  of  the  cattle-show.  We  were  next  dragged  iii  j 
procession  to  Hillhouse's  Avenue  to  see  the  oxen,  kc. — and  after  j 
this  we  were  conducted  to  the  dinner  table — and  by  the  time  the  i 
fare  was  over,  it  was  past  4  o'clock.  For  my  part,  I  felt  tired  j 
and  ashamed  of  the  whol.-  business."'  i 

And  this  extract  illu-^tratcs  perhaps  as  clearly  the  author--  i 
striking"  niuih-srv,   a  crowning  manifestation   of  which   is   dn-     ] 


1,,- 


REV.    HAKUV    CRCSWEr.L,    D.D.,    AND    ILIS    DIARY.  53 

played  in  his  record  of  the  Coinnienceinent  at  Washington,  now 
Trinity,  College  in  1S31,  with  its  entire  omission  of  any  refer- 
ence to  the  fact  that  one  incident  (if  the  occasion  was  his  own 
reception  of  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity. 

A  kindred  instance  of  unaffected  humility  is  this  entry  of 
:^^arch29,  1S22:— 

''The  Bishop  [Dr.  Brownell]  called  towards  evening,  with  a 
prospectus  for  his  Commentary  on  the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer — wishing  me  to  look  it  over  and  correct  it !  It  is  really 
a  great  trial  to  my  feelings  to  have  such  a  thing  occur ;  but  I 
endeavored  not  to  discover  anything  of  the  kind.  I  took  the 
manuscript,  and  actually  suggested  two  or  three  verbal  altera- 
tions, which  the  Bishop  readily  adopted." 

From  almost  any  page  of  this  voluminous  record  it  would  be 
possible  to  select  a  specimen  day  in  illustration  of  his  unremit- 
ting routine  labors  iu  the  direct  line  of  professional  duty.  Any 
single  example  of  this  sort  may  be  unimpressive ;  but  the  cumu- 
lative effect  of  such  a  lifelong  chronicle  of  unwearied  devotion 
and  self-sacrifice  is  unquestionable  and  overwhelming.  I  quote 
as  the  record  of  only  a  j^art  of  an  ordinary  day's  occupations,  this 
extract  from  his  entry  for  Monday,  April  20,  1S35  : — 

"Bose  early.  Spent  an  hour  before  breakfast  in  making 
entries  in  Parish  Bcgister,  Journal,  S:c.  After  the  morning 
errands,  commenced  my  round  of  duty  by  visiting  and  praying 
with  Dr.  Elijah  ]\Iouson's  wife.  Then  called  at  Mr.  O'Xeil's 
to  see  Grace  Jacocks,  who  is  here  on  a  visit.  Then  called  to  see 
Julia  Deforest,  who,  being  confined  by  slight  lameness,  is  turn- 
ing her  attention,  and  apparently  with  much  interest  to  the 
subject  of  religion.  ...  p.  m.  Becommeuccd  my  round 
of  duty.  Called  a  moment  to  see  the  bride,  ^Irs.  Granger. 
Then  took  a  loug  pull,  and  visited  and  prayed  with  Mr.  Thorp 
and  wife,  who  are  lx)th  sick  in  one  room  with  typhus  fever. 
[I  believe  on  the  corner  of  State  &  Bradley  sts.]  This  is  the 
extremest  part  of  the  town  on  the  Xorth.  Stopped  a  moment  at 
J.  Ball's.  Then  visited  ^Vlary  Ann  Bradley,  whose  case,  I  fear, 
is  begiiming  to  wear  a  threatening  aspect.     Xcxt,  visited  and 


54  RKV.     IIAIIJJY    CnosWELL,    D.D.,    A.\n    HIS    DIAKY. 

prayed  with  Harriet  Fiteb,  \vlio  is  declining  rapidly.  Xext, 
visited  and  prayed  with  S.  J.  Chirke's  children,  both  dangerously 
sick.  Called  ou  ^Iv.  Dykeman,  II.  W.  Brintnall,  and  Dr. 
Robertson.  Got  caught  in  an  April  shower,  and  on  coming 
home  found  plenty  of  company,  who  had  also  got  caught,  ^liss 
Gilbert,  and  Miss  ^Macbeth  and  !Miss  Ogden  staid  to  tea.  In  the 
evening  was  called  to  marry  Benjamin  D.  Xorris." 

With  respect  to  the  demands  made  upon  him,  it  should  be 
noted  that  he  served  not  merely  as  a  spiritual  counselor,  but 
placed  all  his  faculties  and  capacities  at  the  command  of  his 
people.  As  the  Diary  testities,  he  was  often  called  on,  for 
instance,  to  draft  a  new  will,  to  write  a  troublesome  business 
letter,  to  make  peace  with  an  unruly  servant,  to  plan  a  new 
house,  or  a  new  church,  or  even  to  make  a  perverse  chimney 
draw. 

In  some  cases  it  may  be  difficult  to  decide  whether  the  author 
of  a  diary  wrote  solely  for  his  own  eye,  or  whether  he  contem- 
plated the  possibility  of  his  words  becoming  public.  In  the 
present  case,  there  can  be,  I  think,  no  doubt  that  Dr.  Croswell's 
original  object  was  solely  to  register,  as  an  aid  to  memory,  the 
consecutive  performance  of  professional  duty,  without  thought 
of  other  readers.  We  may  ask,  then,  if  the  record  should  have 
been  preserved,  and  if  it  should  be  a  subject  of  public  analysis 
and  criticism.  But  as  neither  the  writer  nor  his  surviving 
children  expressed  any  wish  to  the  contrary,  when  the  decision 
lay  wholly  in  their  hands,  and  as  his  last  descendant  died  nearly 
half  a  century  ago,  it  seems  clear  that  the  settlement  of  such 
questions  was  willingly  left  to  the  discretion  of  those  on  whom 
the  responsibility  might  fall. 

Meantime,  some  things  are  certain.  Least  of  all  would  Dr. 
Croswell  have  shrunk  from  entire  frankness  in  any  exposition 
of  the  quality  of  his  churchmanship  and  his  relations  with 
representatives  of  other  Chri^^tian  bodies. 

He  would  be  described.  [  suiq^ose,  as  a  typical  example  of  the 
old  school  of  CouiKcticut  High  Churchmen,  sharply  distrustful 
of  the  Bruad  Church  attitude  of  Dr.  iMuhlenlx-r^:  and  Dr.  Har- 


KEV.    HARRY    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    AND    HIS    DIARY.  55 

wood;  and  equally  out  of  sympathv  with  the  Low  Churchman- 
ship  of  Bishops  Bedell  and  Eastburn  and  Dr.  Tyng. 

He  was  inflexibly  loyal  to  the  Prayer  Book ;  and  such  excep- 
tional variations  as  that  noted  in  the  following  passage  from  the 
Diary  are  therefore  the  more  remarkable. 

'•April  4,  1822.  Was  called  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Isaac 
Basset's  child,  the  methodist  minister  being  out  of  town.  All 
strong  methodists — so  I  wore  no  gown — used  an  extempore 
prayer  at  the  house — and  accommodated  myself  as  far  as  pos- 
sible to  their  feelings,  without  departing  from  any  positive  rule 
of  the  Church."  -'     ■  "    ' 

An  incident  which  merits  comparison  with  this  is  given  under 
''February  2S,  1S2S.  The  funeral  of  Mr.  Sherman  [a 
brother  of  Mrs.  Croswell]  was  attended  in  the  afternoon.  I  per- 
formed the  whole  service.  After  returning  to  the  house,  I 
invited  old  Mr.  Stebbins  [of  AVest  Haven],  who  had  attended 
as  a  mourner,  on  account  of  the  relationship  of  his  wife  to  I\[rs. 
Sherman,  to  pray  with  tlie  family.  The  old  gentleman,  though 
a  Congregational  clerg}'man,  knelt  down  and  made  a  very  con- 
sistent prayer,  closing  with  the  Lord's  Prayer.  The  kneeling 
and  Lord's  Prayer  would  have  been  considered  by  a  man  more, 
bigoted,  as  too  much  of  a  compliance  with  church-customs." 

Compare,  also,  with  these  another  funeral  entry,  which,  if 
unique  in  his  o^vn  case,  must  have  had  parallels  elsewhere : — 

"Sunday,  iSTovember  15,  1S35.  After  afternoon  service  hast- 
ened down  to  the  Chapel,  to  attend  the  funeral  of  young 
Murphy.  .  .  .  Mr.  Bennett  performed  the  service  at  the 
Chapel — and  I  performed  all  that  was-  done  at  the  grave,  but 
as  it  had  become  so  dark,  that  I  could  not  disting-uish  a  letter, 
I  dare  not  venture  on  the  Collect  from  memory." 

As  has  been  said  already.  Dr.  Croswell  found  the  w^ritiug  of 
sermons  a  burden;  and  judging  from  the  serial  numbers 
attached  to  his  discourses,  he  seems  during  a  ministry  of  nearly 
4-4  years  to  have  made  on  the  average  a  new  sermon  only  once  in 
alx)ut  three  weeks.     His  Diarv  reveals  oreat  in2;enuitv  also  in 


56  REV.   }[akf;v  ctioswell,  d.d.,  and  tits  t>iakv. 

the  adaptation  of  oM  material  to  new  uses.  Witness  such 
entries  as  these  :— 

''Friday,  December  4,  1S29.  [15  years  after  ordination.] 
Tried,  in  vain,  to  set  myself  about  sermons— but  finally  Avas 
obliged  to  select  two  from  my  old  stock,  of  which  the  number  is 
so  large,  and  embracing  so  many  topics,  that  I  tlnd  it  difficult 
to  strike  out  a  new  one." 

"Saturday,  February  25,  1S32.  iSTot  having  time  to  finish 
a  sermon,  resorted  to  my  pigeon-holes,  and  found  a  substantial 
old  sermon,  which  had  not  been  preached  in  eight  years.  Let 
them  remember  this,  if  they  can." 

"Saturday^  May  5,  1S32.  ^Yent  to  work  in  the  morning,  and 
took  an  old  sermon,  and  ripped  oil'  the  collar  and  wristbands — - 
that  is,  rigged  it  out  with  a  new  text,  introduction,  and  conclu- 
sion, and  intend  to  try  it  to-morrow." 

"j\Iay  21,  ISIS,  ^ly  sermon,  which  I  had  substantially 
re-written  from  an  old  one,  with  three  convertible  texts,  to  adapt 
it  to  Advent,  Epiphany,  or  Easter,  was  now  desigTied  partly  as 
a  missionary  sermon,  and  seemed  to  take  very  well." 

Once  he  enlarges  on  his  method  of  composition : — 
'  *^anuary  11,  1^22.  In  llie  evening  transcribed  a  few  pages 
into  my  sermon,  which  I  had  composed  in  the  course  of  the 
afternoon.  This  is  a  labour  to  which  I  have  always  stibjected 
myself — composing  first  in  a  very  small  hand,  on  small  scraps 
and  slips  of  paper,  and  afterwards  transcribing  into  the  notes  from 
which  I  deliver,  and  which  are  always  written  in  a  fair,  though 
rather  small  hand,  and  broken  up  into  sentences,  and  parts  of  sen- 
tences, to  assist  the  eye  in  the  delivery.  This  last  peculiarity  has 
excited  the  curiosity  of  stich  of  my  brethren  of  the  clergy  as  have 
noticed  it :  but  they  don't  seem  to  understand  it — and  for  one  of 
the  plainest  reasons  in  the  world : — their  sermons  have  no  points, 
nor  are  the  sentences  so  formed  as  to  admit  of  any  regular  di\n- 
sion  of  their  members.  ...  I  designed  the  plan,  because  I 
knew  my  inability  to  write  without  emendations— and  I  cannot 
bear  to  see  a  manuscript  full  of  erasures,  alterations,  and  inter- 
lineations.    Sermons  written  off Ji and  are  apt  to  be  slovenly  in 


REV.     HARRY    CROSWELL,    D.T).,    A^'D    HIS    DIARY.  57 

their  style — and  tliey  are  as  inncli  extoaporc  sermons,  as  if  they 
were  preached  without  notes.  It  is  my  aim  to  finish  my  ser- 
mons, as  much  as  my  great  and  arduous  labors  will  permit." 

There  is  little  in  the  Diary  which  bears  upon  the  teaching  in 
his  sermons.  He  was  not  given  to  speculation,  and  his  daily 
record  is  occupied  with  practical  and  external  data, — least  of  all 
with  theological  investigation,  or  self-examination.  Comments 
on  the  sermons  of  others  are  frequent,  and  not  always  favorable, 
but  such  sidenotes  as  the  following,  with  reference  to  his  own 
mode  of  thought,  are  unusual : — 

"Sunday,  September  IS,  1S25.  Mr.  SLelton  preached  three 
times.  He  writes  handsomely,  and  preaches  impressively — but 
his  sermons  have  no  spice  of  gospel  spirit.  He  urges  obedience, 
and  inculcates  the  necessity  of  faith — but  not  one  word  of 
repentance.  In  his  evening  sermon  he  told  of  every  way  of 
coming  to  God,  but  the  right  one  (with  a  penitent  and  broken 
heart  and  contrite  spirit)." 

His  theoretical  attitude  towards  his  neighbors  who  were  out- 
side the  pale  of  the  Church,  is  expressed  in  the  following 
extract : — 

"Tuesday,  May  1,  1S21.  In  the  evening  held  my  regular 
lecture  at  the  Orange-Street  school  room,  and  spoke  on  Chris- 
tian unity,  principally  with  a  view  of  pointing  out  the  absurdity 
of  attempting  to  harmonize  the  dilferent  denominations  of 
Christians,  by  drawing  them  into  mixed  meetings  of  laymen,  to 
hear  lay-preachers.  liecommended  the  iniitij  of  spirit,  without 
hoping,  in  the  present  state  of  the  world,  to  produce  unity  of 
sentiment."  His  method,  however,  of  illustrating  the  "'unity  of 
spirit"  in  practice  was  not  specially  calculated  to  promote  the 
object,  as  may  be  gathered  from  the  following  out  of  numerous 
descriptions  in  his  Journal  of  services  conducted  by  noncon- 
formists:—  .  • 

"November  17,  1824.  Having  been  invited  by  President  Day 
to  attend  the  dedication  of  the  new  College  Chapel — went  at  2 


58  KEV.    HARRY    CEOSWELL,    D.D.,    AND    TITS    DTARY. 

o'clock.  It  was  rather  a  singular  exhibition.  They  first  sang 
an  anthem — not  in  the  best  style.  Having  no  female  voices, 
the  treble  solos  Avere  murdered  in  cold  blood.  Then  President 
Day  read  some  scattered  verses  from  the  Psalms — in  l^ad  shape, 
without  any  qualification.  Then  Professor  Pitch  made  a  short 
hobbling  prayer — in  worse  style  than  either  of  the  other  perform- 
ances. Then  another  anthem  was  sung,  decently.  Then  Pro- 
fessor Fitch  delivered  a  dull,  cold,  labored  sermon,  in  wretched 
style.  Then  President  Day  made  a  tolerable  prayer.  And 
last,  the  choir  sung  a  diddling  hymn — and  Professor  Fitch  ended 
with  a  son  of  benediction." 

Again,  while  visiting  at  the  house  of  the  Rector  of  St.  John's 
Church,  in  Providence,  ''June  15,  1S22.  Mr.  Crocker  asked 
me  to  attend  a  prayer-meeting  of  Mr.  ^^laffit  s  (the  strolling  Irish 
methodist),  in  the  lecture-room  of  Mr.  Wilson's  (congi-egational) 
meeting-house.  I  declined — but  finding  the  family  all  on  a 
tip-toe  to  go — I  changed  my  mind  and  went.  This  lecture-room 
is  the  undergTound  story  of  a  very  large  meeting-house — the 
ceiling  low — the  walls  and  floor  dirty — the  whole  very  dark — 
and  the  air  close  and  offensive.  Into  this  den  an  immense 
crowd  followed  the  miserable  adventurer,  who  had  set  the  town 
agog  by  his  vapid  attempts  to  preach  the  gospel.  People  of 
wealth  and  fashion,  without  distinction  of  age,  sex,  or  condition, 
were  here  huddled  together.  The  desk  was  occupied  by  Maffitt, 
Mr.  Taft,  minister  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Patucket,  a 
young  baptist  preacher,  and  a  methodist  preacher.  This  prayer- 
meeting  was  opened 'with  a  hymn,  which  was  followed  by  a  short 
exhortation  from  3IafHtt.  Then  he  sang  a  song,  of  his  own 
composition,  tune  and  all,  alone,  in  a  soft,  sweet  strain  which 
seemed  to  produce  a  wonderful  effect  upon  his  female  auditors, 
who  languished  as  he  languished  and  responded  sighs  to  his 
sweet  notes.  Then  ^Maflitt  prayed  in  the  language  of  the  liturgy, 
for  a  few  minutes.  Then  he  sang  again.  Then  the  baptist 
exhorted,  the  methodist  prayed,  ^laflitt  sang,  and  the  rest  joined 
him.  He  closed  with  another  exhortation,  and  a  hymn,  in  true 
methodist  style — and  thus  endt.'d  a  prayer-meeting,  in  a  cellar, 


i    '- 


■  I. !;..»' 


.«(( 


EEV.    HARP.Y    mOSWET.L,    D.D.,    AND    IITS    DIARY.  59 

attended  by  the  Rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Providence,  and 
his  lady,  the  Eev.  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural 
Philosophy  in  Brown  University,  in  episcopal  orders,  and  the 
Rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Xew  Haven,  who  blushes  to  his 
fingers'  ends  on  his  recording  this  instance  of  his  departing  from 
a  conscientious  sense  of  duty,  from  mere  complaisance  to  the  good 
people  with  whom  he  staid."     Again, 

"March  9,  1S25.  Having  received  an  invitation  to  attend 
the  ceremony  of  installing  the  Rev.  Leonard  Bacon  over  the 
first  congregational  society  in  this  city— went  to  the  meeting- 
house at  ^/2  past  10.  Service  commenced  at  11.  Sermon,  by 
Mr.  Hawes,  very  good.  '  Charge,  by  Mr.  Taylor,  very  bad. 
Right  hand  of  fellowship,  by  Mr.  Merwin,  no  better.  Singing 
flat.     TTas  invited  to  dinner,  but  had  to  attend  a  funeral." 

Then,  two  weeks  later,  ''March  23,  1S25.     Called  to  see  Mr. 

.Bacon,  the  new  congregational  minister  of  the  1st  Society  in 

this  city.     He  is,  to  all  appearance,  a  pleasant  young  man — but, 

I  should  think,  unequal  to  the  task  which  he  has  undertaken. 

Time  will  show." 

Again,  ten  years  later,  ''June  3,  1S35.  Went  to  Captain 
Goodrich's,  by  invitation,  to  see  his  daughter  married  by  Mr. 
Bacon  to  Frederick  Uhlhorn.  A  splendid  wedding.  After  the 
ceremony,  took  my  cake  and  wine,  and  then  took  my  leave,  as  I 
had  no  desire  to  meet  the  throng  of  company  invited  at  a  later 
hour.  Mr.  Bacon  has  improved  the  mode  of  conducting  a 
marriage,  since  I  have  witnessed  one,  as  performed  in  the 
Presbyterian  way.     But  it  is  still  a  meagre  service." 

"July  10,  1S20.  At  3  p.  m.  went  by  invitation  to  the  Dedica- 
tion of  the  new  congregational  meeting-house  [on  Court  Street] . 
It  was  a  shabby  concern — all  the  exercises  being  meagre  and 
spiritless,  with  the  exception  of  the  sermon  by  Mr.  Bacon,  which 
was  probably  none  of  his  best.  President  Day  began  by  reading 
a  portion  of  scripture,  gathered  partly  from  the  Chronicles,  and 
partly  from  Solomon's  dedication  prayer,  but  without  any 
intimation  from  whence  he  was  reading.  It  was  all  continued 
on,  as  if  nothing  intervened — and  Solomon's  prayer  was  used 


60  HEV.     HAKRY    CKOSWELT,,    D.D.,    AND    HIS    PIARV. 

with  omissions,  till  he  got  to  the  middle — and  then  he  stopped, 
and  gave  out  a  hymn  of  eight  verses.  This  l)eing  all  sung  out, 
with  the  congregation  sitting — Professor  Fitch  made  one  of  his 
long  hitching  prayers,  with  no  other  difference,  only  that  he 
hegan  by  substituting  a  wretched  imitation  of  Dr.  Barber's 
drawling  for  his  native  grunt  [Dr.  Barber  being  a  teacher  of 
elocution].  This  was  followed  by  another  singing,  and  the 
sermon — and  then  another  prayer,  by  a  strange  clergyman,  and 
another  hymn.  The  main  body  of  the  house  was  filled  with 
ladies,  the  galleries  with  men  and  boys,  the  platform  under  the 
pulpit  with  deacons — one  of  whom  slept  quietly  through  the 
whole  concern,  in  which  exercise  he  was  devoutly  followed  by 
more  than  one  of  the  fair  sex— and  I  could  not  blame  them. 
About  fi.ve  ministers  were  in  the  pulpit — which  Professor  Pitch 
was  particular  to  dedicate,  together  with  the  seats, — but  nothing 
else." 

"]May  10,  1S21.  Passed  round  to  the  I^s'orth-'West  corner  of 
the  Green,  where  the  ^Methodists  were  laying  the  corner-stone  of 
their  new  meeting-house  [on  the  Green].  Like  a  presbyterian 
dedication,  it  was  a  formless  jumble  of  exercises,  consisting  of 
singing  three  hymns,  making  a  prayer,  and  delivering  an 
address,  all  carried  on  by  their  minister,  Mr.  Thatcher.  The 
comer-stone,  however,  instead  of  being  the  top  of  the  comer, 
was  the  first  stone  laid  in  the  foundation,  several  feet  under 
ground!  On  this  stone,  and  in  this  awkward  situation,  the 
little  minister  performed  his  several  parts — speaking,  not  as  out 
of  a  tub,  but  as  if  immersed  in  a  cistern — the  people  standing  in 
the  deep  trenches,  or  on  the  banks,  or  on  the  piles  of  lumber  and 
stone  with  which  the  place  was  encumbered.  He  discharged  the 
office,  however,  with  a  considerable  degree  of  propriety — and 
with  a  zeal  and  enthusiasm  peculiar  to  his  sect.  The  Metho- 
dists had  been  violently  opposed  by  the  Presbyterians  in  their 
project  of  erecting  this  house  in  so  public  a  place — but  this  had 
in  no  wise  disheartened  them;  and  their  opponents,  findimr 
force  ineffectual,  had  resorted  to  softer  means,  and  had  finally 
offered  them  a  sum  of  money,  say  about  $1200,  to  induce  them 
to  select  a  more  retired  spot.     This  was  resented,  and  the  work 


.b 


EEV.     HARRY    CROSWELL,    D.I).,    AXD    IIIS    DIARY.  01 

pushed  with  renewed  ardor.  The  house  will  stand  within  two 
or  three  hundred  feet  of  the  Meeting-House  of  the  United 
Society,  and  about  an  equal  distance  from  the  dwelling-house  of 
the  President  of  Yale  College.  Xo  wonder,  therefore,  that  the 
Presbyterians  are  opposed  to  the  erection.'' 

Without  further  multiplication  of  such  passages,  I  pass  to 
other  phases  of  his  disapproval  of  the  manifestations  of  sectarian 
activity. 

'•'July  19,  1S21.  Abigail  Heaton  called  to  talk  with  me  on 
the  subject  of  her  joining  a  missionary  family  to  go  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands  (one  among  the  latest  of  the  sectarian 
schemes).  She  is  an  excellent,  pious,  and  warm-hearted  girl, 
who  has  been  persuaded  by  the  arts  of  Presbyterians  to  believe, 
that  it  is  her  duty  to  sacrifice  herself  to  the  visionary  object  of 
civilizing  and  then  Christianizing  the  natives  of  these  islands. 
The  plain  English  of  the  business  is— that  a  number  of  indigent 
young  men  have  been  gratuitously  educated  by  the  Presbyterians 
for  the  purpose  of  going  on  foreign  missions.  But,  timid  souls, 
the  terrors  of  such  a  mission  as  their  employers  demand  are  too 
great,  imless  the  girls  will  go  with  them!  .  .  .  Lord  help 
us !  what  are  we  coming  to  t  As  Miss  Heaton  is  a  fine  girl,  and 
a  very  worthy  communicant  of  the  Church,  ...  I  am 
satisfied  that  it  is  my  duty  to  endeavour  to  rescue  her  from  the 
snare  thus  laid  for  her  by  a  set  of  men,  possessing  more  than 
Jesuitical  cunning." 

"April  25,  IS'2'2.  Spent  the  evening  at  Mr.  Heaton's,  where 
there  was  half  a  dozen  of  their  friends.  Here  I  was  informed 
of  another  "of  the  ten  thousand  schemes  which  are  invented  to 
draw  Churchmen  into  allegiance  with  schismatics.  Mrs.  Heaton 
had  been  invited  by  the  Presbyterian  ladies  to  join  them  in  a 
society  for  converting  the  Jews  I  When  will  this  shameful 
ostentation  cease  ^''' 

"July  11,  1823.  Attended  a  meeting  of  a  few  gentlemen  at 
Hitchcock's  office,  at  the  request  of  Judge  "White,  for  the  purpose 
of  making  some  arrangements  for  re-organizing  a  Bible  Society, 
auxiliary    to    the    Xational    Bible    Society.     Found    Theodore 


62 


KF.V.     HArifV    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    HIS    DIAIIY, 


Dwigiit  from  Xew  York,  President  Day,  :\rr.  Menvin,  iNFr. 
.Luckev,  and  Judge  White,  besides  :\rr.  Iliteheock.  Dwiglit 
asserted  that  agents  were  coming  from  Xew  York  to  attend  to 
the  business,  and  wished  a  meeting  to  be  notified  on  Tuesday 
evening  next,  in  the  newspapers  and  in  the  pulpits.  He  pn^ 
tended  that  Dr.  Lyell  [a  Xew  York  rector]  was  coming  amoDL' 
the  agents.  Having  seen  the  pill  well  sugared  over  in  this 
way,  I  very  deliberately  entered  into  an  explanation  of  my 
reasons  for  declining  to  promote  the  object,  either  directly  or  . 
indirectly,  grounded  generally  upon  the  impropriety  of  attempt-  1 
ing  to  amalgamate  religious  denominations,  kc." 

Other  passages  show  how  the  author  allowed  his  surmises  of 
sectarian  politics  and  of  mixed  motives  to  govern  him  also  in 
the  field  of  humanitarian  effort. 

"December  13,  1S20.  Preached  my  new  re-written  sermon, 
on  intolerance  and  bigoti-y,  from  Eomans  xiv,  4,  "Who  art  thou 
that  judgest  another  man's  servant,'  cl'c.     It  had  been  preached 

for  the  last  time  twelve  years  ago — and  as  I  altered  the  text  ] 

and   the   matter,    nobody   dreamed   of   its   being   re-written —  ] 

especially  as  it  was  supposed  to  have  a  bearing  on  certain  trans-  1 

actions  now  in  progress.     The  Congrcgationalists  have  entered  ' 

into  a  combination  to  denounce  and  proscribe  every  man,  woman,  1 
and  child,  who  will  not  subscribe  to  the  total  abstinence  system." 

"June  S,  1855.     A  young  man  came,  to  get  subscribers  for  | 

Maine-law  publications,  and  gave  jue  an  opportunity  to  expres?  j 

my  opinions  on  the  whole  fanatical  concern."  | 

"January   8,    1830.     Wrote  a  note  to  Professor  Goodrich,  | 

declining  his  invitation  to  attend  a  meeting  to  be  held  this  even-  | 

ing  at  the  'Middle  Brick',  to  get  up  a  fever  about  the  Georgia  j 

Indians  [that  is,  for  the  protection  of  the  Cherokecs  in  retaining:  | 

their  lands].     .     .     .      [Added  later :]    A  large  meeting  asseni-  | 

bled,  as  I  understand ;    and  Professor  Goodrich  took  occasion  to  j 

say,  that  there  was  no  political  motive  in  the  business;   it  was  a  | 

grand  Christian  scheme.  »S:c."  | 

"June   22,    1^54.     Had   all   sorts  of  calls   in   the  morning,  j 

Anions  others,  a  black  man  seeking-  aid  to  buv  his  family,  out  oi  \ 


KEV.     IIAKRY    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    ITIS    nrAHY.  (^3 

slavery,  into  poverty  and  misery.      Treated  liim  kindly,  and  sent 
liim  to  the  abolitionists." 

"July  24,  1S55.  Spent  a  portion  of  the  forenoon,  in  prepar- 
ing a  brief  and  pungent  reply  to  the  circular  received  yesterday 
from  the  jS'ew  England  Emigrant  Aid  Company,  to  be  enclosed 
in  an  envelope,  already  stamped,  and  directed  to  Rev.  E.  E. 
Hale,  of  Worcester.  An  impudent  attempt  to  draw  me  into  a 
l)olitical  crusade  against  the  admission  of  Kansas,  kc.'' 

As  a  contrast  to  the  picture  quoted  above,  of  a  corner-stone 
service  by  ATethodists,  I  cite  the  description  of  the  ceremony, 
eight  years  later,  when  what  we  know  as  St.  Paul's  Church  was 
begim : — 

"Saturday,  April  8,  1829.  A  fine  day— and  a  proud  and 
splendid  day  for  the  Churchmen  of  Xew  Haven.  The  Corner- 
stone of  the  new  Chapel  was  to  be  laid  in  the  afternoon — and  a 
considerable  part  of  the  forenoon  was  taken  up  in  preparation. 
Opened  Trinity  Church  at  1  o'clock,  and  admitted  the  Sunday- 
School.  The  congregation  collected  at  2.  ]\Ir.  Hawks  [the 
assistant  minister]  read  a  selection  of  service  for  the  occasion, 
highly  appropriate.  A  procession  was  then  formed — Sunday- 
School  first — singers — Wardens  and  Vestry — Building  Com- 
mittee—  Contractors — Clergy — Officiating  Clergy — and  then 
citizens,  etc.,  a  street  full.  The  clergy  of  other  denominations 
bad  been  invited — and  a  part  of  them  attended,  with  President 
Day  at  their  head.  On  coming  to  the  foundation  of  the  new 
cliapel.  Psalms  selected  were  read  in  appropriate  responses — 
tlien  a  Hymn  sung — then  the  stone  was  laid  by  me — then  ISlv. 
Hawks  read  a  prayer — and  I  closed  with  a  spirited  address, 
^vhich  the  puritans  won't  forget  in  a  hurry.'' 

For  sixteen  years  St.  Paul's  Chapel  was  administered  in  con- 
junction with  Trinity  Church  by  the  Rector  and  his  assistants; 
and  it  was  only  after  a  long  and  hard-fought  struggle,  in  which 
Dr.  Croswell  was  worsted,  that  an  independent  church  was 
^Tganized.  The  Diary  for  :\rarch  23,  1845,  tells  the  result:— 
"I'lt-asant  as  the  day  was  ...  it  had  many  painful  asso- 
ciations, for  to-morrow  the  parish  meeting  is  to  decide  the  ques- 


64 


KEV.     lIARIiV    CROSWKLL,    D.D.,    AXD    HIS    DIARV, 


tion^oii  the  division  of  the  parish— and  doubtless  in  favor  of  the 
suicidal  measure." 

The  error  in  the  gloomy  prophecy  of  the  last  words  recalls  an 
earlier  instance  of  similar  perverseness,  respecting  the  destinv 
of  what  is  now  Trinity  College,  which  Dr.  Croswell  had  tried 
hard  to  secure  for  Xew  Haven  : — 

^"May  6,  1S24.  The  Trustees  of  ^Yashington  College  met  in 
iS^ew  Haven  this  day,  and  after  some  discussion,  fixed  the  loca- 
tion of  that  Institution  in  Hartford— a  location  which  will  prob- 
ably prove  fatal  to  the  interests  of  tlie  institution."    \ 

These  instances   of   defeated   plans    suggest   wliat   was    Dr. 
■Croswell's  outstanding  fault  of  temperament,  and  none  the  less     ! 
so,  although,  so  far  as  the  Diary  reveals,  it  was  one  of  which  he 
was  utterly  unconscious.     While  gracious  and  affable  in  ordi- 

.  nary  intercourse,  he  showed  himself  in  more  serious  matters  of 
policy,  where  opinions  differed,  strong-willed,  self-sufficient,  and 

■  autocratic,  particularly  iu  official  relations  with  his  assistants 
and  his  vestry,  and  was  often  unjust  and  severe  in  his  reflection; 
on  those  who  were  not  willingly  subservient  to  his  purposes. 

He  had  a  genuine  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  'New  Haven : 
but  was  chary,  doubtless  from  convictions  of  duty,  of  givim:- 
public  expression  to  his  views  on  any  local  measure  which  might 
possibly  make  differences  in  the  parish  through  sectarian^or 
political  controversy,  while  at  the  same  time  indulging  in  the 
freest  criticism  on  the  pages  of  his  Diary.  An  early  specimen 
of  such  criticism  occurs  in  his  notes  on  the  removal  of  the  stone- 
from  the  old  bnrying-ground,  in  the  centre  of  the  public  Green. 
inlS21:— 

":May  22.  Amid  the  cares  and  duties  which  necessarily 
devolve  upon  me,  it  is  my  lot  to  be  vexed  and  troubled  with  th"- 
endless  schemes  of  sectarians  to  draw  me  into  responsibilitiL-i 
which  may  affect  my  popularity  and  diminish  my  usefulness 
Some  time  last  season,  a  scheme  was  set  on  foot  to  get  rid  of 
the  monuments  ajid  grave  stones  in  the  old  burying-gTound.  1' 
being  a  very  tendiu-  subject,  the  promoters  of  the  scheme  wltc 


.1  -n 


REV,    IIAKRY    CKOSWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    HIS    DIAKV. 


65 


under  the  necessity  of  proceeding  cautiously — and  tliey  accord- 
ingly caused  a  town-meeting  to  l>e  called,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  propose  plans  to  effect  the  object,  I  cannot  recol- 
lect the  course  which  the  affair  took  in  all  its  details — but  the 
result  was,  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  carry  a  certain 
plan  into  etTect.  I  heard  a  rumor  at  the  time,  that  all  the 
clergymen  of  the  city  were  placed  on  that  committee,  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  a  sanction  to  the  proposed  measure.  But  I 
received  no  notice  of  the  appointment,  nor  was  I  called  upon  to 
meet  with  them.  Last  week,  however,  a  notice  appeared  in  the 
newspapers,  stating  that  this  committee  being  now  ready  to 
proceed  to  the  removal,  would  delay  till  the  20th  of  the  month, 
to  give  to  any  person  so  disposed,  an  opportunity  to  remove  the 
tombstones  or  remains  of  their  friends  to  their  private  lots  in 
the  new  burying-ground.  At  the  same  time,  Abraham  Bishop, 
Esq.,  called  upon  me  with  an  address  which  he  had  written  to  be 
delivered  at  one  of  the  meeting-houses  on  the  occasion  of  the 
removal,  and  which  he  wished  me  to  peruse  and  return  to  him 
this  day.  He  partially  disclosed  the  scheme — and  common 
report  furnished  me  with  the  rest.  The  committee,  it  seems, 
consisted  of  James  Ilillhouse,  Esq.,  Abraham  Bishop,  Esq., 
William  !Mix,  Esq.,  and  the  four  clergymen  of  the  city — that  is, 
one  Churchman,  two  Congregationalists,  and  one  ]\Iethodist- — the 
la^Tnen  of  the  Committee  being  all  Congregationalists.  This 
committee,  or  in  other  words  Mr.  Ilillhouse,  by  the  help  of  ^h\ 
Bishop,  had  agreed  to  purchase  of  the  said  ]Mr.  Ilillhouse  a  piece 
of  waste  laud,  near  the  new  burying-grounds  in  the  suburbs  of  the 
to^^Tl,  at  a  most  enormous  price  [$2S0  an  acre]  and  to  cause  all 
the  remaining  gravestones  to  be  removed  thither,  and  set  up  in 
the  ground  in  due  order,  about  a  mile  from  the  place  where  the 
bodies  were  deposited  I  .  .  .  To  a  project  so  ridiculous  it  only 
remained  to  obtain  the  sanction  of  the  ministers,  and  then  the 
projectoi-s  flattered  themselves  that  everything  would  go  down 
smoothly  with  the  people — a  calculation  too  often  made  with  great 
success.  I  resolved,  however,  to  impro\'e  the  tirst  opportunity  that 
had  been  afforded  me.  of  washing  my  hands  of  any  particii)ation 
in  the  measure.  I  stood  al<.>ne,  as  the  sole  representative  of  the 
3 


66 


REV.    irAKRY    CRO.SWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    HIS    DIARY. 


largest  religious  society  in  town, — I  had  no  concern  in  the 
affair, — had  no  connections  in  the  burying-ground — and  had  a 
very  unfavorable  opinion  of  the  plan."' 

Again,  a  month  later,  "June  20.  At  8  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  bells  began  to  ring  for  the  grand  parade  of  removing  the  old 
burying-gi-ound — that  is,  for  preparing  the  public  mind  for  tlie 
removal  of  the  .grave-stones.  The  people  assembled  at  !Mr. 
Taylor's  meeting-house,  and  a  course  of  services  were  performed 
in  this  wise. — Singing — prayer  by  Mr.  Merwin,  giving  a 
detailed  account  of  many  things  of  which  he  supposed  the  people 
were  igTiorant,  but  of  which  he  could  not  have  supposed  the 
Being  whom  he  affected  to  address  was  ignorant — singing 
again — and  then  ^Ir.  Hill,  the  baptist  minister,  performed  the 
dignified  office  of  reading  3Ir.  Bishop's  address.  He  strutted 
in  his  borrowed  plumes,  and  put  on  such  a  pompous  air  as  to 
render  this  part  of  the  exhibition  ridiculous.  He  was  followed 
by  ]\Ir.  Thatcher,  the  methodist  minister,  who  laid  out  the  ground 
for  a  long  extempore  address — but  observing,  before  he  was 
half  through  with  his  exordium,  that  the  people  were  withdraw- 
ing, he  very  abruptly  broke  off.  .  .  .  After  singing  once 
more,  Mr.  Taylor  made  the  concluding  prayer.  Mr.  Hillhouse, 
with  some  hired  labourers,  now  proceeded  to  the  burying-ground, 
and  began  to  pull  down  tlie  old  grave-stones,  and  the  work  is  to 
proceed  until  they  are  all  removed.  These  circumstances  are 
detailed  by  others,  for,  instead  of  being  present,  I  visited  Xancy 
Bonticou,  iSrc." 

I  may  trespass  on  your  time  to  add  a  few  other  notes  relating 
to  special  localities  or  more  general  incidents. 

"September  9,  1^2:..  .  .  .  Stopped  a  moment  at  ]Mrs. 
Sanford's.  .  .  .  Walked  on,  it  being  a  delightful  morning, 
taking  the  powderdiouse  road  [/.  e.,  Prospect  Street]  till  I  came 
to  the  forest  alwut  Hillhouso's  avenue — crossed  the  avenue  which 
I  now  saw  in  its  whole  extent  f<;.r  the  first  time."  He  probably 
refers  to  the  view  from  the  cleared  space  on  which  the  Hillhouse 
mansion  was  built  a  little  later;  the  avenue  itself  had  long  been 
known. 


KEV.    HARRY    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    AXD    illS    DIARY.  67 

'Olay  G,  1S20.  This  day  the  canal-commissioners  decided 
on  the  route  of  the  Canal  through  the  city,  taking  the  middle  or 
Creek-route — a  question  which  has  excited  much  interest  in  the 
town/'  Two  other  routes  had  been  especially  talked  of, — one 
issuing  through  Brewery  Street  to  Long  Wharf,  and  one  coming 
out  next  to  Tomlinson's  Bridge. 

''February  19,  1S2S.  Towards  noon  it  was  announced  that 
the  Canal  was  full  of  water — and  at  3  in  the  afternoon  a  Ijoat 
was  put  afloat,  and  was  lifted  up  all  the  locks  in  town,  passing 
through  the  whole  length  of  the  Canal  to  the  basin  of  Mr.  Hill- 
house,  "and  returning  to  the  last  level.  The  crowd  to  witness 
this  first  exhibition  was  immense,  and  filled  the  town  with  joy, 
the  bells  rang,  cannons  fired,  &-c.'' 

"March  IS,  1S39.  Was  called  to  visit  a  poor  sick  woman  at 
Barnesville  [i.  e.  Fair  Haven],  and  just  as  I  left  her  the  Steam 
Boat  arrived,  and  I  stopped  to  see  fur  the  first  time  the  train  of 
railroad  cars  st-art  off.  It  was  but  a  small  train,  but  it  went  off 
in  good  style."  Daily  trains  had  been  running  from  Xew 
Haven  to  Meriden  since  the  1st  of  January. 

His  first  embarkation  on  a  railroad  had  been  three  and  a  half 
years  earlier,  in  Xew  York  City,  when  he  wrote : 

"August  IS,  1835.  We  had  only  barely  time  to  get  on  board 
the  rail-road  line  for  Philadelphia.  .  .  .  This  was  my  first 
experience  on  rail-roads — and  the  first  sensations  were  very 
singular.  I  could  not  at  first  divest  myself  of  the  idea,  that  we 
were  drawn  by  a  team  of  horses  upon  the  full  run — but  I  soon 
became  accustomed  to  it,  and  felt  perfectly  at  ease."  , 

Of  the  conditions  of  travel  on  foot  at  that  day,  a  single  citation 
will  represent  what  those  whose  memory  goes  back  before  the 
Civil  War  can  recall: — ''January  2G,  lSo9,  A  most  tempestu- 
ous Xorth  East  rain  storm.  After  praying  with  the  Superior 
Court  undertook  to  get  to  the  Post  Ofiice  [that  is,  from  Temple 
St.  to  the  railroad  cut]  Init  the  rain  came  in  torrents,  and  I 
found  Chapel  Street  so  fiooded,  that  it  was  impossible  to  get 


I.';  ,]-■:■   ,i; 


68  KEV.    HARRY    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    AND    IIIS    DIARY. 

along  without  going  deeper  than  my  overshoes  wouhl  warrant, 
and  so  I  gave  it  up." 

I  quote  but  one  more  narrative — that  of  the  commemoration 
in  1S'3S  of  the  founding  of  the  town : — 

"Wednesday,  April  25.  This  day  being  fixed  upon  by  the 
Connecticut  Academy  of  .Vrts  and  Sciences',  for  the  celebration 
of  the  200th  anniversary  of  the  settlement  of  Xew  Haven,  it 
was  turned  into  a  gala-day,  and  many  fantastic  pranks  were 
performed,  official  and  non-official.  Kinging  of  bells  and  firing 
of  cannon  opened  and  closed  the  day.  A  procession  -was  formed 
at  9  A.  :\r.  at  the  State  House,  consisting  of  everybody  and  every- 
body's children,  and  escorted  by  two  military  companies  and  a 
band  of  music.  This  body  moved  to  the  corner  of  College  and 
George  Streets,  where  the  Pilgrims  held  their  first  meeting, 
under  an  oak — and  here  were  prayers  and  singing — and  then 
they  proceeded  round  the  original  squares,  and  returned  to  the 
Center  meeting-house,  where  they  had  religious-  services,  and  a 
historical  discourse  by  Professor  Kingsley.  I  had  been  invited 
to  take  part  in  these  exercises,  but  declined,  and  Mr.  Bennett 
[the  Assistant  Minister]  Avas  called  in  to  fill  the  gap.  T  had  a 
quiet  forenoon  at  home." 

From  these  somewhat  rambling  excursions  into  the  Diary  I 
return  to  the  expression  in  a  more  general  way  of  the  light  on 
Dr.  Croswell's  character  and  infiuence,  to  be  gathered  from  his 
writings.  The  lapse  of  nearly  sixty  years  since  his  death  has 
left  with  us  scarcely  any  who  can  testify  from  mature  and  inti- 
mate re<.'ol lection  of  what  he  was  in  private  intercourse,  and  what 
his  standards  and  purposes  were,  as  shown  in  the  direct  results 
of  his  prolonged  ministry.  But  the  Diary  reveals,  beyond  what 
his  contemporaries  witnessed  or  imagined,  the  mental  habit  and 
springs  of  actiiui  of  the  author. 

He  was  not  what  we  call  a  good  judge  of  men,  and  his  record 
bristles  with  hasty  estimates,  both  favorable  and  unfavorable — 
to  l>e  followed  hitcr  l)y  virtual  retractions  and  revisions  of 
opinion;    but  I  think  I  am  not  mistaken  in  inferring  that  his 


REV.    HARRY    CROSWELL,    D.D.,    .VXD    ITIS    mARY.  09 

severest  criticisms  were  those  of  the  pen,  while  in  personal  inter- 
conrse  with  his  fellow-men,  he  was  uniformly  genial  and  over- 
tlowing  with  practical  beneficence. 

With  regard  to  this  last  trait,  it  is  evident  that,  like  the  rest 
of  his  generation,  he  observed  none  of  the  methods  of  our  modern 
Organized  Charities.     Beggars  thronged  his  door,  and  found 
him  the  easiest  of  prey,  while  fully  aware  of  his  own  weakness. 
His  standard  of  duty  to  his  own  people  was  extraordinarily 
high.     The  constantly  recurring  opportunities  of  intellectual  and 
social  recreation  in  a  University  town,  were  resolutely  and  con- 
sistently set  aside,  on  principle,  for  the  sake  of  the  common- 
place ofinces  incumbent  on  the  chief  pastor  of  a  large  citv  parish, 
in  which  the  poor  and  the  friendless  were  always  the  major  and 
the  more  appealing  part.     In  his  conception  of  the  Christian 
ministry,  here  lay  his  strength  and  his  special  call  to  service. 
To  this  work  he  had  consecrated  in  a  characteristically  matter-of- 
fact  way  all  his  powers  of  mind  and  body ;    he  had  no  ambition 
for  place  or  power  in  any  wider  sphere  ;   but  in  his  own  province 
he  brooked  no  interference  and  allowed  no  rival.     To  the  last 
week  of  his  life  he  kept  in  his  own  hands  all  the  details  of  his 
official  charge,  and  fulfilled  his  ideal  of  the  rectorship  of  Trinity 
Church,  without  fear  or  favor,  under  responsibility  to  no  one 
but  his  Divine  Master. 


THE   REMOVAL  OF  YALE  COLLEGE  TO  NEW 
HAVEN    IN    OCTOBER,    1710. 

Bj  Fraxklix  B.  Dexter,  Litt.I). 
[Read  October  23,  19IG.] 


In  these  passing  days  we  have  all  been  hearing  and  seeing  so 
much  of  the  history  of  the  Collegiate  School  of  Connecticut,  that 
it  may  be  rash  to  attack  so  well-worn  a  theme  from  any  addi- 
tional point  of  view :  but  it  is  certainly  fitting  that  the  Colony 
Historical  Society  should  t^ke  its  part  in  commemorating  such 
an  anniversary  as  this,  and  I  have  been  called  to  the  duty  of 
spokesman.  It  is  obvious  that  no  new  material  can  be  discov- 
ered at  so  late  an  hour :  I  can  merely  challenge  your  interest  in  a 
plain  restatement  of  some  of  the  historical  data,  in  such  form  as 
the  special  occasion  may  suggest. 

In  every  rehearsal  of  these  events,  emphasis  is  primarily  and 
justly  laid  on  the  fact  that  the  founders  of  this  Colony  included 
a  College  in  their  original  plans ;  it  is  also  noteworthy  that  the 
language  in  which  this  intention  was  expressed  anticipated  the 
phrases  to  which  we  are  accustomed  as  the  chosen  emlxjdiment 
of  the  Yale  idea  in  modern  days. 

It  may  be  worth  while  to  expand  this  assertion  by  recalling 
certain  significant  passages  in  the  history  of  the  earliest  plan  for 
higher  education  in  New  Haven. 

First  of  all,  in  the  revision  of  the  town  statutes,  in  February, 
164:5,  not  yet  seven  years  after  the  k'ginning  of  the  settlement, 
among  other  provisions,  which  it  is  explained  had  already  been 
agreed  uj)on,  but  by  oversight  had  not  been  put  on  record,  'Tt  is 
ordered  that  a  free  school  be  set  up,  for  the  better  training  up 
of  youth  in  this  town,  that  through  (J-od's  blessing  they  may  l.>e 
fitted  for  public  service  hereafter,  either  in  church  or  common- 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    XEW    HAVEN'.  71 

wealth/'  The  phraseology  was  undoubtedlv  John  Davenport's, 
though  not  necessarily  original  with  him,  and  was  frequently 
re-ei^hoed  in  his  public  utterances. 

Three  years  later,  in  3Iarch,  IG-IS,  the  General  Court  of  the 
Colony  took  the  first  active  steps  towards  setting  up  a  college 
in  Xew  Haven:  but  necessary  funds  were  lacking,  until  the  will 
of  Governor  Edward  Hopkins,  whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  the 
wife  of  Governor  Eaton,  offered  in  1657  a  prospect  of 
endowment. 

In  May,  1659,  therefore,  with  a  view  of  securing  a  share  in 
this  bequest,  the  General  Court,  in  Davenport's  language  again, 
'•kM:)king  upon  it  as  their  gi-eat  duty  to  establish  some  course  that 
through  the  blessing  of  God  learning  may  be  promoted  in  the 
Jurisdiction  as  a  means  for  the  fitting  of  instruments  for  public 
service  in  Church  and  Commonwealth,  did  order  that  -10  pounds 
a  year  shall  be  paid  by  the  treasurer  for  the  furtherance  of  a 
grammer  school." 

A  year  later,  Davenport,  as  the  trustee,  to  whom  the  portion 
of  the  Hopkins  bequest  intended  for  Xew  Haven  had  been  paid, 
in  offering  to  turn  over  the  trust  to  the  General  Court  of  the 
Colony,  described  the  design  as  being  "that  a  small  college  (such 
as  the  day  of  small  things  will  permit)  should  be  settled  in  Xew 
Haven  for  the  education  of  youth  in  good  literature,  to  fit  them 
for  public  services  in  church  and  commonwealth." 

And  again,  in  April,  1664,  the  Colony  having  failed  to  put 
this  design  into  effect,  Davenport  offered  the  same  trust  to  the 
town  of  Xew  Haven,  "to  be  improved.*'  in  his  own  lanffuasre, 
"to  that  end  for  which  it  was  given  by  Mr.  Hopkins,  viz.,  to  fit 
youth  (by  learning)  for  the  service  of  God  in  church  and 
commonwealth." 

This,  of  course,  was  the  origin  of  the  Hopkins  Grammar 
School,  with  which  Davenport's  connection  ceased  in  166S,  when 
he  removed  to  Boston  ;  but  he  left  on  file  in  our  records  a  formal 
deed  of  trust  of  the  legacy  from  which  he  had  expected  so  much, 
declaring  it  to  be  "for  the  encouragement  and  breeding  up  of 
hopeful  youths,  both  at  the  grammar  school  and  college,  for  the 
public  service  of  the  country  in  these  foreign  plantations." 


;i   il  r.c. 


<-  REMOVAL    OF    VALE    COLLEGE    TO    XEW    ILVVEX. 

With  this  message  Davenport  passes  out  of  our  historv;    but 
the  principle  which  lie  had  labored  to  iuij)hint  was  not  entirely 
lost  sight  of;    and  so,  a  generation  later,  wh.-n  a  little  companV 
of  Comiecticut  ministers,  mainly  from  the  seaside  townships, 
took  up  anew  his  project  of  "a  small  college,''  it  was  a  happy  and 
not  undeserved  coincidence  that  James  Pierpont,  then  occupying 
Davenport's  pulpit,  was  in  the  forefront  of  the  movement,\and. 
suggested  to  the  trained  counsellors  who  drew  up  the  Charter  of 
1701  a  reproduction  of  Davenport's  phraseology,  in  the  incorpo- 
ration of  ''a  Collegiate  School  wherein  youth  may  l)e  instructed 
in  the  arts  and  sciences,  who  through  the  blessing  of  Almightv 
God  may  be  fitted  for  public  employment  both  in  Church °and 
Civil  State."     And  thus  the  spirit  of  John  Davenport  and  of 
^^ew  Haven  was  to  a  certain  extent  a  part  of  Yale  College  horn 
its  beginning;    and  it  is  pleasant  to  tind,  among  the  documents 
which  antedate  the  charter,   unmistakable  evidence  that  Xew 
Haven  was   at  the  time  suggested  as  the  ideal  place  for  the 
College.      But,  so  far  as  can  now  be  st^n,  no  pressure  was 
brought  to  bear  at  that  date  by  Pierpont  or  by  any  other  repre- 
sentative of  the  town  to  influence  the  deliberating  Trustees  to 
install  the  proposed  school  here,  rather  than  in  Savbr«x.k,  or 
Middletown,   or  Hartford,   or  :\Iilford,   or   Stratford,   each'  of 
^vhich  places  had  some  fair  claim  for  consideration. 

The  extant  records  of  these  deliberations  are  consecutive  and 
distinct  enough  to  justify  the  conviction  that  the  preliminarv 
conferences  of  the  ministers  concerned  were  thoroughly  amicable, 
and  that  Saybrook  was  agreed  upon  with  substantiarunanimitv 
as  being  the  most  fairly  acceptable  compromise  for  the  variuu's 
interests  involved. 

By  1710,  however,  the  case  had  materially  altered.  For  a 
good  part  of  the  intervening  periu.l  Saybn.ok  had  been  oblioed 
to  share  with  its  next-door  neighbor,  little  Killingworth,  what- 
ever prestige  or  advantage  there  was  in  harboring  the  Collegiate 
School ;  while  for  the  rest  of  the  time  the  lack  of  a  settled  rc^-tor, 
and  the  death  of  the  venerable  parish  minister  (Thomas  Buck- 
ingham) who  had  been  the  local  centre  of  authority  and  intlu- 
enee  for   over   forty   years,   had   kept   down   the    School   to   a 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    IIAVEX.  73 

discouraginglj  low  level  of  acliievement  and  even  of  promise. 
!Meantiine  Xew  Haven  had  outstripped  Ilartfctrd  as  the  leading 
town  of  the  Colony  in  numbers  and  in  prosperity;  while  several 
of  its  more  thrifty  neighbors,  such  as  Fairfield,  Stratford,  ]Mil- 
ford,  and  Guilford,  had  grown  faster  than  the  other  plantations 
of  like  history,  eastwards  or  inland,  and  exercised  a  proportion- 
ately greater  intluenee.  In  recognition  of  this  development  the 
General  Court,  which  met  in  May  and  October  annually,  had 
resolved  in  1713  to  hold  its  autumn  sessions  henceforth  in  Xew 
Haven ;  and  this  action  should  be  noted  as  one  factor  in  deter- 
mining the  removal  hither  in  171 G. 

The  changes  in  the  composition  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  since 
1701  were  also  of  significance  in  this  crisis.  The  three  men 
who  had  been  most  prominent  in  shaping  the  early  policy  of  the 
institution  were  Abraham  Pierson  of  Killing'worth,  Thomas 
Buckingham  of  Saybrook,  and  James  Pierpont  of  Xew  Haven ; 
but  these  were  now  all  dead,— besides  two  others  who  had  taken 
no  special  part  in  College  matters,  Mr.  Chauncy  of  Stratford  and 
^Ir.  Kussel  of  Middletown — leaving  as  the  one  strong  survivor 
among  the  trustees  named  in  the  charter  the  elderly  pastor  of 
the  First  Church  in  Hartford,  Timothy  Woodbridge,  who  had 
l:K?en  kept  by  illness  and  absence  in  Boston  from  active  participa- 
tion in  the  deliberations  of  1701,  but  who  now  stood  ready  to 
interpose  his  aggressive  and  dominating  personality  in  antag- 
onism to  the  prevailing  judginent  of  the  seaside  trustees. 

Of  the  recent  accc^ssions  to  the  board  the  most  notable  were 
•John  Davenport  of  Stamford,  a  grandson  of  the  original  John 
and  nephew  of  Eector  Pierson,  and  Thomas  Buckingham,  min- 
ister of.  the  Second  Church  in  Hartford,  and  nephew  of  the 
Saybrook  trustee  of  the  same  name.  In  the  struggle  which 
ensued,  resulting  in  removal  to  Xew  Haven,  Mr.  Davenport  was 
chief  spokesman  of  the  victorious  party  ;  while  Mr.  Buckingham 
stood  as  the  sole  supporter  of  his  toumsman,  ^[r.  Woodbridge, 
in  advocacy  of  an  inland  location  for  the  College. 

But  IMr.  Pierpont's  death  had  still  another  bearing  on  the  con- 
troversy. His  place  in  the  Xew  Haven  pulpit  had  not  been 
easily  filled,  and  finally  the  choice  of  a  successor  had  narrowed 


74  REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    IIAVEX. 

down  to  two  young  Saybrook  graduates, — Samuel  Cooke  and 
Joseph  Xoyes.  ^Ir.  Cooke  was  already  a  prominent  figure  in 
the  to^^^l.  He  bad  been  for  eight  years  Rector  of  the  Hopkins 
Grammar  School,  and  during  the  last  six  sessions  of  the  General 
Assembly  one  of  the  Deputies  from  'New  Haven.  He  had  also 
married  early  into  the  Lx-ally  prominent  and  wealthy  Trowbridge 
family. 

Mr.  Xoyes  on  the  other  hand  had  the  prestige  of  being  a  son 
of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  eminent  ministers  of  the  Colony, 
and  after  a  successful  tutorship  at  Saybrook  was  now  being 
sought  as  colleague  to  his  father.  Finally  Mr.  Xoyes  was 
chosen,  in  July,  1715 ;  and  his  acceptance  turned  out  to  l>e  an 
additional  factor  of  importance  in  behalf  of  Xew  Haven  as  the 
site  of  the  college.  In  proof  of  this  it  is  necessary  only  to  recall 
the  circumstances  of  the  eventful  meeting  of  eight  of  the  ten 
living  trustees  in  Xew  Haven  on  Wednesday,  the  iTth  of  Octo- 
ber, 1716.  Besides  the  formal  record  of  this  meeting,  we  have 
a  brief  narrative  of  what  occurred,  apparently  written  a  few 
months  later  by  Joseph  Xoyes,  the  newly  ordained  minister. 
He  sets  down  first  the  convincing  argument  of  figures,  stating 
that  Hartford  county  had  oifered  to  give  6  or  700  pounds  for  the 
college,  if  settled  there,  and  that  Xew  Haven  donations  given 
and  offered  amounted  to  1600  pounds.  Five  trustees  then  voted 
for  l^ew  Haven, — Andrew  of  ^Milford,  Webb  of  Fairfield,  Eus- 
sel  of  Branford,  Ruggles  of  Guilford,  and  Davenport  of  Stam- 
ford; while  the  two  Hartford  ministers  voted  in  the  negative. 
The  moderator,  Moses  Xoyes  of  Lyme,  an  nnclo  of  the  Xew 
Haven  minister,  declared,  as  the  record  says,  that  "'he  doth  not 
see- the  necessity  of  removing  the  Scho<:>l  from  Saybrook,  but  if 
it  must  be  removed,  his  mind  is  that  it  be  settled  at  Xew  Haven,'' 
or,  as  Joseph  Xoycs's  account  puts  it,  '"Rev.  !Mr.  Xoyes  of  Lyme 
was  silent  after  his  nephew  was  settled  at  Xew  Haven."  The 
absent  trustees  were  James  Xoyes  of  Stonington  and  Samuel 
Mather  of  Windsor.  To  quote  Joseph  Xoyes  again,  'Olr. 
Mather  was  disabled  by  illness,  but  had  by  letter  to  Rev.  ^Ir. 
Pierpont  formerly/'  that  is,  in  1701,  '"'signified  his  approbation 
of  Xew  Haven.     And  ^Ir.  Xoves  of  Stonimrton  cave  certain 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    HAVEX.  iO 

intimations  of  his  mind  for  Xow  Iluven/'  as  reported,  perhaps 
hy  letter,  '"and  afterwards  signed  the  doings  of  the  Trustees", 
in  token  of  his  approval. 

The  choice,  then,  of  Joseph  Xoyes  for  the  Xew  Haven  pulpit 
was  immediately  justified  ;  if  his  rival,  Samuel  Cooke,  had  been 
preferred,  it  is  at  least  doubtful  whether  the  event  which  we  now 
commemorate  could  have  occurred  in  1716.  He  would  have 
brought  no  special  claim  of  influence  over  individual  trustees, 
nor  so  good  a  prospect  of  usefulness  as  an  assistant  in  instruction 
and  oversight  as  that  which  his  competitor  enjoyed.  It  may  be 
conceded  that  Pastor  Xoyes  did  not  prove  ultimately  an  eminent 
theologian  or  a  productive  scholar ;  but  a  study  of  his  portrait, 
hanging  on  our  walls,  gives  an  impression  of  buoyant  and  san- 
guine youthfulness,  though  the  hair  is  silvered,  and  justifies,  I 
have  always  fancied,  the  promise  of  his  earlier  manhood. 

And  what  of  the  Xew  Haven  to  which  the  (Dollegiate  School 
came  in  October,  171G  ?  The  plantation  had  been  in  existence 
for  three-quarters  of  a  century,  and  the  children  of  the  first- 
comers  who  survived  were  now  mostly  in  advanced  years.  A 
daughter-in-law  of  John  Davenport  still  occupied  the  old  Daven- 
port mansion,  on  the  present  site  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  on 
Elm  Street.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  one  or  two  grand- 
children still  kept  a  foothold  on  the  estate  of  Governor  Eaton ; 
while  the  family  of  Elihu  Yale,  Mrs.  Eaton's  grandson,  who 
was  destined  to  take  so  conspicuous  a  part  in  the  College  history, 
was  also  represented  just  below  at  the  corner  of  State  Street  by  a 
first  cousin,  the  wife  of  Samuel  Bishop.  And  a  considerable  list 
might  easily  be  named  of  other  elderly  residents  whose  recol- 
lections included  distinct  impressions  of  the  early  years  of  the 
settlement  and  the  men  and  women  who  were  leaders  in  it. 

There  is  no  reason,  however,  to  suppose  that  traditions  of 
Davenport's  purpose  of  '"a  small  College"  still  lingered  here  to 
any  such  extent  as  to  affect  public  policy:  there  were  no  persons 
of  outstanding  influence  who  would  have  been  the  natural  chan- 
nels of  such  tradition,  or  strong  enough  to  ensure  their  wider 
acceptance,  and  local  pride  had  found  a  sufiicient  reward  in  the 
modest  growth  of  the  Hopkins  Granmiar  School. 


76 


EKMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE. TO    NEW    HAVEN. 


The  population  of  the  compact  portion  of  the  touii  was  prob- 
ably not  much  over  VOO :  while  the  membership  of  the  h^irst 
Church  (still  the  only  church  in  the  whole  territory,  except  that 
recently  organized  in  East  Haven  ^•illage)  was  not  far  from  300. 
The  entire  community  eonforme.l  to  one  system  of  reli-ions 
Wief,  and  probably  at  this  date  there  was  not  within  the  town 
limits  a  single  adherent  of  the  Church  of  England,  any  more 
than  of  the  Church  of  Rome,  or  of  the  Jewish  Synagog-ue." 

The  community  was  also  in  the  main  socially  homogeneous, 
much  more  so  tlian  at  the  beginning,  when  the  distinctions  of 
wealth  and  blood  brought  with  the  emigrants  from  the  mother 
country  were  sharply  drawn  and  recogiiized ;  neither  was  tlio 
town  dominated  by  any  connnanding  personalities,  as  in  the  first 
generation. 

Besides  the  new  minister,  who  was  only  2S,  there  were  two 
other  Saybrook  graduates  living  in  the  town  plot: — John  Prout, 
Junior,  27  years  old,  a  rising  business  man  on  lower  State  Street 
and  Xaval  officer  of  the  Port,  and  Daniel  Browne,  Junior,  in  his 
19th  year,  who  had  lately  been  promoted  from  the  rank  of 
assistant-master  to  that  of  rector  of  the  Grammar  School,  in 
succession  to  Mr.  Cooko^  who  had  jnst  been  ordained  pastor  of 
what  is  now  the  First  Church  in  Bridgeport,  having  sold  his 
house  on  Elm  Street,  opposite  the  Davenport  mansion,  to  Mr. 
Xoyes,  who  was  about  to  be  married  to  a  daughter  of  the  late 
minister,  Mr.  Pierpont.  Browne  himself  was  a  native  of  the 
village  of  the  West  Side,  now  the  borough  of  West  Haven,  and 
had  a  younger  brother  to  whom  we  owe  a  detailed  map  of  Xew 
Haven  as  it  was  in  1724:,  an  invaluable  document  for  our  earlv 
history. 

In  addition  to  tliese  three  gra<lnates,  living  in  the  centre  of  the 
town,  there  were  Jacol)  Heminway,  the  minister  to  his  kinsfolk 
and  neighbors  in  East  Haven,  a  graduate  of  1704,  and  Daniel 
Elmer  of  1710,  who  was  preaching  temporarily  for  the  "West 
farmers,"  who  ha.l  tak.-n  steps  for  gathering  a  church,  but  were 
not  yet  able  to  do  so.  Of  the  five  thus  noted,  Heminway,  Prout 
and  Browne  were  tlie  only  Xew  Haveners  who  had  been  sent  to 
Saybrook  since  the  Collegiate  School  began,  and  during  that 


KE^rOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    ^•E^V    HAVEN.  <  < 

period  none  of  their  townsnu-n  lia<l  boon  educated  at  Harvard ; 
in  the  same  time  there  had  been  traineiJ  at  Saybrook  an  e(]ual 
number  of  Hartford  boys,  and  thriee  that  number  from  Saybrook 
itself. 

There  was  also  in  Xew  Haven  a  solitary  .Harvard  graduate, 
Warham  blather,  50  years  of  age,  of  the  best  ^Massachusetts 
blood,  an  uncle  of  Jonathan  Edwards,  but,  although  a  man  of 
undoubted  ability,  not  nnudi  of  a  success  in  life.  He  had  failed 
in  his  chosen  vocation  of  preaching,  and  his  wife  being  a  daugh- 
ter of  the  Madam  Davenport  who  was  spending  her  last  years  in 
the  family  home  on  Elm  Street,  they  had  come  here  to  live  with 
and  care  for  her,  while  he  divide<l  most  of  his  time  between 
amateur  medical  practice  (in  which  line  he  had  no  competitor) 
and  public  business  as  a  side-judge  of  the  county  court  and 
(subsequently)  judge  of  probate.  He  tilled  a  rather  prominent 
place  in  the  community,  more  perhaps  owing  to  a  dearth  of  other 
loaders  than  to  the  eminence  of  his  own  powers. 

These  four  men,  tJien,  Mather,  Prout,  Xoyes,  and  Browne, 
stood  for  the  higher  education  in  the  Xew  Haven  town  plot  of 
171G;  and  ranking  with  them  in  dignity  and  influence  were 
such  official  persons  as  John  Punderson  and  Abraham  Bradley, 
the  two  ancient  deacons  of  the  Church;  John  Ailing,  judge  of 
the  probate  court,  who  became  also  treasurer  of  the  Collegiate 
School;  Samuel  Bishop,  who  shared  with  Dr.  Mather  and 
Deacon  Bradley  the  station  of  assistant  judge  of  the  county 
court;  Joseph  Whiting,  captain  of  the  local  militia;  and 
Sergeant  Abraham  Dickernian,  the  tirst  townsman  or  selectman. 

The  majority  of  the  community  comprised  the  customary 
assortment  of  active  or  retired  farmers,  traders,  artisans,  sea- 
faring men,  voluntiiry  servants,  and  a  small  number  of  negro 
slaves  from  the  West  Indies;  there  were  also  perhaps  an  even 
smaller  number  of  half-civilized  Indians,  besides  the  feeble 
remnant  of  a  settlement  of  the  Quinnipiac  tribe  in  the  East 
Haven  region. 

There  were  few  persons  of  more  than  the  average  amount  of 
estate;  few  dependants  on  charity;  and  tramps  were  then  and 
f"r  a  century  longer  almost  wholly  unknown.       The  nucleus 


78 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    ^•E^V    IIAVEX. 


of  the  original  planters  had  ]>oon  a  small  group  of  rich  London 
merchants,  who  had  brought  with  them  a  staff  of  inferior 
retainers,  in  the  expectation  of  erecting  here  a  state  of  society, 
modeled  after  that  in  the  old  country,  with  marked  divisions  of 
standing  and  culture,  in  one  compact  feudal  community.  As 
it  was  speedily  found  that  this  e.\[>ectation  was  fallacious,  this 
humbler  class  was  colonized  on  some  of  the  farming  lauds  in  the 
outlying  edges  of  the  town,  which  were  in  1716  just  developing 
into  independent  villages. 

When  the  pioneers  of  Xew  Haven  sailed  up  in  1G3S  the  "West 
Cjeek,  then  navigable  at  least  to  the  foot  of  College  Street  (a 
creek  which  was  long  traceal>le  to  the  north  of  Chapel  Street, 
just  beyond  Park),  with  admirable  foresight  they  employed  one 
of  their  number,  John  Brockett,  who  had  some  experience  as  a 
surveyor,  to  lay  out  a  town-plot,  of  nine  equal  squares,  the 
meeting-house  gTcen  or  market-place  being  the  central  one.  The 
lines  of  this  plot  were  determined  by  the  two  creeks  on  the 
George  Street  and  State  Street  borders,  with  one  unfortunate 
result,  that  the  streets  bounding  the  nine  squares,  being  laid  out 
parallel  to  these  creeks,  are  hopelessly  out  of  relation  to  the 
cardinal  points  of  the  compass.  We  are  accustomed,  to  be  sure, 
to  ignore  this  patent  irregularity,  and  always  speakfor  instance 
of  Elm  Street  as  the  northern  boundary  of  the  Green ;  but  the 
earlier  land  records  do  not  observe  any  rule  on  this  head,  and 
are  nearly  as  apt  to  describe  a  lot  on  the  Chapel  Street  side  of 
Elm  Street,  for  instance,  as  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  highway, 
as  they  are  to  say  bounded  on  the  south. 

Wjthin  these  limits,  then,  of  George,  York,  Grove,  and  State 
Streets  (the  intermediate  streets  being  then  and  until  after  the 
devolution  mostly  unopened),  and  on  the  outlying  roads  leading 
towards  the  harbor  and  the  country  (Water  Street,  Meadow 
Street,  Commerce  Street,  Broad  Street,  Broadway  and  Whitney 
Avenue),  the  main  body  of  the  townsfolk  dwelt;  and  until  the 
College  fostered  a  new  center  of  life  and  interest,  the  principal 
activities  of  the  settlement  were  gathered  al)out  State  Street  and 
the  water  front,  which  then  of  course  and  for  one  hundred  and 
liftv  vears  later  beiran  at  what  is  now  Water  Street. 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    HAVEN. 


79 


The  Green  bad  upon  it  lour  public  buildings.  First,  the 
\voo<len  niecting-bouso,  built  on  ground  a  little  to  the  east  and 
south  of  the  present  Centre  Church  in  IGTO,  and  continued  in 
use  during  practically  the  entire  ministries  of  Xicholas  Street, 
James  Pierpont  and  Joseph  Xuyes.  The  area  was  about  sixty 
by  fifty-five  feet,  with  three  entrances  on  the  eastern  front,  two 
on  the  north,  and  two  on  the  south.  The  pulpit  was  placed 
originally  at  the  west  end,  as  in  the  modern  church,  facing  two 
tiers  of  benches,  those  on  the  northern  side  for  women,  and  those 
on  the  southern  for  men.  Influential  people  had  been  allowed 
by  the  town  to  build  private  pews  on  the  north  and  south  walls ; 
and  when  more  room  had  recently  become  necessary,  it  had  been 
gained  by  pushing  out  the  western  wall  twenty-five  feet  further, 
leaving  the  pulpit  where  it  was,  and  filling  the  added  floor-space 
behind  it  with  more  private  pews,  facing  the  main  congregation. 
There  were  also  put  at  the  western  end  stairways  leading  to  the 
back  and  side  galleries,  and  at  the  northeast  and  southeast  cor- 
ners stairs  to  the  large  front  gallery,  in  which  henceforth  the 
College  was  to  hire  sittings  for  graduate  and  undergraduate 
students.  Even  with  these  additions  the  house  was  hardly  suf- 
ficient for  the  demands  upon  it,  until  relieved  by  the  establish- 
ment of  worship  in  East  Haven,  Xorth  Haven  and  "West  Haven ; 
but,  however  inadequate,  it  was  destined  to  remain  for  forty 
years  longer,  and  to  serve,  not  only  as  the  place  for  religious 
assemblage,  but  also,  until  a  Court  House  was  built  south  of  it 
in  1719,  as  the  forum  for  transacting  all  civic  business,  in  the 
public  town-meetings  and  in  the  general  court  of  the  Colony  and 
subordinate  courts. 

The  graves  of  the  forefathers  were  scattered  irregularly  in  the 
proximity  of  the  meeting-house  to  the  West  and  Xorth,  those 
still  to  be  seen  in  the  crypt  under  the  Centre  Church  showing 
what  was  the  former  level  of  the  ground  in  that  vicinity. 

The  minor  structures  on  the  Green  comprised  a  small  building 
used  as  a  jail,  on  College  Street,  perhaps  somewhere  nearly 
opposite  the  present  Lawrance  Hall :  another  smaller  one,  a  little 
further  north,  used  as  a  shelter  for  the  night-watch ;  and  an  old 
huildine:  on  Elm  Street,  about  where  the  United  Church  now 


80  REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    IIAVEX. 

stands,  in  which  the  Graniinar  Schudl  was  kept.  Such  were  the 
only  public  buildings  of  the  town. 

One  striking  advantage  of  Xew  Haven  in  comparison  with 
other  sites  proposed  for  the  college  was  the  sightliness  and 
amplitude  of  the  meeting-house  green ;  and  steps  were  taken  at 
once  by  the  Trustees,  after  October,  IT  10,  for  the  purchase  of 
land  for  a  building  in  a  situation  connnanding  this  fair  prospect. 
Such  was  found  in  the  lot  of  one  and  a  quarter  acres  on  the 
corner  of  College  and  Chapel  Streets,  l>eing  the  space  now 
occupied  by  Osboni  Hall,  the  adjoining  wing  of  Vanderbilt  Hall, 
Connecticut  Hall,  and  about  one-half  of  Welch  Hall, — a  lot, 
which  had  been  bequeathed  by  Mrs.  Esther  Coster  some  twenty- 
five  years  earlier  to  the  First  Church,  to  l>e.  improved  for  the 
encouragement  of  religion  and  learning  by  the  maintenance  of  a 
semi-annual  lecture.  These  lectures  had  been  held  in  ]\[r. 
Pierpont's  day  in  the  spring  ami  fall  of  each  year,  and  had  been 
made  more  important  by  the  custom  of  using  such  occasions  for 
the  formal  admission  of  members  to  the  church. 

On  the  Chapel  Street  side  of  the  Coster  lot  stood  an  old 
dwelling  house,  built  by  one  of  the  first  comers,  but  now  so 
dilapidated  as  to  produce  no  income  for  the  lecture  fund.  The 
Church,  therefore,  as  allowed  by  the  donor's  will,  and  in  further- 
ance of  the  declared  object  of  the  trust,  conveyed  the  property 
in  1717,  to  the  College  authorities,  for  26  pounds,  about  one- 
fourth  of  the  price  which  Mrs.  Coster  had  paid  in  16SG. 

But  it  should  also  be  remembered  that  the  removal  to  Xew 
Haven  was  ensured  by  the  liberal  offers  of  real  and  personal 
estate  from  public  and  private  sources.  Thus,  the  Proprietors 
of  common  and  undivided  town  lands  gave  to  the  College  eight 
unimproved  acres  (about  half  the  size  of  the  Green)  in  the  quar- 
ter to  the  northwestwards  of  the  town-plot,  near  enough  to  be 
long  utilized  as  pasture  for  the  President's  cow,  of  which  owner- 
ship the  memory  is  still  preserved  in  the  name  of  University 
Place,  opening  out  of  Whalley  Avenue. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  commemorate  also  the  names  of  some  of 
the  more  notably  generous  donors  of  land  or  money,  such  as 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW     HA  VEX.  81 

Joseph  Peck,  El>euezcr  ;^[anstleld,  !Mary  Trowbridge,  Kicliard 
Sperry,  Senior,  and  four  of  his  sons,  Thomas  Hitchcock,  Thomas 
Holt,  William  Hotchkiss,  John  Morris,  John  !Mix,  Samuel  Ives, 
James  Gibbs,  Xathaniel  Yale  (of  Xorth  Haven,  a  first  cousin 
of  Elihu),  John  Bassett,  John  Glover,  and  Samuel  Burwell. 

Of  the  Xew  Haven  of  171G  the  more  striking  natural  features 
are  all  that  remain.  Of  buildings  then  standing,  the  only  one 
left,  now  or  at  any  time  within  recent  memory,  is  the  frame 
of  an  ancient  house,  with  wholly  reconstnicted  exterior,  on 
Meadow  Street,  in  the  rear  of  a  brick  block  on  this  side  of  the 
Armory,  which  was  then  the  residence  of  Lieutenant  Stephen 
Trowbridge. 

Into  this  community  the  Collegiate  School,  or  rather  a  frag- 
ment of  it,  was  brought  in  1716;  and  what  was  then  the 
Collegiate  School  ? 

It  had  a  background  of  six  formative  years  in  Killing-worth, 
followed  (after  liector  Pierson's  death)  by  nine  lean  years  in 
Saybro<3k.  During  these  fifteen  years  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Arts  had  been  given  in  course  to  fifty-five  persons,  all  but  one 
of  whom  were  still  living.  The  average  age  at  the  time  of 
admission  had  been  about  sixteen  years, — the  two  extremes  in 
this  respect  having  been  Henry  "Willes,  who  entered  at  twenty- 
one,  and  Daniel  Browne,  who  entered  at  twelve  and  a  half.  Of 
the  graduates,  about  two-thirds  had  given  themselves  to  the 
ministry,  and  more  than  a  score  of  this  number  were  now 
improved  in  Connecticut  parishes.  Three  or  four  were  tem- 
porarily at  least  teachers,  and  about  a  dozen  had  settled  down 
in  civil  life  within  the  Colony  limits.  •'•■ 

Xone  of  the  little  group  could  have  been  expected  to  reach  as 
yet  distinction ;  though  it  included  young  men  with  such  capaci- 
ties as  Dr.  Jared  Eliot,  of  Killingworth,  one  of  the  earliest 
s^cientific  lights  of  Xew  England,  Jonathan  Dickinson,  the  first 
president  of  Princeton,  and  Samuel  Johnson,  first  president  of 
Columbia. 

Xeither  was  there  in  the  baker's  dozen  of  undergraduates  who 
a>sembled  here  in  October,  ITIO,  more  than  one  who  attained 


'•T\M'      .■'H' 


82  REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    HAVEN. 

eminence, — the  exception  being  the  English-born  William  Smith 
(the  only  Sophomore),  who  rose  to  the  headship  of  the  Xew 
York  bar,  and  declined  the  place  of  Chief  Justice  of  the  Suprouit^ 
Court  of  the  Province.  But  a  greater  than  he,  Jonathan 
Edwards,  was  now  a  Freshman  in  the  rival  camp  of  seceded 
students  at  Wethersfield,  who  later  transferred  himself  to  Xew 
Haven,  in  time  for  graduation  and  a  tutorship,  and  fur  finding 
here  a  bride  in  the  person  of  the  saintly  daughter  of  ^ladam 
Pierpont,  in  the  foraier  parsonage  on  Elm  Street,  where  Temple 
Street  now  enters  the  Green. 

Eminence,  however,  was  hardly  to  be  expected  in  sucli  a  home- 
spun group,  as  is  evident  in  comparison  with  the  much  longer 
list  of  Bachelors  of  Arts  at  Harvard  College  from  1702  to  1710  : 
out  of  their  total  of  174  names,  those  that  are  now  best  known 
are  only  such  as  Edward  Holyoke,  a'  President  of  Harvard, 
Elisha  Williams,  Pector  of  Yale,  Thomas  Prince,  the  Boston 
antiquary,  and  Benning  Wentworth,  Royal  Governor  of  Xew 
Hampshire ;  while  of  the  perhaps  eighty  undergraduates  who 
made  up  President  Leverett's  flock  in  Cambridge  in  October, 
1716,  there  is  not  a  single  name  that  has  now  anything  beyond 
the  most  limited  local  familiarity. 

As  a  place  of  study  the  College  in  1716  was  not  essentially 
different  from  what  it  continued  to  be  through  the  eighteenth 
century.  The  conditions  of  admission  were  refreshingly  simple. 
Those  who  were  admitted  must  "be  found  expert  in  both  the 
Greek  and  Latin  grammar,  as  also  skilful  in  construing  and 
grammatically  resolving  both  Latin  and  Greek  authors  and  in 
making  good  and  true  Latin."  This  sufficed;  and  on  this 
foundation  was  built  the  superstructure  of  what  was  then  a 
liberal  education,  comprising  some  degree  of  training  in  Greek, 
Latin,  and  Hebrew,  physics  and  metaphysics,  with  possibly  a 
little  mathematics,  and  extensive  practice  of  forensic  disputa- 
tion and  other  rhetorical  exercises. 

Certain  general  requirements  in  the  official  ''Orders  and 
Appointments,"  as  the  College  Laws  were  at  first  styled,  were 
doubtless  ''counsels  of  jx'rfection,"  and  not  in  reality  effectual. 


RE^[OVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    HAVEN.  83 

Such  was,  for  instance,  tlie  order  that  "Xo  schohir  shall  use  the 
Eng-lish  tongue  in  the  College  with  his  fellow-scholars,  unless  he 
be  called  to  public  exercise  proper  to  be  attended  in  the  English 
tongue;  but  scholars  in  their  chambers  and  when  they  are 
together  shall  talk  Latin."  It  is  a  matter  of  tradition  that  this 
regulation  was  early  a  dead  letter — not  merely  evaded  by  the 
use  of  mock  Latin,  but  glaringly  disregarded.  So,  again,  the 
formal  provision  that  "Every  student  shall  exercise  himself  in 
reading  Holy  Scriptures  by  himself  every  day,"  takes  for 
granted  a  higher  universal  gTade  of  personal  piety  than  the  facts 
and  conditions  of  undergraduate  life  entirely  warrant. 

Since  Eector  Pierson's  death  the  teaching  staff  in  Saybrook 
had  consisted  of  a  couple  of  young  tutors,  under  the  distant 
and  infrequent  supervision  of  the  Rector  pro  tempore,  !Mr. 
Andrew  of  Milford;  and  on  the  transfer  to  Xew  Haven  it 
happened  to  be  necessary  to  fill  these  tutorships  with  new 
appointees.  One  of  those  elected  preferred  to  cast  in  his 
lot  with  the  group  of  students  who  w^ent  to  Wethersfield ; 
and  this  left  as  the  sole  resident  officer  here,  Samuel  Johnson, 
a  man  destined  to  large  success  in  mature  life  as  the  Apostle 
of  Episcopacy  in  Connecticut,  but  then  only  two  years 
from  graduation  and  twenty  years  of  age.  But  Parson 
Xoyes,  who  had  retired  from  the  same  office  only  the  year 
before,  after  filling  it  with  distinction,  now  consented  to  take 
charge  for  the  coming  year  of  the  Senior  class,  which  appar- 
ently consisted  of  only  two  members ;  leaving  to  Mr.  Johnson 
a  Junior  class  of  eight  (two  of  whom  were  several  years  older 
than  their  tutor),  and  a  Freshman  class  of  two,  besides  a  single 
Sophomore.  And  a  somewhat  similar  scanty  and  uncertain 
attendance  of  students  continued  to  be  the  experience  for  three 
years  to  come.  .  .■ -^     :  -'      '■'■'   ''    '' 

I  have  already  referred  in  a  general  way  to  the  leaders  in  the 
discussions  of  the  trustees  over  the  site  of  the  College  in  1716: 
on  the  one  hand  the  Eev.  John  Davenport  of  Stamford,  sup- 
ported by  ^fr.  Ilussel  of  Lranford,  Pector  Andrew  of  Milford, 
^Ir.  Ruggles  of  Guilford,  and  ]\lr.  AVelib  of  Fairfield  ;   and  on  the 


84 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    HAVE.X. 


other  hand  the  two  IlarttorJ  ministers,  "Woodbridge  and  Buck- 
ingham ;  while  the  two  Xoyeses  of  Stonington  and  L}ine,  tliou-h 
not  counted  in  the  original  vote,  were  ultimately  for  Xew  Haven. 
Outside  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  the  question  was  to  some 
extent  involved  with  general  Colony  politics.  Between  the 
Eastern  and  Western  sections  of  the  Colony  there  was  a  growin- 
competition  for  place  and  power;  and  in  the  present  case  the 
Western  section  as  a  rule  took  np  vigorously  the  support  of  Xew 
Haven;  while  Hartford  was  led  in  consequence  to  ally  itself 
for  the  time  being  with  Xew  London  county,  the  principal  con- 
stituent of  the  Eastern  section.  In  the  deliberations  of  the 
Upper  House  of  the  Assembly,  or  Governor's  Council,  Governor 
Saltonstall,  who  had  active  atiUiation  with  both  sections,  as  a 
former  minister  of  Xew  London,  as  well  as  a  large  landowner 
in  his  wife's  right  in  Branford  and  Xew  Haven,  endeavored  to 
hold  the  scales  even  between  the  contending  interests,  until  the 
action  of  a  clear  majority  justified  him  in  throwing  his  influence 
on  the  Western  side.  On  the  same  side  were  Jonathan  Law. 
Judge  of  the  Xew  Haven  county  court,  and  some  of  the  most 
active  of  the  Assistants,  including  especially  Judge  John  Ailing 
of  Xew  Haven,  and  two  prominent  citizens  of  Hartford,  Judge 
William  Pitkin  and  ^lajor  Joseph  Talcott,  the  latter  of  whom 
succeeded  next  to  the  governorship,  and  held  the  oflBce  for  a 
longer  period  than  has  any  one  since.  These  two  gentlemen,  of 
the  very  highest  standing  in  their  ovm.  community,  in  a  spirit 
of  protest  against  local  jealousies,  and  in  order  to  maintain  their 
position  and  influence  in  the  colony  at  large,  found  it  their  duty 
in  the  present  emergency  to  side  with  the  Xew  Haven  party, 
against  their  militant  fellow-townsmen. 

One  sequel  of  ^Major  Talcott's  breach  with  his  pastor,  'Mv. 
Woodbridge,  may  be  mentioned  in  connection  with  a  further 
development  of  the  College  history.  In  the  progress,  two  or 
three  years  later,  of  the  tight  against  the  establishment  at  Xew 
Haven,  after  the  Sayl)rook  people  had  been  ordered  by  the 
Governor  and  Council  to  give  up  the  College  books  and  records. 
and  had  refused,  a  scheme  was  devised  for  getting  control  of  the 
Assembly  by  electing  the  Hartford  ministers  as  Deputies,  in  the 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    ^•E^V    ILVVEN".  85 

lin[io  that  they  might  shape  h'lrislatiun  which  shoiihl  undo  the 
Xi'W  Haven  settleineut.  The  result  was  far  ditferent;  Mr. 
lluckingham  waived  his  election,  and  ^[r.  WoodbriiJae's  ricrht  to 
8it  in  the  House  was  at  once  challenged  l>y  a  Fairfield  Deputy, 
(>ri  the  ground  that  he  had  defamed  the  Gtjvernment  by  virtually 
charging  the  L'pper  House  with  theft  and  constructive  nmrder 
in  ordering  such  violent  measures  at  Saybrook;  and  Major 
Talcott  was  cited  as  a  witness  to  his  pastor's  defamatory  charges. 
A  voluminous  record  of  Woodbridge's  prosecution  is  on  file  in 
tiii^  State  Library  and  further  reveals  his  relations  with  Talcott, 
whom  he  endeavored  to  debar  from  the  connnunion  table  because 
of  his  evidence  in  this  case.  The  upshot  was  that  Woodbridge 
did  not  sit  in  the  Assembly,  but  signed  an  apology  acceptable  to 
the  Lower  House,  though  not  to  the  L'pper ;  the  personal  con- 
troversy was  referred  to  a  council  from  abroad,  and  in  the  end 
was  accommodated  on  the  basis  of  mutual  forbearance. 

It  is  pleasant,  however,  to  remember  that  about  the  same  time 
that  reconciliation  with  his  aggrieved  parishioner  was  effected, 
that  is,  three  years  after  the  settlement  at  Xew  Haven,  Mr. 
Woodbridge  resumed  attendance  on  the  meetings  of  the  Trustees, 
and  thenceforth  took  the  honorable  and  conspicuous  part  in 
College  affairs  to  which  he  was  entitled  by  age  and  dignity. 

The  breach  in  the  friendly  relations  of  the  Trustees  was  thus 
healed;  but  the  injury  due  to  the  detention  of  College  property 
in  Saybrook  could  never  be  fully  repaired.  The  loss  of  books 
from  the  Library  stored  in  the  house  of  Squire  Buckingham,  the 
village  justice,  was  not  permanently  serious  ;  but  the  confiscation 
of  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Trustees  from  170-i  to 
ITlG  will  always  remain  an  irreparable  and  seemingly  inde- 
fensible detention  and  destruction. 

In  the  discussion  of  a  site,  the  advocates  for  Xew  Haven 
were  able  to  urge  fairly  that  on  the  evidence  of  the  annual  tax 
lists  this  was  now  the  chief  town  of  the  Colony ;  that  it  was 
♦•specially  well  placed  for  direct  communication  by  water  as  well 
as  by  land  with  both  Boston  and  Xew  York,  and  with  the  river 
and  coast  settlements  of  Connecticut  as  well ;  that  the  pecuniary 
<"JK-ouragement  here  offered  far  exceeded  that  offered  by  any 


i    ;  J 


86  KKMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    NEW    HAVEX. 

other  locality;  that  the  situation  for  a  college  house,  facinir  the 
green,  was  exceptionally  favorahlo;  while  the  natural  advantai:.  -i 
of  soil  and  climate  and  a  relatively  low  cost  of  living  were  crown- 
ing arguments.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Hartford  malconteii;> 
claimed  that  they  represented  the  ancient  and  central  seat  of 
government,  with  a  ring  of  prosperous  towns  about  it;  and  ly 
the  unnatural  device  of  coupling  Xew  London  county  with  their 
own,  as  the  alternate  of  the  Western  section,  made  out  a  larp:Lr 
aggregate  both  of  population  and  of  students  in  the  school,  while 
also  urging  against  Xew  Haven  inaccessible  remoteness,  espe- 
cially in  view  of  the  uncertainties  of  transportation  by  water  in 
the  winter  season.  These  alleged  disadvantages  were  bound  tu 
lessen  with  the  passage  of  time;  nor  was  their  place  likely  to  It- 
supplied  by  any  of  greater  weight;  unless  indeed  Xew  London 
preferred  a  claim  of  pre-eminence  from  having  had  since  17^0 
the  only  printing-press  in  the  Colony, — a  distinction  which  Xew 
Haven  was  not  able  to  rival  until  1754,  nor  Hartford  until  1704. 

The  productions  of  the  Xew  London  press  had  been  hitherru 
of  a  purely  matter-of-fact  sort,  including  mainly  official  docu- 
ments, such  as  Colony  Acts  and  Laws,  the  Governor's  Proclama- 
tions, the  annual  Election  Sermons,  the  Saybrook  Platform  ot 
Church  Doctrine  and  Discipline,  besides  primers  for  children. 
For  instance,  in  the  year  which  we  commemorate,  the  only 
known  output  of  Timothy  Green's  press  in  Xew  London  is  tin; 
Election  Semion  preached  that  year  by  the  Rev.  Anthony  Stod- 
dard, of  "Woodbury ;  while  the  much  more  prolific  presses  of 
Boston  and  Xew  York  were  printing  such  notable  products  from 
our  standpoint  as  the  original  edition  of  Col.  Benjamin  Church  ; 
"History  of  King  Philip's  War,''  and  a  treatise  on  Infant  Bap-~ 
tism,  by  the  Bev.  Jonathan  Dickinson,  a  Saybrook  graduate  ot 
1706,  who  by  this  token  won  the  rank  of  the  first  Yale  man 
to  appear  in  print  as  an  author. 

But  if  we  look  across  the  Atlantic,  the  scantiness  of  the  record 
of  the  same  year  in  the  older  and  richer  field  of  British  literature 
and  history,  may  serve  to  remind  us  how  limited  was  still  tin-' 
horizon,  not  merely  for  the  Colonies,  but  for  all  English-speakinu' 
peoples  of  that  date.  In  October,  1716,  the  first  of  the  GeorgL■•'^ 
had  been  for  two  years  on  the  throne,  and  though  Great  Britain 


KEMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    XEW    HAVEX. 


87 


was  still  in  intermittent  turmoil  from  Jacobite  uprisings,  the 
homesick  Xing  was  absent  on  a  six  months'  visit  to  his  beloved 
Hanover,  while  the  unattractive  columns  of  the  journals  of  the 
dav  are  singularly  devoid  of  interest  to  the  student  of  two  cen- 
turies later.  Testing  them  by  the  standard  of  American  news, 
the  results  are  almost  nil.  For  instance,  Mercurius  Polliicus, 
the  promising  monthly  periodical  beg-un  in  May,  17 IG,  under 
PeFoe's  editorship,  in  its  early  numbers  contained  absolutely 
no  reference  to  this  quarter  of  the  world ;  and  from  the  weekly 
news-sheets  near  the  date  we  celebrate,  the  only  recoverable 
items  of  value  for  their  bearing  on  American  affairs  are,  one  in 
the  Post  Boy  of  July  12,  which  locates  Annapolis  Royal  in  Xew 
England,  and  a  second  in  a  later  issue  of  the  same  paper,  which 
chronicles  the  departure  of  Colonel  Shute  on  July  31  for  "his 
Government  of  Xew  England,"  making  the  same  territorial 
designation  serve  as  an  equivalent  for  Massachusetts,  which  it 
had  formerly  used  for  Acadia. 

The  Boston  Xeics  Letter,  our  only  American  paper  for  the 
same  dates,  is  a  like  disappointment  to  any  anxious  gleaner  for 
items  of  information.  The  two  scanty  weekly  pages  are  occu- 
pied almost  wholly  with  foreign  despatches,  reports  of  the  move- 
ments of  coasting  vessels  into  and  out  of  Boston  harbor,  and  a 
few  local  advertisements,  with  otherwise  an  utter  absence  of 
personal  and  local  items — the  elements  of  success  for  a  news- 
paper in  later  days. 

Xor  was  1716  eminent  in  the  annals  of  British  literary  his- 
tory. Among  the  publications  of  that  year,  all  that  can  excite 
from  any  of  us  even  the  feeblest  present  interest  are  one  volume 
of  Pope's  translation  of  the  Iliad,  and  a  pamphlet  by  John 
Dunton,  a  former  transient  inhabitant  of  Boston.  Of  the  lights 
of  the  Augustan  Age  of  Queen  Anne,  DeFoe,  Swift,  Addison 
and  Steele  were  then  in  middle  life;  among  the  active  spirits 
of  the  younger  generation  were  Tiichardson,  Pope,  Gay  and 
Bishop  Butler;  while  Fielding,  Johnson,  Hume,  and  Sterne 
were  not  yet  out  of  the  nursery.  Of  their  fellow-countrymen 
who  were  later  to  have  any  considerable  American  experience, 
George  Berkeley,  at  the  age  of  32,  was  a  college  tutor,  idling 
away  his  time  in  London;    John  "Wesley  had  just  entered  his 


88  EE^[OVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    >"E\V    HAVEX. 

f 

teens  ami  Edward  Braddock  his  majority;    and  George  White-  \ 

field  was  in  his  infancy.  | 

Of  the  greater  historical  tignres  on  tlie  American  stage.  Increase  ? 

Mather  was   now  77,   and   his   son   Cotton   53,   and   Jonathan  i 

Edwards   a   boy   of    13.      Benjamin    Franklin   and   Jonathan  ^ 

Trumbull  were  children  of  ten  and  six  respectively,  and  the  rest  : 

of  the  leading  participants  in  our  revolutionary  struggle  were  as  | 

yet  unborn.  i 

The  story  of  1716  is  incomplete  without  some  reference  to  the  ^ 

gifts  of  Governor  Yale,  which  were  directly  induced  by  the  con-  > 

nection  of  his  family  with  Xew  Haven.     Yale's  father  had  come  | 

here  as  a  young  man  with  his  stepfather,  Governor  Eaton;    but  t 

had  migrated  after  three  or  four  years  to  Massachusetts  Bay,  \ 

where  his  son  Elihu  was  born;   and  thence  returned  to  England.  i 

The  friendly  efforts  of  Jeremy  Dunnner,  the  Agent  of  Connect-  f 

icut  at  the  British  Court,  had  brought  before  Governor  Yale's  • 

notice  as  early  as  1711  the  struggling  Collegiate  School  of  Con-  I 

necticut;    and  his  timely  suggestions  were  furthered  and  made  ; 

fruitful  in  171S  by  a  persuasive  appeal  from  Cotton  Mather.  | 

Mather,  iudgino-  from  the  laniruaa'e  of  his  diarv,  wrote  purely  * 

of  his  own  suggestion;    and  his  letter  resulted  in-  the  handsome  j; 

gifts,  a  few  months  later,  ^Vhich  caused  the  donor's  name  by  its  | 

adoption  here  to  become  a  familiar  syllable,  as  we  fondly  hope,  | 

in  the  thoughts  and  speech  of  endless  generations.  S 

Wealthy  patrons,  whether  British  or  American,  were  then  rare  i 

and  uncertain;    and  in  default  of  this  generous  assistance  the  ^ 

simple  removal  of  the  Collegiate  School  to  Xew  Haven  would  | 
probably  have  had  as  its  immediate  result  only  a  more  tedious 
and  precarious  development,  and  a  later  flowering  of  many  of 
its  historic  ex^x^riences  and  achievements.  And,  on  the  other 
hand,  without  the  event  of  October,  1716,  it  is  reasonably  certain 
tliat.  there  never  could  have  been  any  YaJc  College,  here  or  else- 
where, and  that  the  host  of  loyal  sons  of  Yale  would  have  been 
marslniled  under  the  auspices  of  some  other  name  of  inferior 
felicity. 

I  have  outlined  familiarly  the  salient  points  in  the  local  setting 
of  the  event  which  Yale  and  Xew  Haven  have  undertaken  to 


0    ' 


REMOVAL    OF    YALE    COLLEGE    TO    ^•E^V    IIAVEX.  89 

n>iniueinorate  at  this  anniversary;  but  it  is  hardly  my  province 
to  dwell  on  the  broader  significance  of  the  historic  coming 
together  of  the  Collegiate  School  of  Connecticut  and  the  mother- 
town  of  the  ancient  Xew  Haven  Colony.  Time  would  fail  me 
to  do  justice  to  even  the  conspicuous  instances  in  these  crowded 
centuries  in  which  each  of  the  two  parties  to  this  union  has  been 
distinctly  the  gainer  by  its  combination  with  the  other.  In  the 
ciise  of  the  personal  element  only,  Iicav  greatly  have  the  develop- 
nu'ut  and  the  renown  of  Xew  Haven  been  fostered  by  the  adop- 
tion into  its  life  of  the  stream  of  hundreds  upon  hundreds  of 
educated  men,  apart  from  the  otHcers  of  the  College,  who  have 
taken  up  their  abode  here,  subsequent  to  graduation  ;  how  much, 
for  example,  has  been  due  to  the  new  blood  infused  by  such 
ac(iuisitions  as  James  Hillhou^e  and  Eli  Whitney,  Jonathan 
Iiigcrsoll  and  Simeon  Baldwin,  David  Daggett  and  Leonard 
Bacon.  And  if  the  city  has  been  strengthened  by  constant  and 
varied  accessions  to  its  professional  and  civic  and  social  life,  with 
corresponding  constancy  and  variety  it  has  returned  the  gift. 
To  cite  again  but  a  sample  illustration,  what  appreciation  of  the 
achievements  and  aims  of  the  University  has  been  shown,  in  our 
own  generation  merely,  by  the  resources  placed  at  its  disposal  by 
such  typical  representatives  of  our  best  citizenship  as  (to  name 
only  a  selection)  Joseph  E.  Shetheld  and  Henry  Eaniam,  Augus- 
tus 11.  Street  and  Oliver  F.  Winchester,  Henry  Bronson  and 
Philip  ]\larett,  Augustus  E.  Lines  and  Edward  M.  Beed,  Pierce 
•N.  A\'elch  and  Justus  S.  Hotchkiss, 

The  union  of  the  town  and  the  Collegiate  School  in  1716  was 
nccomplished  without  profuseness  of  words  or  of  display ;  and 
tliruughout  the  years  the  consolidation  of  their  interests  has  gone 
on  in  quietness  and  sobriety.  Both  the  city  and  the  University 
iiiay  reasonably  to-day  review  the  result  with  evident  and  even 
t'lithusiastic  demonstration,  in  devout  and  earnest  gratitude  and- 
^varm  congratulations  for  the  past,  and  with  contident  and  eager 
iiope  for  the  future.  .    , 


THE  LOSS  OF  THE  CHARTER  GOVERNilENT 
IN   CONNECTICUT. 

Bv  Lemuel  A.  Welles,  M.A.,  LL.B. 
[Read  December  18,  19 IG.] 


^ 


Tlie  aim  of  the  Stnart  kiugs  of  England  was  to  establish  a 
government  closely  dependent  upon  the  Crown.  What  the  King 
thought  was  best  for  the  people,  and  not  what  the  people  or  their 
representatives  thought  best,  was  to  be  the  rule  of  government. 
This  violated  the  English  Constitution,  but  at  the  times  of  whieli 
I  am  to  speak,  it  was  no  new  thing  for  the  English  Government 
to  trample  upon  the  rights  of  the  people.  Charles  I  made 
illegal  exactions  of  moneys ;  and  even  the  great  Cromwell,  who 
had  revolted  because,  among  other  things,  of  illegal  taxation, 
himself  felt  obliged  to  levy  and  collect  taxes  without  the  author- 
ity of  Parliament.  In  the  days  of  Charles  II  Englishmen  kncv; 
their  rights,  and  had  seen  them  violated. 

The  City  of  London  was  the  stronghold  of  the  Whig  party, 
which  was  opposed  to  the  extension  of  the  royal  power.  The 
City  of  London  sent  Whig  representatives  to  Parliament,  and. 
unlike  most  places  in  England,  had  the  right  to  elect  its  own 
sheriff,  and  the  sheriff  chose  the  grand  jury.  The  Earl  of 
Shaftsbury  had  tried  to  carry  through  Parliament  the  Exclusion 
Bill,  preventing  the  Duke  of  York  from  succeeding  Charles  II 
as  king.  He  was  most  obnoxious  to  the  King  and  his  brother, 
who  had  him  arrested  for  high  treason,  but  was  popular  in  the 
City  of  London,  and  the  grand  jury  there  refused  to  indict  him, 
and  he  was  released  from  jail.  The  partisans  of  royal  authority. 
therefore,  attacked  the  charter  and  privileges  of  the  City  ut 
Ixmdon  by  bringing  legal  proceedings  by  means  of  a  writ  of 
(juo  \\  arranto  to  forfeit  the  charter  because  of  some  small  irrei:- 


I  "1.^      i'.   i;'[. 


'.ft 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMEXT    IX    COXXECTICUT.  91 

ularities.  The  corrupt  judges  decided  in  favor  of  the  Crown, 
and  on  Juno  12,  1GS3,  judgment  was  recorded  against  the 
London  charter.  It  was  a  most  astounding  thing  that  this 
ancient  city,  the  metropolis  of  England,  which  had  enjoyed  its 
privileges  for  centuries,  should  suddenly  be  deprived  of  them 
and  become  dependent  wholly  upon  the  royal  favor  for  its  rights 
and  upon  the  appointees  of  the  Crown  for  its  officers.  Embold- 
ened by  this  success,  the  King  proceeded  to  attack  other  charters, 
and  in  1GS4  the  infamous  Judge  Jeffreys  made  a  circuit  through 
the  northern  counties,  when  it  was  said  borough  charters  fell 
before  him  like  the  walls  of  Jericho. 

The  loss  of  these  English  charters  was  reported  in  Xew  Eng- 
land as  soon  as  the  news  could  be  carried,  and  caused  great  con- 
sternation and  fear  among  the  people  of  these  Colonies.  If  the 
City  of  London  lost  its  charter,  what  would  happen  if  their 
charters  were  attacked  ?  Furthermore,  the  people  here  looked 
at  their  charter  not  only  as  the  Constitution  of  Government,  but 
also  to  some  extent  as  a  patent  or  confirmation  of  their  titles  to 
the  real  estate,  which  was  the  principal  possession  of  the  great 
majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Xew  England. 

Edward  Eandolph,  the  collector  of  royal  customs  in  !N'ew 
England  and  its  untiring  enemy,  who  had  previously  complained 
against  the  Massachusetts  Government,  on  June  4,  1G63,  pre- 
sented seventeen  articles  of  complaint  against  the  Government 
•»f  that  Colony,  chief  of  which  were  that  they  had  erected  a 
I'ublic  mint  in  Boston  to  coin  money;  that  they  had  imposed 
upon  the  consciences  of  his  ]\Lajesty's  subjects  in  matters  of 
religion  by  their  ecclesiastical  laws  repugnant  to  the  laws  of 
Kngland,  and  that  they  had  refused  appeals  to  his  Majesty  in 
council  in  matters  relating  to  the  Crown.  On  October  27,  1083, 
the  writ  of  Quo  Warranto  was  served  on  ]\[assachusetts.  Judg- 
'lU'ut  against  the  Massachusetts  Charter  was  entered  in  the  Court 
of  Chancery  on  October  27,  1GS4.*  What  then  happened  at  the 
King's  council  is  described  by  Macaulay  as  follows : 

*  Tlie  Quo  Warranto  proceedings  whicli  were  in  the  Court  of  King's 
r5''nch  were  dropped  l)fcau>;e  of  a  defect  in  the  writ,  and  a  new  proceeding 
h'  scire  facias  was  begun  in  the  Chancery  Court. 


92  LOSS    OF    CIIAKTER    GOVEKXMF,XT    IX    COXXECTICUT. 

"At  one  of  the  last  councils  which  Charles  held  a  remarkable  scene  lock 
place.  The  charter  of  Massachusetts  had  been  forfeited.  A  question  .arov,. 
how,  for  the  future,  the  colony  should  be  governed.  The  general  opinion  nf 
the  board  was  that  the  wliole  power,  legislative  as  well  as  executive,  shoiil  1 
abide  in  the  crown.  Halifax  (Lord  Privy  Seal)  took  the  opposite  side,  an  ' 
argued  with  great  energy  again.=;t  absolute  monarchy,  and  in  favour  >,: 
representative  government.  It  was  vain,  he  said,  to  think  that  a  populatio:, 
sprung  from  the  English  stock,  and  animated  by  English  feelings,  wouji! 
long  bear  to  be  dejirived  of  Englisii  in>titutions.  Life,  he  exclaimed,  wouiil 
not  be  worth  having  in  a  country  where  liberty  and  property  were  at  tl.r 
mercy  of  one  despotic  master.  The  Duke  of  York  was  great!}-  incensed  h\ 
this  language,  and  represented  to  his  brother  the  danger  of  retaining  in 
oflice  a  man  wlio  appeared  to  be  infected  with  all  the  worst  notions  of 
Marvell  and  Sidney." 

James  the  I]d  was  proclaimed  King  in  February,  18G5.  On 
July  1st  a  copy  of  the  judgment  against  the  Massachusetts  Char- 
ter was  delivered  to  Secretary  Tiawson,  and  after  some  montlis 
Joseph  Dudley  was  made  President,  who  with  a  council  was 
appointed  to  govern  !^[assachusetts,  and  some  other  parts  of  Xew 
England;  and  a  little  later  Sir  Edmund  Andros  was  commis- 
sioned Governor.  Thus  the  greatest  stronghold  of  Puritanism 
fell ;  and  men  who  for  years  had  defied  all  human  authority 
but  their  own,  and  wdio  had  braved  every  danger,  became  the 
abject  subjects  of  royal  favor. 

The  first  mention  I  have  found  of  the  proposition  to  take  away 
the  Connecticut  Charter  is  in  a  letter  by  Edward  Cranfield,  of 
New  Hampshire,  to  Wm.  Blathwayt,  the  Secretary  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Trade  &  Plantations,  dated  October  5,  1683."  This 
was  over  a  year  before  the  judginent  against  the  Massachusetts 
charter  was  entered,  and  yet  he  speaks  of  it,  and  with  reason, 
as  though  the  matter  were  all  settled.  He  says,  with  reference  to 
Connecticut:  "The  humour  of  the  Inhabitants  and  method  "f 
their  Governm'.  being  the  same  w'^'  Boston  as  corrupt,  but  mii.-li 
more  ignorant,  therefore  if  his  ^l-a}^  please  to  reassume  thein 
into  his  hands  as  well  as  Boston,  it  may  make  a  thorough 
Reformation  among  them."  The  Commissioners  of  the  rnito! 
Colonies  met  at  Hartford  Sept.  5,  16S4,  and  ordered  that  ()''t- 
22  should  be  observed  as  a  day  of  humiliation  for  gencriil 
reformation,  ''and  that  we  may  obtain  the  favor  of  God  f<>r  a 

•  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  G,  p.  148.  •  .      . 


.•  if 


' ,'  :' 


LOSS    OF    CIIAKTEK    GOVERN. \rKXT    IX    COXXECTICUT.  9*3 

farther  lengthening  out  of  our  tranquillity  under  the  shadow 
of  our  sovereign  Lord  the  King."  Xews  of  the  judgment 
airainst  the  ^Massachusetts  charter  reached  Connecticut  in  Janu- 
ary,  1HS5  ;  and  on  the  0th  of  that  month  Randolph  wrote  from 
London  to  Dudley:'^  '*lts  yet  very  uncertain  whether  prooesse 
will  issue  out  against  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut  collony 
to  hring  in  Ixith  them  before  the  governr.iur  come  over,  or  to  do 
that  afterward  in  case  they  refuse  to  submit  to  a  general  gov- 
emour,  as  yet  nothing  has  been  discovered  of  it.  A  committee 
of  Lords  for  Saturday  next  is  appointed  for  that  busines." 

Both  Randolph  and  Cranfiold  were  very  talkative  men,  and 
no  doubt  enjoyed  telling  what  they  were  to  cause  to  happen  to 
the  Connecticut  Charter,  and  kept  Connecticut  people  alarmed. 
In  the  address  of  the  Governor  and  Council  to  the  King  in  April, 
lGS5,f  on  receiving  notice  of  his  accession,  they  use  these  words  : 
""Humbly  beseeching  your  most  excellent  ]Ma^'®  to  grant  the 
benigne  shines  of  your  favour  to  this  your  poore  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  in  the  continuance  of  the  liberties  and  properties 
granted  to  us  by  o""  late  Sovereigne  Charles  the  second  of  blessed 
memorie,  that  we  may  be  encouraged  in  our  small  beginnings 
and  live  under  your  royall  shadow  a  quiet  and  peaceable  life  in 
all  godlyness  and  honesty." 

The  first  official  act  of  the  Connecticut  General  Court  w-hich 
shows  they  were  preparing  for  the  storm,  and  which  is  also  a 
tribute  to  their  caution  and  foresight,  was  taken  at  the  May 
session  1G85.  It  provided:  ''This  Court  for  the  prevention  of 
future  trouble,  and  that  every  township's  grants  of  land  as  it 
hath  been  obteyned  by  gift,  purchass  or  otherwayes,  of  the 
natives  and  grant  of  this  Court,  may  be  setled  upon  them,  their 
heires,  successors  and  assigns  forever,  according  to  our  charter 
granted  by  his  late  'Ma}'"  of  happy  memory.  This  Court  doth 
order  that  every  township  in  this  colony  shall  take  out  Pattents 
for  their  sayd  grants,  of  the  Governo''  and  Company,  which  this 
Court  doth  hereby  order  shall  l)e  granted  unto  them     .     .     ."j 

*  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  4,  p.  14. 
t  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  341. 
tibid.,  p.  177. 


94  LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOTERXMENT    IX    COXXECTICUT. 

The  towns  did  take  out  patents  under  tins  statute.  The  Charter, 
as  stated  above,  was  regarded  not  only  as  a  constitution  of  gov- 
ernment, but  also  as  a  patent  of  real  estate.  The  Charter  was 
unquestionably  in  legal  force  at  this  time,  and  so  before  it  could 
be  taken  away  from  them  they  took  advantage  of  its  authority  to 
cause  formal  patents  to  be  issued  to  the  towns  for  all  their 
previous  grants  and  Indian  purchases. 

On  May  5,  1685,  llandolph  had  made  representations  to  the 
Committee  of  Trade  and  Plantations  against  the  remaining 
charter  governments  in  Xew  England,  and  they  had  ordered  him 
"to  prepare  a  paper  containing  all  such  particulars  upon  which  a 
Quo  "Warranto  may  be  grounded  against  their  charters."  Pur- 
suant to  this  order,  Eandolph,  on  July  15,  1685,  presented  to 
the  committee  his  articles  of  ''High  Misdemeanours"  against 
Connecticut  and  Khode  Island.*  There  were  six  of  these 
"articles"  against  Connecticut.  1.  That  they  had  made  laws 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  England.  2.  That  they  impose  fines 
and  convert  them  to  their  own  use.  3.  They  enforce  an  Oath 
of  Fidelity  without  Administering  the  Oaths  of  Allegiance  and 
Supremacy.  4.  They  do  not  permit  the  exercise  of  the  Religion 
of  the  Church  of  England.  5.  The  inhabitants  of  other  Colo- 
nies cannot  obtain  justice  in  their  courts.  6.  They  exclude  from 
the  government  ail  gentlemen  of  known  loyalty.  Two  days  later 
the  Council  considered  the  report  of  the  Committee  and  Ran- 
dolph's articles  of  misdemeanor  and  recommended  that  the 
Attorney  General  bring  writs  of  Quo  Warranto  against  the 
Colonies,  which  the  King  approved  and  ordered. f 

Xow,  that  the  Connecticut  Charter  has  been  formally  attacked. 
let  us  stop  for  a  moment  to  consider  the  leading  men  entrusted 
at  this  time  with  its  government.  Connecticut  in  1085  consisted 
of  twenty-live  towns.  The  men  who  led  the  settlement  fifty 
years  before  were  now  mostly  gone.  It  has  sometimes  been  said 
that  the  second  and  third  generations  showed  a  marked  decline 
in  intellectual  power  from  the  first  settlers,  and  this  is  probably 
true  to  some  extent  as  far  as  the  clergy  were  concerned,  for  there 

•  Ran(lol[)h  Papers,  vol.  4,  p.  21.    ''■"    '       i  ■  ■ 

jlb'uL,  p.  24. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    G0VP:RNMENT    IX    CONNECTICUT. 


95 


were  no  ministers  in  the  Colony  in  1G85  who  were  of  tbe  rank 
of  Hooker  and  Davenport.  It  is  not  so  easy  to  compare  tbe 
statesmen.  A  reading  of  the  letters  and  State  papers  of  Haynes, 
Ludlow,  Willis,  Hopkins,  Welles  and  Webster  indicates,  I  think, 
that  they  were  better  educated  than  Treat,  Allyn,  Fitch,  the  two 
Stanleys  and  the  Talcotts.  Tbe  former  men  had  performed  an 
•extraordinary  feat  in  the  framing  and  adopting  the  Funda- 
mental Articles  or  the  first  constitution  of  Connecticut,  and  in 
laying  the  foundations  of  the  government  on  broad  principles 
of  democracy  (such,  for  instance,  as  not  requiring  church  mem- 
bership as  a  condition  of  being  made  a  freeman).  The  latter 
firroup  showed  extraordinary'  wisdom  and  courage  in  the  embar- 
rassing matters  they  were  called  upon  to  manage,  and  no  crisis, 
it  seems  to  me,  was  ever  managed  better  than  their  conduct  in  the 
matter  of  the  loss  and  later  of  the  resumption  of  their  charter 
government.  Both  groups  were  fearless,  prudent,  earnest  and 
religious  men,  and  may  well  stand  forth  as  models  whose  high 
example  their  successors  in  modern  times  would  do  well  to 
emulate.  The  three  men  who  were  the  most  influential  in  the 
Colony,  and  who  stand  out  head  and  shoulders  above  all  others 
were  Major  Robert  Treat  of  Milford,  the  Governor,  Capt.  (after- 
wards Lieut. -Colonel)  John  Allyn  of  Hartford,  the  Secretary, 
and  Capt.  (afterwards  Major)  James  Fitch  of  Xorwich,  an 
Assistant.  Gov.  Treat,  who  was  now  over  sixty  years  old,  had 
held  office  and  been  a  member  of  the  Assembly  or  General  Court 
in  three  different  Colonies,  Xew  Haven,  Xew  Jersey  and  Con- 
necticut. He  had  held  the  highest  military  command  in  the 
<-'olony  in  King  Philip's  War,  and  had  been  a  magistrate  for 
niany  years.  We  have  several  glimpses  of  his  personality.  His 
piety  is  shown  by  an  incident  which  occurred  in  Xew  Jersey.'* 
He  was  one  of  a  committee  from  Xewark  which  met  a  committee 
from  Elizabethtown  to  settle  a  boundary  dispute.  We  are  told 
tliat  the  two  committees  met  on  a  little  round  hill,  afterwards 
called  Divident  Hill,  and  that  Hobcrt  Treat  first  led  them  in 
prayer  "that  there  might  be  good  agreement  between  them." 

*  Stearns'   First   Church   in   Newark,   p.   40,   quoting   Answer   to   Bill   in 
(liancery,  p.  47. 


OG 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    COVKIJX  MKXT    I.V    COXXKCTICUT. 


How  Treat  appeared  to  a  fellow  governor  is  shown  bv  Gov. 
Dongan,  of  Xrw  York,  who  wrote  (Oct.  21,  1GS7)  :*  "As  for 
your  Gov'"n'',  he  is  an  easy  good  natured  gentleman."  His  con- 
duet  to  those  who  qnestioned  his  autliority  at  a  trial  is  descrilK-il 
by  Gershuni  Bnlkek'v  :t  '"The  govenior  claps  his  hand  to  his  hilt, 
and,  says  he,  If  1  })Ut  on  my  harness  I  will  subdue  these  rebel- 
lious fellows,  and  make  them  pay  their  dues,"  and  again,:!:  tho 
"governor  then  said,  that  the  pe<jple  had  put  him  in,  and  he  lui^l 
ventured  all  he  had  above  his  shoulders  on  the  account,  and 
tlierefore  he  would  maintain  it."  How  the  Connecticut  Coun- 
cil regarded  Treat,  appears  from  their  order  y\st  before  he  led 
the  forces  to  the  Great  Swamp  fight,  when  they  commanded  § 
"all  the  captaines  and  1"^^  of  the  army  to  be  tender  and  carefull 
of  Major  Treat  that  he  be  not  exposed  to  too  much  hazard,  and 
that  they  alott  him  a  sutficieut  guard  to  attend  his  person  at  all 
times."  He  had  been  in  tight  places  before  this.  President 
Stiles  conjectures  that  it  was  Treat  who  in  the  anxious  consulta- 
tion stiffened  up  the  wavering  Xew  Haven  magistrates  to  delay 
the  execution  of  the  King's  warrant  for  apprehension  of  the 
regicides.  I  would  remark  here  that  President  Stiles,  while 
holding  some  curious  views,  had  a  remarkably  shrewd  eye  and 
discerning  judgment  in  estimating  character. 

We  do  not  know  so  nuich  alx)ut  the  Honorable  Lieut.  Col. 
John  Allyn,  as  his  tombstone  calls  him,  as  we  do  about  Treat. 
He  was  now  about  Treat's  age,  and  had  been  for  years  an  Assist- 
ant and  Secretary  of  the  Colony ;  he  had  also  been  Town  Clerk 
of  Hartford  and  Clerk  uf  his  Church.  He  had  been  on  imiior- 
tant  commissions  to  neighboring  Colonics.  He  was  a  writer  and 
with  William  Pitkin  wrote  and  published  a  pamphlet  entitled 
"Their  Majesties  Colony  of  Conneeticut  Vindicated,''  d:c.  His 
labor  for  the  Colony  had  been  simply  tremendous.  There  is  more 
of  Secretary  Allyn's  handwriting  in  the  State  Archives  than  of 
any  other  person  before  1700.     J.  H.  Trundnill  thinks  Bulkeley 

*  Conn.  Col.  Rpc,  vol.  .3.  p.  387. 

t  Conn.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll..  vol.  3.  p.  200.  >    .       .        . 

t  Ihi<l..  p.  ISit. 

§  Conn.  Col.  Kec,  vol.  2.  p.  38S.  .  ' 


<it 


LOSS    OF    CHAKTEi:    GOVflRX.MEXT    I.\    COXNECTK '  CT.  97 

referred  to  Allyn  when  be  speaks  of  the  ''dictator/'  who  '"could 
easily  iiiflueiice  the  Court  with  his  gloss  and  move  them  to  speak 
in  his  dialect.-'*  Samuel  Willis,  writing  to  Fitz-John  Win- 
throp,  from  Hartford,  April  1(3,  1G87,  refers  to  Capt  Allyn  in 
these  words:  "who  you  know  is  a  leadinge  man  in  atfairs  here 
.  .  .  who  can  influence  further  in  on''  Court  y''  others"' 
(unjHiblished  letter  in  the  I\Iass.  Historical  Society). 

Probably  more  influential  than  either  Gov.  Treat  or  Secretary 
Alh-n  or  any  one  else  in  Connecticut,  was  Capt.  James  Fitch, 
of  Xorwich,  an  Assistant.  He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  James  Fitch, 
a  prominent  clergyman,  and  grandson  of  Rev.  Henry  Whitfield, 
the  leader  of  the  Guilford  settlement,  and  was  now  under  forty 
years  of  age.  Randolph  says  of  him  in  IGSQf :  "he  being  the 
head  and  leading  man  in  Connecticott  Colony."  Samuel  Willis, 
writing  to  Fitz-John  Winthrop  in  1697,  says  that  Capt.  Fitch 
has  been  the  principal  "'minister  of  State  in  your  absence."! 
Bulkeley  writes  in  1692:  "There  is  a  great  question  in  Con- 
necticut which  needs  a  decision,  and  that  is,  Avho  it  is  that  sits 
upon  the  throne  I  Whether  it  be  King  William  and  Queen 
^fary,  or  James  Fitch  and  Xathaniel  Stanly  and  their 
accomplices." §  He  was  a  clever,  nervous,  active,  impetuous  and 
popular  man.  We  read  of  him  as  going  to  i!^ew  York  to  confer 
u'ith  Jacob  Leisler,  the  reform  Governor  there;  of  riding  up 
and  down  the  Colony  "from  Dan  to  Beersheba"  on  political 
errands,  of  drinking  too  much  and  under  discipline  of  his  church 
on  that  account,  il  of  being  put  in  charge  of  the  Indians  and 
securing  for  himself  large  grants  of  land  from  the  Indians.  He 
was  a  land  surveyor,  land  speculator  and  recorder,  and  founder 
of  to\\Tis.  •  I  suppose  Capt.  Fitch  was  personally  known  to  every 
man  in  the  Colony,  and  had  probably  taken  a  drink  of  flip  at 
every  tavern  wdthin  its  limits.     He  was   also   a   student   and 

•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  400. 

t  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  G,  p.  313. 

JMass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  Sixth  Scries,  III,  31. 

§  Conn.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  vol.  3,  p.  257. 

Il  Caulkins'  Hist,  of  Norwich,  p.  13S. 

4 


98    LOSS  OF  CHARTER  GOVER^"^rEXT  IX  CONXECTICUT. 

writer.  We  find  him  busy  re-writing  the  laws  of  the  Colony, 
and  the  author  of  two  pamphlets  in  favor  of  the  resumption  of 
charter  government,  entitled  *"A  Plain  Short  Discourse/'  »S:c., 
and  "A  Little  of  the  Much,"  &c.  Xo  copy  of  these  has  come 
down  to  us.  He  had  a  personal  interest,  on  account  of  his 
extensive  holdings  by  Indian  deeds,  to  wish  to  keep  away 
Andros,  who  said  such  titles  were  worth  no  more  than  the 
"scratch  of  a  bear's  paw."  He  quarreled  with  the  "Winthrops 
and  later  with  Gov.  Saltonstall."^  The  Winthrops  nicknamed 
him  '"'Black  James"  and  their  bitterness  toward  him  is  shown  by 
a  letter  written  twenty  years  later  by  John  Winthrop  to  Gov. 
Fitz-John  Winthrop.f  He  says  "The  freemen  of  Connecticott 
certainly  intended  to  act  a  tragic-comedy  this  year,  to  re-elect 
Black-James  y^  Sagamore  of  Pigscomscutt,  after  all  his  open  k 
scandalous  villanies.  The  Attorney  General  told  me  y'  other 
day  y^  we  should  quickly  hear  it  an  article  against  y*  charter  y' 
they  elected  such  a  scandalous  fellow  into  the  magistracy  I" 
But  he  kept  his  hold  in  popular  favor  notwithstanding  his  fight- 
ing the  aristocracy  and  his  constant  litigation.  We  remember 
him  also  as  one  of  the  first  benefactors  of  Yale  College.  Xot- 
withstanding  he  was  at  one  time  said  to  be  the  largest  land  holder 
in  the  Colony,  he  died  poor  after  surviving  all  who  were  promi- 
nent at  this  time.  He  was  certainly  a  picturesque  character. 
but  he  was  more  than  that.  I  think  it  is  due  to  his  influence 
that  there  was  no  formal  surrender  of  the  Charter,  and  certainly 
he  was  njost  active  in  the  resumption  of  charter  government. 
He  therefore  performed  public  services  which  give  him  a  high 
place  among  the  great  men  of  Connecticut  and  for  which  we  owe 
him'a  debt  of  p'atitude.  Other  leading  men  in  the  Colony  wore 
!Major  John  Talcott  and  his  brother  Capt.  Samuel  Talcott, 
Ensign  Xathanicl  Stanley,  Caleb  Stanley,  Samuel  Willis,  AVil- 
liam  Pitkin,  Andrew  Leete,  Major  Xathan  Gold,  James  Bishop 
and  John  Wadsworth. 

To  return  to  the  attack  on  the  Charter,  the  story  is  told  by  the 
letters  of  the  time,  some  of  which  were  not  published  till  1900. 

*  Learned's  Ili-t.  <if  Windham  County,  I,  150-154. 
t  Mass.  Hist.  Sue.  Coll.,  Si.xth  Series,  III,  334 


Ci 


LOSS    OF    CIIAIiTKR    GOVF.nXMEXT    IX    COXXF.CTICUT.  09 

Tlio  writs  of  Quo  Warranto  aaaiiist  Connecticut  were  duly 
i-i>uod,  and  Randolph  -wrote  Sir  Robert  Soutlnveld,'^  on  July  30, 
1(;S5,  *"I  have  5  Quo  Warr'*^"  by  me:  against  Connecticutt,  Road 
Hand,  the  two  East  »!c  West  Xew  Jarseyes  &  Delaware :  I  am 
in  great  expectation  of  orders  to  go  to  Xcw  Eng'^  in  a  little  tyme 
with  a  commission  to  settle  a  temporary  Gom\"  He  did  not, 
however,  arrive  with  the  writs  in  Boston  until  May  14,  1GS6, 
and  then  the  time  of  return  had  lapsed.  There  were  two  Quo 
Warrantos,  the  first  returnable  Xovember  IS,  16S5,  and  the 
second  April  15,  IGSG.  Of  course,  both  writs  were  wholly 
ineffective.  Randolph  was  perfectly  aware  of  this,  and  his 
scheme  therefore  was  to  conceal  this  fact,  but  to  inform  Con- 
necticut officials  that  he  had  the  writs,  and  to  construe  their 
acknowledgment  of  that  information  as  the  voluntary  surrender, 
which  he  urged  upon  them.  He  wrote  Secretary  Blathwayt,t 
May  29th,  "I  have  likewise  been  forc'd  to  conceal  the  Quo 
Warr"°  ag^*^  R*^.  Island  and  Connecticutt  Colony:  least  they 
should  all  combine  and  stand  out :  but  I  shall  have  by  me  to  go 
to  those  parts  and  must  do  what  I  can  by  perswasion  for  the 
writts  were  by  my  tedious  voyage  out  of  Date  15  dayes  before 
I  arrived :  I  treat  them  at  a  distance  with  proffession  of  great 
friendship,  and  the  sight  of  the  frigott  may  operate  more  than 
a  legall  summons."  Here  is  what  he  wrote  Gov.  Treat  and 
Council  two  days  before  (May  27,  16S6)t :  "I  am  heartily  glad 
for  your  sakes  that  I  am,  through  the  blessing  of  God,'  safe 
arrived  in  Boston.  ...  I  am  now  to  address  to  the  con- 
cernes  of  yo''  Colonie ;  against  w*^  I  have  w^^  me  two  Quo  War- 
rantoes  as  also  against  Road  Island :  his  Ma^'^  intends  to  bring 
all  Xew  England  under  one  Governem^  and  nothing  is  now 
remaineing  on  yo'"  part  but  to  think  of  an  humble  submission 
and  a  dutifull  resignation  of  your  Charter,  w'^  if  you  are  so 
liardie  so  (as  to)  offer  to  defend  at  law,  whilste  you  are  con- 
tending for  a  shaddow  you  will  in  the  lirste  place  loose  all  that 
part  of  your  Colonie  from  Connecticot  to  X.  Yorke  and  have 

*  Ilamlolph  Papers,  vol.  4,  p.  27.  -   .  • 

t  Hid.,  vol.  6,  p.  173.  J    -ry 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  4,  p.  73.  .         ,     . 


100        LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IX    COXNECTICUT. 

it  annexed  to  that  gonerm^,  a  thing  you  are  to  certainly  enformcd 
of  already:  «S:  nothing  will  prevent,  but  yo""  obuiating  so  generall 
a  callamitie  to  all  Xew  England  by  an  heartie  and  timely 
application  to  his  IMa*^**"  with  an  humble  submission  w'*"  an 
annexed  petition :  to  gTant  libertie  of  conscience,  a  confirmatiO 
&  continuation  to  you  of  all  y*^  lands  now  under  your  Gouerne- 
ment  and  such  other  fauo"  as  yo^  wants  can  best  dictate  unto 
you :  .  .  .  S"  bless  not  yourselves  w'''^  vaine  expectation  of 
advantage  &  spinninge  out  of  time  by  my  delay:  I  will  engage 
tbo'  the  weather  be  warme  the  writs  will  keep  sound  and  as  good 
as  when  first  landed  :" 

But  Connecticut  was  not  so  easily  to  be  imposed  upon.  Gov. 
Treat  summoned  a  meeting  of  his  Council  June  11th,  which 
approved  a  reply  to  Randolph's  letter.*  After  some  courteous 
remarks  they  say :  "As  to  y®  Quo  Warranto's  against  this  Colony 
of  which  we  cannot  tell  w""  return  to  make  to  yo^self  concerning 
them  yet  You  may  assure  Your  Selfe  that  it  is  our  duty  and 
shall  be  our  endeavour  to  approve  our  selves  his  Maj""  faithfull 
and  loyall  Subjects,  ready  to  observe  what  we  shall  understand 
to  be  our  duty,  thereby  to  divert  whatsoever  may  justly  procure 
his  Majestyes  Displeasure  against  us  and  for  the  obteining  his 
royall  favour  towards  us :'' 

Three  days  later  (June  14th)  Gov.  Treat  sent  this  letter  of 

Randolph  to  Gov.  Dongan,  of  Xew  York,t  telling  him  it  "'was 

a  private  letter  to  myself  and  two  other  gentl"  in  my  absence; 

the  grounds  of  his  opinion  we  know  not,  of  any  calamitie  to 

X.  E.  if  Conecticot  Col.  must  fall  and  part  of  it  be  Westward 

but  it  may  be  as  easie  for  us  to  fall  that  way  as  Eastward.     I 

think  I  may  say  that  by  any  of  ^Ir.  Randolph  says  to  move  us 

to  encline  eastward  hath  not  at  all  p"'judiced  us  against  yo''  bono' 

or  yo'  Goverm^  w'*^  whom  we  have  had  so  neighbourly  a  C<>r- 

respjndenee  and  desire  it  may  long  continue  so.     ^Ir.  Randolph 

enfonnes  us  of  a  Quo  Warranto  y*  is  w*^^  him  against  this  Gourui" 

but  we  have  seen  nothing  (as  yet)  but  abide  according  to  h:= 

^Majesties  proclamation  and  Royall  pleasure  be  further  known. 

*  Randolph  rapt-rs,  vol.  6,  p.  175. 
t  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  354. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IN    CONNECTICUT.         101 

waiting  w'^  syleneo  and  patience  what  may  be  next,  hopeing  that 
we  shall  in  all  things  approve  o''  selves  his  ^Ma'""'^  loyall  and  good 
subjects  and  shall  tinde  his  princely  favo"  and  protection  for 
our  encourageui*  therein."  His  I\[ajesty's  proclamation,* 
referred  to  by  Treat,  was  the  letter  of  James  II,  dated  June  2G, 
l<'tS'»,  t<»  Connecticut — his  first  communication  after  his  acces- 
sion.— in  which  he  said;  "We  shall  at  all  times  extend  Our 
Ivoyall  Care  and  Protection  to  them  in  the  preservation  of  their 
Kights  and  in  the  Defence  and  Security  of  their  Persons  and 
Estates  which  Wee  think  fitt  that  you  signifie  unto  the 
Inhabitants  of  that  our  Colony,  whereof  you  are  Governor." 
Connecticut  attached  great  importance  thereafter  to  those 
expressions  of  the  King. 

The  editor  of  the  last  two  volumes  of  the  Randolph  papers, 
published  by  the  Prince  Society,  says  in  reference  to  this  corre- 
spondence,! "But  Treat  was  a  match  for  Randolph  in  duplicity." 
I  fail  to  see  it,  and  I  think  the  remark  an  unjust  one.  He 
was  a  match  for  Randolph  in  ability,  but  the  word  "duplicity" 
is  not  properly  used.  The  ]\Iassachusetts  government  wanted 
Connecticut  annexed  to  that  jurisdiction,  and  only  nine  days 
before  (on  June  2)  Dudley's  Council  ordered  "That  the  Secre- 
tary draw  up  and  deliver  to  ^Ir.  ]\[ason  and  desire  him  to  lodge 
with  Mr.  Blathwayte  a  !Memoriall  that  if  judgment  pass  against 
Road  Island  and  Connecticut,  or  they  resigiie,  it  will  be  of  gi-eat 
Importance  and  satisfaction  to  all  his  ^laj'^^  subject  in  those 
and  this  Colony  to  be  annexed,  under  tlie  same  Government — at 
least  that  the  free  commerce  that  hath  always  been  between  the 
said  Colonyes  may  be  continued  without  which  neither  can 
subsist."  Since  the  gentlemen  in  the  saddle  both  in  Boston 
and  Xew  York  desired  the  poor  but  sturdy  little  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut to  be  annexed  to  their  domain,  it  was  fair  and  proper 
for  Treat  to  send  the  impudent  letter  of  Randolph  to  Dongan. 
In  fact  he  would  have  been  negligent  if  he  had  failed  to  keep 
each  of  the  two  enemies  apprised  of  the  other's  evil  designs. 
Randolph  feared  Dongan,  for  he  writes  Povey  at  this  time  (June 

*  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  345. 
t  llandolph  Papers,  vol.  G,  p.  21. 


102   LOSS  OF  CHARTER  GOVERNMENT  IN  CONNECTICUT. 

27th)*  ''should  h(,'  gett  Coniiecticott  Colony  to  whom  he  has  also 
writt.  we  should  be  in  danger  of  Starving  for  wee  have  great 
part  of  Our  Corn  from  thence."  He  says  also:  "I  expected  to 
meet  some  of  the  !^f  agistrates  of  Connecticutt  at  the  Xarragansett 
but  they  were  so  weak  as  to  feare  I  would  make  an  attachment 
of  the  Quo  Warranto  and  giue  them  personall  trouble  at  that 
distance  from  home.  I  intend  to  be  with  them  in  14  dayes  tyme: 
then  the  letter  from  X.  York  may  force  them  to  a  surrender  also ; 
otherwise  you  have  tryed  what  a  scire  facias  will  do  and  must 
to  that  extream  remedy.  .  .  .  Our  Gom*.  will  be  quite 
ruined  should  but  the  Southern  part  of  Connecticott  Colony, 
which  was  (as  by  a  Grant  to  that  Colony)  many  yeares  setled 
vnder  the  name  of  Quinnepict  or  Xew  Haven  Colony  consisting 
of  4  townes:  and  by  their  joint  consent  in  1GG2  annexed  in 
their  charter  to  Connecticott :  The  j^.  York  Gom*.  makes  vs  pay 
after  the  Rate  of  6  per  cent  for  all  Goods  imported  from  thence 
to  our  Gom*.  besides  those  people  will  neuer  agree  to  be  subject 
to  N^.  York :  in  regard  they  haue  been  all  along  part  of  vs."  On 
July  1st  Randolph  wrote  Blathwaytf  that  he  intended  to  go  to 
Connecticut  in  ten  days  "and  Giue  them  a  Summons  to  appeare 
tho'  the  Writts  are  out  of  Date." 

In  his  eagerness  to  secure  a  surrender  Randolph  at  first  made 
the  absurd  claim  that  the  letter  of  the  Governor  and  Council 
acknowledging  his  letter  to  the  effect  that  he  had  the  writs  was  a 
surrender.  This  is  shown  by  Treat's  letter  to  Dongan  of  July 
Sd.t  "Mr.  Randolph  in  his  laste  letter  to  Gov^  and  Companie 
seemes  to  wind  up  his  resolve,  instead  of  serving  his  Quo  War- 
ranto, to  report  as  a  private  Gentleman  lineally  y*  he  hath  such  a 
thing,  and  y®  receat  of  such  a  letter  is  owned  by  o''  Counsell,  w* 
he  saith,  is  sufficient  for  to  justifie  him  at  "White  hall  without 
any  further  serving  or  showing  any  authority  from  his  Majestie 
at  all  about  this  Colony,  w"^  way  of  proceeding  we  understand 
not,  seing  its  his  Majesties  proclamation  to  continue  as  we 

•  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  6,  p.  170. 
■     t  Hid.,  p.  ISO. 

t  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  355. 


LOSS    OF    CIIAKTER    GOVERNMEXT    IX    CONNECTICUT.         103 

were  till  bis  Koyall  pleasure  be  manifested  to  us,  and  there  we 
stand  and  must  doe  so  for  ought  I  see  vet." 

Gov.  Treat  called  a  special  meeting  of  the  General  Court,  on 
July  6th;  this  Court  ordered  an  huniLle  petition  and  address 
to  the  King.     It  was  as  follows  : "' 

"To  the  most  hi.trh  and  mighty  Prince,  James  the  Second,  of  England, 
Scothind,  France  &  Ireland,  King,  Defender  of  the  Fayth,  &c. 

"The  humble  Petition  and  Address  of  your  loyal  subjects,  the  Govt  and 
Company  of  your  ^Maties  Colony  of  Connecticutt,  humbly  showeth. 

"That  whereas  we  are  informed  that  there  is  a  Quo  Warranto  emitted 
against  this  your  Mamies  Colony  of  Connecticutt,  not  yet  com  to  or  sight, 
we  have  taken  this  opportunity  to  prostrate  orselves  upon  our  bended 
knees  at  your  Ma'ies  feet,  most  humbly  begging  your  Ma^'e,  out  of  your 
great  compassion  and  princely  grace,  freely  to  pardon  and  remit  all  such 
mistakes  or  faylures  in  o'"  management  of  that  power  and  trust  of  Govern- 
ment committed  to  us,  {which  upon  the  first  intimation  we  are  ready  to 
reforme,)  in  and  by  his  late  Matie  of  blessed  memory,  Charles  the  Second, 
his  Royall  Grant  to  us,  bearing  date  April  23d,  in  the  fowerteenth  year 
of  his  reigne,  and  graciously  continued  by  your  Maties  Proclamation,  (as) 
have  proceded  rather  from  want  of  a  right  understanding  in  law  than 
otherwise;  and  that  your  Matie  would  be  gratiously  be  pleased  still  to 
continue  this  Mamies  Colony,  happy  in  the  full  and  free  enjoyment  of  all 
or  liberties  and  properties  as  formerly,  and  by  your  Royall  comaud  recall 
the  writ  of  Quo  Warrantoe  forementioned. 

"For,  may  it  pleasure  your  Ma^ie,  though  we  are  a  poore,  yet  a  loyall 
people,  very  unwilling  to  doe  any  thing  which  may  be  unpleasant  to  o' 
Soveraigne;  for  we  are  resolved  through  the  assistance  of  allmighty  God 
to  approve  o^'selves  your  Mamies  most  dutifull  subjects,  as  we  have  been  to 
your  Matin's  Royall  predecessors  (which,  if  we  misstake  not,)  to  our 
comendation  was  asserted  by  our  late  Soveraigne,  your  Mamie's  most  dear 
brother. 

"Dread  Soveraigne.  We  hixmbly  beg  and  earnestly  beseech  your  MaUe  to 
continue  us  an  intire  Province  or  Goverment,  within  o'  known  bownds  and 
colony  limits,  which  we  conceive  will  be  most  for  the  profBt  and  health  of 
your  Ma  ties  subjects  here  inhabiting,  and  the  contrary  (no  doubt)  will  be 
very  prejudicial!  to  them,  which  may  easily  be  evinced  by  good  reason,  and 
therefore  hope  to  obteyn  your  Maties  favoure  and  protection  therein. 

"Great  Sr,  We  desire  and  humbly  pray  your  ^Matie's  favoure  that  we  may 
still  be  continued  in  and  enjoy  or  Christian  liberties,  without  any  inter- 
ruption from  any  other. 

"Most  Gracious  Soveraigne,  We  beseech  your  Matie  we  may  find  grace  in 
your  sight  and  receive  a  gracious  answer  to  this  or  humble  addrcsse,  that 
we  may  experience  that  in  the  light  of  the  King's  countenance  is  life,  and 

•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  209.  ".  .  . 


104        LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVF.RXMEXT    IN"    CONXECTICL'T. 

his  fiivour  is  as  the  clowd  of  the  latter  rayne;  and  we  shall  not  cease  to 
pray  the  God  of  Heaven,  whoe  is  the  King  of  King-?,  to  save,  bless  and 
prosper  your  Mati"?- 

"We  are  your  Maties  loyall  and  dutiful!  subjects,  Tiie  Governo''  and  Com- 
pany of  this  yuur  Colony  of  Connecticut, 

"Hartford,  July  G,  16SG.  Robt  Treat,  Crovr- 

"Signed  by  order  of  the  Court, 

p  John  Allyn,  SeCy." 

It  is  doubtful  if  this  address  ever  reached  the  king. 

Kandolph  served  the  writs  July  20-21,  at  12  or  oue  o'clock 
in  the  morning  on  the  two  Assistants,  Major  John  Talcott  and 
Secretary  Alh-n."^  These  Quo  Warrantos,  tested  in  the  name  of 
the  infamous  George  Lord  Jeffreys,  in  Latin,  are  now,  together 
with  the  translation  of  the  second  writ  by  Secretary  Allyn, 
among  the  State  Archives.  liandolph's  account  of  his  doings  at 
Hartford  are  given  in  his  letter  to  Andros  (July  28) t:  '*!  am 
safe  returned  from  my  wildernes  work  hauing  travelled  round 
the  Countrv  bv  wav  of  Eoad  Island  to  Stonino:ton  thence  to 
Hartford  from  thence  to  !Major  Pincheons  at  Springfield  and 
so  to  Boston  which  in  England  would  make  300  miles.  .  .  . 
and  now  to  Hartford  where  on  "Wednesday  last  weeke  I  mett 
the  Gon^  treat,  he  gaue  me  great  respect  as  he  thought  when  he 
told  me  he  had  an  honour  for  all  persons  who  came  from  the 
Imperiall  Crown :  I  tooke  it  so  and  in  return  presented  him 
with  the  Quo  Warr*''.  told  him  the  meaning  and  desired  an 
answear  (!Major  Talcott,  Allen  and  one  M^  Ffitch — Magistrates 
being  present)  wheither  they  would  Surrender  or  send  oner  an 
xVgent  instructed  to  make  their  defence,  much  tyme  being 
spent  I  expected  their  resolues — Imt  I  was  questioned  by  what 
Commission  I  was  impowred  to  bring  a  Quo:  Warr^°  to  them: 
I  told  them  I  left  that  nixjn  record  in  Eng*^.  ready  to  l>e  seen 
by  their  Agent:  I  find  them  very  indifferent  wheither  they 
surrender  their  Charter  or  suffer  his  Ma^'^  to  take  it  by  processe 
at  law:  as  also  vnder  what  Gom\  they  fall  but  had  rather  be 
continued    independent   with    some    small    alteration    in    their 

*  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  pp.  3.56  i:  357. 
t  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  G,  p.  190. 


LOSS    OF    CUARTEU    GOVEKXMEXT    IX    COXXECTICUT.         105 

Lawes :  the  truth  is  they  are  discouraged  by  Cap^  George  put- 
ting men  aboard  their  vessels  coming  to  Boston :  and  also  by  our 
Presidents  disobliging  carriage  to  the  members  of  the  Councill : 
but  rather  by  private  letters  advising  them  to  protract  tyme  that 
the  presid'.  and  others  may  enjoy  their  places  of  profitt  and 
advantage;  hoping  thereby  to  prevent  or  at  least  delay  the 
Coming  oner  of  a  Gon^" 

On  the  same  day  he  wrote  Blathwayt"  :  "T  was  with  the 
governor  of  Connecticott  and  delivered  to  him  the  quo  woranto. 
I  suppose  they  intend  not  to  stand  it  out,  our  councill  have  sent 
3[ajor  Pincheon  and  Capt.  Winthrop  to  Hartford  to  perswade 
them  to  accommodate  the  matter,  so  as  they  may  be  added  to  the 
government  here  ;  how  f arr  they  will  prevaie  I  know  not ;  they 
are  sensible  of  !Mr.  Dudleyes  encroachment  on  all  and  every 
side,  and  are  unwilling  to  trust  him,  and  are  strongly  invited  to 
come  under  Xew  Yorke,  but  it  is  more  for  the  publick  advantage 
to  have  that  colony  continued  to  us."  He  wrote  a  third  letterf 
that  day,  to  the  Committee  of  Trade  and  Plantations,  in  which 
he  says  that  he  has  served  the  writs :  ''tho'  by  a  tedious  passage 
of  almost  6  months  from  London  to  this  place,  the  tyme  of 
their  return  was  laps'd  :  however  the  Gou'.  of  Connecticutt  vpon 
my  deliuering  the  writt  to  him  at  Hartford  on  y^  21  instant  has 
appointed  a_  meeting  of  the  Gen^.  Court  of  that  Colony  to  be 
called  together  to  Surrender  their  Charter  to  his  Ma"*  if  not 
pcrswaded  by  the  factious  party  here  (who  are  unwilling  to 
depend  upon  his  'Ma^'''\  favour)  to  stand  a  tryall :  onely  to  gain 
tyme  ^S:  delay  his  Ma''",  sending  over  a  Gen'^  Gou'."  Dudley 
^^•as  not  quite  so  hopeful  as  Eandolph.  He  writes  (to  Blath- 
wayt July  31), t.  ''What  Connectieot  will  Do  is  uncertain  and 
I  am  apt  to  beleive  they  will  not  resolve  themselves,  untill  they 
bo  Determined  by  his  Ma'^'^  Disposall  of  them."  In  the  mean- 
time Dudley  wrote  Treat  (July  21  )§  that  he  was  sensible  of  the 
difficulty  Connecticut  was  in.   ''and  that  your  parts  as  lying 

*  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  4,  p.  97.  , 

f  lhi<l.,  p.  100. 

t  Ibid.,  vol.  6,  p.  196. 

§  Conn.  Col.  Kec,  vol.  3,  p.  358. 


106        LOSS    OF    CHAKTEK    OOVERXMEXT    IX    COXXECTICUT. 

between  the  two  seats  of  goverm'^  (i.  e.  Boston  and  ISTew  York) 
may  be  tbe  more  easily  poysed  either  way  if  early  soUicitcd." 
Within  a  week  (July  27)  Dudley  wrote  Treat  again*  advising 
that  it  would  be  "ruinous"  to  Connecticut  and  inconvenient  to 
Massachusetts  for  Connecticut  to  be  annexed  to  some  other  gov- 
ernment, and  "■sincerely"  recommending  an  early  application  to 
the  King. 

This  is  ^vhat  Connecticut  did  do,  and  as  yet  it  was  not  at  all 
what  Randolph  predicted  or  Dudley  or  Dongan  wanted.  As 
soon  as  they  could  be  convened  after  the  service  of  the  writs,  on 
July  2Sth,  Gov.  Treat  called  a  General  Court. 

The  Court  voted  and  declaredf  that  they  judged  it  necessary, 
and  accordingly  ordered  and  agTeed  to  appoint  an  Agent  with 
power  to  manage  their  affairs  in  England ;  that  the  Agent 
should  certify  to  the  King  of  the  time  when  they  received  the 
writs  of  Quo  "Warranto,  and  should  petition  the  King  for  the 
continuance  of  their  properties,  liberties  and  privileges,  civil  and 
ecclesiastical,  as  formerly  they  had  enjoyed  them  as  an  entire 
Province  and  Colony,  and  should  inform  the  King  that  it  would 
be  very  prejudicial  and  grievous  to  divide  the  Colony.  They 
also. voted  "'that  if  so  be  there  be  case  of  necessity,  the  Agent  may 
have  instructions  in  behalf  of  this  Colony  to  accept  and  submit 
to  such  regulations  as  his  Majestie  shall  think  fit."  William 
Whiting,  a  London  merchant  who  was  an  old  Hartford  boy,  was 
appointed  Agent.  His  instructions  in  the  handwriting  of  Gov. 
Treat  is  an  able  document.'!  He  was  instructed  to  inquire 
about  the  former  address  and  to  present  another  address,  "'and 
to  advise  and  consider  well  in  what  manner  and  by  what  means 
or  mediation  for  access  and  a  favorable  hearing  may  be  had; 
wherein  great  wisdom  and  foresight  is  to  be  used  and  to  be  fol- 
lowed with  that  due  obsequies  and  solicitation  of  such  Ministers 
of  State  or  others  as  you  may  have  to  do  with  all,  until  you  have 
obtained  your  answer  from  his  Majestic  to  our  address."  If  the 
matter  is  dismissed  to  a  trial  at  law.  Whiting  was  to  advise  with 
counsel  in  defending  the  Charter  at  common  law  or  Chancery 

*  Conn.  Col.  Eec,  vol.  3,  p.  303. 
^Ibid.,  p.  211. 
tibid.,  p.  368. 


,.   ,  1 


fit 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERXMEXT    IN    CONXECTICUT.         lU7 

and  retain  able  and  faithful  counsel  to  plead  the  casej  he  was 
to  take  advantage  of  the  fact  that  both  the  times  of  the  appear- 
ance named  in  the  writ  was  passed,  but  if  such  writs  be  pleadable 
and  bind  the  Colony  to  an  appearance  he  is  to  endeavor  that  the 
Colony  be  informed  and  have  sufficient  time  to  make  necessary 
defense.  In  case  nothing  will  do,  notwithstanding  the  Colony's 
addresses  and  all  pleas  made  in  our  behalf  and  the  Charter 
should  be  forfeited,  \Yhiting  is  to  consider  whether  by  petition 
or  some  other  way  a  suspension  of  entering  judgment  may  not 
be  obtained  from  the  King  until  the  Colony  have  notice  and 
opportunity  to  make  a  further  address.  Finally,  if  he  cannot 
obtain  such  suspension,  he  is  to  diligently  inquire  concerning 
the  King's  intention  for  the  future  disposition  of  the  Colony, 
whether  it  is  likely  to  be  annexed  to  Massachusetts  or  Xew  York, 
or  whether  it  is  to  be  divided  between  them.  But  he  is  to  try 
to  keep  the  Province  entire  and  distinct,  undivided  and  unbroken 
as  hitherto.  The  petition  to  the  King  bears  the  same  date  as 
the  instructions  to  "Whiting. 

The  General  Court  then  adjourned  and  the  Governor  and 
counsel  replied^  (August  4)  to  the  letter  of  President  Dudley 
in  Council,  in  which  they  acknowledged  the  visit  of  their 
honored  friends  Major  John  Pynchon  and  Capt.  AYait  Win- 
throp  and  say,  "Yet  Ave  must  tell  you  we  love  our  own  things 
if  wo  may  injoy  them;  but  if  we  bo  deprived  of  them  it  is  our 
duty  to  say  the  will  of  the  Lord  be  done."  The  following  words 
stricken  out  in  the  draft  of  this  letter  are  sig-nificant:  "As  to 
o""  choys,  whether  we  may  injoy  it  if  we  should  make  it  is  not 
certain.  If  we  doe  make  it  and  should  not  injoy  it,  wJiat  preju- 
dices may  follow  is  doubtfull.''  The  next  day  Treat  wrote  Gov. 
Donganf  and  asked  his  advice,  and  sent  ^lajor  Gold  down  to 
Xew  York  to  confer  with  the  Governor,  who  repliedt  (August 
13),  "If  therefore  my  advice  be  taken  I  would  persuade  to  a 
downright  humble  submission  and  most  effectual  means  to  secure 
w'  is  most  advantageous,  liberty,  property,  and  what  is  of  all 
things  the  most  tender  and  dearest,  Peligion."      As  just  stated, 

•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  3G4. 
^  Ibid.,  p.  3(35. 
tibid.,  p.  3G0. 


108        LOSS    OF    CIIAKTER    GOVERXMEXT    IX    CONXECTICUT. 

however,  the  instructions  to  "Whiting,  which  were  dated  hiter 
than  the  advice  from  Gov.  Dongan,  and  the  advice  of  President 
Dudley,  showed  that  the  Connecticut  people  followed  neither. 

A  regailar  session  of  the  General  Court  occurred  on  October 
14,  but  there  is  no  mention  of  the  Charter  question  other  thou 
an  approval  of  what  the  Council  had  done,  and  we  find  no  refer- 
ence to  the  subject  for  more  than  two  months.  Randolph  did 
not  think  the  General  Court  should  be  permitted  to  meet. 

All  seems  to  have  been  quiet  in  Connecticut  until  the  arrival 
of  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  the  new  Governor,  in  Boston,  on 
December  20th,  He  had  been  instructed  to  demand  the  sur- 
render of  the  Khode  Island  Charter  in  pursuance  of  the  declara- 
tion and  address  of  that  Colony,  and  "in  case  it  shall  happen, 
that  upon  the  like  writ  of  Quo  Warranto,  issued  against  the 
Charter  of  our  Government  and  Company  of  our  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  they  shall  be  induced  to  make  surrender  of  their 
Charter"  to  receive  such  surrender  and  take  said  Colony  under 
his  government.*  On  December  2Sth,  at  11  o'clock  at  night,  a 
messenger  delivered  to  Gov.  Treat  a  letter  from  Gov.  Andros, 
written  two  days  after  his  arrival  in  Boston,  and  a  letter  from 
Randolph,  written  the  next  day.  Randolph's  letter  is  as 
follows  :j 

"Gentlemen 

"His  Maty,  hath  commanded  me  to  serve  another  Writt  of  Quo  Warranto 
upon  you.  It's  returnable  the  first  of  next  Tearm.  You  find  by  a  Letter 
from  his  Excellence  S^"  Edmond  Andross,  herewith  sent  you,  that  as  yet  a 
door  is  open  for  you,  and  'tis  your  own  faults  if  you  fail  of  the  enjoyments 
and  indulgencies  which  his  Ma^y.  has  been  graciously  pleased  to  grant  to  the 
Colonyes  of  New  Plymo.  and  Road  Island  now  annexed  to  this  Governm'^. 

"By  serveing  of  this  Quo  Warranto,  and  you  not  appearing  to  defend  your- 
selves, judgmt.  will  be  entered  against  you  upon  your  nonappearance,  so 
that  tis  not  in  your  choice  how  next  to  dispose  of  yourselves.  You  have 
no  way  to  make  yourselves  happy  but  by  an  early  application  to  his  Excel- 
lence, which  is  all,  and  more  then  you  might  expect  to  hear  from  me  with 
•whom  you  have  so  often  and  unkindly  trifled  with.  However,  I  will  not 
be  disoblidged,  but  am,  Gentlemen, 

Your  humble  servant, 

Ed.  Randolph." 

•     •  Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  3d  Series,  vol.  7,  p.  162. 
t  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  375. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IN    CONNECTICUT.         109 

Andres  wrote:* 

•••♦♦«♦*♦, 

"I  am  commanded  and  authorized  by  his  Maty.,  at  my  arrivall  in  these 
Parts,  to  receive  in  his  name  tlie  surrender  of  your  Charter,  (if  tendered 
by  you)  and  to  take  you  into  my  present  care  and  cliarge,  as  other  parts  of 
the  Government,  assureing  his  Matys.  good  subjects  of  his  countenance  and 
protection  in  all  things  relating  to  his  service  and  their  welfare. 

'•I  have  only  to  add  that  1  shall  be  ready  and  glad  to  doe  mv  duty 
accordingly,  and  therefore  desire  to  hear  from  you  as  soon  as  may  be,  and 
remaine, 

Your  very  aflFectionate  friend, 
'.  .  .  E.  Andros." 

The  messenger  at  the  same  time  served  the  third  writ  of  Quo 
Warranto  on  Gov.  Treat.  This  writf  is  like  the  others  in  form, 
except  that  it  is  returnable  on  February  9,  1687,  and  that  it  was 
tested  in  the  name  of  Herbert,  the  Chief  Justice. 

On  the  same  day  that  Andros  wrote  to  Treat,  Eandolph  wrote 
Blathwayt  as  follows  :t 

"I  haue  sent  the  Quo  Warr*°.  to  the  Gon".  of  Connecticutt  the 
Gon".  and  my  indisposition  would  not  allow  me  to  vndertake  so 
long  a  Journey  this  winter  tyme.  Its  accompanied  with  a  very 
easy  letter  from  the  Gon".  to  them  and  that  attended  with  others 
from  :Sr  Dudley  W  Wharton  and  others  of  the  Councill  and  wee 
think  to  catdi  the  Sturgeon.''  Sturgeon,  like  whale,  w^ere  royal 
fish  when  caught  near  the  land  or  thrown  ashore.  Eandolph 
probably  thought  the  surrender  of  the  Connecticut  Charter  was 
a  similar  fortunate  occurrence  for  the  King.  He  also  wrote  § 
(December  28)  to  Major  Pynchon  at  Spring-field,  advising  him 
that  he  had  sent  a  messenger  to  serve  another  writ  of  Quo  War- 
ranto on-the  Governor  of  Connecticut,  "where  I  am  well  assured 
the  physick  is  to  operate.  I  hear  the  little  Quacks  there  are 
endeavouring  to  divert  their  coming  under  one  government,  but 
his  Excellency  has  his  Majesty's  commands  to  accept  of  their 
surrender,  which  they  cannot  avoid,  they  must  for  publicity. 
.     .     .     We  have  Road  Island  already,  and  I  fear  not  Con- 

*  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  37(5. 

t  X.  E.  Hist,  ii  Gen.  Register,  vol.  23,  p.  169. 

t  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  6,  p.  200. 

§  Ibid.,  vol.  4,  p.  139. 


110 


LOSS    OF    CHAKTER    GOVERXMEXT    IN    CONNECTICUT. 


neoticutt.  A  dutifull  submission  will  well  become  them,  and 
place  them  in  his  ILajesties  favour.  His  Excellency  will  pro- 
pose greater  advantages  for  their  ease  and  happiness  than  their 
weak  phancy's  can  project." 

Wo  have  seen  that  Connecticut  was  advised  by  Gov.  Domran 
of  iSTew  York  and  Gov.  Andros  and  Edward  Randolph  to  make 
a  submission  to  the  King,  and  that  their  old  compatriots,  Major 
P%'nchon  and  Capt.  Wait  Winthrop,  had  journeyed  do\\Ti  to 
Connecticut  to  urge  the  same.  And  in  fact,  it  seems  as  though 
that  was  the  only  thing  left  for  them  to  do  unless  they  wished 
to  take  their  chances  in  Court,  where  they  were  sure  to  meet  the 
same  judgment  that  the  City  of  London  and  the  Colony  of 
Massachusetts  had  met.  It  is  not  surprising,  therefore,  to  find 
that  Secretary  Allyn  was  among  those  who  thought  it  was  best 
to  submit.  He  wrote  to  Fitz-Johu  Winthrop  on  January  7r 
that  they  had  been  informed  the  King  had  authorized  Andros 
to  receive  the  resigiiation  of  the  Charter  if  tendered  and  take 
the  Colony  under  his  owm  charge,  '•'which,"  he  says,  "is  the  best 
we  can  expect,  yet  some  are  so  blind  that  they  cannot  see  what 
is  their  o%%ti  interest."  He  informs  Winthrop  that  they  have  not 
yet  surrendered  to  Sir  Edmund,  but  have  called  a  General  Court 
to  consider  the  matter  further,  and  he  does  not  know  what  their 
resolves  may  be.  He  asks  for  a  copy  of  Gov.  Andros's  com- 
mission and  of  the  indulgence  gi-anted  in  religion  and  other 
favorable  clauses  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  the  Connecticut 
people  to  a  present  sulmiission.  Winthrop  repliedy  on  January 
13th  as  follows : 

"I  have  seene  his  Maties.  instructions  to  the  Govr.  under  his  :Maties.  signe 
manual!,  to  authorize  and  impower  his  Excellence  to  receive  the  surrender 
of  Tor  charter,  and  take  the  people  under  his  care  and  governmt  in  tlie 
same  manner  as  in  this  and  the  other  collonves,  comanding  his  Excel- 
lence to  give  an  acc^  of  yor  behavour  and  preceding  therein:  and  tis 
thought  much  better  to  accept  of  his  Mat^^.  gratious  offer  than  to  stand  a 
tryall,  -r-cIi  can  in  noe  \yise  be  advantageable  to  the  intrest  of  the  collony 
for  future  improvemt^,  nor  can  ony  one  believe  that  the  issue  of  the  tryall 
will  fall  on  yor  side,  it  being  his  Mati'3.  pleasure  to  make  some  alteration 

*Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  Cth  Series,  vol.  3,  p.  478. 
t/''icZ.,  5th  Series,  vol.  8,  p.  301. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IN    COXNECTICUT.         Ill 

in  all  hi3  governmta  in  America;  and  it  will  be  pitty  that  many  of  yor 
selves  should  not  be  continued  in  place  of  trust.  It  is  now  in  the  power 
of  his  Excellonce  to  call  to  the  council!  such  of  yor  selves  as  he  shall  think 
fit,  and  noe  good  man  needs  doubt  that  it  will'  not  fall  to  his  share,  but 
may  be  greatly  hazarded  if  yor  selves  shall  wayte  the  issue  and  consequence 
of  a  tryall.  All  such  overtures  are  generally  attended  with  much  alteration, 
and  many  persons  possibly  may  be  imposed  upon  you  that  yoi-  selves  may 
not  think  suitable  to  promote  the  interest  and  prosperety 'of  the  people', 
vch  his  Matie  doth  greatly  desire,  and  to  that  end  has  granted  indulgence' 
in  matters  of  religion;  and  we  are  assured  allsoe  his  Matie  will  gratiously 
protect  us  in  all  our  civill  injoyments.  I  finde  noe  material!  alteration  in 
the  forme  of  judicature." 

As  soon  as  he  was  served  with  this  writ  Gov.  Treat  called  a 
special  meeting  of  the  General  Court,  which  met  at  Hartford  on 
January  26.     After  attending  to  some  ordinary  matters,  they 
passed   two   votes,*   evidently   in   anticipation   of   losing   their 
Charter;   the  first  that  the  dues  to  the  Colony  Treasurer^should 
be  used  to  discharge  the  country's  debts,  and  if  any  overplus 
remain,  it  was  to  be  paid  to  the  several  counties  in  equal  pro- 
portion according  to  the  list  of  estates,  by  them  to  be  improved 
for  the  encouragement  of  grammar  schools  in  each  toTvn,  or  in 
defect  of  such  to  other  schools.     The  second  granted  certain 
lands  of  the  Colony,  not  theretofore  granted,  to  Hartford,  Wind- 
sor,  Wethersfield,   Middletown,   Farmington   and   Kenilworth. 
The  purpose  of  these  acts  was  to  secure  funds  and  lands  belong- 
ing to  the  Colony  from  seizure  by  the  royal  governor.     The 
Court  also  left  it  with  the  Governor  and  Council  to  take  care 
to  do  what  was  requisite  to  bo  done  in  reference  to  the  Colony 
affairs  in  England  and  the  last  Quo  Warranto.     The  Court  also 
approved  of  a  letterf  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  Secretary  of 
State,  although  the  record  does  not  show  it.     This  letter  \vas 
considered  the  most  important  document  in  the  subsequent  con- 
troversy when   the   charter  government   was   resumed.     After 
reciting  service  of  the  Quo  Warrantos  and  their  appointment  of 
^rr.  Whiting  as  Agent  to  appear  in  their  behalf,  they  say: 

'•May  it  pleasure  your  honour,  we  are  his  ^lajcsty's  loyal  subjects,  and 
we  are  heartily  desirous  that  we  may  continue  in  the  same  station  thlt  we 
are  in,  if  it  may  consist  with  his  princely  wisdom  to  continue  us  so:      But, 

*  Conn.  Col.  T^.ec.,  vol.  3,  pp.  224,  225. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  37S. 


112        LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERXME>"T    IN"    CONXECTICUT. 

if  his  ^[ajesty's  royal  purposes  be  otlierwise  to  dispose  of  us,  we  shall,  as  in 
dutv  bound,  subniit  to  his  royal  commands;  and,  if  it  be  to  conjoin  us 
with  the  other  colonies  and  provinces,  under  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  his 
^rajesty's  present  governor,  it  will  be  more  pleasing  than  to  be  joined  with 
any  other  province." 

These  were  the  words  which  were  thought  by  the  royalists  to  be 
a  sufiicient  surreuder  of  the  Charter.  That  it  was  not  intended 
as  a  surrender  by  the  writers  is  conclusively  shown  by  a  letter'^ 
from  Secretary  Allyn  to  Fitz-John  "W'inthrop  a  few  days  later 
(February  3).  I  believe  this  letter  represents  correctly  the 
actual  feeling-  of  the  General  Court,  which  was  that  a  surrender 
would  look  like  giving  away  that  which  was  precious  to  them, 
and  that  they  could  rather  be  passive  than  active  in  parting  with 
their  Charter.     Ho  writes  as  follows : 

"I  have  hoped  that  this  time  we  should  have  bin  ready  to  have  joyned 
or  divisions  &;  to  have  made  an  intire  body,  but  by  or  statesmen  it  is  thought 
not  convenient  yet.  Si  they  will  not  be  moved  beyond  their  pace;  notwith- 
standing the  advantage  that  ofiFers  to  encourage  a  present  union,  they  will 
not  be  persuaded  to  it.  It  lookes  so  like  a  giveing  away  that  which  is 
precious  to  them,  which  they  can  rather  be  passive  then  active  in  parting 
with  it;  &,  allso  those  difficulties  that  threaten  the  standing  out, — as  the 
procureing  his  Majties  displeasure,  makeing  our  termes  the  harder,  &,  loose- 
ing  the  litle  share  we  possibly  might  have  in  the  Goverm*  if  cheerfully 
submitted  to, — seemes  of  litle  weight  with  too  many.  The  result  of  p^sent 
considerations  are  that  we  must  stand  as  we  are  untill  his  Matie  farther 
dispose  of  us,  &.  all  that  is  gained  is  o^  gent°  rather  choose  to  be  con- 
joyned  wth  Massachusetts  than  with  any  other  Province  or  Colony.  S'', 
I  doubt  not  but  you  will  so  exercise  your  wisdom  &,  wonted  kindness  towards 
yoiir  friends  in  these  parts,  to  keep  off  what  may  be  inconvenient  &  to 
promoate  their  tranquility  to  the  utmost.  You  will,  I  doubt  not,  see  our 
General  Court's  letter  to  his  E.xcelencie,  which  smells  too  much  of  that  scent 
that  you  took  notice  of  in  that  which  came  from  our  Councill  in  December 
last  &"in  your  last  tould  me  of  it  softly.  It  was  drawn,  I  can  assure  you. 
more  ceremoniously  than  his  Excelency  will  receive  it,  Sc  corrected  & 
amended  till  it  came  to  a  button  allmost:  but  such  as  it  is,  you  will  find 
it,  which  needs  pardon  &  a  good  construction  from  his  Excelencye,  which  I 
hope  he  will  grant." 

Winthrop  apparently  showed  this  letter  to  Randolph,  as  he 
uses  almost  AUyn's  words  in  a  lettert  to  the  Committee  of  Trade 

•Mass.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll..  Oth  Series,  vol.  3.  p.  470. 
t  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  4,  p.  152. 


LOSS    OF    CIIARTF.1£    GOV£R^^^IE^"^    IX    CONNF.CTICUT.         113 

aiul  riautations  (March  2.")).  liaridolpli  says:  "My  Lonls  I 
hmnbly  propose  it  very  necessary  for  his  ]\ra^'".  Service  that  the 
Charter  of  Coiinccticiitt  Colony  be  prosecuted  to  effect.  I  know 
they  will  employ  none  to  defend  it,  but  let  the  Law  take  its 
Course,  That  (with  the  late  Gom*.  at  Boston)  they  may  be  pas- 
sive k  not  be  Said  to  giue  away  the  peoples  Itights :''  The 
same  day,^'"  and  all  this  was  two  months  after  the  General  Court's 
It'tter  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  he  wrote  the  Lord  President : 
"ilis  Excellence  besides  my  Serving  a  Second  writt  of  Quo 
\Varr'°.  against  the  Charter  of  Connecticott,  has  vsed  all  meanes 
to  a  Submission  &  Surrender  of  their  Charter.  The  inhabitants 
are  very  desirous  to  bee  vnder  this  Gom^  The  addition  of  that 
Colony  may  in  tyme  raise  about  3000'^  a  yeare  thro'  the  whole 
Dominion  towards  defraying  y^  publick  charg:  they  send 
fonnall  k  dilatory  letters  onely  to  gain  tyme,  but  very  much  to 
the  damage  of  the  whole  Territory,  for  as  Our  Shipping  &  fishery 
cannot  be  carried  on  without  Supplyes  of  Land  provisions  from 
thence.  So  neither  can  they  find  a  markett  for  the  produce  of 
their  Colony  but  with  vs.  It's  therefore  for  his  iMa"*".  Seruice 
that  the  prosecution  against  their  Charter  be  pursued  to  effect:" 
^farch  14th  Randolph  wrotef  Blathwayt  that  Andros  had 
tried  all  ways  to  engage  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  to  a  sur- 
render of  their  Charter,  and  adds :  "Butt  tis  a  great  vnhappiness 
to  find  men  so  inclined  to  the  old  way,  that  they  can  hardly  be 
brought  off  where  the  common  interest  (as  they  beleiue)  is  con- 
cerned ;  they  are  fond  of  Indian  Purchases  wee  want  a  man 
viiinterested  to  make  a  Judge  to  trye  Their  titles  betwixt  his 
^la^'^  and  them :"  This  reference  to  an  attack  on  the  Con- 
lu-eticut  tifles  to  land,  and  a  letter J:  (of  i^Larch  31)  to  Blath- 
^vayt  urging  him  to  assist  in  bringing  Connecticut  under  their 
iTovernraent  and  saying  that  Connccticutt  would  bring  in  £1500 
a  year  or  more  so  that  the  governor  could  be  supported  and  live 
honorably,  show  the  real  motive  for  their  desire  to  get  hold  of 
Connecticut,  and  that  motive  was  revenue,  and  that,  not  for 

*  Randolph  Papers,  vol.  4,  p.  153. 

^  Ihi<l.,  vol.  6,  p.  216. 

XIli'L,  p.  217.  ,     .,  .:-. 


114        LOSS    OF    CHARTEK    GOVERXMEXT    IX    COXXECTICUT. 

public  purposes,  but  for  the  pockets  of  the  officials.  Randolph 
even  suawsted  that  Blathwavt  would  jrct  somethincr  out  of  it  for 
he  tells  him:  "'Tlje  addition  of  Connecticut  will  improve  that 
branch  of  your  income." 

Pie  had  previously  written  Blathwavt"  (Feb.  3)  rcgardinir 
Connecticut:  ''thc-v  haue  not  yet  concluded  to  Surrender  their 
Charter/'  and  had  again  represented  that  it  would  be  detri- 
mental to  his  Colony  and  ruinous  to  Connecticut  if  it  were 
annexed  to  Xew  York,  because  Massachusetts  secured  from 
Connecticut  great  quantities  of  pork,  peas,  &c.,  without  which 
they  could  not  send  their  fishing  boats  out  to  sea. 

At  the  same  time  (Jan.  2G)  that  they  wrote  to  the  Earl  of 
Sunderland,  Gov.  Treat  and  the  General  Court,  and  Gov.  Treat 
individually,  replied  to  Sir  Edmund  Andros's  courteous  letter. 
We  have  no  copy  of  these,  but  from  the  subsequent  correspond- 
ence we  learn  that  they  were  disappointing  to  Andros.  He, 
therefore,  wrote  againt  (Feb.  2.5)  to  Gov.  Treat  and  Council 
indicating  surprise  that  their  previous  letter  showed  no  com- 
pliance with  the  King's  pleasure  and  commands  and  saying: 
"^'Finding  your  delay  on  such  mis  (taken)  notions,  and  yett  pro- 
fessing your  desires  to  demonstrate  yo^  loyalty,  obedience  and 
xiuty,  this  is  by  advice  of  his  ]Ma'''*'^  Councill  here,  to  give  you 
another  opportunity  of  suitable  and  dutifull  resolves,  soe  much 
importing  y""  owne  wellfare,  if  you  yett  doe  itt,  and  lett  mee 
heare  from  you  without  delay,  that  I  may  not  be  wanting  in  my 
duty."  Andros  also  wrote  the  same  day  a  personal  lettert  to 
Treat,  referring  to  the  General  Assembly  as  follows :  "to  whom 
as  by  my  letter  I  yett  give  a  farther  opportunity  of  doeing  their 
dutyes,  but  w^^  perticular  regard  to  l^'^self,  whom  I  have  knowne. 
and  some  other  Gentlemen  amonge  you,  whose  loyall  and  dutifull 
inclinations  as  intimated,  I  will  not  doul)t,  but  whilst  you  have 
noe  more  regard  to  reiterated  Quo  AVarrantos  nor  gratious  opcr- 
tunityes  by  his  Ma'"'\  commands  to  mee,  as  signified  to  you  ait 
my  arrivall,  but  still  act  with  the  most  obstinate  and  adverse 
io  his  !Ma'"'.  service,  you  thereby  hazard  the  advantages  might 

Tvandolph  Pai-rrs,  v..l.  G,  p.  212. 
t  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  379. 
ilbid,  p.  379. 


LOSS    OF    CIIAUTEK    GOVERNMENT    IX    CONXECTICUT.         115 

bee  to  y'  Colony,  and  totally  your  ownc,  w^'^  others  even  of  this 
Colony  have  pVented  by  a  considerable  part  of  them  now  in 
place  submitting  and  leaveiug  the  r.-fractory ;  and  unless  you 
shall  doe  yo^  part  without  delay,  you  will  not  only  make  mee 
uncapable  to  serve  you  as  I  would,  butt  occation  the  contrary; 
butt  doc  hope  better  of  you  and  whole  Colony  by  yo^  good 
eiisample  and  loyall  acting  in  y'  station  ere  too  late." 

Gov.  Treat  again  called  a  special  meeting  of  the  General 
Court.  It  will  be  remembered  that  ho  had  done  this  when  he 
received  Kandolph's  letter  stating  he  had  the  first  two  Quo  War- 
rantos  again  when  they  were  served,  again  when  he  received 
Andros's  letter  and  was  served  with  the  third  Quo  Warranto,  so 
now  this  ^vas  the  fourth  special  meeting.  Besides,  the  regular 
October  meeting  had  considered  the  matter.  That  Treat  should 
have  referred  this  subject  to  five  General  Courts  in  less  than  a 
year  notwithstanding  the  Governor  and  Council  had  been  given 
by  the  General  Court  full  power  to  act,  and  notwithstanding  the 
great  difficulty  and  inconvenience  of  such  meetings  especially 
in  winter,  shows  how  extremely  careful  Treat  was  in  handling 
a  matter  of  such  transcendent  importance  to  the  Colony. 

The  General  Court  met  on  March  -SOth.  On  the  opening  day 
It  received  an  important  communication,  which  was  no  less°than 
a  formal  advice  in  writing  by  Secretary  Allyn,  Major  John 
Talcott  and  Capt^iin  Samuel  Talcott,  all  assistants,  that  thev 
should  submit.     It  is  as  follows :  " 

"To  the  Iloiierd  Genii  Court.  Gentn^:  Upon  the  reasons  which  have 
been  layd  before  you,  with  many  more  that  might  be  given,  we  do  declare 
that  we  do  verily  believe  it  is  for  the  Advantage  of  this  Court,  Freelv 
and  voluntarily  to  submit  yorselves  to  his  iJatie.  dispose,  and  not' to  be-"in 
or  hold  any  further  Suits  in  Law  with  his  Mat^y,  which  in  noe  wise  can°be 
expected  will  promote  or  profitt  or  wealfare. 

"And  for  or  own  parts,  we  do  declare,  and  desire  vou  would  take  notice 
we  are  for  answering  his  Matis'  expectation,  by  a  present  submission,  and 
aje  against  all  further  prosecutions  or  engagements  by  Law  Suits  in  oppo- 
sition to  his  Mate3.  known  pleasr  for  or  submission. 

30th  March,  1687. 


r.John  Talcott, 
Per  us  <  John  Allyn, 

tSamii  Talcott. 


•  X.  E.  Hist.  &  Gen.  Register,  vol.  23,  p.  174. 


116 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERXMEXT    IX    CONXECTICUT. 


Instead  of  following  the  advice  of  Allvn  and  the  two  Talcotts, 
the  General  Court  voted*  "'that  they  did  not  see  sufficient  reasrm 
to  vary  from  the  answer  they  gave  Sir  Edmund  Andros  to  a 
motion  of  a  surrender  January  last."  The  patents  which  they 
had  previously  ordered  the  towns  to  take  out  they  now  feared 
had  not  been  properly  executed,  and  so  passed  another  vote  that 
they  were  understood  to  be  granted  by  the  Governor  and  com- 
pany, and  that  all  patents  should  be  signed  again  by  the  Secre- 
tary in  the  name  of  the  Governor  and  company.  They  also 
ordered  that  in  the  future  the  deputy  should  attend  the  Court 
at  the  charge  of  the  respective  towns  to  which  they  belonged,  and 
they  ordered  that  a  letter  which  was  read  to  the  Court  be  signed 
by  the  Secretary  and  sent  to  Sir  Edmund  Andros,  In  this 
letterf  they  say : 

"For  yr  Eccelencie's  and  their  care  of  U5  and  love  to  us,  we  return  you 
or  hearty  thanks,  but  we  humbly  request  that  we  may  wthout  offence  inform 
your  Honor  that  as  matters  are  circumstanced  wth  us  we  cannot  vary  from 
what  we  informed  your  Excelency  in  or  letters  of  January  26  past,  by  reason 
we  have  by  o""  severall  addresses  formerly  sent  to  his  Ma^ie.  left  o^selves 
so  fully  to  be  guided  and  dissposed  by  his  princely  wisdome,  and  have  not 
rece<l.  any  return  or  direction  from  his  Ma'ie.  since,  and  therefore  we  request 
that  a  good  neighborhood  and  an  amicable  correspondence  may  be  continued 
between  your  Excelency  and  y^.  Colony  till  his  Mamies,  farther  pleasure  be 
made  kno'v\Ti  to  us." 

The  General  Court  held  their  regular  election  and  session  at 

Hartford  on  the  12th  of  May.     J.  Hammond  Trumbull  sayst 

of  this  session :  . 

"It  will  be  observed  that  the  records  of  this  session  make  no  allusion 
whatever  to  the  matters  which  might  be  supposed  to  have,  almost  exclu- 
sively, engrossed  the  attention  of  the  Court.  Not  a  word  is  said  of  the 
Quo  Warranto,  or  of  the  reiterated  demands  of  Andros.  Unmoved  either 
by  threats  or  promises,  the  colony  adhered  to  its  determination  to  await 
an  answer  to  the  petition  and  address  to  the  King,  and  to  make  no  sur- 
render of  the  charter  except  by  his  express  command.  The  'masterly  inac- 
tivity' of  those  who  guided  the  counsels  of  the  colony,  though  it  could  not 
avert  the  necessity  of  temporary  submission  to  Andros,  was  successful  in 
its  great  object, — the  preservation  of  the  charter.     Connecticut  alone,  of  the 

•  Conn.  Col.  Keo.,  vol.  3,  p. -227. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  3S0. 
t  Ibid.,  p.  229. 


.1     T.VJJ     .' 
.1/.  I,-.''.         'I 


LOSS    OF    CKARTEll    GOVERXMF.NT    IX    COXXECTICUT.         117 

Kew  England  colonies,  might  justly  characterize  the  government  of  Andro3 
as  a  'Usurpation,' — to  wliich  no  judgment  against,  or  voluntary  surrender 
of,  her  charter,  gave  color  of  right." 

In  the  meantime,  (on  the  12th  of  March)  the  Colony's  Agent 
in  London,  William  Whiting,  wrote  a  personal  letter  to  Secre- 
tary Allyn.  As  this  letter  has  never  Ix-'on  published,  and  is  in 
private  hands,  I  give  it  in  full  as  follows  :  •■    - 

"London  12  March  1686 
"Hon  flfriend 

"I  have  now  writ  you  at  Large  in  answer  to  yor  Collony".s  Letter,  these 
are  to  you  as  my  old  flriend  and  schoole  fellow,  and  to  give  you  some 
intimation,  which  you  may  make  use  of  as  you  please,  as  for  yor  charter  I 
conclude  it  will  in  a  little  tyme  be  gon,  if  God  do  not  incline  his  ^Majesty's 
Grace  and  favour  towards  you,  whether  it  be  gon  by  surrender,  Judgment 
at  Law  or  not  defending  it,  is  all  one;  yor  Libertys  seem  to  be  lengthened 
out  for  some  tyme,  ye  quo  warranto  served  by  Mr.  Randolph,  cannot  affect 
you,  there  must  be  new  granted  befor  you  will  come  to  a  tryall,  as  I  am 
told.  I  cannot  direct  you,  but  pray  God  to  do  it,  and  that  you  may  find 
favour  in  the  heart  of  the  King,  and  you  may  do  what  doth  become  loyall 
subjects  and  good  Christians,  as  for  my  own  part,  I  am  so  circumstanced 
that  I  cannot  serve  you,  and  uppon  mature  deliberation  have  come  to  a 
Resolution  not  to  appcare  in  it,  neither  can  I  fynde  any  here  willing  to 
undertake  it,  though  I  know  severall  that  have  both  more  leisure  and 
greater  interest,  therefor  you  must  think  of  some  of  yor  selves  that  are 
fit  for  it,  who  will  appeare  v,-^^  greater  Advantage  to  you  than  any  here 
can,  I  am  tyred  with  writing  so  must  beg  vor  excuse  for  not  enlarging  now, 
but  wth  all  due  respects  to  you  and  your 

I  am  Sr 

■     •...■,  yor  Reall  friend  & 

•      "    ■  '  Servt 

Wm.  Whiting" 

On  receipt  of  Whiting's  letters,  for  he  wrote  one  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court"  of  which  we  have  no  copy,  in  addition  to  the  personal 
letter  to  Allyn,  Gov.  Treat  again  assembled  the  General  Court, 
which  met  at  Hartford  on  June  15th.  lie  informed  the  Court 
tliat  he  had  received  a  letter  from  AVhiting,  to  the  effect  that  if 
they  concluded  to  defend  the  Charter  at  law,  they  must  send 
over  one  or  more  of  themselves  to  manage  it,  and  he  asked  the 
Court's  consideration  and  determination  of  the  matter.  The 
Court  voted*  as  follows : 

•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  237.    ^     ' 


118 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IX    COXXECTICUT. 


"This  Court  declared  that  considering  the  p^sent  circumstances  of  o' 
estate,  we  doe  ni)t  see  ourselves  in  a  fit  posture  to  rayse  money  to  send  an 
agent  to  England  at  present,  an<I  therefore  this  Court  desired  the  Gov., 
Dept.  Go\-r.  and  Assistants,  in  their  name  and  behalfe  to  write  to  '!SIt.  Wni. 
Whiting,  to  give  liim  the  thankes  of  this  Court  for  wiiat  he  liath  done  for 
us,  and  to  recjuest  him  to  continue  (to)  doe  for  us  what  shall  be  requisit>' 
to  be  don,  both  in  appeareing  for  us,  and  in  or  behalfe  to  make  answer  t^j 
what  shall  be  objected  against  us,  and  generally,  to  doe  whatsoever  sliall 
be  needfull  to  be  don  for  us.  And  this  Court  declared  that  they  would  give 
reasonable  satisfaction  to  ^Mr.  Whiting  for  what  he  shall  doe  for  us." 

This  Court  also  passed  a  vote,*  which  has  given  rise  to  con- 
siderable speculation  by  historical  writers  since  that  time.  This 
vote  is  as  follows  : 

"Sundry  of  the  Court  desireing  that  the  Patent  or  Charter 
might  be  brought  into  the  Court,  the  Secretary  sent  for  it,  and 
informed  the  Governo'^  and  Court  that  he  had  the  Charter,  and 
shewed  it  to  the  Court;  and  the  Governo'^  bid  him  put  it  into 
the  box  againe  and  lay  it  on  the  table,  and  leave  the  key  in  the 
box,  which  he  did  forthwith."' 

-  To  me  this  call  for  the  Charter  does  not  seem  strange.  We 
have  before  seen  that  Secretary  Allyn  and  the  two  Talcotts  had 
fonnally  advised  the  Court  to  submit.  We  know  that  there  was 
a  very  strong  opposition  to  doing  this  and  Bulkeley  tells  us 
that  the  freemen  were  very  angry  with  the  Governor  and  Assist- 
ants when  they  subsequently  accepted  office  under  Sir  Edmund 
Andros.  It  was  a  time  of  excitement  and  suspicion.  The 
Charter  at  this  time  was  in  the  possession  of  Secretary  Allyn. 
What  more  natural  than  for  some  of  the  Court  to  have  reproached 
Allyn  and  the  others  for  recommending  submission  and  to  have 
said  to  him :  ''How  do  we  know  but  you  have  already  sur- 
rendered tlie  Charter?  Let  us  see  whether  we  still  have  it.'' 
At  any  rate,  it  was  called  for  and  laid  on  the  table,  with  the  key 
in  the  box,  and  a  record  was  made  of  this  fact  to  show  forever 
that  the  officers  of  the  Colony  had  not  betrayed  their  trust. 
Secretary  Allyn  sent  for  the  Charter,  and  he  it  was  who  entered 
in  permanent  form  on  the  Colony  records  the  fact  of  its  produc- 

•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  p.  23S. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IN    CONNECTICUT.         119 

tioii.     This  seems  to  indicate  that  he  wished  to  silence  a  charge 
tliat  he  had  given  up  the  Charter. 

Two  days  before  this  General  Court  met,  Andros  wrote*  to 
Gov.  Treat  and  Council  another  letter  (June  13),  in  which  he 
tells  them  that  he  has  been  advised  from  England  that  by  that 
time  judgment  would  be  entered  against  their  Charter,  and  again 
urging  them  to  a  present  compliance  and  surrender.  At  the 
same  time  (June  14th)  John  Saffin,  who  had  been  Speaker  of 
the  :\lassachuset.ts  House  of  Eepi-esentatives  at  the  time  their 
Charter  was  forfeited,  wrote  Secretary  Allvn  a  letter,t  in  which 
he  protests  that  he  never  pretended  to  be  a  statesman,  but  yet 
as  a  private  friend  tells  AUyn  that  it  is  believed  that  all  pa"^rts 
of  America,  from  ^^orth  Carolina  to  the  French,  will  be  brought 
under  a  more  immediate  dependency  and  subjection  to  the  King; 
that  those  who  stand  out  longest  will  fare  the  worst  at  last,  and 
that  if  Connecticut  adheres  to  the  West,  they  will  be  undone  and 
part  with  their  best  friends. 

Randolph  arrived  in  Hartford  with  Andros's  letter  before- 
mentioned  the  day  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Court; 
but  Treat  and  Council  wrotet  (June  ISth)  Andros,  "by  what 
we  took  notice  of  theire  minds  we  conclude  they  would  not  have 
altered  or  varyed  any  thing  from  what  in  their  former  letters 
they  wrot  unto  you ;  for  at  their  last  session  they  resolved  to 
continue  in  the  station  they  are  in,  till  his  Ma'^''.  pleasure  be 
made  known  to  them  (for  a  change),  and  they  haveing  so 
declared,  it  is  not  in  our  power  to  vary  or  alter  what  they  have 
so  resolved;  (therefore,  according  to  the  circumstances  we 
stand  under,  we  cannot  make  a  surrender  of  o""  Charter  at  pres- 
ent) but  must  wayte  his  ]\Ia^'^'.  pleasure  for  our  farther  disspose, 
which  shall  readily  be  submitted  unto  by  us." 

During  the  summer  between  the  11th  of  June  and  the  first 
of  September,  :\Ir.  Whiting,  the  London  Agent,  wrote  four 
letters§  to  Secretary  Allyn.  In  the  first  he  informs  him  that 
the  General   Court's  letter   of  January   26th,   to   the  Earl   of 

•Conn.  Col.  Eec,  vol.  3,  p.  3S1.  '    '       ■  - 

■f  Ibid.,  p.  3S2.  .      •  •       .  . 

tibid.,  p.  383.  ,  ,     .      .  .. 

§  Ibid.,  p.  384-386.  ■     ,  , 


120        LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IX    COXNECTICL'T. 

Sunderland,  Secretary  of  State,  was  immediately  after  its  receipt 
delivered  to  Lord  Sunderland,  and  by  him  communicated  to 
Lords  of  the  Committee  of  Forei^rn  Plantations,  and  by  them 
to  the  King-.  He  tells  Allyn  that  Andros  had  not  made  any 
return  to  the  Quo  Warranto;  "but  it  was  his  sense  that  you 
would  surrender  your  Charter,  and  it  is  expected  here  that  the 
next  ship  will  bring  an  account  of  it;"  although  he  had  pre- 
viously written  that  he  would  not  act  for  them,  he  says  he  has 
taken  care  that  if  any  processes  should  be  made,  he  would  have 
notice  of  it,  and  he  adds,  referring  to  the  Charter,  "I  writ  you 
formerly,  and  am  still  of  the  same  mind,  that  it  will  be  lost.  I 
cannot  see  any  way  of  preventing  it."  The  royal  authorities 
apparently  intended  to  follow  Randolph's  advice  to  proceed 
against  the  Charter,  for  Whiting  writes  (on  June  14)  that  on 
June  11th  was  passed  a  rule  of  court  for  Connecticut  to  give 
appearance  the  following  day,  or  judginent  would  pass  against 
it.  He  wrote  again  (August  9),  that  he  took  advice  of  counsel, 
and  sealed  in  behalf  of  the  Colony  a  warrant  of  attorney  to  one 
of  the  clerks  of  the  Crown's  office  to  appear  in  accordance  with 
the  requirements  of  tlie  rule  of  court  referred  to,  but,  he  tells 
them,  although  this  power  of  attorney  was  signified  to  his 
Majesty's  officer,  there  being  no  information  then  nor  since  given 
in  against  the  Colony,  ''the  case  stands  as  it  did."  He  says  he 
does  not  know  whether  any  information  will  be  put  in  before 
the  next  term  or  not.  The  Colony  has  not  been  heard  from, 
though  several  ships  have  come  in  lately  from  Xew  England. 
It  is  reported  that  Connecticut  is  for  a  surrender  of  its 
Charter ;  but  he  himself  does  not  believe  it,  and  winds  up  by 
saying  that,  if  they  desire  to  answer  any  information  given  in 
against  them  and  defend  their  Charter,  thev  must  send  more 
money.  The  last  letter  (September  22)  informs  Allyn  that  no 
information  has  yet  been  given  in  against  the  Charter;  but  if 
it  is  intended  for  him  to  defend  the  Charter,  they  must  send  over 
more  money. 

These  letters  of  ~Mv.  Whiting  show  clearly  that  the  Colony's 
letter  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland  was  not  considered  as  a  sur- 
render of  the  Charter,  because  after  its  receipt  they  entered  a 
rule  of  the  court  for  the  appearance  of  the  Colony  before  the 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERXMEXT    IX    COXXECTICL'T.         121 

last  day  of  the  term,  aud  the  Colonj  did  appear  by  virtue  of  the 
warrant  of  attorney  given  by  Whiting.  As  no  information  was 
filed  against  the  Colony,  the  matter  there  rested.  "We  have 
Wfore  seen  from  Secretary  Allyn's  letter  to  Fitz-John  Winthrop 
that  at  the  time  the  letter  was  written  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland, 
it  was  not  considered  by  the  writers  to  be  a  surrender  of  their 
Cliarter,  and  we  learn  from  Whiting  that  it  was  not  so  considered 
by  the  English  authorities.  This  ought  clearly  to  dispose  of  the 
subsequent  contention  that  the  Colony  surrendered  their  Charter. 
Here  then  was  the  situation  in  the  fall  of  1GS7.  Connecticut 
Lad  absolutely  refused  to  surrender  its  Charter,  It  had  pro- 
tested its  desire  to  remain  as  it  was,  but  would,  though  unwil- 
ling, submit  to  the  royal  commands,  and  preferred  to  be  annexed 
to  Massachtisetts  rather  than  Xew  York.  Gov.  Dongan  heard 
l)y  letter  from  Whitehall  of  the  Colony's  preference  for  Massa- 
chusetts in  its  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Sunderland,  and  it  was  a  hard 
blow  to  him.  He  severely  reproached"  both  Treat  and  Allyn 
for  this  preference.  The  General  Court  held  its  regular  session 
in  October;  and  it  was  destined  to  be  its  last  regular  October 
meeting  for  two  years.  The  crisis  could  not  be  prolonged.  The 
Colony  s  position  was  clear,  and  was  well  known.  The  King 
decided  to  take  advantage  of  their  expressed  willing-ness  to  sub- 
mit to  his  royal  commands,  even  though  they  preferred  otherwise, 
and  so  dropped  the  legal  proceedings  against  the  Charter,  and 
directed  Andros  to  annex  Connecticut  to  his  Government.  Con- 
sequently Gov.  Andros  wrote  to  Gov.  Treat  on  October  22nd  the 
following  letter  :j 

"Sr. 

"This  is  to"  acquaint  you  that  I  have  received  effectuall  orders  and  coui- 
niands  from  his  }*Iati«.  for  Connecticott,  annexed  to  this  Government,  {in  a 
very  gratious  manner)  with  particuler  regard  and  favour  to  yselfe.  .•^nd 
resolve  to  send  or  be  myself  att  Hartford  ab*  the  end  of  next  -weeke,  pur- 
suant thereunto  to  meete  you  and  such  Gent",  as  you  shall  think  fitt  for  his 
Matieo.  sd.  service  -w*  I  Trill  not  doubt  to  yr  satisfaccon,  and  other  his 
MatJes.  loyall  subjects  in  y  parts;    and  remain,  S^, 

"Yor  very  aflfectionate  Friend, 

(E.  Andros.)" 
*  Conn.  Col.  Eee.,  vol.  3,  p.  386. 

t  Ibid.,  p.  3S7. 


122        LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IN    CONNECTICUT. 

Treat  summoned  a  meeting  of  the  General  Court  on  Oct.  31, 
pursuant  to  Andres's  request. 

Even  though  he  was  feeling  sick  at  the  time,  Andros  couLI 
not  have  failed  to  enjoy  his  ride  from  Boston  to  iN'ew  York  in 
the  fine  October  weather.  His  mounted  guard,  with  the  gentlr- 
men,  merchants,  and  members  of  his  Council,  must  have  made  a 
picturesque  procession  through  the  Xew  England  woods ;  but 
their  red  coats  could  hardly  have  been  more  brilliant  than  the 
autumnal  foliage  through  which  they  passed.  The  irritating, 
vexatious  and  long  drawn  out  question  of  the  Connecticut  Gov- 
ernment was  at  last  to  be  settled  as  Ajidros  desired. 

We  have  several  accounts  of  that  highly  interesting  event  in 
Connecticut  history — the  taking  over  the  Government  by  Sir 
Edmund  Andros. 

This  is  the  way  Sir  Edmund  Andros  reported  it  to  Secretary 
Blathwayt:  "I  received  his  Majesty's  commands  for  annexing 
Connecticut,  which,  having  communicated  to  the  Council,  I 
resolved  as  necessary.  I  set  out  as  soon  as  I  could,  and  well 
accompanied  for  said  services,  and  the  first  instant  in  the  Court 
House  at  Hartford,  all  their  magistrates  being  there,  removed 
said  Colony  under  my  Government  accordingly,  without  any 
contest."  '-  • 

A  more  picturesque  account  is  contained  in  Randolph's  report 
to  Blatliwayt,"^  Xovember  23  :  "I  wrote  you  in  my  last  that  his 
Excellence  was  not  well :  .  .  .  yet  vpon  the  notice  of  Con- 
necticutts  being  added  to  this :  he  resolued  to  go  him  selfe  and 
was  attended  by  a  Gard  of  Granadeers  mounted  and  well 
ecquippd  with  all  their  habilaments:  and  nigh  GO  Gents  and 
Alercts  well  acoutred  with  6  members  of  the  Council :  he  was 
hon^'*'.  receiued  and  hauing  called  them  together  read  his  AEa'^. 
Commission  and  the  Order  of  Councill  to  take  them  vnder  his 
care :  all  tlieir  Deputyes  were  very  busy  in  town  and  were  pres- 
ent but  he  woald  not  give  them  leaue  to  debat  or  aske  questions 
but  swore  their  Gon''.  and  CapS  Allen  of  the  Councill  and  dis- 
solued  tlieir  meeting:  his  presence  was  very  necessary  for 
seuerall  Inhabitants  of  the  Townes  adjacent  vpon  jST:  York  were 

•  Randolph  Tapers,  vol.  6,  p.  233. 


f  .' 


LOSS    OF    CIIAKTER    GOVERXMEXT    IX    COXXECTICUT.         123 

prepared  by  Coll :  Dongan  to  decoy  in  their  neighbors  and  would 
liaue  been  troublesome." 

A  still  more  interesting  account  is  that  given  by  Gershom 
Biilkeley  in  his  Will  and  Doom.*     It  is  as  follows : 

"On  Monday,  Oct.  31,  ICST,  Sir  E.  A.  (with  divors  of  the  members  of  his 
council  and  other  gentlemen  attending  him,  and  with  his  guard,)  came  to 
ilarttord,  where  he  was  received  with  all  respect  and  welcome  congratula- 
tion that  Connecticut  was  capable  of.  The  troop  of  horse  of  that  countv 
conducted  him  honorably  from  the  ferry  through  Wethersfield  up  to  Hartford 
where  the  trained  bands  of  divers  towns,  (who  had  waited  there  some  '^irt 
of  the  week  before,  expecting  his  coming  then,  now  again,  bein-  com- 
nianded  by  their  leaders,)  waited  to  pay  him  their  respects  at  his  comin-. 

Being  arrived  at  Hartford,  he  is  greeted  and  caressed  by  the  governor 
and  assistants,  (whose  part  it  was,  being  the  heads  of  the  people,  to  be 
most  active  in  what  was  now  to  be  done,)  and  some  say,  thou-h  T  will  not 
confidently  assert  it,  that  the  governor  and  one  of  the  assistant's  did  declare 
to  him  the  vote  of  the  general  court  for  their  submission  to  him 

"However,  after  some  treaty  between  his  excellency  and  them  that  evenin- 
he  was  the  next  morning  waited  on  and  conducted  by  tlie  governor,  deputv 
povernor,  assistants  and  deputies,  to  the  court  chamber,  and  by  the  -ov- 
ornor  himself  directed  to  the  governor's  seat;  and  being  there  seated,  "the 
ate  governor,  assistants  and  deputies  being  present,  and  the  chamber 
hronged  as  full  of  people  as  it  was  capable  of,)  his  excellencv  declared, 
that  his  majesty  had,  according  to  their  desire,  given  him  a  commission  to 
come  and  take  on  him  the  government  of  Connecticut,  and  caused  his 
commission  to  be  publickly  read. 

"That  being  done,  his  excellency  shewed,  that  it  was  his  majestv's  pleasure 
to  make  the  late  governor  and  Capt.  John  Allyn  members  of  his  council,  and 
called  upon  them  to  take  their  oaths,  which  they  did  forthwith;  and  all 
this  in  that  publick  and  great  assembly,  nemine  contradicente,  only  one  man 
oaid  that  they  first  desired  that  they  might  continue  as  they  were. 

"After  this,  his  excellency  proceeded  to  erect  courts  of  judicature,  and 
constituted  the  said  Jno.  Allyn,  Esq.,  judge  of  the  inferior  court  of  common 
pleas  for  the  county  of  Hartford;  and  all  other  who  before  had  been 
"^'istants,  and  dwelling  in  the  same  county,  he  now  made  justices  of  the 
pf-ace  for  the  said  county. 

"From  hence  his  excellency  passed  thro'  all  the  rest  of  the  counties  of    ' 

-  ■  Haven,  X.  London  and   Fairfield,   settling  the  government,   was   everv 

«here  cheerfully  and  gratefully  received,  and  erected  the  king's  courts  as 

aioresaid,  wherein  those  wiio  were  before  in  the  office  of  £rovernor,  deputv 

;:overnor  and  assistants,  were  made  judges  of  tlie  pleas,  or  justices  of  the 

P<?ace    not  one  excepted,  nor    (finally)    excepting  but  accepting  the  same; 

^ome  few  others  being  by  his  excellency  added  to  them  in  the  several  coun- 

•0.,  not  without,  but  by  and  with  their  own  advice  and  approbation,  and 

sworn  by  the  oaths   (of  allegiance  and)   of  their  respective  offices,  to  do 

•  Conn.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  vol.  3,  p.  137. 


124 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERX.\[ENT    IX    COXXECTICUT. 


equal  justice  to  rich  and  poor,  after  the  laws  and  customs  of  the  realm  of 
England  and  of  this  his  majesty's  dominion. 

"His  excellency  also  made  sherifl's  in  the  several  counties  and  gave  order 
for  the  making  and  swearing  of  constables  in  the  several  towns,  etc. 

"Hereupon  the  late  charter  government  was  by  them  (who  before  had 
the  exercise  of  it)  thought  to  be  dissolved;  as  a  pledge  whereof,  the  secre- 
tary, who  was  well  acquainted  witli  all  tlie  transactions  of  the  general 
court,  and  very  well  umh-rstood  their  meaning  and  intent  in  all,  delivered 
their  common  seal  to  Sir  E.  A." 

.  .  .•  "the  general  court  present,  but  passing  no  act  against  it,  nor 
manifesting  any  dissent,  but  conduct  his  excellency  to  the  court  chamber, 
and  place  him  in  the  governor's  seat,  hear  his  commission  and  make  no 
protest?  Do  they  think  that  nobody  took  notice  hoAV  Sir  E.  A.  wa=! 
caressed  by  them?  Uow  brisk  and  jocund  they  were  at  that  time?  What 
liberal  healths  some  of  them  (for  all  indeed  are  not  addicted  to  such 
frolicks)  drank  then,  and  afterwards  in  remembrance  of  it?  Were  not  all 
his  excellencies  proceedings  fair  and  candid?  Did  he  use  any  fraud  or  put 
any  force  upon  them?"     .     .     . 

"I  do  not  say,  or  think,  that  they  were  most  willing.  Their  former 
actions  shew  that  they  were  too  fond  of  their  former  sovereignty;  but 
contraries,  light  and  darkness,  willingness  and  unwillingness,  cannot  consist 
in  stimmo  grad^i.  The  particulars  alK)ve  mentioned  demonstrate,  that  tliere 
was  a  deliberate  willingness,  and  a  prevailing  willingness,  consequently 
they  were  not  most  unwilling. 

"And  do  we  not  very  well  know  the  man,  (the  most  likely  person  in  all 
the  colony  to  vent,  and  his  most  untrue  suggestion,)  who  personally  attend- 
ing upon  his  excellency,  upon  the  Monday,  Oct.  31,  1687,  on  his  journey  to 
Hartford,  posted  away  before  him  to  the  river,  and  there  by  the  fullness 
of  his  authority  (for  he  was  an  assistant)  created  a  constable,  authorizing 
him  to  press  boats  and  men  to  carry  over  his  excellency  and  retinue  without 
delay,  and  then  posted  away  to  Hartford,  to  give  notice  of  his  excellency's 
coming  that  way,  (who  was  expected  another  way,)  by  means  whereof  the 
troop  was  posted  away  to  Wethersfield  to  meet  and  conduct  his  excellency 
to  Hartford,  as  aforesaid;  and  who  afterwards  was  (if  he  be  not  grossly 
bely'd)  as  brag  and  brisk  as  a  body-louse,  that  he  was  made  one  of  the 
king's  justices?  and  yet,  doubtless,  this  mau  was  most  imwilling.  It  is  our 
hard  fate,  that  we  should  have  any  man  pretending  to  government  over 
us  that  hath  no  more  truth  in  him  than  this  comes  to,  and  such  men  had 
need  to  rcuicmlK'r  Zedckiah." 

This  is  the  way  SecreUry  Allyn  entered  the  transaction  in 
the  public  records,!  after  reciting  the  names  of  the  members  of 
the  Court  Avlio  were  present: 

"His  ExceUncy  S^  Edmond  Andross  Kn*,  Capt.  Generall  &  Govr  of  hi^ 
Ma'i<^  Teritorie  iSc  Dominion  in  Xew  England,  by  order  from  his  Ma""^  Jam-'s 

•  Conn.  Hi^t.  Soc.  Coll.,  vol.  3,  p.  140. 
t  Conn.  Col.  lu-e.,  vol.  3,  p.  248. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERN MEXT    IX    COXXECTICUT.         125 

the  second,  King  of  England,  Scotland,  France  &  Ireland,  the  31  of  October, 
1687,  took  into  his  hands  the  Goverment  of  this  colony  of  Conecticott,  it 
boing  by  his  Jra*'<-'  annexed  to  the  IMassachusets  &  other  colonys  under  his 
lACt'lencies  Government.     Finis." 

So  far  we  liave  shown  how  the  government  in  Connecticut  was 
taken  over  by  the  royal  Governor;  bnt  we  have  said  nothing 
aliout  the  tangible  Charter  itself.  Great  importance  in  those 
(lays  was  attached  to  the  physical  possession  of  the  Charter.  It 
seems  to  have  been  thought,  since  the  Charter  originated  by 
royal  grant,  that  every  vestige  of  it  should  be  canceled  and  made 
of  no  force  and  effect.  The  Connecticut  Charter  was  not  given 
up;  but  both  the  original  and  the  duplicate  remained  in  the 
possession  of  the  Colony.  You  all  know  the  story  of  the  Charter 
Oak.  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  it.  There  is  an  early  mention 
of  the  seizure  of  the  Charter  by  Gov.  Wolcott  in  a  communica- 
tion on  historical  matters  to  President  Clap  in  1759.  Gov. 
Wolcott  was  eight  years  old  at  the  time  Andros  visited  Hartford. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Conference  Committee  in  1715  to  pass 
on  the  resolution  to  reward  Capt.  Joseph  "Wadsworth  for  his 
conduct  in  preserving  the  Charter.  This  Conference  Committee 
must  have  discussed  all  the  details  of  the  preservation  of  the 
Charter,  and  I  think  that  Gov.  Wolcott  knew  accurately  and 
fully  what  the  facts  were.  He  wrote  President  Clap  as 
follows  :* 

"In  October,  1087,  Sr  Edmond  Andross  came  to  Hartford.  The  Assembly 
niot  and  sate  late  at  night.  They  ordered  the  charters  to  be  set  on  the  table, 
nud  unhappily  or  happily  all  the  candles  were  snutTed  out  at  once,  and  when 
tliey  were  lighted  the  charters  were  gone.  And  now  S^  Edmund  being  in 
town  and  the  charters  gone,  the  Secretary  closed  the  Colony  records  with  the 
word  Finis  and  all  departed." 

Gov.  Wolcott  also  told  President  Stiles  in  1701,  as  recorded 
in  Stiles's  Itinerary,  '"Xathanicl  Stanley,  tlie  fatlier  of  the  late 
Col.  Stanley,  took  c>ne  of  the  Connecticut  Charters,  and  Mr. 
Talcott,  late  Gov.  Talcott's  father,  took  the  other,  from  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  in  Hartford  meeting  house — the  lights  blown 
out."  In  IGOS  Capt.  Joseph  Wadsworth  produced  before  the 
^'overnor  and  Council  theduplicate  Charter  and  atfirmed  that  he 

•  Conn.  Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  vol.  3,  p.  331. 


i2f; 


LOSS    OF    CKAKTER    GOVEI;^•^rEXT    IX    CONNECTICUT. 


had  the  order  of  the  General  Court  to  keep  it.  The  Council 
thereupon  authorized  him  to  continue  as  its  custodian.  In  1715 
a  bill  was  })assed  by  the  Lower  House  of  the  Assembly  to  awavil 
Capt.  Josei)h  Wadsworth  four  pounds.  'J'his  was  negatived  iu 
the  Upper  House,  and  the  Committee  in  Conference,  of  which 
Roger  Wolcott  was  one,  as  above  stated,  agreed  to  give  hiuj 
twenty  shillings.     It  is  as  follows : 

''Upon  consideration  of  the  faithful  and  good  service  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Wadsworth,  of  Hartford,  especially  in  securing  tlie  Duplicate  Charter  of 
this  Colony  in  a  very  troublesome  season  when  our  constitution  was  L.-uck 
at,  and  in  safely  keeping  and  preserving  the  same  ever  since  unto  this  i.._  • 
This  Assembly  do,  as  a  token  of  their  great ful  resentment  of  such  his  faith- 
ful and  good  service,  grant  him  out  of  the  Colony  treasury  the  sum  of 
twenty  shillings."* 

There  were  two  members  of  the  General  Assembly  which  vuted 
to  reward  Capt.  Joseph  Wadsworth  who  were  members  and 
present  at  the  session  when  Andros  took  over  the  government, 
namely,  Capt.  Cyprian  Xichols  of  Hartford,  and  Col.  Ebenezcr 
Johnson  of  Derby. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Ruggles,  the  minister  in  Guilford,  and  a 
son  of  the  minister  there  of  the  same  name,  wrote  in  1769  on  the 
history  of  Guilford,  and  referring  to  Andrew  Leete,  says :  'It 
is  said  and  believed  (that  he)  was  the  principal  hand  in  securing 
and  preserving  the  Charter,  when  it  was  just  upon  the  point  of 
being  given  up  to  Sir  Edmund  Andros.  In  his  house  it  found 
a  safe  retirement  until  better  times." 

Of  the  names  mentioned  al>ove,  Talcott  was  Major  John  Tal- 
cott,  an  Assistant,  and  present  when  Andros  took  over  the  gov- 
ernment, Xathaniel  Stanley  was  a  Deputy  of  the  General  Court 
and  also  present  at  that  meeting,  and  was  subsequently-  very 
active  in  the  resumption  of  the  Charter  Government;  Andrew 
Leete  was  also  an  Assistant  and  present  at  the  meeting;  Capt. 
Joseph  Wadsworth  was  not  a  member  of  the  Court,  but  his 
brother,  John  Wadsworth,  was  one  of  the  Assistants. t 

•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  V,  507. 

t  Tlie  late  Chas.  J.  Iluadly,  LL.D.,  wrote  a  paper,  published  by  the  Acorn 
Club,  on  the  hiding  of  the  Charter  in  which  he  gives  the  facts  an-l  al-' 
some  of  his  own  conjectures. 


LOSS    OF    CHARTER    GOVERNMENT    IX    COXNECTIOUT.         127 

There  is  no  time  to  enter  upon  a  criticism  of  the  administra- 
tion of  Sir  Edmund  Andros.  Some  of  his  apologists  have  said 
that  it  was  a  lino  idea  to  unite  all  Xew  England  under  one 
covernment,  so  that  it  could  resist  attack  from  the  outside.  This 
would  be  true  if  each  Colony  had  insisted  on  acting  independ- 
ently in  war  time.  Those  who  make  the  above  criticism  over- 
look the  body  known  as  the  Commissioners  of  the  United 
Colonies,  which  had  successfully  conducted  the  great  Indian 
War.  They  made  blunders  in  their  conduct  of  King  Philip's 
War,  but  not  so  many  or  so  important  mistakes  as  were  made 
later  in  the  French  and  Indian  \Yar,  with  its  Braddock's  defeat, 
Lake  George,  die,  which  was  conducted  under  royal  appointees. 
The  inhabitants  of  Connecticut  had  always  exercised  the  right-s 
of  Englishmen  to  be  represented  in  the  Government.  Before 
they  settled  in  Connecticut  they  had  the  right  to  be  represented 
in  Parliament,  and  while  they  lived  in  Connecticut  they  had  the 
right  to  be  represented  in  tlie  General  Assembly.  When  Sir 
Edmund  Andros  took  over  the  Government  they  lost  absolutely 
this  right.  His  Government  was,  therefore,  illegal  and  arbi- 
traiy,  unless  it  was  done  with  the  consent  of  the  governed. 
From  the  foregoing  story  I  think  it  appears  that  Connecticut 
never  did  consent.  They  submitted,  and  I  question  very  much 
whether  if  the  General  Court  had  consented  to  a  surrender  of 
these  inalienable  and  constitutional  rights  of  Englishmen,  it 
would  have  been  binding  upon  all  the  freemen  of  the  Colony 
and  their  successors. 

The  administration  of  Andros  in  Connecticut  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  so  burdensome  as  it  was  in  ^Massachusetts.  He 
attempted  there  to  collect  quit  rents  for  confirmation  of  the  titles 
to  real  estate  of  the  land  owners.  Such  a  title  rested  upon  pos- 
session, Indian  purchase,  and  grant  from  the  General  Court 
under  authority  of  the  Charter.  The  General  Court's  grants, 
however,  were  not  under  the  seal  of  the  Colony,  and,  as  Dr. 
Hoadly  has  pointed  out,  a  corporation  at  common  law  could  only 
act  under  its  seal.  The  old  corporation  of  ]\rassachusetts  having 
l»oen  dissolved,  Andros  attempted  to  take  advantage  of  this  and 
^0  demand  fees  for  contirming  titles.     In  Connecticut,  however,. 


>  1 


128        LOSS    OF    CIIARTF.K    GOVERNMENT    IN    CONNECTICUT. 

tlie  General  Court  had  been  shrewd  enough  to  issue  patents  to 
tlie  towns  which  were  under  seal  of  the  Colony  to  make  good 
its  previous  grants  as  well  as  Indian  purchases,  and  I  do  not  find 
that  Andros  attempted  to  collect  quit  rents  here.  Among  the 
laws  passed  by  Andros  and  his  Council,  a  copy  of  which  was 
sent  to  Connecticut  officials  soon  after  he  took  over  the  Govern- 
ment, was  one  that  tuwn  meetings  should  not  be  held  oftener  than 
once  a  year,"  and  then  for  the  purpose  of  electing  town  ofHcers. 
I  have  examined  the  records  of  a  number  of  towns  during  this 
period,  and  find  instances  of  several  meetings  within  a  year 
during  his  administration.  So  this  law  seems  to  have  been 
disregarded  in  Connecticut.  Andros  was  unpopular  in  Con- 
necticut, and  Gov.  Roger  Wolcott  has  preserved  one  anecdote 
illustrating  it.  He  tells  us  :  ''Yet  the  discontents  of  the  people 
made  such  impression  upon  him  that  one  morning  he  told  Doctor 
Hooker  he  thought  the  good  people  of  Connecticut  kept  many 
dayes  of  fasting  and  prayer  on  his  account.  Very  probable, 
says  the  doctor,  for  we  read  that  this  kind  gocth  not  out  by 
other  means." 

The  outstanding  fact  in  the  foregoing  narrative  is  the  clever- 
ness, patience  and  foresight  of  the  Connecticut  Government. 
They  could  not  be  coaxed  by  their  friends,  or  threatened  by  their 
enemies  to  formally  surrender  their  Charter  or  their  government. 
They  did  submit,  but  were  passive  rather  than  active  in  doing  so. 
Their  conduct  seemed  almost  as  if  they  had  in  mind  what  subse- 
quently happcmed.  They  were  careful  to  leave  a  record  that 
could  not  afterwards  be  used  against  them.  The  result  was  that 
interruption  to  Charter  government  here  was  only  temporary. 
\\  hen  the  Prince  of  Orange  landed  in  England  and  Andros  was 
imprisoned  in  Boston,  the  Connecticut  Charter  was  brought  out. 
and  Treat  and  Allyn  and  Fitch  and  the  others  at  the  demand  of 
the  freemen  resumed  their  old  form  of  government — not  without 
opposition,  for  there  were  Tories  then  in  Connecticut  with  as 
liigh  notions  as  those  INlacaulay  tells  us  about  in  England.  But 
this  resumed  government  persisted,  and  was  recognized  by  the 
Crown,  and  lasted  until  ISlS,  and  its  etfects  until  the  present. 
•  Conn.  Col.  Rec,  vol.  3,  pp.  427,  429. 


FIGHTING  THE    REVOLUTION  AVITH    PRINT- 
ER'S   INK  IN  CONNECTICUT:   THE  OEEl- 
CIAL    PRINTING    OF    THAT    COLONY 
FROM    LEXINGTON   TO   THE 
DECLARATION. 

By  Albert  Carlos  Bates. 
,         [Read  January  15,  1917.] 


We  find  it  not  an  easy  task  now,  after  the  lapse  of  more  than 
a  century  and  a  third,  to  look  hack  and  discover  exactly  what 
were  the  feelings  and  temper  of  the  people  of  Connecticut  at  the 
time  of  the  actual  breaking  out  of  the  hostilities  Avhich  marked 
the  beginning  of  tlie  Revolutionary  War.  So  far  as  can  now 
be  judged  they  were  extremely  jealous  of  any  interference  with 
what  they  considered  their  rights  and  liberties— the  rights  which 
they  had  exercised  and  preserved  almost  without  exception  from 
their  first  settlement  here,  of  making  and  executing  their  own 
laws  for  their  own  government  in  the  manner  that  best  suited 
them ;  and  the  lil>erty  of  action  ■without  the  interference  or 
restraint  of  the  home  government  in  England,  which  amounted 
tu  a  j)ractical  freedom  and  independence.  Yet  alongside  of 
tliese  somewhat  advanced  views  there  is  good  reason  for  believ- 
ing that  there  was  a  deep  and  widespread  feeling  of  patriotism 
towards  and  love  for  the  mother  country.  The  ties  of  nation- 
ality, kindred  and  association  were  strong.  There  was  a  hope 
and  desire  for  peace  and  for  a  renewal  of  good  feeling  between 
the  tw'o  countries.  All  talk  or  consideration  of  the  possibility 
<^>f  war  was  deprecated,  disunion  was  not  desired.  Yet  with  the 
forethought  which  is  perhaps  characteristic  of  Connecticut 
['t'oj>le,  while  they  were  using  a  conciliatory  tone  in  their  cor- 
f'-"^{»ondenee  with  the  Colony's  agent  in  England  and  with  the 
f'-presentatives  of  British  authority  in  this  country,  they  were 


)  Ml'.l 


130         FIGHTING    TilK    KEVOT.TJTIOX    WITH    PRINTEr's    IXK. 

at  the  same  time  making  preparations  for  an  armed  struiiglo 
should  such  resistance  become  necessary,  being  desirous  only  for 
a  place  honorable  to  themselves  and  consistent  \vith  their  own 
views. 

When  the  news  of  the  encounter  at  Lexington  and  Concor'l 
reached  Connecticut  on  April  20,  1775,  the  day  following'  Tin 
battle,  the  excitement  was  intense  and  the  action  inmiediate. 
As  soon  as  they  could  gather  and  c^uip,  companies  of  armed 
militia  to  the  number  of  several  thousands  set  out  in  a  somewhat 
irresponsible  manner  for  the  scene  of  action.  On  their  return 
a  few  days  later  they  doubtless  brought  with  them  and  circu- 
lated throughout  the  Colony  vivid  accounts  of  the  bloody  doings 
of  that  day  when  ''the  shot  heard  'round  the  world"  was  fired, 
as  well  as  the  utterly  untrue  or  greatly  exaggerated  accounts  of 
horrible  cruelties  perpetrated  by  the  British  soldiers,  which 
obtained  a  wide  circulation  and  credence.  An  immediate  change 
of  feeling  seems  to  have  occurred  at  this  time.  There  was  little 
further  talk  of  peace  and  reconciliation,  but  immediate  and 
busy  preparation  for  war.  Such  action  was  rebellion  and 
treason ;  yet  it  is  of  interest  to  note  the  utter  disregard  of  conse- 
quences with  which  acts  were  passed  and  resolutions  adopted,  any 
one  of  which  might  mean  an  ignominious  death  to  all  who  weri- 
concerned  in  it.  And  not  only  was  such  action  officially  adopted, 
but  it  was  officially  printed  and  published  to  the  world.  Verily 
these  were  days  of  courage  and  brave  deeds.  And  it  is  my  pur- 
pose now  to  bring  to  your  attention  in  detail  fliese  Kevolutionarv 
acts  and  resolutions  which  were  officially  printed  and  published 
by  the  authority  of  the  government  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticur. 
from  the  time  of  the  Battle  of  Lexington  until  the  atloptiou  "t 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  when  it  was  sagely  remarked 
by  one  of  the  signers  that  now  they  must  hang  together  or  they 
would  hang  singly. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  177."»,  just  one  week  after  the  Battle  ui 
Lexington,  the  General  Assembly  met  in  Hartford  in  respon>e 
to  the  order  of  Governor  Trumbull ;  and  the  second  item  ot 
business  transacted  at  this  special  session  was  the  passage  of  the 
following:  resolution : 


Fir.HTIXG    THE    REVULUTIOX    WITH     PRIXTEu's    INK.  131 

"That  an  Embargo  be  fortlisvith  laid  upon  the  exportation  out  of  thi-i 
Colony  by  water  of  the  following  articles  of  provision,  viz:  wheat,  rye, 
Indian  corn,  pork,  beef,  live  cattle,  pease  and  beans,  bread  flour,  and  every 
kind  of  meal,  except  necessary  stores  for  vessels  bound  to  sea;  and  that 
his  Honor  the  Governor  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  desired  to  issue  a  proclama- 
tion laying  such  embargo  and  prohibiting  the  exportation  of  such  provisions 
ocourdingly :    Such  embargo  to  continue  till  the  20th  day  of  May  next."* 

If  there  was  to  be  war  it  Lehove  the  Colony  to  conserve  the 
food  stutfs  within  her' borders  for  the  use  of  her  own  residents 
and  soldiers.  Eighty  copies  of  this  proclamation,  practically 
one  for  each  town  (there  were  seventy-nine  towns  at  this  time 
iucluding- AVestmoreland  in  Pennsylvania),  were  at  once  printed 
by  Ebenezer  Watson  of  Hartford. t     Xo  copy  is  now  known. 

This  was  followed  by  a  "Proclamation  stating  the  bounty  and 
wages  of  soldiers/'j:  400  copies  of  which  were  printed  by 
Ebenezer  AVatson,  the  essential  features  of  which  were:  That 
one-fourth  part  of  the  militia  were  ordered  to  be  "'forthwith 
iiilisted"  "for  the  special  defence  and  safety"  of  the  Colony; 
each  was  to  receive  a  premium  of  52  shillings  upon  iidistment 
and  "supplying  themselves  with  a  blanket,  knapsack,  cloathing 
^•c.,"  and  a  further  premium  of  10  shillings  to  each  "who  shall 
jTuvide  arms  for  himself,  well  fixed  with  a  good  bayonet  and 
<-art<>uch  box,''  provision  being  made  for  the  appraisal  of  such 
arms  and  payment  for  any  that  should  be  lost  in  servace ;  each 
was  also  to  receive  '"'one  month's  advanced  pay,"  and  six  pence 
{)er  day  for  billeting  money  until  other  provision  was  made  by 
'he  Colony.  For  wages  a  sergeant  was  to  receive  -4S  shillings 
[•er  month,  a  corporal  4-i  shillings,  a  drummer  or  fifer  -44  shil- 
liiigs  and  a  private  40  shillings.§  Xo  copy  of  this  proclamation 
'•<  knriwn. 

^t'Xt  came  a  "Vote  of  the  General  Assembly  encouraging  the 
I'laking  of  firelocks," ;i  no  copy  of  which  has  survived,  also 
i'rinted  by  Ebenezer  Watson: 

•  Col.  Rec.  XIV,  415. 

t  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  III.  Glfi. 

xibid.  .      -  ■  /,       ■. 

I  Col.  Rec.  XIV.  410. 

i!  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  III.  GIO. 


132         FIGHTIXG    THK    l.'KVOLrTIO.V     WITH     PKINTKIt's    INK. 

"That  the  three  thousand  stands  of  arms  to  be  procured  for  tlie  use  <( 
this  Colony  be  of  the  following  dimensions,  to  wit:  tlie  lengtli  of  the  barrel 
three  feet  ten  inches,  the  diameter  of  the  IxMe  from  inside  to  inside  tlin.- 
quarters  of  an  inch,  the  length  of  the  hla<le  of  the  bayonet  fourteen  inoli«-«. 
the  length  of  the  socket  four  inches  and  one  quarter;  that  the  barrels  be  of 
a  suitable  thickness,  with  iron  ramrods  and  a  spring  in  the  lowest  loop  tu 
secure  the  ramrods,  a  good  substantial  lock,  and  a  good  stcxik  well  nioiint*-! 
with  brass  and  marked  with  the  name  or  initial  letters  of  tlie  makfr> 
name. 

"That  all  the  arms  that  shall  be  made  and  compleatcd  according  to  abm-.- 
regulation  in  this  Colony  by  the  first  day  of  July  next  shall  be  purchaseil 
and  taken  up  by  this  Colony  at  a  reasonable  price."* 

The  next  step  was  the  issue  of  400  orders  authorizing  inli-i- 
ments,t  two  copies  of  which  are  now  known,  also  printed  liv 
Watson,  commonly  known  as  ''beating  orders,"  in  the  foUowini: 
words : 

"Jonathan  Trumbull,  Esqi",  Governor  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut, 

"To     ....     Greeting. 

"I  do  hereby  authorize  and  impower  you,  by  beat  of  drum  or  otherwise, 
to  raise  ....  by  inlistment,  a  company  of  able-bodied  effective  volui;- 
teers  within  this  Colony,  to  consist  of  one  hundred  men,  including  officer-, 
for  the  defence  of  this  Colony,  during  the  pleasure  of  this  Assembly,  not 
exceeding  seven  months:  And  the  colonels  of  the  respective  regiments  of 
militia,  and  the  several  officers  thereof,  are  required  to  afford  you  all  proper 
aid  and  assistance:  And  the  captains  in  the  several  regiments  are  hereby 
required  to  muster  their  respective  companies  when  requested  thereunto  by 
you,  for  the  purpose  aforesaid. 

"Given  under  my  hand  this  first  day  of  May,  1775." 

For  the  purpose  of  carrying  these  orders  into  effect  Watson 
printed  7,000  inlistment  hlankst  reading  thus: 

"I  ....  of  ....  do  acknowledge  to  have  voluntarily  inlisti'il 
myself  a  Soldier,  to  serve  in  a  Regiment  of  Foot  raised  by  the  Colony  "1 
Connecticut,  for  the  Defence  of  the  same,  to  be  commanded  by  .  .  .  • 
during  the  Pleasure  of  the  General  Assembly,  and  as  they  shall  direct,  n<^t 
exceeding  seven  Months.  As  witness  my  Hand,  the  ....  Day  of 
.  .    .    .    .in  the  Year  of  Our  Lord,  1775."§ 

*  Col.  Rec.  XIV,  420. 
t  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  Ill,  610. 
tibid. 

§  Ibid.  I,  SO.  This  is  the  official  copy  indorsed  by  the  Clerks  of  botli 
Houses. 


Fir.HTIXG    TlIF,    REVOLUTION    WITH    PRINTEr's    INK.         133 

To  make  provision  for  the  commanding  of  those  who  should 
iiilist,  three  hundred  comtnissions  were  })rinted  for  officers.* 
These  are  too  long-  to  be  copied  in  full  here.  An  interesting 
point  about  them  is  that  the  governor  granted  these  commissions 
and  the  power  which  they  conveved,  "By  virtue  of  the  Power  and 
Authority  to  me  given,  in  and  by  the  Royal  Charter  to  the  Gov- 
ernor and  Company  of  the  said  Colony  nnder  the  great  seal  of 
England."  This  differed  from  previous  commissions  in  which 
the  power  was  granted  by  the  governor,  ''by  Virtue  of  the  Letters 
Patents  from  the  Crown  of  England,  to  this  Corporation,  ^le 
thereunto  enabling."  This  difference  of  wording  and  omis- 
sion of  direct  reference  to  the  Crown  could  hardly  have  been 
accidental.  These  first  300  commissions  were  at  once  set  aside 
and  a  new  edition  of  300  issued,  Watson  the  printer  noting  "the 
fonner  300  being  from  an  imperfect  copy."t  This  careless 
preparation  of  "copy,"  and  the  giving  of  any  of  the  resolutions 
and  proclamations  into  the  hands  of  Watson  of  Hartford  for 
printing,  are  both  evidences  of  the  haste  deemed  needful  in 
bringing  these  matters  before  the  people,  for  the  official  printer 
of  the  Colony  was  Timothy  Green  whose  printing  office  was 
located  at  Xew  London.  To  him  under  all  ordinary  circum- 
stances the  "copy"  for  these  would  have  been  sent  for  printing. 

Arrangement  having  been  made  for  the  raising  and  payment 
of  troops  and  the  manufacture  and  purchase  of  arms,  it  was 
iiecessarv  to  provide  for  payment  for  these  "incident  charges  of 
government.":!:  For  this  purpose  the  Assembly  ordered  the 
I>rinting  with  all  convenient  speed  of  £r)0,0<)(>  in  bills  of  credit 
of  suitably  denominations.^  This  work  was  intrusted  to  the 
t'olony's  printer  Timothy  Green  of  Xew  London,  who  appears 
to  have  completed  the  work  by  May  26.  Forty  thousand  were 
printed ;  this  {)robably  meaning  that  number  of  sheets  of  bills, 
'•ufh  sheet  being  composed  of  several  bills  which  were  cut  apart 
before  issue.     In  addition  to  tlie  printed  text  these  bills  con- 

*Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  I.  70;    Rev.  Ill,  CIO. 

*  Ibid.  III.  610.  '■  -'■    . 

t  Col.  Ree.  XIV,  432. 

S/fcic/. 


i     'l     •  i      \ 


134        FIOirTING    TlfF.    REVOLUTIOX    WITH    PKIXTEr's    INK. 

tained  ornamental  designs  and  borders,  probably  engraved  on 
wood  blocks,  the  work  of  John  llallam,  by  whom  they  had  been 
engraved  for  the  bills  issued  during  the  previous  January." 
One  of  these  bills  reads  thus  : 

•'The  Po5.se.ssor  of  this  Bill,  shall  be  paid  by  tlio  Treasurer  of  tlie  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  Two  Shiliin;^'s  it  Six  Pence,  Lawful  Money,  by  the  Tenth 
day  of  May  1777  Dated  May  10th  One  Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and 
Seventy-Five.     By  order  of  Assembly     ....     Committee" 

Bills  for  two  shillings  six  pence,  ten  shillings,  twenty  shil- 
lings and  forty  shillings  are  known,  and  there  were  doidotle.-;s 
other  denominations  issued. 

One  more  resolution  adopted  at  this  session  was  separatelv 
printed  by  AVatson  in  an  edition  of  400  copies,  two  of  which  art- 
now  known. t  It  is  called  "Vote  of  the  General  Assembly 
recommending  sobriety,"  ire,  and  reads  thus : 

'"Considering  the  dark  and  gloomy  aspect  of  Divine  Providence  over 
this  Colony  and  land,  and  that  it  is  the  indispensible  duty  of  every  peopji- 
suffering  under  the  afflictive  chastisements  of  a  righteous  God,  with  deep 
repentance,  supplication  and  amendment  of  life,  to  endeavour  by  all  tli'' 
ways  which  God  has  prescribed  to  avert  his  anger  and  incline  him  to 
become  reconciled  to  his  people: 

"It  is  therefore  resolved  by  this  Assembly,  Tliat  it  be  recommended  to  all 
the  ministers  of  the  gospel  in  this  Colony,  that  they  earnestly  endeavour 
to  dissuade  their  several  congregations  from  all  excess,  and  all  diversion- 
which  may  be  improper  in  the  present  day  of  distress;  and  that  lx)th  tip'} 
and  their  people  cry  nughtily  to  God,  that  he  would  be  pleased  to  spar>- 
his  people  and  be  gracious  unto  them,  and  visit  them  with  his  loving  kiii'l 
ness  and  tender  mercies,  and  not  give  up  his  heritage  to  reproach,  I'li- 
preserve  unto  them  their  great  and  important  rights  and  privileges,  aiv: 
guide  and  prosper  the  public  councils  of  this  Colony  and  land,  and  in  tlii- 
hour  of  difficulty  and  distress  graciously  manifest  his  power  in  the  delivir 
ance  and  salvation  of  his  people,  to  the  glory  of  his  own  name." 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  session,  on  ]May  6th,  two  law- 
which  it  had  enacted  were  issued  in  the  usual  form  of  the  sessi"!- 
laws  by  Timothy  Green  "Printer  to  the  Governor  and  C'>ii; 
pany."  The  edition  of  session  laws  usually  printed  at  thi- 
period  was  1,100  copies,  which  was  probably  the  number  print''''- 
in  tliis  instance.     Their  form  is  a  small  folio  paged  continuou^l.^ 

•  Conn.  Arch.  Kev.  Ill,  50t). 
■\  Ibi'l.,  CIO. 


riGIITIXO    THE    REVOLUTION'    ^VITJr     PKIXTEu's    INK.  135 

(aioiio;  with  provions  session  laws)  to  follow  the  latest  General 
revision  of  Acts  and  Laws,  which  in  this  case  was  the  e.lition  of 
!...()  with  the  a.l.lition  of  the  compilation  of  iTHs-    the  pa-ina- 
tiou  of  this  issue  being  400,  410.     At  the  top  of  the  first  page 
a  cut  of  the  royal  arms  appears,  and  the  heading  begins    "  \cts 
and  Laws,  3Iade  and  passed  by  the  General  Court  or  Assembly 
ot  His  :\Iajesty's  English  Colony  of  Connecticut."     The  first  of 
the  two  laws  here  printed  is  ^An  Act  to  exempt,  for  a  limited 
lime,  the  Persons  of  Debtors,  from  being  imprisoned  for  Debt  " 
because  '^in  the  present  Situation  of  our  public  Affairs,  it  wi'll 
be  prejudicial  to  the  Colony  to  confine  Persons  in  Goal  for 
Debt.-'     This  exemption  to  continue  until  the  risin-  of  the  next 
October  Assembly.     The  second  law  was  the  repeal  of  an  act 
concernmg  book  debts,  as  "a  further  Continuance  of  said  Act 
i>;  Force  at  this  Time,  may  prove  very  inconvenient  and  preju- 
dicial."    This  act  had  provided  that  no  book  debt  could  'be 
recovered  which  had  not  been  balanced  within  six  vears  after 
it  was  contracted  or  before  March  1,  1776. 

A  pretty  lively  ten  days'  session  this,  with  its  nine  separate 
imprints. 

The  Assembly  met  again  in  regular  session,  this  bein-  the 
<  "urt  of  Election,  on  :\Iay  1 1,  1775,  five  davs  after  the  adjourn- 
"'ent  of  the  special  session.     Pursuant  to  long  established  cus- 
tom the  Assembly  immediately  after  organization  adjourned  to 
'I'e  meeting  house  where  its  members  listened  to  the  annual  elec- 
tion sermon,  preached  on  this  occasion  bv  Kev.  Joseph  Perry 
I'^-^tor  of  the  First  church   in  East   Windsor.       Pursuant  io' 
••■rther  custom  a  copy  of  the  sermon  was  requested  for  publica- 
';'-•".  and  It  was  printed  by  Watson  in  an  octavo  pamphlet  of 
-'  pages.  111  an  edition  of  3.00  copies.^     Mr.  Perrv  in  the  out- 
••H-  of  his  sermon,  whieli  took  for  its  text  Xehemiah,  second 
'■^'apter,  17th,  ISth  and  IDth  verses,  says:  "These  words  contain 
•  ^••'.^^^thing  suited  to  our  case  in  this  dark  and  troublesome  dav. 

Ue  have  here  our  own  condition  exactlv  expressed,  'Ye  see 
J-  distress  that  we  are  in,  how  Jerusalem  lieth  waste,  and  the 
-ates  thereof  are  burnt  with  fire.'  " 
*Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  Ill,  UIO. 


136 


FIGirTIXG    THE    KEVOrUTIO.V    WITH    I'RIXTEE  S    INK. 


An  echo  of  Connecticut's  expedition,  which  resulted  in  th>' 
capture  this  month  (^rav)  of  the  forts  at  Ticonderoga  ani 
Crown  Point,  is  found  in  Watson's  ])ill  for  printing*  (dati-.i 
January  1770),  where  there  is  an  itf-ni  of  1,000  passes  for  Col. 
Arnohl  from  Crown  Point  last  .^fay,  received  by  Col.  I  leu 
meu.t  This  capture  was  the  most  important  event  that  lui'i 
thus  far  taken  place  in  this  buddings  war  for  freedom.  .lu>r 
what  these  passes  were,  or  why  so  large  a  number  were  })rintt''!, 
the  writer  is  unable  to  say. 

The  most  important  act  of  this  session,  and  one  of  the  must 
important  issued  during  the  war,  w^as  "An  Act  for  regulatiii;: 
and  ordering  the  Troops  that  are,  or  may  be  raised,  for  th 
Defence  of  this  Colony,"'  of  which  an  edition  of  650  copies, 
covering  19  duodecimo  pages,  without  title  or  imprint,  wii.> 
printed  by  AVatson.t  Only  three  of  these  can  now  be  foumi. 
It  was  a  throwing-  down  of  the  gauntlet  for  the  cause  of  freedoin 
amounting  to  practically  a  declaration  of  war.  The  tifty-thn-' 
separate  articles  for  regulating  and  ordering  the  troops  are  piv- 
ceded  by  a  preamble  of  seven  paragraphs  recounting  at  lengtli 
the  grievances  of  the  colonists.  The  following  long  quotation 
from  it  is  much  condensed: 

"Whereas  God  in  his  providence  hatli  been  pleased  to  bestow  upon  tli>' 
inhabitants  of  this  colony  all  the  rights,  liberties  and  immunities  of  th' 
free  born  subjects  of  England,  which  have  been  established  and  contirni''>i 
by  royal  charter;  which  rights  were  the  birthright  of  our  ancestors  in 
England,  who  rather  than  submit  to  religious  and  civil  tyranny  chose  t" 
leave  tlieir  native  country,  and  reared  the  English  constitution  in  tlu'-' 
wilds,  and  have  ever  since  the  sincerest  loyalty  to  their  sovereign  and  tli- 
warmest  afl'ection  for  their  brethren  in  England.  And  whereas  since  t!i' 
close  of  the  last  war.  parliament  claiming  a  right  to  bind  the  people  i>'. 
America  by  statute  in  all  cases  whatsoever,  hath  in  some  acts  e\prt'^-l> 
imposed  taxes  upon  them,  and  undtT  various  pretenses  imposed  rate>  an: 
duties,  and  extended  tlie  juri>dicti<,ni  of  courts  of  admiralty.  And  wlierf'' 
standing  armies  [have  been]  kept  in  time  of  peace;  and  it  has  lately  b'''' 
resolved  in  parliament  tliat  colonists  may  be  transportetl  to  England  an. 
tried  there  upon  [certain]  accu-ations.  and  such  trials  have  been  direct<-'- 
in  [certain]  cases.  And  whereas  tlie  ])ort  of  Boston  is  shut  up,  the  cliart>r 
of  Massachusetts  destroyed,  and  all   lR>pe  of  justice  taken  away   in  c(Mt;ii'- 

'Conn.  Arch.  IV',  187. 
t  Benjamin  lliiiman. 
tConn.  Arch.  Bev.  Ill,  till). 


FIGHTING    THE    KEVOLUTIOX    WITH    PIIINTKr's    INK.         137 

cases.  And  whereas  a  tyranny  [is]  erected  in  tlie  province  of  Quebec,  and 
the  Xew  England  colonies  are  in  a  great  measure  deprived  of  tlieir  trade 
and  fishery.  And  whereas  all  our  humble,  dutiful  and  loyal  petitions  fi^r 
redress  of  grievances  have  been  treated  with  coTitempt  or  passed  by  in 
silence,  and  the  refusal  to  surrender  our  just  rights  hath  been  stiled  rebel- 
lion, and  vengeance  iutlicted  on  [a  neighbouring  c<d(inyj,  all  which  acts  are 
evidently  intended  to  force  or  terrify  four  countrymen]  into  subnii>sion  to 
parliamentary  taxation,  or  at  least  into  a  surrender  of  their  property  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  British  parliament,  and  in  such  proportion  as  they  shall 
please  to  prescribe.  And  whereas  although  this  assembly  wish  for  no  new 
rights  and  privileges,  and  desire  only  to  preserve  their  ancient  coii-titution 
as  it  has  been  understood  and  practised  upon  from  the  beginning;  freely 
yielding  to  the  British  parliament  the  regulation  of  our  external  coinmorce, 
I'Xc-luding  every  idea  of  taxation  for  raising  a  revenue  without  our  consent, 
and  are  most  earnestly  desirous  of  peace  and  deprecate  the  horrors  of  war: 
Yet  when  they  see  military  preparations  against  them  at  hand,  and  the 
hope  of  peace  and  harmony  place<l  at  a  greater  distance,  being  fully  deter- 
mined never  to  make  a  voluntary  sacrifice  of  their  rights,  not  knowing  liow 
>'ion  parliamentary  and  ministerial  vengeance  may  be  directed  against  them 
immediately,  as  it  is  now  against  Massachusetts,  have  thought  it  their  duty 
to  raise  troops  for  the  defence  of  this  colony.  And  whereas  it  is  necesssary 
that  such  troops  should  be  made  acquainted  with  their  duty.  Therefore, 
these  articles  are  enacted." 

Pretty  strong  lang-uage  this  for  King  George  and  his  ministers 
to  read. 

This  act  did  not  have  at  its  beginning  the  Royal  Arms  and 
usual  royal  style. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  continuing  until  the  first  day  of  the 
following  August  the  embargo  on  the  exportation  of  various  food 
stuffs  which  had  been  laid  in  April ;  and  as  before,  eighty  copies 
of  the  resolution  were  printed  by  Watson,'^  no  one  of  which  can 
now  be  found. 

Another  document  printed  at  this  time  by  Watson  was  an 
"Extract  of  an  act  for  assembling  and  equipping  men.''t  Just 
what  this  was  does  not  appear,  as  no  copy  of  it  can  be  found. 
Xo  order  for  such  a  document  is  found  iii  the  official  records 
"f  this  session.  It  appears  to  have  been  printed  on  the  30th  of 
May,  the  day  before  the  rising  of  the  Assembly. 

'"For  payment  of  incidental  charges  of  government''  it  was 
ordered,  "'That  there  be  forthwith  imprinted  the  sum  of  fifty 

'  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  Ill,  GIO. 

1  Ibid.,  611.  • 


To  Cyder  and  Small  Beer 

2s 

Od 

To  1  Barrel  C"yder 

10 

0 

To  2  half  Barrels  Beer  (w  6/  each 

12 

0 

To  Small  Beer 

1 

0 

To  pipes  3/6     To  Tobacco  1/ 

4 

6 

To  Beer 

3 

0 

To  Cyder  and  Beer 

1 

8 

To  Cyder  from  Mr  Bulls                         "   ■    • 

1 

4 

To  Tobacca                           ,       .....:.. 

6 

Certainly  there  could  be  uo  complaint  of  extravagance  in 
these  items,  such  as  has  been  sometimes  heard  in  recent  years. 

The  short  session  of  the  Assembly  in  July  1775  was  n"t 
fruitful   in  official   publications,   only  one  being  found   to  ii^ 

•  Col.  Rec.  XV,  14. 

tConn.  Arch.  Rev.  III.  022. 

t  Ihid.,  609. 


13S         FIOHTIXG    THE    REVOTA'TIOX    WITH    PRIXTEr's    IXK. 

thousand  pounds  bills  of  credit  on  this  Colony,  equal  to  lawi  ;1 
money,  of  suitable  denominations  .  .  .  ,  and  of  the  sau..- 
t^'uor  with  the  late  emission'';*  that  of  April.  These  wcri- 
printed  by  the  official  printer,  Green  of  Xew  London,  wL  . 
appears  to  have  completed  the  work  on  or  before  July  S.  Tl;- 
edition  was  00, 100, "I"  probably  moaning,  as  on  the  occasion  of  rii- 
previous  issue  in  April,  that  number  of  sheets  each  composed  of 
several  bills.  In  form,  ornament  and  wording  they  were  similar 
to  the  previous  emission  of  April.  They  were  dated  Junr  1. 
and  became  payable  in  three  years.  Bills  of  this  issue  for  iwm 
shillings  six  pence,  for  six  shillings,  for  ten  shillings,  for  twenty 
shillings  and  for  forty  shillings  are  known ;  and  there  may  haw 
been  other  issues. 

The  public  acts  and  laws  of  this  May  session,  printed  the 
following  month  by  Green,  the  official  printer,  at  Xew  London. 
consisted  of  one  folio  leaf,  its  pages  numbered  411  and  412.  h 
contained  but  three  acts,  none  of  which  have  to  do  with  the 
Revolution.     The  edition  was  1,100  copies. 

The  bills  paid  by  the  Colony  for  the  expenses  of  this  session 
include  the  following  items,  which  doubtless  aided  in  delibera- 
tion and  stimulated  to  action  on  the  important  measures  con- 
sidered and  adopted  :t 


FIGHTIXtl    THE    HK  VOLiriO.V     WITH     I'IMNTKK's    INK.  130 

oredit.  This  was  "An  Act  or  Law''  printed  hv  Timothv  Groen, 
and  printed  with  the  usual  heading  of  the  Royal  Arms  and  in 
the  regular  form  of  the  session  laws.  Vnxt  instead  of  paging 
continuously  after  the  acts  of  the  !^[ay  session  its  two  pages  are 
left  unnumbered,  and  are  not  taken  account  of  in  the  succeeding 
pagination.  And  further,  instead  of  tlie  usual  edition  of  1,100 
copies  only  170*  copies  were  issued.  Two  of  these  are  now 
known  to  exist.  Its  title  is:  "An  Act  for  supplying  the 
Troops  ordered  to  be  raised  for  the  special  Defence  and  Safety 
of  this  Colony  with  necessary  Fire-Anns."  And  it  provides 
for  sujiplying  with  g(X)d  and  sufficient  arms  each  soldier 
who  should  enlist  into  the  seventh  or  eighth  regiments  then 
about  to  be  raised.  A  premium  of  ten  shillings  was  to  be 
allowed  each  soldier  furnishing  his  own  arms,  or  a  like  sum  to 
any  person  supplying  a  soldier  with  arms.  Then,  if  necessary 
to  supply  the  soldiers,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  purchase 
arms  to  supply  the  men  inlisting  from  their  town ;  and  further, 
if  necessary,  authority  was  given  for  impressing  arms  from  those 
who  were  not  on  the  militia  roll,  for  the  use  of  which  four  shil- 
lings was  to  be  paid.  Provision  was  also  made  for  making 
paATnent  for  arms  lost  in  the  service. 

Another  issue  of  bills  of  credit  to  the  amount  of  fifty  thousand 
pounds  was  authorized  by  the  Assembly  at  this  (July)  session. 
They  were  to  be  dated  July  1,  1775,  and  made  payable  on  or 
before  the  last  day  of -Dec.  1770.  These  were  printed  by 
Timothy  Green  at  Xew  London,  who  appears  to  have  completed 
the  work  by  Aug.  o.f  He  states  the  issue  as  78,250,  probal)ly 
referring  to  the  number  of  sheets  of  bills  and  not  to  the  bills 
themselves.  Bills  of  this  issue  for  two  shillings,  for  two  shil- 
lings six  pence,  for  six  shillings,  for  ten  shillings,  for  twenty 
shillino's  and  for  fortv  shillings  are  known :  and  other  denom- 
inations  may  have  been  issued. 

The  Continental  Congress  on  June  12  had  issued  a  proclama- 
tion for  a  fast  to  be  kept  on  July  20.  The  day  was  observed  in 
Connecticut;    but  whether  or  not  Governor  Trumbull  issued  a 

•  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  I.  322. 
i  Ihi'l.  III.  (522. 


1-iO         FICJini.\(i    Till-;     KKVOMTIOX     \\n\L     J'KINTKK'^     IMC. 

proelaniatiou  for  the  occasion  is  not  known.     It  is  to  Ijc  pre- 
sumed that  he  (lid,  although  no  evidence  that  he  did  so  is  found. 
Tlie    GuveriK.r    an<l    Cuimeil    of   Safety,    at   a    meeting   hcM 
August  IT,  took  the  following  action:* 

"On  consideration  of  the  scarcity  of  pork  and  other  provisions  and  tlic 
vast  consumption  of  it  by  the  army,  it  is  tlio't  necessary  ic.  and  for  tli.- 
safety  of  the  Colony  that  tlic  Embargo  laid  and  continued  by  the  As-sembly 
to  the  20th  inst.  should  be  revived  and  furtlier  continued;  and  the  Gov- 
ernor is  advised  and  desired  to  issue  his  proclamation  to  lay  and  continue- 
the  same  to  the  20th  of  October  next;  which  was  done  accordingly  and  ■'^•nt 
to  the  printer.  He  directed  to  send  to  each  town  clerk  and  naval  otliee  iii 
the  Colony." 

This  proclamation  was  printed  by  Green,  the  official  printer. 
at  Xew  London  in  an  edition  of  140  copies. f  Xo  copy  is  now 
known. 

In  September  of  each  year  the  freemen  in  each  town  held  a 
meeting  and  expressed  their  choice  of  men  to  be  placed  in  nomi- 
nation to  be  voted  for  the  following  April  for  Assistants,  or  mem- 
bers of  the  Upper  House  of  the  Assembly,  each  freeman  having 
the  right  to  make  choice  of  twenty  for  the  position.  The  result 
of  the  choice  in  each  town  was  laid  before  the  October  session  of 
the  xVssembly,  and  the  twenty  who  were  found  to  have  received 
the  greatest  number  of  votes  were  formally  placed  in  nomi- 
nation. 

Beginning  some  years  earlier  than  this  and  continuing  many 
years  later  there  was  issued  after  each  October  session  of  the 
Assembly  a  small  printed  broadside  giving  the  names  of  ''The 
Gentlemen  nominated  by  the  Votes  of  the  Freemen  to  stand  for 
Election  in  ^fay  next." 

While  no  copy  of  the  printed  list  of  nominations  authorized 
by  the  session  of  October  1775  is  known,  there  is  no  reason  to 
question  its  having  been  issued  as  usual  from  the  press  of 
Timothy  Green. 

At  the  session  of  October  1775,  attention  was  directed  to  the 
fact  that  the  listers  in  sundry  towns  "from  a  mistaken  Appre- 
hension of  their  Duty''  "have,  by  ^listake,  omitted  to  insert  in 

♦Col.  Rec.  XV.  11 1>. 

t  Conn.  Ari-li.  Kt-v.  I.  .122. 


FIOHTIXG    THE    KEVOLCTH  )X    WITH    I'KIXTEli's    INK.         1-tl 

the  General  List  of  Polls  and  rateable  Estate  in  such  Towns, 
made  up  and  sent  to  this  Assembly,  the  Polls  of  the  Otlicers  and 
Soldiers  belonging'  to  said  Towns,  who  arc  abroad  in  the  Service 
of  this  Colony,  in  the  Army."  '"Whicli  to  prevent,"  it  was 
resolved  that  the  lists  as  sent  in  should  be  received,  and  the 
listers  in  any  town  who  had  omitted  to  insert  such  polls  were 
directed  to  make  up  and  send  in  to  the  Assembly  an  additional 
list  of  such  p<dls.  Further,  notwithsTan<ling  the  fact  of  the 
omission,  it  was  directed  that  such  towns  should  receive  their 
proportion  of  school  money  upon  the  additional  list. 

This  resolve  was  printed  at  Xew  London  '*by  T.  Green, 
Printer  to  the  Governor  and  Company,"  in  the  form  of  a  small 
folio  broadside.     Two  copies  are  known. 

Like  many  of  the  printed  resolves  of  the  time,  this  one  bore  a 
cut  of  the  royal  arms  at  the  top,  and  at  the  end  tlie  printed 
certification.:  "A  true  Copy  of  Record,  examined  by  George 
Wyllys,  Sec'y." 

The  laws  of  this  session  were  printed,  in  the  usual  edition 
of  eleven  hundred  copies,  by  Green  at  Xew  London.  They  occu- 
pied pages  413  to  415,  inclusive,  leaving  a  fourtli  page  blank, 
and  comprised  two  acts  each  having  the  title  "An  Act  in  further 
Addition  to  an  Act,  entitled,  An  Act  for  the  forming  and  regu- 
lating the  Militia,  and  for  the  encouragement  of  Military  Skill, 
for  the  better  Defence  of  this  Colony."  The  first  of  these  pro- 
vided that  the  arms  and  ammunition  of  all  "who  are  by  Law- 
obliged  to  keep  Arms"  should  be  semiannually  "reviewed." 
The  second  provided  tliat  every  trooper  should  "provide  himself 
^vith  a  suitable  Horse  and  Furniture,"  and  "Fire  Arms  and 
Accoutrements"  ;  and  that  every  trooper  failing  thus  to  provide 
liinisolf  should  Ix^  discharged  from  the  tro<'>p,  and  should  then 
by  the  captain  of  the  foot  company  "within  whose  Limits  the 
?anie  shall  hapjxm"  bo  enrolled  into  such  foot  company.  A 
penalty  for  neglect  of  the  captain  of  a  foot  company  thus  to 
^'Hrull  is  provided,  also  a  proviso  for  a  trooper  who  is  unable  to 
>eoure  needed  equipment. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  October.  177.'.,  "Joiuithan  Trumbull, 
Ksquire,  Governor  of  the  English  Colony  of  Connecticut,"  "by 


'!■   ,■ 


142 


FIGJITIXG    THE    KEVOLUTIOX    WITH    PRINTER  S    IXK. 


and  with  the  Advice  of  the  Council,  and  at  the  Desire  of  the 
Representatives,  in  General  Court  assembled,"  issued  a  prot.-- 
laniation  appointiiiir  Thursday,  Xovenilx'r  10,  as  a  day  of  pul,»li(' 
thanksgiving.  As  had  been  the  mifailiug  eustora,  this  pr'xdama- 
tion  ends  with  the  invocation  "'God  save  the  King."  In  spitt' 
of  the  ''distressing  Calamities,  arising  from  the  unhappy  ^Mcas- 
ures  the  British  Administration  are  pursuing  with  the  American 
Colonies,  and  the  Civil  War  which  is  brought  upon  us  in  that 
Pursuit:  And  also  in  the  Sickness  and  Deaths  which  God  ha? 
sent  into  our  Armies,  and  many  of  our  Towns :"  abundant 
reason  for  blessing  is  found  because  (among  other  reasons)  ho 
"Hath  remarkably  preserved  our  Troops,  and  the  Lives  of  our 
People  in  some  Places  which  have  been  cannonaded,  and  little 
Damage  hath  l>een  done  to  the  Habitations  of  the  People  in  such 
Dangers."  Prayers  are  offered  for  the  King,  Queen,  Prince  of 
Wales  and  the  rest  of  the  Poyal  Family.  "Sincere  and  hearty 
Praises  to  God"  were  recommended  "For  hitherto  preserving  so 
many  of  the  Rights  and  Priviledges  of  this  Colony,  and  causiniz 
so  great  Harmony  and  Union  in  America."  Also  prayers  "'That 
God  would  inspire  the  King's  Heart  with  Wisdom  to  discern 
the  true  Interest  of  all  his  People;  guide  and  dispose  him  to 
such  Measures  as  may  happily  t^nd  to  their  Peace,  Prosperity 
and  Happiness:  That  He  would  confirm  and  increase  Union 
and  Harmony  in  the  Colonies,  and  throughout  America,  upon 
the  Principles  of  Virtue  and  Liberty." 

It  bears  no  imprint ;  but  comparison  of  the  cut  of  the  royal 
arms  at  the  head  of  the  proclamation  shows  that  it  was  printed 
from  the  same  block  as  one  printed  a  few  years  earlier  by  Samuel 
Green  at  Xew  Haven,  and  indicates  that  it  was  printed  at  that 
place  by  Thomas  and  Samuel  Green.  The  number  of  copit- 
issued  is  not  known  ;  but  it  probably  was  about  040.  Three  aro 
now  known. 

Again  on  December  19,  1775,  Governor  Trumbull  from  "tlif 
Council  Chamber  in  Xew  Haven"  issued  "A  Proclamatii>n. 
which  as  usual  ends  with  "God  save  the  King."     On  this  occa- 
sion it  was   "For  a   Day  of  public  Fasting  and  Prayer"   ''H 
January  17,  1770;   and  it  opened  with  the  following  preamble: 


FIGHTIXG    THE    EP^VOLUTIOX    WITH    PIIIXTEr's    INK.         l-i3 

"Whereas  it  hath  pleased  the  most  high  God,  blessed  forever,  the  supreme 
and  righteous  Ruler  of  the  World,  to  bring  upon  this  Colony,  and  the  other 
Hriti>h  Colonies  on  tliis  Continent,  grievous  and  distressing  Troubles,  by- 
permitting  the  Administration  and  Rulers  of  our  Parent  State,  to  make  a 
solemn  Declaration,  that  the  Parliament  of  Great  liritain  liatli  a  Right  to 
make  Laws  binding  upon  the  ('olonies  in  all  Cases  whatsoever, — and  in 
Pursuance  thereof  have  imposed  Taxes  upon  us  without  our  Consent; 
deprived  one  of  the  Colonies  of  their  most  essential  and  chartered  Privi- 
ledges;  sent  over  a  Fleet  and  Army  which  have  engaged  us  in  a  Civil  War; 
destroyed  many  Lives,  burnt  two  of  our  flourishing  Towns;  captured  many 
of  our  Vessels  that  fell  in  their  way;  prohibeted  and  destroyed  our  Fishery 
and  Trade;  hostilely  taken  from  the  Inhabitants  on  our  Sea  Coast  and 
Islands.  Live  Stock,  and  other  Articles  of  private  Property,  and  threaten 
us  with  general  Destruction  for  no  other  Reason  known  to  us,  than  that 
we  will  not  surrender  our  Liberties,  Properties  and  Privi ledges,  which  we 
believe  God  and  Nature,  the  British  Constitution,  and  our  sacred  Charters 
give  us  a  just  Right  to  enjoy. — " 

"The  Mercy  of  God"  was  beseeched  '"to  remove  the  awful 
Calamities  we  are  under,"  "restore,  preserve,  and  secure  our 
Liberties,"  "guide  the  Continental  Congress,"  "continue  to  turn 
the  Counsel  of  our  Enemies  to  foolishness,  and  blast  every  evil 
Design  against  us,"  and  for  many  other  worthy  and  pious 
purposes. 

Xo  imprint  appears ;  but  comparison  shows  that  the  cut  of 
the  royal  arras  at  the  top  of  the  proclamation  is  printed  from 
the  same  block  used  three  years  earlier  by  Thomas  and  Samuel 
Green  of  Xew  Haven,  and  it  was  no  doubt  printed  by  them. 
The  edition  was  presumably  about  340  copies.  Two  are  now 
known. 

The  first  action  taken  by  the  General  Assembly  at  its  special 
session  held  in  Xew  Haven  on  the  fourteenth  of  Decemlx?r  1775, 
was  the  passage  of  "An  Act  for  raising  and  equipping  a  Body 
of  Minute-Men,  to  be  held  in  Readiness  for  the  better  Defence 
of  this  Colony."  The  act  provided  for  the  voluntary  enlistment 
of  one  fourth  of  the  militia  in  each  company,  together  with 
such  other  able  l>odied  men  not  enrolled  in  the  militia  as  should 
desire  to  enlist,  into  companies  of  minute  men  who  should  equip 
themselves  and  "hold  themselves  in  constant  readiness  to  march 
on  the  shortest  notice  for  the  defence  of  this  or  any  other  of  the 
t'nited  Colonies."     It  is  printed  on  both  sides  of  an  unpaged 


144         Fir.HTINT,    THE    UEVOLUTION    WITK    I'IIINTEr's    INK. 

half  sheet  of  the  usual  size  used  in  printinj^  the  acts  and  law;;, 
and  has  a  cut  of  the  royal  arms  at  the  top  of  the  first  page; 
but  it  does  not  have  the  regnal  year  or  the  short  title  of  thu 
act  at  the  top  of  each  page,  as  was  customary  in  printing  the 
session  laws.  There  is  no  imprint ;  but  the  cut  of  the  royal 
arms  at  the  top  of  the  first  page  indicates  that  it  is  the  work  of 
Thomas  and  Saniuel  Green  of  Xew  Haven.  A  single  copy  is 
known,  which  was  fonnerly  the  property  of  William  Williams, 
signer  of  the  Declaration  and  son-in-law  of  Governor  Truml>ull. 

The  next  business  of  the  session  was  ''An  Act  for  encouraging 
the  Manufactures  of  Salt-Petre  and  Gun  Powder.''  The  act 
provided  for  a  bounty  of  ten  pounds  for  every  hundred  pounds 
weight  of  saltpetre  manufactured  within  the  Colony  during  the 
last  seven  months  of  177G,  for  inspecting  the  same.  f<jr  the 
erection  of  works  for  its  manufacture,  for  its  non-exportation 
and  for  its  purchase  by  the  Colony ;  also  for  a  bounty  of  thirty 
pounds  each  for  the  first  tAvo  powder  mills  erected  in  the  Colony 
under  permission  from  the  Assembly.  This  act  is  also  printed 
on  both  sides  of  an  unpaged  half-sheet  of  the  usual  size  and  has 
a  cut  of  the  royal  arms  at  the  top  of  the  first  page.  Unlike  the 
preceding  act,  this  one  bears  the  regTial  year  and  the  short  title 
of  the  act  at  the  top  of  each  page.  It  is  without  imprint ;  but 
the  cut  of  the  royal  arms  indicates  that  it  is  the  work  of  Thomas 
and  Samuel  Green  of  Xew  Haven.     Three  copies  are  known. 

The  third  item  of  business  of  this  two  weeks'  session  of  thf 
Assembly  was  the  passage  of  "An  Act  for  restraining  and  pun- 
ishing Persons,  who  are  inimical  to  the  Lil>erties  of  this,  and  the 
rest,  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  for  directing  Proceedings 
tlierein."  This  also  was  separately  printed  on  both  sides  of  an 
unpage<l  half  sheet,  and  in  fonn  and  style  was  identical  with 
the  previous  "Salt-Petre  and  Gun-Powder"  act,  and  is  evidently 
the  work  of  the  same  printers.  This  act  had  more  sting  to  it 
than  any  previously  passed.  It  provided  that  any  person  taking 
up  arms  against  any  of  the  United  Colonies,  or  inlisting  int" 
the  Ministerial  army  or  navy,  or  acting  as  pilot,  or  supplying 
stores  or  intelligence,  or  who  "in  any  other  ways  shall  aid  or 
assist    them,"    upon    conviction    should    forfeit    all    his    estat*' 


riGHTING    THE    KEVOLUTIOX    WITH    PIMXTEr's    INK.  145 

to  the  Colony  and  be  imprisoned  for  not  more  than  three 
years.  Any  person  writing  or  speaking  against  the  Kesolves 
ut"  the  Congress  of  the  I  nited  Colonies  or  the  Acts  and  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  "made,  or  which  here- 
after shall  be  made  for  the  Defence  or  Security  of  the  Tlights 
and  Privik'dges  of  the  same,"  upon  conviction  should  be  dis- 
armed, rendered  incapable  of  holding  either  civil  or  military 
office,  "and  shall  be  further  punished  either  by  Fine,  Imprison- 
ment, or  Disfranchisement,  or  find  surety  of  the  Peace  and  good 
Behaviour  as  said  Court  shall  Order."  Upon  complaint  against 
any  persons  that  "they  are  Inimical  to  the  Liberties  of  this 
Colony"  they  were  to  be  disarmed  and  not  allowed  to  keep  any 
arms  until  they  could  satisfy  the  authorities  of  their  friendliness 
to  the  Colony.  And  in  case  any  convicted  persons  refused  to 
give  up  their  arms,  the  proper  officers  were  "authorized  to  raise 
the  Militia  of  the  County,  or  so  many  of  them  as  they  shall  judge 
needful,"  to  assist  in  disarming  such  persons.  The  estates  of 
persons  who  had  placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the 
Ministerial  army  or  navy  were  ordered  to  be  seized  and  admin- 
istered for  the  benefit  of  the  Colony,  Two  copies  of  this  act  are 
known. 

It  was  stated  by  the  xlssembly  at  this  December  session  that 
non-commissioned  officers  and  soldiers  belonging  to  the  Colony 
and  serving  in  the  Continental  Army  were  liable  for  poll  taxes ; 
"yet,  considering  the  Fatigues  and  Importance  of  the  Sei-vice, 
and  being  desirous  to  encourage  the  future  Service,  and  to  show 
some  gi-atuitous  Token  of  Approbation  to  those  who  have 
behaved  well,  and  served  out  faithfully  the  stipulated  Time  by 
them  entered  into,"  it  was  resolved  that  soldiers  who  served  dur- 
ing the  last  campaign  should  be  exempted  from  paying  poll 
taxes  laid  on  the  list  for  1775,  and  those  who  had  already  or 
should  hereafter  inlist  for  the  ensuing  compaign  should  be 
exempted  from  paying  poll  taxes  on  the  list  for  177G.  It  should 
be  remembered  that  at  this  time  a  poll  tax  was  not  a  definite 
stated  sum ;  but  each  man's  poll  was  listed  for  a  certain  sum, 
and  on  this  sum  he  paid  a  tax  which  varied  from  year  to  year 
according  to  the  rate  of  taxation.     This  resolution  was  printed 


140        FIGHTIXG    THE    KKVOLUTIOX    WITH    PRINTERS    INK. 

as  a  small  folio  broadside  at  New  London  by  Timothy  Green, 
in  an  edition  of  six  hundred  copies.*  But  two  copies  are 
known. 

The  Assembly  in  1T<)0  had  established  the  "Norfolk  ;^[ilitia 
Exercise"  as  the  ofticial  ''military  exercise"  for  the  militia  of 
the  Colonv ;  but  in  order  to  act  in  harmony  Avith  the  Continental 
Armv,  which  had  "adopted  the  military  exercise  nsnally  called 
the  ^Manual  Exercise  as  ordered  by  his  Majesty  in  the  year  1764, 
which  is  esteemed  preferable  in  many  respects  to  the  said  Nor- 
folk :Nrilitia  Exercise,  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  the  soldiery 
for  real  service,"  it  was  resolved  at  this  session  that  the  militia 
of  the  Colony  should  for  the  future  observe  and  practice  thf 
Manual  Exercise.  Commanding  officers  were  directed  to  con- 
form to  this  resolve,  '"any  law  or  usage  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing." 

An  act  was  passed  empowering  "the  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  Army  ....  or  any  officer  in  the  service  of  the  said 
United  Colonies  commanding  any  detachment  or  outpost  to 
administer  an  oath  and  swear  any  person  as  to  the  truth  of  any 
information  or  intelligence     ....     relative  to  the  public 

service." 

These  two,  the  resolve  and  the  act,  were  printed  together  at 
Kew  London  by  Timothy  Green  in  the  usual  form  of  a  resolve. 
They  form  a  broadside  of  one  half  sheet  headed  with  the  royal 
arms.  The  edition  was  six  hundred  copies,!  of  which  only  two 
are  now  known.  The  paper  on  which  they  are  printed  is  of 
a  distinct  blue  grey  tint,  and  on  a  copy  which  was  probably  sent 
to  Governor  Trumbull,  Green  has  written  "S^  This  Paper  is  too 
dark  but  is  the  best  I  had  for  the  Purpose."  Evidently  the 
paper  mill  established  some  years  previously  at  Norwich  by 
Christopher  Leffingwell,  and  for  one  year  subsidized  by  the  Col- 
ony, was  unable  to  produce  the  best  quality  of  printing  paper  in 
sufficient  quantities. 

The  "Acts  and  Laws"  of  this  session,  comprising  pages  417 
and  41S,  were  printed  in  the  usual  form  in  an  edition  of  eleven 

♦  Conn.  Arch.  Kev.  IV,  ISS. 

t  Ibid.  •  .         ■ 


riGHTIXG    THE    REVOLUTION    WITH    TRINTEr's    INK,         147 

liurKlreJ  coj)ies"  by  Timothv  Green  at  Xew  London.     For  the 

last  time  the  reirnal  year  appears  at  the  top  of  each  pagt:  and 

the  cut  of  the  royal  arms  at  the  head  of  the  first  page  of  the 

issue.     The  issue  contains  two  acts,  both  of  which  have  to  do 

with  matters  revolutionary.     The  first  relates  to  the  sale  by  the 

Colony's  treasurer  of  escheats,  that  is  lands  confiscated  l)ecause 

their  owners  were  loyalists,  or  lands  for  which  no  owners  could 

be  found.     The  second  relates  to  the  capture  of  any  enlisted 

soldier  or  mariner  who  should  desert,  and  the  punishment  of 

any  person  who  should  conceal  such  deserter. 

Among  the  bills  for  the  expenses  of  this  (December)  session 

the  following  items  are  found : 

To  Pipes  &  Tobacco  44^  0^ 

To  Tobacco  more  4  0 

For  a  Barrel  of  Syder  6  0 

For  three  Stone  mugs  3  0 

"Why  such  an  unheard  of  consumption  of  tobacco  ?  Are  we 
to  suppose  that  all  the  members  of  this  Assembly  were  con- 
firmed smokers  ?  Or  are  we  to  assume  that  Governor  Trumbull, 
like  Governor  William  the  Testy,  in  the  Knickerbocker  History 
of  iSTew  York,  was  "wrathful  and  unyielding"  over  something, 
and  had  to  be  "gradually  smoked  into  terms." 

An  attendant  upon  this  Assembly  was  paid  for  thirteen  days' 
service  and  for  ringing  the  bell.  And  as  (Sundays  excepted) 
there  were  but  thirteen  days  from  its  first  sitting  on  the  four- 
teenth to  its  adjournment  on  the  twenty-eighth,  it  would  appear 
that  a  session  was  held  on  Christmas  day. 

•Governor  Trumbull  issued  four  proclamations  in  January, 
1776,  on  the  12th,  ISth,  20th  and  27th  of  the  month.7  While  no 
copies  of  any  of  them  can  now  be  found,  and  there  is  no  positive 
record  of  their  having  been  printed,  it  is  practically  certain  that 
they  were  all  printed.  Each  is  dated  at  Lebanon.  They  are  as 
follows :  For  raising  one  thousand  five  hundred  men  for  Gen- 
eral Lee ;  For  raising  a  regiment  for  service  on  the  northern 
frontiers;    For  raising  four  regiments  to  serve  until  the  first 

*  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  ISS. 

t  4  American  Arch..  IV,  931-!;i:i.3. 


148         FIGHTIXG    THE    KEVOMTIOX    WITH    PKIXTEr's    l.NK. 

of  the  following'  April  around  Boston;  a  second  proelaniatioii. 
under  insTructions  from  Cttngress,  For  raising  a  regiment  t<jr 
service  on  the  northern  frontiers.  The  third  named  of  these; 
proclamation.^  is  accompanied  bv  a  Idank  form  for  enlistment. 
It  is  perhaps  this  proclamation  and  enlistment  blank  for  whieh 
Ebenezer  Watson  rendere<l  his  printing  bill  under  date  of 
February  23  ;^''  the  items  being  "Long  proclamation"  and 
"Enlistments.-'  Possibly  this  bill  is  for  the  proclamation 
ordered  on  February  17,  for  raising  companies  for  the  !N'e\v 
London  forts. 

On  February  17  the  Council  of  Safety  "Considered,  voted  and 
pass'd  a  Proclamation  for  raising  and  encouraging''  three  com- 
panies of  ninety  men  each  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  ami 
garrisoning  three  forts  in  the  vicinity  of  Xew  London.  The 
men  were  to  act  as  workmen  as  well  as  soldiers. f  It  is  to  Ix- 
presumed  that  tliis  proclamation  was  printed,  although  there  is 
no  evidence  that  such  was  the  case. 

The  Continental  Congress  on  ]\Larch  16  set  a  general  fast  for 
May  17.t  On  such  occasions  it  was  the  custom  for  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  different  colonies  to  proclaim  a  fast  for  that  day 
in  their  respective  colonies.  Governor  Trumbtill  did  so  on  this 
occasion;  and  on  April  22  Timothy  Green  of  Xew  London 
printed  336  copies  of  a  proclamation  for  that  purpose.  §  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  no  copy  of  Connecticut's  proclamation  has 
survived  to  this  time;  for  it  would  be  of  interest  to  know  if 
Governor  Trumbull  made  additions  to  the  proclamation  as  issued 
by  the  Congress.  This  document,  issued  "In  times  of  impend- 
ing calamitv  and  distress ;  when  the  liberties  of  America  are 
imminently  endangered,"  after  acknowledging  the  over-ruling 
providence  of  God,  implored  "his  assistance  to  frustrate  the 
cruel  purposes  of  our  unnatural  enemies,''  and  '"prevent  the 
further  effusion  of  kindred  blood."     But  if  there  must  be  war 

•  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  187. 
t  Col.  Rec.  XV.  24.3. 

+  Journ-.ils  of  tlip  Continental  Congress,  vol.  4,  177G,  page  208.  Washing- 
ton. 190G. 

§  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV.  ISS. 


FIGHTIXG    THK    KEVuLUTIOX     WITH     miXTER's    IXK.         149 

they  prayed  for  ''victory  and  success"  "to  crown  the  Contiiioiital 
arms,  by  sea  and  laud/' 

The  proceedings  of  the  General  Assenil)ly  which  met  at  Hart- 
ford on  ^ay  9,  ITTT),  and  continued  in  session  until  the 
ciirhth  of  the  following-  month,  indicate  that  its  members  appre- 
ciated the  gravity  of  the  situation  they  were  then  facing.  It 
was  made  a  season  of  preparation  for  what  they  perhaps  believed 
to  be  the  decisive  year  of  the  war  upon  which  they  had  entered. 

On  the  day  of  their  gathering  for  formal  election  there  was 
the  usual  formality  of  a  sermon  preached  before  the  members 
of  the  General  Assembly.  The  preacher  was  Eev,  Judah 
Champion,  pastor  of  the  First  church  in  Litchfield.  His  text 
was  ''Stand  fast,  therefore,  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath 
made  us  free":  and  his  opening  sentence  was,  ''Home-felt  joys, 
this  day,  possess  our  breasts,  on  account  of  the  distinguishing 
blessings  of  Liberty  and  Freedom,  which  illustriously  exert 
themselves,  animating  the  members  of  this  community."  Fur- 
ther on  he  says,  "fleets  and  armies  have  been  sent  over,  com- 
pelling us  either  to  disobey  the  divine  precept  in  our  text, 
or  engage  in  a  civil  war.  These  colonies  have  nobly  chosen 
the  latter."  "We  are  called  to  Liberty,  one  of  heaven's  choicest 
blessings  to  mankind."  "In  this  dark  and  difficult  day,  you  will 
consider  yourselves  as  the  guardians  of  our  excellent  constitu- 
tion, which  has  true  English  liberty  for  its  basis."  ''This  is  the 
only  provincial,  General  Assembly  upon  this  continent  which 
hath  not  been  harrassed  and  perplex'd  by  being  adjourned,  pro- 
rogued or  dissolved  by  its  Governor,  except  one,  which  was 
necessitated  to  appoint  a  new  one.""  "Our  land  is  sacrileg- 
iously polutted  with  the  blood  of  our  fellow  citizens,  impiously 
shed  by  worse  than  savage  hands.  We  are  involved  in  the 
horrors  of  a  civil  war.  Let  your  heads,  hands,  fortunes  and 
lives  be  devoted  and  consecrated  to  your  country's  good."  "For 
Heaven's  sake  and  for  our  own,  let  us  arouse  my  countrymen, 
and  act  up  to  the  dignity  of  our  character  as  free-born  Ameri- 
''uns."  With  such  stirring  words  as  these  did  he  incite  the 
people  to  action.     This  sermon  was  printed  by  authority  of  the 

*  Rhode  Island. 


150        FIGIITIXO    THE    REVOLUTION    WITH    PRINTER  S    INK. 

Assembly,  within  three  weeks  of  its  delivery,  by  El>eiie/.(T 
Watson,  as  an  octavo  pamphlet  of  31  pages  in  an  edition  of  .'<h» 
copies.*  The  subject  heading  given  at  the  top  of  the  [)rinr(d 
title  page  is  ''Christian  and  civil  Liberty  and  Freedom  con.si<l- 
ered  and  reconnnended." 

Verv  early  in  the  session,  there  was  passed,  ''An  Act  to 
restrain  the  Exportation  of  Rum,  Sugar,  Molasses,  Salt,  and 
other  West  India  Goods  out  of  this  Colony  for  the  Time  therein 
limited/'t  The  exportiition  was  forbidden  "'by  land  or  water 
on  or  before  the  first  day  of  Xovember  next."  A  proviso  per- 
mitted the  governor  to  allow  exportation  upon  application  of  the 
Continental  Congress  or  of  General  Washington.  One  hundred 
copies  of  this  Act  were  issued  in  the  form  of  a  proclamation. 
The  printing  was  done  in  Hartford  by  Ebcnezer  Watson, t.  who 
appears  to  have  completed  the  work  on  the  sixteenth,  only  a  week 
after  the  gathering  of  the  Assembly.  Xo  copy  of  this  proclama- 
tion is  known  to  have  survived.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  all 
the  special  acts  and  resolves  of  this  session  appear  to  have  bei-n 
printed  before  the  adjournment  of  the  Assembly. 

As  gunpowder  was  one  of  the  greatest  essentials  for  carrying 
on  the  war,  there  was  passed  early  in  this  session  ''An  Act  for 
the  more  effectual  Carrying  into  execution  the  several  Acts 
relative  to  the  Making  of  Salt  Petre  and  Gun  Powder  within 
this  Colony." §  After  reciting  the  premium  granted  for  the 
saltpetre  manufactured  in  the  Colony  and  the  method  of  inspec- 
tion ordered  in  the  previous  acts  it  went  on  to  regulate  the  times 
for  its  delivery  and  inspection,  its  delivery  in  proper  packages, 
the  proper  accounting  by  the  inspectors  and  the  powder  makers, 
the  prevention  of  the  use  of  impurities,  the  proper  packing  an.l 
dejivery  of  the  powder  and  the  payment  of  the  bounties.  This 
Act  was  printed  by  Watson,  probably  in  the  form  of  a  broadside, 
in  an  edition  of  five  hundred  copies. ij  The  existence  of  no  copy 
is  known  to  me. 

•   •Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  1S7.  :      .  ■-. 

fCol.  Kec.  XV.  314.  "    - 

tConn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV.  Is7. 
§  Col.  Rec.  XV.  2S7. 
II  Conn.  Arcli.  Rev.  IV,  187. 


FIGHTIXG    THE    REVOLUTIOX    ^V^TIL    PKINTEr's    IXK.         151 

The  next  business  of  the  Assembly  was  a  resolution  to. encour- 
age the  manufacture  of  salt  in  the  Colony,  After  stating  that 
salt  was  ''of  great  Importance  ami  Xecessity,"  ''and  the  obtain- 
ing the  same  in  the  usual  Way  of  Importation,  is  rendered 
dithcult  and  uncertain'';  it  proceeds  to  offer  ''One  Hundred 
Pounds"  to  the  person  who,  before  the  first  of  October  1777, 
''shall  erect  proper  Works  and  Fats"  (Vats),  "'and  shall  actually 
make  therein,  the  first  Five  Hundred  Bushels  of  good  merchant- 
able Salt."  And  a  similar  offer  to  the  second,  third  and  fourth 
persons  of  eighty,  sixty  and  forty  pounds.  This  resolve  was 
issued  in  the  form  of  a  small  broadside,  of  which  a  single 
mutilated  copy  is  known.     It  was  printed  by  Watson.* 

The  next  following  business  of  the  Assembly  was  "An  Act 
for  Raising  and  Equipping  a  Body  of  ]\Iinute  Men,  to  be  held 
in  Readiness,  for  the  better  Defence  of  this  Colony,  and  for 
Repealing  an  Act  of  the  same  Title  made  and  passed  by  this 
Assembly,  in  December  1775."  It  provided  that  one-third  part 
of  the  members  of  seven  of  the  militia  regiments  and  one- 
fourth  part  of  those  in  the  other  regiments  (the  24th  only 
excepted)  should  be  inlisted  for  a  term  not  exceeding  one  year  to 
"hold  themselves  in  constant  Readiness  to  march  at  the  shortest 
Notice,  for  the  Defence  of  this,  or  any  of  the  adjoining  Col- 
onies" ;  and  ''a  Premium  of  Forty  Shillings  each"  was  allowed 
to  those  soldiers  who  "shall  compleatly  equip  themselves." 
This  act  was  printed  on  three  numbered  folio  pages  by  Watson. f 
The  numl>er  of  copies  printed  is  not  known,  and  but  two  are 
known  to  have  survived  to  the  present.  Watson  also  printed 
and  billed  on  the  same  date  as  the  above  act,  May  27,  a  number 
of  orders  and  inlistments  as  follows  :1 

Orders  and  inlistments  for  minute  men,  400  copies. 

Beating  orders  for  Continental  and  Connecticut  regiments. 

Inlisting  orders. 

Inlisting  orders  for  Continental  regiment. 

Inlistments,  1400  copies. 

Inlistments  for  Continental  regiment,  700  copies. 

•  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  328. 
t  State  Arch.,  Rev.  IV,  187. 
t  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  187. 


152      F.oirr.NC.  thk  kkvo,,,ti..n  wt.i   pk.ntkr  s  ink. 

No  copies  of  anv  of  these  .re  now  knovn,  aWmugl.  it  is  quit.: 
poss  We  that  so.ne  of  tl.e  inlist.uents  migl.t  W:  fou.d  on  a  caret,,! 
exIn.i„a,ion  of,  tl.e  archives  i„  .l,e  vario„s  State  depart,ne„„ 

"'^'I'tavi,,.  l».en  representea  to  this  Asscnbly  that  sundry  ,.o,-. 
so,     »ere  ■■■l„possing"-that  is  purchasing  in  large  qua,,  ,.,<. 
"h  intent  t.!  sell  again  at  a  largely  inc-cased  pr,cc-  r„. 
:,,tr  n  olasses,  salt,  and  other  West  India  goods  .vuh  an  ,ntc,,t 
o  export  ,l,e  sa,ne  out  of  this  Colony,"  an  act  was  passed  t  u^ 
liddin.  such  exportation  "on  or  before  the  first  dav  of  ^ove,nl.,  r 
,T"     A  pro4o  allowed  the  governor,  upon  appl,ca„o„  ,„ad 
b      he  Continental  Congress  or  General  Waslun.^on,  to  per,,,, 
I  ",.oods  neccssarv  for  the  continental  army"  to  be  exported. 
The  X    0    -s  de-sired  "forthwith"  to  issue  his  procla,nat,o„ 
aocordldv  -.  and  it  was  printed  May  16  by  Watson  m  an  ed  t,o„ 
of  one  hundred  copies,t  no  one.  of  which  is  now  to  he  fo,md 
The  Continental  Congress  having  resolved  to  omtt  h.lU 
credit    and   that  the   thirteen  United   Colon.es   shot,  d   .  ,„ 
p  edid  for  the  redemption  of  such  bills,  and  that  each  Col 
pro^^de  wavs  and  means  for  sinking  its  proportion  of  sa,d  bdl. . 
TeXed  to  inow  what  would  be  the  C^donies'  respect,ve  p.^ 
tions      To  this  end  the  Congress  on  December  2G,  1 , .  o,  tecon 
rnded  to  the  several  Assemblies  *o.-cert-n  -d  repo  t      e 
number  of  inhabitants  in  each  respective  Colony      And  so.  p„ 
Ta't  to  a  letter  received  from  John  Hancock,  President     . 
Conlrl,  the  Assembly  at  this  sessio.i  passed  a  -oln  ion  d.r  c,- 
in  .Ae  selectmen  in  the  several  towns  "at  or  before  the  fir.t  d 
If^September  next"  to  "take  and  transmit  to"  the  governor 
of  beptemoer  ne  persons  in  their  respective 

particular  and  exact  account  ot  all  the  per  i 

rrof  twentv\-ears  from  those  ^.ho  are  above  that  age. 
:4s    or  wh;tl,;r  married  or  single,  those  in  ^^^r.A.i..:^^^ 
-able  bodied  men  ^od^tbelong^.^ 
those  who  are  now  m  actual  hCiMce. 

•  Col.  Rec.  XV.  314. 

t  (--(.tin.  Arch.  Rev.  IV.  1S7. 


FIOHTIXG    THK    UKVOH'TIOX    WITH    PltlNTfclUS    INK. 


153- 


act  be  forthwith  printed,  imd  distributed  l)y  the  Ke[)re6entative9 
in  the  present  Asseml)ly.""  It  was  printed  by  Watson  on  one 
sheet  fokled  so  as  to  make  two  folio  k'uves.f  The  first  page 
contained  tlie  Resolution,  the  third  ]k\<h'  a  form  with  Wank 
spaces  to  be  filled  in  under  the  several  headings — as,  ''^Males 
l)etween  twenty  and  seventy,  married  or  single,"  &c., — for  making 
return  to  the  governor.  But  a  single  copy  of  this  resolution  and 
form  has  survived  to  the  present  time.  Watson  also  printed 
*•  Additions  to  a  resolve  for  numbering  the  people. "t  What  the 
^'additions''  consisted  of  is  unknown.  Curiously  enough  there 
is  no  record  of  what  was  the  Colony's  population  as  returned  by 
this  census ;  and  but  a  single  return  has  come  down  to  us,  that 
for  the  parish  of  Xewington  in  the  town  of  Wethersfield.§  A 
census  had  been  taken  on  the  first  of  January  1774,  which 
showed  a  population  of  191,392  whites  and  0,404  blacks,  a  total 
of  197,856. 

This  May  session  of  the  Assembly  was  "adjourned  by  proc- 
lamation'' on  June  S ;  and  some  time  previous  to  May  27,  by 
which  time  it  had  been  printed,  the  Assembly  adopted  a  curious 
recommendation  or  manifesto — the  printer  called  it  a  proclama- 
tion. The  opening  paragraph  of  this  strange  document  reads 
as  follows :  '  •  • 

"Whereas  this  Assembly,  in  their  present  Session,  have  made  many 
Preparations  for  Defence,  against  the  increasing  Hostilities  and  Efforts  of 
our  unnatural  Enemies,  yet  considering  the  alarming  Situation  of  the 
United  Colonies,  l>eing  threatened  with  the  whole  Force  of  Great  Britain, 
united  with  all  such  Foreign  Mercenaries  as  tliey  are  able  to  engage,  to 
assist  the  Execution  of  their  causeless  Vengeance  on  these  devoted  Colonies, 
and  to  burn  and  destroy  our  Seaport  Towns,  and  to  spread  Eapine,  Murder 
and  Destruction  through  the  Whole:  In  tliis  Situation,  our  utmost  Efforts 
cannot  l)e  too  much,  and  it  is  tlie  Duty  of  every  individul,  to  contribute  all 
in  his  Power  to  serve  and  defend  our  most  important  Cause." 

Therefore  it  was  recommended  "to  all  Persons"  to  furnish 
themselves  with  fire  arms ;  to  all  who  were  not  members  of  the 
militia  to  form  themselves  int-o  companies  and  choose  officers; 

•  Col.  Rec.  XV,  312. 

t  Conn.  Arcli.  Rev.  IV.  .32S. 

§  Welles,  E.  S.     A  census  of  Newington.   1770.     \W9. 


154 


FIGKTING    THE    KEVOT.UTIOX    WITH    PKINTERS    INK. 


to  all  field  officers  to  be  in  readiness  to  lead  forth  their  troops 
and  *'to  encourage  niilitarv  Skill  and  evcrv  warlike  Prepara- 
tion''; to  ''the  Committee  appointed  to  procure  Fire-Arms.to  be 
made"  to  "use  their  utmost  Diligence  to  proniote  the  same,  and 
purchase  in  all  good  Anns  for  sale."  And  lastly  as  "The  Events 
of  this  Year  may  prove  most  decisive  to  these  Colonies"  and  '"the 
Blessing  of  Heaven"  was  necessary  for  success,  it  was  "mcist 
earnestly  reconmieuded  to,  and  pressed  upon  all  Persons,"  "in 
this  Day  of  Darkness  and  threatening  Calamity,"  to  cultivate 
charity  and  benevolence,  to  abstain  from  extortion  and  oppres- 
sion, to  repent  and  break  olf  from  sin,  folly  and  vice,  to  live 
together  in  peace,  love  and  harmony,  and  to  look  up  "to  Heaven 
for  Help,  Success,  Salvation  and  Deliverance,  and  with  carefid 
Attention  to  the  Use  of  ]\[eans/'  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  have  no 
fear  of  the  dangers  that  threaten.  It  seems  to  have  been  another 
case  of  ''trust  in  God  and  keep  your  powder  dry."  They  would 
look  up  to  Heaven  for  help,  "and  with  careful  Attention  to  the 
Use  of  Means" — such  as  fire  anns  and  "every  warlike  Prepara- 
tion"— they  would  have  no  fear  as  to  the  final  result.  It  was 
ordered  to  "be  printed  and  dispersed,  and  be  read  and  published 
in  all  the  religious  societies  in  this  Colony."  Four  hundred 
copies  were  printed  by  Watson,*  of  which  two  can  now  he 
located. 

Although  this  recommendation  was  printed,  and  therefore  had 
been  adopted,  almost  two  weeks  before  the  adjournment  of  the 
Assembly  it  apipears  entered  on  the  official  record  of  the  Assem- 
bly's doings  at  the  extreme  end  of  the  record,  immediately  before 
the  memorandum  of  adjournment.  And  further,  the  entry  on 
the  official  record  was  evidently  made  from  one  of  the  printed 
copies  of  the  recommendations.  This  is  apparent  from  the  fact 
that  it  contains  several  minor  errors  which  have  been  corrected 
with  a  pen  in  the  handwriting  of  William  Williams  in  both  of 
the  known  printed  copies.  The  whole  recommendation  is  in 
William  Williams'  style  and  was  undoubtedly  composed  by  him. 
He  was  Governor  TrumbulTs  son-in-law  and  seems  to  have  fre- 
quently acted  in  the  capacity  of  secretary  to  him. 

♦  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  187. 


f'i 


FIGHTING    TITE    REVOLUTIOX    WITH    PRINTKu's    IXK.         loS 

The  public  Acts  and  Laws  of  this  session,  comprising  pages 
410  to  425,  were  printed  at  Xew  London  In'  Timothy  Green  in 
an  f(litii)n  of  eleven  hundred  copies.'^  For  the  first  time  the 
Royal  Arms  are  omitted  at  the  top  of  the  first  page,  and  the 
regnal  year  in  the  general  heading,  while  in  the  headdine  at  the 
top  of  each  page  the  words  "Acts  and  Laws"  take  the  place  of 
the  regnal  year  which  had  been  previously  used.  The  publica- 
tion contains  twelve  "separate  acts,  and  nine  of  these  relate  in 
some  Avay  to  or  were  occasioned  by  the  war  upon  which  the 
Colonies  had  entered.     These  acts  are: 

For  establishing  naval  offices.  Previous  to  this  time  there 
had  been  a  Collector  of  Customs  appointed  by  the  home  govern- 
ment and  located  at  Xew  London.  By  this  act  he  seems  to  have 
been  superseded ;  the  governor  lieing  appointed  naval  officer, 
with  deputies  at  several  ports  named,  to  enter  and  clear  vessels 
and  their  cargoes  and  do  other  necessary  business  of  the  office. 

Giving  jurisdiction  concerning  captures  to  the  county  courts. 
This  action  was  taken  upon  recommendation  of  Congress,  and 
undoubtedly  refers  to  vessels  captured  at  sea. 

For  repealing  an  act  against  high  treason.  The  act  repealed 
made  it  high  treason  with  punishment  by  death  and  forfeiture 
for  a  person  to  "Compass,  or  Imagine,''  the  death  of  ^  the  king, 
queen  or  heir  apparent,  to  levy  war  against  the  king  or  aid  his 
enemies  or  to  counterfeit  the  king's  great  seal  or  privy  seal. 

For  altering  an  act  prescribing  forms  of  writs,  processes,  &:q. 
It  was  here  enacted  that  for  the  future  such  documents  should 
issue  "in  the  Xame  of  the  Governor  and  Company  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut,  instead  of  "his  ^fajesty's  Xame'.'' 

For  altering  an  act  prescribing  the  forms  of  oaths.  The 
alteration  consisted  in  omitting  all  references  to  the  king. 

For  altering  an  act  for  preventing  and  punishing  riots  and 
rioters.  Here  again  reference  to  the  king  was  omitted  and  proc- 
lamation was  to  be  made  in  the  name  of  the  ''Go%'ernor  and 
Company." 

For  forming  all  the  '"Troops  of  Horse"  into  ""Regiments  of 
Light  Horse." 

•  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  l\\  420. 


15(5         FICHTIXr,    THE    REVOLrTIOX    WITH    I'RINTEr's    INK. 

For  increasing  the  penalty  fur  a  soldier's  disobedience  uf 
orders. 

For  establishing  the  twenty-fit'th  regiment. 

These  acts  show  that  the  people  of  Connecticut  were  acting 
thoughtfully  and  deliberately  in  the  steps  they  took  lookini; 
towards  separation  from  the  mother  country,  and  that  they  wert 
gradually,  and  apparently  in  what  they  looked  on  as  a  legal 
manner,  withdrawing  from  their  allegiance  to  the  king. 

The  printing  of  £00,000  in  bills  of  credit  was  authorized  at 
this  (May)  session.  The  work  of  printing  was  no  doubr  dfjnc 
by  Green  at  Xew  London.  The  bills  were  to  be  dated  June  7, 
17T6,  and  to  become  payable  January  1,  1781.  They  were 
directed  to  be  of  suitable  denominations  from  one  shilling  to 
forty  shillings,  and  £10,000  was  to  be  of  six  shillings  or  under. 
Bills  of  one  shilling,  one  shilling  three  pence,  two  shillings,  two 
shillings  six  pence,  three  shillings,  five  shillings,  ten  shillings, 
fifteen  shillings,  one  pound,  and  forty  shillings  are  known. 

On  June  11,  IT  TO,  only  six  days  after  its  previous  adjourn- 
ment, the  Assembly  w^as  again  called  together  "by  special  order 
of  the  Governor,"  and  it  continued  in  session  until  the  21st. 

It  seems  worthy  of  note  here,  although  the  resolution  was  not 
published,  that  the  day  after  the  Assembly  met  it  unanimously 
adopted  the  following  resolution : 

"That  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony  in  General  Congress  be  and  they  are 
hereby  instructed  to  propose  to  that  respectable  body,  to  declare  the  United 
American  Colonies  Free  and  Independent  States,  absolved  from  all  alle- 
giance to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and  to  give  the  assent  of  this  Colony 
to  such  declaration  when  they  shall  judge  it  expedient  and  best,     .     .     .     .*" 

Evfdently  the  idea  of  freedom  was  in  the  air  at  this  time. 

Again  an  embargo  was  laid  upon  the  exportation  from  the 
Colony  of  a  considerable  number  of  articles  of  provision,  includ- 
ing the  principal  meats  and  grains.  This  to  continue  until  the 
rising  of  the  Assembly  in  October  next,  unless  discontinued  in 
whole  or  in  part  by  the  governor.t     A  proclamation  to  this 

*Col.  Rec.  XV,  415. 
t/fcj'/.,  413. 


FIGHTING    THE    REVOLUTION-    WITH    PKIXTEK's    INK.         157 

effect  was  printed  by  Watson,*  no  copy  of  wliich  can  now  be 
located. 

A  series  of  resolutions  was  adopted  for  furnishing  "the  Troops 
now  Raising  in  this  Colony''  ''with  necessary  Fire  Arms, 
Aceontrements  and  Utensils  for  the  Service."  They  related  to 
supplying  camp  kettles  of  tin  and  iron ;  to  the  delivery  to  the 
selectmen  of  the  different  towns,  to  be  by  them  delivered  to  the 
soldiers,  such  fire-arms  as  had  already  been  procured  by  the 
committee  for  procuring  fire-arms  to  be  made;  to  the  delivery 
to  chief  officers  of  the  companies  of  the  fire-arms  taken  from 
persons  belonging  to  this  Colony  who  are  enemies  to  this  coun- 
try; to  hiring  or  impressing  arms  for  soldiers  not  otherwise 
supplied ;  to  sending  to  the  governor  an  account  of  arms  in  the 
different  companies,  and  to  keeping  an  account  of  the  cost  of 
repairs  on  hired  fire-arms. f  These  resolutions  were  printed  in 
the  form  of  a  folio  page  broadside  by  Watson.t  One  copy  is 
known.  There  was  also  another  resolution  relating  to  fire-arms 
printed  by  AVatson,  but  as  no  copy  is  known  its  contents  cannot 
be  identified  with  certainty.  § 

A  resolution  was  adopted  by  which  the  selectmen  of  the 
respective  towns  were  "empowered  and  directed  forthwith  to 
purchase  such  Lead  Weights,  and  other  Implements  of  Lead,  as 
well  as  all  the  Bar  and  old  Lead,  except  Sheet  Lead  on  Build- 
ings, as  also  all  Shot  as  shall  be  found  in  the  Hands  of  particular 
Persons  in  this  Colony,  at  a  reasonable  Price,  for  the  Use  of  this 
Colony."  And  a  further  resolution  provided  that  if  any  per- 
son "shall  refuse  to  sell  and  deliver  such  Lead,  in  their  Custody," 
it  became  the  duty  of  the  civil  authority  "to  grant  proper  War- 
rants for  impressing  the  same,  for  the  use  of  this  Colony,  to  be 
paid  for  as  aforesaid."     This  action  was  printed  in  the  form  of 

•  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  32S. 

t  Col.  Rec.  XV,  410. 

t  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  32S.  Watson's  hill  has  the  items  "Re.solve 
respecting  fire  arms"  under  date  of  June  14  and  '"Long  resolve  for  procuring 
fire  arms"  under  date  of  June  20.  The  latter  is  probably  the  one  here 
described. 

§  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  32S. 


158        FIGHTING    THE    REVOLUTION-    WITH    PRIXTER's    INK. 

a  small  broadside  l)y  Watson.*  A  single  copy  is  now  all  that 
can  be  found. 

Pursuant  to  a  requisition  from  Congress  the  Assemblv 
directed  the  raising  of  two  battalions  of  eight  companies  each 
to  join  the  Continental  Army  in  Canada.  Each  company  was 
to  consist  of  fourteen  otHcers  and  seventy  nine  privates.!  Beat- 
ing orders  for  enlisting  these  recruits  were  printed  by  Watson; 
and  he  also  printed  1,700  inlistment  blanks  for  the  same  pur- 
pose.    Xo  copies  of  either  of  these  are  known. 

On  a  further  requisition  from  Congress  the  Assembly  directed 
the  raising  of  seven  battalions  to  join  the  Continental  Army  at 
Xew  York.  Each  battalion  was  to  be  composed  of  the  same 
number  of  men  as  those  of  the  previous  requisition.t  For  car- 
rying this  into  etTect  Watson  printed  an  edition  of  300  beating 
orders,  one  copy  of  which  is  known.  Watson  also  printed 
for  the  same  purpose  5,400  inlistment  blanks. 

And  for  encouraging  inlistments  into  these  nine  battalions, 
and  a  battalion  ordered  raised  the  previous  May  for  service 
around  Boston,  Governor  Trumbull  on  June  18  issued  a  folio 
broadside  declaration, — it  would  hardly  be  called  a  proclama- 
tion, setting  forth  in  detail  the  various  ''Premiums,  Allowances 
and  Encouragements  given  and  granted''  by  the  Assembly  to 
those  who -should  inlist  into  these  services.  A  single  copy  of 
this  declaration  is  all  that  has  come  to  my  notice.  It  was 
printed  by  Watson,  who  called  it  a  *" proclamation  encouraging 
the  soldery,'-  in  an  edition  of  400  copies. 

In  order  to  provide  for  the  proper  officering  of  the  troops 
raised  at  this  time,  and  perhaps  at  other  times,  blank  commis- 
sions' in  several  forms  were  printed  by  "Watson.  First  came 
commissions  for  Brigadier  General,  of  which  two  only  were 
printed  ;  then  followed  two  lots  of  commissions  for  field  officers  ; 
commissions  for  Connecticut  regimc^nts ;  commissions  for 
minute  men ;  and  commissions  for  under  officers,  of  which  three 
hundred  were  printed.     Xo  attempt  has  been  made  to  locate  or 

*  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  32S. 

tCol.  Rec.  XV,  41G.  • 

t  Ibid.,  417. 


FIGHTIXG    THE    REVOLUTION    WITH    TMNTEk's    INK.         159 

identify  copies  of  auv  of  these  oomniissions.  Some  of  them 
could  no  doubt  be  found.  These  commissions  are  billed  as  of 
.June  14,  1770.*  On  the  same  date  as  the  commissions,  Watson 
also  printed  a  blank  form  of  bond  fur  ])aymasters  of  companies. 
I  have  seen  no  copy  of  the  bond. 

And  lastly  comes  a  ''long;  proclamation''  printed  by  Watson. 
This  can  be  no  other  than  the  ''Proclamation  for  lieformation/' 
i:c. — as  the  original  manuscript,  document,  now  in  the  Con- 
necticut Historical  Society,  is  indorsed — which  has  sometimes 
been  called  ''Connecticut's  Declaration  of  Independence."  It 
breathes  a  spirit  of  religious  fervor,  as  might  be  expected  of  any 
document  composed  by  William  AVilliams,  and  a  determination 
as  well  to  maintain  ''the  Freedom  and  Liberty"  they  had  long 
enjoyed.  And  "having  no  Alternative  but  absolute  Slavery,  or 
successful  Eesistance ;  .  .  .  .  [they]  have  been  con- 
strained by  the  over-ruling  Laws  of  Self-Preservation,  to  take 
up  Arms  for  the  Defence  of  all  that  is  sacred  and  dear  to  Free- 
men, and  make  their  solenm  Appeal  to  Heaven  for  the  Justice 
of  their  Cause,  and  resist  Force  by  Force."  This  proclamation 
was  dated,  printed  and  published  June  IS  by  order  of  the 
Assembly.     Two  copies  of  it  are  known. 

After  the  adjournment  on  June  21  the  two  public  acts  passed 
at  this  session  were  printed  by  Timothy  Green  of  Xew  London 
in  an  edition' of  1,100  copies.  One  of  the  two  laws  here  printed 
is  an  addition  to  a  law  for  ''restraining  and  punishing  Persons 
who  are  inimical  to  the  Liberties  of  this  and  the  rest  of  the 
Fnited  Colonies."  It  provides  that  if  any  person  shall  be 
found  to  be  in  possession  of  goods  belonging  to  an  inimical  per- 
son, or  shall  be  found  to  be  indebted  to  an  inimical  person,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  selectmen  to  institute  proper  legal  action 
under  which  the  goods  shall  be  seized  or  the  debt  collected  for 
tlie  use  and  benelit  of  the  Colony. 

There  are  two  varieties  of  this  issue  of  the  laws.  One  bear- 
ing Green's  imprint  and  consisting  of  pages  427  to  4^0;  the 
other  without   imprint   and   consisting  of   pages   427    to   429. 

*  Conn.  Arch.  Rev.  IV,  328. 


Ik' 


160 


FIOHTIXG    THE    RKVOLUTION    WITH    PRINTERS    INK. 


Whether  both  of  these  issues  are  included  in  the  1,100  copies,  or 
whether  one  was  a  hiter  reprint,  it  is  impossible  to  say. 

There  was  also  printed,  doubtless  by  Timothy  Green  of  Xew 
London,  after  the  adjournment,  but  under  date  of  June  3  9,  the 
£r)0,00<)  bills  of  credit  authorized  by  the  Assend)ly,  in  denomina- 
tions from  six  pence  to  forty  shillings.  They  were  made 
redeemable  January  1,  1782,  Examples  of  the  denominations 
of  six  pence,  nine  pence,  one  shilling,  one  shilling  three  penct-, 
one  shilling  five  pence,  one  shilling  six  pence,  two  shillings,  two 
shillings  six  pence,  five  shillings  and  forty  shillings  are  now- 
known,  and  there  may  have  been  issues  of  other  denominations. 

A  few  days  after  this — you  all  know  the  date — came  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  and  the  struggle  was  on  in  earnest ; 
after  this  there  could  be  no  retreat.  It  marked  the  beginning 
of  a  new  cycle  in  the  struggle  against  what  the  people  looked 
upon  as  tyranny  and  oppression.  And  here  we  will  leave  the 
Colony ;  only  adding  that  the  Connecticut  Assembly  never  took 
any  action  upon  or  nuide  any  official  recognition  of  the  famous 
Declaration. 


A  lilDE  ACROSS  CONNECTICl^T  BEFORE  THE 
REVOLUTION. 

By  SiMF.ox  E.  Baldwix,  LL.l). 

[Read  October  15,  1917.1 


On  September  lOtli,  1770,  Reverend  Ebcnezer  Baldwin,  a 
graduate  of  Yale  of  the  Class  of  1763,  was  ordained  as  pastor 
of  the  first  Congregational  Church  of  Danbury.  His  father, 
who  lived  in  iSTonvich,  rode  over  on  horseback  to  attend  the 
ordination,  and  took  his  daughter,  Miss  Bethiah  Baldwin,  with 
bira,  then  a  young  woman  of  twenty-seven. 

She  jotted  do\\Ti,  on  September  11th,  1770,  an  account  of  her 
journey  to  Danbury,  and  on  October  1st  similar  notes  of  her 
return  trip. 

They  give  a  lively  picture  of  the  discomforts  of  travel  in 
Comiectieut  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  also  of  the  customary 
modes  of  alleviation. 

It  was  still  a  new  coimtry,  largely  given  over  to  woods.  Ten 
years  later,  a  French  officer,  who  served  in  America  under 
Piochambeau  in  17S0,  was  sent  by  him  from  Xewport  to 
Lebanon,  and  speaks  of  it  in  his  memoirs*  as  a  visit  to  the 
'%rests  of  Connecticut,*'  and  as  for  Lebanon,  he  adds  :  "Siberia 
alone  can  be  compared  to  Lebanon,  which  is  composed  only  of 
some  cabins  in  immense  forests."  Such  roads  as  there  were  in 
1770  were  narrow,  rough  and  often  miry.  There  were  no  turn- 
pikes, and  were  to  be-  none  till  a  quarter  of  a  century  later, 
Fven  in  the  larger  towns,  the  streets  were  sometimes  almost 
impassable.  Tradition  tells  of  a  man  walking  on  the  edge  of 
State  street  in  Hartford,  who  saw  a  nice  hut  lying  in  the  mud 
in  the  centre  of  the  travelled  roadway.     Picking  his  way  to  it, 

»  Memoires  de  ^i.  le  Due  dc  Lauziin,  Ed.  of  1822,  II,  109,  170. 
6 


162        KIDE   ACRO^JS    CONNECTICUT    BEFORE   THE    REVOLUTION. 

and  seizing  the  hat,  he  found  a  man  under  it,  who  cried  om 
cheerfully,  *''0h,  I  don't  need  anv  help.  I've  got  a  good  hor?o 
.under  me  and  I  can  feci  that  he's  just  struck  solid  ground." 

With  such  roads,  travelling  was  for  the  most  part  on  horse- 
back. "Women  often  rode  on  a  pillion.  As  late  as  ISOO  there 
was  but  one  pleasure  vehicle  owned  in  Fairfield  County — a 
chaise  in  Eidgefield.* 

In  Miss  Baldwin's  notes,  a  word  is  occasionally  missiiiir. 
and  the  spelling,  which  was  often  of  the  phonetic  type,  has  been 
modernized  in  transcription. 

In  the  trip  Westward  stops  were  made  through  Plebroii, 
Glastonbury  (for  the  ferry")  and  "Wethersfield,  on  the  first  day; 
Farmington,  Panthorn  and  Waterbury,  on  the  second;  Wood- 
bury, Xewtown  and  Danbury,  on  the  third  day. 

On  the  return  trip,  stops  were  made  at  Xew  Milford  on 
!M!onday;  Bethlehem  on  Tuesday;  Judea,  Farmington  and 
Hartford  (for  the  ferry)  on  Wednesday;  and  Bolton  an-1 
Lebanon  Crank  on  Thursday. 

The  travellers  left  Xorwich  early  on  Thursday  morning,  Sep- 
tember Gth,  1770,  and  the  journal  of  Miss  Baldwin  opens  thus: 

"Thursday,  8  o'clock,  left  Xonvich.  The  first  time  I  stopt  was  at  Hebron. 
Dined  at  Uncle  Post's. f  The  chief  Topick  of  conversation  was  about  goiiiL' 
to  ordination.  Eode  from  there  to  ferry.  Ferried  over.  Xo  horse  Block. 
Obliged  to  get  up,  upon  the  ore.  So  the  ferryman  lifted  it  up,  so  that  I 
got  on." 

This  ferry  was  probably  that  from  Glastonbury  to  Wether:?- 
field.  ^  -  " 

At  this  time  iron  was  found  in  Hebron,  Somers  and  Staffor'l. 
and  would  naturally  go  to  the  smelters  West  of  the  "'great  river. 

'•'Rode  from  there  to  Mr.  Deane's.  Tarried  there  all  night.  They  receivki". 
us  with  a  great  deal  of  ceremony  and  complaisance,  ^^'e  drinkt  a  glas-  •'' 
wine:  then  tea  Avas  carried  round.  We  spent  the  evening  in  agreealil'' 
conversation.  About  9  o'clock  had  a  very  genteel  supper  ami  a  glass  t^' 
wine.  When  we  (had)  done,  lodged  witli  Hannah  Deane.  Chatted  away 
till  12  o'clock.  Could  not  sleep.  Extreme  tired.  Turned  over  and  ovev. 
So  tired  and  sore  with  riding  that  T  wisht  myself  at  home.     After  a  wliiii" 

*  S.  G.  Goodrich,  Recollections.  I.  13('.. 

t  "Uncle  Post"'  was  the  husband  of  ^Miss  Baldwin's  Aunt  Phoebe,  an  older 
sister  of  her  father. 


KIDE    ACROSS    COXXECTICL'T    BKroHE    THE    nE\OLUTIOX.         1*>3 

jjot  asleep.  Waked  up.  Could  not  sK'eji.  After  a  while  got  to  sleep  again. 
8lept  till  sunrise.  Lay  in  bed  till  8  o'clock.  Tlien  tried  to  get  up.  I  was 
«()  tired  I  could  not  get  out  of  bod.  Lay  down  again.  Hannah  laughed  at 
!i>e.  I,  at  last,  with  much  dilliculty  got  up.  Complained  but  little  to 
anyl>ody  but  Hannah." 

This  stop  was  at  Wethersfield,  forty-six  miles  from  Xorwicb. 
Thf  Dearie  family  were  closely  eoiineeted  with,  the  Tialdwius. 
Silas  Deane  (Yale  College,  Class  of  175S),  afterwards  prominent 
in  the  American  Kevolution,  at  whose  house  they  stayed,  was  a 
nephew  of  Ebenezer  Baldwin's  lirst  wife,  who  was  the  mother 
of  Miss  Bethiah  Baldwin.  ]\Irs.  Deane  was  a  daughter  of 
General  Gurdon  Saltonstall  (Yale  College,  Class  of  1725)  of 
Xew  London.  Hannah  Deane  was  a  sister  of  Silas  Deane"^  and 
of  an  age  not  far  from  that  of  ]\Iiss  Baldwin. 

To  resume  the  journal : 

"Ate  breakfast.  Felt  dull  about  going  any  further.  However  I  set  out 
upon  my  journey  about  10  o'clock.  Rode  to  Farmington;  oated  our  horses: 
drinkt  some  sherry.  Rode  to  Penthorn.  There  we  dined.  Then  got  up  to 
ride.     Excessive  tired.     Wisht  myself  at  luMne." 

Penthorn,  or  as  it  was  commonly  written,  Panthorn  was  an 
ecclesiastical  society  in  the  town  of  FaiTuington,  seven  or  eight 
miles  from  the  center  of  the  latter.  The  origin  of  its  name  is 
unknown.  It  is  now  the  town  of  Southing-ton.  The  soil 
was  unfertile.  ''Poor  as  Panthorn"  was  a  common  saying  of 
those  living  in  its  vicinity,  to  denote  abject  poverty.j 

Mr.  Baldwin  evidently  became  afraid  here  that  with  their  late 
start  they  might  not  make  the  stop  which  he  had  arranged,  for 
his  daughter  proceeds :  . 

"Daddy  said  we  must  ride  faster.  I  cut  on,  almost  tired  to  death.  At 
last  got  to  Watorbury." 

This  day's  ride  covered  thirty-six  miles. 

"There  we  put  up.  Oil,  law!  Horrible.  Xasty.  Drinkt  some  flip. 
Could  eat  no  supper.  Went  to  bed.  Oil.  bless  me,  what  nasty  siieets.  A 
grt-at,  old  chamber.  Could  not  fasten  the  door;  felt  afraid.  Wont  to  bed 
Very  tired.     I  got  to  sleep.     Dreamed  somebody  was  coming  to  bed  to  me. 

*  Collections  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  II.  207.     Slie  married 
Ju-^iah  Buck,  Jr.,  in  1775.     X.  E.  Hist.  &  Gen.  Reg.,  XV,  29S. 
t  Memoir  of  Rev.  Wni.  Robinson,  78.  SI.  S3. 


164        KIDE   ACROSS    CONXECTICUT    BEFOKE    THE    KEVOLUTIOX. 

Waked  up  in  a  fri^'ht.  Heard  ptx^ple  goinj^  about  in  the  house.  The  ladies 
had  sparks,  I  found  out,  so  I  got  to  sleep  a<;ain.  Sleep  to  sunrise.  Tluii 
got  up,  ate  a  breakfast  of  fried  chickens  &  drinkt  tea,  weak  as  water.  W'f. 
set  out  on  our  journey.  Rode  to  Woodbury.  Stopt  at  a  tavern;  no  oat-. 
Stayed  a  while;  then  rode  3  miles  to  a  tavern.  Stopt,  oated,  dined,  drinkt 
some  wine.  Then  rode  to  Xewtown.  Stopt  at  a  tavern;  drinkt  some 
cherry.     Daddy  went  to  'Mr.  ^Mitchell's." 

Tliis  was  Stephen  M.  ^litchell,  afterwards  Chief  Justice  of 
tlie  State  and  Senator  of  the  United  States.  He  was  a  classmate 
of  Rev.  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  at  Yale,  and  one  of  his  confidential 
friends.  He  had  been  married  the  vear  before  and  becrun  tho 
practice  of  law  in  yewto\\Ti. 

"Mr.  Mitchell  came  over  to  the  tavern.  Very  complaisant  with  mc 
Invited  me  to  his  house  to  drink  tea.  I  could  not  stay  to  go.  I  promistJ 
to  make  him  a  visit  before  I  went  home.  He  very  complaisantly  helped  mv 
up  on  my  horse. 

Keep  on  my  journey  till  I  got  to  Danbury;  then  put  up  at  Captain 
Wood's.  Very  tired.  Drinkt  tea.  Found  people  very  kind.  Got  acquainted 
quick.  Went  to  bed.  Felt  at  home.  Sleep  well.  Got  up  at  8  o'clock.  Ate 
breakfast." 

Captain  Wood  was  a  respectable  householder  in  Danbury, 

W'ith  whom  her  brother  boarded  and  lodged.     The  latter,  in 

June,  had  written  about  the  Wood  family  and  her  possible  vi^it 

to  Danbury,  to  his  sister,  in  these  words : 

"I  rather  thought,  when  I  was  at  home  last,  that  it  would  make  ratiicr 
too  many  if  you  came  to  Ordination.  But  I  don't  know  that  there  will  I'f 
any  impropriety  in  it,  if  you  come.  Miss  Lucy  Wood,  a  young  lady  in  tin- 
house  where  I  quarter,  is  urgent  with  me  that  you  would  come.  I  lia^>' 
wrote  to  Father  to  let  you  come,  if  you  can  with  conveniency.  I  gue-s 
Father  will  not  come  to  commencement,  but  go  directly  to  Danbury.  . 
You  must  expect  if  you  come  to  Danbury  to  be  a  good  deal  noticed  A 
perhaps  gazed  at.  for  to  be  the  ^Minister's  sister  you  know  in  a  Country 
Town  is  a  considerable  thing.  You  must  therefore  take  care  to  beimvi,' 
circumspectly.  However  I  need  not  caution  you.  Young  women  that  ari' 
looking  out  for  husbands  have  as  strong  motives  to  be  cautious  as  Candi- 
dates that  are  looking  out  for  Parishes.'' 

The  journal  resumes  thus : 

"Dressed  me.     Went  to  meeting.     Heard  ^Ir.  Camp  preach." 

This  was  probably  Hqx^  Samuel  Camp,  who  was  graduatt-d 
from  Yale  a  vear  after  Ebenezer  Baldwin,  and  had  receuti/ 


RIDE   ACROSS    CON^'ECTICUT   BEFORE   THE   REVOLUTIOX,        165 

l»cen  settled  over  a  small  church  in  Kidgebury  in  the  neighboring 
town  of  Ridgefield. 

The  ordination  was  doubtless  conducted  in  the  way  then  usual. 
Tliere  was  plenty  of  good  eating  and  water  was  not  the  only 
K'verage. 

Kev.  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  in  speaking  of  two  ordinations  at 
Plymouth  and  Goshen^  forty  years  later,  says  that  the  ecclesias- 
tical society  in  each  parish  provided,  as  was  customary,  all  the 
kinds  of  liquor  then  in  vogue,  and  that  l)esides  serving  spirits  at 
table,  the  sideboard  in  the  minister's  house  was  kept  covered 
with  decanters,  and  bottles,  and  sugar,  and  pitchers  of  water.* 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  month  (Monday,  September  22) 
^liss  Baldwin  started  on  her  w^ay  back  to  Xorwich.  Her  father 
had  apparently  preceded  her,  as  his  place  as  escort  was  supplied 
by  a  young  minister  named  Benedict.  It  was  probably  Mr. 
Joel  Benedict  (Princeton  College,  Class  of  1765)  on  his  way 
back  to  the  pulpit  of  the  parish  of  Xewent  in  the  town  of  ISTor- 
wich,  which  he  was  then  supplying.  This  was  the  parish  which 
became  the  town  of  Lisbon.  In  Xovember,  1770,  he  received  a 
call  to  settle  there,  and  the  place  was  his  home  for  many  years. 
He  was  a  fine  classical  scholar  and  in  1S08  received  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Union  College.  •      . 

At  this  time  he  was  twenty-five  years  old. 

His  older  brother,  also  a  licentiate  in  theology  of  that  year, 
Abner  Benedict  (Yale  College,  Class  of  17G9),  was  engaged  to 
be  married  to  the  eldest  daughter  of  Mr.  Xorthrop,  Miss  Lois 
Xorthrop,  who  became  his  wife  October  31st,  1770.  Both 
brothers  had  studied  theology  under  Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy.  D.D., 
of  Bethlehem. 

Miss  Baldwin's  journal,  which  was  written  up  on  October  1st, 
1770,  continues  thns: 

'"Monday,  2  o'clock,  left  Danbury.  Had  for  company  Mr.  Benedict.  We 
rode  to  New  iMilford.  Vyon  the  road  there  was  a  man  upon  a  stack  of 
I  corn  who)  drank  my  health  as  I  rode  by  him.  We  put  up  at  New 
Milford  at  Mr.  Xortlirop's." 

This  was  Amos  Xorthrop,  3d,  who  afterwards  became  a  com- 
missary in  the  Revolutionary  army.     It  was  a  Yale  household. 
*  Autobiography  and  Correspondence,  I,  245,  240. 


ICG        I;IDE   ACROSS    CONXECTICUT    BKFORE   THE   RF.VOLUTIOX. 

IIo  was  of  the  Class  of  1702.     A  son  was  about  to  enter  cm^Hol^i-  : 
and  Lis  two  dauizhters  l^oth  married  Yale  men. 

The  afternoon's  ride  to  Xcw  .Milford  covered  about  tweutv 
miles. 

"Thoy  received  us  very  kindly.  We  drank  a  bowl  of  punch;  then  we  had 
chocolate  for  siiji|>or.  Tlie  hulii-s  were  free  and  easy  to  be  acquaiiit<-c!. 
They  seemed  to  know  the  heart  of  a  stranger.  Tliey  made  me  very  wtdi.uiiir-. 
I  felt  very  nuich  at  home.  We  past  away  the  evening  very  agreeably. 
Our  discourse  was  upon  the  joking  order.  We  went  to  bed.  I  felt  very 
much  unwell,  when  I  went  to  bed.  The  ladies  were  kind;  gave  me  some- 
thing to  take.  I  got  to  sleep.  Waked  up;  waked  up;  could  not  sleep: 
lay  awake.  !Miss  Northrop  out  of  complaisance  lay  awake  to  kci-p  iiii^ 
company.  We  got  to  sleep  about  day.  Sleep  till  0  in  the  morning.  TIuti 
got  up.  Looked  out  at  the  window;  in  a  fright  to  see  it  snow;  dressed. 
Went  down.  Washed  me.  Drank  a  bitter.  Drank  tea  for  breakfast.  It 
rained  and  snowed  hard.  Could  not  go  on  my  journey.  Felt  well,  in  high 
spirits.     Went  to  work  on  my  catgut."' 

Cat-gut  was  formerly  twisted  by  hand  to  malce  shoe-laces  and 
wdndow-cords. 

"Laughed  and  joked,  and  passed  away  the  time  agreeably.  Dined.  Tlien 
in  the  afternoon  we  had  tea.  I  mentioned  my  being  fond  of  honey.  They 
were  so  kind  as  to  take  up  a  hive  of  bees.  We  had  bread  and  honey  for 
supper. 

Very  merry  after  supper.  Went  up  (to  my)  chamber  to  bed.  Laughed 
so  much  we  could  not  go  to  bed.  We  had  a  very  rakish  frolick  for  young 
ladies.     I  can't  say  I  was  greatly  pleased. 

I  went  to  bed.  Sleep  alone.  Felt  somehow  vapory  and  afraid.  After  a 
while  got  to  sleep.     Wondered  what  ailed  me.     Got  to  sleep  again. 

Got  up  at  8  o'clock.  L<x)ked  out  at  the  window.  It  rained.  I  could 
hardly  keep  from  crying.  Went  down.  Ate  breakfast.  Tried  to  be  merry. 
but  felt  shockingly.  Expected  I  must  stay  all  Winter.  To  divert  ourselve- 
we  cracked  butternuts,  and  ate. 

About  eleven  o'clock  we  set  out  upon  our  journey.  It  was  extreme  cnld. 
Snowed  a  little.  I  was  almost  frozen.  Xo  cloak,  but  a  short,  thin,  -il'- 
one.  My  fingers  ached  with  the  cold.  Mr.  Benedict  was  so  kind  :i~  '■' 
pull  ofY  his  mittens  and  give  (them  tol  mc.  I  would  not  take  but  on-'.  I 
was  still  very  cold.     I  was  glad  to  take  the  other  mitten. 

0:  Horrible  bad  riding  through  woods  and  swamps.  Xo,  none:  we  g"f 
where  there  was  no  path;    no  where,  so  we  were  obliged  to  make  one. 

I  followetl  my  pilot  along  through  the  woods.  Riding  luider  a  tn-i'  I 
SQnudiow  liidd  my  head  back  instead  of  forward.  My  saddle  turned  hack.  -' 
that  I  fell  oil  backward.  0!  Shocking:  wliat  a  fright  I  was  in  for  a  l--"' 
minutes;  but  I  soon  found  out  I  was  alive  and  not  hurt.  Felt  a  little  laiiit 
a  few  minutes,  but  soon  got  up  on  my  horse  and  rode  again  to  Mr.  r.ri'..-'- 
man's.     There  we  made  a  racon  tavern." 


166        i;iDE   ACROSS    CONNECTICUT    BEFORE   THE    REVOLUTIOX. 

lie  was  of  the  Class  of  1702.     A  son  was  about  to  enter  ei,>lleire : 
and  Lis  two  (.laughters  both  married  Yale  men. 

The  afternoon's  ride  to  Xew  ^lilford  covered  about  twenty 
miles. 

"They  received  us  very  kindly.  ^Ye  drank  a  bowl  of  puncli;  then  we  luid 
chocolate  for  sii{)i>or.  The  ladii-s  were  free  and  easy  to  be  acquuitit'-ii. 
They  seemed  to  know  the  heart  of  a  stranger.  They  made  me  very  weli-uiiw. 
I  felt  very  nmch  at  home.  We  past  away  the  evening  very  agieeaMy. 
Our  discourse  was  upon  the  joking  order.  We  went  to  bed.  I  felt  very 
much  unwell;  wlu-u  I  went  to  bed.  The  ladies  were  kind;  gave  me  some- 
thing to  take.  I  got  to  sleep.  Waked  up:  waked  up;  could  not  sleep: 
lay  awake.  Miss  Northrop  out  of  comjilaisance  lay  awake  to  keep  nh» 
company.  We  got  to  sleep  about  day.  Sleep  till  0  in  the  morning.  Tii'^n 
got  up.  Looked  out  at  the  window;  in  a  fright  to  see  it  snow;  dressed. 
Went  down.  Washed  me.  Drank  a  bitter.  Drank  tea  for  breakfast.  It 
rained  and  snowed  hard.  Could  not  go  on  my  journey.  Felt  well,  in  high 
spirits.     Went  to  work  on  my  catgut." 

Cat-gut  was  formerly  twisted  by  hand  to  make  shoe-laces  and 
wdndow-cords. 

"Laughed  and  joked,  and  passed  away  the  time  agreeably.  Dined.  Tlien 
in  the  afternoon  we  had  tea.  I  m.entioned  my  being  fond  of  honey.  They 
were  so  kind  as  to  take  up  a  hive  of  bees.  We  had  bread  and  honey  for 
supper. 

Very  merry  after  supper.  Went  up  (to  my)  chamber  to  bed.  Laughed 
so  much  we  could  not  go  to  bed.  We  had  a  very  rakish  frolick  for  young 
ladies.     I  can't  say  I  was  greatly  pleased. 

I  went  to  bed.  Sleep  alone.  Felt  somehow  vapory  and  afraid.  After  a 
while  got  to  sleep.     Wondered  what  ailed  me.     Got  to  sleep  again. 

Got  np  at  8  o'clock.  Lo<:)ked  out  at  the  window.  It  rained.  I  couM 
hardly  keep  from  crying.  Went  down.  Ate  breakfast.  Tried  to  be  merry, 
but  felt  shockingly.  Expected  I  must  stay  all  Winter.  To  divert  ourselvi-- 
we  cracked  butternuts,  and  ate. 

About  eleven  o'clock  we  set  out  upon  our  journey.  It  was  extreme  cold. 
Snowed  a  little.  I  was  ahnost  frozen.  Xo  cloak,  but  a  short,  thin.  >i'''>- 
one.  My  fingers  ached  with  the  cold.  ^Ir.  Benedict  was  so  kind  as  t'- 
pull  off  his  mittens  and  give  (them  to)  me.  I  would  not  take  but  one.  I 
was  still  very  cold.     I  was  glad  to  take  tlie  other  mitten. 

O!  Horrible  bad  riding  through  woods  and  swamps.  Xo,  none:  we  C"' 
where  there  was  no  path;    no  where,  so  we  were  obliged  to  make  one. 

I  followeil  my  pilot  along  through  the  woods.  Riding  under  a  trt-e  I 
SQnit'how  h«dd  my  head  back  instead  of  forward.  'My  saddle  turned  iiaek.  - ' 
that  I  fell  olT  backward.  0!  Shocking:  what  a  friglit  I  was  in  for  a  i'"-'' 
minute*;  but  I  s<Mn  found  out  I  was  alive  and  not  hurt.  Felt  a  little  laiJit 
a  few  miniites,  but  soon  got  up  on  niy  liorse  and  rode  again  to  IMr.  r.ri'':J- 
man's.     There  we  made  a  racon  tavern." 


I.I 


KIDE    ACROSS    COXXECTICUT    BEFORE    THE    REVOLUTION.         107 

This  word  ''racon"  occurs  several  times  in  these  notes,  and 
seems  used  to  denote  a  house  which  is  not  a  tavern,  but  one 
where  they  sometimes  take  in  travellers,  for  pay  according  to  a 
reasonable  reckoning, 

"Dined  there.  There  was  Mr.  Story,  a  pretty,  little,  simpering  scholar, 
niicrhtily  complaisant;  helped  me  up  upon  my  horse,  and  I  believed  would 
have  kissed  me,  but  I  was  so  tall  he  could  not  reach  me.  We  kept  on 
riding,  almost  frozen,  till  we  got  to  Bethlehem.  We  made  a  very  good 
racon  tavern  at  Dr.  Bellamy's.     They  received  mo  kindly." 

This  day's  ride  was  a  short  one  of  about  eighteen  miles. 
■  Dr.  Bellamy  was  one  of  the  leading  theologians  of  his  dav, 
and  was  settled  at  Bethlehem  from  1740  to  1790.  He  was  a 
Princeton  graduate  and  received  his  degi-ee  of  Doctor  of  Divin- 
ity from  the  University  of  Aberdeen.  He  was  supposed,  Presi- 
dent Stiles  tells  us,  to  be  worth  £1800,  which  would  make  him 
one  of  the  richest  ministers  in  the  State.* 

'■Drank  coffee  for  supper.  Went  to  bed.  Lodged  alone.  Mrs.  Lucyf  did 
not  choose  to  lodge  with  me.  I  don't  know,  but  I  believe  Mr.  Benedict 
sparked  with  her:  no  harm  at  all  for  brother  and  sister  to  talk  together 
a  little  while." 

'•I  got  up  at  sunrise,  ate  breakfast.  Set  out  upon  our  journey.  I  believe 
to  Judea.  I  can't  tell  where,  but  I  was  for  not  making  any  racon  tavern 
there,  but  went  to  a  tavern;  oated  our  horses;  drank  some  flip.  However 
Mr.  Benedict  would  not  let  me  come  off  (my  horse),  so  he  would  call  to  his 
racon  tavern,  Mr.  Storrs'." 

Judea  was  a  parish  of  the  town  of  Woodbury,  and  lay  South 
of  Bethlehem. 

'•He."  Mr.  Storrs,  "was  not  at  home.  Miss  Storrs  came  to  the  door,  a 
very  genteel  woman.  Invited  us  in  very  warmly.  She  was  more  than 
common  genteel.  She  curtsied  at  every  w-ord  she  spoke.  I  was  very  sorry 
I  did  not  make  a  racon  tavern  there.  I  was  resolved  not  to  pass  by  tlie 
next  racon  tavern." 

By  "Mr.  Storrs"  is  meant,  no  doubt,  Bev.  Andrew  Storrs 
(Yale  College,   1700)   who  was  then  pastor  of  the  church  in 

*  Stiles.  Itineraries.  40.3. 

t  Lucy  Bellamy,  Dr.  Bellamy's  oldest  daughter,  then  a  young  woman  of 
twenty-five  and  unmarried.  '-.Mrs."  was  often  used  as  a  term  of  respect  for 
Unmarried  women  of  superior  station. 


168        KIDE    ACROSS    COXXECTICUT    BEFOKK   THE    REVOLUTION'. 

Nortbbury  Society,  a  parish  of  the  tawn  of  Waterbury.     It 
afterwards  became  the  town  of  Plymouth.* 

"The  next  (  racon  tavern)  was  Mr.  Xewell's.  Tliore  I  was  a  mind  to  .sti>[,. 
A  little  poor  liouse,  and  an  old-fashioned  niini.ster.  They  had  eaten  u\> 
most  all  their  dinner,  the  old  gentleman  said,  but  he  went  and  spread  hi-. 
table  cloth,  set  his  meat  on  the  table,  so  we  niaile  a  very  good  diiuur. 
They  were  kind  people." 

The  minister  must  have  been  Rev.  Samuel  Xewell  (Yale  Col- 
lege, Class  of  1739).  He  was  then  a  man  of  fifty-six,  an<l  IkuI 
been  for  more  than  twenty  years  the  pastor  of  the  church  at  tIu- 
parish  of  Xew  Cambridge,  which  is  now  the  town  of  Bristol. 

''We  keep  on  our  journey,  till  we  got  to  Farmington.  There  we  stopt. 
Gated  our  horses;  drank  some  metheglin.  Kept  on  riding  till  we  gi>t  t" 
the  ferry  at  Plartford.  It  was  almost  dark.  There  was  a  boatful  of  lii>r»'> 
to  go  over.  I  felt  frightened  a  good  deal;  but  there  came  two  ladies  that 
were  going  over,  so  I  did  very  well." 

The  name  of  the  place  where  the  stop  for  the  night  was  nuule 
is  not  stated.  Probably  ]\Ir.  Olcott,  at  whose  house  it  was  spent. 
lived  in  East  Hartford.  If  so,  the  ride  there  from  Bethlehem 
was  about  forty-five  miles. 

"We  rode  to  !Mr.  Olcott's  and  put  up.  Ate  supper.  Lodged  with  a  woman 
come  from  Lyme.  She  was  very  impertinent,  asking  me  questions  after  we 
got  to  bed. 

Says  she.  Is  that  man  a  minister?     Ah,  be  you  going  to  have  him? 

No,  ma'am. 

Ah,  girls  will  lie,  says  she.  How  long  has  he  courted  you?  Three  day.-? 
Ah,  girls  will  lie.  Is  he  settled?  Is  he  going  to  be?  Is  he  a  good 
preacher?     Where  does  he  preach?     How  old  is  he? 

I  don't  know  much  about  him,  ma'am. 

Ah,  girls  will  lie.     So  she  went  on,  till  I  got  to  sleep. 

Before  light  she  rousted  up.  Waked  me  up.  I  lay  till  sunrise.  Got  u\>. 
Drank  a  bitter.  Rode  to  I5oltoii.  Made  a  racon  tavern  at  Mr.  Colton"-'. 
Felt  very  ugly.  'Mr.  Colton  is  a  very  tall,  thin,  homely  (man);  somehnw 
very  blunt,  plain-hearted;  coarse  in  his  compliments.  I  thought  did  not 
make  me  welcome." 

This  was  Rev.  George  Colton  (Yale  College,  Class  of  IT.'^O  i 
tlien  pastor  of  the  church  in  Bolton,      ^liss  Baldwin,  who  wa; 

*  Dexter,  Yale  Biograpliies,  •2d  Series,  077. 


EIDE   ACKOSS    COXXECTICUT    BEFORE    THE    ItEVOEUTIOX.         1G9 

herself  a  tall  woman,  might  well  descriW-  him  as  "very  tall,"  for 
he  measured  six  feet  seven  inches.  He  wore,  until  his  death  in 
1812,  the  ancient  clerical  costume,  with  cocked  hat  and  enormous 
white  wig.  His  savings,  from  a  salary  of  £80  and  thirty  cords 
of  wood,  made  him  one  of  the  more  wealthy  of  his  ministerial 
hrethren.* 

"His  wife  (was)  a  small  woman,  squint-eyed,  very  reserved.  Got  but 
little  acquainted  with  her.  Ate  breakfast,  however.  Bid  them  Good-bye, 
for  always,  I  hope." 

"Rode  from  there  to  Lebanon  Crank  to  !Mr.  Clark's.  There  I  made  a 
racon  tavern.  Polly  Gaylor  was  glad  to  see  me.  Dined  there.  Got  some 
of  the  Old  Bachelor's  pears." 

This  Mr.  Clark  was  probably  John  Clark  (Yale  College,  Class 
of  1749)  who  was  a  practicing  physician  in  Lebanon.  '"Leb- 
anon Crank''  was  a  parish  in  the  town  of  Lebanon,  which 
is  now  the  town  of  Columbia.  The  term  "Crank,"  in  Pro- 
fessor Dexter's  opinion,  was  used  on  account  of  the  crooked 
boundary  lines  of  the  society. f  It  had  been  for  many  years  the 
seat  of  "Moor's  Indian  Charity  School,'"  out  of  which  Dartmouth 
College  ultimately  grew.  Dr.  TTheelock  (Yale  College,  Class 
of  1733),  the  founder  and  first  President  of  Dartmouth,  was 
pastor  of  the  parish  from  1735  for  thirty-four  years.  He  had 
removed  to  Xew  Hampshire  the  month  preceding  Miss  Baldwin's 
visit.! 

"Rode  from  there  to  Mr.  Lyman's.  INfade  a  racon  tavern  there.  Drank 
a  glass  of  wine.     Ate  some  apples,  and  then  rode  home  and  glad  was  I." 

She  had  had  a  fifty  mile  ride  that  day,  and  well  might  be  glad 
to  look  forward  to  a  good  night's  rest. 

The  diarist,  who  was  never  married,  spent  her  last  years  in 
Xew  Llaven  in  the  family  of  her  brother,  Simeon  Baldwin, 
dying  at  the  age  of  87,  sixty  years  after  her  trip  to  Danbury. 

■*  Dexter,  Yale  Biographies,  2d  Series,  40S. 
t  Diary  of  David  McClure,  6,  note. 

J  Sprague.  Annals  of  the  American  Pulpit;  I.  308;  Diary  of  David 
McClure,  22. 


THE  Cn^IZEXSHlP  OF  THE  xVUTHOR  OF  THE 

"QUATUE-LETTJJES   D'UN    B(.)UKGE()IS 

I)E   NEW-HEAVEX    SUK   LTXlTfi 

DE  LA  LEGISLATION." 

."     '  By  SiMEOx  E.  Laldwix,  LL.D. 

' [Read  October  15,  1917.] 


In  1895  a  paper  was  read  before  this  Society  on  the  autlior- 
sliip  of  tlie  '"'Qiiatre  Lettres  d'un  Bourgeois  do  Xew-Heaven  sur 
1' Unite  de  la  Legislation,"  which  were  published  in  Mazzei's 
"Recherches  historiques  et  politiques  sur  Ics  Etats  Unis  de 
FAmerique  Septentrionale.'"" 

These  letters,  Mazzei  says,  were  addressed  to  him  by  "one 
of  the  greatest  men  of  the  age"  (that  is,  of  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury). They  constitute  a  strong  plea  for  the  superior  advan- 
tages of  a  single  legislative  chamber,  under  a  republican  form  of 
government,  over  two  Houses.  Arguments  are  also  included  for 
freedom  of  religion,  free  trade,  and  woman  suffrage. 

They  were  published  anonymously,  and  the  paper  presented 
in  1S95  attributed  them  to  the  Marquis  de  Condorcet,  but  found 
no  way  of  accounting  for  his  masquerading  under  the  name  of 
a  citizen  of  Xew-IIeaven. 

The  object  of  the  present  paper  is  to  give  the  explanation.  It  is 
to  be  found  in  President  Stiles'  Literary  Diary,  that  repository 
of  information  as  to  American  affairs  of  every  kind  in  his  day, 
which  has  now  been  made  accessible  by  its  publication  with 
important  annotations  by  Dr.  Franklin  Bowditeh  Dexter. 

Very  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Kevolution,  the  General 
Assembly  of  Connecticut  chartered  the  cities  of  Hartford,  Sew 

•  Papers  of  the  New  Haven  Colony  Historical  Society,  Vol.  VI,  263. 


UN    BOURGEOIS    DE    XEW-HEAVEX.  17i 

Haven,    !Micldletown,   Xew   Loudon    and   Xorwicb.     In   May, 
17S4,  this  was  followed  by  the  following  Act: 

"An  Act  to  enable  the  Cities  of  Xew-IIaven,  Xew-London,  Hartford,  ]\Iid- 
dletown,  and  Norwich  respectively  to  grant  the  Freedom  of  those  Cities  to 
IVrions  living  without  the  Limits  of  said  Cities. 

Be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  and  House  of  Representatives, 
in  General  Court  assembled,  That  said  Cities  respectively  shall  and  may 
liave  Power  t-o  grant  the  Freedom  of  those  Cities  to  any  Person  or  Persons 
living  without  the  Limits  of  said  Cities,  and  the  Person  to  whom  such 
Freedom  is  granted,  shall,  upon  taking  the  Oath  by  Law  required,  have 
Kight  to  vote  at  any  of  the  Elections  and  in  any  City  ^Meetings  of  that  City 
by  which  such  Freedom  is  granted. 

Provided  nevertheless,  That  no  Person  shall  in  Virtue  of  such  Grant  be 
considered  as  intitled  to  the  Rights  of  a  free  Citizen  of  this  State,  or  as 
acquiring  a  Right  of  Inhabitancy  in  that  Town  within  which  the  City 
granting  such  Freedom  lies." 

The  next  year  we  find  this  entry  in  Dr.  Stiles'  diary,  under 
date  of  May  10th,  17S5  : 

"This  Afternoon  at  a  City  Meeting,  the  Freedom  of  this  City  was  unani- 
mously conferred  upon  ten  French  Personages  at  Paris — The  "Mareschal 
Prince  de  Beauveau,  the  Marchalle  Princesse  de  Beauveau,  the  Duke  de 
Liancourt,  the  Duke  of  la  Rochefoucauld,  the  Comtesse  Sophia  de  Houdetout, 
the  Marquiss  de  St.  Lambert,  Augustin  Target  Esq.,  the  Comt6  de  Jarnac, 
the  Marquiss  de  Coudorset,  M.  de  la  Crestelle." 

It  is  probable  that  this  list  was  the  joint  work  of  President 
Stiles  and  Josiali  Meigs,  of  the  Class  of  177S  at  Yale,  then  the 
city  clerk  and  formerly  one  of  the  College  Tutors,  They  had, 
during  the  preceding  Winter,  collaborated  in  making  the  device 
and  lettering  for  the  city  seal,"  and  both  took  a  warm  interest 
in  all  that  concerned  our  ally,  France.  Mr.  ^[eigs  was  after- 
wards one  of  those  who  approved  the  course  of  the  French 
Revolution  to  an  extent  which  was  thought  by  many  of  his 
friends  to  be  at  least  indiscreet.f 

Of  the  ten  Parisians  thus  made  citizens  of  ISTew  Haven, 
Condorcet  was  tlie  most  famous.  He  had  been  since  1769  a 
member  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences,  and  threw  in  his  lot  with 
d'Alembert,  Voltaire,  Turgot,  and  the  other  philosophers  of  that 

•Stiles,  Literary  Diary,  III,  140,  14S. 

t  Dexter,  Yale  Biographies,  4th  Series,  45. 


172 


CITIZENSHIP  OF  THE  AUTHOR  OF  THE   QCATKE   LETTRES 


school,  who  prepared  the  public  niiiid  for  the  doctrines  of  tlie 
Revolution. 

Charles  Just,  Due  de  Beauveau,  had  been  Governor  of  Prov- 
ence, and  two  years  before  had  been  made  a  Marshal  of  France. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Academic  della  Crusca. 

The  rank  in  the  nobilitv  of  his  country  attributed  to  him,  and 
so  also  to  his  wife,  was,  I  think,  too  high  by  one  degree. 

Francois  Alexander  Frederic,  Due  de  TAancourt,  had  set  up  a 
Model  School  of  Arts  and  Trades  at  his  chateau  of  Liancourt 
five  years  before,  and  afterwards  was  influential  in  promoting,' 
the  practice  of  vaccination.  He  inherited  the  title  of  Due  de  la 
Rochefoucauld  in  1792. 

It  had  belonged  to  his  cousin,  Louis  Alexandre,  Due  de  la 
Rochefoucauld,  who  died  in  that  year,  and  had  been  eminent 
as  a  patron  of  science  and  letters. 

Itfeither  of  these  dukes  was  the  author  of  the  famous  book  of 
moral  (or  immoral)  maxims.  That  was  the  work  of  a  Roche- 
foucauld of  the  seventeenth  century. 

Elizabeth  Frangoise  de  la  Live  de  Bellegarde,  Contesse 
d'Houdetot,  was  famous  in  her  day  as  a  leader  in  the  social 
circles  of  Paris,  distinguished  by  both  beauty  and  talent. 
Rousseau  was  one  of  those  who  worshipped  at  her  feet,  and  she 
w^as  in  her  later  years  and  until  his  death  the  amie  of  the 
Marquis  de  Saint  Lambert. 

He  was  also  an  academician,  and  one  of  the  Encyclopedists, 
who  proclaimed  the  new  philosophies  of  government. 

Augustin  Target  was,  in  17S5,  one  of  the  leaders  of  the 
French  bar,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Science?. 
He  was  described  as  an  Esquire,  no  doubt,  because  that  is  in 
ISTew  England  the  traditional  style  of  address  in  the  case  of  a 
lawj'er. 

The  Count  de  Jarnac  and  ]\L  de  la  Crestelle,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  trace  back  with  any  certainty  in  the  biographical  diction- 
aries which  I  have  consulted. 

"M.  de  la  Crestelle"  was  probably  meant  for  ''M.  de  1^ 
Cretellc,"  a  philosophical  jurist,  whose  work  on  reform  in  penal 


t"  '' 


D  UN    BOURGEOI.S    DE    XEW-IIEAVEX.  173 

legislation  had  been  crowned  by  the  Academy  of  Metz  in  the 
preceding  year  (17S4). 

While  the  burgess  of  "Xew-Heaven,"  then,  who  wrote  the 
Quatrc  Lcttres,  was  a  French  ]\Iarqiiis,  he  was  also  a  citizen  of 
Xew  Haven,  and  had  full  right  to  veil  his  foreign  rank  under 
that  appellation.  If  he  misspelled  the  name  of  the  city,  he  at 
least  made  a  change  which  did  it  no  discredit,  and  this  society 
will  not  complain  of  an  anticipation  of  the  millennium  which  a 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago  turned  Xew  Haven  into  a  o^ew 
Heaven. 


JARED   IXGEPxSOLL,    STAMP   MASTER,   AND 
THE    STAMP   ACT. 

By  Rt.  Rev.  Einvi.x   S.  Lixes,  D.D. 
[Read  Deconiber  20.  inio.] 


The  lives  of  very  distingiiislieJ  men,  bearing  the  name  of 
Ingersoll,  have  been  closely  associated  with  American  History 
for  two  centuries.  Distinguished  lawyers,  judges,  and  clergy- 
men, holding  high  positions  and  rendering  noteworthy  service, 
whether  of  the  Colonies  or  of  the  States  or  the  Xation,  are  in 
the  list.  The  family  is  descended  from  two  brothers,  John  and 
Richard,  who  came  to  Massachusetts  from  Bedfordshire,  Eng- 
land, in  1629,  John,  the  ancestor  of  those  with  whom  we  have 
to  do,  was  born  in  England  in  1G15.  He  moved  to  Hartford 
after  his  older  brother's  death  in  1G44,  ten  years  later  to  Xorth- 
ampton,  and  ten  years  later  to  Westfield,  where  he  died  in  1634. 
His  son,  Jonathan,  born  in  16S1,  the  child  of  his  third  wife  and 
his  fifteenth  child,  made  his  home  at  about  the  beginning  of  the 
Eighteenth  Century  in  Milford,  Conn.,  and  in  that  town  his  sou, 
Jonathan,  was  born,  probably  in  1714,  and  his  son,  Jared,  in 
1722.  With  these  two  brothers  we  have  the  beginning  of  two 
distinguished  families,  whose  names  are  familiar  to  all  who 
know  the  history  of  Connecticut  or  the  history  of  Philadelphia. 
They  may  be  stated  briefly  as  follows : 

Jonathan  Ingersoll,  the  elder  brother,  was  the  fotmder  of  the 
Xew  Haven  family.  He  graduated  at  Yale  in  1730,  studied 
Theology,  and  while  residing  in  Xewark,  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1738  by  the  Presbytery  of  Xew  Brunswick.  He  was  ordained 
Pastor  of  the  Church  at  Ridgetield,  Conn.,  in  1730,  and  served 
that  Church  until  his  death,  nearly  forty  years  later.  But  one 
break  in  his  Ministry  at  liidgetield  is  recorded,  when  he  served 


<*( 


JAKED    INGERSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT.  1T5 

as  a  Chaplain  to  tbo  Connecticut  troops  in  the  French  War  in 
175S.  He  died  at  IJidgefield  in  IT 78,  in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of 
liis  aire,  all  but  one  of  his  family  of  ten  children  sur\'iving  him. 
His  elder  son,  Jonathan  IngersoU,  Jr.,  graduated  at  Yale  in 
17(50,  filled  out  a  distinguished  career  as  a  Lawyer  in  Xew 
Haven,  becoming  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State,  dying  at 
Xew  Haven  in  1S22,  very  closely  associated  with  the  political 
movements  in  the  State  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  Century. 
He  was  the  father  of  lialph  I.  IngersoU,  whose  life  was  spent  in 
Xew  Haven.  He  was  a  distinguished  Lawyer,  United  States 
]\tinister  to  Russia,  and  the  tradition  is  that  he  was  seriously 
considered  as  the  Democratic  Candidate  for  the  Presidency  in 
1S52,  when  a  nomination  meant  an  election.  He  died  in  1S72 
at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  He  was  the  father  of  distinguished 
and  well  known  men,  Governor  Charles  H.  IngersoU,  Hon.  Colin 
II.  IngersoU,  of  Connecticut,  Rev.  Dr.  Edward  IngersoU,  whose 
^klinistry  was  largely  spent  in  Buffalo. 

To  return  now  to  the  younger  brother,  in  whom  we  are  at  this 
time  most  interested.  Jared  IngersoU  was  born  in  Milford  in 
1722  and  gi-aduated  at  Yale  in  1742.  Of  his  life  I  am  to  speak 
particularly,  but  let  me  follow  his  family  down  to  our  own  time. 
His  son,  Jared  IngersoU,  Jr.,  gTaduated  at  Yale  in  the  same 
class  as  his  cousin,  Jonathan  IngersoU,  Jr.,  in  1766.  Sent  by 
his  father,  in  1774,  to  England  for  legal  studies,  he  was  entered 
at  the  Middle  Temple  to  bring  him  under  the  instruction  and 
influence  of  the  gi-eat  English  Lawyers  of  the  time.  Taking  the 
side  of  the  Colonies,  he  went  to  Paris  about  the  time  of  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  and  returned  to  the  United  States 
in  177S-,  settling  in  Philadelphia,  becoming  a  member  of  the 
Continental  Congress  from  Pennsylvania  and  a  delegate  to  the 
Convention  which  formed  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
a  candidate  for  the  Vice-Presidency  with  De  Witt  Clinton  and 
receiving  eighty-six  electoral  votes  as  against  one  hundred  and 
thirty-one  for  Elbridge  Gerry,  and  dying  in  Philadelphia  in 
1S22  at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  Two  of  his  sons  had  dis- 
tinguished careei-s,  Charles  Jared  IngersoU,  a  Democratic  Leader 
in  Congress,  who  died  in  1802,  and  Joseph  R.  IngersoU,  who 


176  jAKp:r)  ingersoll  axd  the  stamp  act.  ] 

was  ^Minister  to  Great  Britain  in  1852.     There  are  distin^ishcd 
descendants  in   this  family  from  Jai-ed  Ingersoll,   the  Stamp        I 
!Master,  in  Philadelphia  still.     It  is,  therefore,  easy  for  us  to 
follow  down  the  two  families,  one  descended  from  Rev.  Jonathan         j 
Ingersoll  of  Rid<:etield,  Conn.,  associated  particularly  with  Xew        i 
Haven,  aiid  the  family  of  .Tared  Inircrsoll,  Stamp  Master,  espe- 
cially associated  with.  Philadelphia. 

To  return  now  to  Jared  Ingersoll,  who  established  himself  in 
the  practice  of  the  Law  in  Xew  Haven,  winning  at  once  a  place 
of  large  influence.  In  the  year  following  bis  graduation  at 
College  in  1742,  he  married  Anna  Whiting,  eldest  child  of  Hon. 
Joseph  "Whiting  of  Xew  Haven,  a  name  very  closely  associated 
with  the  history  of  the  town  in  that  Century.  He  must  have 
had  at  once  a  large  practice,  for  letters  which  remain  show  that 
important  business  was  entrusted  to  him  from  all  parts  of  the 
Connecticut  Colony,  as  well  as  from  Boston  and  Xew  York. 
The  dockets  of  the  Courts  in  manuscript  left  by  him  are  many 
in  number.  The  cases  in  which  he  was  engaged  had  almost 
exclusively  to  do  with  financial  questions,  suits  for  money  bor- 
rowed, attachments  on  property,  etc.  Our  forefathers  had  no 
hesitation  about  going  to  Law,  and  Jared  Ingersoll  was  retained 
constantly  to  look  out  for  the  interests  of  Clients  from  all  over 
the  Eastern  Country.  Fellow-lawyers,  many  of  whom  bore  dis- 
tinguished names  like  Gold  Silliman  of  Fairfield  County, 
Governor  William  Livingston  of  Xew  Jersey,  James  Parker  of 
Xe\t  York,  who  had  oversight  of  the  Postal  Service,  asked  him 
to  look  out  for  cases  in  which  they  were  interested,  which  were 
coming  before  Connecticut  Courts.  Besides  the  requests  which 
came' to  him  in  letters  which  bear  well-remembered  names,  there 
are  hundreds  of  letters  in  the  collection  from  less  known  men  in 
a  great  many  Connecticut  towns.  There  are  also  similar  letters 
from  Clients  who  bore  distinguished  names  in  Xew  York  and 
throughout  Southern  Xew  England. 

It  is  to  be  said  of  nearly  all  the  letters  in  the  collection  that 
they  relate  mainly  to  business  matters.  There  is  much  in  the 
correspondence  which  adds  indirectly  to  our  knowledge  of  the 
time  and  gives  us  a  more  definite  picture  of  the  way  in  which 


JARED    INGEKSOLL    AXD    THE    STAMP    ACT.  177 

life  went  on  in  Xew  Haven  and  in  the  Colony  one  hundred  and 
fifty  years  ago.  The  impression  one  gets  from  reading  the  let- 
ters is  that  of  a  busy,  trusted,  high-minded  man  an<l  Lawyer, 
whose  professional  services  were  in  demand  and  whose  advice 
was  constantly  sought.  He  must  have  taken  a  high  place  at 
once  in  the  City  and  the  Colony,  and  there  is  not  a  sentence  that 
suggests  other  than  dignity  and  tine  sense  of  the  duties  of  a 
citizen  and  neighlwjr  and  friend,  not  a  sentence  that  any  one 
of  his  descendants  would  wish  changed.  It  is  difficult  for  me 
to  present  him  to  you  as  a  man  living  and  working  with  other 
men,  ent^'ring  into  the  life  of  the  Town,  while  one  would  gladly 
get  back  of  the  lawyer  and  official  and  know  the  man  himself. 
Among  the  men  with  whom  he  was  associated  in  College  or  in 
the  Colony,  were  those  who  did  much  to  shape  the  life  of  the 
time  and  the  course  of  events  in  political  and  ecclesiastical  mat- 
ters alike.  He  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Rev.  Chauncey  Whit- 
telsey  of  the  first  Church,  for  a  reflection  upon  whose  piety, 
when  he  was  a  Tutor  in  College,  David  Brainerd,  as  near  a 
great  Saint  as  any  man  that  Yale  has  produced,  was  expelled 
in  1741.  William  Livingston,  the  first  Governor  of  the  State  of 
Xew  Jersey,  a  frequent  correspondent  in  later  years,  Richard 
Mansfield,  for  seventy-two  years  Rector  of  the  Episcopal  Church 
in  Derby,  Dr.  Hopkins,  one  of  the  three  gTcatest  Xew  England 
Theologians  of  that  Century,  were  in  the  class  'before  him  in 
College.  Joseph  Hawley,  one  of  the  most  influential  men  of  his 
time  in  ^lassachusetts,  was  his  classmate,  and  AVilliam  Samuel 
Johnson,  one  of  the  first  Senators  from  Connecticut  and  lifelong 
friend  as  we  shall  see,  was  in  College  at  the  same  time.  He 
was,  probably,  in  friendly  or  professional  relations  with  most  of 
the  influential  men  in  the  Colony  in  the  middle  of  the  Eighteenth 
Century. 

There  was  probably  little  in  the  twenty  years  following  the 
gi-aduation  of  Jared  IngersoU,  in  which  he  was  making  a  place 
for  himself  as  a  lawyer  in  Xew  Haven,  of  special  interest  to  be 
recorded.  The  great  struggle  between  Great  Britain  and  France 
for  the  possession  of  the  American  continent  was  on,  and  the 
Colonies  were  sending  great  numbers  of  men  to  the  French  wars. 


-1,  t 


178  JARED    IXOERSOLL    AND    TILE    STAMP    ACT. 

A  o-ood  many  of  the  men  who  were  then  to  fight  beside  British 
soldiers,  were  in  training,  on  the  northern  frontier  of  Xew  Eng- 
land and  Xew  York,  to  fight  against  British  soldiers  tweniv 
years  later.  ^Miuor  questions  were  obscured  by  the  stniggk- 
with  France  and  the  questions  which  were  to  determine  the 
separation  of  Great-  Britain  and  the  Colonies  were  hardly  in 
sight.  The  capture  of  Quebec  in  l^oO  determined  the  great 
issue  on  this  continent  and  the  results  of  the  war  were  registered 
in  the  Treaty  of  Paris  in  1703.  There  were  questions  of  claims 
against  the  home  government  arising,  and  in  17. "38  Mr.  Ingersoll 
w-iis  appointed  agent  for  the  Colony  to  present  and  prosecute  the 

claims. 

Connecticut  with  the  other  Colonies  had  responded  liberally 
in  appropriations  for  the  military  undertakings,  and  serious 
questions  arose  between  the  mother  country  and  the  Colonies. 
The  Home  Government  thought  that  the  Colonies  had  not  given 
very  large  sums  and  the  Stamp  Act  was  devised  to  get  more 
money  from  them  to  pay  for  the  war,  which  was  regarded  as 
largely  for  their  interest,  while  the  Colonies  felt  that  they  were 
on\his  continent  doing  much  to  determine  the  question  whether 
Great  Britain  or  France  would  be  the  great  world-wide  power. 

As  an  agent  for  the  Colony  to  look  out  for  its  interests  Mr. 
Ingersoll  was  sent  to  London  and  he  was  there  for  about  three 
years,  returning  in  1762.  This  appointment  shows  the  high 
place  which  he  had  w^on  in  the  regard  of  the  Colony,  and  a  still 
further  mark  of  confidence  was  shown  on  his  return  by  his  elec- 
tion in  1762  to  the  upper  house  of  the  Assembly.  He  had 
plainly  many  matters  of  business  committed  to  him.  The  cor- 
respondence shows  that  questions  had  arisen  as  to  the  cutting 
down  of  trees  for  masts  for  use  in  ship  building  and  equipment 
in  northern  Xew  England.  Great  Britain  was  looking  out  for 
naval  supplies  of  this  kind  and  guarding  its  resources  carefully. 
Apparently  they  were  floated  do^^•n  the  Connecticut  Kiver  to 
Middletown,  and  there  were  questions  as  to  whether  careful 
account  had  been  kept  and  instructions  followed  in  respect  to  the 
number  of  masts  and  spars. 


JARED    IXGEKSOLL    .VXD    THE    .STA^[P    ACT.  179 

He  was  shortly  to  go  back  to  London,  in  170 J:,  on  private 
business,  and  while  there  he  was  asked  by  the  authorities  of  the 
Colony  to  act  Avith  the  duly  appointed  Colonial  agent  in  the 
questions  which  were  coming  up.  lie  was  plainly  in  close 
connnunication  with  Franklin  who  was  sent  over  from  Pennsyl- 
vania in  that  same  year,  rather  strangely  as  it  seems  to  us,  "^in 
the  effort  to  make  Pennsylvania  more  distinctly  a  royal  province 
and  so  free  from  some  of  the  difficulties  which  private  interests 
had  caused,  an  undertaking  which  Franklin  soon  abandoned. 

We  may  think  of  Jared  Ingersoll  as  in  the  group  of  Lawyers, 
who  were  in  the  middle  of  the  Eighteenth  C"entury  giving  to 
their  profession  a  place  of  new  respect  and  honor.  In  the 
Colonies,  up  to  this  time,  the  Ministry  had  been  the  one  learned 
profession.  That  there  might  be  an  educated  Ministry,  the 
Colleges  of  Xew  England  had  been  established.  The  Lawyer 
had  not  the  place  which  was  soon  after  and  thenceforth  accorded 
to  him.  I  suppose  the  great  growth  of  legal  business  only  now 
began. 

Horace  Binney  has  written  that  the  condition  in  Pennsylvania 
was  about  the  same  as  in  Xew  England.  His  words,  '"From 
what  I  have  been  able  to  learn  of  the  early  history  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, it  was  a  long  time  before  she  possessed  any  Lawyers  of 
eminence.  They  were  never  wanting  men  of  strong  minds,  very 
well  able  to  conduct  the  business  of  the  Courts  without  much 
regard  to  form.  In  the  narrowness  of  the  tradition,  taken  all 
together,  the  Constitution  of  the  Provincial  Supreme  Court,  in 
which  the  Chief  Justice  was  commonly  the  only  Lawyer,  the 
total  absence  of  every  note  of  judicial  decision  until  1754,  and 
all  but  total  until  after  17GG,  has  caused  that  Bar  to  disappear 
from  nearly  all  memories  at  the  beginning  of  the  Nineteenth 
Century." 

About  the  middle  of  the  Eighteenth  Century  there  seems  to  have 
^•een  an  astonishing  development  of  litigation  in  the  Colonies. 
^""0  one  can  read  tlie  Ingersoll  Papers,  with  the  correspondence 
concerning  Lawsuits  in  respect  to  property,  without  finding  very 
definite  confirmation  of  what  the  historian  Lecky  has  written 
on  the  subject.     The  Letters  show  that  a  great  number  of  people 


180  JARED    IXGEltSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT. 

were  desirous  of  going  to  Law  to  collect  debts,  to  remedy  wronL^-^. 
fancied  or  real,  and  there  is  not  very  much  said  a})out  settlin- 
questions  out  of  Court.  There  was  a  disposition  to  strike  verv 
soon  after  the  warning  or  threat  was  given.  One  might  make 
a  long  list  of  people  all  over  Connecticut  and  quite  beyond  tin- 
Colony,  men  and  women  who  desired  to  retain  the  services  of 
Mr.  Ingersoll  and  who  were  urging  him  to  avoid  delays.  11" 
had  many  notable  Clients  and  was  evidently  interested  in  maiiv 
cases  which  were  of  great  interest  and  importance  at  the  time. 
"We  know  that  the  Colonies  had  many  contentions  one  with 
another,  and  the  spirit  of  contention  would  seem  to  have  existed 
within  the  Colonies.  It  may  be  that  the  time  had  been  reacho'i 
in  Colonial  growth,  which  comes  in  the  life  of  an  individual 
when  he  is  more  disposed  to  assert  his  rights  and  to  be  williii:: 
to  fight,  than  earlier  or  later.  One  Writer,  Tucker,  says  that 
in  no  Country,  perhaps,  in  the  World,  are  there  so  many  Law- 
suits. Lecky  writes  that  up  to  this  time  the  profession  of  a 
Lawver  was  looked  upon  as  in  some  degree  dishonest  and  dis- 
reputable. Mr.  Ingersoll  must  have  been  one  of  the  men  to  give 
character  to  the  profession  of  the  Law,  and  high  place  belongs 
to  him  in  what  may  be  spoken  of  as  almost  the  first  group  ot 
Connecticut  Lawyers.  President  Dwight  wrote  of  him  as  an 
Advocate, — "few  men  have  excelled  him  in  clear  and  compr*- 
hensive  thought  and  strong  powers  of  reasoning;  and  few  men 
ever  managed  a  case  with  more  skill.  .  .  His  eloquence  wa? 
remarkably  calm  and  dispassionate;  but  was  exhibited  with  ?:' 
much  candour  and  fairness,  as  to  be  remarkably  persuasive. 
Indet^i  of  the  eloquence  which  is  designed  to  convince,  it  wa- 
almos:  a  perfect  pattern.  The  same  candour  and  fairne-- 
appear>^d  in  all  his  deportment.'" 

J-nrr  at  this  time  there  came  a  new  and  very  great  interest  in 
the  si^iy  and  practice  of  the  Law,  which  Burke  may  be  quot<"'' 
as  having  observed.  Xoah  Webster,  writing  later,  in  ITS",  sah^ 
of  thi?  rime,  ''There  never  was  such  a  rage  for  the  study  of  tli' 
Law.  iz.  infallible  proof  that  the  bu.-iuess  is  lucrative."  In  1'--^ 
than  £  Generation,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  War  of  Independeiic' 
and  11.  -he  establishment  of  the  Government  after  it,  the  naiH'- 


JARKD    IXCrEUSOLL    AND    THK    ST  AM  I'    ACT.  181 

of  great  and  distinguislied  Lawyers  of  large  influence  appear 
and  come  to  the  minds  of  all  who  have  read  the  History.  I  am 
warranted  in  asking  you  to  give  a  g(M)d  place  to  Jared  Ingersoll, 
here  in  Xew  Haven,  among  the  men  who  gave  to  the  study  and 
practice  of  the  Law,  a  new  position  in  the  Colonies.  The  new 
ipiestions,  which  were  arising  Ixitween  the  Home  Government 
and  the  Colonies,  were  bringing  ]\lr.  Ingersoll  and  others  into 
personal  knowledge  of  and  association  with  gTeat  English 
Lawyers. 

Mr.  Ingersoll  was  in  London  watching  the  course  of  events 
and  learning  all  he  could  during  the  discussions  which  led  to 
the  passing  of  the  Stamp  Act  and  the  making  up  of  the  issue 
which  ten  years  later  was  to  bring  the  War  for  Independence. 
At  the  time  there  was  very  little  appreciation  in  Great  Britain 
of  what  this  discussion  meant,  and  of  what  the  outcome  woulct'l)e. 
It  was  simply  a  measure  to  raise  money  and  make  the  Colonies 
pay  more  for  the  government  expenses,  as  probably  they  ought 
to  have  done.  There  were  great  principles  involved,  as  is  often 
the  case  with  measures  which  in  themselves  seem  not  to  be  of 
very  great  importance,  and  the  way  in  which  the  business  pro- 
ceeded and  was  concluded  w^as  especially  irritating.  Probably 
a  different  course  would  have  produced  the  result  which  the 
Home  Government  desired  wathout  the  bitterness  and  contention 
which  came.  There  is  no  need  of  saying  much  about  this  for 
it  is  the  judgment  now  of  the  English  historians  as  well  as  of 
our  own. 

ALr.  Ingersoll  had  a  position  of  special  importance,  however, 
as  the  accredited  agent  of  one  of  the  Colonies  and  as  one  of  the 
two  men  then  in  London  to  be  appointed  Stamp  ]\rasters  and  to 
come  back  home  with  full  knowledge  of  the  course  of  the  discus- 
sion and  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  office.  There  is  reason  to 
Wlieve  that  he  worked  with  Franklin  to  prevent  the  introduction 
into  the  Act  of  some  very  objectionable  and  irritating  provisions. 
It  is  interesting  to  remember  how  imperfectly  Franklin  and  his 
associates  in  London  understood  the  feeling  in  the  Colonies  on 
this  subject  and  how  they  failed  to  appreciate  what  the  reception 
'»f  the  Stamp  Act  would  be.     They  made  the  best  fight  against  it 


182  JARF.D    INGEKSOLL    AND    THE    STA>rr    ACT. 

they  could  and  havinir  failed  they  accepted  the  result  and  assum.-.l 
that  the  Colonies  would  do  the  same  and  settle  down  and  atur 
much  grumbling  use  the  stamps. 

London  was  not  a  good  place  where  to  judge  the  sentiment  r.f 
the  Colonies,  even  as  Washington  is  now  counted  one  of  tli»; 
worst  places  where  to  judge  of  the  political  sentiment  of  the 
country.      The  government  rushed  through  the  measure  with  ;i 
sort  of  contemptuous  treatment  of  the  Colonies  and  of  tlieir 
representatives  in  London,  and  it  is  said  that  the  Stamp  Ai-t 
attracted  hardly  any  attention  in  England.    The  remonstrance  uf 
the  Colonial  agents  was  disregarded  finally  on  February  2n.l, 
1765.     The  bill  was  introduced  without  debate  in  the  Commons 
on  the  13th,  sent  to  the  Lords  on  the  2Tth,  received  royal  sanc- 
tion by  commission,  the  King  being  then  insane,  on  March  •2i.'n']. 
to  go  into^ effect  November  1st.     It  was  passed  in  the  Comraoi^.s 
by  a  vote  of  205  to  49  and  in  the  Lords  without  debate,  division 
or  protest.     Lord  Grenville  thought  that  much  consideration  haJ 
been  shown  in  appointing  as  Stamp  :\La5ters  men  who  were  living 
in  the  Colonies  already,  not  sending  strangers  from  Englan-l. 
Franklin  named  his  Quaker  friend  John  Hughes  for  Pennsyl- 
vania and  doubtless,  through  his  influence,  Jared  Ingersoll  was 
appointed  for  Connecticut.     Franklin  wrote  home  the  day  after 
the  Act  was  passed,  "We  might  as  well  have  hindered  the  sun's 
setting.     Since  it  is  down  let  us  make  as  good  a  night  of  it  as 
we  can.     We  may  still  light  candles.     Frugality  and  industry 
-will  go  a  gi-eat  way  towards  indemnifying  us."     It  is  stranire 
how  little  such  a  wise  man  as  Franklin  or  such  an  intelligent 
man  as  Jared  Ingersoll  and  other  representatives  of  the  Colonies 
understood  the  feeling  at  home  and  the  reception  which  the 
Stamp  Act  would  have.     It  is  an  example  of  the  inability  of 
well-trained  men,  some  of  them  called  statesmen,  to  appreciate 
the  deep  and  strong  movements  which  come  in  the  world's  life. 

ATr.  Ingersoll's  name  finds  a  place  in  most  of  the  histories  of 
the  time  because  he  heard  and  recorded  the  speech  of  Colonel 
Barre,  which  is  said  to  have  Ix-en  about  the  only  utterance  which 
enlivened  a  very  dull  debate  upon  the  Stamp  Act.  TowTisheml 
had  asked,  with  something  of  contempt,  ''And  now  will  these 


JAUED    IXGEIiSOLL    AND    TUK    STAMP    ACT.  183 

Aiuerican  children,  planted  by  our  care,  nourished  up  to 
strength  and  opulence  by  our  indulgence,  and  protected  by  our 
anus,  grudge  to  contribute  their  mite  to  relieve  us  from  the 
hi-avy  burden  under  which  we  lie  T'  Colonel  Barre  who  had 
served  with  "Wolfe  in  America,  a  native  of  Dublin,  and  a  Trinity 
jrraduate,  with  a  better  understanding  of  the  feeling  of  the 
Colonies,  won  the  abiding  regard  of  the  Colonists  by  his  reply 
which  Jared  Ingersoll  wrote  down  as  he  sat  in  the  gallery  of  the 
house  and  sent  to  Governor  Thomas  Fitch  of  Connecticut. 

"Tliey  planted  by  vour  care!  Xo;  your  oppressions  planted  them  in 
America.  They  fled  from  your  tyranny  to  a  tlien  uncultivated,  inhospitable 
country.  .  .  Yet,  actuated  by  principles  of  true  English  liberty,  they 
met  all  hardships  -with  pleasure,  compared  with  those  they  suffered  in  their 
own  country  from  the  hands  of  those  who  should  have  been  their  friends. 

'"They  nourished  up  by  your  indulgence!  They  grew  up  by  your  neglect 
of  them.  As  soon  as  you  began  to  care  about  them,  that  care  was  exercised 
in  sending  persons  to  rule  them  in  one  department  and  another,  .  .  . 
men  whose  behavior  on  many  occasions  has  caused  the  blood  of  those  Sons 
of  Liberty  to  recoil  within  them. 

"They  protected  by  your  arms!  They  have  nobly  taken  up  arms  in  your 
defence;  have  exerted  a  valor,  amidst  their  constant  and  laborious  industry, 
for  the  defence  of  a  country  whose  frontier  was  drenched  in  blood,  while  its 
interior  parts  yielded  all  its  little  savings  to  your  emolument.  And  believe 
°"^ — remember  I  this  day  told  you  so — the  same  spirit  of  freedom  which 
actuated  that  people  at  first  will  accompany  them  still.  This  people,  I 
believe,  are  as  truly  loyal  as  any  subjects  the  King  has;  but  the  people 
are  jealous  of  their  liberties,  and  who  will  vindicate  them,  if  ever  they 
should  be  violent.     But  the  subject  is  too  delicate;    I  will  say  no  more." 

^Ir.  Ingersoll  said  that  the  whole  house  for  a  time  seemed  to 
sit  in  a  state  of  amazement,  intently  looking  without  replying 
a  word.  TJiat  phrase  "Sons  of  Liberty"  was  adopted  at  once 
m  the  Colonies  and  the  organization  played  a  great  part  in  the 
years  which  were  to  follow.  Air.  Ingersoll  little  thought  on  that 
-Tth  day  of  February,  17G5,  what  the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  in 
Connecticut  were  to  do  to  him  l)efore  the  year  was  out,  and  what 
au  effective  organization  it  was  to  be  in  uniting  the  Colonists 
against  the  mother  country.  The  name  of  Colonel  Barre  was 
to  live  on  in  remembrance  of  the  Colonists.  He  told  the  House 
of  Commons,  or  the  government,  that  if  they  would  keep  their 


184 


JARED    IXGERSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT, 


hands  out  of  the  Yankees'  pockets  tliey  would  get  on  very  well, 
a  sentiment  by  all  Yankees  approved. 

Massachusetts  replaced  the  town  name  of  Hutchinson,  ;j,ivfn 
in  honor  of  its  last  royal  governor,  with  the  name  of  Barrf. 
The  name  is  borne  by  a  town  in  Vermont  and  probably  els.- 
where,  and  makes  part  of  the  name  of  Wilkesbarre  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. 

Xo  reader  of  "American  history  can  but  be  interested  in  notiiiL' 
the  quietness  with  which  the  Stamp  Act  was  first  received  an^i 
how  little  there  was  to  indicate  what  a  rallying  cry  it  would 
make  for  the  Colonies  in  that  very  year  of  1765.  It  was  countcij 
but  a  bit  of  routine  business  by  the  government  and  Parliamcni 
of  Great  Britain  and  it  looked  as  if  it  would  be  accepted  and 
obeyed  in  the  Colonies  or  gotten  about  in  some  ingenious  way. 
There  was  apparently  no  thought  that  the  ofiice  would  l>e  uupojv 
ular  or  that  there  would  be  any  special  difficulty  about  tht^ 
enforcement  of  the  law.  ]\Ir.  Ingersoll  of  Connecticut  came 
home  from  London  with  his  own  commission  and  other  comnii?- 
sions  for  the  fortunate  men  who  were  to  have  the  emoluments 
of  what  was  supposed  to  be  a  well-paying  office  :  Andrew  Olivt-r 
of  Massachusetts,  Augustus  Johnson  of  Rhode  Island,  James 
jMcEvers  of  Xew  York,  William  Coxe  of  Xew  Jersey,  John 
Hughes  of  Pennsylvania,  George  ]\[ercer  of  Virginia,  William 
Houston  of  Xorth  Carolina,  Caleb  Lloyd  of  South  Carolina. 
Zachariah  Hood  of  Maryland,  and  Angus  of  Georgia. 

Mr.  Ingersoll  reached  Boston  August  1st  and  the  disillusion 
came  when  on  the  12th,  the  birthday  of  the  Prince  of  Wales  and. 
a  general  holiday,  large  crowds  wandered  up  and  down  tli*' 
streets  shouting  '"Pitt  and  Liberty  I"  and  tw^o  days  later  hiniL' 
in  eftig^'  from  the  Liberty  Tree,  an  elm  near  the  corner  of  Wasif 
ington  and  Essex  Streets,  Andrew  Oliver,  the  proposed  Stau'.p 
Master  of  Massachusetts.  His  stamp  office  was  destroyed  and. 
his  house  attacked,  and  before  the  month  was  gone  the  great 
house  of  Governor  Hutchinson  was  destroyed  by  a  mob.  It  ^\■a- 
a  wild  time  in  Boston  and  a  very  discreditable  part  of  "''-^ 
historv.     There  was  little  discrimination  in  the  violence  of  tli- 


JARKD    INGERSOLL    AND    THK    STAMP    ACT.  185 

iii<)l>,  but  the  authorities  could  do  nothing  airainst  the  rage  which 
the  Stamp  Act  had  stirred  up. 

The  Record  as  regards  Xew  York  is  given  hv  EHen  Chase  as 
follows : 

"The  stamps  for  Xuw  York  reached  that  city  during  the  sitting  of  Con- 
prt'ss  and  the  stamp  master,  .Tames  McKver^^,  implored  tliey  miglit  be  lodged 
in  Fort  George  at  the  foot  of  Broa<lway.  This  did  not  suit  the  populace 
and  the  coffee  houses  buzzed  with  plans  for  getting  the  papers  into  the 
keeping  of  the  city.  Finally  Captain  Isaac  Sears,  an  ex-privateersman,  told 
some  bold  fellows  to  follow  him,  and  waited  upon  the  acting-Governor, 
Cadwallader  Colden,  au  old  Scotchman  of  eighty,  and  asked  him  to  turn 
the  papers  over.  In  the  absence  of  the  Governor,  Sir  Flenry  Moore,  Colden 
replied,  he  must  be  excused  from  action. 

Hearing  this,  a  mob  broke  into  Colden's  stable,  dragged  out  his  coach, 
and  seated  a  dummy  inside  with  a  bill  of  lading  in  its  right  hand  and  a 
demon  in  its  left.  The  whole  was  then  paraded  before  the  counterscarp  of 
the  fort.  In  his  indignation,  it  is  said,  Colden  would  have  fired  into  the 
crowd,  but  was  restrained  by  Gage.  A  bonfire  had  been  prepared  on  the 
Bowling  Green,  and  coach  and  all  were  speedily  consumed.  The  mob  then 
marched  to  the  corner  of  the  present  Worth  Street  and  ^^'est  Broadway 
and  demolished  the  house  occupied  by  Major  James,  who  had  threatened 
to  cram  the  stamps  down  the  peoples'  throats  with  his  sword  if  necessary, 
and  had  boasted  that  with  four  and  twenty  more  he  could  drive  all  the 
Sons  of  Liberty  out  of  town  'for  a  pack  of  rascals.'  But  discretion  appears 
to  have  been  accounted  the  better  part  of  valor  and  next  day  the  stamps 
Were  surrendered." 

The  vears  1705-07  are  outstanding  years  in  our  Colonial 
History.  There  prol)ably  had  been  more  notice  now  taken  of 
the  150th  ^\jiniversary  of  the  events  marking  those  years  if  the 
.great  war  had  not  engrossed  our  attention,  for  we  have  been 
keeping  with  great  interest  and  profit,  Centennial  and  Semi- 
centennial Anniversaries.  In  Connecticut  and  Xew  Haven  we 
liave  special  reason  for  recalling  that  year  because  Colony  and 
City  had  in  it  special  jdaces  of  importance.  The  passing  and 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act,  the  agitation  concerning  it  and  its 
effect  upon  the  relation  of  the  Colonies  to  the  ^iother  Country, 
.irive  to  the  years  special  interest.  "While  Tared  Ingersoll  was 
tlie  Stamp  [Master  appointed  for  the  Connecticut  Colony  alone 
li*'  held  a  peculiar  relation  to  the  Act,  having  boen  in  England 
^vhen  it  was  discussed  and  passed,  and  having  received  his  cora- 
"lission  there. 


186  JAKF.D    INGEUSOI.L    AND    THE    STA:Mr    ACT.  1 

I 

Up  to  17G5,  notwitlistiiTiding  some  irritations,  the  reG:ar<l  r,f 

the  Colonies  for  the  Mother  Country  was  stroni;  and  the  thou-ln 

of  rel>ellion  and  independence  was  in  few  minds.     There  wire        | 

wise  men,  who  foresaw  and  prophesied  that  the  defeat  of  Franr'.:         j 

in  the  new  World,  which  filled  Great  Britain  with  rejoiciiii:,         i 

would  mean  the  loss  of  the  American  Colonies.     One  of  tlic         £ 

later  Historians  has  said  that  the  fall  of  Quebec  in  1750  niadr         f 

certain  a  new  Xation  formed  of  the  American  Colonies.     It  is         | 

very  easy  for  us  now  to  see  how  this  worked  out.     As  long  a.>         f 

the  Colonies  stood  in  fear  of  the  French,  firmly  established  in         I 

Canada,  making  their  way  toward  the  great  West  and  down  tlir         | 

Ohio  and  Mississippi  Valleys  with  the  Indian  tribes  as  tboir         | 

allies,  the  Colonies  would  naturally  look  to  Great  Britain  f<.r         I 

help.     They  were  quite  ready  to  raise  troops,  as  many  as  twenty-         | 

five  thousand  men,  with  large  sums  of  money  for  their  own         j 

defence,  but  they  would  naturally  look  for  help  to  the  Mother         | 

Country.  » 

When  Quebec  had  fallen  and  the  domination  of  France  in  x\w         i 

North  and  West  was  at  an  end,  the  fear  of  the  French  and  th-^         | 

sense  of  dependence  upon   Great  Britain  were  both   greatly         | 

lessened.     A  new  era  of  prosperity  with  greater  security  of  tlie         j 

frontier  came  and  the  Settlers  pushed  out  Westward  all  alon:: 

the  line.     If  the  treatment  of  the  Colonies  by  Great  Britain         | 

had  been  more  intelligent  and  generous,  independence  had  br-fii         | 

delayed,    very    likely    for    a    considerable    time.     There    wa.-.         ] 

'  throughout  the  Colonies,  great  pride  in  their  British  origin  i\vA 

the  connecting  links  in  family  traditions  were  strong.     Tb'- 

policy  of  Great  Britain,  however,  as  has  been  said,  was  extrcm.-!y 

nnintelligent.     There  is  little  use  of  criticising  that  policy  n^'.v. 

for  it  was  quite  as  intelligent  as  the  treatment  of  its  Col<:.ni'- 

by  France  or  the  Colonial  policy  of  any  other  Nation.     CoIouk-- 

were  to  be  used  altogether  for  the  benefit  of  the  Home  Country, 

to  be  exploited  without  regard  to  their  own  interests  or  futnr. 

development,     ^fanufactures  were  to  be  discouraged  that  ('r<:'J 

Britain  might  do  it  all.     British  vessels  were  to  be  used  in  th-- 

carnv-inf  trade  that  there  might  be  no  rivalry  in  this  particub'* 


JARED    IXGKKSOLL    AND    THE    STA>rP    ACT.  187 

with  the  Colonies.  The  outcome  was  verv  extensive  trade  with 
the  West  Indies  and  European  Xations,  which  was  nothing  more 
than  smuggling,  in  (U^fianco  of  unreasonable  laws.  One  of  the 
parting  shots  of  Chief  Justice  Oliver  of  Massachusetts  upon 
leaving  the  Colony  as  a  Loyalist  when  the  War  of  Independence 
came,  was  that  smuggling  was  the  foundation  stone  of  the 
American  Xation. 

With  their  energy,  their  skill,  ingenuity  and  adaptiveness, 
developed  under  the  conditions  in  the  new  World,  the  Colonies 
were  getting  on  very  well  with  scant  regard  for  British  Nav- 
igation Regulations  or  the  ordinary  requirements  of  British 
Law.  The  security  of  the  Mother  Country  was  largely  in  the 
fact  that  there  were  no  end  of  controversies  between  the  Colonies, 
jealousies  and  rivalries,  questions  of  boundaries,  and  many 
others.  The  w^ell-desigiicd  L^nion  between  the  Colonies,  sug- 
gested by  Franklin  in  the  Albany  Conference  in  1754  for  mutual 
protection  and  regard  for  common  interests,  had  failed  to  receive 
favor  when  it  was  presented  to  the  Colonies  for  approval.  These 
disputes  and  jealousies  are  hardly  recognized  by  most  of  us  as 
we  study  this  period  of  our  National  Life. 

The  fruits  of  the  victory  of  Wolfe  over  Montcalm  on  the 
Plains  of  Abraham  in  1759  were  determined  in  the  Peace  of 
Paris  in  1763,  and  the  Colonies  had  no  more  need  of  looking  to 
the  Mother  Country  for  help  against  the  French  or  the  Indians. 
The  new  World  was  their  own,  and  with  new  vigor  and  hopes 
they  set  about  taking  possession  of  it.  There  was  irritation 
which,  if  not  removed,  would  cert.ninly  make  trouble,  but  having 
made  disobedience  of  the  Laws  of  the  ^Mother  Country  respecta- 
hle,  they  would  get  on. 

The  debt  of  Great  Britain,  incurred  because  of  the  French 
Wars,  liad  grown  to  a  large  amount  and  was  counted  a  great 
burden.  It  was  all  together  only  about  what  Great  Britain  is 
•'^[lending  each  month  in  the  present  War,  but,  it  was  a  great  sum 
then.  And  English  Statesmen,  so  called,  set  about  devising  a 
■'^'■heme  to  make  the  Colonies  boar  a  considerable  part  of  this 
del)t.     So  the  controversies  began  with  the  Stamp  Act  as  the 


188  .TARED    IXGERSOLL    AXn    TilE    STAMP    ACT. 

outcome  iu  this  year  of  17G5,  with  a  stirring  up  of  ill  will  un 
the  part  of  the  Colonies  towards  Great  Britain  from  which  then 
was  no  going  back. 

Of  the  legal  questions  suggested  by  the  Stamp  Act,  the  riuhr 
to  tax  the  Colonies  in  this  way,  I  am  nut  fitted  to  speak,  nur  i- 
it  necessary.  1  have  always  supposed  that  while  there  wu.s  a 
great  question  involved  and  while  a  good  case  might  be  made  <>ui 
for  the  Colonies,  that  the  difficulty  for  them  w^as  somewhat 
exaggerated.  I  have  supposed  that  a  good  deal  could  be  sai<! 
for  the  propriety  of  the  demand  of  the  Home  Government  thai 
the  Colonies  should  pay  more  into  the  Common  Treasury, 
towards  the  debt  incurred  in  the  French  AVars,  and  for  the  com- 
mon protection.  The  requirement  of  Government  stamps  has 
been  generally  counted  a  fair  way  of  taxation,  as  we  rememl)frr 
from  the  Civil  War  and  the  Spanish  War.  For  the  stui)idit,v 
of  those  who  forced  the  Stamp  Act  through,  with  scant  consider- 
ation for  the  feeling  in  the  Colonies,  nothing  can  be  said. 
Agents  of  the  British  Government  had  been  through  the  Colonies. 
observing  the  increase  in  wealth  and  resources,  and  their  report- 
made  the  Home  Government  feel  sure  that  the  Colonies  couM 
be  fairly  taxed.  Eight  million  Englishmen  were  bearing  the 
ISTational  debt  of  about  $750,000,000,  while  two  million  Ameri- 
cans bad  reduced  their  debt  to  about  $4,000,000.  It  was  pro- 
posed to  raise  about  $500,000  through  the  Stamp  Act.  The 
Colonies  had  provided  no  less  than  twenty-five  thousand  men  aii'i 
large  sums  of  money  for  their  equipment  and  support  iu  the 
French  Wars.  The  money  had  come  from  Grants  from  tlie 
Colonies  and  not  by  taxation  under  order  from  the  Home  (i"V- 
erninent.  In  the  Colonies  a  distinction  was  made  between  tli-- 
right  to  ask  the  Colonies  for  money  as  a  free  gift,  and  interna! 
taxation,  which  last  they  claimed  was  entirely  their  own  concern- 
They  could  make  out  a  good  case  through  precedents  made  hy 
their  own  History.  They  found  a  staunch  defender  in  ^Ir.  rirt. 
who  said  that  the  Kingdom  had  no  right  to  lay  a  tax  on  tiie 
Colonies,  that  taxation  was  no  part  of  tlie  governing  or  legisl.i- 
tive  power,  that  taxes  were  a  voluntary  gift,  a  Grant  of  th-' 
Commons  alone,  and  that  the  distinction  between  legislation  an'' 


JARED    IXGKRSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT. 


189 


taxation  was  iiecesssary  for  the  preservation  of  liberty,  and  that 
the  Colonial  Assemblies  represented  the  Commons  in  the  Colo- 
nies. That  principle  was  dear  to  all  English  lovers  of  libertv, 
for  rights  had  always  been  gained  by  the  necessity  of  Kings 
coming  to  Parliament  to  obtain  money,  compelled  to  make 
concessions  to  get  it. 

The  principle  of  the  Stamp  Act  might  be  defended  but  there 
was  very  much  that  was  irritating  and  unnecessary  in  its  appli- 
cation and  enforcement.  The  Colonies  were  well  informed  as 
to  what  was  being  planned  in  England,  and  were  preparing  to 
put  in  their  case  through  their  Agents  there.  It  is  inter- 
esting to  know  that  Jared  Ingersoll,  as  stated  in  the  Connecticut 
Public  Eecords,  March  lOtli,  1764,  was  associated  with  Ebenezer 
Silliman,  Grandfather  of  Prof.  Benjamin  Silliman,  and  George 
Wyllys,  Secretary  of  the  Colony,  to  assist  Governor  Fitch  in 
making  out  the  Connecticut  case  against  the  proposed  Stamp 
Act  It  was  the  Connecticut  tradition,  that  its  presentation  of 
the  case  was  regarded  in  London  as  particularly  strong. 

Mr,  Ingersoll,  on  arriving  in  London  in  the  latter  part  of  1764, 
bad  worked  hard  with  the  Agent  of  the  Connecticut  Colony,  ^h\ 
Richard  Jackson,  and  in  close  association  with  Benjamin 
Franklin  and  others,  to  prevent  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act. 
They  represented  the  feeling  in  the  Colonies  as  well  as  the 
principles  which  were  involved.  It  is  believed  that  Mr.  Inger- 
soll had  part  in  inducing  the  Governni^nt  to  modify  some  pro- 
visions in  the  Act  which  were  especially  irritating.  There  was 
no  hope  of  preventing  the  passage  of  the  Act,  and  it  would  seem 
that  in  the  Colonies  the  opposition  developed  more  strongly  than 
the  Colonial  Representatives  in  London  appreciated.  They 
knew  the  strong  opposition  to  it,  but  they  could  hardly  have 
known  how  far  the  Colonies  would  go  in  detianee  of  the  proposed 
action  of  the  British  Goveniment.  Scant  regard  was  paid  to 
their  representations  although  they  had  strong  men  in  sympathy 
with  them,  in  ^Villiam  Pitt,  Captain  Barre,  Edmund  Burke, 
Conway,  and  others.  The  Government  had  determined  the 
course  it  would  take  and  nothing  could  change  it.  The  Stamp 
Act  was  finally  passed  in  ]\[arch,  1763,  to  go  into  operation  in 


190         JARED  IXGERSOLL  AND  THE  STAMP  ACT. 

Xovember  1st  of  that  year.  The  Colonies  had  stated  their  case 
and  made  their  plea  as  well,  prol>al>ly,  as  it  could  be  done,  ain! 
the  step  was  taken  which  wijuld  lead,  whether  men  knfnv  it  or 
not,  to  a  breach  between  the  Colonies  and  the  Mother  Country 
which  woidd  never  be  healed. 

It  seems  quite  certain  that  Benjamin  Franklin  advised  Mr. 
Ingersoll  to  accept  the  Office  of  Stamp  blaster  for  the  Cuii- 
necticut  Colony,  and  very  likely  the  Colonial  liepresentativr--; 
had  some  influence  in  the  endeavor  to  make  the  appointments  in 
all  the  Colonies,  such  as  to  make  the  operation  of  the  Law  less 
irritating.  !Men  from  the  Colonies  were  chosen,  as  likely  to  I'C 
more  acceptable  than  men  sent  over  from  England.  Some  let- 
ters of  Mr.  Ingersoll,  written  during  the  ten  months  of  his  stay 
in  London,  have  been  preserved.  Some  of  them  have  to  do  witli 
the  details  of  his  personal  life.  Other  letters,  which  were  writ- 
ten to  friends  in  rather  a  free  way,  expressing  his  opinions  and 
thoughts  about  the  business  in  which  ho  was  in  London,  ma'lt:- 
him  much  trouble  afterward.  They  were  misunderstood  and 
misinterpreted  and  represented  him  as  less  zealous  in  repre- 
senting the  feeling  in  the  Colony  than  was  desired  at  home. 
Such  use  of  letters,  which  were  in  the  nature  of  private 
correspondence,  seemed  to  him  later,  on  his  return,  to  require 
the  defence  which  he  made  for  his  course  of  conduct.  The 
impression  left  from  all  we  can  learn  is  that  he  was  a  faithlul 
servant  of  the  Colony,  trying  to  represent  it  fairly  while  n'lt 
appreciating  the  development  of  fierce  hatred  of  the  Govern- 
ment, not  expecting  any  such  opposition  as  came.  So  he  wa^ 
back  home  again  in  August,  1705,  three  months  before  the  hated 
Stamp  Act  was  to  come  into  operation.  He  found  all  the  Colo- 
nies in  a  state  of  gi-eat  excitement  and  probably  beyond  auythiutr 
of  which  he  dreamed. 

In  May,  under  the  inspiration  of  Patrick  Henry,  resolution- 
had  been  presented  to  the  Virginia  Colonial  Assembly  which  wt-iv 
very  strong  in  their  denunciation  of  the  Stamp  Act  and  threat- 
eninir  in  their  tone.  They  were  modified  before  they  went  on' 
as  the  OtHcial  Act  of  the  Assembly,  but  the  original  draft  ha'J 
found  its  wav  throuiih  the  Xorthern  Colonies  and  was  by  souk^ 


JAREI)    INGEnSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT.  191 

supposed  to  bo  the  otiicial  action  of  Vir<rinia  and  it  found 
everywhere  a  response.  There  was  violence  in  many  places. 
The  appointed  Stamp  Masters  found  it  impossible  to  exercise 
their  Office.  The  stamps  to  the  different  Colonies  were  not 
received.  Some  were  destroyed.  Some  were  left  under  control 
of  the  Koyal  Authorities  with  the  promise  that  they  should  not 
he  used.  The  distribution  of  the  stamps  was  impossible.  A 
mob  in  Boston  had  destroyed  the  building  which  Andrew  Oliver, 
tlie  appointed  Stamp  !^[aster,  intended  to  use.  The  great  house 
of  Governor  Thomas  Hutchinson,  last  of  the  lioyal  Governors 
of  Alassachusetts,  was  destroyed  with  the  irreparable  loss  of  his- 
torical papers  and  documents  which  he  had  been  gathering  for 
thirty  years.  Stamp  Masters  had  sent  in  their  resignations. 
!^[en  who  had  asked  for  appointments  were  disclaiming  ever 
having  wished  to  hold  such  an  unpopular  Otiice.  Stamp  Masters 
ever^'where  were  hung  in  effig}'  and  representations  of  them 
burned.  We  have  been  accustomed  to  call  it  the  exhibition 
of  Patriotism,  even  as  we  learned  out  of  the  old  school-books,  but 
tbere  is  much  in  the  record  that  we  would  all  wish  could  be 
blotted  out. 

Less  than  a  year  before,  Jared  Ingersoll  had  gone  away  with 
a  commission  by  the  Colony  to  defend  its  interests,  a  distin- 
guished and  honored  Lawyer,  an  outstanding  citizen  and  public 
man  in  the  Colony,  already  at  the  age  of  forty-three  having  made 
a  large  place  for  himself  witli  the  prospect  of  a  still  gi'eater 
career  in  his  profession  and  in  his  public  life  before  him.  His 
sympathies  were  with  his  Colony  and  he  had  doubtless  done  his 
very  best  to  represent  it  truly  and  he  had  a  right  to  feel  that  in  the 
presence  of' the  inevitable,  he  had  done  all  that  any  man  could  to 
make  it  easier  to  obey  the  new  Law,  making  it  less  irritating  and 
burdensome;  and  now  he  came  back  to  find  his  old  neighbors 
hostile  and  threatening,  person  and  property  alike  in  danger. 
It  must  have  been  a  very  hard  experience  for  a  dignified,  high- 
spirited  man,  conscious  of  his  integi'ity  and  high  purposes. 
There  were  those,  doubtless,  who  had  s^mipathy  for  him  but  they 
were  helpless.  Old  friends  did  hot  desert  him  nor  forget  how 
he  had  lived  amomr  them  and  served  them,  Inu  there  was  the 


192  JARKD    IXGF.KSOLL    AM)    THK    STA^rP    ACT. 

thoughtless  crowd  to  make  his  life  uncomfortable  or  worse.  The 
resigTiation  of  his  Office  was  doinauded  by  the  people,  th'.- 
majority  probably,  and  no  man  of  self-respect  likes  to  yield  to  the 
crowd  or  the  mob  under  fear  of  violence.  The  question  imme- 
diately arose  as  to  whom  a  resig-nation  could  be  given.  It  was 
an  appointment  from  the  British  Government,  not  from  tlic 
Colony  itself.  Some  Stamp  Masters  had  been  almost  abject  in 
declaring  that  they  would  never  exercise  the  OtHce.  Mr.  IngiT- 
soll's  regard  for  Law  must  have  led  him  to  wish  to  act  under 
Law  rather  than  under  force,  and  the  only  Body  to  whom  he 
could  turn  was  the  Colonial  Assembly,  then  in  session  at  Hart- 
ford. 

Of  the  scenes  accompanying  the  resignation  of  the  Office  of 
Stamp  [Master,  I  do  not  care  to  speak  at  length.     It  is  not  a 
very  creditable  page  in  our  History  although  we  may  be  most 
glad  that  it  was  not  marked  by  the  violence  and  brutality  which 
are  recorded  elsewhere.      On  horseback  Mr.  Ingersoll  started  for 
Hartford  over  the  road  on  which  he  had  doubtless  gone  many 
times  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  or  the  performance  of 
official  duties,  by  way  of  ]Middletown,  I  suppose,  and  the  We.-t 
side  of  the  Eiver  thereafter.     It  is  a  familiar  story  of  the  way 
in  which  a  company  of  five  hundred  men  on  horseback,  gathercii 
inainly  from  the  Eastern  part  of  the  State,  fell  in  with  him  and 
accompanied  him,  demanding  when  Wetherstield  was  reached 
that  he  should  resign  his  Office  and  only  satistied  when  he  had 
written  out  his  resignation  which  he  said  he  would  present  to  the 
xVssembly  at  Hartford.  ,   This  company  of  men  seems  to  have 
been  under  the  command  of  Major  John  Durkee  of  Xorwich,  a 
prominent   officer    in    the   Connecticut   ]\Iilitia,    of   whom   on-- 
reads  later  in  tlie  story  of  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.     It  i? 
said  that  General  Putnam  would  have  had  the  direction  of  thi:^ 
company  of  men  but  for  illness.     The  eastern  part  of  the  Colony 
seems  to  have  provided  these  men'  and  to  have  been  the  part  in 
which  the  Sons  of  Liberty  were  most  numerous  and  l)e3t  organ- 
ized.    Why  it  was  so  I  do  not  quite  understand.     I  do  not  kno\v 
that  when  the  War  came  on  there  was  any  particular  distinction 
l)etween  the  ditl"rreut  parts  of  Connecticut,  some  Loyalists  every- 


JAKKI)    1N(;KI:s0LT,    and    TIII.    SlAMl*     ACT.  J^'^ 

wlicre    but   substantial    unity   for    the    Colonial    cause.      Very 
rrluftant  to  vield  to  force  but  recordi'd  as  saying  that  the  Office 
was  nut  worth  dying  for,  ^[r.  IngersoU  promised  his  resignation, 
;ind  the  men,  having  been  satisfied,  the  dinner  was  eaten,  nt 
Wftherstield,  and  the  procession  to  Hartford   continued  with 
trumpeters  going  before,  and  there  the  act  of  resignation  was 
fompleted.     One   cannot   forbear   repeating   the   pleasantry   of 
Jared  IngersoU,  mounted  on  his  white  horse,  when  asked  how  it 
seemed  to  be  so  conducted,  that  he  had  a  clearer  idea  than  ever 
before  of  that  passage  in  the  Book  of  the  Revelation  which 
describes  Death  on  a  pale  horse  and  all  Hell  following.     The 
dinner  at  AVethersfield,  which  followed  'Mv.  Ingersoll's  promise 
of  resignation,  seems  to  have  been  eaten  with  general  good  feel- 
iuir.     The  men  who  forced  the  resignation  were  not  exactly 
lawless  with  the  vicious  spirit  of  similar  companies  of  men  in 
other  Colonies.     I  suppose,  however,  that  some  of  them  were 
.«;uch  men  as  are  spoken  of  in  Holy  Scripture  as  of  "the  baser 
sort."     I  quote  from  Horace  Binney  on  the   subject  because 
with  his  intimacy  with  Jared  IngersoU,  Jr.,  very  likely  he  kiiew 
the  tradition  which  survived  in  the  family. 

"This  Mas  the  first  and  perhaps  the  best  conducted  case  of  Lynch  Law 
that  lawbooks  report.  It  shed  no  blood,  it  broke  no  bones,  and  it  accom- 
iiKidated  the  constituted  authorities  to  their  heart's  content.  The  Stamp 
Act  was  dead  and  the  death  could  not  be  laid  at  their  door.  A  striking 
f<ature  to  disprove  personal  malice  on  any  side  was  this,  that,  although 
allidavits  were  taken  and  filed,  and  some  show  made  of  calling  out  the 
judicial  authorities,  :Mr.  IngersoU  named  no  names,  though  he  knew  the 
l-aders  as  well  as  they  knew  him.  Such  a  contest  would  ordinarily  have 
•iriven  the  weaker  Party  into  exile,  or  the  extremity  of  opposition,  but  in 
tins  case  it  did  neither!  :SIr.  IngersoU  was  loyal  to  the  British  Constitu- 
tion and  to  the  Crown,  as  were  liundreds  of  thousands  of  the  Colonists  in 
til.-  same  day;  but  he  never  was  a  Loyalist  in  the  special  sense,  and  his 
r'fu>al  to  surrender  his  commission  except  by  the  application  of  his  major 
•li'l  not  alienate  the  people  from  him  nor  him  hi>in  tl.em.  He  remained  in 
lii>  natal  homestead,  but  during  the  ten  year's  of  irritate.l  pride  on  one 
M.ie.  and  of  dogged  contumacy  on  the  other,  which  intervened  between  the 
r-i-eal  of  the  Stamp  Act  and  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  he  was  more 
"t  an  observer  than  an  actor."  ,       i 

^[r.  IngersoU  took  up  his  duties  again  in  Xew  Haven  and 
dicrc  are  manv  letters  to  show  that  he  had  not  forfeited  the 


104  jAi.'K.n  iX(;KnsoLL  axd  the  sTA^^p  act. 

respect  of  his  old  friends.  While  in  the  contentions  wliich  f,]- 
lowed  he. could  not  be  called  a  Loyalist  of  the  most  devoted  kind, 
he  conld  not  take  his  place  with  old  friends  like  Roger  Shernuin. 
Gov.  Livingston,  Gold  Silliman,  in  complete  service  of  iL..- 
Colonial  cause.  At  a  critical  time  there  are  always  men  wh.. 
do  not  see  their  way  to  take  sides  without  reserve,  whether  f  .r 
King  or  Parliament  in  the  middle  of  the  Seventeenth  Century,..: 
for  King  or  Colony  in  the  third  quarter  of  the  Eighteenth  Con- 
tury,  or  for  Xorth  or  South  in  our  own  Civil  War,  and  they  ar- 
likely  to  he  unjustly  judged  as  the  passions  of  men  are  arous.-i 
and  unreserved  decision  for  one  side  or  the  other  seems  necessary. 
I  like  to  think  that,  however  strongly  men  felt  in  Connecticut 
at  this  time,  houses  were  not  destroyed  nor  men  put  in  danger  '■:' 
their  lives.  The  case  of  William  Samuel  Johnson,  first  Senat'  r 
from  the  State,  is  a  striking  example  of  the  fair  judgment  ■  : 
our  people  at  the  time,  and  I  suppose  Jared  IngersolFs  positiijii 
must  have  been  nnich  the  same. 

Jared  Ingersoll  and  William  Samuel  Johnson,  who  succeeded 
his  father  as  the  second  President  of  King's  or  Columbia  Colic::' 
in  17ST,  were  friends  and  correspondents  from  their  college  da_v-. 
It  is  a  strange  thing  that  two  men  who  probably  thought  ver} 
much  alike  as  regards  the  relation  of  the  mother  country  ai;' 
the  Colonies  should  have  such  different  fortunes.     Xeither  oi.- 
could  stand  for  the  Colonies  or  the  King  in  an  unqualified  wa;> . 
while  both  were  good  servants  of  their  own  Colony  in  its  cor- 
troversies  with  the  British  government.     As  we  have  seen,  ^li". 
Ingersoll  returned  to  find  his  people  bitterly  hostile,  old  frioii.:- 
alienated,  and  retirement  from  public  life  necessary,  and  tr.  _■ 
do'vVn  to  his  death  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine  under  a  cloud  • 
suspicion  and  disappointment.     ]Mr.  Johnson  came  back  fi'' 
London,  whither  he  had  gone  to  represent  the  Colony  in  *: 
question  of  the  Mohegan  Lands,  to  be  enthusiastically  receiv- 
in  the  Colony  and  with  the  testimonial  of  the  thanks  of  the  (>■ 
eral  Assembly  for  his  faithful  service.    When  the  War  of  L'-' 
pendence  came  Mr.  Johnson  retired  to  Stratford  as  a  Loyal  ■' 
and  was  one  time  umler  arrest  because  the  townspeople  appeal- 
to  him  to  intluence  the  commander  of  the  British  tieet  in  !• ' 


1    , 


1  JARED    INGEKSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT.  10." 


SoimJ  not  to  capture  Stratford,  ^fr.  Ingersoll  at  Xcw  Haven 
and  !^[r.  Johnson  at  Stratford  were  in  retirement  durinir  the 
war,  but  when  the  end  came  ]\Ir.  Johnson  became  a  representa- 
tive of  the  Colony  at  the  convention  which  formed  the  Consti- 
tution and  one  of  the  first  Senators  from  Connecticut  with 
apparently  all  of  his  Loyalist  sympathies  forirottt-n.  It  may 
i  iiave  been  that  had  Jared  Ingersoll  lived  beyond  ITSl  he  also 

I  had  been  reinstated-  in  the  confidence  of  the  Colony  which  he 

I  had  served  so  well.     The  explanation  of  it  all  seems  to  me  to 

I  have  been  the  fact  that  while  the  great  issue  was  being  made  up 

I  Ingersoll  was  in  London  and  without  the  influences  about  him 

I  which  would  have  shaped  his  course  with  that  of  his  own  people 

I  toward  the  Eoyal  Government. 

The  Reverend  Dr.  Beardsley,  biographer  of  William  Samuel 
Johnson  as  well  as  of  his  father,  has  published  some  of  the 
letters  which  passed  between  Johnson  and  Ingersoll.  After  his 
enforced  resignation  of  the  office  of  Stamp  Master,  which  he 
says  became  the  most  odious  that  could  well  be  imagined,  he 
writes  to  Johnson,  "I  have  found  myself  in  the  most  distressed 
situation,  between  the  obligations  of  my  office  and  the  resent- 
ments of  the  people,  but  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall 
be  rid  of  both." 

Johnson  when  in  London  had  his  friend  Ingersoll  in  mind. 
When  it  was  known  that  the  King  was  disposed  to  bestow  some 
niarks  of  his  favor  upon  those  governors  and  officers  in  America 
who  had  suffered  because  of  their  loyalty  Johnson  wrote  to  his 
father  in  May,  1T67,  "The  Chief  Justiceship  of  Xew  York  is 
thought  of  for  Mr.  Ingersoll,  but  it  may  be  best  not  to  mention 
this  at  present  as  it  is  not  yet  known  whether  the  engagement 
which  had  been  made  of  it  to  another  person  (I  imagine  !Mr. 
Crardiner )  can  be  decently  avoided,  but  he  and  the  other  suf- 
ferers will  have  the  first  things  that  offer.""  In  a  letter  to 
Johnson  two  months  later  Ingersoll  writes,  'T  will  frame  no 
objections  to  the  Chief  Justiceship  of  Xew  York  nor  to  a  seat 
"n  the  new  Board  of  Revenue,  nor  to  any  other  that  you  shall 
•ipprove  of,  as  I  still  have  full  confidence  in  your  judgment  and 
friendship."'      So  there  was  a  plain  desire  on  the  part  of  ^fr. 


196  .TAK'Kl)    IN(iKi;S(tI,r,    AM»    'llIK     STATvI  1'     ACT. 

Inirersoll's   friends   in   his   ill   fortune   to   show   for   him   i^reat 
regard. 

There  is  in  the  (.Connecticut  Gazette  of  Anii-ust  ."(ith,  ITu.'., 
which  was  only  three  weeks  after  Mr.  luiicrsoll  reached  hoiiir. 
one  of  those  anonymous  letters  which  express  the  rude  spirit  <if 
the  time,  ending  however  with  these  words,  "fn  the  meantim.- 
I  think  it  cannot  serve  the  common  cause  to  treat  him  wirli 
scurrility,  for  there  are  a  great  many  brave  hearts  in  this  Colony 
that  hate  a  Stamp  ^Master  but  love  Mr,  Ing'ersoll."  The  situatiijii 
may  perhaps  be  summed  up  in  those  words,  "the  struggle  in  Xcw 
Haven  and  Connecticut  between  hatred  of  a  Stamp  ^Master  ami 
love  of  Mr.  Ingersoll,'"  Private  correspondence  was  liit]<' 
regarded  then  and  some  private  letters  of  Mr.  Ingersoll  ninl 
some  utterances,  in  themselves  not  compromising,  were  used  \<y 
his  enemies  in  their  attacks  upon  him,  so  that  in  response  i" 
requests  of  friends  he  published  in  a  small  volume  his  corn- 
spondence  and  a  statement^  of  his  attitude  through  the  whol*' 
controversy.  That  he  was  altogether  honest  one  must  l>eli(\''. 
If  he  had  been  in  Xew  Haven  in  1764  and  1765  instead  <it 
beimr  in  London  it  would  have  come  to  him  doubtless  in  a 

O 

different  way. 

AVe  are  not  left  without  knowledge  of  the  indignities  which 
Mr.  Ingersoll  suffered  in  Xew  Haven  in  that  month  of  Septem- 
ber, 1765.  One  reads,  in  Levermore's  "Republic  of  Xi'.v 
Haven,"  that  crowds  gathered  around  his  house  in  a  threatenini' 
manner  and  burnt  him  in  effigy.  He  gave  his  fellow-citizci:- 
notification  that  he  did  not  expect  to  enforce  the  Stamped  Papi  r 
on  anybody  but  desired  the  citizens  to  think  more  of  how  to  g' ' 
rid  of  "the  Stamp  Act  than  of  the  Officers  who  were  to  sup]'!,^ 
them  with  the  Paper,  and  to  let  further  knowledge  dimini^i' 
their  anger.  The  authorities  felt  obliged  to  protect  him  iv'<^-- 
the  crowd  but  on  the  17th,  the  Town  ]lleeting  voted  that  reprt" 
sentatives  in  the  General  Assend)ly  should  labor  for  the  rep'  -• 
of  the  Stamp  Act,  and  in  his  presence  the  ^Meeting  resolved  th;'- 
the  freemen  present  earnestly  d(>sired  ^Mr.  Ingersoll  to  resign  h'- 
Stamp  Office  innnediately.  With  greater  courage  than  niaiy 
-who  held  like  positions  in  other  Colonies,  he  declared  that  1'' 


'  JAEED    IXGP:KS0LL    AXD    TIFK    STA^[P    ACT.  197 

f  would  not  resign  except   in   accordance  with   the  will  of  the 

I  General  Assembly.      This  same  writer  says  that  for  a  vear  or 

I  two  Air.  Ingersoll  was  under  a  good  deal  of  restraint  and  that 

I  his  letters  were  tampered  with,  but  letters  show  that  his  practice 

I  in  the  Law  was  maintained  as  well  as  many  friendships.     Tn 

I  1770  he  was  on  a  Committee  chosen  to  consider  the  commercial 

I  interests  of  the  town  of  Xew  Haven,  when  there  was  much  dis- 

I  cussion  upon  non-importation  and  domestic  manufacture,  with 

I  >nch  men  as  David  Wooster,  Roger  Sherman  and  James  A. 

I  Hillhouse.     Interesting  letters  belong  to  these  years  as  well  as 

I  a  great  deal  of  correspondence  of  a  lousiness  kind.     He  was 

I  under  a  shadow,  however,  and  the  ties  of  friendship  binding  him 

I  to  Xew  Haven  were  loosened. 

I  The  Royal  favor,  which  3[r.  Ingersoll  had  earned,  came  to 

I  him  in  the  appointment  as  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Vice  Admiraltv 

I  in  the  ]\Iiddle  Colonies.     His  duties  required  his  residence  in 

[  Philadelphia  and  he  moved  to  that  city  in  1771.     There  is  some- 

rliing  pathetic  in  the  removal  of  Jared  Ingersoll  from  Xew 
Haven,  where  he  had  lived  his  whole  life  of  fifty  years  and  where 
lor  thirty  years  he  had  been  a  distinguished  lawyer  performino- 
many  public  duties  and  serving  the  Colony  in  many  wavs,  havino- 
incurred  the  ill  will  of  lifelong  friends  and  neighbors  because 
<d'  his  political  opinions.  There  are  many  indications,  however, 
tliat  not  all  friends  turned  from  him,  nor  that  life  became 
entirely  burdensome  for  him.  •  ?'•  '     '• 

The  coming  of  the  War  of  Independence  brought  an  end  of 
the  exercise  of  ]\Ir.  Ingersoll's  otHce  and  he  returned  to  Xew 
Haven  in  1777  and  died  four  years  later.  He  was  buried  under 
Center  Church  and  in  the  Crypt  you  may  still  read  the  inscrip- 
tion which  in  dignitied  words  expresses  the  judgment  of  neiah- 
I'ors  and  friends.  It  will  be  found  in  Vol.  Ill  of  the  Xew 
Haven  Historical  Society  Papers. 

President  Stiles  in  his  diary  of  August  25th,  17S1,  in  a  tone 
^vhich  the  time  accounts  for,  wrote,  "About  noon  died  Tared 
Ingersoll,  Esq.  of  this  town,  aged  fifty-nine.  He  had  passed 
through  a  variety  in  life.  By  accepting  the  ofiice  of  Stamp 
-^^aster  in  17G5  he  rendered  himself  obnoxious.     He  had  for- 


,'        .*J 


19S 


JARED    IXGEKSOr.L    AXD    THE    STA:\rP    ACT. 


merlv  the  confidence  of  bis  country  and  was  sent  over  Agent  Iv 
Connecticut  to  Great  Britain.  He  was  Judge  of  Admiraltv 
with  six  hundred  pounds  sterling,  sahiry,  but  all  this  made  liim 
unhappy.*' 

At  a  later  time,  when  the  bitterness  of  the  war  had  subside^!. 
President  Dwight  wrote  that  ]\Ir.  IngersoU  was  unjustly  cen- 
sured for  taking  the  office  which  was  urged  upon  him  and  which 
he  accepted  with  the  thought  that  he  could  make  its  operatiijii 
less  burdensome  than  it  would  be  in  the  hands  of  a  stranger. 

I  ask  myself  whether  this  great  Democratic  movement,  in  tlie 
Colanies  one  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  was  not  from  tlu- 
plainer  people,  the  unprivileged  folk,  from  those,  who  with  les:^ 
education  are  more  easily  moved  by  their  feelings  and  do  nor 
let  respect  for  Law  interfere  with  their  S}Tnpathy  for  what  they 
feel  to  be  right.  Those  years  were  a  turning  point  in  the 
Colonial  History  and  so  in  the  World's  History,  the  lining  up 
against  a  hard  and  perverse  British  Policy  and  against  those 
who  stood  for  it  in  the  Colonies  and  who  were  really  the  privi- 
leged people  of  the  Colonies,  of  the  gTeat  company  of  men  whr^ 
are  moved  by  feeling  and  instinct  as  to  what  their  rights  are  and 
are  not  over  particular  as  to  the  way  in  which  they  assert  them. 
They  may  make  an  orderly  mob,  like  that  which  followed  Jared 
IngersoU  to  Hartford,  or  such  a  mob  as  destroyed  Gov.  Hutch- 
inson's house  and  Andrew  Oliver's  Stamp  Otfice.  I  ask  myselt 
if  there  be  not  some  analogy  between  what  happened  in  the 
Colonies  in  1765  and  what  has  been  happening  in  our  generatiun 
as  Organized  Labor  and  men  who  feel  they  are  wronged  by  tin- 
Industrial  Order  of  our  day  are  striving,  often  in  violent  ways. 
to  set  right  what  they  think  to  be  wrong  and  assert  what  tluy 
feel  to  be  their  rights.  Will  some  one  say  whether  the  inspiration 
for  this  new  movement,  which  some  people  to-day  fear  and  wnuld 
repress  and  few  of  us  understand  and  appreciate,  may  not  Ia- 
found  in  that  decade  in  the  ^Vnicrican  Colonies  to  which  u'lr 
thoughts  now  turn.  Wise  men  of  that  day,  wdicther  in  Loud"!'- 
or  in  the  Colonies,  were  deceived  as  to  what  the  Colonies  wuul" 
do  and  did  not  reckon  with  what  T  think  niay  be  called  rhr 
Democratic  Spirit  which  had  developed  in  the  new  world. 


I     !■ 


m        u 


JAEED    IXGERSOLL    AXD    THE    STAIMP    ACT. 


190 


Again,  in  Xew  England,  the  Clergy  of  the  Congregational 
Clnirches  had  very  much  to  do  in  arousing  and  developing  this 
new  spirit.  Hollist^er,  in  his  not  very  satisfactory  History  of 
Connecticut,  says  that  there  was  manifested  in  the  Colony  a  dis- 
position to  submit  to  the  Stamp  Act  in  silence,  that,  of  the 
cultivated  classes,  the  Clergymen,  for  a  while,  almost  were  alone 
in  their  opposition  to  the  measure.  Rev.  Stephen  Johnson  of 
Lyme  is  spoken  of  as  one  who  did  much  to  make  an  end  of  what 
he  calls  the  '"dangerous  lethargy-  that  had  lulled  the  Judges  to 
sleep  and  had  taken  strong  hold  of  the  Council."  The  words  in 
which  the  Historian  described  ^Ir.  Johnson's  method  may  well 
be  quoted,  "With  a  bony  grasp,  this  fearless  soldier  of  the  cross 
seized  the  noisome  dragon  of  ministerial  tyranny  by  the  throat, 
and  clung  around  his  neck  with  such  strangling  force,  that  it  was 
compelled  to  disclose  it5  deformities  to  the  people  by  the  writh- 
ings  of  its  pain.  Other  clergymen  took  up  the  warfare.  They 
impugned  the  stamp  act  in  their  sermons,  they  classed  its  loathed 
name  in  their  prayers  with  those  of  sin,  satan,  and  the  mammon 
of  unrighteousness.  The  people  were  soon  roused  to  a  sense  of 
danger.  The  flames  of  opposition,  so  long  suppressed,  now 
began  to  break  forth."  The  Colonial  Clergy  and  the  Sons  of 
Liberty  probably  did  much  to  hold  the  people  in  opposition  to 
the  execution  of  the  Stamp  Act  and  the  half-hearted  settlement. 

It  is  the  story  of  the  breaking  up  of  the  life  and  career  of  a 
high-minded  man  through  the  turning  against  him  of  the  people 
whom  he  had  served,  his  friends  and  neighbors,  because  he  could 
not  go  with  them  as  they  were  swept  away  in  a  time  of  gTeat 
excitement  and  popular  feeling.  A  great  company  of  educated 
and  thoughtful  people  of  the  Colonies  agreed  with  him.  Edu- 
cation and  social  position  and  traditions  were  on  his  side,  but  a 
new  spirit  had  developed  in  this  western  world  and  it  could  not 
l>e  repressed.  The  Colonies  made  up  of  gi-oups  of  people  just 
emerging  from  hard  conditions  of  life  with  a  new  continent 
behind  them  to  be  possessed  were  leading  the  way  in  a  struggle 
to  destroy  an  ancient  order  which  had  made  for  the  happiness 
"f  privileged  people  with  not  much  reganl  for  the  great  company 
of  the  unprivileged  in  the  way  of  security,  hope  and  happiness. 


200 


JARKD    IXGKIJSOLL    AND    THE    STAMP    ACT. 


In  the  leadership  of  this  new  movement  there  were  men  of 
vision,  out  of  very  lowly  conditions  in  life,  men  treated  witli 
scant  respect  by  the  great  people  of  the  earth.  Samuel  Adams 
a  failure  in  business,  contented  wirh  poverty,  James  Otis,  half 
insane,  Rog-er  Sherman,  beirinninc:  his  life  as  a  shoemaker,  Israel 
Putnam,  unlettered,  Patrick  Henry,  a  country  lawyer  withoiit 
practice,  and  Benjamin  Franklin,  most  influential  of  them  all; 
they  and  a  great  company  like  them  were  the  jest  of  the  great 
people  at  London  and  Paris  who  proposed  to  divide  the  wurM 
between  them,  but  they  interpreted  the  spirit  of  the  new  tiuu- 
and  the  future  belonged  to  them.  There  would  l)e  found  an 
aristocrat  in  George  Washington  to  be  the  head  and  director  uf 
the  movement  fi.nally.  But  the  force  which  sets  the  world  aloii::' 
a  new  course  is  from  the  great  company  of  unprivileged  peopk-. 
and  they  who  get  in  the  way  of  that  company  shall  be  swept 
aside.  We  have  lived  to  see  the  House  of  Lords,  which  gave  n.-t 
a  vote  against  the  Stamp  Act  and  treated  the  appeal  from  the 
Colonies  with  contempt,  taken  from  its  privileged  place  in 
Parliament.  That  spirit  which  developed  in  the  Colonies  a 
century  and  a  half  ago  and  having  manifestations  which  we 
deplore  and  would  gladly  forget  is  leading  the  world  still,  aii'l 
with  it  those  who  direct  the  fortunes  of  the  Church  and  order 
our  political,  social  and  industrial  life  do  well  to  reckon.  The 
shot  that  was  fired  at  Concord  bridge  some  ten  years  after  the 
year  of  the  Stamp  Act  is  echoing  still  around  the  world. 


i:/>:^'.l,.. 


i-.ai.iiaW«ati^<A.£w:=.jfcAaag«a>i:^    ... A^v,-.^.-^^-iit'^U-^^^-4i<g^.\L';iia»:fe. ', 


A  SELECTION  FROM  THE  CORRESPONDENCE 

AND   MISCELLANEOUS   TAPERS   OF 

JARED   INGERSOLL. 

■-'-■■-■■        Edited  hx  Fkaxklix  B.  Dexter. 


The  Hon.  -Tared  Iiigersoll  die<:l  in  New  Haven  in  ITSl,  and 
his  estate  %Yas  settled  bv  his  son,  a  resident  of  Philadelphia ; 
but  a  large  collection  of  his  personal  papers  was  left  in  New 
Haven  in  the  keeping  of  his  nephew,  the  Hon.  Jonathan  Inger- 
soll,  on  the  death  of  whose  grandson,  the  Hon.  Charles  R. 
Ingersoll,  in  190->,.  they  were  presented  to  the  New  Haven 
Colony  Historical  Society,  under  whose  authority  this  selection 
is  now  printed.  ' 

In  providing  the  necessary  annotations,  the  editor  has  had  the 
great  advantage  of  the  assistance  of  another  member  of  the 
Society,  Professor  Charles  M.  Andrews,  whose  superior  knowl- 
edge of  the  period  under  review  is  universally  acknowledged. 

The  Society  is  fortunate  in  having  obtained,  through  the 
kindness  of  Dr.  Arthur  Fairbanks,  the  Director  of  the  ]\Iuseum 
of  Fine  Arts  in  Boston,  permission  for  the  reproduction  of  a 
portrait  of  ]\Ir.  Ingersoll,  in  the  possession  of  his  descendant, 
Mr.  Ingersoll  Amory,  of  Boston,  which  is  believed  to  have  been 
painted  by  Copley  in  New  York  in  1771,  when  the  subject  was 
in  his  50th  year.  Charles  Henry  Hart,  LL.B..  the  well-known 
art-expert  of  Philadelphia,  wrote  of  this  portrait  in  1S70  : 

The  portrait  of  Mr.  Inuersoll  is  a  superb  painting,  forty  b}'  fifty  inches, 
in  Copley's  best  manner.  It  is  tluee-quarter  length,  facing  to  riglit.  He 
is  represented  as  sitting  in  a  large  green  chair,  with  his  right  arm  resting 
upuu  a  richly-ljouml  book,  which  lies  upon  a  tabic  witli  a  polished  green 
top;  ill  liis  right  hand  he  liolds  a  paper.  The  table  i^  rich  mahogany,  with 
hra-.s  handlf^  to  the  drawer,  and  on  it  are  books  and  writing  materials. 
He   is   dressed    in    full   court   suit,   a   scarlet   coat   with   large   gilt   buttons. 


202 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  TArERS,  1743-50. 


garnet-coloured  knoe-breeches,  lace  ruffles,  dressing  and  3\vord.  He  wcai- 
a  long  white  satin  waistcoat,  elaborately  embroidered,  with  button^,  a 
cambric  neckerchief  with  long  lace  ends  falling  inside  his  vest,  whicii  i> 
unbuttoned  at  the  top.  His  left  hand,  which  is  wonderfully  well  painted, 
rests  on  his  knee.  .         "  ' 


I.     uSTew  Ha  vex,  1743-1750. 

The  documents  here  included  have  been  selected  to  illustratt- 
the  setting  of  ]Mr.  Ingersoll's  career  in  the  years  after  hi- 
graduation  from  Yale  in  1742,  to  his  entrance  on  public  life. 


Acc°.  OF  Haxxaii  Ixgeksoll  alias  Whitixg,* 
Advance  ix  Settle:^iext 

1744  Octobr  &  so  forward 

Brass  Kettle  7.10.0 
Iron  pot  20/  frying 

[.  .  .]   23/  2.    0.0 
pail  3/6  1014  yd  Callico 

@  15/7  8.    3.21,. 

lOib  Sheeps  wool  (g  5/3  2.12.0 

peice  of  tape  0.    7.0 

2  pint  basons  @,  3/  0.6.0 

Y2  Doz.  pewter  Spoons  0 .    0.0 

tin  Cullender  5/ 

23  [.  .  .]  92/  4.17.0 

141b.  3  oz  feathers  (g  5/  3 . 1 1 .  •> 

211^  Do.  (5  5/  5.5.0 
bed  tick  weaving  12^^  yd 

(a'  3/  1.17.0 
weaving  1 1 1 j  yd.  linnen 

^2/  1.3. 0 

Do.  25  yd.  fg  2/6  3.   2.0 

Cash  for  Wid".  Pierce  0.    4.t'' 

tea  pot  28/  bellows  13/  2.01.11 

pr  tongs  &  pealf  1-    3.1' 

*  ^Ir.  In^iT-'dl  married,  on  August  1.  1743,  Hannah,  eldest  child  of  tl^' 
Hon.  Coliinel  .Joseph  Wliiting,  of  Xew  Haven. 

Here  is  given  his  mcuinrandum  of  tlie  value  of  the  houselmld  furnisliin;:^ 
which  she  brouglit  as  hor  dowry.  The  reckuning  seems  to  be  in  Connectii-ur 
old  tt-nor. 

t  Or  peel  =:  shovel. 


Yj  Doz:  large  plates 

£2. 

15.0 

14  Doz.  Do. 

2. 

2.6 

2  Dishes  'g  28/ 

2. 

16.0 

2  Do.  (a.  23/ 

2. 

6.0 

Small  Do. 

0. 

17.0 

2  porringers  (S;  7/ 

0. 

14.0 

pr.  Iron  Candlesticks 

0. 

T.O 

Skimmer 

0. 

10.0 

warming  pan 

3. 

10.0 

Iron  Skillet 

0. 

9.0 

Sett,  tea  dishes  &  bowl 

s  1. 

12.6 

Bed  ticken 

8. 

2.0 

IS  yds.  Callico  (a   14/ 

12. 

12.0 

looking  glass 

17. 

0.0 

Box  iron  &  heater 

1. 

5.0 

Stone  mug  4/6  2ii>3 

.  [missing] 

0. 

14.6 

7  yds.  Callico  (g   15/7 

5 , 

9.1 

41b:  Cotton  wool  fi}   6/ 

1. 

4.0 

1  Dish  15/  U-  l)"z.  X. 

[.  .  .]ates  27/0 

2. 

2.6 

JAUED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1743-5G. 


203 


red  Earthen  ware 

1.11.2 

lOib.  Do.  fg  5/6 

2.15.0 

3  drinking  glasses 

0.    5.0 

Chaffing  Dish 

1.   0.0 

Square  whitewood  table  2.   0.0 

gridiron 

0.12.0 

Bedstead  3.5/  Statia* 

Chinee  Curtains 

25.    0.0 

glass  50/ 

4.   5.0 

p""  Small  hand  irons 

blanket  30/  Carding  4/ 

7  1.14.7 

wt  71b 

0.12.3 

tea  kettle  £5.  bason  13/  -t   i -^  n 

Ladle  1/  Seive  4/G 

0.    5.6 

216.12.0 

Earthen  ware 

0.   4.0 

old  Chest 

1.12.0 

round  table  50/  old     • 

Silver  tankard  wt 

.  20 

O''. 

trunk  10/ 

3.    0.0 

gross 

58.13.0 

Rugg  5.15.6  Coverlid 

2  pr  Curtain  rods 

3.    0.0 

o£ 

10.15.6 

4  tea  spoons 

4.    5.0 

4  yds  tow  Cloth  (a   5/ 

1.    0.0 

2  old  holland  Sheet 

s 

6.    0.0 

pr  great  handirons  wt. 

1  Cotton  old  Do. 

2.10.0 

201b  @  1/9 

1.15.0 

1  old  Linnen  D". 

1.    5.0 

peal  41b  14  ,g   1/9 

0.    S.O 

1  pr.  old  holland  pi 

How 

tongs  3i^ib  tranimelf 

beer  J 

0.15.0 

71b 

o.is.4y2 

1   holl'i.  towel  12/2 

Do. 

Chest  draws  &  dressing 

Xapkin 

1.12.0 

table 

20.    0.0 

2  Diapr.  Do.  1  Do.  Damask  1.16.0 

^  Doz.  Crown  Chairs  @ 

15/ 

4.10.0 

81.    8.0 

V2  Doz.  York  Do.  (g:  12/ 
^/2  Do.  Slat  Do.  @  10/ 

3.12.0 
3.   0.0 

'Slore  tow  Cloth 

1.    0.0 

82.    8.0 

weaving  pr.  white 
blankets 
171b.  feathers  @   5/ 

0.12.0 
4.    5.0 

■     '..-■•■■:.  ■<:.■ 

216.12.0 

299.   0.0 

Allowed  to  be  350 .0.0 


Jared  Iiiirersoll 


DePOSITIOX    IX    THE    CASE    OF    Hox.    WaEJIAM    MaTHER. 

Jared  Ingorsoll  of  Xew  Haven  of  Lawfiill  Age  Testifies  as 
follows,  Viz.— In  the  fall  of  y*^  Year  1743,  I  removed  from  Col- 
lege where  I  had  lived  about  five  years,  &  settled  down  an  Inhab- 
itant in  the  Town  of  Xew  Haven.  During  my  Stay  at  College 
I  by  Sight  only,  knew  the  late  Warham  :\rather^  Esq",  now  Dec''. 

•  A  glass  brought  from  Saint  Eustatius,  in  the  Dutch  West  Indies. 

t  A  series  of  links  hung  in  the  ohimnoy,  for  pots  to  hang  on. 

t  =  piHwwr  case. 

S  Warham  Mather  (Harvard  Coll.  16S5).  horn  16t;(;,  die.!  174.-),  iiad  s.-ttled 
in  Xew  Haven  about  1705,  to  take  care  of  his  wife's  motlior,  the  widow  of 
•folin  Davenport,  Jr.     Here  he  practiced  medicine,  and  also  held  a  judgeship. 


'«! 


204 


JARKD    IXGERSOLL    PAl'EUS.     1743-3G. 


having'  then  never  spoke  to  him  as  I  Reniemher.  Upon  u\\ 
settling  in  said  Town  as  afores"^  which  I  think  was  toward  rh, 
End  of  Octul/.  1743,  as  my  Circumstances  «fc  business  then  Lc-i 
me  to  an  Acquaintance  tl\:  Correspondence  with  many  of  tin 
Inhabitants  of  s"^.  Town,  many  of  them  the  s"*.  W.  ]\fatlu  r^ 
Intimate  Acquaintance,  I  hoard  it  liepeatedly  said  by  ijur  vV 
another — how  strangely  ;M\  ]\[ather  is  broken!,  W.  Mather  i- 
become  a  mear  Child,  »t  Expressions  of  like  Import.  Some  tinu- 
after  this  while  the  County  Court  sat  at  Xew  Haven,  Col"'. 
Whiting^  told  me  that  W.  ]\[ather  had  sent  to  him  desiring  t" 
see  him.  He  y".  s"*.  Col^  ^Vhiting  being  not  very  alile  himself 
to  walk.  Desired  me  to  wait  upon  W.  Mather  to  know  his  mind. 
I  went,  did  my  Errand  to  M'".  Mather,  he  made  Reply  to  what 
I  said  but  so  brokenly  I  could  understand  scarce  any  thing  In- 
said.  After  a  little  pause  spake  again  brokenly  &  gave  me  a 
written  paper;  which  I  carried  to  Court  *t  delivered  to  Col'. 
Whiting-,  who  Attempted  to  read  it  but  "could  read  only  here  \' 
there  a  word ;  where  he  could  read,  the  Sence  much  uncon- 
nected ;  he  found  out  in  general  that  a  Conservator  was  y' 
burden  of  y*"  Story,  it  seemed  to  be  a  Remonstrance  against  one. 
there  being  at  that  time  a  Motion  by  Somebody  as  I  wa> 
Informed,  made  to  said  Court  about  a  Conservator  to  be 
appointed  over  s*^.  ^Mather.  I  could  not  read  scarce  a  word  of 
s*^.  Letter  my  self,  which  might  possibly  be  Owing  to  this  that 
M^  Mathers  usual  hand  writing  was  very  bad,  but  I  Remember 
Cor.  Whiting  said  that  he  had  been  so  used  to  his  writing  that 
he  could  Usually  heretofore  read  it  with  Ease.  At  what  time 
this  was  I  Dare  not  possitively  say,  but  upon  the  best  Recol- 
lection think  it  was  in  Janu^ :  1743/4.  In  the  fall  of  y^  Year 
1744,  viz  aljout  the  Latter  End  of  Octob''.  or  beginning  of  X'>v'. 
1744  (as  to  the  time  I  am  able  by  Certain  Circumstances  t" 
Inform  my  Self  I  think  with  Certainty)  having  heard  that  ^V- 

The  inventory  of  his  estate  includes  a  remarkably  detailed  list  of  the(di>;^ie;il 
books,  remnants  of  the  libraries  of  hi^  clerical  ancestors. 

Other  atlidavits  res{)eetinj_'  his  loss  of  mind  are  preserve<l  armmL'  tlf 
Ingersoll  papers. 

*  Col.  .JoM'tdi  \\liitiny  was  Mr.   IngersoU's  father-in-law. 


JARED    IXGKRSOI.L    rAI'KRS,     1743-50.  205 

Mather  Lad  some  Law  Books  to  be  sold  I  went  in  order  to  get 
some;  went  first  to  ^V.  Tim°.  Jones  s  having  heard  that  he 
managed  ^P.  Mathers  business  by  a  power  ot"  Attorney,  he  not 
iKnng  at  home  as  I  Kemember,  I  went  alone  to  ^r.  Mathers 
house,  found  him  sitting  alone  by  a  small  fire  in  an  Elbow  Chair 
with  his  hat  on,  partly  leaning  on  his  Stafl:".  I  spake  to  him,  y® 
s''.  Mather,  upon  which  he  slowly  turned  his  head  round  & 
Looked  toward  me.  '  I  Informed  him  that  I  was  Desirous  to  see 
his  books  hearing  they  were  to  be  sold,  he  Answered  me  in  sev- 
eral words  of  which  I  understood  only  y®  word  Chamber,  by 
which  I  supposed  he  meant  to  say  y^  books  were  up  Chamber, 
upon  that  I  went  up  Chamber,  found  a  Large  Library.  Looked 
among  *Em  about  half  an  hour,  then  went  down  again,  found 
^r.  Mather  sitting  as  before,  told  him  I  had  found  no  books  that 
suited  me  *!k:  that  I  had  took  none — Lpon  that  after  a  short  pause 
k.  Intently  looking  me  in  the  face,  he  said,  who  be  you  ?  I  told 
him  my  name  was  Ingersoll— but  supposing  he  might  not  know 
me  by  my  name  only,  I  added  that  I  lived  in  the  Town  ».t  that  I 
married  one  of  Col\  Whitings  L)aughters,  Concluding  that  by 
mentioning  Col\  Whiting  his  Intimate  Acquaintance  &  my  Rela- 
tion to  him  which  he  had  Doubtless  many  a  time  heard  of,  that 
he  would  have  had  a  Satisfying  Knowledge  of  me,  but  upon  my 
so  saying,  he  turned  his  head  toward  the  fire  &  after  a  pause  of 
about  half  a  minute  &^  seeming  Intense  thinking,  he  said  Slowly, 
Colonel  Whiting  I  Where  does  he  live?  I  was  somewhat  sur- 
prized that  he  should  not  know  him,  took  pains  to  bring  him  to 
his  remembrance  but  to  no  purpose.  He  asked  whether  he  had 
any  Sons,  lV  a  number  of  Questions  about  things  which  I  sup- 
posed he" must  have  fully  known.  All  at  once  he  broke  off  from 
talking  about  Col'.  Whiting  &  asked  me  if  I  had  not  heard  of  a 
great  whale  being  Catch't  in  the  harbour  y''  Day  before.  I  told 
him  no ;  upon  that  he  went  on  talking  strange  &  Confused  things 
about  a  whale  being  Catch\  y''  Day  before  «i'C.  I  said  no  more 
to  him,  but  only  after  Viewing  him  a  Small  Space  as  a  ruinated 
peice  of  Venerable  Antiquity,  I  l)id  him  farewell,  at  which  he 
seemed  to  take  no  Xotice,  c^-  Xever  Spdke  to  him  afterwards. 
lie  died,  as  I  remend>or  in  less  than  a  Year  after  this  time.      At 


206  JAKED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  174:0-50. 

this  time  I  could  not  Discern  tliat  ^r.  blather  was  affected  Iv 
any  pain  of  Eody,  but  so  prodip,iously  broken  as  to  liis  Intel- 
lectuals, that  I  must  Confess  I  should  as  soon  a  thought  ..[ 
pulling  a  Dead  man  out  of  his  grave  &  getting  him  to  Exeeur.' 
any  Deed  or  other  Instrument  as  he. — Soon  after  this,  I  believe 
in  Less  than  a\veek,]\r  James  Pierpoinf"  Came  to  me  &■  Desire(l 
to  draw  a  Deed  from  s"^.  3F.  ]Mather  to  the  people  of  y*'  Seperate 
meeting  in  Xew  Haven  of  a  Certain  peice  about  10  acres  of 
Salt  meadow.  I  was  quite  surprized  ^  nonpluss*^.  at  the  motion, 
&:  tho'  I  had  never  heard  of  ]\F.  Pierpoint  in  particular,  yet 
Could  not  help  turning  my  thoughts  on  y^  frequent  Reports  I 
had  heard  that  there  were  Certain  people  who  by  a  too  great 
Inattention  to  M^  blathers  brokeness,  or  Actuated  by  worse 
principles,  were  very  Industrious  to  Entitle  themselves  to  his 
Estate ;  after  a  little  pause  I  looked  M^  Pierpoint  in  y^  face  A: 
smiling  said,  why,  ]\F.  Pierpoint,  Do  you  think  ]\P.  Mather  is 
able  to  Execute  a  Deed  that  will  be  Valid  in  Law  ?  or  words  to 
that  purpose,  upon  which  M^  Pierpoint  undertook  to  tell  me 
Largely  how  it  had  been  the  Constant  purpose  of  M7.  ^Mather 
for  a  great  while  to  give  something  to  the  people  of  y®  Seperate 
Society  &  the  Like.  I  Determined  'twas  not  worth  my  while 
to  enter  into  a  Controversy  with  IP.  Pierpoint  about  it,  therefore 
drew  a  Deed  as  he  directed,  which  same  Deed  as  I  understan<l 
was  on  or  about  y^  14"".  of  y^  same  Xo\-^.  Executed  by  s^.  31'. 
Mather  &:  since  Controverted  in  \^  Law,  &  found  wanting.  I 
Remember  M\  blather's  coming  into  Court,  viz  y*"  County  Court 
at  their  Sessions  in  April  1745,  to  prevent,  as  I  understood  A: 
as  1  believe  was  then  y*  Understanding  of  all  by  Standers,  a 
Conservator  being  put  in  over  him.  Indeed  twas  Difficult 
knowing  what  he  Said.  He  was  aided  in  by  persons  holdinir 
him  up  by  y*^  Arms,  he  muud)led  over  Something  to  v'  Court. 
A['.  Caleb  Tuttle  one  who  aided  him  in,  putting  words  into  his 
mouth,  but  I  remember  y"^  Judges  of  s''.  Court  said  they  Sup- 
posed M^  ^Lither  Did  not  know  one  person  in  y'^  room  «t  that  !u' 
could  not  by  any  means  have  so  ElYeetnally  Convinced  them  <it 

*J;imes  Pierpoiit.  Jr.   ( "N'alt"   1718),  was  a  leader  in  the  c^talJli■•llI^L■nt  <>f 
the  Wliite  Haven  Chnrcli  in  1742. 


JARED  IXGEIISOLL  PAPERS,  l7-13-5(;.  207 

his  need  of  a  Conservator,  as  by  shewing  himself  in  Court  & 
Objecting  against  one. 

Some  time  last  May  I  was  before  Justice  Prout  in  behalf  of 
M^  Davenport  at  the  taking  of  some  Depositions,  when  Tim°, 
]\Iix*  tt  Deborah  Tuttle  gave  Evidence  Concerning  a  Deed  said 
to  have  been  given  by  s^  ^Mather  to  his  Xegroes.  I  knowing  that 
the  people  of  the  Separate  meeting  in  Xew  Haven  had  a  Claim 
of  some  meadow  by  a  Deed  from  s*^  Mather,  &:  that  therefore 
they  might  be  apt  to  think  more  favourably  of  s*^.  Mathers  Sound- 
ness of  mind  asked  s*^.  Mix  whether  he  was  not  one  of  that 
meeting,  he  Answered  that  he  was  one  once,  but  was  now  a 
Conformist  to  y""  Church  of  England — which  Question  &  Ans\\'^. 
was  put  down,  not  in  the  words  of  y*"  Question  &  Answer  but 
in  such  words  as  y®  Justice  (I  suppose)  Judged  to  be  of  like 
Import ;  upon  s*^  !Mix  s  answering  as  Above,  I  having  always 
Understood  that  his,  s^  Mix  s  conforming  to  y^  Church  as  afores'' 
was  but  a  shew  of  pretence  asked  him  further  where  he  ordi- 
narily attended  publick  worship.  After  some  pause  he 
Answered,  At  y''  Church  of  England  when  I  can,  at  other  times 
Sometimes  at  y^  old  meeting  &:  some  times  at  the  Xew  (meaning 
as  I  suppose  at  y*'  old  &  new  meeting  houses  in  Xew  Haven),  & 
he  Insisted  on  its  being  penned  in  words  of  that  Import,  at  which 
I  was  somewhat  surprized  knowing  I  had  not  seen  him  at  y^  old 
meeting  afores*^  in  some  Years  &  having  always  heard  that  he 
very  Seldom  attended  on  y'^  Church  of  England  worship.  I  told 
him  I  could  not  think  he  would  Let  his  Answer  go  in  that  form, 
telling  him  of  how  small  Importance  soever  it  might  be  it  was 
gross  misrepresentation ;  upon  which  he  said  smiling  it  should 
go  for  it' was  truth,  for  said  he  I  have  been  to  y"  old  meeting 
two  half  Days  within  this  Year  past,  but  said  he,  twas  when  ^U. 
jNToyes  Did  not  preach  &  I  think  he  said  twas  on  Lecture  Days. 

Some  time  after  this  I  asked  s'^.  Mix  if  he  had  not  in  keeping 
sundry  Wills  k  parts  of  Wills  Designed  for  s'^  Mathers  Will, 
he  said  he  had ;  I  Desired  him  to  send  them  to  Windham  Court 
viz  Sup''.  Court  Last  Sept'",  he  told  me  he  would.     I  afterwards 

*  Tiiuotliy  ^lix    (Viilo  1731)    wa.s  a  pliysioiau  in  Xew  Haven. 


208  .TARED    IXOEKSOLL    PA1'1:K"S,    1743-5G. 

asked  him  if  he  had  sent  theiu,  he  told  me  he  had  sent  some  liv 
Cap*,  i'itch.  I  asked  him  ^vhy  he  Did  not  send  Em  all.  he  sai.l 
he  had  sent  all  that  were  to  the  purpose,  viz  all  that  had  aii\ 
mention  made  in  Em  of  x''  freedom  of  y"  Xegroes,  at  which  1 
manifested  some  Dissatisfaction,  upon  that  he  said  what  siirni- 
iied  sending- those  which  were  made  (or  Dictated)  by  ^1",  ]\[atli.  r 
when  he  had  not  his  Senses.  I  told  him  I  thought  it  somewlia' 
strange  that  he  was  so  well  Able  out  of  a  Xuniber  of  AVills  iV 
parts  of  Wills  so  Exactly  to  Determin  which  were  Dictated  bv 
M'.  Mather  when  of  sound  mind  «i'  which  not,  Especially  win  n 
he  had  Deposed  before  Justice  Hubbard  as  I  Kemeraljred  tlmr 
tho  he  was  frequently  sent  for  to  write  Wills  for  'M\  'MaxWv 
yet  could  never  tind  him  able  to  make  any  Will  by  reason  of  hi? 
brokeness,  till  in  Aug\  1744,  to  which  he  Answered  that  he  knew 
well  Enough  iJc  then  went  away  from  me. 

Jared  Ingersoll 

Colony  of  Connecticut  SS.  Hartford  ^larch  S'^  1740/50.  then 
personally  appeared  ^r.  Jared  Ingersoll  the  Signer  to  the  above 
and  within  written  Deposition  and  made  Oath  to  the  truth  of  tin- 
same.  Coram  Roger  Wolcott  Dep*^  Gov'' 

Opened  in  Super''.  Court  at  Windham  ]\[arch  term  1T49/50 
per  Jn°.  Bulkley  one  of  the  Judges 


Apprextickship  of  LrcKETiA  Smith. 

This  indenture"^  nuule  between  Kuth  Smith  of  Xew  Haven 
Town  k  County  of  the  one  part,  and  Jared  Tngersol  of  s*^  Xew 
Haven  of  y*"  other  part  Witnesseth,  that  \^  said  Ruth  Smith  l"i' 

*  As  town  certificates  of  apprenticeship  are  rarely  to  be  found  in  prin'. 
it  has  seemed  best  to  include  here  both  of  the  dncunients  that  relate  to  t!"' 
binding  out  of  Lucretia  Smith  to  Jared  InjzersoU  in  1745  and  174t(.  Seybo't 
in  his  essay  on  apprenticeship  in  colonial  New  En^dand  and  Xew  York  L'iv'- 
no  indentures  for  C'<innecticut  of  date  later  tlian  1727..  and  does  not  i<dl  ■ 
the  colony  law  farther  than  tlie  revi^imi  of  1702.  It  is  interesting:  to  i'"''" 
that  the  law  was  in  force  as  late  as  1S21.  The  form  of  the  Insrersoll  ind>  (■ 
ture  shows  that  the  customary  phraseology,  borrowed   from   England,  h-'  ' 


.TARED    IXGERSOLL    PAPERS,    1743-30.  209 

y^  Consideration  of  y^  Covenants  and  thing-s  to  be  performed  by 
the  s*^  Jared  lugersol  herein  after  Express'd,  hath  put  and  bound 
in  Service,  and  by  these  presents  Doth  put  and  bind  in  Service 
unto  the  s".  Jared  Ingersol,  her  Daughter  Lucretia  of  y'  Age  of 
Eight  Years  the  29"^  Day  of  3Iay  1745  from  y*^  DatJ  of  these 
presents  until  the  said  Lucretia  shall  arrive  atty^  Age  of  Sixteen 
Years,  provided  a  meet  person  will  att  that  Age  take  and  teach 
y^  s^  Lucretia  y"  Art  and  trade  of  Woman  tayloring,  if  not  to 
l»e  Dismiss'd  att  y'  Age  of  fifteen  Years.  During  which  term  the 
s^  Lucretia,  the  said  Jared  Ingersol  faithfully  shall  Serve,  his 
Just  el'  Lawfull  Commands  always  obey  and  Do.      •■  ■• 

And  y^  said  Jared  Ingersol  Doth  for  himself  his  Heirs,  Ex^, 
Adm^  and  Assigns  Covenant  and  agree  to  &  with  y'  said  Ruth 
Smith  her  Ex"".,  Adm".  and  Assigns  that  during  said  term  he 
shall  and  will  procure  &  provide  for  s'^.  Lucretia  sufficient  meat, 
Drink,  washing,  Lodging  »l'  Apparrel  and  also  Learn  her  to 
Read  English  and  Dismiss  her  att  f  End  of  said  term  with 
Cloathing  sufficient  and  proper  to  go  an  apprentice  to  Learn 
tayloring.  In  Witness  whereof  y^  Parties  hereunto,  have  here- 
unto interchangeably  set  their  hands  and  Seals  this  SO'''  Day 
of:\IayA.  D.  1745. 

Signed,  Sealed  and  Delivered  her 

in  presence  of  ;.      /.     Ruth   X    Smith 

.       Abiel  Hall  ^  ;    ^  mark 

Elizabeth  Whiting  .... 


To  all  people  to  whom  these  ])resents  shall  Come  Greetins; — 
Whereas  in  eV  by  one  Statute  Law  of  this  Colony  in  page  95, 
9(j.  (tc  of  this  Colony  Law  Book,  among  other  things  it  is 
Enacted :  "if  there  shall  be  any  family  that  Cannot  or  do  not 
provide  Competently  for  their  Children  whereby  they  are 
Exposed  to  want  »i:  Extremity,  it  Shall  «t  may  be  Lawful  for  the 

lieconie  greatly  siini.liticd  l>y  tliis  tinif.  An  enrlier  Cmiiu-cticut  iii.leiitinv. 
iundincr  out  ii  <;irl  to  siTvico  in  l(i!tl.  wliicli  is  pri'servt-d  in  the  State 
Archives  (State  Lihrary.  Private  Controversies.  IV,  No.  123),  is  nnicli 
more  eUihorate. 


210  JARED  IXGERSOr.L  PAPERS,  lT43-r.»';. 

Selectmen  «S:  Overseers  of  the  poor  in  Each  Town,  &  they  arc 
hereby  ordered  i-  impowered  with  the  Assent  of  the  next  ^^lai:!.-- 
trate  or  Justice  of  the  peace  to  bind  any  poor  chihJren  belongiiii: 
to  such  Town  to  be  Apprentices  where  they  shall  See  Convenient. 
a  man  Child  until  he  shall  Come  to  the  age  of  twenty  one  year? 
and  a  woman  Child  to  y^  age  of  Eighteen  Years  or  time  of 
marriage;  which  shall  be  as  Effectual  to  all  intents  &  purpose.> 
as  if  any  such  Child  were  of  full  Age  &  by  Indenture  of  Cove- 
nant had  bound  him  or  herself,"  as  by  s"^.  Statute  may  appear: 
and  Whereas  William  Smith  a  transient  person  late  of  Xew 
Haven  in  the  County  of  Xew  Haven  A:  Colony  of  Connecticut 
&:  Euth  Smith  his  Wife  of  said  Xew  Haven  Do  not,  nor  doth 
Either  of  them  take  any  Care  of,  nor  provide  Competently  for 
their  Children  being  in  said  Xew  Haven,  whereby  they  art- 
Exposed  to  want  *fc  Extremity,  one  of  which  Children  is  Lucretia 
a  minor  woman  Child  of  the  Age  of  about  Eight  Years  ik:  9 
months. 

Xow  Know  Ye  that  Jon*^:  Mansfield,  Sam^ :  Mix,  Ebeu': 
Beecher,  James  Peck  Sen^,  Jos^:  Pierpoint  k  Sam^:  Thomson, 
being  Select  men  &  overseers  of  the  poor  for  the  time  being  of 
said  Town  of  Xew  Haven,  Do  by  these  presents  by  &  with  y^ 
Assent  of  y*  Civil  Authority  in  s"^.  To^vn  AssigTi  &:  Bind  in  Ser- 
vice the  said  Lucretia  unto  Jared  Ingersol  of  s'^.  Xew  Haven,  his 
Ex".  ^'  Adm".,  him  the  said  Jared  Ingersol  faithfully  to  Serve. 
his  Just  (i:  Lawfull  Commands  to  perform  &  do  until  the  said 
Lucretia  shall  arrive  at  y*  Age  of  Eighteen  Years;  And  the 
said  Jared  Ingersol  Doth  for  himself,  his  heirs,  Ex".  &  Adm". 
Covenant  &  Agree  to  i'  with  the  said  Select  men  &  their  Succes- 
sors in  said  Office  that  during  said  term  he  shall  &  will  at  hi.- 
ovm.  proper  Cost  »S:  Charge  find  &  Procure  for  said  Lucretia 
proper  »i:  Sufficient  meat,  Drink,  Cloathing,  washing,  Lodgini:- 
&:  all  necessaries  and  Save  the  said  Town  free  -i'  harmless  from 
all  Cost  cV  Charge  that  njay  happen  or  accrue  on  said  Lucretias 
Account,  and  also  Learn  her  to  read  English  an<l  Instruct  her 
in  the  Art  of  Sewing,  Knitting.  Spinning  &:  household  Avork  and 
at  the  End  of  said  term  Dismiss  her  from  his  Service  with  two 
Gowns  and  other  proper  Cloathing,  the  one  fit  ii:  proper  iov 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1743-56.  211 

Sabbath  Days  &  the  other  for  week  Days  wear,  &  give  her  a 
Bible.  In  witness  whereof  the  parties  above  have  hereunto 
Interchangeably  Set  their  hands  &  Seals  in  Xew  Haven  this  Z'\ 
Day  of  llareh  A  D.  iT-io/G 

Jon^:\[anstield  [S]    James  Peck  [S]  "] 

Sam\:yiix  [S]   Joseph  Pierpont    [S]   \   /^^^'^^i^'^'' 

Eben^  Beecher    [S]   Samuel  Thomson  [S]  J  "^       ™ 

Sig-n*^,  Seal*^  &  Deliv'^  in  presence  off 

Abraham  Bradley       Caleb  Hitchcock 

Done  by  k  with  the  Consent  it  Advice  of  us  y^  Subscribers 
being  of  y^  Civil  Authority  within  the  Town  of  Xew  Haven 
within  mentioned  :  As  witness  our  hands  y^  Date  within. 

Jos\  Whiting  Assistant 
■    John  Hubbard  Just,  of  Peace 


Book  of  Expexces,  Begux  Jaxca^:    1:    174G 

£    3    d 

Jany       3  Cash  pd.  Joel  Munson  for  flour  1.10.   9 

7  Cash  to  Zuri.  Kimberlv  for  pr.  Shoes  for  } 

Lueretia                       '  f           0.10.   0 

to  Mr.  Whittlesey*  for  tobacco  0.3.0 

to  Mr.  Whittlesey  for  rum  itc  -                 0.    9.    0 

to  Mr  BrowTi  for  wine  0.    5.    8 

to  Doctr.  Hubbardf  for  Cinnamn.  0.3.0 

9  to  Isaac  Johnson  for  fowls  0.6.    8 

paid  to  Mr.  Howell  in  writs  on  Book  Aceo.  1 

for  Cloathmg  itc  i 

pd  Mr  Cookt  in  writs,  ut  Siipr.  0.    9.   0 

*  Chauncey  Whittelsey  (born  1717,  died  1787)  had  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1738  and  studied  theology;  but  in  1745  entered  into  an  extensive  business 
in  Xew  Haven  as  an  importer,  marrying  in  the  same  year  a  sister  of  IMrs. 
Ingersoll.  Later  he  retired  from  business,  and  from  1758  to  his  death  was 
the  pastor  of  the  First  Churcli  in  this  city. 

t  Dr.  Leverett  Hubbard  (Yale  1744)  had  just  begun  practice  as  a  physi- 
cian in  Xew  Haven. 

$  Samuel  Cooke,  Junior  (Yale  Coll.  1730),  a  mercliant  and  tavern-kfopcr 
in  Xew  Haven. 


2i^  JAUED    IXGERSOLL    PAPEK.s,     iTl^V.jO. 

11  to  Step".  Howell  Deed  Book  Ace".    ■ 
to  Bill  Sale  part  Mr.  Wliitt.  Do. 

13  to  Al)i.  Wood  for  wi.od.  in  writ  .Jcc  &  Ca.-h 
to  Doctr.  Wood  for  C'loaths  Easkt 

14  to  Mr.  Hall*  for  wood 
to  Kimberly  for  Shoes  in  pt. 

15  to  Xathn.  Smith  for  pig  rye 
-       18  to  Mr.  Whittlesey  for  nini 

20  to  Jos.  Huniastou  for  wood 
23  to  Sackets  for  Soap 

to  Still  house  for  nun 

to  Woods  wife  for  washing 
25  to  Mr.  Plattt  for  Beef   1(;%   @   9^    ' 

to  Ml-.  Whittlesey  for  hog  fat 

to  Mr.  Cook  for  dinner  ic 

27  to  :Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Sugar  &c 
to  Woodin  for  wood 

28  to  Mrs.  Hall  Borrowed  before 

29  to  Doctr.  Hubbd.  for  Elixr. 
31  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  0  yd.  Chints 

to  Do.  for  fowl  &  Eggs 

tot. 

FebJ-.      2  to  Contribution^: 

3  to  Widow  Barns  for  Rye 

pd.  David  Austin  on  Book  Acco.  by  plead.  JanJ". 
Court  &c 
5  to  Mrs.  Howell  for  Soap  ■ 

to  Joel  Baldwin  for  tea 
-•        7  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Eggs 
8  to  :Mr.  Hall  for  House  rent 

to  Mrs.  Hall  for  Eggs  .      _'_ 

to  Jos.  Huraaston  for  Wood 
to  romp  money 
11  to  Brown  for  Liquor 
•i  ,      12  to  Mr.  \Miittelsey  21^^.  tobacco 
15  to  Do.  for  14  ih  tea 

*  John  Hall,  who  lived  on  State  Street,  opiiosite  ]ilrs.  Iiigersoll's  fatlier. 
Mr.  Ingersoll  now  lived  in  a  hired  house,  l>elonging  to  :Mr.  Hall.  In  1747 
he  bought  a  house  and  land  in  the  rear  of  property  facing  on  Church  Street. 
near  the  center  of  the  space  between  Center  and  Chapel  Streets.  In  K'l'' 
and  1757  he  bought  adjoining  land  to  the  west  and  north,  and  built,  in 
1755-58,  on  Cha])el  Street  the  nucleus  of  the  house  still  standing  (on  tlif 
west  side  of  Temple  Street,  as  laid  out  in  17>:4),  in  which  he  died. 

t  Samuel  Piatt,  of  :\Iiltord. 

$  The  regular  Contribution  cidleeted  during  tlie  church  service  on  the  tir-t 
Sunday  of  each  month. 


0.   3. 

.    0 

0.   0. 

5 

0.12. 

0 

0.    3. 

(i 

0.12. 

0 

0.    2. 

0 

0.13. 

ti 

0.19. 

(1 

0.10. 

0 

0.   2. 

0 

0.    7. 

0 

0.   4. 

0 

0.12. 

c> 

0.    3. 

0 

0.    3. 

6 

0.12. 

G 

0.13. 

G 

0.    0. 

G 

0.    4. 

9 

9.    G. 

0 

0.   3. 

2 

20.13.11 

0.    1. 

8 

0.14. 

7 

1.    2. 

0 

0.   4. 

0 

0.    7. 

G 

0.    2. 

0 

4.   0. 

0 

0.    0. 

G 

O.IG. 

0 

0.    0. 

0 

0.   2. 

G 

0.    2. 

G 

1.    8. 

0 

JAHED  IXnEUSOLL  rATEKS,  1  T-to-r.O. 


213 


17  to  Nathi.  Brown  for  Liqr  &c 
IS  to  Tinio.  Brown  on  Book  Ace". 

to  Mr.  Barker  for  23  lb  %  beef  (a  O'l 
to  Mr.  Whittel-^ey  for  paper 

20  to  Thos.  Howell  mend,  gloves 
to  Romp  money 

.    to  Mr.  Hall  for  wood 

21  to  Pecks  Expences  &c 

to  Jehiel  Thomas  on  Book  Aqc^. 

22  to  Cash  pd.  Th.  Howl,  on  Book  Acc'\ 
to  Still-house  for  rum 

24  to  Mr.  Howell  mending  breeches 
to  David  Jacobs  for  394  '^  buttr. 
27  to  Atwr.  on  ]3ook  Acco. 


March    1  to  Mr.  Hall  for  wood 

3  to  Contribution  money 

4  to  James  Pain  Ju''.  for  wood 

5  to  romp  money 

to  Camp  for  Oysters 

to  ]\Ir.  Whittelsey  for  IMaslin  Sec 

7  to  ill'.  Jones  for  Starch 
to  3Ir.  Howell  for  rum 
to  M«.  Allin  for  holland 

■  .  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  ribbon 

to  Do.  Bag  holland    . 
to  Do.  for  fowl 

8  to  AbrM.  Cooper  for  Veal 
10  for  Indian  meal  &c 

to  Mrs.  \v.  for  Sundris 
■     II  to  Mrs.  Trowbridge  for  Soap  ;  ^ 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Eggs 

■  13  to  Mrs.  Howell  for  fatt 

to  Benjn.  Warner  for  Wood 

14  p<3  Stephn.  Howell  on  Book  Ace", 
to  :\Ir.  Whittelsey  for  butter 

15  to  Jo.  for  Shaving  cl"   fowls 
17  to  Mr.  Pierpoint  for  liiug^ 

to  Capt.  Sears  for  tea  4.5/  o 

to  John  Thomson  on  Book 
IS  to  Timo.  Howell  for  Quils 

19  to  Clerk  Hotchkis*  for  my  rate 
to  I)«.  fathers  rate 

20  p'l  Atwr  &  Jti"  Thomson  on  Book  Ace-'. 

•  Caleb  Hotchkiss,  Collector  of  the  rate  for  tlie  Fii 
the  next  line  is  used  for  Father-in-law. 


0.  3.  6 
0.  3.  0 
0.17.10 

.  0.  7.  0 
0.  5.  tJ 
0.    0.    8 

•  0.12.  0 
0.  1.  6 
0.  5.  0 
3.10.  0 
0.  7.  0 
0.  1.  3 
0.10.  4 
0.    1.    G 

10.    8.   8 

0.12.  0 

0.    1.  4 

O.IO.  0 

0.   0.  9 

0.   2.  6 

.    I.   5.  0 

0.  2.  7 

1.  0.  0 
1.10.  0 
0.12.  0 

0.   2.    0 

'     0.14.    0 

0.16.   0 

0.    5.    8 

''■^-'■''  "  0.  3.  5 
0.  2.  0 
0.  3.  9 
0.12.  G 
0.  6.  0 
1.10.  0 
0.  3.  1 
0.  5.  0 
2.  5.  0 
0.10.  6 
0.   0.   2 

.    -..  0.10.  514 

0.    2.   914 
0.    2.    0 

st  Chureli;    Father  in 


21-1  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1743-50. 

to  Mr.  Frost  for  fennil  Seed 
21  to  !Mr.  Howell  for  rice 

to  Buttler*  for  Beer 

to  Mr.  Hall   for  quils 
23  to  Ml".  Cooke  for  wine 

to  Mrs.  Hall  for  Eggs 

25  to  iR  \Miittelsey  for  papr  i  Xails 
.      .        to  Mr.  Piatt  on  Book  Acc^. 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  fowls  &  Eggs 
to  ;Mrs.  W.  for  Corn 

26  to  ^Ir.  Cooke  for  wine 

28  to  Docfr.  ^lixt  for  Sal  anaoni  ic 
to  Jno  Bracket  for  Cord  Wood 
to  Mr^  W.  for  pork  &c 

29  to  !Mr=.  Pomroyt  for  Earthen 

30  to  Buttler  for  :Matheglin 
to  Jno.  Andrew  for  tobacco 


April     2  to  Jos:   Huniaston  for  wood 
.to  Xathii :   Brown  for  pipes 
to  Mr.  Bishop  for  fathers  rate 
5  to  Mr;  Pomroy  for  Eggs 

to  Elipht.  Beecher  for  Saddle  &c  in  part 
to  \Vm.  Lyon  for  Stirup 
to  Do.  on  Book  Acco. 
to  Mrs.  Howell  for  fatt 
to  romp  money 

to  Doctr.  Hubbd.  on  Book  Ace", 
to  Stepli  Howell  for  Book  Articles 
8  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  plad  &  Shirt  Cloath  &c 
to  :Mrs.  Howell  for  fatt  Sec 

10  to  Caleb  Thomas  wife  for  Washing 

11  to  Mr.  \Miittelsey  for  Biscake§  &c 

12  to  Step".  Howell  for  qt.  rnni  i 
14  to  fisherman  for  fish 

to  :Mrs.  Hall  for  Oats 

to  Expences  fairfield  ferriage  ^i    j 

2   Days  Living  Capf   lUirrs   1.5/5    -  0.18.    S 

Shaving  1/  Wilton  tavern  2/  ) 

to  Mr.  Cogoshall  for  I'b  powdr.  0.14.    0 

*  The  Butler  ^\as  an  officer  of  the  College  who  supplied  the  Faculty  and 
Students  witli  soft  drinks  and  other  refreshments, 
t  Timothy  ^lix   (Yah'  1731),  a  New  Haven  physician. 
J  Mary,  widcAv  (It  .Tiix'ph   Ponici-oy.  ;    ^ 

§  =  biscuit. 


0 

0 

9 

0 

2. 

7 

0 

4. 

0 

0 

0. 

4 

0 

11. 

0 

0 

0. 

9 

0 

10. 

6 

0 

1. 

10 

0 

3. 

6 

0. 

4. 

6 

0. 

9. 

0 

0. 

3. 

0 

1. 

18. 

0 

0. 

4. 

3 

0. 

2. 

0 

0. 

16. 

0 

0. 

15. 

0 

0. 

0. 

9 

20. 

18. 

4 

0. 

12. 

0 

0. 

0. 

6 

0. 

5. 

6 

0. 

1. 

6 

10. 

0. 

0 

0. 

9. 

0 

0. 

0. 

6 

0. 

2. 

0 

0. 

0. 

9 

2. 

6. 

6 

0. 

3. 

0 

16. 

0. 

0 

0. 

4. 

0 

0. 

5. 

0 

0. 

2 

1 

0. 

5. 

0 

0. 

2 

~¥2 

0. 

1. 

6 

:(1,      . 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEKS,  1743-56. 


215 


to  Eliphet  Beeclier  for  Saddle  part 

to  Doctr.  Herpin  for  Hungary* 

to  M"  W.  for  y.  bushi.  Corn 
22  to  Enos  Tuttle  for  Veal 

to  Jo:   Miles  for  Clams 

to  for  pig 

to  Stepn.  Howell  on  Book  Ace. 
25  to  3Ir.  Bradly  for  Uower  &c. 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  toe  Cloth 
30  to  Id.  for  ^2  Quarf  €  Sugar 

to  Jo  for  fowls,  Eggs  &c  pai't 


Mav       1   to  Jno  Lewis  for  Qui  Is 

Mr.  Whittelsey  ou  Book  Acco  for  rum  &:c 
Do.  for  Sugr.  part 
Mr.  Walter  for  hops 
Mr.  Whittelsey  for  holland 
Charity  &c. 
Nancy  for  Washing 
Mr.  Whittelsey  for  fowls  &  buttr 
Israel  Smith  for  lead 
Jo.  for  fowls  &c 
Mrs.  Eliot  for  Eggs 

Sent  by  Abr™  Thompson  to  York  for  tea, 
Reed,  of  Sears  lib 
charity  "   .  . 

M".  Lyon  for  Matheglin 
:Mrs.  Toles  for  fowls 
Mr.  Hall  for  house  rent 
3Ir.  Howell  for  Soap 
Ju:   for  Eggs  &e 

Mrs.  Pomroy  for  Cartouoh  Box  Sc  flints 
:Mrs.  Howell  for  Soap 
Mr.  Whittelsey  for  butter 
Capt.  \Miite  for  tea  y:,^^ 
^Irs.  Toles  for  butter 
Mrs.  Thomas  for  Eggs 
Joel  ilunson  for  flower 
;Mrs.  Sacket  for  beans 
:Mr.  Howell  for  thread 
Lazarus  Ives  for  20 1.^   pork 
Mr  Eliot  2  Quts  rum  part 
Jno.  Row  for  Veal 
Mrs.  Toles  for  butter 

*  Dr.  Jolin   Herpin  and   his   son  Dr.  John   Herpin,  Junior 
practiced  medicine  in  .Milfurd.     Hungary  water  was  (li>tilled  fr 
llowers  infused  in  spirit  of  wine. 


1 

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26 

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28 

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30 

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£37 

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0 

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0 

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0 

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0 

0. 

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0 

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0. 

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0 

0. 

8. 

9 

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0 

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1. 

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9 

0. 

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0. 

9. 

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0. 

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( Yale 

1741) 

uni 

rosemary 

216  JARED  INGERSOLL  rAPEKS.  l74^>-r>G. 

31  to  :Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Checks  Cotton  part 
to  Id.  for  Wafers 


June      2  to  :Mrs.  W.  for  beef  &c 

to  Tlio^  Howell  for  making  and  finding     ^ 
-C'loatliing  &c  i 

3  to  Jo  for  Eggs 
to         for  Sand 

to  Tinio.  Brown  on  book  Acco.  for  ax.  hoes  &c 
to  D:    Punderson  for  buttons  part 

4  to  Sister  Ailing'   fm-  Veal 

5  to  Sand  :Merchant  for  Sand  P.-j  bu 
G  to  Jonth.  Atwater  for  lime  on  Book 

to  Xancy  for  washing 

to  Expences  at  Cookes,  for  wine 

to  Jn'5.  Row  for  mutton 

10  to  Eliph*.  Becher  for  saddle  &c  in  part 
to  Pvogi".  Ailing  for  butter 

to  Gid:   Todd  for  load  wood 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  loaf  Sugr. 

to  D:  Pund:  for  Buttons 

to  Mr.  Hall  for  hooping  tuhb 

11  to  Timo.  Brown  on  Book  for  hoe  &c 

12  to  'Mk  Eliot  for  2  Qt'.  rum 
at  Browns  wine 

to  Tim'\  Brown  on  Book  for  hoes  &c 
16  to  ZM«.  W.  on  Book  for  Corn  &c 

18  to  Jno.  Miles  for  table  in  part 

19  Browns  for  wine  &c 

20  to  Squaw  for  Basket 

21  to  Jos.  Miles  mending  Shoes 
to  :Mr^.  W.  for  Veal  121^'.  (q    Sd 
to  Stacyt  for  Whitewashing 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  fur  Veal  &c 
23  to  Jno.  Miles  for  table 
to  Brown  for  wine 
■        24  to  Jo(d  ;Munson  for  brawn 
"   26  to  Still  hoiise  for  1  Gall:  molasses 
^'  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  1  Gall:   rum 

28  to  Gorge  for  fish 

to  Jontii.  Atwater  for  pipes 
to  M".  Smith  for  plaister  &c 
30  to  -Jos:  :Miles  for  p^.  Shoes  my  Wife 


•  Mary   ( Whitin-K  sifter  of  ^Ir-^.  Inger^oll  and  wife  of  Stephen  Ailing 
t  Josc-ph  Stacy,  <li'^d  17.}4. 


0. 

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0. 

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£25. 

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0. 

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0 

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£26 

.    6 

.10 

JARED  IXGEItSOLL  PAPERS.  lT43-r>0.  217 


July       1   to  ilrs.  Howell  for  Veal 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  ribbon 
2  to  Do.  for  Veal 

to  Hez:  Gorham  for  tole  Bell 

4  to  M".  Hall  for  Oats 

to  Beecli  for  peas  peck 

to  Seth  Heaton  for  Do.   i/,  busli'. 

5  to  Abrm.  Thomson  for  ITVi'b.  beef 
7  for  book  Doct^.  Johnsons* 

•  .  8  to  John  Lewis  for  Clams    ■ 

to  for  butter,  4^^ 

9  'Sir.  Whittelsey  for  pr.  Stockins 
to  Mr^.  W.  for  Corn  on  book 

10  to  Mr.  Green  for  blanks 

to  Dani.  Smith  for  Veal  8i/^ib 

11  to  Seth  Heaton  for  peas 

12  to  Charity 

14  to  Pomp  for  pipe  Sic 

15  to  Jos:   ^liles  mending  Shoe 
to  Mr.  Howell  for  tape 

17  to  Abrni.  Thomson  for  beef  8lb 
10  to  ^I«.  Pomroy  for  Indigo  &c 
to  Sarah  \V.  for 
to  Capt.  White  for  i^ib  tea 

-  23  to  Mr.  Diodate  for  Newspapers 

25  to  Lazarus  Ives  for  Veal 

to  Mrs.  Allen  for  Sliirt  buttons  in  part 

28  to  :^[^  Whittelsey  for  butter 
to  Id.  for  Yi  yd  Cambrick 
to  Mr.  Diodate  for  hogs  fat 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  on  book  Acco. 

29  to  Stephen  Howell  for  rum 

to  Xoah  Wolcot  for  load  wood 

30  to  Mrs.  \Y:  Indian  meal 


i  August                          '■      '  ^        .    ■'■ 

i  1  &  7  Expences  in  a  Journey  to  Ridgefield 

I  8  to  :\rr.  Whittelsey  for  fish  &  butter 

I  11   to  Tho-^.  Howell  for  papr. 

I  to  Abrm.  Thomson  for  beef  71/1>1'5  (S   9ti 

I  '                     12  to  "Sir.  Hall  for  house  rent 

I  to  Wi".  Lyon  for  gimblets  3 

I  .,    .              to  Abner  bradly  for  Cyder                            . 

i  *  Ethiees   Elementa.     Or  tlie   First   PriiK-iples   of  Moral   Philo-opliv.     Bv 

I  Aristocles.     Boston,  1740.     This  book  was  well  known  to  be  written  by  the 

I  Uev.  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  (Yale  1714),  of  Stratford. 


0. 

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0. 

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0. 

0. 

8 

0. 

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0 

0. 

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0. 

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£16. 

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21S 


JAIJED    IXOERSOLL    rATERS,    1743-56. 


13  to  Thos.  Howell  for  paper 
to  !M".  W.  for  Corn 

to  Mr.  Whittelspy  for  Cloth,  linnen  &c 

14  to  Ab™.  Tliomson  for  beef 

to  Jehiel  Thomas  Admr*  Shoes  &c 
to  sd.  Adnir.  on  s^.  AcC^. 

15  to  ^M^^  W.  for  Corn  &c  on  book  acco. 
IG  to  Abner  PJradly  for  Cyder 

to  Lad  for  Quils 
IS  to  W™.  Lyon  for  paper 

19  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  rum 

20  to  Browns  for  wine 

to  Thomson  for  beef  201^3   @   S'l 

22  to  Mr.  Xoyest  for  Sider 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  handkercV^ 

23  to  ^^''T>.  Lyon  for  paper 
2(3  to  Lyon  for  Ink  horn 

to  Jo:  Miles  mending  \Yifes  Shoes 

to  Ml'  Xoyes  for  Sider 
27  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  butter 

to  Browns  Expences  wine 
29  to  Browns  for  Wine 

to  M''.  Xoyes  for  Sider 

to  ^I".  Pomroy  for  Soap 


0. 

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0. 

3. 

0 

0. 

9. 

0 

0 

3. 

0 

0 

7. 

0 

0 

3. 

0 

0 

5. 

0 

£17 


Septemb'.  • 

1  to  Amos  Pirkins  for  Veal 

2  to  Benj".  Morris  for  fowls 
to  Dani.  Woodin  for  Wood 
to  Jethro  for  Oysters  '    • 

3  to  Mr.  Xoyes  for  Sider 
to  .Thos.  Ives  for  BB$  Sider 

6  to  Mr.  Diodate  for  psalm  book 
-    ■  S  to  Mr.  Xoyes  for  Sider 

9  to  Stephen  Howel  for  rum  2  Qut-^ 
to  M^".  Whittelsey  for  pepper 

10  to  Lazarus  Ives  for  pig  Quarts 

11  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  4  yJs  holland 
to  Do.  for  lllb;  6oz.  butter  (g.  2/3 

12  to  Laz=.  Ives  for  Mutton 
15  to  Jno.  Hall  for  Oysters 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Vi  P'?ck  Salt 

*. Jehiel  Thomas  died  in   April.   174G.  and  his  widow,  Mary    ("Miles)    had 
been  appointed  his  Administratrix. 

t  Rpv.  .Joseph  Xoyes   (Yale  170',t),  ^Mr.  IngirsuU's  pastor. 
J  Barrels. 


0. 

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0 

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0. 

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0 

6. 

0 

0 

4. 

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0. 

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0 

0. 

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0. 

8. 

0 

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0 

0. 

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4 

1. 

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0. 

8. 

0 

0. 

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0. 

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0 

1. 

0. 

0 

2. 

5. 

0 

0. 

1. 

9 

0. 

1. 

6 

JAKED  IXGF.RSOLL  PAPERS,  1743-50.  219 

16  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  paper 

to  Abr™.  Thomson  for  beef 

18  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  thread  &  fowh 

to  James  Thomson  for  hooping 

to  Caleb  Atwater  for  wood 

23  to  Laz3.  Ives  for  Veal 
to  Mr.  WhitteUey  for  Rye  2  bushels 
to  Mrs.  Pomroy  for  Mug  &  Nutmeg 

24  to  Jo:  for  Eggs 
26  to  Stephen  Howell  for  2  Qf^.  rum 

to  Jos.  Miles  for  pr.  Shoes  for  my  Wife 

29  to  Mr.  Gibb*  for  i/oib  tea 

30  to  Jonth.  Atwater  on  Book  for  H  bush^:  Oysters  0.    1, 
to  James  Peck  for  hoe  handle 
to  Steph".  Howell   on  Book  Ace",   for  )  0     fi     fi 

cliecks,  rum  &.c  ) 

to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  quatity  binding  0.    3.    6 


Octobr.  3  to  Eliphelet  Beechr.  for  beef 

to  James  Thomson  on  book  Acco  for    (^ 
hooping  «ic  i 

4  to  Thomas  Howell  for  buttons 

to  M".  W.  on  Book  for  Ind:  meal  &c 
■   -  -        5  to  Contribution 

6  to  Widow  Bradly  for  3  bW  Cyder 
to  Williams  for  nuitton 

to  Susa:   Proutt  for  loaf  Sugar 

8  to  Step".  Howell  on  book  Acco. 
to  Thoms.  Howell  for  tayloring,  Cloathing  &.c 
to  Do.  for  Cloathing,  tayloring  kc 

9  to  Capt  Allinl  for  1  Gall,  rum 
to  .Jos.  Miles  for  Stdeing  Lucretias  shoes  3/9    )    „     „ 

— 9d  Due  !l      '      '  , 

10  to  Joel  Munson  for  131ib  flower,  5d  2.14.  7 
to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  3  fowls  (</   2/  0.    6.   0 

11  to  Mrs.  \y.  for  Corn  0.10.  0 
to  Do.  for  Indin  meal  &c  0.7.0 
to  Lazs.  Ives  for  pig                                                     0.15.    6 

14  to  D.  Punderson  on  Book  for  Cheese  0.    lAOy^ 

to  Do.  for  handkerct  0.11.    0 

•  Probably  Thomas  Gibb,  of  Milford. 

t  Susanna  Proiit,  born  April,  171S,  daughter  of  John  Prout,  Junior 
(Yale  Coll.  1708),  married  Timothy  Bontecou,  November,  1747,  died 
October,   17-5.5. 

t  Probablv  Jonathan  Ailing.  .  -  ' 


£20. 

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220 


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JARED    IN(rfc:nsOLL     PAPKKS,     1743-">C). 

15  to  Beuj".  Wilniot   fur  wood 
to  James  Thouip.son  for  barrel 

16  to  Mr.  Jones  for  1  Do^.  pipes 

18  to  Benjn.  ilorriss  for  fowls 

19  to  James  Thomson  for  bW  ic  on  book 

21  to  ilr.  Whittelsey  for  tow  clotli 
to  Do.  for  ribbon  8/  for  Wine  &c  2/ 

22  to  Capt.  Allin  for  1  Gall,  molass. 

23  to  W^i.  Lyon  for  Xails 
to  Abri".  Thomson  for  beef 

24  to  Pv.  Baldwin  for  4^hi  &  i^  Sider 

25  to  Jos:  Miles  for  Soloing  &  mending  my  Shoes 

10/  &  for  Soleing  Cretias  in  part  Gd 
to  Jouth.  At\\T.  for   1^   bushi.  Oysters 
to  Stephen  Howell  for  bushi  Salt 
to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  D  y^s  Camblet  2S/2, 

1%  J^^  Osnubrigs,  %  yd  blue  Callieo,    -     14.    0.    0 
2  fowls,  thread  &  Cheese  ) 

28  to  :Mri.  W.  for  Beef  9%  @:  S 

29  to  Mr.  \\hittelsey  for  goose 
21^  butter  5/  hops  4/6  Silk  3d 

31  to  Benjn.  Wilmot  for  bb  Sider 
to  Mr.  Eliot  for  Bum 
to  Do.  for  Sugar 


Xovembr.  s 

1  to  Samuel  Gilbert  for  boards 
to  Dani.  Sanford  for  Yo  pig  .    = 

2  to  Contribution 
■   .  •        3  to  Jos.  Sperry  for  load  wood 

to  Mr.  Pktt  for  15111'  Beef  (a,  8d 
to  Mrs.  Pomroy  for  pig,  piece  of 
4  to  Mr.  Bisliop  for  my  Bate 
to  Do.  for  fathers  rate 
■  ..     .  ■      6  to  Abr"'.  Tlionipson  for  1  Day  highway  work 
to  Mrs.  W.  for  31^  tobacco  (a,  1/G 
9  to  Jo:    for  Cutting  wood  &e 

10  to  Wm.  Johnson  for  2  bushi  turnips 

11  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  2  Cask 

12  to  Mr.  Hall  for  house  rent 
to  Leiut  Baldwin*  f(jr  load  -wood 

-    14  to  M".  W.  for  Corn  %  bushi.  i^c 
to  Mr.  Cooke  for  2  Dinners 
15  to  Atwater  for  pig 

to  Jo.  for  Cutting  wood  &c  ■    "  0.   0 

Barnabas  Baldwin.  Junior,  of  Xew  Haven  and  :Milford. 


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JAUED    INGEtlSOLL    I'Al'KKS,    l74.']-r)(>,  221 

to  Mrs.  \v.  for  Corn  &c 
17  to  Jon^h.  Atwater  Jur.  for  Oysters 

to  Expences  at  Fairfield  for  myself  &  horse 

to  Wynkoop*  for  pf.  buckles 

to  Do.  for  pr.  D'l.  for  my  Wife 

to  Do.  for  making  3  Silver  Spoons 

to  Do.  for  3  p^rt.  Silver 

left  47  oz  Silver  for  s'l  Spoons 

gave  Ely  for  s^.  Silver 

to  Mrs.  w.  for  Corn 
20  to  Lealif  for  ^Wishing  pJ.  in  liolland  &    ) 
making  up   .    .   Apron  S 

25  to  Kimberly  for  2  Qts.  Matlieglin 
to  for  4  fowls 
to  ill'.  Howell  for  Corn  part  bush'. 

26  to  Miss  Cablet  for  141b.  tea 
to  Do.  for  loz.  Cotl'ee 

28  to  Mr.  Whittclscy  for  Cash  paid  il's.    / 

Hotchkis  on  my  Acc^.  for  fowls    S 
to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Doz  butter 
to  Do.  for  thread  &  tape 
to  Do.  141b  Eaisins 

to  David  Punderson  for  l^s  Checks  linnen 
to  Do.  for  1  Doz:  bisket 
to  Doctr.  Levt.  Hubbard  for  Adhernium  ic. 

29  to  Mrs.  Thomas  for  fjoose 


.:                                   ..  £42.12.   8 

Decembr. 

1   to  Dan'.  Thompson  for  Combing  wool  0.5.0 

to  il".  Thompson  for  Candle  0.    3.    0 

3  to  Jo.  for  Cutting  wood  0.    3.    3 

—   •        to  James  Peek  for  scraping  Bucks  horn  0.    0.    0 

"         to  James  Thompson  on  book  for  barrel  0.13.   0 

to  Jethro  for  killing  hog  0.    3.    0 

'  5  to  Stephen  Howell  for  higliways  working  (H 

rum  0.    5.    tJ 

to  Benjn.  Todd  for  201^.11'  :S[utton  tallow  ^    y^     1.14.    2 

to  Charity  0.5.0 

7  to  Contribution  0.    1.    0 

...    ;:,:^'      9  to  Benjn.  Wilmot  for  load  Wood  0.15.    0 

*  Benjamin  Wynkoop,  of  Fairfield. 

t  ilr.  IngerM)ll  >ol(|  I^eaii.  his  negro  slave,  in  1778.  to  Poinpey  Punchard, 
a  free  negro. 

$  Mrs.  Sarali,  wife  of  William  Cable,  died  in  August,  1751,  aged  40. 


0. 

0. 

10 

0. 

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9 

1. 

8. 

4 

3. 

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4. 

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222 


JAI?KI)    IXGKRSOLT.    FAPEHS,    1743-56. 


10  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  Eggs 
to  Ailing  for  load  wood 
to  D.  Punderson  for  fowls 
to  Jo.  for  fetcliing  home  D'\ 

11  to  :Mr.  Hays  for  Qt.  Brandy 

12  to  Mr.  Eliot  for  rum 

to  Mr.  Howell  in  full  of  bushi.  Corn 

13  to  Mr.  ^Yhittelsey  for  Mutton 
to  Do.  for  Do. 

to  iJrs..  Eosbotlmni*  for  tansey  water 

17  to  Mr-  Jones  for  an  Almanack 
to  David  Punderson  biscake 

18  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  on  Book  for  one  Partridge 
to  Do.  for  Quire  paper 

to  Jon'^.  Allen  for  load  wood 

19  to  Miss  Pomroy  for  Gall:   rum 
21  to  Miss  W:   for  Indian  meal 

24-  to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  handkercf 

25  to  Sami.  Beeeher  for   19i.^ib.  butter    . 
to  Mr.  Whittelsey  for  handkerfs 

to  Do.  for  fowls  3/9  for  pipes  5/ 

26  to  StepJ^.  Howell  on  book  for  rum  &c 
29  to  Wait  Chattertont  for  60"^.  flower 

to  i[r.  Wliittelsey  for  fowl  " 
to  Doctr.  Hubb<J.  for  physick  &c 
31  to  David  Punderson  on  Book  for  Bisket 
to  M".  W.  for  pork 


SCM  TOTAL  of  Expences  in  the  foregoing  year  1746 


0. 

1. 

0 

0. 

18. 

0 

0. 

3. 

6 

0. 

0. 

6 

0. 

7. 

0 

1. 

0. 

0 

0. 

0. 

6 

0. 

7 . 

6 

0. 

0. 

6 

0. 

2. 

0 

0. 

1. 

0 

0. 

4. 

0 

0. 

1. 

9 

0. 

7. 

0 

1. 

6. 

0 

1. 

0. 

0 

0. 

1. 

6 

0. 

11. 

0 

2 

9. 

0 

1. 

5. 

0 

0. 

8. 

9 

0. 

3. 

0 

1. 

7. 

6 

0. 

1. 

9 

4. 

0. 

0 

0. 

3. 

0 

0. 

2. 

9 

21.    1.11 
£319.. 17..   6 


Particclars 

} 


76..    0 


Victuals,  Including  tea?  drank  as  well 

afternoon  as  in  yf  morning 
Drink  for  Victuals,  viz  Sider  &  Beer 
Strong  iiquors,  viz   Hum,  Wine,  Matheglin  &c 
^Vood 

Saddle,  bridle.  Baggs  &c  ■ 

Laid  out  in  Silver 

A  table  .         ,   .         "   . 

house- rent 

*  Sarah,  daughter  of  Gershom  Brown,  and  wife  of  Benjamin  Rosbothani. 
born  :March,  1G09. 

t  Of  Mount  C'arnu"]. 

!{:  The  amount  expended  for  tea  during  the  year  was  £13.14.0;  and  tlie 
price  per  pound,  so  far  as  given,  varied  from  £.'5.   to  £5. 


1  u  . 

10. 

0. 

20. 

0. 

15. 

17. 

13. 

0. 

19. 

9. 

5. 

0. 

15. 

0. 

JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1743-56.           223 

^^°f^!"^  100..  0..  03 

,  K  5..  4..  9 

'"^"'^^^  1..10..  0 

P/P"  0..13..6 

^'"^'^^  V        ■    •               2..  10..  0 


284..  5. 


Remains  £35..  12..  3.  for  paper,  washincr.  Charitv.  powder,  Lead.  Casks 
Gimblets,  Cutting  wood,  boards,  books  &  a  thousand  other  Incidental  tlun-s.' 


Letter  of  WiLLiA^r  Livixgstox.  ' 

Sir 

I  find  by  your  Letter  of  the  lOth  Instant  k  the  account  there- 
with, that  tliere  is  still  in  your  hands  a  Ballance  of  £10.2.0  old 
Tenor  in  my  favour  on  Ace'  of  the  Philosophic  Solitude.     I  am 
at  a  Loss  how  to  make  you  Satisfaction  for  the  trouble  vou  have 
been  pleased  to  take  in  that  affair,  especially  since  I  find  that 
you  have  not  so  much  as  Charged  the  usual  Commissions  (^dlich 
m  a  Gentleman  of  your  Profession  I  must  look  upon  as  a  most 
sublime   pitch   of   self-denial    &)    which    I   should   have   been 
exceeding  willing,  &  am  still  willing,  to  allow  you.     But  if  you 
are  still  resolved  not  to  accept  them  (and  indeed  they  would  be 
but  a  very  inadequate  Ptecompence  for  your  Trouble)   I  can 
only  say,  that  if  it  should  ever  be  in  my  power  to  serve  you,  I 
shall  not  fail  to  embrace  the  welcome  Opportunitv  of  testifvinjr 
my  gratitude.     And  as  to  the  said  £10.2.0,  I  having  no  occasion 
for  your  unfortunate  Currency,"   you  would  still  add  to  the 

*  As  the  currency  of  Connecticut  is  frequently  referred  to  in  tliese  papers 
a  brief  e.xplanation  will  be  of  service. 

Old  tenor  was  the  term  used  for  all  Connecticut  paper  mouev  of  the 
issues  to  1740,  still  outstanding  in  1744,  including  possibly  some  bills  of 
1/46  printed  from  the  old  plates.  Xeir  tenor  consisted  of  the  bills  of  1744 
and  years  following.  Little  reckoning  was  done  in  new  tenor,  calculations 
being  made  in  old  tenor  at  the  rate  of  three  and  a  half  old  tenor  to  one 
>iew  tenor.  In  compari..on  with  the  normal  value  of  paper,  that  is,  six 
shillings  to  a  silver  Spanish  dollar  or  six  shillings  eiuht  pence  to  an  ounce 
ot  silver,  which  was  also  the  rate  at  which  forei;:n  silver  coins  were  made 
current  by  the  Proclamation  of  1704  and  so  known  as  proelnmation  ,non,  „ 
the  depreciation  of  old  tenor  in  174S  was  alK>ut  .ix  to  one.     In  comparison 


224  jAnEi)  inoef;s()ll  papers,   IT-t^j-^O. 

Obligations  you  have  already  laid  me  under,  if  you  wou'd  lu- 
pleased  to  lay  it  out  in  the  following  Works  of  Dr.  Watts  (which 
I  douht  not  yitu'l  tiud  in  Daddy  Diodates"  Shop,  ti:  I  trust  ^Ir. 
Whittelsey  your  Brother  will  take  the  Trouble  to  Convey  to  my 
hands)  viz:  His  Treatise  on  the  Passions,  Philosophical 
Essays,  Strength  *S:  Weakness  of  human  reason  <i:  Reliquiae 
■Juveniles,  or  as  many  of  them  as  the  said  Sum  will  purchase. 
I  am,  Sir  (with  my  best  Respects  to  you  ^r  Mrs.  Ingersol) 

Your  most  humlde  Servt 

.....  .-    •  Wir.  Livingston.! 

X:  YorkOct^2:.,  174S 

^\"ith  sterling,  in  wliich  four  shillintrs  and  six  pence  were  equal  to  a  Spani-h 
dollar,  the  depreoiatiiui  was  a  third  more,  or  eight  to  one. 

There  was  a  difference  of  opinion  at  the  time  as  to  the  meaning  of 
laicful  moneij.  Manifestly  it  was  any  medium  made  legal  by  law,  Init 
whether  by  the  law  of  England  or  the  law  of  the  colony  was  not  so  clear. 
Some  held  that  lairfnl  money  was  silver,  either  the  silver  shillings,  six- 
pences, and  threepences  coined  in  ^Massachusetts.  1G52-16S4,  and  still  in 
circulation,  or  the  foreign  silver  made  current  at  the  same  rate  by  the 
Proclamation  of  1704  and  the  Coinage  Act  of  170S.  Others,  constituting- 
probably  a  majority  of  the  people  of  New  England,  held  that  laicful  monrij 
was  paper  money,  which  at  par  equated  with  both  Massachusetts  silver  am! 
proclamation  money,  a  six  shilling  paper  bill  when  first  issued,  six  Massa- 
chusetts pine-tree  shillings,  and  a  Spanish  dollar  all  being  of  the  sanif 
value.  In  the  Bering  vs  Packer  case  (below,  p.  239),  the  Privy  Council 
decided  in  favor 'of  silver,  either  Massachusetts  silver  or  proclamation 
money,  but  IngersoU  was  luuloubtedly  riglit  when  he  said  that  this  decision 
was  not  in  accord  with  the  '"understanding  of  the  people"  of  2se\v 
England. 

*  William  Dio<late,  a  native  of  London  (who  settled  in  New  Haven  in 
1717,  married  in  1721,  and  died  in  1751),  kept  a  general  store  on  State 
Street,  at  the  southwest  corner  of  the  present  junction  with  Court  Street. 

t  The  writer  (born  1723,  died  1700)  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1741. 
and  was  now  gaining  distinction  at  the  New  York  bar.  In  his  later  year- 
he  removed  to  Xew  .lersey,  where  he  served  in  Congress  and  became  tin- 
first  Governor  of  tlie  State. 

In  1747  he  pul)li>hed  anonymously  in  Xew  York  Philosophic  Solitude:  or 
the  choice  of  a  Rural  Life.  A  I'oem.  By  a  Gentleman  educated  at  Y"!' 
College.  A  suli-criptidn-paiter  in  ilr.  Ingersoll's  hand  for  this  work  (the 
earliest  publication  in  pure  literature  liy  a  Yale  graduate),  wliich  wa- 
circulated  in  the  College,  and  is  still  preserved  in  the  Yale  L'niver-it; 
Library,  is  appended  to  this  letter. 


JAKED  IXGKRSOLL  PAPERS,  1743-50. 


225 


SUBSCRIPTIOXS   FOR  M^   LiVIXGSTOXS   POEM" 

Prepare.;]  for  the  press  .t  upon  proper  Encouraoement  will  be 
Speedily  published,  A  Eural  Poem  both  Instructive  .t  Deliaht- 
full  :\r.  William  Livingston  of  Xew  York  the  Author,  to^  be 
printed  on  good  paper  in  Quarto,  being  Somewhat  in  length 
more  than  an  Ordinary  Sermon,  the  price  of  one  will  be  about 
four  or  live  Shillings  old  tenor.t 

We  the  Subribers-  willing  to  Encourage  the  publication 
thereof  Do  for  that  purpose  Engage  to  pay  the  Undertakers  for 
So  many  as  to  our  names  arc  annexd. 


•Tared  Ingersol 

Cliauncey  \Yhittelsey 

Enos  All  ins: 

Samuel  Fisk 

Willim.  Rii^^el 

Sami  Fitch 

Wm  SaniH.  Johnson 

Xathu  Lloyd 

Richd  Mansfield 

Jouth.  Coltou 

Aaron  Day 

Wm.  Bryant 
Lyman  Hall 
Xathu.  Huntington 
Joseph  Clark- 
Deliverance  Smith 
Oliver  ^Yolcott 
Daniel  Shelden 
Timothy  Pitkin 
^Villiam  Cooke 
John  Benedict 
Kenjn.  Fisk 
Jonathan  Elmer 
John  Hubbard 


2 

2pd 

2pd 

2 

2pd. 

4pd. 

2  paid+ 

2 

2 

2 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 

1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 


Eleazar  Porter 

Thomas  Williams 

Wm  Smith 

John  Cityler 

Xaphtali  Daggett 

Elijah  Lyman 

David  Baldwin 

Dan".  Bennitt 

James  Hillhouse 

John  Sherman 

Nehemiah  Greenman 

John  Colman 
Jeremiah  Burton 
Matthias  Crane 
Daniel  Hubbard 
John  Hotchkiss 
James  Bebee   • 
Mr.  Bastwick.  Greenwich 
Mr.  Mather,  :Middle>ex 
:Mr.  Dibble,  Stanford 
Mr.  Lamson,  Pviehtield 
Mr.  Woolsey,  L.  Island 
John  Reynolds 
Eliphalet  Bali 


1 
1 
1 
1 

1 

1  paid 

1 

2 

1 

2 

2pd 

Ipd 

1 

2 

I 


*  All  the  subscribers  were  graduates  or  underirraduates  of  Yale  There 
«-ere  then  probably  from  105  to  110  students  in  Colk-e.  and  of  these  oS 
persons  subscribed  for  S3  copies,— 20  being  Seniors  i  Cla^s  of  1747)'  "0 
•  umor.  (Class  of  1748),  12  Sophomores  (Class  of  1749j.  and  G  Freshmen 
(Uass  ot  l.oO):  Burton,  a  Senior  from  Stratford.  Sumner  from  Hebron 
nnd  Sherman.  Sophomores,  and  :\ritchel.  a  Freshman  from  Woodburv.  du-d 
^r  left  Collt-ge  before  graduation. 

t  Tliat  is.  about  a  shilling  proclamation  mon.-y  or  nine  p.-nce  sterling. 

iOne  of  these  copies  is  now  hi  the  Yale  Library. 


226 


JAKED  IXGKIISOLL  PAPEKS,  l74:^»-r)G. 


Daniel  ^Yelch 
Reynold  Marvin 
Nathan  Starr 
Jolin  Clark 
David   Ripley 
Xyniphas  Mar^ton 
Elisha  Steel 
Peter  Bnel 
Samuel  Raynolds 
William  Sumner 
Nathaniel  Bartlet 
Austin  Munson 
James  Brown 
Isaac  Lvnian 


RecJ 


of  Doctr.  Fitch 


1 

1  pd 
1 

1 
1 
1 
1 

2  pd 
•2  pJ 


paid 


0. 

.11.. 

,    0 

1. 

.   7. . 

6 

0. 

.11.. 

,    0 

0. 

.11. 

.   0 

0. 

.    5.. 

.    6 

0. 

.    5.  , 

.    G 

0. 

.    5.  , 

.    6 

0. 

.    5.  , 

.    6 

0. 

.11., 

.    0 

0. 

.    5. 

.    6 

1. 

2. , 

.    0 

0. 

.11. 

.   0 

{Simeon  Mitchel 
Mitchel   Reed  2 
2  Do.   1  Do. 
Klihu  Tudor 
Izrahiah  Wet  more 
John  Maltby 
Jedediah  ilills 
Daniel  Griswold 
Aaron  Hutchinson 
Noadiah  Warner 
Hobart  ^lason 
Sam^i  Scabury 
Jami>on  Johnston 
Isaac  Isaacs 
Saml  Bro^vn 


of  Mr.  Whiting 


&   pd  for 


6. .12..   0 


Reed  of  Sumnor  for    / 
Sundry  Sold  i 

of  Do. 


Sepr.  11:    1747 
Delivd  to  Sr  Smith* 
Bradlv  for  freight 


1 

1 

3       • 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1  paid 


2pi^ 


0. 

.    5. 

.   0 

0. 

.    5., 

.    0 

1. 

2. 

.   0 

0. 

.11. 

.   0 

0. 

.11. 

.  n 

0. 

.    5. 

.  li 

0. 

.11. 

.   0 

5. 

.U., 

.    G 

2 

.    0. 

.   0 

17. 

.18. 

.   0 

£7. 

.    3. 

.    0 

0. 

2 

.   0 

174S  postage  Letter    0..    5. 


10 


'  '  [Endorsed  on  back] 

Reed,  for  hooks       £17.  IS..    0         paid  out 

to  Bryant 
,',    i  ^  freight 

;  postage  Letter 

■     to  Mr.  Diodate  for  books 
'         (^   5/G  viz  Accidencies  pr  order 
,  :.  ,'  to  Sunmer  &c  for  disposing   } 

of  y«  pamphlets  \ 

*  By  Sir   Smith   is   meant  William   Smith,  Junior    (Yale 
student    (with   Living-tnn)    in    the   oilice   of    Hon.    \Mlliam 
(Yale  1719),  of  N.'W  York  City  and  afterwards  Chief  Justic 
of  the  Province  of  New  York. 


1 

.     3  .    •' 

0 

.     2  .    "' 

0 

.     5  .  10 

1. 

.13  :    '> 

0 

.  11  .    0 

174."ii 

,   a    hiw- 

Smith 

.    Sfni"r 

1  nnd  1 

li-tdli:!" 

jared  ixgersoll  papers,  1743-50.  227 

Letter  of  Wileia:m  Livixgstox. 

Xew  York  Xo'  28,  1748. 
W  Jared  Ingersol 

Sir — 3Ir.  Wittlesey  tells  me  that  you  could  not  get  the  books 
I  wrote  for;  be  pleased  therefore  to  lay  out  the  money  in 
Chevers's"^'  excidenees  &  Vocabularies  (or  Xomeuclatures) 
Latin  tt  English,  half  for  one  &  half  for  the  other,  &  send  them 
\>y  the  post  for  as  reasonal>le  a  price  as  you  can  agree.  My 
respects  to  your  Spouse. 

I  am,  Sir,  Your  very  humble  Serv* 

W"  Livingston. 

i^.B. — You  will  be  pleased  to  send  them  by  the  next  post,  I 
wanting  them  for  my  brothers  Children,  &  charge  the  postage  of 
this  Letter  to  mv  Acc\ 


BiEL  OF  Sale  of  Xegeo  Boy.- 

To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  Come  Greeting. 

Know  ye  that  I  Stephen  Ailing  of  the  Town  k  County  of  'New 

Haven  &  Colony  of  Connecticut,  for  the  Consideration  of  the 

Sum  of  three  hundred  tS:  twenty  pounds  old  tenor  rec*^.  to  my 

full   satisfaction   of  Jared   Ingersoll   of  Xew   Haven   afores*^., 

have  Sold,  set  over  k  Delivered  &  Do  by  these  presents  fully  & 

absolutely  Sell,  Set  over  &  Deliver  unto  him  the  said  Jared 

Tngersoll  a  Certain  Negro  Boy,  a  Slave  Called  Cambridge  aged 

Eight  years  or  thereabouts,  To  have  lV  to  hold  the  said  Negro 

Boy  unto  him  the  said  Jared  Ligersoll  and  to  his  Executoi*s, 

Adm".  and  Assigns  for  Ever.     And  I  the  said  Stephen  Ailing 

Do  for  my  Self  my  heirs.  Ex'".  &  Adm".  Covenant  with  the  Said 

Jared  Ingersoll  his  Ex"^  &  Adm".  that  Until  the  Ensealing  of 

these  presents  I  am  Lawfully  possessed  of  the  said  Xegro  as  of 

my  proper  goods  &  have  good  right  to  Sell  him  in  manner  as  is 

above  written  k  Do  by  these  presents  bind  my  Self  &  my  heirs, 

*  Ezekiel   Cheever    (born   in   Enr;lanil   in   1014.  died   in  Boston  in   170S), 

a    noted    <choolma»tpr    in    New    Haven,    and    in  Boston    and    its    vicinity, 

I'liblislittl  a   Latin  Acci'lcncc  wliich  continued  in  use  for  many  generations 
"f  schoolbov?. 


22S  .TAKED    IXGERSOLL    TAPERS,     lT4o-5G. 

Ex",  and  AJm'^.  for  Ever  To  Warrant  tSr  Defend  the  s'^.  Seixm 
to  liim  the  said  Jared  Ingersoll  and  to  his  Ex""".,  Adni"'.  A: 
AssigTis  against  all  Claims  A:  Demands  whatsoever.  In  Wiriitss 
whereof  I  have  hereunto  Set  my  hand  A:  Seal  this  31''.  Day  <,( 
May  AD:  1751. 

Signed,  Sealed  0^^  Deliv'^.  Stephen  Ailing   [l.  s.] 

in  presence  of  ■    ■  • 

Chauncy  Whittelsey"^  ' 

Charles  AVhittelsev  ,'       -     ■  -         . 


Epitaph  ox  Isaac  Steady  Esq'^.f 

WHO    DEPAPvTED    THIS    LIFE    Ap^.    S:      1751    BEIXG    PeOXY-DaY.j: 

Here  Lies,  Squire  Steady,  for  Religion  Ever  fam'd 
who  ne'er  in  all  his  life  got  drunk,  nor  Ever  gam'd. 
he  had  the  Pious  Xack  at  right  godly  Devotion 
yet  was  troubled  with  an  Itch  for  "Worldly  Promotion 
of  which  he  long  Laboured.     Ah !   fatal  Disease 
while  flattering  all.  Courting  all,  he  all  did  displease. 
So  Equi-poised  was  his  mind  'twixt  One  thing  tt  another 
he  never  knew  his  own  mind  for  two  hours  together. 

*  Stephen  Ailing.  Jarecl  Ingersoll,  and  Chauncy  ^Miittelsey  had  marri'--'' 
sisters,  the  daughters  of  Colonel  Josepli  Whiting,  of  Xew  Haven. 

t  These  verses,  in  Mr.  IngersoU's  hand,  are  unsigned,  but  the  erasures  an! 
interlineations  betray  the  author.  The  subject  is  Isaac  Dickernian.  <''■ 
Xew  Haven,  born  1077.  died  175S,  wlio  on  April  S,  1754,  was  defeated  v> 
the  nomination  of  Deputies  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony,  of  whii'' 
he  had  formerly  lutn  a  member.  He  served  as  a  Deacon  in  the  First  Chur<  : 
from  1727  until  liis  dismission  early  in  1754  to  the  Separate  or  Ul!'''' 
Haven  Cluirch:  in  whicli  lie  was  a  Deacon  from  April  2,  1754.  to  li:- 
death. 

He  married,  as  his  second  wife,  on  June  12,  1754,  Elizabeth  (AlHn;-'  ■ 
widow  of  John  Morris,  of  East  Haven. 

A  very  bitter  feeling  prevailed  at  this  time  between  the  supptntui-  "'' 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Xoyes.  of  the  First  Cluirch  (of  whom  [Mr.  Inger^idl  ^^•»• 
one),  and  his  opponents,  some  of  whom  had  founded  the  White  Ilav'"? 
Meeting  in  1742. 

t  The  day  of  tlie  nit-.-iing  of  freemen  in  Connecticut  towns  for  nominat!"-" 
Deputies  to  the  (ieiK-ral  Assembly. 


jAEEi)  ixGEKsoLL  PAPERS,   174:^-50.  229 

Long  did  the  two  houses  for  Religions  Worship  prepar'd 

Contend  for  his  presence,  which  neither  wholly  shar'd ; 

he  tiirn'd,  to  true  blue  »^  turned  back  ^  then  tuni'd  again 

&  doubtless  in  all  had  his  godly  Ends  t'  obtain  ; 

but  See  fickle  fortune!   when  most  She  Seems  to  favour 

Says  there's  Something  Suspicious  in  his  Motly  behaviour, 

too  good  for  one  Side,  not  proov'd  Lasting  good  o'  the  tother, 

is  bid  to  give  way  to  a  more  Deserving  Brother ; 

Ev'n  Just  as  his  faith  was  Declared  to  be  right  Sound 

between  those  two  Stools,  he  fell  flat  to  y^  ground 

&  falling  Died — his  worldly  Life's  no  more. 

As  to  his  Stature  it  Avas  tall  «Jc  his  Age  almost  four  Score, 

but  what  was  worldly  life  to  him  who  hopes  E're  long 

to  Shine  Illustrious  Among  that  pious  throng, 

where  Join'd  to  South-End's  Eich  ^Yidow  full  of  grace  & 

true  light 
he'll  Eise  Immortal  &  Eeign  as  Lasting  full  &  bright 
as  does  a  falling  Meteor  in  a  dark  Cloudy  Xight ; 
flaming  with  pious  Social  Love  at  Seventy  Seven 
Vio-orous  k  Strone; — Just  like  good  folks  in  heaven. 


Letter  of  Col.   Gfrdox  Saltoxstall. 

,  Xew  London  Xov'".  3,  1755 

M^  Jared  Engersol 

s^ 

.    I    now    adress    you    by   my    son    TTinthrc^p,'^    &    on 
his  behalf. 

L'pon  nuiture  Consideration,  ti'  advice,  he  has  resolved  to 
Study  the   Law ;     and   as   he  will   stand   in   absolute   need   of 

*  Wiiitliiop  Saltonstall,  son  of  Colonel  Gurdon  Saltonstall  (Yale  College 
172.5),  and  grandson  of  Governor  Gurdon  Saltonstall,  was  graduated  at 
Vale  in  175G,  and  spent  his  life  in  his  native  town  of  New  Li;)ndon,  employed 
in  public  office. 

As  a  day-liook  of  ^fr.  Ingersoll  shows,  young  Saltoirstall  boarded  in  his 
family  tlndiigli  liis  Senior  year,  paying  five  shillings  a  wi-ek. 


230  JARED  IXGEHSOLL  PAPERS,  17-10-56. 

advice,  cl'  direction,  I  take  the  Freedom  to  ask  the  favour,  of  You 
to  admit  him  into  your  Family,  &  under  your  Patronage ;  if  ir 
be  consistent  with  your  Practice  as  well  as  agreable  to  tlit- 
Family. 

Haveing"  considcr'd  Winthrop's  Genius,  am  of  Opinion,  thar 
there  is  as  much  reason  to  hope,  he  will  make  as  good  proficiency 
in  the  Study  of  the  Law,  as  in  any  other  branch  of  Literature. 

Should  you  consent  to  take  him,  favour  me  with  the  Terui,- 
on  which  you'l  accept  him ;  which  I  doubt  not  will  be  reason- 
able, that  I  may  give  him  such  directions  as  may  be  necessary, 
with  all  convenient  speed. 

And  youl  highly  Oblige 

Y^  :^Iost  Hum^  Serv*. 

G:  Saltonstall, 


Letter  of  Peter  V.  B.  Livixgstox. 
._         ...       -.     ,    ,  :N' York  May  31^  1T5G 

The  Corrispondents  to  the  Society  in  Scotland  from  [  ?  for] 
Propigating  Christian  Knowlege  are  about  buying  a  tract  rif 
Land  in  Xew  Jersey  for  the  use  of  the  Indians  &  purpose  X'< 
settle  the  Pev*^.  M\  John  Prainerd"  amongst  them  as  their 
Minister:  their  Cash  is  so  low  that  I  can  [not]  see  that  they 
can  possibly  compleat  their  dcsig-n  unless  they  can  very  speedily 
get  the  money  which  ^F.  Praincrd  put  to  interest  to  ]Mess''. 
Cook,  Day  S:  Dyer,  whose  bonds  'M\  Brainerd  tells  me  he  ha- 
put  into  your  hands.  Wherefore  I  beg  the  favour  of  you  to  !••' 
me  know  how  that  affair  stamls  by  the  very  first  opportunity. 
what  sum  you  have  rec^.  cl'  what  you  still  expect  to  receive  au'! 

•John  Braiiiord  (horn  1720.  died  17S1)  was  frraduated  at  Yale  in  174'!: 
and  from  1747  to  1755  was  employed  hy  the  Edinburgh  Society  for  Prop- 
ogatinp  Christian  Knowledjre  a.^  his  brother  David's  assistant  and  suc- 
cessor in  the  mission  to  tlie  Delaware  Indians  in  Xew  Jersey. 

lie  tiien  had  eliar^-^e  for  a  yoar  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Newark 
but  in  .Jiuie,  175*3.  resumed  his  former  labors,  lar^'ely  supportin;;  hini-tl! 
from  his  private  means. 


JAEED  IXGEUSOLL  TAPERS,  1743-56.  231 

wheu.     I  beg  you  will  be  very  pcrticular,  that  the  Corrispond- 
cnts  may  know  what  to  depend  on  <li:  act  accordingly. 
I  am 

Your  most  hum\  Serv*. 

P.  V.  B.  Livingston." 

[To  ^  ,  .  ■ 

Jared  Ingersol  Escf.  .  ^,  \.      .:, 

at  ..  .      ■- 

i^ew  Haven] 


Letteks  of  Rev.  Johx  Beaixerd. 

iSTew  York,  Julv  1,  1756 
Sir, 

I  received  the  Money  you  left  and  all  is  right  except  that 
clip't  Piece  which  I  twk  for  a  double  Pistole.v  That  is  a 
Counterfeit  &  will  by  no  means  Pass.  I  have  left  it  with  M^ 
Peter  Livingston  to  send  by  Cap'  Bradly.  I  hope  W.  Day 
knows  who  he  had  it  of  and  will  be  able  to  return  it,  to  the 
right  owner. 

In  Hast, 
Sir, 

Your  humb  Serv* 

John  Braincrd  .  . 


Xewark,  Mar.  1,  1758 
Sir,        .  '^   '    -        "  ■ 

Yours  23*^  Jan:  came  to  hand  last  Evening.     I  had  Just  pre- 
pared a  Line  for  you,  which  now  you  wont  have  the  Trouble 

*  Peter  Van  Brn^zh  Liviiifrston,  an  elder  brother  of  'Sir.  In^cr^oll's 
intimate  friend,  \Mlliam  Livinf;ston,  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1731,  and 
became  a  merchant  in  New  York. 

t  Pistflle  was  a  Spanish  coin,  appearing  in  a  single  piece,  a  douVde  or 
two-pistole  piece,  and  a  four-pistole  piece  or  doubloon.  Its  value  in  the 
colonies  varied  from  10s.  Gd  to  •22s,  but  in  Virginia  it  was  in  conuiion  use 
as  the  equivalent  of  an  English  pound  or  20s. 


232  JARED  IXGERSOLL  VATEns.  l74.'>-r)0. 

of. — I  am  not  Sorry  to  Lear  yon  have  received  ilie  full  of  nuj 
Debt  from  Yale  Bis]io[).  You  will  be  so  e.ood  as  to  send  it  to 
]\P.  P.  V.  B.  Livingston  In-  the  first  Safe  Opportunity,  and  Just 
Signify  to  him  that  it  belongs  to  me  Personally,  otherwise  he 
may  keep  it  in  the  Treasury  and  not  send  me  Word. 

I  am  sorry  for  so  many  Delays  with  Respect  to  the  publiek 
Money.  But  I  doubt  not  you  have  done  your  best,  and  will  do 
your  utmost  to  procure  the  Remainder  for  us.  The  "Want  of  it 
has  been  a  great  Disadvantage.  You  will  please  to  send  what 
Money  yoti  have  by  yoti,  belonging  to  the  Mission,  also  tu 
M^  Livingston. 

I  hope  you  take  Care  of  yourself,  by  the  Way,  as  well  as  of 
ns.  It  has  been  a  troiiblesom  Aff".  all  round.  I  long  to  have 
it  done  with. 

In  hast, 

Sir,  -  ■ 

.'  Your  humb  Serv* 

John  Braiuerd 
[To 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq^ 

at  Xew  Haven] 


Letter  of  Joseph  Goldthwait. 

At  Onida  Great  Carryin  Place,^-  Aug\  14'\  1750 
Dear  Sir, 

Perhaps  these  Lines  may  surprise  you.  But,  though  I  aui 
absent  from  you  have  a  Regard  for  my  frinds  at  your  Place. 
&•  have  wrote  to  many  of  Them.  Therefore  take  the  Tredom  "t 
writeing  a  few  Lines  to  you,  «S:  Encloseing  one  to  my  Dear  Givlf 
who,  I  hope  is  Well. 

I  have  not  no  Particular  Xews  to  tell  yoti  off.  Every  thiuir 
this  way  Lays  Dorment,  waiting  Lord  Lowdenf  Orders.     ^" 

*  The  site  of  tlie  present  city  of  rvoine,  X.  Y..  where  the  waters  tli;^t 
flow  to  tlie  IIii<l-nu  Fviver  divide  from  those  tiiat  tlow  to  Lake  Ontari". 

t  The  Earl  of  LoikIdiui  arrived  in  Vir;:inia  in  July.  17.30.  as  coniniaii'h-r- 
in-chief  of  the  British  forces  in  Xortli  America. 


JAKKD  IXOEKSOLL  PAPERS,  lT-t3-.j6. 


233 


Expedition  will  be  Carryed  on  this  way  this  Year.  We  are 
only  upon  the  Defensive;  we  are  fortytiing  This  Place.  I  am 
Fosted  Here  till  further  Orders.  It  is  Eeport^.  that  our  Eegi- 
nient  will  be  order'',  to  Ilallifax,  but  Cant  say  IIow  True  it  is, 
but  Wish  it  may  be  so. 

Hope  our  Countrymen  will  do  something  at  Crown  Point; 
wait  with  Impatience  to  Hear  of  their  Success  which  god  Grant. 

My  Compliments  to  your  Lady,  blaster  Jerree,  »S:  all  Inquire- 
ing  frinds,  or  any  Body  you  have  a  3Iind  to.     Beg  yo\  favor  me 
with  a  Line,  and  a  Xews  Paper  cV".  will  be  Exccptable  <t  am 
Dear  Sir  your  most  Humble  Seiw*. 

Joseph  Goldthwait" 
Jared  Ingersole  Esq^ 

*Tlie  writer  of  this  letter,  Joseph  Goldthwait.  Junior,  bought  land  in 
New  Haven  in  1751.  but  sold  out  his  holdings  in  1754.  He  was  born  in 
Boston  in  1730,  attained  tlie  rank  of  Major  in  the  Old  French  War,  was 
loyal  to  the  Crown  in  the  Revolution,  and  died  in  Xcav  York  City  in  1779. 


234:  JARED  IXGE-RSOLL  PArERS,  1758-64. 

II.  Xew  Haven  an'd  London,  1758-1764.  \ 
In  May,  175S,  Mr.  Ingersoll  was  appointed  as  Agent  for  tli.- 
Colony  of  Connecticut  at  the  Court  of  St.  James.  He  reache-l 
London  in  January,  1759,  and  after  resigning  his  agency  in 
:N[ay,  1700,  remained  there  for  over  a  year  longer.  Before  hi^ 
return  he  contracted  ^vith  the  Commissioners  of  the  Xavy  t.;. 
send  them  from  America  a  ship-load  of  masts,  etc. 

The  following  papers  relate  to  his  preparations  for  the  voyage 
to  London :  his  life  there :  his  London  landlady's  letters  after 
his  return:  details  of  the  fulfilment  of  his  contract  with  the 
Xavy  Board ;   and  other  incidents  in  his  personal  history. 


Letter  of  Kev.  Jonathan  Ingeksole. 

Xew  York,  June  14,  175 S. 
D'.  Brother; 

I  this  minit  received  a  Line  from  you  by  Mr  Darling,  and 
am  Sorrv  I  had  it  not  sooner.  However,  in  my  last,  which  I 
hope  vou  have  received,  I  gave  you  my  Advice  respecting  your 
takin-  v^  Smal  Pox  bv  Innoculation  r  and  y^  more  I  hear,  y 
moreVam  encouraged.  I  lodged  at  Mr  Bostwicks  y^  Presbyte- 
rian Minister  of  this  Place,  last  night:  a  man  of  Sense  &  Reli- 
gion, who  Strono-lv  advises  to  it.  He  is  considerably  gross,  and 
was  innoculated^last  Suunner  with  all  his  Family  consisting  ot 
ei-ht  01-  nine,  and,  I  believe,  all  together  had  not  so  large  a  Cr-p 
as"^I  had.  and  were  scarcely  ill  enough  to  keep  House.  I  hope 
you  will  be  preserved,  &  should  rejoyee  to  be  with  you  was  it 

.Inoculation  a.  a  preventative  of  small  pox.  one  of  the  mo.t  dreaJ.-.l 
„f  .li...a-e<  in  t!u.  oolonie..  consisted  in  the  injection  of  small  pox  virus  trom 
■X  mild  ca^e.  in  ord.-r  to  induce  in  the  individual  a  mild  form  of  the  disease. 
Manv  objecti.,n^  to  it  were  raise.l  in  the  colonies,  partly  becattse  of  it^ 
dan-ers  an.l  partlv  h.cau.e  of  its  interferenc  uitli  the  "preropUive  ^  ot 
(•od"  The  Xs-en.ldv  of  South  Carolina  forbade  its  use  in  1.^,4.  1  he  Sut- 
tonian  method  Avas  that  commonly  used.  The  "crop''  to  wluch  .louatl.an 
Inu'ersoU  refers  is  evidently  of    "pock-marks'. 


JARED    II^GEESOLL    PAPERS,    1758-04.  235 

possible;  but  it  seems  not  possible,  Consistent  with  <S:c  &e. 
I  heartily  rejoyce  in  your  Prosperity,  and  so  bid  you  farewell 
wishing  the  best  of  Blessings  may  rest  upon  you,  and  y'  you 
may  be  made  a  rich  Blessing  to  your  Country.  D""  Sir,  danger- 
ous, tempting  Scenes  you  expect  will  open,  watch  tS:  pray. 
Hope  we  may  See  each  other  again  in  Life;  be  this  as  it  will, 
let  our  highest  Concern  be  to  Serve  our  Generation  by  y*"  will  of 
God,  y'  we  may  die  in  Peace ;    and  possess  Eternal  Bliss. 

Your  Affectionate  Brother 

Jon*^  Ingersoll.'^ 
[To  ^  --  -'-  .     ■  . 

^P  Jared  Tngersoll  Esq'"  .  ■ 

at  Brook-Haven  • 

on  Long  Island  •'  .:     ;    ,      ••        :    ■.. 

to  be  left  at  D"",  Murisons] 


Letter  of  William  Samuel  Johxsox. 

1^0  one  among  y^  Friends  does  more  sincerely  &  heartily  than 
I  do.  Congratulate  y''.  Return  Home  &  recovery  from  the  small 
Pox.  I  had  great  Concern  for  you  on  Account  of  the  hot 
Wheather  which  happened  at  the  Time  I  imagined  you  had  the 
disease  upon  you :  And  was  sorry  you  had  not  before  Innocu- 
lation  been  advised  of  the  surprising  success  of  the  Jersey 
Physicians  in  the  use  of  ]\rcrcury  d'  Antimony,  as  means  to 
correct  the  virulance  of  that  distemper,  &  render  Tnnoculation 
safe  fov  all  Ages  cV-  Constitutions.  But  as  the  Event  of  the 
course  you  took  has  been  so  hap]>y,  it  is  now  of  no  consequence. 
]\ray  this  first  fortunate  stop  be  an  Omen,  of  a  happy  Voyage,  & 
prosperous  undertaking  tliroughout 

*  Jonathan  Inirorsull,  born  1714,  the  eldest  brother  of  Jared  Ingersoll, 
was  frraduated  at  Yale  in  173(1. 

He  was  settled  as  [)a3tor  of  tlie  Conarepational  C'liurcli  in  Ridgofield, 
Connecticut,  in  1730:  and  served  in  tluit  oflicc  until  his  death  in  1778. 
His  eldest  son  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1700.  and  became  a  distinguished 
lawyer  in  New  Haven  and  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  State. 


236  JAIIED    IXGEKSi.LL    PAPERS,    1758-04. 

-  I  shall  be  glad  to  kuow  w].--::rr  we  shall  have  the  Pleasun^  {<< 
see  yoii  at  Litchfield,  or  Avhr-iL-:r  you  conclude  not  tt'  attend  this 
Circuit. 

I  am  with  true  Regard  ' 

I/.  S^  Y^  Friend  ^'  L-nble  Serv\ 
Wm.  Sani'.  J'.hnson" 
Stratford,  Ang.  2,  175S. 

Jared  Ingersol,  Esq :   Xew  Haven. 


Letter  of  Di;.  George  Muirsox. 

Good  Sir 

I  Eec'^  Your  Kind  letter  of  the  30*^  July  Informing  nie  of 
the  surrouder  of  Louisbourgh :  rho'  the  Account  proved  prema- 
ture I  made  no  doubt  but  that  it  would  be  so  soon.  If  it  was  not 
so  then,  from  the  Constant ;  heavy ;  and  Almost  perpetual  fin- 
with  w''''.  we  ply'd  them. 

(I  had  also  great  Confidence  from  the  kno^vn  Ability  and 
Integrity  of  two  of  the  principle  Commanders,  one  I  had  the 
honour  and  pleasure  of  being  Acquainted  with.) 

It  is  So  now.  I  give  you  Joy  thereof  and  "Wish  it  to  Every 
Englishman. 

Had  we  Succeded  to  the  Xorthward  in  that  one  battle  only.  In 
My  Opinion  this  part  of  the  World  Would  have  bin  our  own 
Soon.  I  most  firmly  beleive  God  In  his  good  time  Will  Deliver 
ns  from  Slaughter  and  put  tlie  Xorth  as  Well  as  East  in  our 
hands.  I  would  have  a  Small  ^Matter  of  humain  Cleans  ^Madr 
L'se'off,  for  great  ones  dont  Avail  us  to  the  Xorthward,  w'^^'  I  am 
both  Sorry  for,  and  Ashamed  (ttf.  '       "' 

I  hope  ]\r'  Ingersall  is  well  and  happly  freed  from  the  Secret 

•William  Samuel  Johnson,  born  1727,  died  ISIO,  was  graduated  at  Val'- 
in  1744.  and  iM-came  a  lawyer  in  Stratford. 

In  comnion  with  a  lar^e  ntnnl)er  of  other  leading  citizens  of  We-terii 
Connecticut.  Dr.  .Tnlmson  refrained  fnun  active  iiarticijiatinn  in  tlie  eviiit- 
which  preeedeil  and  accompanied  the  American  Revolution;  hut  wlien  tl:- 
struggle  was  deeiiled.  he  acefpte.!  tlie  re-^ult  cordially,  and  took  an  imiuMtaiii 
part  in  the  construction  of  tlic  new  republic. 


JARED  IXGKIJSOLL  PAPERS.  175S-01.  237 

and  hidden  fear's  that  Some  body  said  She  was  possesed  off,  For 
as  to  Manifest  ones  no  body  On  Our  lie  Was  Wise  Enough  to 
discover.  Pray  give  my  Hearty  Regards  to  her  ;  M"^  !Muirson 
and  the  Whole  doth  the  Same.  I  wish  you  Well  Sir  Here:  on 
your  passage  to  England;  there;  and  When  you  Return. 
Shall  always  be  very  glad  to  hear  from  you  Especially  when  In 
Europe  and  be  assured  Dear  S"".  you  are  among  the  Xumber  of 
the  professed  friends  of  • 

.  Geo  Muirson"^ 

[1T5S] 
lOr  Sep' At  Xight 

Your  lingers — but  my  Eyes  begin  to  fail  me. 
[For  :         .     • 

Jared  Ingersoll  Escf 

at  Xew  Haven] 


Letter  to  Rev.  Joxatiiax  IxCtErsoll. 

.        ,\. ..-■.■;    ..        London,  16th  AjA  1759. t 
D^  Broths 

I  now  write  you  from  this  far  distant  land  of  Old  England, 
as  I  did  frequently  from  X:  York  while  I  was  waiting  there  for 
a  passage,  during  all  which  time  I  have  not  had  the  pleasure  of 
receiving  a  line  from  you.  I  know  your  late  Sickness  must  be 
your  Excuse  in  great  measure  &  perhaps  altogether. 

I  have  not  heard  from  any  of  my  friends  in  America  since 
my  Coining  away.  Perhaps  you  are  Still  Laliouring  under 
weakness  die  infirmity  tho  I  hope  it  is  otherwise  with  you.  Be  so 
good  as  to  write  me  one  line  at  least.     I  myself  was  greatly 

*  Dr.  Geortre  !Muir>on,  Jr.,  of  Brookhaven.  Lous  I>land,  born  170S,  died 
17S().  was  the  earliest  practitioner  in  America  of  mercurial  inoculation. 

i"  Another  letter,  dated  on  the  day  after  this,  to  his  friend  William 
Samuel  Jolin-Min,  is  ^riven  in  part  in  Beardsley's  Life  mi-I  Times  of  Jolnison. 
pp.  ].')-lt;. 

A  suh>.H(|iK'nt  lettt-r.  written  on  Decemhcr  'li.  1750.  is  given  in  full  by 
Dr.  Beardsley.  pp.  10-24. 


238  JAKED  IXGER.SOLL  PAPEKS,  175S-Gi. 

relax'd  at  first  coming  liere  k  for  some  time  after,  owiui:-,  I 
Imagin,  partly  to  the  moistness  of  the  Air  in  this  Climate  »!c 
partly  to  my  being  Confined  almost  all  the  way  over,  to  my 
Cabbin  in  a  close  pent  air.  The  Ocean  was  in  Such  a  rage  we 
Could  not  go  forth  upon  Deck  nor  yet  Sit  or  Stand  in  the  Cab- 
bin  great  part  of  the  time.  The  passage  was  truly  terrible  A: 
alarming,  nor  did  we  but  with  the  utmost  hazard  Escape  Ship- 
wreck finally  at  our  nuiking  the  Land,  which  was  in  the  horrors 
of  a  Dark  «i:  Stormy  night  with  the  wind  fiercely  blowing  on 
Shore.  But  through  the  Divine  protection  we  Survived  all 
those  dreadfulls ;  »i:  how  many  tic  what  Kind  of  disasters  Still 
await  you  cV-  me,  after  those  we  already  escap'd,  God  only 
knows.  'Tis  a  good  thing  to  preserve  a  firm  &  Equal  mind  at 
all  times,  tho'  'tis  difficult  sometimes  to  preserve  such  a  temper. 
And  nov/  methinks  you  want  to  have  mc  break  ofi"  this  Strain 
&  tell  you  Something  of  this  Same  Country  I  am  in.  "SYhat 
shall  I  tell  you  but  that  human  nature  is  the  Same  here  li'  three 
thousand  miles  off;  here  is  pain  &  pleasure;  here  are  liich  \' 
poor,  Xoble  *t  igiioble,  Some  worthy  &  Some  very  unworthy 
persons  of  Every  Caracter  <^-  Denomination  of  men ;  "tis  true 
here  are  vast  improvements,  many  are  the  monuments  of 
immense  Labour  <fc  Skill  «i'  the  .Land  is  fine  beyond  what  I 
expected.  The  winter  has  been  Exceeding  mild  but  the 
growth  of  the  Earth  is  unaccountable.  I  walk'd  lately  in  the 
fields  where  I  found  the  grass  full  Ancle  high  A:  better,  thick  A: 
rank :    twould  now  mow  as  good  rowen. 

As  to  the  Political  Avorld,  they  are  all  at  work  but  those  with- 
out Doors  know  little  what  is  doing. 

His  ^Majesty  is  in  usual  health,  but  Advanced  in  years,  as  yuii 
know;  'tis  a  great  Satisfaction  to  the  nation  to  know  that  sd 
well  disposed  a  person  as  the  Prince  of  Wales  appears  to  be,  is 
Likely  to  succeed  to  the  Throne  when  his  ^Majesty  shall  be  no 
more.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  frequently  Seeing  all  the 
Royal  Family;  of  being  present  in  both  the  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment, Courts  of  Common  Law,  kc.  kc.  But  of  these  things 
more  particularly  when  we  meet,  as  Grid  grant  we  may  in  this 
Life  airain  in  Due  time. 


jARED  i>'GKi;s()LL  I'.vrEiJs,   17oS-04.  239 

;Mv  kind  regards  to  your  family  k  proper  Compl^'.  to  all 
friends. 

I  am  y^  Cordial  friend  cV  Atfec\  Brother 
Jared  Irigersoll. 
[To 
Her.  Jonatliau  Ligersoll, 

Eidgefield]  '    ■      '    . 


i 

i  XoTEs  OF  Decisiox  OF  Case,  Derixg  vs.  Packer. 

Lords  Com**,  of  Council,  Cockpit,  AVhitehall" 
1760  JulvlO' 


Deering 

vs 
Packer 


Deering  of  Boston,  ZSew  England,  V^ 

Packer  of  jiST :  Hampshire  on  an  appeal 

from    a    Judgment   of    Supreme    Court    in    ]!S 


Hampshire  on  bond  Dated  30  July  IToi,  from  Packer  to  Deer- 
ing payable  30  Jan^  1735,  Conditioned  for  payment  of  £2460. 
in  good  jjuhlick  Bills  of  ^^  Province  of  y'^  Massachusetts  Bay  or 
Current  Laivfull  money  of  New  England  with  Interest.  Case: 
The  Dei'^.  sometime  about  y®  year  1752  made  a  tendry  of  a 
Large  Sum  in  the  then  Current  bills  of  Xew  Hampshire,  or 
out  of  which  he  told  the  PI*",  to  take  his  due,  there  having  been 
many  payments  made  &  indorsed.  The  PI*",  refused  y^  money  & 
afterwards  brought  his  Action  in  which  he  obtained  Judginent 
for  y^  penal  part  of  y^  bond  by  Verdict  of  y*"  Jury  in  Decemb''. 
175S.     Upon  which  the  parties  were  heard  in  chancery  of  y*" 

*  Henry  Derincr.  a  Boston  merchant  (born  16S4).  in  settling  in  1734  a 
business  transaction  with  his  Avifo's  brother,  llioinas  Packer,  of  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire,  agreed  to  accept  payment  in  ^Nfas^achu-etts  currency  or 
in    "current  lawful  money  of  Xew  England.'' 

Mr.  Dering  died  in  1750.  and  in  17G0  his  son  and  executor,  Thomas 
Bering,  appealed  to  England  against  a  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Kew  Hampshire  on  tlie  interpretation  of  the  above-quoted  phrase.  The 
debt  had  already  been  paid  in  part,  and  the  appeal  was  against  the  accept- 
ance of  Xew  Hampshire  and  Connecticut  currency  in  payment  of  the 
remainder. 

The  brief*  in  this  case  are  in  the  British  ;Mu>eiim.  A.Mitiomil  ^Manu- 
scripts,  3G,21S,  f.  44,  transcripts  of  which  arc  in  tlie  Library  of  Congress. 


240  JARED    I?vGKi;S<)LL    PAl'KKS,    175S-G4. 

bond  agreeable  to  y^  Law  of  y®  Province,  &  y*  Court  gave  Judg- 
ment for  y^  Sum  of  £354.0.91/,  Bills  of  Credit  of  X  Hampshire 
X :  Tenor,  being  y^  nominal  Sum  due  at  y"  time  of  y^  tendry, 
deducting-  y*^'  Sums  paid  &  indorsed,  so  that  y^  Court  went  u})on 
a  principal  that  the  Cred^  was  holden  to  take  y^  bills  as  ten- 
dred  «t  that  y^  Debtor  was  not  holden  to  make  good  the  depre- 
ciation of  y*^  Same  nor  to  pay  in  Silver  or  real  money. 

On  y^  side  of  y''  Appellant,  viz  \^  Cred^,  it  was  Insisted  that 
the  pa^nuent  ought  to  have  been  Either  in  the  Bills  of  y®  Massa- 
chusetts Bay  (which  it  seems  were  all  Called  in  6:  Sunk  before 
the  tendry")  or  in  Silver  money  agreeable  to  the  proclamation  of 
Queen  Ann,  which  they  Insisted  was  the  true  meaning  of  that 
part  of  y®  Condition,  viz  Current  Lairfull  money  of  X  Eng- 
land ;  twas  also  by  him  Claimed  to  have  all  y*"  Sums  that  were 
indorsed  reduced  in  nominal  Sum  down  to  y*"  Value  of  Silver 
at  y^  time  <:)f  y^  giving  of  y*  bond  which  was  about  27/  p^  oz. 

On  y*  Side  of  y"  Def^.  twas  Urged  that  Current  money  of 
X  Englaiul  at  that  time  ineant  &•  was  understood  to  be  indif- 
ferently the  bills  of  Credit  of  any,  all,  or  Either  of  y*"  four 
X  England  Colonies,  that  therefore  y*^  tendry  was  in  the  Specie 
Contracted  for,  »t  that  y^  Sums  indorsed  were  not  only  of  Course 
upon  that  Supposition  Equal  to  the  very  Sums  Expressed,  but 
that  the  Cred''.  by  indorsing  had  agreed  to  S:  accepted  of  so 
much  as  y*  Same  Expressed  in  real  as  well  as  nominal  Sum. 

Earl  Grenvill  Lord  Presid\  &  Lord  ]\[ansfield  L"*.  Ch.  Justice 
of  the  Kings  Bench,  Expressed  themselves  fully  upon  y*^  words — 
Current  Lawfull  money  of  X.  England,  in  favour  of  y^  Cred''.,  to 
which  y*"  other  Lords  agreed,  that  it  did  not  mean  Bills  of  pub- 
lick  Credit  of  any  Colony,  but  were  put  in  Contradistinction  to 
y®  Same.^ 

I'pon  the  whole  L*^.  IMansficld  said  he  was  Clear  on  y°  one 
hand  that  the  Sums  indorsed  ought  to  be  allowed  according  to 
the  nominal  Sums  so  indorsed.  Equal  to  y*^  Same  Sums  of 
money  mentioned  in  the  bond,  «t  that  the  PP.  had  no  right  to 

•  [Note  by  ]Mr.  Tii;.'t'r>nll.]  Pt'iliap^  tliey  wcro  niistnkfii  in  tliat  mattrr. 
not  heiiirr  aciiiinintfil  \vitli  the  C'lirrt'iicy  &  Undfrstandin;::  of  yf  penplr  in 
X.  England,  and  v"-'  l)<'ft  not  well  prepared  to  shew  that  mutter. 


JARED   I^'GERSOLL    PAPErs,    1T5S-'J4.  241 

have  the  Same  any  way  reduced  or  altered — on  the  other  hand 
that  the  tendry  was  not  good  in  any  respect,  not  only  in  that  it 
was  in  a  Species  of  Currency  different  from  that  Contracted 
for,  but  also  in  that  it  was  out  of  time,  being  many  years  after 
the  time  for  payment  was  Lapsed  and  also  without  Xotice.  He 
said,  what  I  Shall  a  man  meet  his  CrtMp.  in  the  Street  Unawares 
lir  tender  a  Debt  to  him.  The  Chancery  he  said  allow  Six 
Mouths  Xotice  to  be  given  of  time  *i:  place.  He  said  the  Law 
of  the  Province  Enabling  the  Court  in  such  Cases  to  turn  itself 
into  a  Court  of  Equity,  c^:  Chancer  down  the  bond  to  the  Sum 
due  by  y*  Condition,  was  a  very  good  thing  &  what  S".  Tho'. 
^[ore  in  his  time  Laboured  so  hard  to  obtain  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment for  here,  &  because  the  Judges  with  whom  he  had  Several 
Conferences  about  y*"  matter  were  for  retaining  the  old  Artifi- 
cial way,  he  declared  he  would  always  grant  Injunctions  in 
these  Cases.  He  further  said  he  was  at  no  loss  that  the  Judg- 
ment appealed  from  ought  to  be  Reversed,  but  he  was  at  some 
loss  what  Pule  to  go  by  in  Ascertaining  y"  quantum  of  y®  Debt, 
I  Since  the  Province  Bills  Contracted  for  were  Called  iii  cC  go)te, 

I  cC  Seemed  desirous  to  know    what  the   practice  had  been   in 

II  A;  England  in  such  Cases.     L^pon  this  the  Solicitor  General 

I  being  of  Council  for  y^  Def*.  referred  his  Lordship  to  me  as  I 

was  present,  for  information.     Being  asked  I  told  the  Court 
that  old  tenor  when   Contracted  for  had  been  allowed  to  be 
I  tendred,  altho'  depreciated  in  Value,  if  tendred  in  Season,  that 

I  txnvard  the  Close  of  the  Existence  of  old  tenor  and  after  the 

I  Same  was  Called  in  i:  Sunk  when  Judgments  were  given  for  real 

I  money  this  matter  was  miu'h  Agitated,  viz  how  much  to  give. 

I  Some  were  for  giving  the  Value  of  y®  Old  tenor  or  bills  of 

I  Credit  Contracted  for  as  the  Same  was  at  the  time  when  y^ 

Obligation  was  out  or  v*  Deljt  become  due,  others  would  have  it 
Settled  as  it  was  when  at  the  least  6:  worst  period,  others  again 
were  for  taking  a  ^Medium,  tho'  the  more  general  method  where 
f  was  acquainted  had  been  to  take  for  the  Pule  the  Value  of  the 
bills  when  they  should  have  been  paid  In-  y"'  Contract.  L''. 
^Fansfield  upon  it  was  pleased  to  say  he  had  received  much 
lidit   &   was    relieved   from    his    ditlicultv    from   what   I   had 


242  JARED  IXGFKSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-C4-. 

Informed,  that  lie  thought  muc4i  might  be  said  for  taking  as  a 
Rule  the  Value  of  the  old  tenor  at  the  time  Set  by  the  Contract 
for  payment,  that  that,  upon  the  mention  of  it,  Struck  him  as 
the  ]tule  of  right  as  a  general  Rule;  hoiceuer,  as  this  Case  irii.< 
Circiniistanced,  a  bond  outstanding  so  very  long, — as  the  bill- 
of  publick  Credit  Avliieh  were  very  much  the  Currency  of  tlu 
Currency  [  ?  Colony]  Sunk  gradually  &  became  in  Some  mea>- 
ure  Every  one's  Loss,  he  thought  the  Same  in  this  Case  to  be  in 
Some  measure  at  least  divided  between  the  parties ;  So  upon  tin 
whole  instead  of  taking  the  price  of  Silver  at  y®  time  of  y"*  Con- 
tract and  at  y^  time  Set  for  payment^  which  was  about  27/  p^  ',/.. 
the  Lords  of  Appeal  fixt  it  at  37/  and  Computed  y®  Debt  accor>l- 
ingly.  This  made  about  £100.  Sterling  in  favour  of  y^  Appd 
lant  but  as  no  Costs  are  allowed  in  these  Cases  upon  the  Appeal 
he  could  not  be  much  a  gainer  by  promoting  y®  Appeal. 

X.  B.  L*^.  Mansfield  in  discussing  this  point  said  in  all 
Appeals  from  determinations  in  the  Plantations  the  Court  frun: 
which  the  Appeal  comes  ought  to  Certify  the  whole  matter  as  \i 
Lay  before  the  Court,  &  if  the  Judgment  was  founded  upon  a 
general  Verdict  the  Court  ought  to  State  and  Certify  the  wlinl^ 
Evidence  as  well  tlie  parol  as  any  other,  and  that  the  Lords  d' 
Appeal  had  dismissed  an  Appeal  because  that  had  not  been  done 

This  might  be  difficult  to  be  done  when  the  Judges  mak</ 
no  minutes;  here  the  practise  is  for  the  Judge  to  take  min- 
utes of  the  Substance  of  all  Evidence  as  the  Same  is  Delivers i 
in  to  v^  Court  c^'  Jurv. 


XOTICE    OF    DrAWIXG    OF    LoTTERY. 

,  ,  Lottery  office,  within  Two  Doors  of  Lord  Mayor- 

in  the  Poultry  London  Xovem'.  20*\  1701 
This  day  X".  .').■>, ()07  in  the  Present  State  Lottery,  Register"'' 
at  this  office,  in  your  name  was  Drawn  a  Blank. 
Vour  most  TIuTidde  Servant 

Rob'  Gray  f.n-  G:  Ecarn 

*  Dr.   StiU's   in   his    "Itineraries"    ;j:ivo-^   tlie   price   of   silver   in    IT^i-^   •'" 
•27.S.  r.d.  and  in   1734  as  from  24s.  to  -JTs. 


JARKD  IXGERSOLL  TAPEKS,  IT-jS-iU.  243 

P:  S:  [Illegible]  Tickets^  Shares,  »k  Clnmces,  are  every  Jay, 
iiioniings  and  evenings,  during  the  whole  time  of  Drawing  are 
Selling  at  this  Otlice ;  where  most  Eeady  money  is  paid  for 
]]hinks  and  Prizes  of  This  and  former  Lotteries. 

[To 

Jared  Ingersal  Esq'',  of  Xcw  Haven  in 
the  Collony  of  Connecut.      To  the  care  of  Ricli'^. 
Jackson  Esq''.  Connciler  at  Law  of  the 
Inner  Temple] 


Letters  of  Axx  Davies    (or  Robixson). 

London:   Sep'^li:   17G1 
.^ir  .  , 

W  Harrison  of  Bread  street  was  hear  to  day  for  places  to  see 

v*"  procession  of  y^  Coronation  and  he  told  me  he  should  send 

yuiir  Hankerchfs  in  a  few  days.      So  I  tack  this  opportunity 

'>i  troublen  you  with  this  and  hope  it  will  find  you  &  your  good 

Lady  &  son  and  all  your  frends  well  and  am  in  hopes  to  have 

a  Confirmation  of  it  soon  from  your  hone  hand  writing.     I  sent 

The  book  as  you  order  to  Portsmouth  with  a  Letter  and  M' 

Liicknell  was  so  obligcn  as  to  send  them  back  and  wrote  me  word 

iitat  y^  Hade  was  saild  and  no  prospect  of  Her  return;    as  I 

judge  you  wold  be  glad  to  have  theam,  got  Mr  Harrison  to  put 

tliem  in  ye  parsal  for  you.     I  now  must  give  you  som  acount 

"1  y"  hurly-burly  we  are  in  for  I  can  not  Call  it  anny  better. 

^\as  you  to  see  paleas  yard  you  wold  not  know  it;    is  all  bealt 

i''»nnd  with  Scaffold  at  y®  tops  of  tJiair  houses  ;  but  I  beleave  that 

will  not  answer,  as  I  camiot  find  any  will  go  at  y*"  top  of  mine; 

i!"t  with  standing  I  have  had  Ladders  maid  to  go  up  and  down, 

i'>  you  know  how  y*"  rufe  is  bealt  and  y*"  house  [so]  very  grat 

'liirht  that  y"  peple  seams  to  be  afeard.     Our  Queen^  Com  to 

^"^vn  last  tusday  arrived  at  S\  James  at  three  aclock  and  was 

-'larrad  at  ten  that  night.      She  was  very  fine,  thair  was  grat 

*  QiU'ou  Charlotte,  consort  of  Kinjr  Gtn^rire  III.  wns  married  on  Septenilirr 
''^  and  crowned  on  September  22,  1701. 


244  JAHET)    IXOEIJSOLL    PAPERS,    lT5'=i-04. 

rejoyciiigs  and  a  brilliant  ball  y'  next  night.     Y*^  peaple  (litlVi' 
much  in  thair  opinions  of  her;    as  she  landed  at  Ilarridge  >\u- 
Com  y^  new  road,  and  3F  Harrison  rode  by  y"  side  of  Coaeh  f-.r 
half  a  mile  and  he  says  she  is  very  agreable  but  as  not  much 
buety;   I  hope  what  she  wants  in  pnrson  she  will  have  in  miiid. 
Thair  was  two  Gentman  of  my  aequatanee  as  says  thay  wold  not 
gave  two  pance  for  her,  was  she  to  be  had.     I  have  not  seen  hni- 
so  Can  not  gave  my  opinion.     So  soon  as  thair  comes  out  a  good 
print  of  her  I  will  send  o\ni  to  yon.     I  have  sent  M"  Ingersoll  a 
Coronation  feaver  and  som  ribbn  which  is  much  y"  tast  hear  at 
this  time  and  hope  she  will  be  please  to  except  of  it.     Y^  Gent- 
man  as  took  ye  two  pair  Stares  is  a  marchant,  his  name  is  Ver- 
nen.     :\P  Life  recommend  them  to  me,  and  :\?  Pen  of  Pensa- 
vinea  and  his  wife  Lady  julet  is  of  y^  partay  and  seavcarl 
Quakei-s.     I  was  at  own  of  thair  houses  last  week  and  dined 
thair  and  was  treated  with  a  grat  deel  of  good  ^llamiers.     Miss 
Pen  is  to  Com  ye  night  befor  and  is  to  lay  with  me.     Thair  i^ 
no  news  talk  of  but  waddings  and  Cornation  show;   not  a  word 
do  I  hear  of  Peace,  but  you  know  I  am  no  PoHtician ;    I  never 
trouble  my  self  with  state  affears,  so  Can  not  say  much  about  tliat. 
I  had  like  to  fogot  y*  y'  Queen  was  proclaim  last  satterday  in  y' 
same  manner  as  ye  wadding  and  Coronation  was.     jM"  Galmaii 
was  hear  that  day  and  inquired  after  you  and  desird  her  Compl'\ 
to  you  and  like  wise  did  my  Xeace  Xancy  Robts.     I  dout  I  shall 
tyher  you  with  this  long  scroll  but  know  you  will  be  so  good  a^ 
to  excuse  all  defects,  so  T  conclnde  "Wishing  you  &  yours  halth 
*t   happiness    and    am    Sir  you    frend    and   hum^  "^servent   tc 
Command. 

I     !  ■  ,  .  Ann  Davies.'^ 

P.  S.— pray  my  Comp^  to  goo<l  W  Tngcrsall  and  :\rastcr  and 
hope  y"  Close  was  liked  and  bag,  likewis  my  respacks  to  W 
Harrison. 

*^rrs.  Ann  Davif^s  (aftenvards  wife  of  William  Robinson)  was  the 
lan.lla.ly  at  wlio^o  Imuse  in  Palaoo  Yar.l  .^^r.  IngLTSoU  hoarded  durin-  lii- 
stay  in  London  in  1750-ni.  '^ 


JARED  IXGKKSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-G-}:.  245 


London  Feb.  28  :    17 02 

Sir 

Yonr  Letter  dated  Oct  20  :  at  X :  York  Com  to  hand  in  Janu- 
;irv  last.  I  was  very  glad  to  hear  you  was  safe  arrived  after  bain 
s(i  long-  at  See;  but,  as  you  had  good  Company  and  your  good 
friend  Temple  you  posable  might  pass  your  time  agTeable  on 
hord  a  ship.  I  likewis  was  feaverd  with  a  letter  da\  y^.  9  of 
Dece"',  ware  in  you  tell  me  you  found  good  M"  Ingersall  &  Son 
\'  all  your  friends  well  which  no  dought  must  Contribate  gratley 
to  your  happiness  which  I  Congratulate  you  on.  I  wrote  you  in 
Sep.  last  and  sent  y*^  Looks  that  Com  from  y®  Arts  &  Sciences 
and  took  y^  lilx-rty  to  send  M'^  Ingersall  a  Corronation  feaver 
and  some  Libbn.  ^Ir  Harrison  was  with  me  and  told  me  he 
should  send  your  Handkerchief  and  expect  y*"  ship  to  sale 
Derecteley.  so  I  maid  huse  of  that  optuney  and  wase  in  hopes 
they  got  safe  some  time  sence.  I  now  must  give  you  som 
account  of  y^  Corronation ;  it  was  Conducted  very  badley ;  it 
was  quit  darke  when  y^  possession  Com  back  from  y^.  Abbey, 
which  maid  y*.  Company  very  angry  as  it  was  y^.  bast  part  of  y^. 
Show,  but  ware  y®  fait  lay  I  know  not,  but  som  says  it  was  y*" 
Bishops  ;  his  Majeste  was  not  pleased  with  it.  I  beleave  thair 
neaver  was  so  maney  people  assemble  to  gather  before  and 
realy  maid  a  very  fine  apprence  as  every  own  was  drest  and 
strove  to  out  do  each  other.  Palace  yard  was  scaffold  all  round 
and  ye  possession  want  round  ^fr  Xins  Corner  which  maid 
places  and  rooms  let  much  more.  I  beleave  I  was  as  well  of  as 
any  own  in  y^  row  except  I\["  Cam  and  she  ~Sr  !Matterson  sude 
and  rer(»vear  1  hunderd  A:  TiO  pouns  dammage  this  turm,  and 
likewis  ]\L  Car  he  as  sued  and  got  1  hunderd  pounes  of  him. 
^[r  Cai-  was  y^  new  Commer  and  had  y*^  hansom  Daughters. 
^V  ^latterson  is  vei-y  ill ;  y*^  Lord  send  him  a  good  jurney  for  I 
tliank  him  a  very  bad  man.  Thair  is  sad  affair  at  Lord  Pen- 
brufks.^  he  is  gon  of  with  a  yong  Lady,  Paughter  to  a  Gentle- 

*  Henry   Heil^ert,    lOth    Earl    of    Pembn.ko.    had    just    tlupcd    with    Miss 
nunter;     but   returned  to  his  wife  and  to  his  eniphivnients    in    1704. 


-•iC  JAKKD  IXGKU.SOLL  PAPERS,  175S-64. 

man  who  is  own  of  y^  Lords  of  y^  Admaltry,  his  name  is  Hunter; 
his  ^lajsty  is  very  anui^-  with  Lord  Penbruek  and  as  tuck  all 
his  inployments  from  him  and  his  Lady  is  all  most  ma<l. 

I  have  seen  y^  Queen  and  indead  I  think  her  a  very  had 
peace,  for  she  is  very  short  and  a  disaareahle  face;  she  has  uut 
y*^  luck  of  a  iientlewomen,  much  more  a  Queen.  I  am  niudi 
distnrbe  ye  King  as  not  a  hansomer  wife,  but  what  she  wants 
in  buety  I  hope  she  will  make  up  in  goodness.  I  will  send  v(.iii 
a  print  of  her  as  soon  as  thare  is  own  like  her;  thar  is  a  grat 
maney  that  is  don  but  not  any  that  is  like. 

now  for  !Mr  Pit.  you  diser  I  will  gave  you  acount  how  lie 
Cam  to  be  out :  you  know  I  am  no  Politician  but  will  gave  vou  as 
good  acount  of  it  as  T  Can.  The  chief  reason  of  ^[r  Pits  resiiiii- 
ing  is  that  ht-  was  of  Opinion  that  tharr  should  be  imeadiatly 
Warr  declared  against  Spain  as  it  would  be  greatly  for  y''. 
Xations  advantage,  as  a  Spainish  Warr  seemd  quite  unavoidalile 
to  him  (S:  there  fore  the  sooner  they  began  it,  the  better  it  v\-(:iuM 
be  for  the  publick  good  ;  but  the  ^lajority  of  y""".  Gentlemen  in  y". 
^Ministry  was  of  a  different  opinion,  upon  which  he  thought 
proper  to  quit  his  Commissions,  but  thay  soon  found  thar  mis- 
take and  was  obliged  to  follow  his  measures. 

I  now  must  say  sbm  thing  of  my  salf.  I  am  in  Buckingham 
Stret.  york  Puildings,^  but  did  not  geat  in  to  my  house  til  y'. 
11  of  Xov.  and  Strouds  time  was  up  29  of  Oct,  but  I  was  obliu" 
to  storm  ye  Cassal  and  Com  in  by  force.  I  have  not  gnt  all  uiv 
money  from  Stroud  and  beleave  I  neaver  shal  for  he  plays  lest  in 
site.  I  found  my  goods  very  much  danunaged  and  thay  have 
Cost  a  gfHid  deal  to  put  tham  in  repeair;  as  to  what  I  am  doiuj: 
I  do  asure  you  T  pass  my  time  Init  very  porley.  I  wish  J  coul^l 
say  palace  yard  seamed  Dream  to  me.  I  have  neave  lien  wt-I! 
sencc  ye  Corronation.     T  am  very  low  spirits  and  geat  leatle  "T 

*  "York  I^.tiililin:^*"  was  a  term  appliod  to  the  houses  and  other  huihliu'.'- 
between  the  Straiul  and  tlie  river  Tlianies.  a  sliort  distance  ea-t  of  wlief 
Charing  C'ro-;-;  station  now  stands.  They  formed  a  pronp  of  streets  iui  ! 
alleys  named  alt.-r  Cor^'e  \'illiers.  Duke  of  P.uekin<rhara,  Georire  Stn'>f. 
Villiers  .Street,  Diik--  Street.  Of  Alley,  and  Euckinpliam  Street.  --Ofr  All'-y" 
is  all  tliat  now  remains. 


.TARED    INGERSOLL    rAPEUS,     1T58-Gi,  247 

HO  sleep  at  night  the  fortage  [= fatigue]  of  y*".  Corronation  Day 
\va?  more  tliou  my  Spiratji  Cohl  bair.  I  fanteJ  a  way  and  fell 
dowu  twis,  a  hurt  own  of  my  arms  very  much,  I  was  up  all  ye 
night  before  Corronation.  I  nearer  went  throu  so  much  fortage 
in  so  shot  atime.  Aoortlon  to  your  ordars  I  have  paid  y"  money 
to  your  Banker  50  pounes  and  wish  it  had  bin  5  hundeard.  I 
maid  but  15  Shealins  of  y^.  top  of  y*".  lious,  as  I  did  not  scaifal, 
and  thay  that  did  got  but  litle  and  som  out  of  pocket.  It  Cost 
12  pouns  of  money,  y*".  benches  and  repares  in  y^  in  side  of  y^. 
house  and  the  ]\[ob  Com  from  orthr  houses.  I  got  Mr  Cuttel  to 
keep  gard  thair  but  it  was  more  than  he  cold  do.  The  top  cost 
-i  pouns  to  mend  it,  not  but  I  beleave  T  was  imposed  on  by 
worck  man,  but  what  cold  I  do.  I  paid  Mr  Fuller  and  we 
parted  very  good  Frinds. 

I  beleave  I  shall  tyear  you  with  this  long  letter.  You  see  I 
(lont  falow  your  Example  for  I  mus  say  your  letters  is  very 
short.  Pleas  not  to  make  no  more  use  of  y^.  franks,  for  at  y^ 
post  othce  thay  know  ware  y^.  Letters  Coms  from  and  thay 
Charge  duble  postage.  I  paid  two  shealens  for  that  Letter  as 
you  put  in  y^  frank  I  beg  y^  feaver  you  will  let  me  know 
how  M'\  Ingersall  liked  her  Close  &  goods  and  what  ye  peaple 
said  of  them  and  if  thay  was  liked  in  geanral  and  how  Temple 
behaved.  It  was  said  hear  that  Lord  Stirlin  was  arrasted  for  to 
or  three  thousens  pouns  as  soon  as  he  got  to  new  York;  pray 
Send  be  word  if  that  is  trew 

Give  my  Comp'^  to  your  good  Laday  and  son  and  if  I  can  be 
of  any  Servies  to  her  in  this  part  of  y^  world  I  bag  she  will 
Command  me.  ]\Iy  nees  diserd  her  Compel  to  you  and  says  she 
shal  be  glad  to  see  you  heare.  I  hope  you  excuse  all  y^  defects 
in  this  Letter,  and  I  Conclude  wishing  you  cV  yours  all  halth  «i: 
happiness  and  am  your  friend  and  huudde  Servcnt  to  Command 

Ann  Da  vies 

P.  S.  Ye  InClosed  Letters,  two  Com  to  my  bans  in  Xovem- 
ber  and  y^  rest  in  January.  I  though  it  proper  to  send  them  as 
r  flid  not  know  but  they  might  be  of  som  Cituseipnu'c  ;  it  is 
said  hear  that  Mrs  Wright  expects  Temple  uuver  in  ^^iay  next. 


24-S  .TATTED    IXGKRSOLL    PAl'ETJS,    17.")S-<U. 

I  hope  you  will  be  kind  a  nuff  to  ansiire  this  Scroll  and  yon  will 
much  oblige  yours.  I  have  had  two  Gentleman  to  lodge  but 
thair  are  gon  in  y^.  Contry  and  I  now  quit  a  lone  which  niakea 
time  pass  very  dull. 


London  Oct^i:  1702 
Sir 

I  Eeceived  your  Letter,  dated  June  IG,  which  Could  not  but 
eave  rne  great  pleasure  to  hear  you  &  you  good  Lady  &  son  was 
well.  I  was  seprised  you  had  not  received  won  of  my  Lettt-rs. 
I  have  sent  three  since  you  left  this  plase.  I  was  with  ?\lr. 
Ilarriso)!  and  he  was  a  good  deal  Concernd  you  had  not  recfiviil 
the  Ilandkerchen  hut  hope  you  got  them  be  fore  now. 

I  must  answer  both  your  Letters  in  won,  as  I  was  Favouvl 
with  that  dated  19  of  July  soon  after  y*".  first,  and  was  glad  to 
hear  you  at  last  got  won  of  my  Letters.  I  assure  you  it  is  a 
great  pleasure  to  hear  from  you,  and  I  will  do  every  thing  in  my 
power  to  retorn  y®.  oblig'ation.  I  have  ten  thousand  things  h> 
say,  Cold  it  be  don  by  word  of  mought, — howeaver  I  moust  gave 
you  som  acount  of  my  sealf.  I  am  at  preseant  in  Buckingham 
street  and  have  a  gentman  tV  Lady  Bord  with  me,  but  will  not 
be  for  any  time.  If  ^Nfrs.  Ingersoll  is  enclined  to  have  a  pr  ot 
Stays  I  will  do  my  indeavour  to  send  her  a  pair  of  the  most 
fashionable  that  is  wore.  As  to  Jumps  no  one  wares  them  but 
what  gives  suck ;  half  Boned  stays  is  what  is  most  wore,  some  "t 
Sailk  and  some  of  stuff.  The  silk  is  two  pound  five  t.^'  the  stutf 
one  pound  five;  but  if  she  pleases  she  may  have  them  full  braid 
as  useal.  only  very  limber. 

There  is  a  great  talk  of  paice  at  present,  but  it  is  to  be  hnpi''! 
not  before  tlu^  jiarliament  meets.  In  one  of  yours  you  say  y"" 
don't  know  l)ut  you  may  wunce  more  see  England  and  then  yon 
will  make  me  a  visite.  I  know  no  one  I  shall  be  so  glad  t<> 
[see]  as  my  good  frond  !Mr.  Ingersoll.  and  then  hope  I  shiil' 
have  the  ])leasinv  to  see  your  good  Lady,  for  if  I  was  in  bfi' 
plase  you  should  not  leave  me  behind,  for  you  know  how  oft<ii 
vou  wished  for  her  when  vou  was  in  England  before;    so  i' 


JARKD  IXGEHSOLL  PAPERS,  17.'S-ri4.  241* 

you  come  without  lier  you  know  the  Lose.  But  of  that  vou  are 
the  best  judge.  So  I  Conclude  with  my  best  respects  to  vou 
both,  wishing  you  every  Earthly  Blessing  that  this  M'orld 
affords, 

I  am  Sir  your  most  obliged  servant, 

Ann  Davies. 

P.  S. — According  to  my  promise  I  have  sent  you  a  i)rint  of 
the  Queen,  the  last  and  best  that  has  been  done,  and  two  small 
prints  of  the  [Thames?]  Avhich  I  hope  you  will  please  to 
except ;    thay  will  saixe  to  devert  you  at  your  leasure  hours. 

I  have  had  a  great  los  of  my  purs  with  three  guineas  &  some 
silver  M'hich  give  me  som  uneasiness;  but  that  wold  not  fetch  it 
aaain. 


■-...''  ■   '•  ■--'■■  London  Feb^  2:    1763. 

Sir 

I  reciv'd  your  most  Esteem'd  favour  of  the  7  Augst  bv  the 
way  of  Ireland  last  week.  I  must  beg  leave  to  asure  you  that 
it  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  Hear  that  you  and  your 
family  are  well,  and  I  flatter  my  self  that  you  will  continue  that 
pleasure  to  me  when  ever  you  have  an  opportunity.  It  makes 
me  extremely  happj  tliat  any  Little  thing  that  I  have  done 
meets  with  W  Ingersoll  Aprobation,  and  I  hope  you  will  do  me 
the  Justice  to  believe  that  there  is  nothing  within  the  compass 
of  my  small  Abileties  shall  ever  l;>e  wanting  to  serve  you  both 
when  you  think  proper  to  employ  me.  I  am  inclined  to 
believe  that  the  additional  Kitchen  will  answer  your  Expec- 
tation. 

I  am  a  very  bad  politician,  therefore  you  must  not  Expect 
much  political  news  from  me.  I  dare  say  you  had  been  in- 
formed long  ago  of  the  Glorious  and  Advantageous  peace  our 
new  Ministry  has  made.  I  can't  tell  what  you  Gentlemen  in 
America  think  of  it,  but  it  struck  the  good  people  here  with 
amazement,  and  thay  talkM  lowdly  of  bringing  the  A<lviseres 
to   the    Scatfold   when   the    Parliament   mett:     but   thav   were 


-^^  JARED  IXGEK.SOLL  PAPERS,  1758-04:, 

greatly  mistaken:  the  Scott*  had  the  Majority  in  both  Houses 
4  to  one,  he  has  intirely  altered  the  good  old  System  of  gover- 
ment.  The  Avhigs  are  out  to  a  man,  and  in  their  room  the  ni..<t 
notorious  Jacobites  sit  Tnimphtant  over  the  ruins  ..f  thair 
Country-.  Yours  and  his  Coiintris  frind  Pitt  spock  against  it 
near  three  hours,  but  could  not  find  any  to  Second  him  in  all 
that  Asembly;  Bribery  and  Corruption  had  so  blinded  them. 
that  thay  quietly  Suffered  their  Country  to  be  shamefuUv  sold. 
Bute  and  a  Certain  Ladyf  entirely  governs  the  three  Kingdoms 
with  a  Terj  high  hand,  and  it  is  gTcatly  to  be  feared  thev  will 
soon  set  it  in  such  a  flame  that  thair  posterity  will  Curse  thire 
memory :   this  much  for  Politics. 

I  shall  only  add  that  I  am  at  present  under  som  difticulty. 
I  wish  that  I  was  near  you.  I  am  sure  you  would  not  deny  nie 
your  good  advice.  'My  Case  is  this.  Our  army  &:  Savy  been- 
disbanded,  the  Gentlemen  have  nothing  to  do  but  plao-ue  us 
poor  women.  One  of  them  has  taken  it  into  his  pate  to  plague 
me  with  his  nonsense;  he  has  laid  very  Close  Siege  som  timt'. 
and  how  to  make  him  raise  it  I  am  at  a  Loss.  I  know  yon  will 
say,  the  old  fool  has  got  :\ratrimony  in  her  Silly  noddle  ao-ain, 
and  she  will  certainly  have  the  man ;  I  realy  cannot  tell  whither 
I  shall  or  not.  I  wish  I  had  your  Opinion  of  him.  He  is 
neither  old  nor  ugly,  has  plain  sense  and  som  money;  as  for  his 
Temper,  I  intend  to  try  Suffisiently  before  I  trust  him.  I  must 
beg  your  advice  in  your  next.  I  hope  to  hold  out  till  then,  if  it 
is  between  this  and  the  middle  of  the  summer.  I  wrote  to  you 
some  time  ago  and  Commited  it  to  the  Care  of  Mr  Harrison 
(with  a  print  of  her  majesty),  where  in  I  give  you  some  account 
of  the  stays  yuu  mentioned.  M"  Ingersoll  was  certainlv  in  the 
right,  for  no  Ladys  wears  Jumps  but  those  that  gives  Suck. 
The  Stayes  worn  at  this  time  are  called  half  Bone.  Thav  an- 
made  both  sides  alike,  so  thay  may  be  turned  at  pleasure. 
Thay  are  what  T  have  wore  some  years.  They  are  made  o'i 
Callimanco  or  Silk  Tabby  or  rich  sattin  as  Ladis  likes.     Silk 

•  The  Earl  of  Biito.  first  Lord  of  the  Treasury  and  head  of  the  Mini>try. 
t  The  Princess  Dowages  of  Wales,  motlier  of  Kiiiir  Ge<.rLrc  III. 


JAKED  IXGEUSOLL  TAPERS,  17.")S-04.  251 

are  two  pounds  five  and  stuff  one  pound  live:  if  M"  IngersoII 
will  please  to  inform  me  Avliich  of  them  she  chooses,  and  send 
ine  her  measure,  thear  shall  be  nothing  wanting  in  me  to  Exe- 
cute her  Commands. 

I  suppose  I  have  tyred  you,  therefore  shall  only  repeat  my 
formef  request ;  that  is,  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing 
that  you  and  your  family  are  well  at  all  oppotunities.  Present 
my  best  respects  to  M"  IngersoII  and  Son  and  please  to  except 
the  same  from, 

Sir,  Your  most  Obedient  and  Humble  Servant 
■..„——-  Ann  Davies. 

I  told  you  in  my  last  I  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  my  Purs  witli  three  guineas  &  some  silver.  .     , 

I  can't  help  leting  vou  know  my  misfortunes. 

[To  ^  "  ^  V..,..;.-,    ': 

Jer*^.  IngersoII  Esq^  . 

in  jSTew  Haven  Connecticute 
.   to  the  care  of  ^U  Theophyl.  Brache 
.     ,,  Merch*  in  Xew  York]  ,; 

*    i'v   ■-'  '    ■  '        '■-  ■        ^  .-     -  June:    29:    1763 

Sir 

your  Letter  dated  28  of  April  Cora  safe  to  hand  and  I  have 
sent  you  the  things  you  disird  to  have  and  hope  the  Jumps  will 
fit  and  pleas  ]\Irs  Ingersall  as  thay  are  ye  best  sort  that  Can 
l>e  maid.  I  likewise  send  the  hat  Cover  and  12  p""  of  Socks,  6 
pr  Cotton  and  6  pr  wosted  and  soni  laces  for  the  Jumps.  I  am 
very  sorry  you  have  not  receav  no  letter  from  rae  as  I  have  wrote 
to  you  several  times.  I  forgot  to  mentiijn  in  my  last  Letter  the 
prints  were  in  a  Trunk  to  Tho^  Hancock  Esq"^  in  Boston  wlicar 
!\[r  Harrfon  sends  to.  I  shal  write  to  you  by  y"".  post  which 
posably  will  reach  you  before  this.  Please  to  nuike  my  Com- 
pliments to  31"  Ingersall  and  son  and  tell  her  very  thing  that  is 
in  my  power  to  oblige  her  she  nuiy  command 

and  am  S^  your  frend  and 
Ilura^.  Servent       Ann  Davies 


25i2  .TARED    IXGEKSOLL    TAPEKS,     1T5S-0-1:. 

P.  S.     the  Box  Tou  had  with  som 
writings  of  ^V^  Davies  Com  back 
to  lue  and  the  person  that  brought 

them  demand  5  shealens  

[To 

Jar'd  Ingersal  Esc/]  ' 


London  Ocf.  IS,  17<;3. 

Sir: — I  receved  yours  dated  y^.  S  of  June  a  few  dayes  after 
I  had  sent  the  Jumps  and  things  you  write  for  in  two  former 
Letters,  and  took  it  for  granted  that  ^Irs.  Ingersoll  Choso 
Jumps,  and  am  very  sorray  thay  was  made  as  she  like  Stays 
better.  As  they  are  very  hansom  and  fit  for  any  lady  to  ware ; 
I  Dare  vanter  to  say  if  she  dislikes  them  then  thair  is  a  nougli 
that  will  be  Glad  to  take  them  of  her  hands. 

Xow  as  you  say  a  word  upon  politicks  I  am  sorry  it  should 
give  you  so  much  disgust.  I  only  ment  to  let  you  know  what  tlu' 
people  said  hear;  but  now  thear  quit  turnd  Cap  in  hand,  anil 
thay  that  was  for  his  Lordship  is  much  against  him  and  say 
thay  will  have  his  head  next  sesions  of  parliment.  But  no 
more  of  that  as  I  am  no  politican.  Hope  you  will  excus  all  1 
say  as  I  wold  not  Chus  to  fall  out  with  my  frends  a  bout  state 
afeairs. 

I  was  feaverd  with  a  letter  from  you  dated  G  of  July,  au'l 
have  sent  the  muffs  »S:  Tif)pits  and  hope  thair  are  what  tli-- 
Ladys  will  like.  Thear  are  what  is  most  Fasliional»le  hear. 
The  things  have  been  bought  this  month,  but  cold  not  send  them 
before.  I  waited  on  Mr  Harrison  and  Mr  Bridgell  (he  wa- 
kind  anougli  to  send  the  last  things)  but  neither  of  them  luul  aiiA 
thing  to  new  york.  1  therefore  imbraced  the  present  Oppor- 
tunity which  is  by  a  young  gentlenuin  that  Lodged  at  my  Hon-*' 
who  goes  to  new  york  and  as  promised  to  take  the  same  care  "f 
them  as  his  own  and  see  them  delivered  to  !Mr  Ther)})hyla't 
Bache  your  acquaintance  in  new  york  in  whoes  care  I  luu'' 
Directed  them  and  hope  tliay  will  go  safe  to  you.     The  ('*■''" 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEKS,  l75S-()-i:. 


253 


tlemans  name  is  Pringle,  a  Relation  of  General  Murrays,'^ 
Governor  of  Quebeck,  to  whom  lie  is  going-.  The  name  of  the 
[vessel  ?]  is  the  Xew  Hope,  Cap\  Fell.  You  talke  of  Coming 
to  England,  and  hope  you  will  bring  M'"^  Ingersoll  with  you,  as 
you  know  how  much  you  was  at  a  loss  with  out  her.  Please  to 
make  my  best  respects  and  tell  her  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  see 
you  both  in  this  Country  and  hartily  wish  you  a  safe  Voyage. 
I  am  now  to  acqiuiint  you  that  I  am  in  for  life  again.  I  am 
afraid  you  will  laugh  at  me  but  I  cannot  help  it,  it  is  now  too 
late.  Mr  Robinson  joynes  me  in  our  best  respects  to  you  & 
family,  and  am  Sir 

Your  most  Obliged  Humble  Servant 

Ann  Robinson 

P.  S. — I  hope  to  hear  in  you  next  that  you  have 
reed,  all  the  things  safe.     I  have  here  sent  you  a 
Billof  the  Whole:  -       .  •.,. 

£     s  d 

Hatt  Case 0  12  0         ■ 

Jumps 
K'  Lacess 

Socks 
Box 
Muifs  and  Tippits  &  Box 

^      •■■     ■;!.  ■     ■•^-- ^    ^>^.,:        -    -■     ^'    ^-^  ■         5   19   6 


2 

5  0 

0 

3  0 

0 

9  6 

0 

1  0 

2 

9  0 

Si 


ir 


London  1<V^  :N'o\''.  1763 


I  rec'd  your  much  Esteemed  fav'^.  of  the  G'^'.  of  July  (Some 
time  ago,)  and  according  to  your  disire  went  emmediately  & 
purchas'd  the  mulfs  and  Tippits:  you  may  depend  upon  it,  that 
I  laid  out  the  money  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge :  they  are 
what  is  entirely  the  present  Taste.  I  showed  them  to  several 
Ladies  of  my  Acquaintance  who  all  pronounced  them  extrcemly 

*  Janifs  ^Murray  -was  military  govenmr  of  Qiiflice.  17o0-17(14,  ami  the 
tirst  civil  governor  of  all  Canada,  1 704-1  TtUl. 


254  JARKI)  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  175^-04. 

pretty.  I  shall  think  my  self  hapy  if  iM"  Ingersall  is  of  thr 
same  Opinion  when  she  sees  them,  which  I  hope  will  be  scMDn: 
the  Ship  Sail'd  a  fourtnight  ago.  I  embraced  the  first  Oppor- 
timitv  to  send  them.  They  come  by  a  young  Gentleman  of  tli.- 
Armev  that  Lodged  at  my  House  who  promised  to  take  par- 
ticulare  care  of  them  and  see  them  deliverd  to  W  Theophylacr 
Bache  your  acquaintance  in  Xew  York  to  whoes  Care  they  ar.- 
Directed.  The  Ships  name  is  the  good  Hope  Cap\  Tell  an^i 
the  gentlemans  Xame  that  has  them  in  Charge  is  Pringle,  a  near 
Relation  of  Gen^  Murrays  Governor  of  Qubeck  tow  home  he  i^ 
going.  I  am  in  hopes  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  and 
;M"  Ino-ersall  in  England  soon ;  wdien  ever  it  hapens  I  sincerly 
wish  you  a  safe  Voyage.  Mr  Robinson  Joins  me  in  our  be-t 
respects  to  you,  M"".  Ingersall  and  Master,  and  I  hope  you  will 

■  belive  me  to  be  with  great  Truth 

S''.  your  most  Obligd 
Humble  Servant 

Ann  Robinson 

I  received  your  favour  of  the  13th  of  Xov^  last  inclosing  your 
'   Draft  which  I  have  Reed.     It  gives  me  gTcat  pleasure  to  hear 

■  that  you  and  your  family  are  well.  I  sent  you  a  letter  the  first 
of  Xov'.  last,  to  acquaint  you  that  I  had  sent  the  Muffs  &  Tip- 
pits  you  desired  me  to  buy:  they  are  the  genteelest  that  is  won 
and  what  is  the  present  Taste,  and  I  hope  they  will  please.  ^^  •' 
have  been  informed  that  the  Paquet  that  had  my  letter  in  wa- 
cast  away  on  the  Coast  of  Carolina  and  the  mail  was  entire!} 
lost;    therefore  you  have  had  no  advice,  and  I  have  not  hcar'i 

""  that  the  Ship  is  Arrived  at  new  York,  that  had  them  on  boar.!. 
Her  name  is  the  Xew  Hope  Cap'  Fell  and  Saild  from  hence  v. 
Xox-'. ;  the  gentlemans  that  had  them  in  his  care  went  from  ui.^ 
House,  is  Cap'.  John  l^ringle  a  very  near  relation  of  Gen  :slnv 
rys  Governor  of  Qubeck  to  whom  he  was  going.  He  promisd  r. 
deliver  them  into  the  hands  of  Your  friend  at  new  York  ^It 
Bache  to  whors  care  they  are  directed,  and  I  hope  you  hav- 
lit'cev'^  them  bet'.. re  this.  I  flattered  my  self  with  the  hopes '-' 
seeinir  vou  Iteforc  this  in  England  V)y  your  last  Letter     I  ^i^'- 


V 


J-\KED    IXGERSOLL    TAPEKS,    ITSS-O-i.  255 

eerily  wish  you  a  safe  passage  when  ever  you  doe  com.  I  am 
glad  you  have  put  it  off  till  the  Spring  for  nearer  was  there  a 
more  Tempestuous  winter  nor  so  many  loses  at  Sea;  the 
Accounts  are  TerriLle.  We  have  had  a  marriage  between  the 
Prince  of  Brunswick  and  the  Princess  Augusta ;  he  stayd 
alK)ut  a  fourth  night,  and  has  been  gone  about  ten  days  with  his 
wife.  I  had  the  pleasure  of  Seeing  him  at  Court,  and  think 
him  Extreemly  agreable;  he  was  universally  Esteemed  by  all 
ranks  of  People.  Please  to  make  my  best  respects  to  M"  Inger- 
soll  &:  Son  and  am  with  great  Esteme  S""  your  most  Obliged 
Humble  Servent  ■      ...,.--.  -r- 

•  Ann  Robinson 

Febrv  9:   1704 


Letters  to  Gov.   IiE^■XIXG  Went  worth. 

^:  Haven  ]Srov' M  1761. 

having  Engaged  with  y*  Commissioners  of  his  Majesty's 
Xavy  to  procure  one  Ships  Load  of  Alasts  kc  by  y®  way  of  Con- 
necticut River  for  y^  Kings  L'se,  I  am  to  Desire  you  to  appoint 
Some  proper  Person  to  Designate  the  trees  &  timber  to  be  made 
Use  of  in  order  to  y*"  fulfilment  of  y^  Contract,"  agTceable  to  his 
^fajestys  Directions  Signifved  upon  y*"  Copy  of  y®  Contract 
which  I  herewith  send  to  you  for  your  perusal. 

the  Bearer  Cap\  Wyllys  will  be  able  to  acquaint  you  more 
particularly  when  *i'  where  it  will  be  needfull  to  have  y®  Service 
performed.  :. 

•  ',    ,  '  Y\   Very   Humb^   Serv\      '  i  •  - - 

J.  Ingersoll. 
Penning  Wentworth  Esq'' 

^[Copy.]  :-.;■-  ;^-.-:       - 

*  IngtTrsoir.s  contract  with  the  Xavy  Board  was  dated  December  10,  1700, 
and  called  for  eighty  masts  of  so  many  inches  diameter  at  a  certain  hei;^ht 
from  tlie  frroiind.  The  best  timber  for  masts  ran  from  35  to  30  inches  in 
diameter  and  while  not  to  exceed  the  latter  figure  at  the  butt,  was  to 
nicasure  as  many  yards  in  length  as  inches  in  diameter.  Tlie  average  mast 
ship  carried  about  50  sticks,  but  Ingersoll's  ship  seems  to  have  carried 
the  full  number  called  for  by  his  contract. 


256  JAREO  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-64. 

:S".  Haven  18'^  Decern V.  ITGl 

Your  favour  of  /  27^^  Ult.  I  Duly  rec^  by  Cap\  Wylly>,  .V 
in  Answer  beg  Leave  to  acquaint  you  that  I  have  agreed  with 
y"  Said  Cap^  Sani\  Wyllys  &  Mathew  Talcott  Esq'',  both  of 
Middlcton  in  this  Colony  to  procure  the  Stores  Stipulated  for  in 
my  Contract  with  y"'  Comm".  of  his  I\[ajcstys  Xavy,  &  that  it  is 
intended  to  "procure  y^  Same  upon  Connecticut  River,  as  near 
y®  Same  as  may  be,  along  y^  borders  of  y"^  Same  from  DeerfieLJ 
&■  y®  Cowhees"^  Inclusive. 

You  will  therefore  be  so  good  as  send  y®  proper  Licences  as 
mentioned  in  your  Letter  by  the  bearer. 
I  am  S^ 

with  great  Kcspect 

Y^  most  Obed'. 
..•■..  HumV.  Serv*. 

J.    Ingersoll 
Gov'".  AYentworth 

[To  Benning  Wentworth  Esq^  Surveyor  General  of  the 
Kings  woods.      Copy.] 


Letter  of  the  Xavy  Board. 

-  •  Xavy  Office  2 G'\  Janry:    1762. 

Sir 

As  "We  have  not  yet  heard  from  you,  since  your  return  to 
Connecticut,  concerning  the  depcndance  AVe  are  to  have  on  bein- 
supplyd  with  the  Cargo  of  Masts  for  which  you  Entered  int" 
Contract  with  Us  on  his  ^Majesty's  behalf  the  10*^  of  Decemlnr 
1760;  and  it  being  of  great  consequence  to  his  ^Majesty's  Servu'i-. 
that  "We  should  have  this  informatiou  as  soon  as  possible  for  Onv 
irovernment  in  appointina"  the  time  for  cominji'  to  a  new  Contr;i'-t 
for  supply  of  American  ]\Iasts ;  We  have  thought  it  necessarv 
to  desire  you  will  give  Ts  the  most  early  nttd  f^ft!  Account  yi^i 

*  Coos  or  Cowlicc-i  is  on  the  New  nainp-hiie  side  of  the  Connecticut  rivi-r. 
a  sliort  (listanee  lu'h'W  tlie  Canadian  line.  The  name  is  no\v  <:iven  al-o  '  ' 
the  northernnio-t  cuuntv  in  the  State. 


.TARED    IXOEUSOLL     PAPKKS,     1 7.' .*-^-r)4:.  257 

can  both  as  to  the  time  of  supply,  and  whether  from  the  fresh 
iiifonnation  you  must  have  had  since  your  arrival  at  Connect- 
icut, the  number  and  sizes  of  large  ]\lasts  will  conform,  as  you 
gave  Us  reason  to  hope,  to  the  aforesaid  agreements.     We  are 

Your  humble  servants, 
G  Cokburne  Tho  Slade  W.  Bately  E  Mason 

T  Brett  R  Temple* 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esi^. 

Xewhaven  in  Connecticut. 


Letters  to  the  Xavv  Board. 

Xew  Haven  in  Connecticut  13  Feb:  1762 

this  Serves  to  acquaint  you  that  Since  my  Arrival  home  I  have 
agreed  with  Several  persons  here  of  good  reputation  &  firmness 
&  well  acquainted  with  Mast  Timber,  to  Carry  into  Execution 
the  Contract  I  Entered  into  when  in  England  for  Supplying 
One  Ships  Load  of  Masts  &c. 

the  persons  So  Undertaking  have  been  &  viewed  the  timber 
&  River  by  wdiich  the  Sticks  are  intended  to  be  Conveyed  to  y® 
Sea,  «S:  have  applied  to  &  Obtained  of  y^  Surveyor  General  the 
Necessary  Licences  <tc,  and  have  now  Every  thing  ready  for 
making  the  trial,  of  which  I  hope  to  be  able  to  give  you  a  good 
Account  in  my  Xext. 

I  am  S' 

y  Very  Ilumb'  Serv^  \         ^'^* 

J  Iniiersoll 
Tho^  Slade  Esq^        ,,    ;  .  ^,,    •      ,;   ,■■  '    '     ,^      ;     •.     -      '•  '  '  ' 
Copy 

X.  Haven  13  ]\Liv  17G2 
S^ 

Your  favour  of  the  26*^  Jan''.  I  received  this  Day  and  f(;»r 
answer  am  to  acquaint  you  that  I  wrote  you  the  13  Feb  Last, 

*  The  Xavy  Board  consisted  of  tlie  principal  officers  (treasurer,  coini)- 
troller,  and  surveyor)  and  three  commissioners.  Oi  the  names  here  sijiiied 
t'ockburn  was  comptroller  and  Slade  and  Bately  were  surveyors. 

9 


25S  JARED  I>-GERSOLL  PAPEIIS,  1758-04, 

which  I  hope  you  have  received  before  now,  in  which  I 
informed  you  that  I  had  procured  Certain  Gentlemen  here  ..f 
Undoubted  Ability  vS:  Judgment  in  the  business,  to  Undertake  t.. 
Execute  y^  Contract  I  made  for  Supplying  One  Ships  L-.a-l  <.f 
Masts  »S:c,  and  that  they  had  reconnoitered  the  Country — foim.i 
Every  thinu'  aareealde  *i:  had  procured  the  Xecessary  Licfiicr^ 
from  the  Surveyor  Gen\  tSre  and  intended  Soon  to  Enter  np..i: 
the  business. 

I  have  now  to  acquaint  you  that  these  Same  Undertakers  haw 
felled  and  got  down  near  y*  River  Some  &:  are  now  at  work  g<-t- 
ting  the  whole  of  y^  Sticks  agreed  for,  &  hope  to  have  them  all 
at  the  Sea  Side  this  Season.  Xothing  that  T  know  of  will  pre- 
vent,  Unless  a  Scarcity  of  rain  should  occasion  the  waters  of  v' 
River  to  be  too  Low;  of  this  I  shall  be  able  to  inform  you  in 
about  Six  weeks  time. 

if  the  Sticks  Can  be  got  down  this  Season,  I  shall  hope  t'- 
have  them  Delivered  at  Portsmouth  by  Xext  Christ*. 

I  believe  Sticks  of  any  needed  Size  may  be  had. 
lamS^ 
''  .      .  Y^  most  Obed\ 

r         ■    .  '•    .  /v  HumV.  Serv*. 

J  Ingersoll 

G.  Cockburn  Escf 

Controller  of  his  ^fajestys  iN'avy 
Copy  ;  . 

:^^avv  office  5  Julv  I7r.2 
Sir, 

^Ye  have  received  your  letter  of  13'^  ]\[ay  last,  and  as  we  Ik 
thereby  the  satisfaction  of  finding  that  you  have  no  do'ib 
about  complying  with  the  Agreement  you  are  under  for  !Ma-! 
We  have  only  to  recommend  to  you,  to  omit  nothing  that  ca; 
enable  you  to  make  the  delivery  in  as  short  time  as  possi''-' 
and  to  repeat  onv  request,  that  so  soon  as  it  is  in  your  p'>\v»'r 
vou  will  semi  ns  sume  more  particular  Accounts  concerniiig  ^''' 
Kumber  and  Sizt-s  of  ;\[asts  that  you  find  may  be  procured  r 


i\' 


JAREn  TXGER.SOLL  PAPERS,  1758-04.  259 

Connecticut,  as  you  have  said  in  vour  aforesaid   Letter,  that 
you  beleive  Sticks  of  any  Size  may  Lc  had.     We  are 

Your  humble  Servants, 
G.  Cokburne  Tho  Shade  AY.  Bately  E  Mason 

.  ,    .  ,  (  R  Temple 

Jared  Ina-ersoll  Esq""  '  '  ■ 

Xew  Haven  in  Connecticut 


■•       '■■■■■:    :^^  •  ..  X  Haven  12  Ocf  1TG2 

Gent".     :       ■ 

I  rec''.  your  favour  of  y^  5*^  July  last  week  ^:  have  now  to 
Inform  you  that  the  most  of  y^  Sticks  are  felled  which  are  to 
furnish  the  load  of  ]\Iasts  &c  I  am  to  provide  for  the  Kings  Use, 
among  which  are  two  which  tis  Expected  will  work  36  inches. 
The  people  are  now  busy  in  getting  the  Sticks  to  the  border  of  y^ 
River  <fc  you  may  Depend  that  y^  very  first  Opportunity  of  a 
freshit  will  be  Embraced  for  getting  them  to  y"  Rivers  mouth, 
which  however  may  not  happen  before  y"  next  Spring — imme- 
diately after  which  they  will  be  laden  for  Portsmouth. 

I  pay  the  g-reatest  Attention  to  this  business,  from  Views  not 

only  of  discharging  my  present  Obligations  but  also  of  future 

benefits  as  well  to  y^  publick  as  to  myself.  .:>.  .". 

, ,  .  .      ..  I  am  Y^.  most  Obed 

HumV  Serv\ 

J  Ingersoll 
To  y^  Hon^  Commiss^  of  his  "        .         . 

llaiestv^  Xavy  , 

Copy  J      ^  .  ..    ,.. 

•     ■    .      )  ■.:.-  X  Haven  1  March  1TG3 

Gentlemen 

I  have  now  to  Acquaint  you  that  I  received  Information  a 
few  Days  since,  from  the  Managers  under  me,  of  the  'Mast  affair, 
that  they  liavc  got  down  to  tho  River  Side  a  sufficient  numl)er 
of  Very  fine  Sticks  to  Complete  the  Load  agreed  for,  among 
which  are  two  of  thirty  Six  Inches;  and  as  there  is  at  this  time 
a  great  body  of  Snow  on  the  ground  in  those  parts,  there  is  no 
doubt  of  Sufficient  water  in  y*^  River  within  a  :M(.nth  or  two  to 
float  y^  timber  to  the  place  of  Ladina'.      As  soon  as  this  is  done 


260  JARF.D  IXGEKSOLL  TAPERS,  175S-G4. 

I  shall  write  to  London  for  a  Ship  to  Carry  y®  Same  to  Ports- 
month. 

I  am  told  ^V  AVentworth.  the  Surveyor  General  of  y"^  woods. 
has  Sent  to  Inspect  y^  Conduct  of  y^  workmen  (S:  is  about  to 
Seize  a  few  Sticks  which  .have  been  felled  under  Contract 
dimensions.  cV  tis  not  Unlikely  he  may  Connuunicate  to  y*"  l>uar<t 
whatever  of  this  nuitter  he  shall  think  w(jrthy  of  Xotice.  I  have 
therefore  to  Inform  you  on  this  head  that  there  has  not  been  any 
more  of  those  Smaller  Sticks  felled  than  was  absolutely  neet-s- 
sary  to  Clear  y®  way  to  the  Larger — that  there  is  but  very  few 
of  these  «&:  nothing  near  so  many  as  have  been  Usually  felled  un 
the  like  occasions.  I  hope  no  prejudices  will  be  Conceived  on 
this  or  any  other  Account  relative  to  my  Conduct  in  this  Atfair. 
as  I  mean  nothing  more  or  less  than  to  Execute  the  Contract 
with  all  fidelity.  I  should  not  have  mentioned  this  Circum- 
stance but  that  I  am  Sensible  my  Undertaking  in  this  Affair  is 
not  nnlikely  to  meet  Avith  many  discouragments  of  Various 
kinds,  and  I  should  be  loth  to  have  so  promising  a  beginnim: 
meet  with  any  from  Small  matters. 

if  things  Succeed  according  to  Expectation  tis  not  Unlikely 

I  may  think  of  going  over  to  England  myself  with  the  ]^Iast?: 

if  so  shall  hope  to  have  y^  pleasure  of  Seeing  you  (S:  y*  honour  of 

receiving  your  further  Commands, 

I  am 

■    •..  ..         ■  .      .  Y'MostObed*. 

Ilum^  Serv\ 

■  J  Ingersoll 

to  the  "■ "       . 

Cornmiss^  of  y"'  Xavv    ..      -  .,.,     5--     . 


Letter  to  Col.   Svmes. 

Hartford  :\ larch  3  :    ITC.:! 

I  have  Just  time  to  acquaint  you  with  my  Surprize  at  litar- 
ing  you  have  Orders  from  the  Surveyor  Gvu^  of  his  ^^faji?!}^ 
^Voods  to  siezc  a  part  of  the  Sticks  felled  by  the  Gentlemen  wli" 


JARED  IXGERSOI.L  TAPEKS,  1T.'8-G4,  261 

have  Undertaken  to  Cany  into  Execution  the  Contract  I  have 
made  with  the  Commissioners  of  the  Xavy.  I  am  made  to 
U'live  none  have  been  felled  but  such  as  have  been  Expresly 
designated  for  that  purpose  by  one  of  the  Surveyers  own  Depu- 
ties. I  have  therefore  obtained  to  my  self  the  property  of  those 
trees  so  felled,  agreeable  to  his  Majestys  express  directions,  & 
sliall  resent  in  a  proper  ^Manner  any  Infringment  that  shall  be 
made  on  such  my  property.  I  doubt  not  you  will  be  disposed 
from  the  account  I  have  of  you  to  act  the  fair  part.  I  have 
?ent  the  bearer  M'"  Burnham  to  Learn  more  particularly  the  part 
you  have  been  Instructed  to  act  in  the  affair,  to  whom  I  shall 
be  glad  you  will  Comunicate  freely  Every  thing  on  that  head 
Consistant  with  your  Duty ;  and  doubt  not  with  your  ready 
Complyance  which  shall  be  gratefuly  acknowledged. 

if  you  shall   think  your  self  to  Enact  any  such  orders   as 
before  ^Mentioned  I  trust  you  will  Look  on  your  self  as  holden 
to  do  me  the  least  prejudice  in  your  power. 
I  am  S'' 
■j,      Y^  Most  Obedient  ,    ,  •,.'.'.•.;,.■■. 

[■■''.  •.       Humble  Sarv* 

J  Ingersoll 

P  S  the  sirplus  number  of  sticks  are  nient  only  to  suply 
Losses  that  may  happen  in  the  bringing  down  the  liiver,  and  I 
am  ready  to  give  any  Security  that  none  shall  be  applyed  to 
private  uses. 

J.  L 
Co'  Svmes" 


v^  Letter  to  the  Xavy  T>oard. 

•  ■  "''     ■  ■  •  ■■       '  N:  Haven  S  June  1703 
Cent".  ,;     ..V  •■;  ■  .,      , 

I  have  now  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you  that  my  people  have 
uot  down  the  Kiver  a  number  of  very  fine  Sticks  of  the  Dimen- 
sions as  Set  down  in  the  Inclosed  list,  to  which  are  to  be  added 
about  S  or  10  more  of  dimensions  not  yet  sent  to  me.  that  have 
Come  down  over  the  rapids  since  the  main  body. 

*  This  ciipy  is  in  a  dork's  iKiiidwritiii^'. 


262  JARK1>    TXGKi;S()I,L    PAPERS.    1758-04. 

the  only  misfortune  that  has  attended  the  floating  down  wn- 
the  breaking  in  two  a  fine  37  Inch  which  will  only  make  a 
Bowsprit  as  it  now  is — also  a  36.  is  at  present  lodged  on  a 
rapid  with  about  20  other  Sticks,  Avhere  they  must  Lie  till  next 
Spring;    the  water  has  been  remarkably  Low  this  Season. 

We  have  now  Learnt  that  the  best  &  Even  Largest  of  Sticks 
may  be  Obtained  this  way,  but  that  Some  little  Expence  ought  to 
be  had  to  make  y"  thing  as  it  should  be  ;  we  have  also  learnt  tlii< 
at  no  small  Expence  as  being  the  first  Attempt — Every  thin- 
new — &•  all  materials  to  provide. 

I  should  have  wrote  for  a  Ship  by  this  Oportunity,  but  tliar 
we  have  sent  for  an  Experienced  Liner  whose  Judginont  A: 
actual  proof  of  y''  Sticks  we  Choose  to  have  first.  I  shall  hoj)c 
to  be  able  to  send  by  y*"  next  Packet  at  farthest,  when  I  shall 
take  the  liberty  to  desire  my  Correspondent  to  wait  on  y^  board 
with  an  Exact  ace",  of  y^  Xumber  &  Size  of  y^  Sticks  as  they 
shall  turn  out  when  hewed,  in  order  to  be  Informed  what  bur- 
dened Ship  will  answer.  I  hope  y^  Load  will  reach  Portsmuurh 
at  farthest  by  Christmas,  &.that  it  will  meet  with  y'".  approbation. 
I  am 
■     ■     ■■'  Y^  Most  Obed'.  Hnm^  Serv\ 

J  Ingersoll.  '    ;    • 

Copy  -''"'■         -  ■  ■  ■  ■  •  -   >-  -^  ; 

Commiss^  of  v^  Xavv  •   .  .    •  ■  ;-=..:'.-  :    ■.  .: 


Lettei:  of  the  Coimptkolleii  of  the  Xavy  Board. 

Sir 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  hear  of  ]\P.  Ingersoll.  I  did  every 
thing  in  my  power  to  assist  that  Gentleman  when  he  was  h-v- 
and  shall  on  all  occasions  continue  to  do  the  same,  as  I  am  in 
great  hopes  by  Ilis  means  the  Government  will,  not  onlv  t"'' 
what  lie  has  now  contracted  for  but  in  future,  be  furnishd  wirli 
jMasts  on  better  terms  than  heretofore.  If  the  Gentlemen  yuii 
mention  as  ^V.  IngersoUs  Correspondents  have  not  yet  chartcr'l 
a  Ship,  and  will  apply  to  W.  Slade,  Surveyor  of  the  Xavy  a' 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAFEHS,  175S-G4.  203 

the  Xavy  Office,  He  will  infonii  theiu  what  sort  of  Ship  will  be 
proper  for  the  purpose.     As  Peace  has  taken  place  Convoy  is 
certainly  unnecessary,  the  mentioned  in  the  Contract.     .     .     . 
Sir 

Your  most  Obedient 

and  most  hum^'^  Serv^ 
G  Cokburne" 
August  19'\  1763 


Letter  to  the  Xavy  Board. 

X :  Haven  7  Feb.  17G4 
Gent°. 

After  having  waited  Sometime,  with  some  little  impatience, 
for  the  arrival  of  a  Ship  to  take  in  the  ]\[asts  ^-c  which  I 
■  have  before  acquainted  you  I  had  ready  to  transport  to  England, 
I  have  received  advice  from  my  Correspondent  at  London  that 
a  Suitable  Ship  was  not  to  be  had  till  after  Christmas,  and  that 
Such  Ship  is  now  provided  &  ordered  to  Sail  for  X :  London  at 
about  this  time,  so  that  I  may  not  Expect  the  Masts  can  arrive 
in  England  much  liefore  midsummer  next. 

I  hope  this  little  disappointment  will  not  prejudice  your 
affairs  or  mine;  my  good  friend  M".  Jackson  acquaints  me  that 
the  Comptroller  'M'  Cockburne  has  been  pleased  to  speak  kindly 
of  me  <i:  to  wish  me  Success,  for  which  goodness  I  shall  think 
myself  much  Lidebted  to  the  Comptroller  &  to  the  board. 

I  do  assure  you  I  have  spared  neither  pains  nor  Expence  to 
accomplish  the  T^ndertaking  in  such  a  manner  as  should  be 
acceptable,  and  have  only  to  Desire  that  the  Board  will  be  so 
good  as  not  to  take  any  Steps,  unless  quite  necessary,  that  may 
prejudice  my  affairs  or  disappoint  my  future  hopes,  until  mv 
Arrival,  as  I  am  determined,  God  willing,  to  Come  myself  to 
England  in  the  3Last  Ship.  I  shall  bring  with  me  M^  Willis, 
one  of  the  two  Gentlemen  who  Undertook  under  me  to  Carry 
this  Contract  into  Execution.     He  is  well  ac(|uainted  with  Xav- 

*T}iis   letter  was   probably   addressed   to   Richard  Jackson,  and   by   liini 
forwarded  to  Mr.  Iii-rersoll. 


-'»-i  j.\i:p:i)   ixgersoll   tapet^s,   1T5S-04. 

igation.  Ship  hnildiiig  &  with  timber,  *i'  lias  a  personal  knowl- 
edge of  the  kings  yards  in  England.  This  Gentleman  has  heen 
Constantly  with  the  work  people  in  getting  this  load  &  caii 
therefore  give  the  Board  a  particnlar  Account  of  the  Conntrv 
where  the  Sticks  grew,  of  the  pracTicahility  of  getting  furrln-r 
Supplies.  &  in  Short  with  Every  thing  relating  to  the  ]Mast 
Affair  in  these  parts,  as  he  is  a  Gentleman  of  Strict  Veracity  iV 
honour  as  well  as  good  intelligence.  I  trust  the  board  will 
think  they  shall  receive  better  information  from  him  in  these 
matters  than  from  any  Vague  Accounts  which  they  may  have 
from  others,  whose  knowle<lge  may  perhaps  be  justly  Suspecte«l 
and  as  it  may  happen,  their  motives  too. 

I  have  nothing  further  to  add  but  that  I  shall  hope  for  tin- 
honour  of  seeing  you  at  the  board  before  very  long  S:  of  satis- 
fying you  of  my  faithful!  Endeavours  to  Serve  his  Majesty.- 
Interests,  k  of  my  being 

with  gTeat  respect 
■  Y^  most  Obed\  &  most  HumV.  Sqvv\ 

■     '   ■  "  '  J  IngersolL 

To  the  Hon^  Comm\ 

of  his  Majestvs  Xavv.  .    '' 

[Copy.]         '  ■     .  :■ 


Affidavit  of   Gideox   Lymax. 

GIDEOX  LY:\[AX"  of  Xorth  Hampton  in  the  County  of 
Hampshire  in  the  Province  of  the  ^Massachusetts  Bay,  on<- 
of  the  Assistants  to  Benning  Wentworth  Esq'':  Surveyor  Gen- 
eral of  his  ^fajesty's  Woods  in  Xorth  America  ttc :  Bciug  diiK 

*  Gideon  Lyman  was  deputy  surveyor  of  the  woods  in  Massacluisett-. 
as  Daniel  Blake  was  deputy  surveyor  in  Connecticut,  under  Benning  Went 
worth.  Surveyor  General,  who  was  also  Governor  of  New  Hampshire  ivow 
1741  to  17C7. 

Inu'ersoll  does  not  appt'ar  to  have  desired  an  independent  viee-admirahy 
court  for  Connectieut,  but  wishe<l  to  serve  as  deputy  under  the  jud^'c  '•• 
vice-admiralty  in  Xfw  York,  wlio  at  this  time  was  Fvichard  ^Vlorri-;.  sucee--' 
to  his  uncle.  Lewis  ]\Iorris,  wlio  died  in  17i)'2.  Tt  is  douhtful  if  TiiLier-''' 
ever  received  tlu'  desired  de[)utatiuii.      iBrlciw.  pp.  272.  27").) 


JAKED  INGEKSOLT.  PAPEKS,  1T5S-G4:.  265 

sworn,  Jeposetli  »S:  saith  that  he  has  been  iufoniieJ  by  thf  said 
JJoiining  Weutwnrth  Esq'':  that  JareJ  Ingersoll  Esq"":  when  in 
England  made  a  Contract  with  the  proper  OtHcers  of  the  Xavy 
for  a  nnrnber  of  Masts,  Yards  and  Bowsprits  for  the  use  of  the 
Xavy,  which  in  the  whole  were  to  be  eighty  Sticks  and  a  few 
more  in  case  any  of  them  should  prove  useless  or  unfit  fur  the 
purpose  for  which  they  were  designed.  That  he  has  been 
Informed  that  Instead  of  the  said  eighty  sticks,  one  hundred 
and  Sixty  sticks  and  upwards  are  cut  by  the  persons  imployed 
by  the  said  Jared  Ingersoll  to  the  great  waste  of  the  Kings 
woods,  from  which  tho'  he  has  a  high  opinion  of  ^U.  Ingersoll's 
Character  as  an  honest  ]\Ian  he  conceives  him  an  Improper  per- 
son to  set  as  Judge  of  the  Vice  Admiralty  Court  in  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut  concerning  or  relating  to  any  pine  Logs  or  Masts 
that  may  be  seized  or  Libelled  in  the  said  Colony  as  forfeited 
for  the  use  of  his  Majesty  for  having  been  cut  without  Licence 
therefor  being  first  obtained. 

Gideon  Lyman. 
Sworn  this  second  day  of  April  1764 
Before  me :  Ec*^  Morris 
Copy 

LeTTEL'S  to  Gov.   BeN.NIXG  WeXTWOKTU,   AXI)  ENCLOSURE. 

X  Haven  3^  Ap'  1764 
S^  .  ■ 

I  received  y".  favour  of  the  o'^.  of  Jan^  yesterday,  ti:  not 
before,  having  been  from  home  about  a  month  last  past. 

in  answer  to  your  request  T  have  to  Inform  you  that,  the 
Gentlemen  ]\Ies^  Talcott  tt  Wyllys  who  undertook  to  Carry  my 
Contract  with  tlie  Xavy  l)oard  into  Execution,  always  afKrmed 
to  me  that  out  of  the  whole  number  of  Sticks  which  they  felled 
they  have  been  able  to  get  Scarcely  Enough  to  Answer  the  Con- 
tract,— that  many  broke  Coming  over  the  rapids,  others  in 
falling,  that  Some  Lodged  by  y*"  way  *t'  Souie  proved  Defective 
in  working — the  ]iarticular.s  however  of  this  matter  I  am  not 
now  able  to  furnish  vou  with,  but  will  Send  to  them  Immedi- 


260  JARED    IXGKIJ.SOLL    PAPERS,    1758-04. 

atelj,  (about  40  ]Milcs  from  beuce)  for  a  Circumstantial 
Account  of  the  transaction  wliicli  jou  may  depend  I  will  trans- 
mit to  you  as  soon  as  possible. 

You  may  S\  rest  assured  that  I  neither  have  nor  will  Suffer 
the  least  Spoil  of  the  Kinas  woods  to  be  made,  that  lies  in  my 
power  to  prevent.  cV  am  quire  willing  that  Every  person 
Employed  by  me  should  be  Scrutinized  to  the  utmost — &  here  1 
beg  Leave  to  tell  you  in  my  turn  that  I  have  through  y^  Course 
of  y^  Last  Summer  heard  with  much  Concern  of  incredible 
havock  being  made  in  y*"  a  fores'^  woods  upon  the  River  Con- 
necticut, by  great  lunnbers  of  persons,  &  that  Y^.  Deputes 
Employed  to  Seize  the  timber  have  so  Conducted  as  to  Leave  it 
worth  while  for  these  pillagers  to  Continue  their  trespasses.  I 
Cannot  Vouch  for  \^  truth  of  this,  but  think  it  high  time  that 
this  matter  was  thoroughly  Lookt  into.  I  shall  do  myself  y^ 
honour  to  write  to  you  again,  as  So^ju  as  I  Can  obtain  y^  Ace''. 
you  ask  for.  In  the  mean  time 
I  Remain 

y'  mos  obed\  ■'   r    ••-. 

■   "  Humb\  Serv*.  ;' -         ■ 

J  Ingersoll 
Hon\  Benning  Wentworth  Esq^ 
[Copy.] 


Middletown  April  0'*^  1764 
Sir, 

Yours  of  the  o*^.  Instant  we  rec'*.  wherein  you  Inform  u? 
that  his  Exelency  Benning  Wentworth  y^  Surveyor  General  ot 
the  Kings  "Woods  hath  had  a  Representation  made  to  him  that 
we  have  made  wast  in  the  Kings  Woods,  and  that  we  must  give 
an  Account  of  our  proceedings;  And  Indeed  from  our  tir-f 
appearing  in  that  part  of  the  Country  we  foresaw  from  tlu' 
reluctance  that  some  of  the  People  there  Shewed,  to  y^  Experi- 
ments being  made,  that  Suggestions  to  our  Disadvantage  were  t" 
be  expected,  and  have  experienced  the  same  by  the  many  low 


JARF.n    IXGEESOLL    PAPF.KS,    1T5S-G4.  267 

things  wliieli  liave  been  done,  Especially  the  Carrying  off  the 
hay.  But  to  proceed,  as  soon  as  we  received  the  Surveyoiir 
Generals  Licence  and  time  convenient  offerd,  we  preceded  into 
the  Woods  where  after  long  Search  we  fell  89  Trees  that 
appeared  to  be  sound,  some  of  which  broke  in  falling,  5  of  them 
fatally,  so  that  they  were  fit  for  no  part  of  the  Service,  leaving 
Si  that  appeared  outwardly  to  be  sound ;  in  doing  this  we  fell  a 
Xumber  of  Defective  Trees,  among  which  was  03  Trees,  not  so 
Defective  but  that  there  was  hope  that  they  might  Answer  some 
Part  of  the  Service  and  make  up  some  of  the  Defects  that  would 
inevitably  happen  to  those  Trees  that  appeared  Sound  as  well  as 
the  various  Disasters  that  must  happen  in  going  down  the  River. 
Those  147,  Trees  we  hailed  to  the  River;  all  but  one,  a  Tree 
intended  for  a'  30  Inch  ]\[ast  Lying  something  further  than  the 
Rest,  we  coud  not  hall  for  want  of  the  hay  taken  away  in  our 
absence  by  Cap".  Zedekiah  Stone  of  Petersham,  which  wonld 
have  lasted  one  team  5  or  G  Days.  According  to  the  best  of  our 
Judgment  and  stich  other  advice  as  we  con'd  get  we  were  in 
great  want  of  three  or  four  Large  Sticks,  and  accordingly  was 
at  the  expence  of  Searching  the  Woods  and  had  found  Two 
large  Trees  tit  for  ]\rasts  of  35  or  3G  Inches  and  which  was 
greatly  wanted  to  make  good  the  places  vacant  and  the  Disasters 
which  afterwards  happened,  but  for  want  of  hay  we  Could  not 
hall  them,  e^  therfore  we  did  not  Cut  them.  When  the  River 
broke  up  we  put  all  those  Sticks  into  the  River  except  two  which 
broke  in  Roling  down  the  Bank,  and  excercisd  we  may  venter  to 
say  the  most  Strenuous  Efforts  in  our  Power  to  get  them  down 
the  River,  bnt  in  Coming  down  the  falls  in  Walpole  the  most 
compleat-  Stick  we  had  which  we  dej)ended  upon  for  a  3G  Inch 
^fast  broke  in  two  pices  not  far  from  the  middle;  y^  other  3G 
Inch  Received  some  Damage  at  the  top  end  and  afterwards 
Lodged  on  a  Rock  in  the  middle  of  the  River  in  the  Rapids  at 
Deerfield ;  several  others  broke ;  some  galled  »t  bruist^d  so  deep 
that  it  greatly  diminished  the  Size  of  the  Sticks.  When  we 
came  to  work  them  we  found  many  of  those  that  we  deemd 
sound  trees  proved  defective,  so  that  of  what  wc  got  down  that 
season  we  are  iz.i'eatlv  shm't  of  the  T(»uns  of  Tindier  contained  in 


f»< 


,<i  < 


268  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEKS,  175S-G4. 

your  Contract,  although  we  worked  up  every  Stick  tS:  piece  of  a 
Stick  that  woud  make  as  low  as  IS  Inch  Mast,  24  Inch  Bmw 
Sprite  or  17  Inch  Yard.  We  sent  Men  up  the  River  at  l..u 
Water  (viz)  in  September  and  Febuary  &  Rolled  y*"  great 
Sticks  oiT  the  Rocks  and  all  others  that  are  to  be  found,  and  ha\< 
Men  now  up  the  River  in  Order  to  bring  them  down  that  ar. 
behind,  after  which  if  we  have  Sucess  we  shall  be  able  to  give 
some  more  particulars — which  we  shall  be  always  ready  to  d.. 
In  the  Interim  we  remain  your  most  obedient  k  Ilunililt- 
Servants. 
.  v;:         •     ;    ■    •-.    ,^-w — r- ---'•",■  .  Sam\  Willis 

Matthew   Talcott 

P.  S.  We  expect  to  work  up  every  Stick  that  will  Answer 
in  the  Kings  Service  as  low  as  is  contained  in  [illegible]  Con- 
tract, or  not  have  the  Ship  full,  and  them  that  are  below  your 
Contract  we  must  run  the  Risque  of  there  not  being  Receiv"^.  I'v 
the  Xaval  Board. 

M.  Talcott 

To  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq^ 

Copy  [in  a  clerk's  hand].     Original  Sent  Gov^  Wentwortli. 


'.-.  ,    K"  Haven  25  April  ITO-t 
■Sir... 

agreeable  to  my  promise  in  my  last  I  now  send  you  ^fe.-' 
Talcott  «t  AVyllys  Acc^  of  the -trees  they  felled  in  order  to  fulril) 
my  Contract  with  y"  Xavy  Board,  And,  S". 
:..;*:    '„..     ,    ...       Y''  most  obed'. 

'.:.   ,,.  .,,  ,         Most  Humb\  Serv\ 

J  Ingersoll 

P.  S.  if  the  Acc°.  is  wanting  in  any  particular  please  '■' 
favour  me  with  your  Commands  &-  I  will  Endeavour  to  get  tlu- 
Defects  Supplied.  J.  I. 

The  IIon\  lienning  W(^ntwortli  Esq^ 
Copy 


jaked  ingersoll  papers,  it.js-ol.        269 
Letters  of  Johx  Sloss  Hobart. 

s'^  Croix  Sep^  3(r^  irei 

Sir, 

You  will  undoubtedly  be  surprised  to  hear  from  me  in  this 
Part  of  the  World ;  'tis  what  I  least  expected  when  last  I  had 
the  Pleasure  of  seeing  you,  but  Business  growing  dull  at  Home 
^:  hearing  much  of  the  West  Indies  as  a  Place  to  make  a  For- 
tune in  a  short  Time,'  I  ventur'd  out  about  IS  months  since  & 
have  been  trading  from  Island  to  Island  ever  since,  tho'  not 
with  so  much  Success  as  I  could  wish,  tho"  I  can't  complain. 

At  present  we  are  all  taken  up  with  the  Thoughts  of  an 
Attack  upon  Martinique,  for  my  last  Accounts  from  Home  are 
that  M"".  Amherst  has  collected  together  a  large  Xumber  of 
Transports,  the  Regulars  in  Garrison  are  releiv'd  by  Provincials 
\'  in  full  ^larch  for  X.  York ;  which  I  look  upon  as  favourable 
Prospects;  Lord  Rollo^  is  already  arrived  with  1500  !Men  k 
has  taken  Possession  of  Domineco,  for  which  Island  I  intend  in 
about  ten  Days.      '  .  '  • 

Sir,  the  Kindnes  &  Civility  I  have  always  rec^  from  your- 
self tS:  Family  embolden  me  to  beg  you  will  recommend  me  to 
some  Post  in  the  Customs  at  Martinique  (should  the  English 
Conquer  it  as  undoubtedly  they  will)  or  at  least  in  Domineco. 

Had  I  any  other  Patron  to  apply  to  I  would  not  trouble  you 
on  this  Occasion,  but  my  Fathers  situation  in  Life  is  such  that 
it  don't  lead  him  into  any  European  Correspondence  which 
could  be  of  Service  to  me  in  that  Way.  I  therefore  apply  to  you 
as  the  only  Gentleman  with  whom  I  am  acquainted  who  has 
Interest  enough  to  serve  me  in  that  way :  if  you  think  me 
impertinent,  beg  you  will  impute  it  to  the  Favours  I  have 
already  received  from  you.  which  induce  me  to  think  you  would 
willingly  oblige  me  in  such  a  Trifle,  «L-  should  it  be  attended 
with  any  Expences  I  will  reimburse  them  as  soon  as  I  know 
what  they  are. 

I  dare  not  attempt  to  discribc  to  you  any  of  these  Islands  as 

*  Andrew  Kolln.  fifth  Baron  Rollo  (Uorn  1700.  difd  ITti.l),  captured 
Doniinioa  in  June.  ITHl.  and  in  February.  17»V2.  took  part  under  General 
Monckton  in  the  capture  of  ^Martinique. 


:^T0  JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-64. 

I  know  myself  unequal  to  tlie  Task,  therefore  conclude  by  sub- 
scribing with  the  sincerest  Respect 

Your  most  obedient  S:  most  hble.  Serv'. 
J.  S.  Hobart." 
[To 
Jared  Ingersol  Escf. 

Agent  for  the  CoUony  of  Connecticut 
■       ^  In 

London] 

-      ._  -  S'.  Eustatius  9^'^  1st  17^1 

Sir 

I  did  myself  the  Ilonnour  to  write  to  you  some  time  siiici' 
from  the  Island  of  S*"*.  Croix  by  the  Way  of  Copenhagen,  which 
I  hope  will  arrive  safe,  the  Purport  of  which  Letter  was  tu 
desire  you  to  recomend  me  to  some  Post  in  one  of  the  Con- 
quer'd  Islands  as  I  am  determined  to  tarry  some  time  in  tlir 
West  Indies.  The  great  Humanity  v^'  Condesention  with  wliit'h 
I  was  formerly  treated  by  you  encourages  me  to  hope  that  yon 
will  get  a  Place  for  me  in  which  I  may  make  an  easy  Fortune. 
Had  I  any  Friend  or  Acquaintance  who  had  Interest  enough 
to  serve  me  I  would  not  be  troublesom  to  you,  but  as  I  havt^ 
none  I  l>eg  you  will  assist  me  if  possible,  which  if  you  don'r, 
for  ought  I  can  see  at  present,  I  shall  l>e  condemned  to  spend  my 
Days  in  these  Islands.  &  I  am  sure  no  living  Creature  nenl 
envy  my  Situation,  continually  broiling  from  IMorning  till 
Xight  under  the  very  IMuzzle  of  the  Sun,  »S:  that  for  a  bare  Sub- 
sistance  only,  without  scare  a  probability  of  ever  raisimr 
enough  to  return  \:  live  at  ease  at  Home,  which  is  the  heigth  ot 
my  Ambition. 

Wc  have  recM  an  Account  just  this  moment  that  y^  GritHii 

*  John  Sloss  Iloban.  a  son  of  tlie  Rev.  Xoah  Hohait,  of  Fairficl'l. 
Connecticut,  wa^  hern  in  1738,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  17.57.  and  dii'd 
in  1S05:  tlnMU;.'li  tlie  year  1756  he  boarded  in  ^Mr.  Ingersoll's  family. 
Through  hi-;  imithfT  lif  inherited  property  on  Long  Island.  AVJiere  he  settled 
soon  after  the  date  nf  thi'se  letters.  lie  entered  public  life,  and  filled  th"" 
offices  of  .Tudgi-  <'t  th.  Su]>rt'nie  Court  of  the  State,  United  States  Senator, 
and  .Tudire  of  th.'  l'.  S.  District  Court. 


JAKED  IXGKKSOLL  PAPEKS,  1758-04,  271 

Frigate  Cap'  Taylor  was  cast  away  two  Days  siuc  on  Burbada" 
when  in  Chase  of  two  French  Privateers,  oweing  it  seems  to 
the  Obstanacy  of  the  Cap\  in  Opposition  to  the  Pilot,  who 
gave  np  the  Charge  of  the  Ship. 

"We  are  in  daily  Expectation  of  an  Armament  from  X.  York 
to  attack  ^Martinique  if  not  stop'd  by  a  Peace. 

.  When  you  liave  an  Idle  Honr  on  your  Plands  *S:  can't  bestow  it 
any  other  AVay  beg  you'll  favour  me  with  a   Line.     I'll  not 
trouble  you  any  longer  only  beg  leave  to  sul:»scribe 
Sir 

Your  most  humble 

&  most  obedient  Serv^ 
J.  S.  Ilobart. 
P.  S.  it  seems  that  the  ace*,  of  the  Griffin  was  brought  bv  some 
of  her  Sailors  &  we  are  not  certain  but  they  make  it  in  order 
to  justify  their  Desertion. 


Letters  of  William  Livixgstox. 

:N'ew  York  2CA  May  1762 
Dear  Sir 

Being  really  concerned  about  the  ]\roncy  due  to  me  from  'Mr 
Jedidiah  Mills, f  not  only  on  Account  of  his  surprizing  Answer 
to  one  of  my  Letters  on  that  Subject  containing  his  Conjectures 
concerning  the  2*^  Beast  mentiond  in  the  Revelations,  of  which  I 
acquainted  you  when  here,  but  also  from  the  Eeport  that  his 
Sons  are  considerably  involved  among  our  merchants,  I  must 
beg  the  favour  of  you,  as  soon  after  your  receipt  of  this  as  pos- 
sible, to  write  him  a  line  informing  him  that  I  have  desired  you 
to  issue  Process  against  him  &  all  the  obligors  in  the  two  Bonds 
unless  they  are  immediately  discharged. 

It  is  with  reluctance  that  I  am  obliged  to  trouble  the  old 

*  Or  Bnrbiula.  a  Britisli  i>;laii(l  aniono'  tlie  Lot-ward  Islands,  north  of 
Antifrua. 

t  Jfdidiali  Mills,  hum  in  1G!)7.  and  graduated  at  \'ali'  (Vdlcue  in  1722. 
was  8fttli',l  as  pasti.r  in  HuntiiiLrton.  tluMi  jiart  of  Stratfurd.  t  iiniu't'ticut, 
in  1724,  an<l  dit-d  tluMt-  in  177(J,  leavin;;r  an  estate  of  ai>out  tl.'l.j. 


2<-  .TARED    IXGEHSOLL    PAVERS,     1T5S-G4. 

Gentleman,  bur  I  must  Avork  so  eunfuumlt'd  hard  for  tlin-e  or 
four  hundred  Pounds,  that  I  can  not  in  justice  to  my  faniilv 
take  np  with  theological  Conjectures  in  lien  of  lavful  mon<'ij. 

I  inclose  you  Copies  of  both  Bonds  with  the  several  rfceipi> 
of  the  payments  that  have  been  made.  I  suppose  the  Copi(> 
will  be  sufficient  to  lay  the  Action,  till  you  are  obliged  to  giv 
Oyer  *^'  perhaps  ho  will  pay  the  :\[oney  without  the  Ori-inal-; 
upon  your  discharge.  However  if  you  must  have  the  originals 
you  will  be  pleased  to  inform  me,  i:  I  will  send  tbem  as  soon  as 
I  return  from  the  river  Circuits. 

AA  ith  my  Compliments  to  ^frs  Tngersol  Oi:  never  forgetting-  ^Mr 
Whittelsey,  I  am 

Your  most  humble  Serv^ 

Wil :  LiviuG'ston. 
[To 

Jared  Ingersol  Esqr 

^^xt  •  -^         -^  ■■■-    . 

Xew  Haven 
Connecticut] 


,  ■  Xew  York  28  July  17  r.  2 

D'.  Sir 

I  received  yours  of  the  12*^  Instant,  k  it  would  be  peculiarly 
agi-eeable  to  me  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  oblige  you  in  the 
instance  you  mention,  but  I  have  not  the  least  expectation  of  the 
office  *fc  can  learn  of  no  one  that  has  made  interest  for  it  except 
^r  Dick  ]\Iorris,  who  has  not  however  any  promise  for  it.^  But 
whoever  of  my  acquaintance  may  get  it  you  may  depend  upoji 
my  interest  to  serve  yuu  in  your  request. 

I  lately  had  a  Letter  from  'M'.  :\Iills  with  a  payment  of  £:.<"• 
upon  which  he  desired  me  to  direct  you  to  stop  proceedinc's,  bur 
as  I  think  myself  far  from  being  secure  by  that  pavment  *S:  a^ 
he  made  the  marvellous  proposal  of  paying  all  his  other  dcbt.- 

*Mr.  Inpoijoll  was  desirous  of  ohtainin,!:  tlio  appointment  of  Depiitv 
for  Connecticut  <.t  tli.-  Ju.I-^'  ..f  tlif  Cuurt  nf  Admiralty  for  X.-w  V,,rk.  N.-v^ 
Jersey.  an<l  C  niHi'itinit. 

For  liis  >u.-.-,-,  in  tliis  ol.jec-t,  see,  also,  p.  27.5. 


JAItKD    INGERSOLL    PATHRS,    iToS-C-l:.  273 

tirst,  the  better  to  enable  biin  to  pay  mine  at.  last,  I  wrote  him 
that  I  could  not  restrict  you  in  any  directions  I  had  given 
you.     ... 

^Yith  my  compliments  to  your  Family  I  am 

Your  most  humble  Serv'. 

Wil :  Livingston 
[To  ...... 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq' 
at 

Xew  Haven 

Connecticut]    -    -•  -. 

■  "  .;.  Xew  York,  19.  Oc^  1702. 

Dear  Sir : 

I  receiv'd  yours  of  the  12th  Instant,  and  am  greatly  oblig'd 
to  ^L\  Mills  for  his  opinion  of  my  being  so  Ingenious  a  Gen- 
tleman as  you  are  pleased  to  mention.  But  as  I  think  that 
the  Ingenuity  of  a  man  with  nine  Children  ought  to  resemble 
what  we  are  told  of  Charity,  that  it  begins  at  home,  I  know  of 
no  other  way  to  deserve  ^P.  Mills's  Compliments  than  by  shew- 
ing my  Ingenuity  in  being  so  Ingenious  as  to  use  the  Ingenuity 
of  the  Law  in  disappointing  his  Ingenuity  which  seems  to  con- 
sist in  the  most  ingenious  Contrivances  to  keep  me  out  of  the 
money  in  Perpetuity.  You  will  therefore  be  pleased  (instead 
of  listning  to  so  evil  a  Genius  as  proposeth  a  Security  that  shall 
only  be  liable  on  the  happening  of  certain  contingencies  that 
may  non  plus  the  brightest  Genius  to  produce  proper  Proofs  of 
their  having  happened,  that  is  a  responsible  Security  which  may 
never  be-  responsil»le")  Ingeniously  to  exert  the  utmost  Efforts  of 
your  Ingenuity  in  applying  the  true  Genius  of  the  Law  which 
abominates  all  such  cunctatory  «&:  procrastinating  Genius's  as  my 
Reverend  Friend  seems  to  be  inspired  with.  I  am, 
Dr  Sir : 

!Mr  ^Mills's  hitherto-mi:)?t  ingeniously  disappointed 
c^'  your  most  aiTectioiiato  tV  humble  Ser'. 
Wil :  Livingston. 

P.  S. — The  spending  an  Evening  at  your  fire  side  with  my 


2~-t  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PArERS,  1758-64. 

good  friend  W  Wliittolsey,  &  each  of  our  Ribs*  wou'd  really 
affect  me  with  such  singular  pleasure  as  neither  ]\P.  Mills's  nor 
mv  Ino-enuitv  is  capable  of  expressing. 
[To 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq'' 

In   ^    ^  ■  ,     '      ■; 

Xew  Ilaven]- 

.  Letter  of  Bexjamix  Fraxklix. 

Philad".  Dec.  ll/  17G2 
Dear  Sir,  ' 

I  thank  you  for  your  kind  Congratulations. f  It  gives  me 
Pleasure  to  hear  from  an  old  Friend,  it  will  give  me  much  more 
to  see  him.  I  hope  therefore  nothing  will  prevent  the  Journey 
you  propose  for  next  Summer,  &  the  Favour  you  intend  me  of  a 
Visit.  I  believe  I  must  make  a  Journey  early  in  the  Sprinir 
to  Virginia,  but  purpose  being  back  again  before  the  hor 
Weather.  You  will  be  kind  enough  to  let  me  know  beforehand 
what  time  you  expect  to  he  here,  that  I  may  not  be  out  of  tlio 
way ;   for  that  would  mortify  me  exceedingly. 

I  should  be  glad  to  know  what  it  is  that  distinguishes  Con- 
necticut Religion  from  common  Religion: — Communicate,  if 
you  please,  some  of  those  particulars  that  you  think  will  amuse 
me  as  a  Virtuoso.  When  I  travell'd  in  Flanders  I  thought  of 
your  excessively  strict  Observation  of  Sunday;  and  that  a  ~Man 
could  hardly  travel  on  that  day  among  you  upon  his  lawful 
Occasions,  without  Hazard  of  Punishment ;  while  where  I  wa^. 
every  one  travell'd,  if  he  pleas'd,  or  diverted  himself  in  any 
other  way;  and  in  the  Afternoon  both  high  fr  low  went  to  tli<' 
Play  or  the  Opera,  where  there  was  plenty  of  Singing,  Fid- 
dling tl-  Dancing.  T  look'd  round  for  God's  Judgments  but  saw- 
no  Signs  of  them.  The  Cities  were  well  built  &  full  of  In- 
habitants,   the   :\rarkets    fill'd    with    Plenty,    the    People    wel! 

*  Cliaiincey  Whittelsey  (Yalp  Collo^ro  173S)  was  now  a  merchant  in  >V^' 
Haven,  and  his  wife  and  ]VIr.   In<,'orsoir.s  were  sisters. 

t  On  Franklin's  return  from  Enirlan.l,  where  he  had  iK-eii  since  17.57. 

This  letter  has  already  h.-t-n  jirintcd,  in  IJigelow's  llor/.-x  o/'  Frdnlditi,  1^^" 
anil  Smyth's  M'riiuujs  of  Fmuldin,  V.m\;  bnt  is  here  cojtied  directlv  ir.'i'^ 
the  orii'inal. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PATERS,  1T5S-04.  275 

favourVi  i-  well  clothed;  the  Fields  well  till'd ;  the  Cattle 
fat  i'  strong;  the  Fences,  Houses  and  Windows  all  in  Repair; 
and  no  Old  Tenor  anywhere  in  the  Country;  which  wo\ild 
almost  make  one  suspect,  that  the  Deity  is  not  so  angry  at  that 
OtTence  as  a  Xew  England  Justice. 

I  left  our  Friend  ]\Ir.  Jackson  well.  And  I  had  the  great 
Happiness  of  finding  my  little  Family  well  when  I  came  home; 
and  my  Friends  as  cordial  d:  more  numerous  than  ever.  lEav 
every  Prosperity  attend  you  <S:  yours.     I  am.  Dear  Friend, 

Yours  affectionately, 

B.  Franklin. 

Letter  of  Judge  Eiciiard  Morris. 

ISTew  York  Dec'.  23'^:    1762 
Sir, 

I  was  honoured  with  your  favour  of  the  17^''.  Histant  this 

]\Iorning ;   I  had  it  not  in  my  power  to  Answer  W  Livingston  on 

his  first  Application,   as   I   then  only  had   an  App\   for   this 

province.  Since  which  I  have  Eec*^  Advice  from  my  friend  of  a 

Warrant  being  made  out  to  the  Judge  of  the  High  Court  of 

Admiralty   to   make  out   a   Commission   to  me  for   the  three 

provinces,  and  when  that  Comes  to  hand  I  shall  be  under  the 

Necessity  of  going  as  f  arr  as  Xorwalk  to  Xotifie  the  Governor  of 

it  and  to  publish  it.     I  shall  Endeavour  to  give  you  notice  of  it 

and  shall  be  glad  to  meet  you  there,  when  I  shall  be  proud  to 

Appoint  you  as  my  Deputy  for  your  Colony;    this  I  told  :\r 

Livingston  who  I  am  Obliged  to  for  notifying  you  of  it.     Am 

Greatly  Obliged  to  you  for  your  kind  Invitation  and  shall  with 

pleasure -Embrace  it  if  I  travell  your  Way.     I  am 

Sir  ^  '  ,      ...  ^ 

•        ■    '•  '  Your  Verry  Hum^'  Serv'^ 

Ri''.  :Morris." 
[Jared  Ingersoll  Esq"" 

.  ■        att  ' ; 

Xew  Haven] 

*  TJifliar.l  :\forri-.  limn  17.10.  di.-,!  1^10.  rfceivcd  a  (1p^m-o.>  from  Yale 
in  tlu-  Cla>-  of  174S.  On  An^rust  2.  17il2,  hi-  was  coinniis-ionod  as  Jud-o  <,f 
tlie  Court  of  Admiralty  for  New  York.  New  Jersov.  and  C'onnocticut. 


.     !    ;  I 


276  jareb  ixgersoll  papers,  1758-04. 

Letter  of  Dr.  Bexjamix  Gale, 

KiUiiigwortli  Aug'  0*^  1702 

I  receiv'd  your  Fav''  &  note  y"  Contents.  I  am  apt  to  think 
y  Sentiments  are  very  Just.  Witli  regard  to  y""  Request  from 
me,  I  have  hud  by  y*"  Weapons  of  my  Warfare  it  is  true,  but  not 
untill  I  obtain  d  Avliat  I  aim'd  at,  Viz  to  Convince  the  WorM 
that  the  President  was  an  Assuming,  Arbitrary,  Design  in- 
Man;  who  under  a  Cloak  of  Zeal  for  Orthodoxy,  design'd  t^. 
govern  both  Church  (L-  State,  &  Damn  all  who  would  not  worship 
Y^  Beast.  I  begun  the  Controversey  when  it  was  disreputablr. 
to  oppose  one,  esteem'd  a  ]\ran  of  God.  I  was  Alone;  th.in 
who  wisliM  me  well,  dare  not  appear  for  me,  but  I  was  m-t 
thereby  Intimidated.  I  have  been  Call'd  all  y'  Mean,  Lyiiii:. 
Vilinous  Easeals,  by  y'  Clergy,  &  their  Dupes,  that  Religion- 
Bigotry  could  suggest.  But  S^  I  am  alive,  &  I  thank  God  1 
believe  can  be  rely'd  on  further  by  y*  Better  Sort  of  this  Govcr 
than  the  President  *S:  his  Party  with  all  their  religious  Chi 
canery. 

if  You  now  Undertake  y^  Cause,  you  will  engage  at  a  tiuK- 
when  it  is  reputable,  &  I  wish  you  good  success.  As  for  mat<' 
rials  I  have  now  none.  You  if  you  will  read  my  three  last  pam- 
phlets will  there  find  some  stubborn  Facts.  I  think  it  a  verv 
ei'eat  Crime  for  him  to  draw  monv  out  of  v®  Pocketts  of  Parent-. 
bv  seducing  ]\[inors  to  Subscriptions  for  Air  Pumps,  Clock-. 
Pendelums  &c.  I  do  not  know  had  you  not  Lead  my  good  Fath'  r 
into  a  mistake  with  regard  t<>  y^  Last  Corporation  Meeting  y'^ 
might  have  Improv'd  that  to  good  purpose.  Indeed  I  do  it"' 
know  but  it  may  Still ;  it  was  no  Corporation  meeting,  nor  th'-.^ 
could  not  make  it  a  meeting  at  that  time,  if  there  was  one  D'- 
senter.  Our  Charter  Enables  y'"  Gove'  to  Call  together,  or  in  h- 
Aliscence  y"'  Deputy  Gov"",  the  General  Assembly;  whenever  ^ 
Gov'  Adjourns  y"  Assendjly  Sine  Die  it  is  in  fact  a  Dessoluti"!'- 
&'  we  arc  adjourn'd  in  the.se  wortls  ftill  the  Gov'"  or  in  h:- 
Abscenee  y""  Dcp^  Gov'"  sees  fitt  kv)  placing  y*'  Power  of  Call'  .^ 
.\.<seiidily,  where  the  Charter  has  tix'd  it.  y'"  College  Chari'  ^ 
tells  how  a  Corporation  meeting  is  to  lie  call'd,  viz  by  y*"  Pv>-; 


JAREI>   IXOEIJSOLL    PAl'EKS,    1758-04.  277 

dent  (S:  two  Fellows.  Xow  the  President,  that  be  might  be  like 
the  Gods  of  the  Nations  that  are  round  about  him,  had  y* 
Meeting"  adjourned  sine  Die  till  y''  President  should  see  fitt  &c. 
Xow  S""  the  Corporation  by  vote  could  not  place  y*  Power  of 
Call"  where  y"  Charter  had  not  Placed  it.  I  ask  Pardon  for 
Assum^  y^  Province  or  rather  Invading  it.  The  Bearer  Waits. 
I  am  Sincerely  S"" 

Your  Hum\  Serv^ 

Benj"  Gale." 

[To  ;■■-■■     ^  ■-•     ^       .      y[  ^ 

-Tared  Ingersol  Esq""  -^— ■"    .        ■  ■"'■■.. 

X  Haven] 


'■  '        :-        Letter  of  Tno:^rAs  Bridges. 

Iledley  Scpt^:  30*^  1702 
Dear  Sir. 

I  have  received  your  favours  of  the  23'^  of  June  last,  which 
gave  both  me  t^'  3F*:  Bridges  great  Pleasure,  to  find  that  you 
were  safely  arrived  at  Xew  Haven  in  Perfect  Health,  &  have 
the  Satisfaction  of  Enjoying  the  Company  of  Your  Lady  &  son, 
from  whome  you  have  been  so  long  absent,  the  joy  of  which  none 
can  be  sensible  oft",  but  those  that  have  experienced  a  long  sep- 
eration  from  those  that  are  most  dear  to  them.  I  do  xVssure 
you  M""*:  Bridges  «S:  myself  take  it  exceedingly  Kind  your 
remembring  of  us  so  soon,  &  that  you  are  so  good  as  to  think 

*  Bcnjiuiiin  Gale  (born  1715,  died  1790).  utter  <.rradnation  at  Yale  in 
1733.  studied  medicine  with  the  Rev.  .Tared  Eliot,  of  Killin;jr\vorth,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Yale  corporation,  settled  there  in  practice,  and  married  Dr. 
Eliot's  daughter. 

lie  was  a  Deputy  to  the  General  Assend)ly  of  the  Colony  for  many  years; 
and  between  1755  and  17iii)  printed  several  bitter  attacks  on  President  Clap 
of  Yale  Collejre.  wlio>e  attitude  towards  the  formation  of  Separate  con- 
pregations  (like  the  White  Haven  Society  in  Xew  Ilaven,  and  the  Church 
in  Yale  College)    was  unufdcome  to  both   ^Ir.  Ingersoll  and  Dr.  Gale. 

Dr.  Gale  was  a  man  of  intense  ])rejudices  and  violent  partisanship. 
Though  at  fij-st  highly  critical  of  the  revcdutionary  attitude  of  the  patriots 
in  Eastern  Connecticut,  he  ultimattdy  gave  a  hearty  support  to  the  new 
government. 


278  JAREI)    IXGKRSOT.L    P.vrERS,     175S-G4:, 

any  of  our  Civilities  worth  your  Calling  to  mind,  which  were  no 
more  than  tlie  Pleasure  we  had  in  your  company  doul>ly  repaid 
us  for;  indeed  this  summer  we  have  greatly  missed  you,  tho  w(_' 
have  often  talk'd  over  the  many  agreable  hours  we  have  Passed 
together,  &  particularly  the  little  debates  you  &  I\r" :  Bridges 
had  concerning  your  Prefering  Xorth  America  to  Old  England, 
&  she  is  in  hopes  she  shall  some  time  or  other  see  you  and  ]\r^: 
IngersoU  come  over  »i:  settle  in  Old  England,  notwithstanding 
you  now  seem  to  Prefer  Xewhaven  to  all  the  rest  of  the  world. 
I  conclude  long  before  you  receive  this,  you  w'ill  have  heard  that 
M"":  Franklin  the  Elder,  is  returned  to  Philadelphia,  withiuit  his 
son ; "  he  left  England  about  the  latter  end  of  July,  &:  a  few  days 
after  he  was  gone,  the  Young  Gentleman  took  unto  him  a  Wife, 
I  will  not  leave  you  Guess  who,  for  You  cannot  suppose  it  to  l)e 
any  other  than  his  Old  Flame  in  S^ :  James's  Street ;  we  think 
the  Lady  has  great  luck  on  her  side,  to  get  a  Smart  Young  fel- 
low for  her  Husband.  *&:  the  Honour  of  being  a  Governor's  Lady, 
for  I  suppose  it  will  be  no  news  to  you  to  Acquaint  you  that  b.' 
is  made  Governor  of  Xew  Jersey.  I  hear  there  was  s<:ane  diiH- 
culty  in  his  being  Confirmed  in  his  place,  for  in  our  Con- 
siencious  Age,  many  Scruples  were  raised  on  accotmt  of  his 
heirig  Illegitimate,  which  we  were  Strangers  to  till  very  lately. 
I  hear  the  Old  Gentleman  intends  soon  to  bring  over  his  Lady  k 
Daughter  to  spend  the  remainder  of  their  days  in  England :  ]My 
Brother  (who  is  now  in  Xorfolk  with  my  Father  <t  Sister  who 
are  all  well)  I  take  for  Granted  you  often  hear  from,  so  shall 
say  no  more  of  him,  than  y* ;  he  ^:  the  rest  of  the  family  will  bo 
in  Town  about  the  -20*''  of  October,  about  which  time  shall  also  b.^ 
in  Town  for  a  few  days,  cV  then  proceed  to  Bath,  not  f>r  my  nwii 
health,  (which,  thank  God,  has  been  better  than  Usual  thi>  sum- 
mer, c^'  I  had  the  gout  more  favourably  last  winter,  than  fur  souii' 
Years  Past,)  but  for  ^M":  Bridges's,  who  has  been  far  fn.m  wc^ll. 
for  above  this  Year  past.  She  has  consulted  several  Physician- 
who  all  advise  the  Bath :  we  are  therefore  determined  tri  Try  i'. 
«fc-  am  in  great  hopes  it  will  l)e  of  Service  to  her. 

*  Governor  William  Franklin,  son  of  Benjamin  Franklin.  \va-  I'orn  i" 
Philaflcljiliia  in  1720.  and  marritnl  Mi<>,  Elizabeth  Downes,  a  \\"i-~r  Tn.ru"i 
lady,  then  residiiiir  in  St.  James  Street,  London,  on  Septenihor  5.  17ii2. 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-G4.  279 

I  nui.st  now  congratulate  jou  on  tlie  approaching  Peace, 
which  hope  is  not  far  off,  &■  believe  it  would  have  been  Settled 
before  this  time,  had  not  all  parties  been  desirous  of  first  know- 
ing the  fate  of  the  Havannah,  the  news  of  the  taking  of  which 
arrived  hear  hut  last  week;  the  Spaniards  made  a  most  noble 
defence,  dv:  our  Army  had  made  no  Breach  till  the  29*^*^  day  of 
July  abnut  two  o'clock,  when  they  sprung  a  mine  which  made 
one  sutficient  for  a  file  of  men  to  go  abreast  in ;  they  immedi- 
ately storm'd  the  Fort  sword  in  hand  k  carried  it,  the  Town 
surrendered  by  Capitulation  Eleven  days  after ;  it  is  a  most 
Glorious  acquisition,  «t  I  hope  it  will  he  the  means  of  our  mak- 
ing an  advantagious  »i'  lasting  peace,  tho  some  People  are  of 
Opiuir.n  it  will  not  hasten  one,  as  they  suppose  we  shall  require 
better  Terms.  The  Dtike  of  Bedford  has  been  at  Parris  &  the 
Duke  dt'  Xevernois  at  London  for  near  this  month  past,  about 
the  salutary  work,  &  I  believe  the  Chief  obsticle  was  on  the  Part 
of  Spain,  who  believe  never  thought  of  our  Succeeding  at  the 
Havannah.  I  assure  you  it  gave  me  great  peasure  to  hear  of 
the  wellfare  of  my  Grey  Horse.  I  hope  his  Colts  will  turn  out 
to  your  satisfaction  &;  the  Gentlemen  of  the  Country,  &  that  he 
will  mend  your  Breed ;  he  was  always  a  great  favourit  of  mine, 
(-^'  a  most  excellent  Servant,  for  ho  carried  me  very  safely  a 
Hunting  for  Seven  Years.  I  should  be  Obliged  to  you  to  send 
lue  a  few  large  Ears  of  Indian  Corn,  as  I  want  to  sow  a  little  in 
my  Garden  by  way  of  Tryal,  but  if  it  is  attended  with  the  least 
inconvenience  beg  you  will  not  give  yourself  any  Trouble  about 
it.  If  ^I":  Bridges  or  I  can  be  of  any  Service  in  Buying  or 
Procuring  you,  or  M'^:  Ingersoll,  any  thing  you  may  want  here, 
beg  vuu  will  command  us;  we  Both  join  in  Compliments  »t  best 
wishes  of  Health  A:  Happiness  to  yourself,  *t  Lady  tho  unknown. 
<.V  am 

Dear  Sir 
■  '  '"  Your  ]\rost  Sincere  Friend 

■'".■■'  &-  Obedient   Ilble    Servant 

.  Tho":  Bridges." 

'Thomas  Bridges,  died  1768.  was  a  brother  of  Sir  Brook  Bridges. 
Baronet,  of  Goodneston.  Kent,  who  was  a  Member  <>t  Parliament  at  this 
date:  and  a  brother-in-law  of  Kichard  Jackson,  !Mr.  IngersolTs  intimate 
friend. 


280  JAKED    IXGfclKSULL    rAl'EKS,    1758-04. 

P :  S  :  when  you  are  not  better  employed  - 
I  shall  always  Esteem  it  a  favour  to 
hear  from  yon. 

Hedley  Oetr:  7th:  1702.  ■    .  , 

[To  Jerrar J  Ingersoll  Es.f : 
at  Xew  Haven 
In  the  Province  of  Connecticut 
in 

Xorth  America  .       ' 

By  the  Xew  York  _  .„ - -■ 

Packet.]  ;      ..     ' 


-       '  Letter  of  Gov.  William:  Fraxklin. 

Perth  Amhoy,  July  22,  170:"; 

Dear  Sir 

Your  obliging  Favour  of  the  7*''.  of  April,  I  had  not  the 
Pleasure  of  receiving  till  a  few  Days  ago.  ^Yhere  it  couhl 
have  been  detaiuM  so  long  a  Time  T  cannot  conceive,  unless  it 
was  sent  to  Burlington  after  my  leaving  it,  &  there  kept^m 
Expectation  of  my  Beturn,  which  I  intended  upward  of  Six 
^Teeks  ago. 

I  should  have  been  extremely  glad  to  have  seen  my  oM 
Acquaintance  Col.  Whiting,  by  whom  you  mention  your  Letu  r 
to  be  sent,  but  T  never  heard  of  his  being  in  .Jersey. 

If  .vou  should  come  to  this  Province,  as  you  give  me  Reason 
to  hope  you  may  some  time  this  Summer,  it  will  afford  me  par- 
ticular Pleasure  to  see  you  at  Burlington,  where  I  prop.'>e  t.> 
reside.  i 

3P.  Erankliu  joins  me  in  best  Compliments  to  you,  with 
manv  thanks  for  yuur  kind  CongTatulations. 

I  am,  with  great  Pu'gard,  Sir,  Your  most  humble  Servant 

W™.  Erankliu. 
■  To  J.  Inger-all  Y<<^     >  "   •      «• 


I  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  175^-04.  281 

I. 

!  Letters  of  Joseph  Cjiew, 

'  Dear  Sir 

I  I  thank  you  for  voiir  Letter  by  Cap^  :\Iiller.     Your  Behav- 

1  iour  at  Hartford  has  answered  ray  Expectations.     I  have  on  all 

I  occasions  asserted  you  were  two  ITonnest  and  had  two  great  a 

I  regard  foi-  trutli  then  to  say  one  thing  and  mean  another— in 

I  short  that  you  would  not  Cringe,  Twist  and  Turn  Twenty  wavs 

I  to  get  into  any  post  the  Colony  had  to  give.     I  wish  all  I  know 

I  had  the  same  noble  Spirit;    we  should  have  Less  Confussion 

I  then  I  think  is  Coming  Fast  upon  us.     I  shall  write  you  a  Lomr 

I  Letter  by  Xext  Post.      I  find  our  Friend  Co?  Dyer  determind 

I  to   Pursue    the    affair   of   Susquehanna.*     I    don't    Expect   to 

I  suceed,  but  will  use  Every  argument  I  can  to  induce  him  to 

I  drop  the  thing  as  honnourably  as  he  can— for  I  see  no  kind  of 

I  Prospect  he  has  of  Coming  of  with  Credit  any  other  way ;    he 

I  writes  me  he  is  soon  to  set  out  for  PhiP.  to  bonver  with  W. 

I  Franklin,  but  I  suspect  I  shall  at  Least  diswade  him  from  that, 

as  I  think  he  must  know  'M'  Franklin  will  on  no  Terms  interfer 
in  any  matter  disagreable  to  the  ]^Iinistry— this  it  is  Reason- 
able to  immagine.     lam 

S^        "'■  ■    ^^.■.   .    ,    •,;-■.. 

'■■.■"'    :  Your  Affectionate  "' '      '.  ■     • 

'       ■'■■  Jos  Chewf  "'       •  ■'  . 

*Eliphalt>t  Dyer  (born  1721,  died  18U7)  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  1740, 
and  became  a  lawyer  in  bis  native  town  of  Windham,  Connecticut. 

He  wa>  one  of  tlie  leading  promoters  of  the  Su.-quehanna  Company, 
formed  in  1754  for  tlie  development  of  colonization  in  the  Wvoming  region 
in  Pennsylvania,  under  the  title  of  the  Connecticut  charter  as  forrifie^  by 
a  questionable  treaty  witli  the  Indians.  He  went  to  England  in  17ti4  in 
one  of   :^Iark   Hunting   Wentwortli's   mast   ships   to   prr.mJte   this   business. 

In  1765  he  sympathized  actively  witli  tlie  radical  movement,  centred 
at  Windham,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Stamp-Act  Congress  in  New  York: 
as  a  member  of  the  Governor's  Council  he  refused  to  remain  in  the  Council 
chamber  while  the  oath  to  observe  the  Stamp  Act  was  administered  to 
Governoi-  Fitch. 

t  Josepli  Chew  was  born  in  Spotsylvania  County.  Va..  in  1720.  but  settled 
m  >:ew  London.  Connecticut,  as  a  meichant  before  1750,  and  held  the 
position  of  Assistant  to  the  Collect..r  ,.f  the  Port.  In  1752  he  acted  as 
Mar.shal  of  the  Vice-Admiralty  Court  held  in  Xew  London  to  act  on  the 
Spanish  Ship  case,  and  took  a  pn.niinent  part  in  that  alVair. 

At   the  time  of  the  Pevolutiou   he  sided  with  the   Briti>h  government. 


'  I  ■    .1  '  .    ' 


282  JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEKS,  1758-64. 

Xew  London  | 

June  8.  1763  j 
[To  .      '/^ 

J  a  red  Ingersoll  Esq""  "  . 

at 

Xew  Haven] 

Dear  Sir 

I  Rec"^.  your  Letter  by  the  post  &  shall  forward  that  to  CoF 
Dyer,  who  I  am  very  sorry  to  find  so  much.  Engage<l  in  pur- 
suing the  Susquehanna  affair.  I  find  my  name  is  mentioned  in 
PhiP  (S:  other  places  as  a  person  who  is  much  interested  and  has 
the  success  of  the  Company  greatly  at  heart.  Xow  God  knows  I 
only  came  into  it  out  of  a  mere  Banter,  supposing  it  was  to  cost 
me  about  five  or  six  Dollars  only,  &  tho  I  found  the  Expence 
much  more  I  did  not  trouble  my  self,  as  you  ami  many 
others  who  I  new  to  be  good  Company  were  engaged.  &:  I 
expected  we  should  have  some  Little  Doversion  for  our  ]\roney. 
Since  I  was  at  S^.  W"  Johnsons,  I  think  I  must  discover  great 
want  of  Capacity  to  Entertain  a  thought  of  our  Ever  obtaining 
a  Grant  of  those  Lands  By  Virtue  of  the  Indian  Purehaisc — 
and  you  know  what  Pret«itions  our  West  Sea  Charter  can  give 
us.  I  have  a  very  great  Respect  for  Col°  Dyer  and  would  g«> 
very  great  Lengths  to  ser\'e  him,  but  at  the  same  time  think  T 
should  be  much  to  Blame  if  I  did  not  tell  him  my  Real  Senti- 
ments, for  which  Reason  I  Last  week  wrote  him  a  Leiter,  a  Copy 
of  which  I  now  inclose  to  you,  and  Immagine  it  has  quite 
Destroyed  any  Eavourable  opinion  that  infatuated  Ci>mpany 
might  have  Entertaind  of  me.  You'l  not  mention  the  atfair  ct 
this  Letter  to  any  one.  Tho  Company  Depend  mu<'h  cm  W 
Eranklins  Eriendship  and  the  Interest  that  I  have  wirh  him  t" 
Introduce  them.  Was  Ever  any  thing  so  Redieulous  i  supposing! 
M'^Eranklin  had  as  nmch  Eriendship  for  me  as  one  person  Could 
have  for  another,  is  it  Reasonable  to  think  he  wonld  Carry  if  t'> 
such  a  Length  as  to  Engage  and  Interest  himself  in  an  Affair  ot 
this  kind  at  my  desire?  I  rather  think  he  would  believe  me  tor- 
ward  &  impertinent  for  giving  him  any  trouble  of  the  kiml ;  A-' 


'Jf 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-04.  2^3 

that  he  may  Imraagine  at  Present,  for  what  I  know,  as  I  am 
informed  ray  name  has  been  mentioned  to  him  as  a  very  warm 
Advocate  for  the  Company.  I  daresay  yon'l  agree  with  me 
that  he  has  two  much  good  sense  and  sound  judgment  to  Con- 
cern himself  with  a  matter  of  this  kind.  Provided  other  Beasons 
did  not  u-eigh  loith  him.  I  Expect  him  this  way  soon  and  if  I 
Can  have  notice  when  he  is  at  Xew  Haven  propose  to  meet  him 
there,  wheii  hope  may  have  the  Pknisure  of  half  an  hours  Chat 
with  you. 

Every  thing  I  hear  from  the  Late  Assembly  Convinces  me 
that  the  Religious  Junto  or  those  who  assume  that  Carracter 
will  throw  this  Colony  into  the  greatest  Confusion."  You  Can- 
not irnmgine  what  pains  this  Party  take  and  how  their  Dici- 
ples  and  Emissarys  are  dispersed  thro'  the  Government.  As  I 
dare  say  you  will  be  tired  of  this  Epistle.  ...  I  am 
Dear  Sir 

Your  most  obed*  serv' 
Jos  Chew 
Xew  London,  June  17'^.  1703 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq"  ■       '.      :.'     '   . 

[Enclosure  in  the  last  letter.] 
D--  S^ 

Yesterday  I  Rece*^  a  Letter  from  '}^V  Franklin  who  is  now  on 
his  journey  this  way,  but  as  he  will  make  some  stay  in  Xew 
York  'tis  uncertain  whether  ho  will  l)e  here  before  the  last  of  the 
month.  When  he  Comes  I  shall  advise  you  of  it  and  as  he  will 
stay  some  days  theres  no  dou])t  but  you  will  have  an  opportunitv 
of  seeing  him.  I  have  seen  the  speech  delivered  by  the  Deputys 
of  the  Six  Xatir.ns  and  the  Governors  Answer,  both  Printed  and 
much  to  the  Purpose.  I  assure  you  I  begin  to  Entertain  a  very 
Poor  opinion  of  the  Success  of  the  Susquehanna  Company,  and 

*  At  tlio  May  Session  of  tlie  General  Assembly  of  the  Colony,  ^fr.  Iti^rer- 
soll  li;ul  appeared  as  senior  counsfl  of  certain  gentlemen  \vho  ]. resented  a 
Memorial.  as'<iiiLr  for  a  Coniniittee  of  Visitation  for  Yale  ('(.UcLro,  on  tlie 
Kronnd  <.f  a  -eiieral  discontent  with   tiie  administration  of  President   Cla].. 


284  .tai:t:d  TX(;Ki:s(ii.r.   pai-ki.-s,   17.")'^-^(4:. 

bv  what  I  can  gather  from  Persons  of  the  tirst  Carracter  The 
very  mention  of  it  is  odious  to  the  Crown  «ls:  ^linistrv,  and  T 
believe  those  who  Exert  themselves  most  will  not  only  liaiu  the 
Displeasure  of  the  great  on  the  other  side  the  water,  hut  of  nianv 
in  Power  in  the  Colonys.  ^ly  Situation  in  Life  is  such  that  I 
think  it  my  duty  to  stear  Clear  of  any  thing  that  may  tend  t<;> 
that  Purpose— for  tho'  I  am  not  immediately  appointed  hy  the 
Crown  to  the  small  Posts  I  injoy,  I  Receive  them  from  Persims 
who  will  by  no  means  incourage  any  one  who  would  he  troulde- 
some.  Since  this  Speech  of  the  Indians  I  have  had  an  Oppor- 
tunity of  seeing  many  Gentlemen,  no  ways  Concerned,  who  all 
say  that  it  appears  to  them  the  Purchaisc  if  Ever  made  was  a 
very  unfair  one,  that  if  it  had  been  made  Ever  so  fairly  lV  the 
Indians  were  sick  of  the  Bargain  the  Crown  would  be  in  favair 
of  them,  that  theres  not  Even  a  Prospect  of  its  Ever  Ijeing 
Granted  by  the  Crown,  and  in  short  that  one  word  from  Sir  "\V"' 
Johnson,  whose  duty  it  is  to  set  the  matter  in  the  most  Clear 
Light,  will  have  more  weight  with  the  King,  Privy-Council  and 
Parliament  then  the  oaths  of  ten  thousand  such  unknown  AVit- 
nesses  as  we  have  to  ^e  Deed  obtained  by  Lydius."^  My  best 
friends  at  X  York  are  of  opinion  I  should  by  no  means  inter- 
medle  about  this  affair  imless  with  a  View  to  discourage  it,  an<l 
as  I  niost  sincerely  interest  myself  in  Every  thing  wdiich  Con- 
cerns you  I  wish  from  my  heart  you  was  fairly  clear  of  the  mat- 
ter. Indeed  if  you  are  well  paid  I  should  prefer  your  Vissiting 
England  at  the  Companys  Expencc  before  any  other  Person — 
but  am  fcarfuU  when  they  find  their  Golden  Dreams  Vanish,  as 
they  surely  will,  they  may,  as  they  are  Composed  of  the  samt^ 
■unsteady  materials  of  the  Pest  of  !^^ankind,  throw  all  the 
Blame  on  you  and  Charge  you  with  Countinancing  and  Incour- 
aging  them  in  this  Pursuit.  Believe  me,  my  Dear  Sir,  these 
Reasons  are  the  Result  of  the  Best  advice  I  could  get  from  those 
friends  wdio  I  am  in  a  great  measure  dependant  upon,  and  my 

*  Sir  William  Jt>liii-^on  was  widely  reco<zni/.fd  as  the  IcuJini;'  representa- 
tive of  the  British  jiovernnient  in  nej^otiations  with  the  Indians;  whih- 
John  Henry  Lydins,  ctn  whose  treaty  obtained  from  a  few  inferior  native^ 
Conneetieut  relied.  \va->  a  man  of  unreliable  character. 


JARED  INGERSOLL  rATKKS,  17.").S-(1-1:.  285 

own  serious  Reflections.     However  as  T  expect  to  see  yon  soon 
will  then  talk  tlie  matter  over  better  than  it  Can  be  wrote. 

I  am  Szc 
X  London  June  9''^  1763 
A  Copy  of  a  Letter  sent  to  CoP  Dyer 

Dear  Sir 

I  have  been  so  mneh  from  home  that  T  have  not  had  time  to 
send  you  the  Lists  of  Shipping-  (tc,  but  will  by  the  Xext  Post. 
CoP  Dyer  Leaves  AVindam  Xext  ^Monday  for  Portsmouth,  there 
to  embark  on  Board  a  [Mast  Ship  for  l>ondon — in  order  to 
obtain  a  Charter  for  the  Susquehanna  Country  in  which  S'  W'" 
Johnson  and  you  are  not  to  have  any  Share — at  Least  I 
immagine  so ;  from  the  Present  very  great  disputes  and  unset- 
tled State  of  the  ^Ministry  as  well  as  the  Indian  Disputes  believe 
he  had  Letter  have  waited  a  Little  Longer. 

Pray  give  me  your  opinion  of  the  Court  and  tell  me  what 
your  friend  ]\P  Jackson  says,  whose  opinion  &  srentiments  I 
depend  much  upon,  and  you  may  be  sure  not  one  word  shall 
transpire  from  me.  Make  ]\P  Chews  &  my  Respects  acceptable 
to  good  ]\P  Ingersoll.  Accept  the  same  from 
Dear  Sir 

Your  Affect. 

Jos  Chew  •  . 

Xew  London  July  2  r\  170.3  ,.-... 

Yours  of  the  ID*""  has  been  Carryed  to  X  port  in  that  mail  & 
only  this  moment  Come  to  hand.  The  hott  weather  occasion'd 
^P  Franklin's  going  by  watter  to  X  port.  There  I  saw  him  and 
he  thinks  as  you  and  I  do  of  Sus(|uehanna  &c.  &c.  CoP  Dyer 
says  he  is  sure  of  his  firm  Friendship  &:c.  in  that  affair.  The 
CoP  has  said  that  the  Deputies  at  Hartford  from  the  Six 
nations  l^-c  are  in  his  opinion  no  more  than  Vagabond  ^Tohawks,'^ 

*  For  tlio  visit  uf  tlie  ^Mohawk  Dt-putitj^  to  TTaitford  in  ^lay,  1703,  see 
Stone's  Life  of  Sir  U'.  Jofuison,  v.  2,  i^).   1S5-S1). 


2S6  JARKD  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-04. 

who  S"  W""  Johnston  hired  or  sent  to  deliver  that  Speech  in 
order  to  intiniadate  &:  Prevent  the  Settlement.  T  was  very  f  n-i- 
with  him  and  assured  him  I  would  write  to  S^  W".  and  acquaiur 
him  of  the  Keport.  As  only  CoP  Fitch*  &:  a  few  friends  ^^•('rc 
Present  I  would  not  Choose  for  Col°  Dyers  sake  it  should  he 
mentioned,  but  1  will  give  you  the  whole  history  Xext  Post. 

J)rgr 

Yrs 

Jos  Chew. 

[To  -->     ;::„-•-- 

Jared  Inijersoll  Esq''  .\  s  ■      . 

at 

Xew  Haven] 

Xew  London  Aug\  10'^  1TG:3 
Dear  Sir 

CoP.  Dyer  is  gone  for  Boston  and  is  there  to  take  his  Pas- 
sage to  London,  and  is  quite  sure  of  Returning  with  a  Charter 
or  Charters  for  the  Greatest  Part  if  not  all  the  Lands  to  tin- 
West  Sea's.  The  CoP.  told  me  he  saw  W.  Franklin  who  was 
Extreemly  friendly  and  very  much  approved  of  the  Settlement. 
Upon  inquiry  I  find  the  CoP.  met  with  ]\P.  Franklin  at  Green- 
wich, where  the  Latter  was  Confined  with  a  hurt  occasioned  hy 
a  Fall  from  his  Chair.  They  were  only  about  two  hour.- 
together  and  never  saw  Each  other  before,  but  this  was  tinir 
Eno'  to  discover  that  Gent^'.  Sentiments — who  you  know  i^ 
not  apt  to  Comunicate  them  very  soon.  This  I  know.  ^' 
Franklin  told  me  it  was  uncertain  whether  he  saw  CoP.  Dvt-r 
or  not.  and  desired  me  to  let  him  know  his  Errant  would  be  t" 
no  Purpose  unless  the  Indians  were  Really  willing  for  the  Set- 
tlement, and  morr  that  tlie  ministry  would  Expect  to  Receive  an 
Ace*',  of  their  being  willing  from  S'.  W"  Johnson,  the  Per-'H 
they  imployed  here  in  matters  Relating  to  Indians — that  if  ^vr 
Expected  a  Governm\  and  to  obtain  a  Charter  we  shoul'l  '"' 

♦  Eloazer    Fitch    (bnrn    1720,    died    1706),    of   Windham,    a    graduate   of 
Yalo  in  1743.  a  %far  att.-r  Mr.  luLrer^^oll. 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PATERS,  175S-G4.  287 

(lisapointcd — that  uiir  Claiming  all  the  Lands  ta  the  West  Seas 
was  Idle  and  Kidiculous — that  no  Person  could  pretend  to 
think  it  Consistant  w"'.  Common  Sence  to  have  a  Governm^  GO 
miles  wide  &  3000  miles  Long — and  many  things  of  the  kind. 
I  am  Surprized  when  I  think  of  the  strange  Bustle  this  affair 
has  made  and  at  the  Little  Keason  there  is  ever  to  expect  any 
thing  from  it.  CoF.  Dyer  does  not  doubt  of  having  the  Land 
«l!cc.  The  Post  waits  ;  pray  give  M"  Chews  and  my  very  sincere 
Respect  to  good  M".  Ingersoll.  Accept  the  same  from  IT  S^ 
Your  Affect.  Obed'  Serv* 

Jos  Chew.  ■ 


Letters  of  Col.  Ei.iphalet  Dyer. 

London  Xov"^  3^  1763 
Dear  S^  - 

Ariv*^  at  this  place  after  about  Seven  Weeks  passage.  It  is 
now^  near  four  weeks  since  my  Arival.  Have  had  my  health 
very  well  ever  since  have  been  in  London.  I  find  ]\P  Jackson"^ 
Vastly  friendly  and  agreable  and  as  yet  have  acquainted  only 
him  with  my  affairs.  He  advises  not  to  be  Sudden  in  my 
Applications,  as  it  is  very  uncertain  at  present  who  will  be  the 
persons  in  Power  after  y^  Sitting  of  the  Parliament,  which 
will  be  y*"  15"'  Instant,  as  the  present  ^Ministry  are  not  Suposd 
to  be  permanent.  ^U  Jackson  Informs  me  the  Ship  for  Xew 
London  to  take  in  your  ]\Iasts  will  saile  from  hence  In  January 
next.  I  should  much  rejoice  to  see  you  here,  which  shall 
Expect  in  that  Ship  if  not  before.  Have  nothing  of  Xews  of 
Consequence  to  write  you  at  present ;  this  is  only  Just  to  let  you 
know  of  my  Arival  and  that  I  am  in  good  Comfortable  Spirits. 
Have  taken  very  agreable  handsome  Lodgings  at  the  L^pper  End 

*  Rieliard  Jackson  was  the  Lnmlon  Agent  of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
from  1760  to  1771.  Yalo  College  conferred  on  him  the  honorary  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Laws  in  1773. 


:i    .  -i.-i. 


2S8  JARED    IXGF.nSOLL    TAIT-RS,     1758-04. 

of  Lancaster  Court"^  near  S*  ^Eartins  Churcli,  first  stair,  con- 
sisting" of  a  large  Dining  room,  bed  Chamber  &  dressing  room,  all 
Xeatly  fnrnisli^.,  and  Enjoye  my  self  as  well  as  can  be  cxperted 
considering  Absence  from  my  Dear  family  and  friends.  Yon 
will  not  forget  to  write  me  by  y®  York  Packets  as  was  stipnlated. 
Youll  excuse  my  brevity  as  have  many  Letters  to  write  \i:  y' 
Ship  very  soon  to.  sail.  Remember  me  with  proper  regards  t<. 
particular  Friends  vi'  Enquirers.  !My  respects  to  M"  Ingerso! 
and  believe  me  S'"  Y^, 

•    Very  11^''  Sen-' 

'"  '  '  Elipht  Dyer. 

To  Jared  Ingersol  Esq"". 

London  14''^  April  iTG-t 
D^  S' 

I  reciev*^  yours  of  y^  27'^^  of  February  yesterday,  and  as  T 
know  you  while  here  often  had  the  pleasing  Sensation  tlui'' 
arises  on  the  receipt  of  a  kind  letter  from  a  friend  or  an 
Acquaintance  from  your  Xative  Country,  it  is  Xeedless  tn 
Inform  you  with  what  pleasure  I  reciev"^  yours.  What  I  wrote 
you  before  am  very  uncert<:iin  as  it  was  in  Utmost  hast  &;  took 
no  Copy  thereof,  but  it  being  soon  after  my  arrival  every  thing 
here  was  then  new,  which  Xow  in  y®  Course  of  six  months 
seems  very  familiar.  I  have  since  frequently  attended  all  the 
Courts  att  Westminster,  Viz.  Chancery,  B :  li :  C :  Bf  Court  i>t 
Exchequer  and  especially  when  any  Cause  of  Consequence  h;is 
been  depen<ling,  ^NF  Wilkes^  among  y^  rest,  fm  Xine  of  y'^  Clock 
in  y^"morning  till  12  at  Xight,  an  account  of  which  you  have 
doubtless  had  in  y^  publick  papers.  Also  was  in  House  I't 
Lords  at  y""  <q)fning  the  Parliament,  heard  the  King  Deliver 
his  Speech.  \-  have  been  there  sundry  times  since;  have  trc- 
quently  atten(K'd  the  ITouse  of  Commons  »^'  have  often  heard 
their  Ini'st  Speakers  on  affairs  of  Consequence,  i!c  have  Especially 

*  A  short  strcf't  nmtiiTiiT  north  from  tlie  Strand,  a  fow  door^  to  the  If" 
from  ChariiiL'  <  ro'i-;. 

t  Bancus  Rpfris.  Kinjr's  Bemli;    Coniinon  Bench,  or  Cumnion  Pleas. 


JARED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-64:.  289 

attended  there  when  the  affairs  that  Concern*^  the  Colonys  were 
under  Consideration,  tho  on  those  arose  no  great  debate  as  they 
seem*^  almost  universally  agreed  to  whatever  was  propos"^,  by  M'' 
Greenville  to  lay  upon  them,  the  particulars  ot"  which  have  lately 
wrote  Gov"^  Pitch,  as  also  a  Copy  of  the  Resolves  therein,  as  also 
to  sundry  others,  the  particulars  of  which  doubt  not  but  you 
will  have  before  this  comes  to  hand.  As  to  the  King  &  Queen 
have  very  often  seen  them,  as  I  make  a  point  of  it  allmost  every 
Week  to  make  my  appearence  att  Court  att  S'  .James^  Was  att 
y*  Ball  one  of  y^  most  Brilliant  after  y*  Xuptials  of  y""'  Prince  of 
Brunswick  &  Princess  Augusta,  present  King,  Queen,  y^ 
Royal  family,  Xobility,  Gentry  kc:  k  so  in  General  at  Court 
once  a  Week,  att  Church  once  a  Week,  at  play  near  as  often. 
I  have  seen  often  both  Commedys  k  Tragedies.  Operas,  Ora- 
torios, Burlcttas,  Balls  &  Pidottoes",  ijc  lately  at  Kenelaugh,  k 
expect  soon  at  Yauxliall  &:c  &c  as  beside  giving  my  Principall 
Attention  to  y^  affair  I  come  upon,  as  also  when  have  an  oppor- 
timity  to  say  a  word  or  two  in  favour  of  y'^  Colonys,  especially 
that  to  which  I  belong,  I  make  it  my  ludeavour  to  see  k  hear 
whatever  seems  of  any  Consequence  to  a  Stranger.  Have  been 
at  Bristol  k  Bath ;  expect  next  week  with  Gen"  Lyman,  ]\P 
Trumblef  &c  »S:c,  an  agreable  party,  to  take  a  Trip  to  Xew 
^farket,  Cambridge  &c;  but  to  descend  into  Particulars  would 
be  Tedious.  ]\P  Jackson  has  been  Vastly  kind,  complaisant, 
friendly,  k  agreable,  and  for  whom  I  have  the  highest  Value  k 
Esteem,  &  indeed  Esteem  him  of  more  Consequence  than  all  y^ 
other  Agents  for  y^  Continent,  as  according  to  my  present 
apprehension  he  appears  not  only  most  knowing,  but  heartily 
Engag^.  for  the  Interest  of  the  Colonies,  tho  by  the  way  you  are 
sensible  he  is  in  the  Interest  of  the  present  Ministry,  &:  as  such 
believe  by  his  Intluence  y^  propos^  Stamp  duty  is  at  present 
postponed.  Dear  S""  it  would  give  me  singular  pleasure  to  see 
you  here,   before  my  return,    as   also  my  Dear   friend    Sam" 

*  Ridotto,  an  asseuibh^  or  entertainment,  Avith  music  and  dancing. 

t  Phineas  Lyman  (Yale  1738)  had  recently  ^one  to  Enizland  to  apply 
t'T  a  tract  of  land  for  the  settlement  of  the  ollicers  and  soldiers  in  the 
late  war.     .Josepli,  son  of  Governor  Tniniball,  was  then  in  England. 

10 


290 


JAKED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-64. 


Johiisou.*     Iiuleed   it  Avould   Induce  me   to  tarry  tere  some 
months  rarlier  tlian  to  miss  the  opportunity,  tho  if  you  tarry  for 
your  :\Iast  Ship  xnn  ^^■n\  not  be  here  before  late  Xeit  fall,  as  she 
is  not  yet  gone  from  x'  Downs.     As  I  came  over  in  the  :^Ja^t 
Ship   I   gainVI    Considerable   Intelligence    of   what    might   U- 
Expected  to  hinder  Success  in  your  Scheme  S:  plan  about  the 
IMast  aifair.  A:  very  soon  acquainted  'M'  Jackson  therewith,  of 
which  I  suppose' he  has  long  Since  wrote  you;    was  in  hopes 
you  would  not  have  waited  for  the  an-ival  of  your  Mast  Ship 
before  you  had  Set  out  for  England,  if  you  had'a  design  still  to 
prosecute  that  affair,  for  I  have  y^  greatest  reason  to  believe 
that  :\P  Hennikat  *i:  others  in  Contract  with  AP  Wentworth  are 
Determind  to  break  all  your  measures  &  frustrate  your  designs, 
as  they  have  allready  Indeavourd  to  propagate  an  Opinion  that 
the  Z^Iasts  you  liave  got  cV  prepard  to  send  here  are  good  for 
Nothing  for  that  purpose,  c^c  will  not  half  pay  y^  freight,  and 
doubt  not  they  will  Indeavour  to  procure  the  Inspectors  here. 
who  are  much  under  their  influence,  even  to  say  the  same  when 
they  arrive,  let  them  be  ever  so  good ;    this  I  mention  that  xon 
may  be  Sufficiently  guarded  against  all  those  Yile  Attempts \<lv^ 
You  mention  that  the   Guard  Le  Coastal   sent  Alarm  the 
Trading  port  »S:c :    it  is  but  the  beginning  of  Troubles,  as  h 
seems  determined  to  fix  upon  us  a  large  ^^umber  of  regular 

*  "Samuel  John-on,-'    familiarly  so  called,  was  the  Hon.  William  Sannirl 
Jolinson   (Yale  Coll.  17J4i,  of  Stratford. 

t  John  Heniiiker  Mas  a  merchant  of  London  and  a  member  of  parliament 
for  Sudbury.  Suffolk.  170M7GS,  and  Dover,  1774-1784.  lie  ^y^s  iutere^t.J 
in  the  American  trade  and  served  as  a  sub-contractor  for  masts  under  tir 
royal  mast  contractor.  Mark  Hunting  Wentworth.  brother  of  Govcn-nr 
Bennmg  Wentwortli  and  father  of  Governor  Julm  Wentwortii  of  N.^^ 
Hampshire.  With  his  father-in-law  and  business  partner,  John  3Iaj.'r 
(afterwards  Sir  .Tohni.  he  was  engaged  in  supplying  provisions  for  ti.e 
British  troops  in  America  and  with  Governor  John  Wentworth  was  inter 
ested  in  obtaining  land  grants  in  Xova  Scotia.  His  intimacy  with  Govorn.T 
Wentworth  appears  from  the  fact  that  the  latter,  from  motives  of  personal 
friendship,  caused  the  town  of  Henniker,  Xew  Hampshire,  to  be  naim-i 
for  him,  at  the  time  of  its  incorporation,  Xovember  10.  17GS.  Hennik-r 
became  a  baronet  in  17.^1.  and  in  1800  was  created  Baron  Henniker  -f 
Stratford  upon  Slaney.  County  Wicklow.     He  died  in  1803  at  tlie  age  of  7^- 

tA  Spanish  vessel  sent  to  prevent  smuggling. 


JARED   IXGERSOLL   p.Ctpers,    1T5S-G4.  291 

Troops  imJer  pretence  for  our  Defence  :  but  rather  designd  as  a 
rod  «t  Check  over  us,  &  are  determiuil  t<:>  raise  a  fund  in  America 
for  their  Support,  at  first  by  dutys  on  Trade  as  being  y®  least 
alarming,  a  Stamp  duty  propos'd  but  for  y'^  present  postpon'd, 
a  direct  &:  possitive  tax  is  not  Scrupled  vL'  Ixdieve  will  be  soon 
attempted.  ^F  Grenville^'  strongly  urg'd  not  only  the  power 
but  right  of  Parliament  to  tax  y^  Colony s,  i:  hop'd  in  Gods 
Xame  as  his  Expression  was  that  none  would  dare  dispute  their 
Sovereignty;  but  rnueh  has  been  said  here  l)y  Agents  &  others 
from  y^  Continent,  but  to  but  very  little  purpose,  k  fear  all  the 
United  Indeavours  of  y*"  Colonys  will  not  Avert  the  Impending 
blow. 

How  far  on  my  return  I  may  be  helpful  (as  you  hint)  in  Law 
affairs  ^*c  is  very  imcertain,  as  I  cannot  bare  the  thought  at 
present  of  going  into  that  Slavish  practice  again  on  my  return, 
but  if  can  find  any  other  way  to  live,  rather  retire  with  my  wife 
&  children  &■  in  some  rural  way  spend  y^  remainder  of  my  days, 
tho'  if  we  could  find  out  an  easier  way  of  Practice  similar  to 
y^  Counsellors  here  and  a  little  more  gainfuU,  might  possibly 
be  Induced  further  to  pursue  the  business.  Have  very  lately 
wrote  my  Friend  ]\F  Johnson,  but  my  sincere  regards  to  him  &; 
to  I\F  and  'M"  Darling,  I\r  Whiting  &c.  Remember  me  to  y^ 
Brethren  when  you  meet  togeather.  Pegards  to  all  enquiring 
friends.  !My  respects  to  ]\P^  Ingersol  and  believe  me  S"  with 
utmost  Sinceritv 

Your  Obcd^  i'  Very  H'^  Seiw* 

•;  _        Eliph'Dyer. 

P.  S.  ■  As  to  the  Susqli  &  Delaware  affairs  I  am  here  upon, 
have  nothing  Special  to  write  you  l;)ut  must  referr  you  for 
Information  to  the  Com**"^  to  whom  have  often  wrote,  tho'  in 
general  can  say  the  affair  here  is  not  lookd  upon  or  Treated  in 
that  despicable  manner  as  by  Some  was  pretended  would  be. 

You  mention  in  yours  that  those  Settlers  on  Susqh  are  partly 
killd  ^'  partly  Captivated,  tho  understand  by  Other  letters  not 

•  [Notti  by  !Mr.  Dyer.]  Mr  Grenville  is  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 
first  Lord  of  ye  Treasury.  ,.      .-.  .,  ■  < 


292  JAEED    IXGEESOLL    TAPEIIS,    1T5S-G4. 

by  y®  neigliboiiriiig  Indians  but  by  some  more  remote ;  but  I  am 
Sorry  for  tbeir  misfortune  but  understand  it  sav'd  the  Govern- 
ment tlie  Troul)le  of  driving  them  oft'.     Am  your  kc        ---■ 

E  Dyer. 
Jared  Ingersol  Esq'' 


Letter  of  Thomas  Whatelt. 

Dear  Sir, 

I  am  ashamed  to  see  a  Letter  from  you  of  a  date  so  old  that  I 
dare  not  ackno-vvedge  it ;  &  I  hope  you  have  forgot  it :  yet  I 
was  highly  flatter"d  to  perceive  that  you  remember'd  me,  in  so 
remote  a  Quarter  of  the  AYorld ;  I  have  not  y""  Presumption  to 
imagine  you  will  be  equally  pleas'd  to  hear  that  such  a  one  as 
myself,  on  the  other  Side  the  Great  Lake,  often  recollects  the 
many  chearful  Days  we  have  pass'd  together,  &  always  recol- 
lects them  with  pleasure.  It  will  not  however  raise  any  dis- 
agreeable Ideas  to  be  reminded  of  them ;  you  tell  me  you  wish 
sometimes  to  dine  at  the  Crown  &  Anchor,"'  provided  yon 
could  take  a  Chair  after  dinner  to  iNTew  Haven:  I  had  rather 
be  of  that  party,  than  of  any  we  were  ever  engaged  in  together, 
and  often  build  a  Castle  something  like  it,  within  whose  A\'alls  I 
constantly  include  your  hospitable  [Mansion :  I  wish,  but  I  can 
only  wish,  that  I  could  spend  a  twelvemonth  amongst  my 
American  friends :  Templet  would  make  me  welcome  at  Bos- 
ton; I  should  rely  on  your  friendship  in  Connecticut;  &■  I 
would  not  disgrace  mine  Host  by  English  Libertinism;  I  am 
a  Chip  you  know  of  the  old  Block;  my  Great  Grandfather  at 
the  farthest  was  an  Oliverian:  &  his  Posterity  is  not  ?'-' 
degenerated  but  that  I  could  look  as  demurely  on  Sundays,  or 
bundle  as  merrily  on  the  AVeok  Days,  as  any  the  best  of  tin- 

*  The  Crown  &  Anclior  tavern,  on  the  east  side  of  Arundel  Street,  Strand. 
was  also  at  this  date  a  haunt  of  Dr.  Jolmson  and  his  circle. 

t  John  Temple  (born  in  Boston  in  1732,  died  in  Xew  York  in  179S)  h:i>. 
obtained  in  1760  thvou^di  the  influence  of  his  distant  kinsman,  Gt^i;^'' 
Grenville,  the  oflieo  of  Surveyor-General  of  Customs  for  the  Northern  Di-" 
trict  of  America.     He  inherited  an  Enslish  baronetcy  in  17SG. 


1        ;    5  ; 


JARED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-G4.  293 

Puritans:  tou  would  not  insist  on  equal  Sanctity  at  Xew  York 
A:  Lord  Stirling"^'  would  expect  a  little  less :  We  have  lost  poor 
^forrisf  I  find  to  receive  me  in  the  Jerseys :  but  I  should  meet 
with  another  friend  in  Hamiltont  at  Philadelphia:  Do  not  von 
think  I  have  plann'd  an  agreeable  Tour  ^  Seriously  I  would 
execute  it.  if  I  could  do  as  I  would;  but  I  am  confin'd  to  the 
spot  where  you  found  me,  where  you  left  me,  &  where  I  flatter 
myself  you  will  some-  time  or  other  find  me  again :  My  only 
Pemove  has  been  from  one  End  of  the  town  to  the  other:  ^P 
Grenville's  favour  has  made  me  Secretary  to  the  Treasury;  a 
Place  of  too  much  Business  to  be  compatible  with  any  other : 
I  have  therefore  quitted  the  Bar  &  am  now  immers'd  in  Politics, 
Parliament,  and  Pevenue.  During  the  "Winter  I  have  been 
really  too  much  employ'd  to  write  a  single  Letter,  which  I  was 
not  obliged  to  write :  The  Pecess  of  Parliament  gives  me  a 
little  more  Leisure,  (t  you  are  one  of  the  first  who  are  sensible  of 
its  Effects.  "VTcdderbiirn^  still  continues  at  y^  Law  &  has  all 
y^  reason  in  the  World  to  continue  there.  Ho  has  distinguish'd 
himself  as  a  Speaker  in  the  House ;  he  meets  with  y^  Success  he 
deserves  in  his  profession:  is  already  Kings  Counsel  &  will  be 
in  a  few  Years  (I  had  almost  said)  whatever  he  pleases  to  be 

I  often  see  our  friend  Jackson  &  from  him  have 

frequently  heard  of  your  Welfare :  His  Knowledge  in  American 
Affairs  is  of  public  Use,  when  America  is  become  so  much  the 

*  William  Alexander,  of  Xew  York  City,  born  in  172G,  and  the  heir  to 
a  large  fortune,  had  visited  England  in  175G-60,  posing  as  a  claimant  to 
the  Earldom  of  Stirling. 

t  Eobert  Hunter  ^Morris,  Chief  Justice  of  Xew  Jersey,  and  at  one  time 
'17.53-1756)  Doputy  Governor  of  Pejinsylvania,  born  about  17U0,  died  in 
January.  1704. 

1  James  Hamilton,  twice  Deputy  Governor  of  Penn^^ylvania  (1748-175.3, 
17.59-17t!.3).  born  about  1710. 

§  Alexander  Wedderburn,  afterwards  known  as  Earon  Loughborough 
(born  1733,  died  1S05),  exchanged  the  Scottisli  for  the  English  bar  in 
1757,  and  entered  Parliament  in  1701.  In  1770,  with  an  eye  to  legal 
advancement,  after  ardently  professing  Whig  principles,  he  became  an 
(■fjually  ardent  supporter  of  Lord  North,  and  after  other  preferments 
received  the  lord  chancellorship  in  1793.  In  1774,  as  Solicitor  General. 
lie  made  himself  conspicuous  by  his  scurrilous  invective  at  the  examination 
of  Franklin  before  the  Privv  Council. 


f.!/l/  \. 


29-4  JAEED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-64, 

Object  of  the  Attention  of  Ministry.  Many  Regulations  Loth 
with  regard  to  its  Settlement  &  its  Revenue  have  already  been 
made :  by  this  time  I  suppose  you  are  apprized  of  them :  ^  you 
would  oblige  me  greatly  by  informing  me  of  the  Reception  tliev 
meet  with  in  your  part  of  the  World,  &  much  more  by  communi- 
cating to  mo  your  own  free  Sentiments  upon  them :  I  should  bt- 
happy  to  know  y^  genuine  Opinion  of  sensible  'Men  in  the  Colo- 
nies upon  Subjects  equally  interesting  both  to  them  &  to  us: 
You  know  I  always  from  Inclination  interested  myself  in  their 
Prosperity :  My  present  Situation  necessarily  employs  me  often 
in  their  Affairs :  &  I  therefore  am  aiLsious  to  get  all  the  Infor- 
mation I  can  in  relation  to  them.  All  new  Taxes  are  open  to 
Examination ;  &  I  should  be  glad  to  know  what  you  &  your 
people  think  of  those  that  have  been  imposed  this  Session: 
Their  produce  is  doubtful ;  perhaps  you  may  make  a  Guess  at 
it  so  far  as  your  province  is  concern'd ;  but  certainly  these  will 
not  be  sufBeient  to  defray  that  Share  of  y*^  American  Expence 
which  .Vmerica  ought  &  is  able  to  bear:  Others  must  be  added : 
What  they  will  be,  will  in  some  degree  depend  on  the  Accounts 
which  will  be  received  from  thence :  A  Stamp  Act  has  been  pro 
posed :  Its  produce  would  be  great  as  is  generally  supposc'l 
here,  from  y^  great  Xumber  of  Law  Suits  in  most  of  y^  Colo- 
nies :  but  it  was  not  carried  into  Execution,  out  of  tenderness  to 
them,  &  to  give  them  time  to  furnish  y^  necessary  Information 
for  this,  or  to  suggest  any  better  Mode  of  Taxation.  Would  it 
yield  a  considerable  Reventie  if  the  Duty  were  low  upon  mer- 
cantile Instruments,  high  upon  gratuitous  Grants  of  Lands,  vV 
moderate  upon  Law  Proceedings  ?  Would  y°  Execution  of  siu:'li 
a  Law -be  attended  with  great  Inconveniencies,  or  open  to  fre- 
quent Evasions  which  could  not  be  guarded  against^  At  lea^i. 
it  must  be  allow'd  to  be  as  general  an  Imposition  as  can  bo 
devised:  &:  in  that  respect  seems  preferable  to  a  Tax  upon 
ISTegToes,  which  would  affect  y*^  Southern  much  more  than  y" 
ISTorthern  Colonies,  tho'  that  on  the  other  hand  would  be  mori.' 
easily  collected  &■  less  liable  to  Evasion.  If  either  of  thc-e 
wouhl  be  very  exec[)tional>le  can  you  suggest  any  other?  You 
will  hiirhlv  oblige  me  bv  furnishinn;  me  with  anv  Information 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS.  175S-64.  295 

relative  to  y^  Revenue,  to  the  Regulations  necessary  against 
Smuggling  &  the  Effect  of  those  already  made,  &  to  any  other 
point  that  concerns  the  Colonies :    I  am  anxious  on  the  Subject 
myself  &  I  can  find  Opportunities  to  make  good  Use  of  any 
Information  I  receive.     ]\Iy  Earnestness  about  it  has  you  see 
hurried  me  into  a  long  Letter     .     .     .     .        ..  :- 

I  am,  Dear  Sir,  '  '  - 

Your  most  obed*^  humble  Serv* 

Thomas  Whatelv.* 


Letter  to  Thomas  Whately. 
■    ■  ■  :N"  Haven  6*  July  1764 

I  duly  rec*^  yonr  favour  of  the (tis  not  Dated)  two 

Days  ago — am  Channed  with  the  American  tour  you  so  agree- 
ably plan  out  &  can  only  Join  in  the  most  hearty  wish  that  the 
same  could  be  carried  into  Execution. 

as  I  expect  to  see  you  soon  in  London  I  shall  hope  for  the 
pleasure  of  having  an  oportunity  to  say  a  thousand  things  to 
you  on  the  Score  of  friendship  &  which  I  will  therefore  pass  by 
at  present  &  proceed  directly  to  the  business  part  of  your 
Letter. 

You  Desire  my  opinion  upon  the  late  Act  of  trade.f  &  upon 
the  proposed  taxations  which  respect  America,  as  also  such 
information  of  facts  &c  as  have  fallen  within  my  Observ^ation. 
This  task  I  shall  readily  undertake  for  his  Sake  who  asks  it  of 

*  This  letter  was  printed  in  part  in  Mr.  Ingersoll's  Letters  relating  to 
the  Stnmp-Act,  pp.  1-5. 

He  has  written  on  the  original:  "I  gave  y«  Govi"  a  Copy  of  this  Letter 
when   he  was  writing  agt   j^   Stamp   Act,   also   shew   it   to   many   people." 

The  letter  was  written  late  in  April.  17G4   (Parliament  rose  on  April  ID). 

The  writer,  an  uncle  of  Archbishop  Whately,  was  an  active  politician 
and  Member  of  Parliament,  in  the  close  confidence  of  George  Grenville, 
niider  whom  he  was  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  17G4-65;  he  prepared 
the  draft  of  the  Stamp  Act. 

t  Bv  the    "late  act  of  trade"    is  meant  the  Sutrar  Act  of  1764.  -  > 


29()  JAEED    IXGERSOLL    PAPf:RS,    1758-64. 

me,  in  doing  whicli  you  may  depend  on  the  Strictest  truth  Even 
tho'  it  should  offend. 

I  must  tell  you  then  that  I  think  the  Parliament  have  over- 
shot their  mark  &  that  you  will  not  in  the  Event  have  your 
Expectations  in  any  measure  answered  from  the  provisions  of 
the  late  Act.     I  myself  am  not  in  trade  nor  ever  was,  nor  have 
the  people  of  y®  Colony  I  live  in  ever  carried  on  any  trade  with 
the  foreign  West  Indias  worth  mentioning;    my  Xeighhours  of 
iN"  York,  K  Island  &  Boston  have  very  considerably;    tis  from 
these  &;  from  a  Constant  Observation  that  I  have  collected  the 
knowledge  I  have  in  these  matters.     I  am  of  opinion  that  the 
foreign  Molasses  will  bear  a  Duty  of  One  penny  half  penny  at 
most,  the  raw  or  brown  Sugar  2/6  &  y^  Clayed  5/  p'"  C\ ;    the 
reasons  of  this  Opinion  must  you  know  be  built  upon  y"  Suppo- 
sition that  the  price  of  y""  Commodities  -^-ith  which  these  article^ 
are  purchased,  the  price  of  the  Articles  themselves  &  the  price 
they  will  bear  at  a  foreign  market  all  taken  together,  will  nor 
leave  any  profit  to  the  ^Merchant  in  case  a  greater  or  higher 
Duty  is  laid.     I  know  it  is  difficult  Especially  for  me  to  get  a 
precise  &  full  knowledge  of  these  particulars, — but  this  I  think 
I  do  know  that  those  who  have  been  the  most  Conversant  in  the 
trade  are  of  that  Opinion.     I  learn  this  not  from  their  Declara- 
tions merely  but  from  their   Conduct.     Interest  seldom  lies : 
tis  most  certain  I  believe  that  the  trade  to  the  french  &:  Dutch 
West  Indies  is  failing  &  dying  very  fast  »t  that  there  is  not  a 
single  Voyage  of  that  Sort  planned  with  the  most  Distant  inten- 
tion to  pay  the  Dutys.     This  brings  me  to  remark  upon  one  «:>t 
your  queries,  viz.  whether  Smuggling  can  be  Easily  prevented 
here.     I" answer  no.     !My  reasons  are,  the  Coast  is  very  Exten- 
sive— Custom  house  ofHcers  placed  from  i'O  to  60  or  more  miles 
distant  one  from  another — very  good  harbours  upon  y*^  Coa:^t 
Every  6,  8  or  10  ^liles — a  plenty  of  Inhabitants  &  no  Land 
waiters,  y*^  trade  indeed  would  not  Support  any — some  of  tlu- 
Sea  and  Land  Custom  officers  themselves  perhaps  a  little  remis-. 
which  generally  will  b<^  the  Case.     I  might  add  the  imp"?'^i- 
bility  of  y"  Ciiard   Castas   Cruising  to  any  Advantage   in  y 
winter — the  ConsiMjuciioe  will  be  that  a  Seizure  will  be  made  o- 


JAKED    IIVGEKSOLL    PAPERS,     175S-64.  297 

perhaps  one  Vessell  in  a  hundred,  but  I  verily  believe  there 
wont  be  Enough  Collected  in  v*^  Course  of  ten  years  to  Defray 
y"  expence  of  fitting  out  one  the  least  frigate  for  an  American 
Voyage,  <S:  that  the  whole  Labour  will  be  like  burning  a  Barn 
to  roast  an  Egg.     Was  the   Duty  lowered   to  where  I   have 
mentioned  the  Mcrch*.  would  pay  it  without  any  men  of  war  to 
Compell  him  to  it — he  would  pay  it  rather  than  run  the  risque 
of  y^  Custom  house  officer  alone  d:  partly  by  reason  of  his  hav- 
ing been  used  to  pay  a  Sum  not  much  short  of  that.     Perhaps 
'tis  the  Intention  of  Parliament  that  the  Duty  should  amount 
to  a  prohibition  of  y^  trade — why  they  should  Aim   at  that 
indeed  I  cannot  conceive  with  the  Ideas  I  now  have  of  things. 
You  may  think  me  mad  for  saying  it,  but  I  do  say,  that  tis  my 
opinion  the  Parliament  of  y^  two  had  better  have  given  a  pre- 
mium than  to  have  imposed  the  Duty  they  have  laid  upon  that 
branch  of  trade.     I  dont  mean  to  say  that  I  think  it  would  be 
good  policy  to  do  either,  but  y^  former  I  believe  would  have 
been  less   impolitick  than  y^  Later.     What  is  the  amount  & 
Effect  of  that  trade  but  the  turning  our  horses,  cattle,  sheep, 
hogs,  poultry,  wheat,  oats,  Indian  corn  &  Lumber  of  all  sorts 
into  Cash,  &  turning  the  same,  &  which  we  can  in  no  other  way 
turn,  into  the  hands  of  the  British  Merchant  in  payment  for 
British    manufactures.     I   have   latelv   travailed    throu2:h    the 
interior  parts  of  this  &  Xew  York  Province  &  every  where 
found  the  farmer  complaining  that  he  could  not  Sell  his  wheat 
cVc.     The  English  West-Indians  by  monopolising  (their  great 
object)  the  above  trade  have  so  lowered  y^  prices  of  y^  Several 
articles  abovementioned  that  the  Merchant  here  cannot  buy  them 
without  loss,   nor  can  they  be  raised  by  y^  farmer  so  as  to 
answer;    indeed  the  English  West-Indians  cannot  take  of  the 
half  of  what  we  raise  &  have  to  spare.     There  is  certainly  a 
very  considerable  revulsion  in  y'^  body  politick  here  &  the  more 
wealthy  Merchants   in  IN"   York  cV   Boston   have   turned   their 
thoughts  seemingly  in  Earnest  from  Xavigation  to  the  Encour- 
aging our  own  Manufactures,  urging  y®  absolute  necessity  of  it. 
They  have  actually  Entered  into  Associations,  have  advanced 
monies  ii:   set  numbers   of  hands   to   Spinning,   have   Erected 


29S  JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-64. 

works  for  the  Distilling  of  Corn  Spirits,  are  planning  ways 
&  means  for  the  increase  of  the  Stock  of  Sheep  in  this 
Country  &  have  gone  so  far  as  actually  to  send  to  Europe  for 
Artificers  in  the  several  branches  of  Woolen  &  Linnen  manu- 
facture. Perhaps  you  will  think  this  is  all  a  mere  feint — as  to 
that  I  can  say  nothing,  I  do  but  narrate  facts  as  they  come  to 
my  knowledge. 

You  will  admit  tis  hard  to  be  obliged  to  make  brick  without 
Straw.  I  wish  I  knew  how  &  by  what  means  we  are  to  pay  for 
the  British  manufactures  which  we  are  expected  to  purchase. 
We  are  as  gay  &  Expensive  as  we  possibly  can  bo  k  only  want 
the  means  to  be  more  so  in  order  to  our  increasing  in  Luxury. 
We  have  a  little  pig  iron,  &  may  possibly  get  into  the  way  of 
raising  hemp.  I  am  doing  all  in  my  power  to  Encourage  both. 
but  you  know  how  hard  it  is  to  get  y*^  people  to  go  into  any  new 
method  of  Labour,  but  if  we  had  these  &  a  thousand  more  means 
of  remittance,  still  if  the  additional  one  of  y^  trade  with  the 
foreign  West  Indies  be  advantageous  to  both  you  &  us,  why 
should  it  not  be  gone  into?  But  I  will  stop.  I  find  I  am 
insensibly  got  into  a  Debate  with  you  instead  of  informing  you. 
I  long  to  see  you  &  please  myself  much  in  the  Expectations  I 
have  that  you  k  my  friend  I\P.  Jackson  &  other  Gentlemen  on 
y'  Side  y^  water  will  be  able  to  tell  me  of  some  facts  &  acquaint 
me  with  some  reasonings  upon  these  Subjects  which  I  am  at 
present  a  Stranger  to,  &  that  will  dispel  those  Clouds  of  Dark- 
ness that  now  hang  over  my  mind  : — in  short  that  I  shall  receive 
a  kind  of  Xew  Sense,  &  see  things  in  a  quite  different  light 
from. what  I  do  now;  &  you  must  know  some  think  this  would 
be  very  agreeable  to  me,  for  I  am  so  much  an  Englishman,  •^<' 
much  an  Advocate  for  you  on  your  side  the  water,  especially 
since  my  acquaintance  with  yon,  vS:  at  y*^  same  time  am,  they 
think,  so  unhappily  void  of  all  Puritanism  that  I  have  very 
much  bro\  upon  me  the  Jealousy  of  my  own  Country  men — they 
suspect  me  of  being  rather  too  much  a  favourer  of  Court  inter- 
est. Let  them  say  what  they  please  of  me  here  or  there,  truth 
shall  be  my  guide  »S:  dictate  all  I  say  &  do. 

What  shall  I  Answer  to  your  queries  relative  to  the  proposed 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  175S-G-1:.  299 

internal  taxation  of  America  ?  You  say  America  can  &  ought 
to  Contribute  to  its  own  defence;  we  one  &  all  say  y^  same  on 
this  Side  y''  water — we  only  differ  about  the  means ;  we  perhaps 
should  first  of  all  Rescind  great  part  of  the  present  Expence  & 
what  remains  should  difray  by  the  Application  of  our  own  force 
li:  Strength ;  but  the  Subject  is  large  «i:  the  principles  of  it  nice 
A:  delicate.  I  will  only  remind  you  that  our  people  dont  yet 
believe  that  the  British  Parliament  really  mean  to  impose 
internal  taxes  upon  us  without  our  Consent,  especially  y^  people 
of  this  Colonv  who  beside  their  Charter  of  Priviledo;e  irranted 
them  by  K  Ch.  2^  have,  they  say,  planted  themselves  &  sub- 
sisted hitherto  without  one  farthings  Expence  to  y®  Crown, 
except  what  the  Xation  wa?>  pleased  to  give  to  them  in  Common 
with  their  neighbours  in  the  last  war.  They  are  however  still 
doing  at  y*  Kings  call,  &  that  without  Expectation  of  reward,  & 
when  they  have  no  immediate  frontier  of  their  own  to  Defend, 
tho'  they  had  in  y^  Days  of  their  Infancy.  If  the  King  should 
fix  the  proportion  of  our  Duty,  we  all  say  we  will  do  our  parts  in 
y^  Common  Cause,  but  if  the  Parliament  once  interpose  &  Lay 
a  tax,  tho'  it  may  be  a  very  moderate  one,  &  the  Crown  appoint 
officers  of  its  own  to  Collect  such  tax  &  apply  y^  same  without 
Acc°.,  what  Consequences  may,  or  rather  may  not,  follow? 
The  people  think  if  the  precedent  is  once  established.  Larger 
Sums  may  be  Exacted  k  that  at  a  time  when  the  same  shall  be 
less  needed,  &  that  in  short  you  will  have  it  in  your  power  to 
keep  us  just  as  poor  as  you  please. 

The  peoples  minds  not  only  here  but  in  the  neighbouring 
Provinces  are  filled  with  the  most  dreadfull  apprehensions  from 
such  a  Step's  taking  place,  from  whence  I  leave  you  to  gTiess  how 
Easily  a  tax  of  that  kind  would  be  Collected ;  tis  difficult  to  say 
how  many  ways  could  be  invented  to  avoid  the  pajTuent  of  a 
tax  laid  upon  a  Country  without  the  Consent  of  the  Legislature 
of  that  Country  »t  in  the  opinion  of  most  of  the  people  Contrary 
to  the  foundation  principles  of  their  natural  A'  Constitutional 
rights  &  Liberties.  Dont  tliink  me  impertinent,  Since  you 
desire  Information,  when  T  tell  you  that  I  have  heard  Gentle- 
men of  the  greatest  property  in  Xeighbouring  Governments  say, 


300  JARED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1758-04. 

Seemingly  very  Cooly,  that  should  such  a  Step  take  place  they 
would  immediately  remove  themselves  with  their  families  »!• 
fortunes  into  some  foreign  Kingdom. 

For  my  own  part  I  Vent  no  such  Speeches  &  have  a  full  per- 
suasion that  so  respectable  a  body  as  y^  British  Parliament  wont 
do  any  thing  that  is  unjust  or  wrong — perhaps  I  may  be  Con- 
vinced of  the  propriety  as  well  as  necessity  of  such  a  Step.  I 
can  at  least  see  great  difficulty  in  any  supposed  method  of  Carry- 
ing [to?]  an  End  the  Kings  Affairs  &  y^  necessary  operations  in 
America,  was  I  left  to  devise  y*^  same  my  self,  &  have  a  fixt  Con- 
fidence that  English  wisdom  &  Justice  will  ultimately  fall  upon 
the  best  measures  to  accomplish  their  Ends.  You  see  I  am  quite 
prevented  suggesting  to  you  which  of  y^  Several  methods  of  taxa- 
tion which  you  mention  woud  be  y*^  best  or  least  Exceptionable, 
because  I  plainly  perceive  that  every  one  of  them  or  any  su[)- 
posable  one,  other  than  such  as  shall  bo  laid  by  the  Legislative 
bodies  here,  to  say  no  more  of  Em,  would  go  down  with  y'^ 
people  like  Chopt  hay.  A  thousand  tho*\  here  occur  to  me. 
I  want  to  say  &  to  hear  you  say  upon  this  Subject  much  more 
than  will  do  to  put  into  a  Letter.  I  will  therefore  finish  when 
I  have  told  you  that  I  sincerely  wish  you  was  Master  of  Every 
useful  fact  relating  to  these  Subjects,  not  doubting  but  the  best 
L^se  would  be  made  of  such  Knowledge. 

I  know  you  admit  with  Caution  any  Evidence  you  receivt 

upon  these  points  from  Americans.     There  is  some  reason  for 

y^  Distrust.     I  wish  you  maynt  be  in  Equal  danger  of  beiui: 

deceived  by  Acc"\  receiv'^.  from  seemingly  more  disinterested  1 

hands.     Time  &  Experience  will   shew  you  who  are  in  tlif 

right ;    when  those  have  happened  Remember  what  I  have  toM 

you.     I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  I  have  no  Objections  to  the  Dutv 

upon  Wines ;   I  believe  we  shall  drink  a  little  less  than  we  usfl 

to  do  &  honestly  pay  the  Duty  for  that  which  we  shall  ha^■e. 

But  why  we  maynt  Carry  Lumber  directly  to  Ireland  at  present 

remains  a  very  great  mystery  to  me,  Especially  as  that  Article  i- 

so  necessary  for  Stowage,  with  the  important  Article  of  finx- 

seed."^ 

*  Limitations   on   tlic   importation   of   wines   and   exportation   of   Itun^"'!' 
were  impo.-^od  by  tlio  traile  acts  of  ITHo  and  ITUG. 


JAEED  IXGEESOLL  PAPERS,  1753-64.  301 

I  impatientlv  wait  y®  Arrival  of  y*  Mast  Ship  in  whicli  I 
mean,  God  willing,  to  take  passage  for  England.  She  has  been 
out  a  long  time  &  is  hourly  expected.  ...  If  you  are 
willing  let  jM''.  Jackson  see  this  Letter,  as  I  know  he  will  be  able 
to  Correct  me  if  I  have  mistook  in  some  of  its  particulars. 
I  am  S'". 

Y^  Most  Obed'. 

HumV  Serv*. 

J.  Ingersoll^ 
Tho.  Whately  Esq^ 

Joint  Secret^  to  v®  Treasury 


Letter  of  Col.  Xatiiax  Wiiitixg. 

Charles  Town  Sep^  22"^  1763 
Dear  Sir 

I  have  the  pleasure  to  tell  you  I  Arrived  at  Cape  Eear  about 
the  10*^  Augustus.  After  waiting  there  Some  time  for  a  passage 
by  water  I  at  Length  came  by  Land.  Tis  about  200  hundred 
Miles,  most  of  the  way  through  a  pine  Sandy  plain,  the  Country 
unsetled,  Except  now  and  then  on  Rivers  there  are  Hice  plan- 
tations, and  Indigo  on  the  Upland.  This  Town  is  pleasantly 
enough  Situated  on  a  point  of  Land  between  the  Rivers  Cooper 
&  Ashly.  There  is  but  one  way  out  of  Town,  that  a  Level 
Sandy  path  planted  with  pines ;  the  Road  is  agi-eable  enough 
for  once,  but  tis  the  Constant  Sameness  over  and  over  again, 
as  much  .as  you  have  at  Sea;  the  Orange  Gardens  are  pleasant, 
but  dont  exceed  our  Orchards  of  Aples,  Pairs,  peaches  &c,  and 
dont  afford  such  Variety  of  Agi-eable  fruit,  nor  such  Delicious 
fragrant  Smells  as  our  Orchards  when  in  blossom.  There  is  not 
here  that  Variety  of  fruit  that  our  Autumn  affords.  Sower 
Oranges  being  the  principal.  The  weather  about  the  Middle 
of  this  Month   was   Excessive   hot,    but   what   makes   the  hot 

*  This  letter,  published  in  the  Letters  rclat'uin  to  the  Stamp-Act,  is  here 
printed  from  the  rough  copy  aiuong  'Slv.  Ingersoll's  paper*. 


302  JAEED  IXGEKSOLL  PArERS,  175S-G4. 

weather  (lisagreable  is  there  are  not  the  Regular  Sea  breezes 
here;  some  Days  there  is  scarcely  Air  enough  to  breath  in; 
them  few  Day?  ariVcted  me  a  good  deal;  tis  here  they  tell  you 
more  disagreably  hot  than  the  West  Indias.  The  weather  fur 
this  two  or  three  Days  past  has  been  very  Comfortable.  I  this 
morning  found  a  fire  very  agTeable  at  Breakfast.  The  fine 
Season  is  now  Coming  on ;  they  tell  me  tis  one  of  the  finest 
Winter  Countrys  in  the  World.  The  Gentlemen  are  Generally 
free  &  Polite,  take  a  good  deal  of  jiSTotice  of  Strangers  and  enter- 
tain well;  the  Ladys  are  Generally  well  made,  are  delicate  and 
may  be  Called  handsome,  and  are  sprightly  and  gay. 

The  difference  between  the  Assembly  and  Governor*  is  at  a 
high  Pitch ;  tht\v  were  called  since  I  have  been  here,  and  they 
adhere  to  their  Ecsolution  which  was  first  made  eight  months 
ago  of  doing  no  business  with  the  Governor ;  they  ^vere  obliged 
however  to  choose  a  Speaker  (as  the  old  one  was  at  the  Xorth- 
ward)  and  present  to  the  Governor  for  his  Approbation,  which 
they  could  not  avoid  as  they  could  not  exist  Avithout.  They 
have  been  Brot  into  Several  Dilemmas,  particularly  to  Qualify 
Several  Xew  Members  to  take  their  Seats ;  the  Rule  is  when  the 
Member  is  returned,  he  takes  what  they  Call  the  qualifying 
oaths  before  the  House ;  than  it  has  been  Customary  for  the 
House  to  send  two  of  their  Members,  with  the  new  Member,  to 
the  Governor  to  acquaint  him  Such  a  one  is  duely  returned  *!ic 
Qualifyed  »t  to  desire  him  to  administer  the  State  oaths  to  the 
Member,  which  they  were  to  see  »S:  Report  to  the  House.  To 
Finess  the  Governor  they  avoided  ordering  two  ^[embers  to  go 
with  formalitv,  cl-  onlv  desired  two  ^Fembers  to  go  with  the  Xcw 
one  and  be  by  to  see  the  Governor  administer  the  State  oaths. 
The  Governor,  who  is  a  ]\ran  of  Spirit  and  Sense,  inmiediately 
asked  them  if  they  had  any  Message  to  hini  from  the  House ; 
they  answered  thoy  had  not  but  came  there  by  desire  of  the 
House  to  see  the  ]\rem]>er  take  the  State  oaths.  The  Governur 
desired  them  to  withdraw  cV  then  told  the  Xew  ]\fember  that  he 

•  For  a  fiirthiT  "■tat.iufiit  of  the  controversy  between  Governor  Thomas 
Boone  and  the  Sum  h  (iuolina  Assembly,  see  Smith,  ISouth  Carolina  as  a 
Royal  Province.  j>i>.  i;;^!!  34!t. 


JAKED    IlfGEKSOLL    PAPERS,    iToS-Gi.  303 

was  not  properly  acquainted  with  his  being  a  Member,  but  that 
he  would  administer  the  oaths  to  him  as  a  private  Gentleman. 
They  have  had  several  such  Contests  &  the  House  refuse  to  do 
any  business  with  the  Governor.  All  Publick  business  is  at  a 
Stand.  The  House  have  now  Petition*^  the  King  for  Redress. 
They  had  a  Long  debate  whether  their  Appeal  was  not  to  be 
made  to  the  Parliament ;  it  was  finally  determined  it  must  be 
to  the  Crown.  ]\P  Boone  is  a  Man  of  a  Xice  &  quick  Sensi- 
bility and  has  a  fortune  of  his  own  that  Eenders  him  Inde- 
pendent of  thein,  so  that  he  wont  give  up  an  Ace  of  his  preroga- 
tive, and  they  in  their  turn  dont  Spare  him,  but  Carry  their 
Resentments  so  high  as  to  Vilify  him  with  Opprobrious 
Language. 

I  dont  know  how  long  I  shall  be  detained  here.  The  Indian 
War  I  suppose  hinders  S'^  Jeffry  Amherst  from  sending  Troops 
to  Relieve  us  at  present;  I  dont  Expect  to  be  Relieved  till  Win- 
ter &  shall  probably  be  at  Home  Early  in  the  Spring.  If  in  the 
meantime  you  can  be  of  Assistance  to  I\P'  Whiting  in  any  of  her 
Affairs  I  shall  be  much  Obliged  to  you 

Pray  how  goe  on  [missing]  .  .  .  have  you  done  the 
Meeting  H [missing]  .  .  .  House?  how  is  the  State?  do 
the  Saints  Govern,  or  do  Some  of  you  Men  of  the  World,  take 
upon  you  Worldly  matters  ?  what  part  in  the  Indian  War  do  the 
Susquehanna  Gent"  take?  And  has  CoP  Dyer  gone  on  his 
Embassy  ?  What  for  a  Commencement  had  you  (  was  it  in  the 
old  Stile  ?  were  you  allowed  to  dance,  kiss  the  Girls,  &  drink 
Wine  ?  If  so  how  dos  it  agree  with  the  plan  of  Goverment  as  at 
present  Established  there  ? 

I  find  here  no  Religious  disputes,  but  there  are  here  of  almost 
every  kind  of  Religion,  (t  the  Sabbath  observeil  lV:  the  Publick 
Worship  Carried  on  witli  tolerable  Decency:  here  are  two 
Large  handsome  Churches,  &  meetings  of  various  denomina- 
tions. The  Presbiterian  is  not  very  well  supplied  at  present; 
at  Church  they  have  one  Gent:  that  perfiu-ms  very  well. 

[^Missing.]  .  .  .  has  Laid  by  me  a  Li>ng  time  waiting 
an  opportunity.  I  have  only  known  this  Long  enough  to  ad  a 
Word  A:  tell  vou  the  Congress  with  the  Indians  that  was  to  have 


304  JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PArERS,  1T58-G4. 

been  held  at  Augusta  is  to  be  held  at  Dorchester  about  20  ^liles 
from  this  Town.  Gox-'  Dobbs"^  &  Foquieref  are  in  Town,  Gov\ 
Wrightl  soon  Expected.  Cap'  Steward  the  Superintendant  of 
Indian  Affairs  §  has  gone  to  Collect  the  black  Gentry  &  bring 
them  down,  I  can  only  desire  you  to  Salute  !M^  Ingersol  in  a 
way  most  Agreable  to  her,  iL'  present  my  Complements  to  all  my 
friends.  I  am 
^  ■         Dear  Sir 

Your  most  humble  Serv* 


•Tared  Ingersol  Escf 


:N'.  ^Vhiting•.ll 


*  Arthur  Dobbs.  Governor  of  North  Carolina,  1753-1764. 

t  Francis  Fauquier.  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Virginia,  1758-1768. 

t  James  Wright.  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Governor  of  Georgia,  1761- 
1771,  1773,  1780. 

I  John  Stuart  ^va5  Superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  the  Southern 
Department,  appointed  in  1764. 

Ij  Xathan  Whiting,  of  New  Haven  (born  1724,  died  1771),  was  a  cousin 
of  Mrs.  Ingersol!. — their  fathers  having  been  half-brothers, — and  was 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1743,  being  the  leading  scholar  in  his  Class. 

He  served  with  distinction  through  the  Old  French  War,  attaining  the 
rank  of  Colonel.  A  selection  from  his  letters  during  the  war  was  printed 
in  volume  6  of  the  Papers  of  this  Society. 


T  -.1. 

.     T     :,      .. 
..'         ,-,,,f        ,      I 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66.  30^ 


III.     LoxDo^j^  AND  Xew  Havex,  1765-1766. 

In  October,  1761,  Mr.  Ingersoll  went  again  to  England  (in 
the  ship  carrying  the  masts,  etc.,  which  he  had  contracted  to 
deliver),  with  the  hope  of  securing  a  new  contract.  While  there 
the  Stamp  Act,  imposing  a  tax  on  business  papers,  etc.,  was 
passed  bv  Parliament  in  March,  1765.  He  was  induced  to 
accept  the  office  of  Stamp  Distributor  for  Connecticut,  and 
returned  to  Boston  in  July;  but  was  forced  to  renounce  his 
appointment  in  September. 

In  June,  1766,  he  published  at  Xew  Haven  a  collection  of  Let- 
ters relating  to  the  Stamp-Act  (pp.  iv,  6S,  small  4°),  the  essen- 
tial portions  of  which  are  here  reprinted  in  consecutive  order, 
with  other  writings  of  the  same  period. 


Letter  of  James  Parker. 

V  Woodbridge  April  3,  1764 

s^ 

The  Bearer  of  this  AF  Benjamin  Mecom-'  is  a  ISTephew  to  D^ 
Franklin  of  Philadelphia,  and  is  a  Printer.  The  Priuting- 
Office  in  New-Haven  belonged  to  me.  I  parted  with  half  of  it 
to  Col.  Hunter,t  upon  certain  Conditions  not  performed.  I 
have  Col.  Hunters  Bond  for  £500  NYork  Money,  which,  as  he 
is  absent,  I  must  try  to  put  in  Suit.  Mean  ^Yhile  I  send  M'' 
Mecom,  with  a  Power  of  Attorney  from  me,  to  take  the  whole 
into  his  Possession,  or  if  refused  it,  to  attach  Col.  Hunter's 
Part,  or  such  of  his  Estate,  as  may  be  in  that  Colony,  in  such  a 
Manner  as  your  Laws  direct  against  an  absent  Debtor,  if 
therefore  my  Attorney  should  apply  to  you  for  any  Help  or 
Assistance,   whatever  you   shall   think   proper  to  be  done   for 

*  Printer  of  the  Connecticut  Ga~ctte  (17C5-GS)  and  postmaster  of  New 
Haven   (1765-G7). 

t  Colonel  John  Hnnter,  probably  an  uncle  of  Colonel  William  Hunter,  of 
Williamsburg,  Va.,  who  was  joint  Postmaster-General  for  the  Colonies  with 
15r.  Franklin  from  1753  to  1701. 


300  JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1T65-GG. 

regaining  my  Kiglit,  I  shall  support  you  in,  and  see  you  satis- 
fied:  and  remain 

Your  very  humble  Serv' 

James  Parker 
To  Jared  Ingersol,  Esq"  at  ISTew-IIaven. 


Letters  to  Gov.  Tiio^rAs  Fitch. 

,       ,- London  ll'^  Feb:  1765 

Since  my  last  to  you,  I  have  been  honoured  with  yours  of  the 
T*^.  of  December,  in  which  you  inform  me  that  the  Gen . 
Assembly  have  been  pleased  to  desire  my  Assistance  while  her./ 
in  any  Matters  that  may  concern  the  Colony.  Be  so  good,  S^. 
in  return  as  to  Assure  the  Assembly  that  I  have  not  only  a  Diu- 
Sense  of  the  honour  they  have  done  me  by  placing  this  Confi- 
dence in  me,  but  that  I  have  ever  since  my  arrival  here,  from 
Motives  of  Inclination,  as  well  as  Duty,  done  every  thing  in 
my  Power  to  promote  the  Colony's  Interests. 

The  principal  Attention  has  been  to  the  Stamp  bill  that  has 
been  preparing  to  Lay  before  Parliament  for  taxing  America. 
The  Point  of  the  Authority  of  Parliament  to  impose  such  Tax  I 
found  on  my  Arrival  here  was  so  fully  and  l^niversally  yielded, 
that  there  was  not  the  least  hopes  of  making  any  impression > 
that  way.  Indeed  it  has  appeared  since  that  the  House  wouM 
not  suffer  to  be  brought  in,  nor  would  any  one  Member  Under- 
take-to Oifer  to  the  House,  any  Petition  from  the  Colonies  that 
held  forth  y^  Contrary  of  that  Doctrine.  I  own  I  advised  tlio 
Agents  if  possible  to  get  that  point  Canvassed  that  so  the  Amer- 
icans might  at  least  have  the  Satisfaction  of  having  the  point 
Decided  upon  a  full  Debate,  but  I  found  it  could  not  be  don<\ 
and  here  before  I  proceed  to  acquaint  you  with  the  Steps  that 
have  been  taken,  in  this  Matter,  I  beg  leave  to  give  you  a  Sum- 
mary of  the  Arguments  which  are  made  Use  of  in  favour  "t 
such  Author  it  V. 


JARED    IXGEKSOLL    I'APER.S,     17G5-GC.  307 

The  House  of  Commons,  sav  they,  is  a  branch  of  the  supreme 
legislature  of  the  Xation,  &  which  in  its  Xature  is  supposed  to 
represent,  or  rather  to  stand  in  the  place  of,  the  Commons,  that 
is,  of  the  great  body  of  the  people,  who  are  below  the  dig-nity  of 
peers ;  that  this  house  of  Commons  Consists  of  a  certain  num- 
ber of  !Men  Chosen  by  certain  people  of  certain  places,  which 
Electors,  by  the  Way,  they  Insist,  are  not  a  tenth  part  of  the 
people,  and  that  the  Laws,  rules  and  Methods  by  which  their 
number  is  ascertained  have  arose  by  degrees  &  from  various 
Causes  k  Occasions,  and  that  this  house  of  Commons,  therfore, 
is  now  fixt  and  ascertained  tS:  is  a  part  of  the  Supreme  unlimited 
power  of  the  Xation,  as  in  every  State  there  must  be  some 
unlimited  Power  and  Authority ;  and  that  when  it  is  said  they 
represent  the  Commons  of  England,  it  cannot  mean  that  they 
do  so  because  those  Commons  choose  them,  for  in  fact  by  far  the 
greater  part  do  not,  but  because  by  their  Constitution  they  must 
themselves  be  Commoners,  and  not  Peers,  and  so  the  Equals, 
or  of  the  same  Class  of  Subjects,  with  the  Commons  of  the 
Kingdom.  They  further  tirge,  that  the  only  reason  why  Amer- 
ica has  not  been  heretofore  taxed  in  the  fullest  Manner,  has 
been  merely  on  Account  of  their  Infancy  and  Inability;  that 
there  have  been,  however,  not  wanting  Instances  of  the  Exercise 
of  this  Power,  in  the  various  regulations  of  the  American  trade, 
the  Establishment  of  the  post  OiUce  kc,  and  they  deny  any  Dis- 
tinction between  what  is  called  an  internal  &  external  Tax  as  to 
the  point  of  the  Authority  imposing  stich  taxes.  And  as  to  the 
Charters  in  the  few  provinces  whore  there  are  any,  they  say,  in 
the  first  place,  the  King  cannot  grant  any  that  shall  exempt  them 
from  the  Authority  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the  great  body  of 
Legislation,  and  in  the  second  place  say  the  King  has  not  done, 
or  attempted  to  do  it.  In  that  of  Pensilvauia  the  Authority  of 
Parliament  to  impose  taxes  is  expressly  mentioned  «S:  reserved ; 
in  ours  tis  said,  our  powers  are  generally  such  as  are  According 
to  tlie  Course  of  otlier  Corporafions  in  England  (both  which 
Instances  by  way  of  Sample  were  mentioned  k  referred  to  by 
^P.  Grenville  in  the  House)  ;  in  short  they  say  a  Power  to  tax 
is  a  necessary  part  of  every  Supreme  Legislative  Authority,  and 


308  JARED  IXGEESOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-66. 

that  if  they  have  not  that  Power  over  America,  they  have  none. 
&  then  America  is  at  once  a  Kingdom  of  itself. 

On  the  other  hand  those  who  oppose  the  bill  say,  it  is  true 
the  Parliament  have  a  supreme  unlimited  Authority  over  everv 
Part  &•  Branch  of  the  Kina's  dominions  and  as  well  over  Ireland 
as  any  other  place,  yet  we  believe  a  British  parliament  will 
never  think  it  prudent  to  tax  Ireland.  Tis  true  they  say,  tha[ 
the  Commons  of  England  &  of  the  british  Empire  are  all  rep- 
resented in  and  by  the  house  of  Commons,  but  this  represenia- 
tion  is  confessedly  on  all  hands  by  Construction  &  Virtually 
only  as  to  those  who  have  no  hand  in  choosing  the  representa- 
tives, and  that  the  Effects  of  this  implied  Eepresentation  here  v.V 
in  America  must  be  infinitely  different  in  the  Article  of  Tax- 
ation. Here  in  England  the  Member  of  Parliament  is  equally 
known  to  the  Neighbour  who  elects  6c  to  him  who  does  not;  the 
Friendships,  the  Connections,  the  Influences  are  spread  througli 
the  whole.  If  by  any  Mistake  an  Act  of  Parliament  is  marlf 
that  prove  injurious  and  hard  the  ^lember  of  Parliament  hep- 
sees  with  his  own  Eyes  and  is  moreover  very  accessible  to  tli<' 
people,  not  only  so,  but  the  taxes  are  laid  equally  by  one  Pule 
and  fall  as  well  on  the  Member  himself  as  on  the  people.  But 
as  to  America,  from  the  great  distance  in  point  of  Situatioi:. 
from  the  almost  total  unacquaintedness,  Especially  in  the  more 
northern  Colonies,  with  the  Members  of  Parliament,  and  th'-y 
with  them,  or  with  the  particular  Ability  tt  Circumstances  of  oni- 
another,  from  the  Xature  of  this  very  tax  laid  upon  others  n"t 
Equally  «S:  in  Common  with  ourselves,  but  with  express  purpo-- 
to  Ea.se  ourselves,  we  think,  say  they,  that  it  will  be  only  to  l;t,v 
a  foundation  of  great  Jealousy  and  Continual  Uneasiness,  au'' 
that  to  no  purpose,  as  we  already  by  the  Pegulations  upon  their 
trade  draw  from  the  Americans  all  that  they  can  spare,  at  loa~r 
they  say  this  Step  should  not  take  place  untill  or  unless  tli- 
Americans  are  allowed  to  send  ^Members  to  Parliament :  i'"^ 
v:ho  of  you,  said  Coll  Barre  Xobly  in  his  Speech  in  the  hou~' 
upon  this  Occasion,  irho  of  yov  rrasoninrj  upon  tJiis  Suhj>:''^ 
feels  warmhj  from  tlic  Heart  (putting  his  hand  to  his  ov:ii 
breast)  for  the  Amrricans  as  they  irould  for  thon selves  or  ''-^ 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  TAPEKS,  17G5-6G.  309 

you  would  for  the  'people  of  your  own  native  Country?  and  to 
this  point  3P.  Jackson  produced  Copies  of  two  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment granting-  the  priviledge  of  having  Members  to  the  County 
Palitine  of  Chester  &  the  Bishoprick  of  Durham  upon  Petitions 
preferred  for  that  purpose  in  the  ReigTi  of  King  Henry  the 
Eigth  and  Charles  the  first,  the  preamble  of  which  Statutes 
counts  upon  the  Petitions  from  those  places  as  setting  forth 
that  being  in  their  general  Civil  Jurisdiction  Exempted  from 
the  Common  Law  Courts  &c,  yet  being  Subject  to  the  general 
Authority  of  Parliament,  were  taxed  in  Common  with  the  rest 
of  y*  Kingdom,  which  taxes  by  reason  of  their  having  no  Mem- 
bers in  Parliament  to  represent  their  Affairs,  often  proved  hard 
and  injurious  kc  and  upon  that  ground  they  had  the  priviledge 
of  sending  Members  granted  them — &  if  this,  say  they,  could  be 
a  reason  in  the  case  of  Chester  and  Durham,  how  much  more  so 
in  the  case  of  America. 

Thus  I  have  given  you,  I  think,  the  Substance  of  the  Argu- 
ments on  both  sides  of  that  great  and  important  Question  of  the 
right  c^-  also  of  the  Expediency  of  taxing  America  by  Authority 
of  Parliament.  I  cannot,  however,  Content  myself  without 
giving  you  a  Sketch  of  what  the  aforementioned  M^  Barre  said 
in  Answer  to  some  remarks  made  by  ]\F.  Ch.  To^^Tisend  in  a 
Speech  of  his  upon  this  Subject.  I  ought  here  to  tell  you  that 
the  Debate  upon  the  American  Stamp  bill  came  on  before  the 
house  for  the  first  time  last  Wednesday,  when  the  same  was 
openVl  by  'M\  Grenville  the  Chanccller  of  the  Exchequer,  in  a 
pretty  lengthy  Speech,  &  in  a  very  able  and  I  think  in  a  very 
candid  manner  he  opened  the  Mature  of  the  Tax,  Urged  the 
I^ecessity  of  it.  Endeavoured  to  obviate  all  Objections  to  it — 
and  took  Occasion  to  desire  the  house  to  give  y^  bill  a  most 
Serious  and  Cool  Consideration  &  not  suifer  themselves  to  be 
influenced  by  any  resentments  which  might  have  been  kindled 
from  any  thing  they  might  have  heard  out  of  doors — alluding  I 
suppose  TO  the  X.  York  and  Boston  Asseml)lys'  Speeches  *&: 
Votes — that  this  was  a  matter  of  revenue  which  was  of  all 
thini;-s  the  most  interesting  to  y^  Subject  ^'C.  The  Argument 
was  taken  up  by  several  who  opposed  the  bill  (viz)  by  Alder- 


310  .TARED    IXGERSOLL    PAPERS,    1T65-CG. 

man  Beckford,  who,  and  who  only,  seemed  to  deny  y^  Authority 
of  Parliament,  by  Col.  Barre,  !M'.  Jackson,  S^  William  ]\Iere- 
dith  and  some  others.  W.  Barre,  who  by  the  way  I  think, 
k  I  find  I  am  not  alone  in  ray  Opinion,  is  one  of  the  finest 
Speakers  that  the  House  can  boast  of,  having  been  some  time  in 
America  as  an  Officer  in  the  Army,  &  having  while  there,  as  I 
had  known  before,  contracted  many  Friendships  with  American 
Gentlemen,  »i:  I  believe  Entertained  mnch  more  favourable  Opin- 
ions of  them  than  some  of  his  profession  have  done,  Delivered  a 
very  handsome  cl-  moving  Speech  upon  the  bill  &  against  the 
same.  Concluding  by  saying  that  he  was  very  sure  that  Most  who 
Should  hold  up  their  hands  to  the  Bill  must  be  under  a  Neces- 
sity of  acting  very  much  in  the  dark,  but  added,  perhaps  as  well 
in  the  Dark  as  any  way. 

After  him  'M\  Charles  Townsend  spoke  in  favour  of  the 
Bill — took  Notice  of  several  things  AP.  Barre  had  said,  and  con- 
cluded with  the  following  or  like  ^Yords : — And  now  will  these 
Americans,  Children  planted  by  our  Care,  nourished  up  by  our 
Indulgence  untill  they  are  grown  to  a  DegTee  of  Strength  & 
Opulence,  and  protected  by  our  Arms,  will  they  grudge  to  con- 
tribute their  mite  to  releive  us  from  the  heavy  w^eight  of  that 
burden  which  we  lie  under?  When  he  had  done,  W.  Barre 
rose  and  having  explained  something  which  he  had  before  said  <^ 
which  ]\P.  Townsend  had  been  remarking  upon,  he  then  took 
up  the  bcforementioned  Concluding  words  of  3P.  Townsend, 
and  in  a  most  spirited  &  I  thought  an  almost  inimitable  manner, 
said — 

'•They  planted  by  your  Care?  No!  your  Oppressions 
planted  em  in  America.  They  fled  from  your  Tyranny  to  a 
then  uncultivated  and  unhospitable  Country — where  they 
exposed  themselves  to  almost  all  the  hardships  to  which  human 
Nature  is  liablo,  and  among  others  to  the  Cruelties  of  a  Savage 
foe,  the  most  subtle  and  I  take  upon  me  to  say  the  most  formid- 
able of  any  People  upon  the  face  of  Gods  Earth.  An<l  yet, 
actuated  by  Principles  of  true  english  Lyberty,  they  met  all 
these  harrlships  with  pleasure,  compared  with  those  they  sut- 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17Go-GG.  311 

fercd  ill  tlieir  own  Country,  from  the  hands  of  those  who  should 
have  been  their  Friends. 

''They  nourished  up  by  your  indulgence?  they  grew  by  your 
neglect  of  Em : — as  soon  as  you  began  to  care  about  Em,  that 
Care  was  Excercised  in  sending  persons  to  rule  over  Em,  in  one 
Department  and  another,  who  were  perhaps  the  Deputies  of 
Deputies  to  some  ]\Iember  of  this  house — sent  to  Spy  out  their 
Lyberty,  to  misrepresent  their  Actions  ^'  to  prey  upon  Em; 
men  whose  behaviour  on  many  Occasions  ha^  caused  the  Blood 
of  those  Sons  of  Liberty*  to  recoil  within  them ;  men  promoted 
to  the  highest  Seats  of  Justice,  some,  who  to  my  knowledge  were 
glad  by  going  to  a  foreign  Country  to  Escape  being  brought 
to  the  Bar  of  a  Court  of  Justice  in  their  own. 

"They  protected  by  your  Arms  ?  they  have  nobly  taken  up 
Arms  in  your  defence,  have  Exerted  a  Valour  amidst  their  con- 
stant «i:  Laborious  industry  for  the  defence  of  a  Country,  whose 
frontier,  while  drencird  in  blood,  its  interior  Parts  have  yielded 
all  its  little  Savings  to  your  Emolument.  And  beleive  me, 
remember  I  this  Day  told  you  so,  that  same  Spirit  of  freedom 
which  actuated  that  people  at  first,  will  accompany  them  still. — 
But  prudence  forbids  me  to  explain  myself  further.  God 
knows  I  do  not  at  this  Time  speak  from  motives  of  party  Heat, 
what  I  deliver  are  the  genuine  Sentiments  of  my  heart;  how- 
ever superiour  to  me  in  general  knowledge  and  Experience  the 
reputable  body  of  this  house  may  be,  yet  I  claim  to  know  more 
of  America  than  most  of  you,  having  seen  and  been  conversant 
in  that  Country.  The  People  I  beleive  are  as  truly  Loyal  as 
any  Subjects  the  King  has,  but  a  people  Jealous  of  their  Lyber- 
ties  and  who  will  vindicate  them,  if  ever  they  should  be 
violated — but  the  Subject  is  too  delicate  6:  I  will  say  no  more.'' 

These  Sentiments  were  thrown  out  so  intirely  without  pre- 
meditation, so  forceably  and  so  firmly,  and  the  breaking  ofi'  so 

*  [Xote  added  by  Mr.  Ingersoll.  on  publishing  this  letter  in  176G.]  I 
believe  I  may  claim  the  Honour  of  having  been  the  Author  of  this  Title, 
however  little  personal  Good  I  have  got  by  it.  having  been  the  only  Person, 
by  what  I  can  discover,  who  transmitted  :\[r.  T.arre's  Speech  to  America. 


312 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  TAPEKS,  1T65-G0. 


beautifully  abrupt,  that  tlie  whole  house  sat  awhile  as  Amazed, 
intently  Looking  and  without  answering  a  Word. 

I  own  I  felt  Emotions  that  I  never  felt  before  tt  went  the 
next  Morning  c^-  thank'd  Coll  Barre  in  behalf  of  my  Country 
for  his  noble  and  spirited  Speech. 

However,  S'.  after  all  that  was  said,  upon  a  Division  of  the 
house  upon  the  Question,  there  was  about  250  to  about  50  in 
favour  of  the  Bill. 

The  truth  is  I  beleive  some  who  inclined  rather  against  the 
Bill  voted  for  it,  partly  because  they  are  loth  to  break  the 
Measures  of  the  Ministry,  and  partly  because  they  dont  under- 
take to  inform  themselves  in  the  fullest  manner  upon  the  Sub- 
ject. The  Bill  comes  on  to  a  second  Beading  to-morrow,  when 
ours  and  the  Massachusetts  Petitions  will  be  presented  i-  per- 
haps they  may  be  some  further  Debate  upon  the  Subject,  but  to 
no  purpose  I  am  very  sure,  as  to  the  Stopping  or  preventing  the 
Act  taking  Place. 

The  Agents  of  the  Colonies  have  had  several  Meetinas.  at  one 
of  which  they  were  pleased  to  desire  M'.  Franklin  1'  myself 
as  having  lately  Come  from  America  &  knowing  more  Inti- 
mately the  Sentiments  of  the  people,  to  wait  on  :\r.  Grenville, 
together  with  M^  Jackson  &  M'.  Garth"  who  being  Agents  are 
also  Meml>ers  of  Parliament,  to  remonstrate  against  the  Stamp 
Bill,  &  to  propose  in  Case  any  Tax  must  be  laid  upon  America, 
that  the  several  Colonies  might  be  pcnnitted  to  lay  the  Tax 
themselves.  This  we  did  Saturday  before  last.  M".  Grenville 
gave  us  a  full  hearing — told  us  he  took  no  pleasure  in  giving  the 
Americans  so  much  uneasiness  as  he  found  he  did — that  it  was 
the  Duty  of  his  Otlice  to  manage  the  revenue — that  he  reallv  was 
made  to  beleive  that  considering  y^  whole  of  the  Circumstances 
of  the  Mother  Country  &-  the  Colonies,  the  lat<?r  could  aii^l  ouuht 
to  pay  something.  &  that  he  knew  of  no  better  way  than  that  now 
pursuing  to  lay  such  Tax,  but  that  if  we  could  tell  of  a  better 
he  would  adopt  it.  AVe  then  urged  the  ]\rethod  first  mentioned 
as  being  a  Method  the  people  had  been  used  t(3 — that  it  would 
*  Agent  for  South  Carolina  and  GeoiLna. 


JARED    i:!fGERSOLL    PAPERS,     1T65-G6.  313 

at  least  seem  to  be  their  own  Act  &  prevent  that  uneasiness  & 
Jealousy  which  otherwise  we  found  would  take  place — that  thev 
could  raise  the  Money  best  by  their  own  Officers  kc  &:c 

^F.  Jackson  told  him  plainly  that  he  foresaw  [by]  the  ]Meas- 
iire  now  pursuing,  by  enabling  the  Crown  to  keep  up  an  armed 
Force  of  its  own  in  America  &  to  pay  the  Governours  in  the 
Kings  Goverments  d:  all  with  the  Americans  own  Money,  the 
Assembles  in  the  Colonys  would  be  subverted — that  the  Gov", 
would  have  no  Occasion,  as  for  any  Ends  of  their  own  or  of  the 
Crown,  to  call  'Em  k  that  they  never  would  be  called  to  gether 
in  the  Kings  Goverments.  ^U.  Grenville  warmly  rejected  the 
thought,  said  no  such  thing  was  intended  nor  would  he 
beleived  take  place.  Indeed  I  understand  since,  there  is  a 
Clause  added  to  the  Bill  Applying  the  monies  that  shall  be 
raised  to  the  protecting  &  Defending  America  only.  M^  Gren- 
ville asked  us  if  we  could  agree  upon  the  several  proportions 
Each  Colony  should  raise.  We  told  him  no.  He  said  he  did 
not  think  any  body  here  was  furnished  with  Materials  for  that 
purpose :  not  only  so  but  there  would  be  no  Certainty  that  every 
Colony  would  raise  the  Sum  enjoined  &  to  be  oblige"^,  to  be  at  the 
Exy)ence  of  making  Stamps,  to  compel  some  one  or  two  prov- 
inces to  do  their  Duty  &  that  perhaps  for  one  year  only,  would 
be  very  inconvenient ;  not  only  so,  but  the  Colonies  by  their 
constant  increase  will  be  Constantly  varying  in  their  proportions 
of  Xumbers  &  ability  &  which  a  Stamp  bill  will  always  keep 
pace  with  vice  kc. 

Upon  the  whole  he  said  he  had  pledged  his  "Word  for  Offering 
the  Stamp  Bill  to  the  house,  that  the  house  would  hear  all  our 
Objections '»i'  would  do  as  they  thought  best;  he  said,  he  wished 
we  would  j)reserve  a  Coolness  and  Moderation  in  America; 
that  he  had  no  need  to  tell  us,  that  resentments  indecently  *fc 
unbecomingly  Expressed  on  one  Side  the  Water  would  naturally 
produce  resentments  on  tothcr  Side,  k  that  we  could  not  hope  to 
get  any  good  by  a  Controversy  with  the  Mother  Country ;  that 
their  Ears  will  always  be  open  to  any  remonstrances  from  the 
Americans  with  respect  to  this  bill  both  before  it  takes  Effect  k, 


31i  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PArERS,  1765-66. 

after,  if  it  shall  take  Etfeet,  wliieli  shall  he  exprest  in  a  hecomin<r 
manner,  that  is,  as  becomes  Subjects  of  the  same  common 
Prince. 

I  acquainted  you  in  mv  last  that  M^  Whately,  one  of  the 
Secretaries  of  the  Treasury,  and  who  had  under  his  Care  and 
Direction  the  business  of  preparing  the  Stamp  Bill,  had  '•ften 
conferred  with  me  on  the  Subject.  He  wanted,  I  know,  infor- 
mation of  the  several  methods  of  transfer.  Law  process  vi:c  made 
Use  of  in  the  Colony,  &  I  beleive  has  been  also  very  willing  to 
hear  all  Objections  that  could  be  made  to  the  Bill  or  any  part  of 
it.  This  task  I  was  glad  to  undertake,  as  I  very  well  knew  tht- 
information  I  must  give  would  operate  strongly  in  our  favour, 
as  the  number  of  our  Law  Suits,  Deeds,  Tavern  Licences  »Jc  in 
short  almost  all  the  Objects  of  the  intended  taxation  «i:  Dutys 
are  so  very  numerous  in  the  Colony  that  the  knowledge  of  them 
would  tend  to  the  imposing  a  Duty  so  much  the  Lower  as  the 
Objects  were  more  in  Xumber.  This  Effect  I  flatter  myself  it 
has  had  in  some  measure.  !XI^  AVhately  to  be  sure  tells  me  I 
may  fairly  claim  the  Llonour  of  having  occasioned  the  Duty's 
being  much  lower  than  was  intended,  &  three  particular  things 
that  were  intended  to  be  taxed,  I  gave  him  no  peace  till  he 
dropt ;  these  were  Licences  for  marriadge — a  Duty  that  would 
be  odious  in  a  new  Country  where  every  Encotiragement  ought 
to  be  given  to  Matrimony  &  where  there  was  little  portion; 
Commissions  of  the  Justices  of  peace,  which  Ofhce  was  gen- 
erally speaking  not  profitable  «fc  yet  necessary  for  the  good 
Order  and  Goverment  of  the  people ;  and  Xotes  of  hand  which 
with  tis  were  given  &  taken  so  very  often  for  very  small  Sum-. 

After  all  I  beleive  the  people  in  America  will  think  the  Sum- 
that  will  l>e  raised  will  be  quite  Enough,  &  I  wish  they  may'ut 
find  it  more  r)istressing  than  the  people  in  power  here  are 
aware  of. 

The  ^Merchants  in  London  are  alarmed  at  these  things ;  they 
have  had  a  meeting  with  the  Agents  &  are  about  to  petitii'-n 
Parliament  upon  the  Acts  that  respect  the  trade  of  X'.'ith 
America. 

What  the  Event  of  these  things  will  be  I  dont  know,  but  a  in 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-GG.  315 

prntty  certain  that  wisdom  will  be  proper  <i:  even  very  neces- 
sarv,  as  well  as  prudence  &  good  Discretion  to  direct  the  C'"'im- 

cils  of  America 

I  :^hall  hope  to  see  you  the  beginning  of  Summer  at  fartliest- 

Y*.  Most  Obedient 

Humble  Ser'. 

J :  Ingersoll.* 
Gov'.  Fitch 
Copy 

\  .  -         London  6'\  March  1765 
Sir 

In  my  last,  which  was  by  the  last  mail  to  Xew  York,  I  gave 
you  a  particular  Account  of  the  reception  the  American  Stamp 
Bill  met  with  in  the  house  of  Commons  upon  the  first  bringing 
of  it  in.  Since  that  time,  in  the  farther  progress  of  the  bill 
through  the  House,  there  have  been  some  farther  debates,  the 
most  considerable  of  which  was  at  the  second  reading  of  y^. 
bill,  upon  the  offer  of  the  Petitions  from  the  Colonies  against 
the  same.  You  doubtless  know  that  no  Petition  can  be  offered 
or  presented  to  Parliament  but  by  some  Member  of  y^  house. 
The  first  that  was  offerred  was  by  '^^.  Fuller  a  West  india 
Planter  in  behalf  of  the  Merchants  in  London  trading  to 
America.  These  Gentlemen  it  seems  are  much  alarm*^.  on 
account  of  their  outstanding  Debts  in  America,  which  it  is  said 
Do  not  fall  short  of  four  ^Millions  Including  y*  "West  Indies. 
Substance  &:  purport  of  y^  Petition  being  opened  tS:  stated  by  M^ 
Fuller  ».V  leave  Ix-ing  asked  to  bring  it  in.  'twas  Strongly  Objected 
to,  upon  a  principle  which  it  seems  has  long  been  adopted  by  y* 
House  that  no  petition  shall  be  JReceiued  against  a  Money  Bill; 
this  Drt'W  into  a  Discussion  &  Consideration  How  Peremptory 
this  Pule  of  the  House  was,  how  long  it  had  been  adhered  to,  »fc 
y^  Grounds  k  Principles  upon  which  it  was  founded.     Upon  the 

"'  The  present  letter,  as  well  as  tlie  succeeding  one,  is  p^rinted  in  !Mr. 
Intiersoll's  Letters  relatinrj  to  the  Stamp  Act;    but  is  here  taken  from  the 

manuscript  copy  among  his  papers.    ,     ^  ...  •    .  . 


31G  .TARED    IXOERSOLL    PAl-ERS,     1765-66. 

whole  I  think  it  appears  the  rule  had  not  been  deviated  from, 
for  about  forty  years  last  past.  The  Reason  of  the  Rule  is  said 
to  be  j^  Manifest  inconvenience  that  used  to  arise  by  Ha\iiii:-  >o 
much  of  the  time  taken  up  in  Hearing  the  various  iSr  all  nit  .st 
innumerable  Claims,  Reasons  &  pretentions  of  y^  many  Sub- 
jects against  being  Taxed — &  that  there  was  the  less  reason  for 
hearing  Em,  against  laying  a  Tax,  as  it  is  at  the  same  tiiue 
an  invariable  riile  that  the  Subject  may  Petition  for  the  repeal 
of  a  Law  Imposing  a  tax  after  that  tax  is  laid  &  Experienee 
had  of  the  Effects,  &  finally  that  however  reasonable  it  might  bi- 
te hear  the  Americans  themselves,  there  could  be  no  reason  for 
hearing  the  London  Merchants  in  their  behalf. 

On  the  other  side  it  was  said,  that  the  rule  was  not  any  Ordor 
of  the  House,  but  merely  a  practice  as  founded  on  Experience  A- 
to  prevent  inconvenience: — that  however  unreasonable  it  wi;inLl 
be  to  Admit  English  Subjects  upon  every  Imposition  of  a  tax  t.- 
come  &:  be  heard  upon  Petitions  against  the  same,  yet  even  in 
England  it  appeared  by  precedents  produced,  that  when  auv 
new  species  of  taxation  had  been  set  on  foot,  particularly  tlu' 
matter  of  funding,  so  called,  i.  e.  borrowing  of  the  Subject  A' 
paying  Interest  by  various  taxes,  that  Petitions  had  been 
admitted  against  the  measure,  and  also  on  some  other  particular 
and  extraordinary  Occasions  formerly,  &.  that  this  Case  as  in 
America  was  quite  new  &  particularly  hard  as  they  had  no 
^lembers  in  the  House  to  speak  for  them. 

Upon  the  whole  the  Question  being  about  to  be  put,  ]\r.  Fnl- 
ler  seeing  pretty  plainly  which  way  it  would  be  carried,  with- 
drew his  Petition.  Xext  S^  William  Meredith  presented  on-- 
in  behalf  of  the  Colony  of  Virginia;  this  was  drawn  up  her-' 
by  their  Agent  M^  Montegue,  but  had  interwove  in  it  soni-- 
Expressions  of  the  Assembly  of  Virginia  contained  in  Thci' 
Votes  &:  which  at  least  strongly  implied  their  denial  of  rhe  rigli' 
of  Parliament  to  tax  the  Colonies.  This  drew  on  a  pretty  warm 
debate.  ^P.  Yorke  the  late  Attorney  General  Delivered  him- 
self in  a  very  long  Speech  in  which  he  endeavoured  to  evirn-'' 
that  the  Kings  Grants  contained  in  the  Charters  to  some.  *t  i'- 
the  Commissions  to  the  Governors  in  the  other  Colonies,  conl'i. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66,  317 

in  their  natures,  be  no  more  than  to  answer  particular  local  & 
Provincial  purposes  &  could  not  take  the  People  in  .America  out 
of  j^  General  &  Supreme  Jurisdiction  of  Parliament  &c  ^c. 
The  General  Ptule  of  the  House  against  Receiving  Petitions 
against  monev  bills  was  also  again  urged ; — on  the  other  Side  I 
think  no-body  but  General  Conway  Denied  the  right  of  Parlia- 
ment to  tax  us;    this  to  be  sure  he  did  in  y^  most  Peremtory 
manner  &  urged  with  Great  Vehemence  f  many  Hardships  & 
what  he  was  Pleased  to  Call  Absurdities  y^  would  follow  from 
the    contrary   Doctrine    &   practice;     y^    Hardships   &    Incon- 
veniences were  also  again  urged  Sz  placed  in  various  lights  bv 
our  other  Friends  in  the  House.     And  here  I  would  remark  v' 
in  y^  whole  Debate  first  &  last  Alderman  Beckford  &  G^  Con- 
way were  f  Only  Persons  who  Disputed  y"  right  of  Parliament 
to  tax  us.      This  is  the  same  G^  Conway  who  was  Dismissed 
from  all  his  offices  just  at  Close  of  y'  last  Sessions  for  his  Contin- 
ual opposition  to  all  the  Measures  of  the  Present  Ministrv :    »fc 
here  I  find  myself   Obliged   to  say   x'   Except   f   Gentlemen 
Interested  in  y''  West  Indies  &  a  few  Members  y'  happen  to  be 
Particularly  connected  with  some  of  the  colonies  &  a  few  of  the 
heads  of  the  minority  who  are  sure  to  athwart  &  oppose  y^  Min- 
istry in  Every  Measure  of  what  ^""ature  or  kind  soever,  I  say 
Except  these  few  Persons  so  Circumstanced  there  are  Scarce 
any  People  here.  Either  within  Doors  or  Without,  but  what 
approve    the   Measures   now    taking   which    Regard   America.   ' 
Upon  the  Whole  the  Question  being  put  Whether  the  House 
would  Receive  y^  Petition,  it  Passed  in  the  Xegative  by  a  great 
^[ajority.     Then  M^  Jackson  offered  ours  which  met  with  the 
same  Fate.     He  then  acquainted  y'  House  f  he  had  one  to  offer 
lor  y^  ]\fassachusets  Colony,  which  however  as  it  respected  as 
well  the  late  act  called  the  Sugar  act  as  the  present,  &  seeing 
which  way  the  same  would  be  governed  he  told  the  house  he 
would  defer  it  till  another  Time ;   &  here  I  ought  not  to  omit  to 
acquaint  you  tliat  M".  Charles,  Agent  for  X.  York,  had  received 
a  Petition  from  his   Constituents  with  orders  to  present  tlie 
same,  but  whicli  was  conceived  in  terms  so  inflammatory  that  he 
could  not  prevail  on  any  one  3Iember  of  the  House  to  present  it. 


318  JA"RED    IXGERSOLL    PAPERS,     1765-G6. 

I  forgot  to  mention  that  ISU.  Garth,  a  ^lember  of  the  House, 
oifered  one  for  S :  Carolina  for  which  Colony  he  is  Agent,  which 
met  with  the  same  fate  with  the  Eest.     The  other  Agents  seeing 
the  point  thus  ruled,  I  suppose  thought  it  to  no  purpose  to  offer 
any  more. — It  is  about  4  Days  since  the  Bill  passed  through  all 
the  necessary  forms  in  the  house  of  Commons  &  is  now  ready 
&  lies  before  the  Lords  for  their  Concurrence;    it  is  to  take 
place  the  first  Day  of  jSTovember  next.     As  to  the  other  regula- 
tions which  regard  America  that  either  have  taken  place  or  are 
intended  so  to  do,  this  session,  they  are  as  follows : — first  of  all 
the  Stamp  Duty  which  by  the  bill  was  laid  on  all  Salaries  which 
Exceed  £20,  upon  a  strong  representation  that  the  Judges  Sal- 
aries in  America  in  general  are  very  low,  is  dropt  out  of  the  Bill. 
The  Courts  of  Admiralty  have  been  complained  of  as  not  only 
infringing  on  English  Lyberty  by  taking  away  trials  by  Jury, 
but  as  being  so  placed  as  to  take  people  for  trial  from  one  End 
of  America  almost  to  the  other.     As  to  the  first  of  these  Objec- 
tions they  say  here  that  there  is  no  safety  in  trusting  the  breach 
of  revenue  laws  to  a  Jury  of  the  Country  where  the  Offence  is 
committed,  that  they  find  even  in  England  they  never  can  obtain 
Verdicts  where  Smugling  is  practised  &  therfore  always  bring 
the  Causes  up  for  trial  to  London.     To  remedy  the  Second  tis 
determined  to  have  three  Judges  Extraordinary  sent  from  Eng- 
land,— to  be  placed,  one  at  Boston  (by  remo\'ing  to  that  place  y* 
one  now  at  Halifax),  y*"  others  to  be  at  X  York  &  Philadelphia. 
or  at  Philadelphia  &  Charles  Town;    the  Persons  to  be  able 
men  bred  at  Doctors  commons,  with  a  Salary  Each  of  £800  Per 
Annum,  to  he  poremtorily  forbid  Taking  any  Fees  Whatsoever. 
to  have  Jurisdictions  concurrant  with  \^  other  Judges  of  Admir- 
alty  in   AuH-riea,   that   is   an  ordinary   Jurisdiction  the  same 
with  them,  and  also  an  Extraordinary  one,  of  Hearing  whatso- 
ever causes  shall  be  Brought  before  them  by  appeal  from  y' 
other  admiralty  Judges'^ ;   all  Prosecutions  for  y""  breach  of  rev- 
enue laws  to  be  either  in  the  courts  of  common  law  or  courts  ot 
Admiralty,  at  y*"  Election  of  y*'  Prosecutor;   &  if  brought  before 
a  court  of  Adinirnlty  to  be  before  a  Judge  in  the  Colony  where 

'      •  Sec  Ik'Iow.   j..   -121. 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1T65-C6.  319 

y*  offence  is  Committed,  or  if  at  Sea  to  y*  Xext,  that  is  to  the 
nearest  in  Point  of  Distance ;  y*  y*  fees  of  Office  in  y^  custom 
Houses  shall  be  all  fixt  &  be  y*"  same  in  All ;  that  an  Alteration 
in  y^  late  act  shall  be  made,  giving  a  liberty  of  Carying  Lumber 
Directly  to  Ireland  &  also  to  any  Parts  of  Europe  South  of 
Cape  Finisterre.  A  farther  alteration  has  been  Ask'd,  viz.  of 
liberty  to  cary  wine,  fruit  &  oil  directly  from  Portugal  &  Spain 
■  &:c  to  America,  and  to  suffer  a  Draw  back  upon  forreighn  Sugars 
upon  Eeexportation  to  Europe,  as  also  an  Abatement  of  y® 
Duty  upon  Molases,  but  these  are  at  present  Denied : — the  first 
from  a  fear  y*  y*  Duty  upon  y*"  Wines  will  not  be  paid  in 
America,  there  not  having  as  yet  been  time  for  a  full  proof  of 
y^  Punctuality  of  y^  Custom-Houses  there;  y*"  2^  because  of 
Great  Erauds  being  Generaly  practiced  in  y""  Cases  of  Draw 
back  upon  reexportation ;  and  y*'  S'^  because  there  has  not  been 
Sufficient  Experience  of  what  duty  y^  Molascs  will  bear.  Some 
Alterations  also  tis  said  will  be  made  with  Regard  to  y*"  Strict- 
ness that  is  required  in  y''  Matter  of  Cockets  for  Every  article 
of  Goods  caryed  Coastwise  (Src.  These  I  believe  are  y^  princi- 
pal regulations  that  relate  to  America,  that  may  be  expected  to 
take  place  this  Session. — And  here  as  well  to  do  Justice  to  the 
Minister  ]\P,  Grenville  as  to  the  Comparative  few  who  have 
interested  themselves  in  the  Concerns  of  America,  I  beg  leave 
to  say  that  I  think  no  pains  have  been  spared,  on  the  one  Side 
in  behalf  of  America  to  make  the  most  ample  &  strong  repre- 
sentation in  their  favour,  &  on  the  other  on  the  part  of  the  Min- 
ister to  hear  patiently,  to  listen  attentively  to  the  reasonings  & 
to  Determin  at  least  seemingly  with  coolness  &  upon  principle 
upon  the  several  Measures,  which  are  Resolved  on. 

I  have  no  need  to  tell  you  that  in  modern  times  convincing 
the  Minister  is  convincing  the  House  here,  Especially  in  mat- 
ters of  Revenue. — I  forgot  one  Article  viz.  the  Post  Office,  y'' 
fees  of  which  tis  said  are  to  be  lowerd  in  America. 

And  now  S^  in  order  to  give  you,  in  the  best  manner  I  nm 
able,  an  Idea  of  the  Conferences,  Sentiments  i.^-  reasonings  upon 
these  Subjects,  on  this  Side  the  Water,  you  will  be  pleased  to 
Imagine  to  yourself  a  few  Americans  with  the  ^Minister,  or  any 


320  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66. 

other  on  that  part,  and  after  much  time  spent  in  Enquiry, 
various  observations  &  remarks,  he  saying  to  them  as  follows. 
You  will  be  pleased,  laying  aside  all  consideration  of  past  Ser- 
vices on  your  Part  or  on  ours,  they  have  both  been  very  great, 
to  consider  what  is  y*  present  state  of  things;  there  is  an 
immense  national  Debt,  not  less  than  one  hundred  &  fortv 
Millions  Lying  heavy  on  this  ISTation,  for  which  an  annual  inter- 
est is  paid  ;  by  the  best  infonnations  we  can  get  the  whole  of  tlu- 
publick  Debt  now  in  arrear  of  all  the  Colonies  together  is  about 
Eight  Hundred  Thousand  pounds.  The  Civil  Establishment 
here  for  the  Support  of  Government  is  Eight  hundred  thousand 
pounds  a  Year — that  of  all  the  Colonies  together  we  find  to  be 
about  forty  thousand  pounds  p^  annum  only.  You  say  you  are 
comparatively  poor  to  what  we  are;  tis  difficult  measuring  thi> 
point,  but  however  opulent  some  in  these  Kingdoms  are  tis  well 
knowTi  the  many  can  but  just  live.  The  Military  &  naval 
Establishment  here  is  immense,  but  without  considering  that, 
the  amount  of  the  Expence  of  the  Army  now  placed  in  America 
&  which  is  thought  quite  ISTecessary,  as  well  on  Account  of  the 
troubles  with  the  Indians  as  for  general  defence  against  other 
nations  &  the  like  in  so  Extensive  a  Country,  is  upwards  of  three 
hundred  thousand  pounds  a  Year.  TVe  shall  be  glad  to  find 
that  the  Stamp  Duty  now  laying  on  America  shall  amount  t'~' 
forty  or  fifty  thousand  pounds,  &  that  all  the  Duties  together, 
the  post  Office  &  those  laid  upon  jNTolasses  &  other  ways  shall 
amount  to  one  hundred  thousand  pounds  a  Year,  so  that  there 
will  not  only  not  be  any  money  brought  aw^ay  from  America  by 
means  of  these  Duties,  l)ut  there  will  be  a  ballance  of  more  than 
two  luindrod  thousand  pounds  sent  over  every  year  from  Eng- 
land to  be  spent  in  America.  You  say  the  Colonies  think  they 
can,  &:  tliat  they  are  willing  to  do  something  in  the  Common 
Cause; — is  this  too  much?  we  think  it  is  not,  but  if  on  trial 
we  find  it  is,  we  will  certainly  lessen  it.  As  to  our  Authority  tu 
lay  these  Duties  or  taxes- — to  us  tis  so  clear  a  point  that  to  bo 
sure  we  dont  care  to  have  a  Question  made  of  it.  And  dont  you 
yourselves  even  want  to  have  us  Exercise  this  Authority  i" 
your  turn  ?   dont  some  of  you  Complain,  &  perhaps  very  justly. 


JAKED  IXGEnSOLT.  PAPERS,  1705-CG.  3*21 

that  in  tlie  late  war,  while  some  of  you  did  much,  others  did  but 
little  or  perhaps  nothing  at  all — and  would  not  that  be  the  Case 
again  was  you  left  to  Defend  yourselves  \  Xo  doubt  it  would, 
unless  you  were  Erected  into  one  power  by  a  Union  of  the  whole, 
but  that  is  a  measure  we  dont  think  you  yourselves,  was  tou  in 
our  Steads  would  think  adviseable ;  and  there  are  many  rea- 
sons why  you  should  wish  not  to  have  the  Country  Defended  by 
your  own  Children.  A  Soldiers  life  is  not  only  a  life  of 
Danger,  but  in  a  proper  Sense  is  a  base  life,  whereas  you  have 
all  a  Chance  in  that  opening  Country  to  raise  your  families  to 
be  considerable  in  tiine  by  a  diligent  Attention  to  your  natural 
and  proper  business. 

To  all  this  the  Americans  answer,  truly  S^  we  must  own  there 
is  a  weight  in  your  Arguments  &  a  force  in  your  reasonings — 
but  after  all  we  must  say  we  are  rather  silenced  than  convinced. 
We  feel  in  our  bosoms  that  it  will  be  for  ever  inconvenient, 
'twill  for  ever  be  dangerous  to  America  that  they  should  be 
taxed  by  the  Authority  of  a  British  parliament  by  reason  of 
our  great  distance  from  you ;  that  general  want  of  mutual 
knowledge  tfc  acquaintance  with  each  other, — that  want  of  Con- 
nexion &;  personal  friendship,  «^'  we  without  any  persons  of  our 
own  Appointing,  who  will  have  any  thing  to  fear  or  hope  from 
us,  to  speak  for  us  in  the  great  Council  of  the  nation — we  fear 
a  foundation  will  be  laid  for  mutual  Jealousy  and  ill  will,  & 
that  your  resentments  being  kindled  you  will  be  apt  to  lay  upon 
us  more  k.  more,  even  to  a  Degree  that  will  be  truly  grievous  & 
if  that  should  be  the  Case  that  twill  be  hard  under  all  the  Cir- 
cumstances, very  hard  to  convince  you  that  you  wrong  us,  k. 
that  unknown  &  very  unhappy  Consequences  will  Ensue. 

To  this  the  ^Minister  Replies  :— 

Come,  suppose  your  01)servations  are  entirely  Just,  &  indeed 
we  must  own  there  are  inconveniences  attending  this  matter; 
what  then  is  to  bo  done  I  perhaps  you  will  say  let  the  Colonies 
send  ]\fembers  to  Parliament ;  as  to  that  in  the  first  place  the 
Colonies  have  not  told  us  that  thuy  desire  such  a  thing,  &  tis 
easy  to  see  there  are  many  reasons  why  they  should  not  desire 
it.  The  Expense  would  probably  be  very  great  to  'Em;  they 
11 


322  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-6G. 

could  not  Expect  to  be  allowed  to  Lave  a  Majority  of  Memlins 
in  the  house,  and  the  very  inconveniencics  which  you  urge  with 
regard  to  the  people  in  America  would  in  many  respects  «S:  to  a 
Degree  take  place  with  regard  to  their  ]\[embors.  What  theii :' 
Shall  lio  Steps  be  taken  &;  must  we  and  America  be  two  distinct 
kingdoms  &  that  now  immediately,  or  must  America  bi.- 
Defended  entirely  by  us,  &  be  themselves  quite  excused  or  be 
left  to  do  just  what  they  shall  please  to  do?  Some  perhaps  will 
do  something  &  others  nothing.  Perhaps  from  the  nature  of 
our  Situations  it  will  happen  cl'  must  be  Expected  that  one  Day 
we  shall  be  two  distinct  Kingdoms,  but  we  trust  even  you  wont 
say  you  think  yourselves  ripe  for  that  Event  as  yet.  You  are 
continually  increasing  in  numbers  &  in  strength;  we  are  per- 
haps come,  at  least,  to  our  full  growth.  Let  us  then  leave  these 
possible  Events  to  the  disposal  of  providence.  We  own  on  our 
part  we  dont  choose  to  predict,  nor  yet  to  hasten  the  time  of  this 
supposed  period,  &  think  it  w^ould  be  to  our  mutual  disadvan- 
tage for  us  to  attempt  a  separation. 

Let  us  then,  instead  of  predicting  the  worst,  hope  that  mutual 
Interest  as  well  as  duty  will  keep  us  on  both  Sides  within  the 
bounds  of  Justice.  We  trust  we  shall  never  intentionally  bur- 
den you  unreasonably;  if  at  any  time  we  shall  happen  to  do  it 
by  Mistake,  Let  us  know"  it  &  I  trust  it  will  be  remedied.  Yon 
find  &  I  trust  always  will  find  an  easy  Access  to  those  who  from 
their  Office  have  the  principal  Conduct  of  Revenue  Laws,  and 
we  on  our  part  find  with  pleasure  that  America  is  not  destitut*^ 
of  persons,  who  at  the  same  time  that  they  have  the  tendere^t 
regard  for  their  Literests  are  well  able  to  Represent  to  us  their 
Affairs  »S:  who  if  they  do  it  with  integrity  &  Candor,  will  i"' 
sure  to  meet  with  our  fullest  Confidence.  Let  mutual  Coutl- 
dence  and  mutual  Uprightness  of  intention  take  place  &  no  cou- 
siderable  Ills  can  follow. 

As  to  any  reflections  upon  the  matter  I  choose  rather  to  lcav<; 
them  to  you  than  attempt  to  make  them  myself,  &  am  S"".  with 
gi'eat  Esteem 

.     Y\  most  Obedient 

!Most  Humble  Ser\ , 

J.  Inffersoll 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-GG.  323 

P  S  Marcli  9 

There  is  now  strong  application  making  for  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment, for  a  bounty  on  various  kinds  of  timber,  plank  &  boards 
imported,  to  Avhich  the  ^linister  seems  to  lend  a  favourable  Ear, 

Tis  said  that  it  is  intended  to  give  the  business  of  Collecting 
(t  paying  the  Stamp  Duty  to  Americans  in  the  respective 
Colonies. 

I  am  not  without  some  hopes  of  having  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  at  Hartford  before  the  rising  of  the  Assembly  in  the  May 
Sessions,  having  taken  my  passage  in  the  Boscowen  Capt  Jacob- 
son  bound  to  Boston  &  who  expects  to  sail  the  beginning  of  April. 

J.  I. 

Gov^  Fitch 

Copy  •      ^^ 

Letter    to  Godfrey  Malboxe. 

London  April  7^^.  1765 
S^ 

The  Parliament  have  been  tS:  still  are  very 

busy  with  America,  Laying  Duties  and  granting,  at  least  talk- 
ing about  granting  bounties.  The  Spanish  trade  you  may 
depend  is  opened,  as  much  as  y^  Same  can  be  without  Speaking 
loud.  They  say  how  they  intend  not  to  hurt  us  upon  the  whole 
of  their  regulations,  but  to  do  us  good.  I  wish  we  may  be  of  that 
mind,  Many  things  have  been  said  about  the  Molasses  Duty, 
but  after  all  they  dont  intend  to  repeal  or  alter  the  present  Act 
without  at  least  trying  it,  tho  I  believe  they  think  they  must  by 
&:  by,  I  hope  to  be  on  your  Side  the  water  in  two  or  three 
^lonths. 

I  know  of  nothing  new  here.  The  same  kind  of  folks  go  to 
Court  <t  y'  Same  Sort  patrole  the  Strand  a  nights  that  used  to  do 
when  you  was  here.  With  Comp'  to  M"  :\Lallbone  &  all  friends 
I  Remain 

T'  Most  Obed^ 

IlumV  Serv'. 

J :  Inircrsoll 
Ct.  Mallboue  Escf  .* 

•  This  letter,  to  Godfrey  ^^lalbone  of  Newport,  is  at  present  in  the  Xew 
York  Public  Library;  the  opening  sentences  relate  to  private  business  of 
-Mr.  Malbono. 


324  jared  ixgeesoll  papers,   1tg5-66. 

Letter  of  Dr.  Daxiel  Lathrop. 

Hartford,  May  28,   1705 
Sir 

I,  happened  at  Hartford  when  jonr  Letters  were  Read  in 
the  Assembly;  am  greatly  Concerned  what  will  be  the  Conse- 
quence of  so  heavy  a  Tax  as  y^  of  the  Stamps  will  be,  but  am 
Glad  you  were  upon  the  Spot,  which  beleive  was  much  to  our 
Advantage.  As  you  are  Appointed  the  Dispencer  of  them  for 
this  Goverment,  take  this  first  Oppertunity  to  offer  my  Ser- 
vice as  An  Lnder  Distributor  for  y'  part  of  the  Goverment 
where  I  Live,  if  it  will  be  Agreable,  and  Docf".  Solomon  Smith 
at  Hartford  who  is  Connected  with  me  in  Buisness  there.  If 
you  think  favourablely  of  s^  Affair  please  when  you  Return  to 
give  me  A  Line  by  Post  and  I  will  wait  upon  you  Directly  to 
settle  the  Terms.     I  am  Sir  with  great  Esteam 

Your  most  Obed\  humble  Serv^ 

Daniel  Lathrop'^' 
[To 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq  "      -  ''.'  \ 

In  X  Haven]  ■.     . 


''       "         Letter  of  "William  Samuel  Johxsox. 

Dear  S^: 

Since  we  are  doomed  to  Stamps  and  Slavery,  &  must  submit, 
we  hear  with  pleasure  that  your  gentle  hand  will  fit  on  our 
Chai'ns  <Jc  Shackles,  who  I  know  will  make  them  set  easie  as 
possilde.  In  Consequence  of  this  ^V.  Wales  begs  me  to  recom- 
mend the  enclosed  to  y'".  Xotice.  I  doubt  not  you  will  oblige 
him,  if  it  sliou'd  not  be  inconvenient  to  you ;  tS:  indeed  from  h\> 
Situation  there  seems  to  be  Xobody  else  in  Windham  you  could 
better  employ. 

•Dr.  Daniel  Lathrop  (born  1712.  (lir<l  17S2)  -vvas  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  lllVA.  and  ci>nducted  for  many  years  a  highly  successful  drug  busi- 
ness in  Norwifli,  Connecticut.  The  letters  referred  to  are  the  t\vo  just 
preceding  this  in  tlie  present  collection. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17(^)5-GG.  325 

If  you  propose  to  have  a  Subaltern  in  every  Town,  I  sliall  be 
at  your  service  for  Stratford  if  it  be  agi-eeable. 

I  sincerely  rejoyce  with  you  and  AI".  Inirersoll  on  your  happy 
return  home,  and  am  as  ever, 

D^  S"".  Y^.  most  affect®.  Friend  &  humble  Servant, 

W"\  Sam\  Johnson. 
Xew  Ilaven,  June  3*^,  17G5. 

Jared  Ingersoll,  Esq^  .... 


Letters  of  Xatiiaxiel  Wales,  Jr. 

•■■;'  Windham  .June  y®  1^'  1TG5 

S^ 

iSTotwithstanding  my  small  acquaintance  yet  as  I  understand 
you  are  betrusted  with  the  afair  of  the  Stamp  Duty  I  beg  Leave 
to  hint  that  if  in  y*.  plan  you  should  want  a  person  in  Each 
County  town  to  dispose  of  Blanks  or  paper  I  should  be  glad  to 
be  improved  for  y'^  purpose,  if  it  should  suit  you  &  you  can  con- 
fide in  me ;  and  as  I  keep  an  office  in  the  Center  and  dont  prac- 
tise Riding  abroad  can  doubtless  serve  you.  I  cant  say  more  as 
Cap*^  W"  Saml  Johiison  is  Avaiting,  and  has  J]ngadged  to  serve 
ine  if  his  influence  will  avail  any  thing.  S"".  I  shall  no  doubt  be 
willing  to  undertake  (if  any  is  wanted)  as  much  to  yr  advantage 
as  any  person  whatsoever,  wliich  is  the  present  needfull  from 
him  who  with  grate  Esteem  is  your  most  humV*^  Serv*^ 

Xath"  Wales  Ju^*    ' 
Jared  Ingersoll  Esq'^  .   ^    ;  ,  , 

.      ,    ,  -  Windham  August  19'^  17G5 

gr 

I  receved  yours  and  observe  its  Contence,  and  for  answer 
must  say  that  I  wrote  my  first  to  you  without  much  Consid- 
eration and  while  matters  were  much  undigested  both  in  my 

*  Xathaniel  Wales,  Junior,  son  of  Deacon  Xathaniel,  -vvas  one  of  the 
si<jners  of  the  non-cons;uniption  agreement  in  his  native  town  of  Wiinl- 
ham,  in  January,  17G8,  and  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence 
apjtointed  to  make  that  agreement  elTectuah 


326 


JAPvED    IXGERSOLL    PAPERS,    1765-6G. 


own  and  other  peoples  minds ;  but  on  further  Consideration  I 
am  of  opinion  that  the  Stamp  Duty  can  by  no  means  be  Justi- 
fyed,  &  that  it  is  an  imposition  quite  unconstitutional  and  so 
Infringes  on  Eather  destroys  our  Libertys  and  previlidges  that 
I  Cant  undertake  to  promote  or  Encorage  it  without  actinir 
dirictly  Contrary  to  my  Judg-ment  and  the  true  Intrest  of  mv 
own  native  Country;  and  tho  I  would  be  a  Loyal  Subject  yet 
that  I  may  be  &  not  Endeavour  to  promote  that  Law  which  in 
my  privit  Judgment  is  not  Right,  as  ye  case  may  be,  I  must 
therefore  on  the  whole  refuse  accepting — if  offered — any  trust 
relative  to  Distributing  the  Stamps,  nor  would  I  accept  thereof 
had  I  thousand  pounds  annexed  to  the  trust.  So  that  what 
trouble  I  have  given  you  I  must  beg  your  pardon  for  and  sub- 
scribe my  self  your  humV  Ser°\ 

I^ath^  Wales  Ju^ 
[To 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq'"  S :  'Masf. 

Att 

N"ewhaven] 


Letter  of  Johx  Coleman. 
S'. 

I  hope  You'll  pardon  me  that  I  take  the  Liberty  to  request 
the  Fav'.  of  assisting  you  in  the  Management  of  the  Stamp 
Office  in  the  County  of  Hartford,  and  indulge  me  with  an 
Opportunity  to  wait  on  you  at  Hartford  if  you  should  return 
that  Way,  that  more  fully  may  be  known  the  engag'd  Desires  of 

Yo'.  most  Obedient  hum'^  Serv\ 

John  Coleman."' 
Hartford  Jvme  27'''.  1765. 

[To 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq"".  i 

Boston.  . 

Fav'. 

Sam\  Fitch  Esq"".]  ' ''     ~ 

•John  Coleman    (born  172S,  died  17G9)    was  graduated  at  Yale  Coll<i:<' 
in   174S,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  Hartford. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS.  17G5-G6.  327 

Letter  of  Charles  Phelps. 

Stonington  August  14,  1765 

lb 

Understand  that  vou  are  appointed  Stamp  Master  for  the 
Colony  and  understand  their  is  to  be  a  Deputy  In  Each  town 
and  Should  be  Glad  to  bespeak  that  Post  for  the  town  of  Ston- 
ington, and  if  it  should  be  agreable  to  you  to  Leat  me  have  it,  be 
so  Good  as  to  Wright  by  the  Post  and  your  Compliance  Will 
Oblige  Your  Hum'  Sr' 

Charles  Phelps, 
To  Je    Ingersel  Esq  

Letter  of  Axdrew  Adams.  .■.,., 

S' 

Duty  &  Inclination  induce  me  to  congratulate  your  Prosperitv 
and  Eeturn  from  Europe.  In  your  Absence  I  have  Removed 
from  Stanford  to  this  Town  where  I  determin  at  preasent  to 
settle,  and  as  y^  station  you  hold,  in  consequence  of  a  late  Act 
of  Parliament,  will  perhaps  require  some  subordinate  Employ, 
I  should  Esteem  myself  honoured  to  be  thought  Worthy  your 
Service ;  and  would  Receive  y'  Favour  with  Gratitude. — Will 
wait  on  you  next  Week  if  you  Please  at  Fairfield  (as  I  under- 
stand you  will  be  there)  to  know  your  Pleasure  in  this  Respect ; 
»^'  hope  I  shall  be  able  to  Convince  you  (as  much  as  y^  Difierence 
of  Station  will  admit)  how  much  I  am 

your  Since"  Friend  and  Obed*  Serv' 

And"^.  Adams.* 
Litchfield :  ;15'^ :  Aug* :  A  D  1765  ■  : 

[To 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq' 

Xewhaven] 

•Andrew  Adams  (born  1736,  diod  1707)  -was  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1760,  and  became  a  lawyer  in  Litchfield. 

Besides  the  above  applications  for  the  office  of  Deputy  Stamp-Distrib- 
utors, a  list  by  :Mr.  Ingersoll  among  his  papers  gives  the  following 
additional  names:  — 

Hartford,  Capt.  [John]  Laurence,  :Mr.  Seymour;  Windsor,  Mr.  Henry 
Allyn;     Fairfield,  ^[r.  Rowland.  *  .' 


328  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1705-6G. 

Letter  ov  Andrew  Olives. 

T       ,  -,  ,    _  Boston,  26.  Aug^  1705. 

Jared  Iiigersol,  Esq. 

Sir  The  Xews  Papers  will  sufficiently  inform  you  of  tlie 
Abuse  I  have  met  with.  I  am  therefore  only  to  acquaint  you  in 
short,  that  after  having  stood  the  attack  for  2S  hours— a'^singk- 
man  against  a  whole  People,  tlie  Government  not  being  able^o 
afford  me  any  help  during  that  whole  time,  I  was  persuaded  to 
yield,  in  order  to  prevent  what  was  coming  in  the  2^.  ni-^ht; 
and  as  I  hapned  to  give  out  in  writing  the  terms  of  Capitulation^ 
I  send  you  a  copy  of  them ;  assuring  you  at  the  same  time,  that 
this  only  was  what  was  given  out  by  my  leave.  I  sho^.  be  glad 
to  hear  from  you  and  am,  S^  Yo"  most  huni^^  Servant 

Andrew  Oliver- 

W.  Oliver  acquaints  :\Ir.  Waterhouse  that  he  has  wrote  to  the 
L"^'.  of  the  Treasury,  to  desire  to  be  excused  from  executing  the 
Office  of  Distributor  of  the  Stamps:  and  that  when  they  arrive 
lie  shall  only  take  proper  care  to  secure  them  for  the  Crown,  but 
will  take  no  one  Step  for  distributing  the  same  at  the  time 
appointed  by  the  Act.  And  he  may  inform  his  friends  accord- 
ingly. 

Thursday  Afternoon,  15*^.  August. 


Sir' 


Letter  of  La^fes  ]\IcEvers. 
^a     ,    ■.  ,       ..     .,  :  2^ew  York  Aug-"' 26.  17G5 


I  rec'd  a  Letter  from  John  Brettel  Esq^  Forwarded  bv  von, 
Inclosing  a  Bond  to  Execute  fur  the  Due  Performance  o/  the 
Office  of  Stamp  :\Iaster  for  this  Province,  which  I  Eeadelv  Dhi 
(and  Eeturn'd  it  per  the  Last  Paquet  that  Sail'd  from  hence)  a^ 
there  was   then   Little  or  no    Clamour   here   about  it,   and   I 

*Mr.  Inrrersoll  had  arrived  in  Boston  from  London  in  Julv,  1765,  ;in<i 
the  attentions  paid  to  l,im  by  ^Ir.  Oliver  had  been  one  occasion  of  th- 
resentment  shown  to  tlie  latter. 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-C)G.  329 

Immagin'd  I  Should  be  Able  to  Transact  it;  but  since  ^F 
Olivers  Treatment  att  Boston  has  Been  Known  here  and  the 
Publication  of  a  Letter  from  Jiew  Haven,  the  Discontent  of  the 
People  here  on  Account  of  the  Stamp  Act  Publickly  Appears,  I 
have  Been  Threaten'd  with  ]\F.  Olivers  Fate  if  not  Worse,  to 
Prevent  which  I  have  Been  under  a  Xecessity  of  Acknowledgeing 
I  have  Wrote  for  a  Besignation  which  I  have  Accordingly  Done, 
and  have  Been  Infonn'd  yon  have  Done  the  Same,  of  Which  I 
Beg  you'l  Advise  me,  and  if  you  have  not  should  be  Glad  to 
Know  how  you  Purpose  to  Act,  as  it  may  be  some  Government 
to  me  in  Case  I  Cant  Procure  a  Release. 

I  am  Sir  Your  Hum^  Serv\ 
...  James  M'^Evers'^ 


xVdVEKTISEMEXT    IX    THE    CoN'XECTICrT    GaZETTE. 

To  the  good  People  of  Connecticut. 

When  I  undertook  the  Office  of  Distributor  of  Stamps  for  this 
Colony,  I  meant  a  Service,  to  you,  and  really  thought  you  would 
have  viewed  it  in  that  Light  when  you  come  to  understand  the 
Xature  of  the  Stamp  Act  and  that  of  the  Office;  but  since  it 
gives  you  so  much  Uneasiness,  you  may  be  assured,  if  I  find 
(after  the  Act  takes  Place,  which  is  the  first  of  November)  that 
you  shall  not  incline  to  purchase  or  make  use  of  any  stampt 
Paper,  I  shall  not  force  it  upon  you,  nor  think  it  worth  my 
While  to.trouble  you  or  my  Self  with  any  Exercise  of  my  Office  ; 
but  if,  by  that  Time  I  shall  find  you  generally  in  much  Xeed  of 
the  stampt  Paper  and  very  anxious  to  obtain  it,  I  shall  hope  you 
will  be  willing  to  receive  it  of  me,  (if  I  shall  happen  to  have 
any)  at  least  until  another  Person  more  agreeable  to  you  can  be 
appointed  in  my  room. 

I  cannot  but  wish  you  would  think  more  how  to  get  rid  of 
tlie  Stamp  Act  than  of  the  Officers  who  are  to  supply  you  with 

*  A  Xew-York  merchant,  born  172G,  diod  176S. 


330  JARED  INGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66. 

the  Paper,  and  that  joii  had  learnt  more  of  the  Xature  of  my 
Office  before  you  had  undertaken  to  be  so  very  angry  at  it. 
I  am  Yours,  Szc. 

J.  Ingersolh 
^ew  Haven, 
24  August,  17G5. 

[From  Tlie  Connecticut  Gazette,  August  30,  1765.] 


Letter  of  Jeeemiaii  ^Millek. 

Xew  London  10  Sep'".  1765. 
S^ 

I  received  your  fav^  by  the  Post  and  must  tell  you  in  Answer 
that  I  have  not  shewn  or  mentioned  it  to  any  one  Person  what- 
soever, nor  could  I  venture  to  do  it,  as  I  have  been  very  unjustly 
suspected  with  regard  to  my  Sincerity  in  this  affair,  &  I  have 
reason  to  think  there  has  been  some  Invidious  Aspersions 
against  me  about  it,  which  could  not  have  arisen  from  any  other 
cause  than  my  not  having  expressed  that  Flashy  Zeal  that  is 
only  attended  with  ^oise  &:  Smoke,  and  my  saying  y\  I  believed 
you  undertook  this  affair  Partly  with  a  View  of  rendring  it 
easier  to  the  People,  but  it  seems  this  is  too  much  for  any  one  to 
sav  in  your  Behalf.  For  my  own  part  I  can  heartily  Join  in 
taking  every  Legall  method  of  averting  this  Severe  Tax,  and 
really  think  it  an  Infringement  of  Liberty  as  Established  l>y 
Charter,  and  altho  my  opinion  has  been  Invariable  in  thi-^ 
respect,  yet  it  seems  a  Charitable  opinion  of  any  one  concern"'!. 
is  next  to  Treason;  and  I  really  believe  that  your  Person  A: 
Estate  will  be  gi-eatly  endangered  if  you  Continue  in  this  OfHce. 
and  if  my  advice  were  worth  regarding,  it  would  be  for  you  to 
Kesign  it. 

Your  Letter  published  in  y^  Con\  Gazette  was  similar  to 
what  you'  wrote  me,  and  I  perceived  in  no  ways  Sattisfactory 
to  the  people ;  for  which  reason,  and  what  T  have  before  said  w 
you,  I  Choose  not  to  Publish  what  you  sent  me,  and  in  which 
von  M'ill  excuse  me. 


JARED  INGEESOLL  PAPEKS,  17G5-66.  331 

The  People  are  put  into  suck  a  rage  against  the  poor  Govern', 
for  not  calling  the  Assembly  that  I  hope  jou  Will  use  your 
Interest  that  it  may  be  done  before  the  Annual  Sessions  which 
will  have  a  great  tendency  of  frustrating  the  Designs  of  any  to 
his  Prejudice. 

I  can  add  no  more  but  Job's  wish,  that  "it  were  as  in  days  past 
when  the  Candle  of  the  Lord  shined  upon  us."  This  is  my 
Prayer  for  Poor  ]^orth  America,  &  also  that  you  may  be  again 
Peinstated  in  the  affections  of  your  Countrv. 

I  am  your  Hum'  Serv^  Jere  Miller* 
•Tared  Ingersol,  Esq. 


COMMUNICATIOX    TO    TJIE    CoXXECTICUT    GaZETTE. 

In  order  to  shew  to  people  on  this  Side  the  water  how  little  it 
was  apprehended  on  tother  Side  by  the  most  Zealous  friends  of 
America  that  their  having  any  thing  to  do  with  the  Stamp 
Appointments  would  Subject  them  to  the  Censures  of  their 
friends,  I  beg  leave  to  give  Some  Account  of  the  manner  in 
which  those  Appoint'^  happened  &  in  particular  that  for  :N': 
York,  in  doing  which  I  am  Sure  I  shall  be  Excused  by  those 
Gentlemen  whose  names  I  shall  have  occasion  to  mention. 

I  ought  in  the  first  place  to  observe  that  about  the  time  the 
Parliament  began  their  Session  last  Winter,  the  Agents  of  the 
Colonies  met  together  Several  times  in  order  to  Concert  meas- 
ures for  Opposing  the  Stamp  Act,  in  Consequence  whereof  the 
Minister  was  waited  on  by  them  in  order  to  remonstrate  against 
y'  same  &  to  propose,  if  we  must  be  taxed,  that  we  might  be 
Allowed  to'  tax  ourselves  :  a  very  particular  Account  of  which. — 
of  y^  Difficulties  y*  Occurred  upon  every  proposed  plan  cl'  of  all 
the  Arguments  pro  »S:  con  »&:  of  the  Several  Steps  taken  in  the 
progi-ess  of  the  Bill  through  the  House  of  Commons,  was  com- 
municated by  me  in  Several  Letters  to  y^  Gov",  of  this  Colony  & 
which  T  understand  have  been  publickly  read  to  y^  Gen\  Assem- 
bly.     The  Merchants  of  London  trading  t^  America  also  met 

*  Jeremiah  Millor,  son  of  Jeremiah  Miller   (Yale  1700).  of  Xew  London, 
Connecticut,  was  tlie  Naval  Ofiicer  of  tliat  Port. 


332  JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPEKS,  ITG.J-GO. 

together  about  this  time  &  Appoiuted  a  Com^*.  of  themselves  tu 
make  all  the  Opposition  thej  could  to  the  Stamp  bill;  of  thi.-: 
Committee  !M^  Alderman  Trecothick  was  Deputy  Chairman. 

Tis  well  known  to  many  people  of  the  first  tigure  in  Boston  vi: 
ISTew  York  as  well  as  Elsewhere  that  Barlow  Trecothick*  Es<j'. 
who  was  brought  up  at  Boston  under  the  late  'M^.  Apthorp  v.V 
whose  Daughter  he  married,  afterwards  removed  &  settled  in 
London  where  he  has  acquired  a  great  Estate  with  the  fairest 
Caracter  tV  is  at  this  time  one  of  the  Aldermen  of  y®  City  of 
London  »t  well  known  by  all  who  have  the  honour  of  his 
Acquaintance  to  be  a  steady,  cool  but  firm  friend  to  America. 
This  Com^".  were  pleased  to  invite  the  Agents  to  a  Joint  Confer- 
ence. They  were  frequently  together  &  several  times  before  the 
Minister  upon  the  Stamp  6:  other  bills  that  related  to  America, 
where  ]\I^  Trecothick  was  always  principal  spokesman  as  for  y'' 
Merchants. 

After  the  Stamp  bill  passed  into  an  Act  and  the  Minister  had 
Resolved  on  the  general  measure  of  offering  to  y®  Americans  the 
Offices  of  Stamp  Distributers  in  the  respective  Colonies,  for 
reasons,  as  he  declared,  of  Convenience  to  the  Colonies,  he  sent 
for  M'"  Trecothick  &  Desired  him  to  name  a  person,  some  friend 
of  his  in  whom  he  could  Confide,  for  y*"  Office  of  Distributer  for 
y^  Province  of  Xew  York.  M'.  Trecothick  said  to  him,  as  I  am 
well  warranted  to  assert,  to  this  Effect : — S',  you  know  I  am  no 
friend  to  y""  Stamp  Act.  I  heartily  wish  it  never  had  taken 
Effect,  cV  fear  it  will  have  very  ill  Consequences.  However,  tis 
passed  ^'  I  conclude  must  have  its  operation.  I  take  it  as  a 
favour  that  you  are  willing  to  put  the  principal  offices  into  y" 
hands  of  y*"  Americans  &  Esteem  it  an  honour  done  me  that  yon 
permit  me  to  name  a  person  for  X  York,  &  so  named  ^F. 
M'^Evers,  i.V:  went  I  believe  of  his  own  accord  k  gave  bond  for 
him  at  y"  Office,  A:  all  most  undoubtedly  without  the  privity 
or  knowledge  of  that  Gentleman.  And  upon  this  general 
plan    »i:    principle    were    all    y"    Appointments    made,    that    is 

*  Son  of  Mark  Trecutliick.  of  LondoJi :  married  a  daufrhter  of  Cliarlf-^ 
Apthorp,  ul  Boston,  in  1747:  ^Nlonibor  oi  rarliainent,  and  Lord  [Mayor  <ii 
Loudun:    died  in  London  in  June.  1775. 


JAKED    IXGEK.SOLL    I'APEES,    1TC5-66.  333 

to  say,  the  offer  was  made  generally  to  those  who  had 
appeared  as  y^  Agents  or  friends  of  y^  Colonies  to  take  it 
thcmseh-es  or  nominate  their  friends,  ti:  none  of  them  all 
refused  that  I  know  of;  indeed  things  were  not,  I  believe, 
viewed  in  that  very  strong  light  at  that  time,  either  there  or 
here,  as  they  now  are  here.  There  happened  but  three  Instances 
of  persons  then  on  the  Spot  belonging  to  the  old  Continent  Col- 
onies to  whom  y*  Offer  was  made,  who  were  in  a  Condition  to 
accept  it  personally.  These  were  Co\  ]\Iercer  from  Virginia  & 
M'.  ]\Iassarve,  Son  of  y^  late  Co".  ]\Ias5arve  from  X:  Hampshire, 
who  happened  accidentally  in  London  at  that  time  upon  busi- 
ness of  their  own,  &  myself. 

Xow  upon  this  view  of  y^  matter  will  not  Every  unprejudiced 
mind  believe  that  Alderman  Trecothick  was  in  the  first  place  a 
sincere  friend  to  y*^  Colonies  tt  really  averse  to  y^  passing  y^ 
Stamp  Act,  when  Even  his  Interest  as  well  as  his  Inclination  &: 
Convictions  led  him  that  way,  for  tis  Avell  known  he  Deals 
largely  Avith  America  «L'  could  not  hope  to  have  his  own  affairs 
bettered  by  y^  Act.  In  y"^  next  place  will  any  body  suppose 
that  he  Imagined  by  this  Step  he  should  Expose  a  valuable 
friend  to  the  resentments  of  his  Country.  Again,  when  the 
measure  of  making  y^  Appointments  in  America  was  thus  gen- 
eral, &:  come  into  as  generally,  will  any  body  think  that  any  one 
of  the  persons  concerned  Imagined  he  betrayed  his  Country 
by  falling  in  with  the  measure  ?  Perhaps  at  this  time,  when 
popular  rage  runs  so  very  high,  some  may  think  the  friends  of 
America  mistook  their  own  &  their  Countrys  true  Interest,  when 
they  listened  to  these  overtures,  but  who  can  think  their  inten- 
tions were  ill?  I  thought  this  brief  Xarrative  was  a  piece  of 
Justice  due  to  those  who  have  fallen  under  so  much  blame  of 
late,  for  meddling  with  the  Obnoxious  Olfice  before  mentioned. 

And  here  I  cannot  but  take  Xotice  how  unwilling  some  Xews 
writers  seem  to  be  to  publish  any  thing  that  serves  to  inform 
the  mind  of  such  matters  as  tend  to  al)ate  the  peoples  prejudices, 
they  even  making  use  of  some  kind  of  Caution,  I  observe,  to 
prevent  y^'  people  from  listening  to  any  such  Cool  &  Dispassion- 
ate Dissertations  tS:  remarks,  which  at  any  time  they  happen  to 


334  JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-66. 

publish  &:,  at  the  same  time,  deal  out  their  personal  Abuses  in 
the  most  unrestrained  manner,  repeating  with  pleasure  the 
Accounts  of  the  most  Extraordinary  Libellous  Exhibitions  «i 
practices — practices  which  my  Lord  Coke  Describes  as  being 
not  only  the  most  injurious  to  Individuals  but  a  Scandal  to 
Government,  tending  to  the  breach  of  the  peace  *&  Stirrins:  up 
Sedition,  y^  terrible  Effects  of  which  we  begin  to  see  &  which  it 
appears  to  me  can  answer  no  other  publick  purpose  except  so  to 
Inflame  the  ]\ [other  Country  ag'^  us  as  that  they  will  even  refuse 
to  treat  with  us  on  y^  Subject  of  our  burdens.  I  wish  all  such 
persons  would  bear  in  their  minds  those  few  lines  which  the 
facetious  Poet  so  aptly  applies,  in  his  Hudibrass,  to  the  begin- 
ning of  those  Civil  Dissentions  which  laid  England  in  ruins 
about  a  Century  ago — 

When  Civil  dudgeon  first  gTew  high 
And  men  fell  out  they  knew  not  why, 
'  When  hard  words,  Jealousies  &  fears 

Set  folks  together  bv  the  Ears  &c. 


K:  Haven  Sep'.  10:  1765 


J:L* 


Letter  to  the  Gexeral  Assembly. 

■  To  the  Hon*\  Gen\  Assembly  Convened  by  Special  order  of 
his  Hon',  the  Gov',  at  Hartford  Sept'  19  1Y65 
]\Iay  it  please  y'.  Hon'■^ 

The  repeated  tumults  &  very  Extraordinary  practices  in 
Several  parts  of  this  Colony  of  late,  which  so  plainly  point  ar 
me,  as  well  as  to  tlie  Parliament  of  Great  Britain,  <t  all  mani- 
festing gTcat  dislike,  not  only  at  the  late  Stamp  Act  but  at  the 
Officers  ap]^ointed  under  the  same,  will  Justifv  my  Laying 
before  y'.  Hon",  a  few  things  for  y'.  Consideration,  in  order  as 
well  to  Exculpate  my  self  as  the  better  to  Enable  Your  Hon",  to 

•This  .irtiflo  was  conti-i})ute<l  by  Mr.  In^'orsoll  to  The  Coniuctlcut 
Gazette  of  Septomlipr  13,  1705,  and  is  liore  reprinteJ  from  the  original 
draft  among  his  manuscripts. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  TAPERS,  1765-G6.  335 

take  such  measures  as  shall  appear  most  likely  to  remove  those 
Evils  which  at  present  appear  so  alarming. 

It  will  not  be  forgotten  by  this  Assembly  that  the  Parliament 
passed  a  Leading  Vote  to  y*  Stamp  Act  near  two  years  ago,  viz. 
that  it  might  be  proper  to  Charge  Certain  Stamp  Duties  on  y^ 
Colonies ;  this  Vote  I  understand  was  taken  in  order  as  well  to 
Let  y®  Colonies  know  that  the  Parliament  thought  they  had 
Authority  to  Lay  such  tax,  as  to  give  the  Colonies  an  opor- 
tunity  to  agree  upon  some  plan  among  themselves  that  should 
save  the  need  of  their  taking  such  a  measure.  The  Colonies  did 
not  fall  in  with  this  plan,  but  being  alarmed  at  the  Claim  of 
Parliament  went  about  to  Dispute  their  authority.  When  I 
came  to  meet  with  the  Agents  last  winter  &  with  the  Com*'*,  of 
the  Merchants  of  London  trading  to  America,  who  frequently 
met  together  in  order  to  Concert  measures  for  oposing  y^  Stamp 
Act,  I  found  it  was  generally  thought  that  y^  matter  of  y^  Par- 
liaments right  to  tax  us  was  a  thing  so  thoroughly  Determined 
that  there  was  no  hopes  of  Relief  that  way.  I  Desired  the 
Agents  however  by  all  means  to  Dispute  that  point  as  I  knew 
the  Colonies  would  not  be  Easy  if  they  should  not.  Some  of 
them  said  they  had  Eec*^.  from  their  Constituents  such  Petitions 
&  Instructions  as  would  oblige  them  to  question  that  matter. 

In  the  mean  time  it  was  thought  proper  to  wait  on  the  Min- 
ister &  to  let  him  know  how  disagreeable  it  would  be  to  y^  Col- 
onies to  be  taxed  by  Parliament — how  much  it  would  alarm 
them — &  to  ask  the  favour  that  they  might  be  allowed  to  tax 
themselves  in  Case  they  must  be  taxed.  This  was  done,  &  I 
believe  Every  thing  said  that  could  be  of  any  Use,  to  Dissuade 
from  the  measure  then  taking  by  Parliament.  The  Minister 
said,  he  took  no  pleasure  in  bringing  upon  himself  y*^  Tvescnt- 
ments  of  y^  Colonies — that  it  was  thought  reasonable  that  they 
should  Contribute  Something  in  y*'  Common  Cause,  that  as  to  y^ 
manner  of  raising  that  Something,  he  was  content  to  adopt  any 
plan  that  should  be  held  out  to  him  by  y*  Colonies,  that  they 
themselves  should  think  would  answer.  lie  askt  if  y''  Colonies 
were  agreed  upon  the  proportion  that  each  Colony  ought  to 
bear,  t&r  observed  how  very  difficult  it  was  to  fix  any  proper- 


l^ 


336 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1T65-GG. 


tion — how  that  proportion  WQuld  be  perpetually  varying  Lv  tlie 
diflPerent  increase  of  different  Colonics,  &  after  alf  the  uncer- 
tainty that  the  respective  Assemblies  would,  by  their  own  Act, 
Eaise  y''  Sums  that  should  be  generally  agreed  on.  Much  more 
was  said  upon  this  Subject  ili:  more  than  can  well  be  comprised 
in  a  Letter.  Upon  the  whole  the  matter  seemed  to  be  attended 
with  much  ditHculty.  He  said  he  had  pledged  his  word  for 
bringing  in  the  stamp  bill  into  Parliament  that  Session  »S:  that 
the  Parliament  would  do  what  they  pleased  upon  it,  but  that 
he  could  not  forego  it. 

When  the  Petitions  come  to  be  offered  to  y^  House  aa'ainst  v^ 
bill,  the  Authority  of  y"  Parliament  was  drawn  into  question  bv 
some  of  them,  particularly  that  from  Virginia.  This  matter 
was  as  Largely  Debated  as  could  be  Expected.  Considering  how 
few  there  were  in  y'  house  who  denied  their  Authority;  *f  here 
I  beg  to  be  allowed  to  State  to  y^  Hon".,  how  impossible  it  was 
for  y^  Agents  to  do  any  thing  more  than  they  did  as  to  this  point. 
Tis  well  known  that  no  person  can  offer  a  Petition  to  f  house 
of  Commons  Except  a  :\[ember  of  y^  house.  I  have  Acquainted 
y''.  Hon",  before  that  there  was  but  two  :\Iembers  who  Dcnycd 
y*  Right  of  Parliament  to  tax  us :  one  was  Gen^  Conway,  a 
Gentleman  who  was  so  displeased  with  the  :Ministry  for  what  he 
thought  personal  Injuries,  having  been  deprived  of  all  his  offices, 

that  he  could  scarce  speak  without  shewing  Signs  of  Anger ».\: 

was  sure  to  oppose  almost  Every  thing  that  was  proposed  by  v'' 
Minister;  y\  other  was  Alderman  Beckford  a  West  India 
Planter.  At  y"  same  time  'M\  Fuller,  another  West  India 
Planter,  formerly  Ch.  Justice  of  Jamaica,  *S:  whose  Brother  is 
their  Agent,  said  he  heard  that  some  of  y^  Agents  were  for  being 
heard  at  y'  barr  of  the  house  by  Council  upon  the  matter  of  the 
Pu'ght  of  Parliament  to  tax  America.  I  believe,  says  he,  no 
Counsiller  of  this  kingdom  (k  he  knew  that  no  other  could)  will 
come  to  that  TJarr,  (pointing  to  y"  barr  of  y^  house,)  &  openly 
question  tlu-  authority  of  this  house  in  that  particular,  but  if  he 
should,  I  belifve,  ad. led  he,  he  would  not  stay  there  long;  *t  even 
Co.  Barry  who  spuke  so  wanuly  in  our  favour  said  in  his  first 
general  Speech   that  he  believed  no  man  in  that  house  would 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  TAPERS,  1765-66.  337 

Deny  y^  xViithority  of  Parliament  to  tax  America,  &  lie  was 
pleased  to  add,  that  he  did  not  think  the  more  sensible  people  in 
America  wonld  deny  it.  In  short,  altho  there  was  abont  forty 
Members  in  the  Xegative  npon  y®  general  question  upon  y^  bill, 
&  who  were  y*"  West  India  Gentlemen  ^  a  few  others  connected 
with  America,  yet  their  Oposition  to  it  was  not  on  account  of  its 
being  Unconstitutional,  but  because  they  tho\  y*  measure  impru- 
dent &:  perhaps  burdensome.  These  things  are  no  Secrets  but 
well  known  to  hundreds  of  persons  besides  myself.  J^ow  upon 
this  view  of  y®  matter  I  would  ask  what  the  xVgents  could  have 
done  more  than  they  did ;  I  mean  the  Agents  without  doors :  as 
for  those  within,  tis  well  known  they  do  not  try  to  hide  that  they 
believe  the  Parliament  have  full  authority.  In  short  I  found 
it  almost  as  dangerous  in  England  to  Deny  y®  right  of  Parlia- 
ment to  tax  America,  as  I  do  here  to  admit  it.  The  Pam- 
phlets that  were  published  here  upon  y^  Subject  were  dispersed 
amono;  the  AEembers,  but  Everv  one  seemed  to  think  the  reason- 
ings  were  not  conclusive. 

After  the  Act  passed  the  Minister  was  pleased  to  come  into  a 
general  measure  of  giving  the  principal  oflBccs  under  the  Act  to 
Americans.  There  happened  but  two  persons  then  in  Eng- 
land belonging  to  y^  K'orth  Continent  Colonies  besides  myself, 
who  were  in  a  Condition  to  take  y^  Office  personally ;  these  were 
Co^  !Mercer  from  Virginia  &:  ]\F  ^Nfassarve  from  X.  Hampshire, 
who  happened  in  England  at  that  time  upon  business  of  their 
own,  but  who  I  take  it  were  named  to  y®  Minister  by  the  Agents 
or  some  friend  of  those  Colonies.  The  Distributer  for  X  York 
was  Recommended  by  M""  Alderman  Trecothick,  Dep.  Chairman 
of  y^  Com^.  of  Merchants  beforementioned,  a  Gentleman 
brought  up  at  Boston,  &  who  has  his  Connections  &  Interest 
quite  against  y*"  Stamp  Act,  »S:  Avhich  he  had  opposed  through  the 
Course  of  y^  winter  with  all  his  might.  When  he  was  sent  for, 
by  the  Minister,  &  desired  to  name  a  person  for  ^N".  York,  he  said 
to  him,  as  I  am  well  warranted  to  assert,  to  y^  following  Effect : 
S""  you  know  I  am  no  friend  to  y*"  Stamp  Act ;  I  heartily  wish  it 
never  had  passed,  &  wish  it  may  not  have  very  unhappy  Conse- 
quences;   however  it  is  now  passed,  &  I  suppose  must  have  its 


338 


JARED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66. 


operation,  &  I  take  it  as  a  favour  that  you  are  pleased  to  put  y'' 
principal  offices  into  y^  bands  of  y*  Americans,  &  as  an  honour 
done  nic  that  you  give  me  leave  to  name  to  you  a  person  for  X. 
York.  These,  I  believe,  were  the  Sentiments  of  all.  Xow 
when  the  measure  was  thus  general  throughout  xVmerica  &  as 
generally  come  into  by  all  those  who  had  appeared  as  y^  friends 
of  America  in  opposing  y^  Act,  can  it  be  wondred  at  that  I 
should  come  into  V  same  measure  Especially  when  it. is  Con- 
sidered further  that  the  Declared  motives  on  the  part  of  f 
Minister  were  those  of  Convenience  to  y®  Colonies.  He  said  we 
told  him  that  we  were  poor  &  unable  to  bear  such  tax ;  others 
told  him  we  were  well  able ;  now,  says  he,  take  y'  business  into 
your  own  hands ;  you  will  see  how  &  where  it  pinches  '&  will 
certainly  let  us  know  it,  in  which  Case  it  shall  be  Eased. 

Y^.  Hon'^  will  Consider  further  that  we  who  were  on  tother 
side  y^  water  must  see  &  know  how  Extremely  unlikely  it  was 
Ever  to  Convince  y^  Parliament  upon  y^  point  of  their  Author- 
ity, &  which  is  doubtless  the  principal  matter  in  all  the  dis- 
pute, &  to  be  sure  we  did  not  Imagin  that  y®  Colonies  would 
think  of  disputing  y^  matter  with  them  at  y^  point  of  y'' 
Sword,  &  that  therefore  the  most  we  Could  do  would  be  to  Con- 
struct y^  Act  as  favourably  as  possible,  &  make  y*  best  of  it. 
This  it  was  thought  would  probably  be  done  as  beneficially  by 
Americans  as  by  Strangers;  »i'  upon  my  honour  I  thotight  I 
should  be  blamed  if  I  did  not  accept  the  Appointment,  Espe- 
cially as  I  knew  y^  Assembly  »t  people  here  would  have  time 
Enough  before  y^  Act  took  place  to  Determin  whether  they 
would  Conform  to  y^  Act  or  not,  and  as  I  took  no  Commission. 
nor  y^  Oath  of  Office,  I  Determined,  &  have  Constantly  from  the 
beginning  so  Declared  to  Every  one,  that  if  y^  people  shall 
think  y^  Act  Eitlier  too  dangerous  in  its  tendency  or  too  burden- 
som  to  be  born  (&r  conclude  to  risque  y^  Consequences  of  a  non 
Compliance  with  it,  in  that  Case  there  would  be  little  or  no  Us'- 
for  my  Office  &:  that  I  should  never  Enter  into  a  warfare  with 
my  Country  about  it  nor  think  of  taking  any  Steps  in  the  same. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  upon  the  whole  view  of  things  it  should  b»' 
thought  best  to  submit  to  y^  Act,  as  in  that  Case  I  knew  y*"  ])C"- 
ple  would  of  Course  want  y^  Stampt  paper,  I  hoped  they  wouM 


JARED    I>-G£RSOLL    PAPERS,     1765-66.  339 

be  willing  to  receive  the  same  at  my  hands,  with  those  helps  in 
the  Use  &  Application  of  Em  which  from  mj  being  on  y  Spot 
when  y*  Act  passed  I  had  been  able  to  obtain.  With  these  views 
&  with  these  Declarations  I  address  y^  ^on^,  waiting  &  hoping 
to  know  by  some  means  or  other  what  are  \'^  ultimate  Senti- 
ments of  y^  matter.  I  Desire  not  to  give  any  byas,  was  it  in 
my  power.  I  believe  no  person  sees  in  a  stronger  light  than  I 
do  the  trouble  &  Difficulties,  to  say  no  more  of  Em,  that  will 
probably  attend  this  matter,  whether  we  go  forward  or  whether 
we  go  backward. 

I  hope  your  Hon^  will  not  Suffer  any  personal  Considera- 
tions to  divert  your  Attention  from  the  principal  matter.  As  to 
me  I  thought  I  had  Acquitted  myself  with  some  reputation  in 
this  matter.  I  am  sure  I  never  Laboured  harder  in  any  Cause 
in  my  life,  &  shall  always  have  the  Satisfaction  of  knowing  that 
I  have  been  able  a  little  to  Alleviate  the  Act,  tho  I  dont  think  it 
was  in  my  power  or  the  power  of  all  the  Colonies  together  had 
they  been  present  to  have  prevented  it.  I  am  neither  afraid 
nor  ashamed  to  have  my  Conduct  in  this  Affair  Examined  with 
the  utmost  Severity,  but  hope  I  am  not  to  be  Judged  unheard,  k 
by  no  other  proofs  than  the  most  base  &  wicked  insinuations  in 
^N^ewspapers  &  private  malignant  whispers ;  &  should  those 
fires  that  have  been  kindled  in  some  parts  of  y^  Colony  terminate 
in  nothing  worse  than  the  Emblazoning  my  Disgrace,  I  shall  be 
Content.  "Would  the  burning  my  Effigies  or  my  person  save 
this  Colony  from  the  Evils  that  seem  to  impend  I  believe  I 
ought  to  think  it  a  Cheap  Sacrifice; — but  the  difficulty  lies 
much  deeper,  &  here  I  cannot  Content  myself  without  letting 
you  know  what  appears  to  me  what  appear  to  be  y^  Outlines  of 
the  present  Embarrassments. 

The  Parliament  *i'  Even  the  whole  Xation,  as  far  as  I  could 
collect  their  Sense  of  y^  matter,  seem  to  be  fixt  in  y®  following 
points,  viz.  first,  that  America  is  at  this  time  become  too  impor- 
tant to  itself  as  well  as  to  y^  ^Mother  Country  &  to  all  foreign 
powers  to  be  left  to  that  kind  of  Care  *S:  protection  that  was 
Exercised  heretofore  by  Each  independant  Province,  in  y^  Days 
of  their  Infancy  .-—that  there  must  be  some  one  Eye  to  see  over 
&  some  one  hand  to  guide  Sz  direct  y*^  whole  of  its  Defence  «t  pro- 


340  JARED  INGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-GG. 

tection.  In  the  Second  place  that  America  is  able  &:  ought  to 
contribute  Something  toward  this  general  protection,  over  tS: 
above  y^  Advantages  arising  from  y^  American  trade; — the 
Advantages  of  trade  simply  Considered,  they  say,  are  mutual. 
How  this  Something  is  to  be  Contributed  by  America  in  an 
Equal  &  Certain  manner,  seems  to  be  y*"  great  Difficulty.  Per- 
haps nothing  will  Satisfy  y®  mind  &  answer  the  Demands  of 
right  reason,  let  tlie  Constitution  &  Authority  of  Parliament 
be  what  it  will.  Short  of  an  Authority  dependant  on  the  Choice, 
power  &  will  of  America  to  Enforce  this  Contribution;  but 
then  there  Occurs,  at  once,  a  thousand  difficulties  how  to  Obtain 
this  Common  power  tt  Authority,  not  only  without  giving 
Umbrage  to  y*^  Mother  Country,  but  even  as  to  ourselves, — the 
many  Jealousies  that  would  arise  as  to  y^  proportioning  the 
parts  of  this  Common  power,  &  many  more  which  Every  ones 
mind  will  Easily  Suggest.  On  y^  other  hand  to  have  y®  Sole 
power  in  the  Parliament  seems  to  be  attended  with  peculiar 
difficulty  &  not  to  be  free  from  many  great  &  weighty  Objec- 
tions ;  &  this  does  not  Escape  y*  Notice  of  y^  Gentlemen  on 
tother  side  y^  water,  but  they  say  the  measure  is  Xecessary,  that 
y^  Parliament  has  Constitutional  authority  &  that  they  must 
Enforce  because  there  is  no  other  power  that  Can. 

I  have  only  to  wish  that  in  this  Day  of  difficulty  &  perplexity 
Your  Hon",  might  be  at  Liberty  from  the  Eage  of  men  not  alto- 
gether acquainted  perhaps  with  the  nature  &  Extent  of  y^  Sub- 
ject, to  form  such  Pesolutions  as  shall  be  for  y^  ultimate  good 
&:  welfare  of  the  Colony,  to  which  I  shall  always  pay  a  Due 
Deference,  &  shall  always  be  ready  to  serve  my  Country-  in  what 
shall  appear  to  me  to  be  their  true  Interests,  notwithstanding 
their  prejudices  »S:  the  ill  treatment  I  have  or  may  Receive  from 
them,  &  am 

Y^  Hon"  most  Obed^ 
.,  V  .,   ,,_  ^  &  most  HumV  Serv*. 

J :  Ingersoll* 

X  Haven  SepMs'M7(ir>      '     "  "^  -w 

*  Tliis  letter  to  tlie  Ceiieral  Asseinlily  wns  iiicluiied  in  the  Letters  rchitino 
to  the  Stamp  Aet.  ami  is  here  printed  from  the  a\Ulioi's  private  copy. 


JAEED  IXGEUSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-GG.  3-41 

P.  S.  I  have  given  orders  to  have  the  Stampt  paper  for  this 
Colony,  stopt  at  X  York  until  further  orders,  nor  do  I  intend  it 
shall  come  into  this  Colony  by  my  direction,  until  I  shall  be 
able  to  discover  that  it  is  the  Choice  of  the  Gen^  Assembly  & 
people  of  this  Colony  to  have  it  come. 

J.  I. 


COM.AIUXICATIOX    TO    THE    CoXXECTICUT    GaZETTE. 

As  the  Affair,  of  the  19th  Instant,  relating  to  my  renouncing 
the  OiBce  of  Distributor  of  Stamps  for  this  Colony,  is  too  pub- 
lick  to  be  kept  a  Secret;  and  yet'tlie  particulars  of  it  not 
enough  known  to  prevent  many  vague  and  dili'erent  Reports 
concerning  it :  I  thought  it  might  be  well  to  give  the  Publick  a 
brief  Xarrative  of  that  Transaction;  and  which  I  shall  do  with 
all  possible  Impartiality,  without  mentioning  the  Xames  of  any 
of  The  Concerned,  and  without  any  Remarks  or  Animadversions 
upon  the  Subject. 

Having  received  repeated  and  undoubted  Intelligence  of  a 
Design  formed  by  a  great  Xumber  of  People  in  the  eastern 
Parts  of  the  Colony  to  come  and  obtain  from  me  a  Resignation 
of  the  above  mentioned  Office,  I  delivered  to  the  Governor,  on 
the  17th,  at  Xew-Haven,  in  his  way  to  meet  the  General  Assem- 
bly at  Hartford  on  the  19th,  a  written  Information,  acquainting 
him  with  my  said  Intelligence,  and  desiring  of  him  such  Aid 
and  Assistance  as  the  emergency  of  the  Affair  should  require. 
On  the  ISth  I  rode  with  his  Honour  and  some  other  Gentlemen, 
INfembers  of  the  Assembly,  in  hopes  of  Iteiiig  able  to  learn 
more  particularly  the  Time  and  ^ranuer  of  the  intended  Attack. 
About  eighteen  'Miles  from  hence,  on  the  Hartford  Road,  we 
met  two  ^fen  on  Horseljack  with  pretty  long  and  large  new  made 
white  Staves  in  their  Hands,  whom  I  suspected  to  be  part  of  the 
mam  Body.  I  accordingly  stopt  short  fr.uu  the  Company,  and 
askt  them  if  they  were  not  in  pursuit  of  me,  acquainting  them 
who  I  was,  and  that  I  should  not  attempt  to  avoid  meeting  the 


3-42  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-6G. 

People.  After  a  little  Hesitancy  they  frankly  owned  tliat  they 
were  of  that  Party,  and  said  there  were  a  great  Xumber  of  l*eo- 
ple  coming  in  three  Divisions,  one  from  Windham  through 
Hartford,  one  from  Xorwich  through  Haddam,  and  one  from 
JSTew-London,  by  the  way  of  Branford,  and  that  their  Pendez- 
vous  was  to  be  at  Branford  on  the  Evening  of  the  19th,  fruni 
thence  to  come  and  pay  me  a  Visit  on  the  20th.  These  ^len 
said  they  were  sent  forward  in  order  to  reconnoitre  and  to  see 
who  would  join  them.  I  desired  them  to  turn  and  go  with  me 
as  far  as  !Mr.  Bishop's  the  Tavern  at  the  Stone  House,  so  called. 
One  of  them  did.  Here  I  acquainted  the  Governor  and  the 
other  Gentlemen  with  the  Matter;  and  desired  their  Advice, 
The  Governor  said  many  Things  to  this  Man,  pointing  out  to 
him  the  Danger  of  such  a  Step,  and  charging  him  to  go  and  tell 
the  People  to  return  Back ;  but  he  let  the  Governor  know,  that 
they  lookt  npon  this  as  the  Cause  of  the  People,  «Sc  that  they 
did  not  intend  to  take  Directions  about  it  from  any  Body. 

As  I  know,  in  case  of  their  coming  to  Xew-IIaven,  there 
would  most  likely  be  an  Opposition  to  their  Designs  and  prob- 
ably by  the  Militia,  I  was  afraid  lest  some  Lives  might  be  lost, 
and  that  niv  own  Estate  mie-ht  receive  Dama2;e,  I  therefore  con- 
eluded  to  go  forward  and  meet  them  at  Hartford ;  and  accord- 
ingly wrote  a  Letter  to  the  People  who  were  coming  in  the  two 
lower  Divisions,  acquainting  them  generally  with  my  Purposes 
with  regard  to  my  exercising  the  Office  aforesaid,  and  which  I 
had  the  Day  before,  delivered  to  the  Governor  to  be  communi- 
cated to  the  Assembly,  which  were  in  Substance  that  I  should 
decline  the  Business  if  I  found  it  generally 'disagTeeable  to  the 
People,  and  which  I  hojied  would  be  sufficient ;  but  if  not.  tliat 
I  should  be  glad,  if  they  thought  it  worth  their  while,  to  meet 
them  at  Hartford,  and  not  at  Xew-Haven,  assuring  that  T 
should  not  attempt  to  secrete  myself.  This  done,  I  got  ^Iv. 
Bishop  to  go  down  to  Xew-Haven,  with  a  Letter  to  my  Family, 
that  they  and  my  House  might  be  put  in  a  proper  state  of 
Defence  and  Security,  in  case  the  People  should  persist  in  thtir 
first  Design  of  coming  that  way. 

Having  taken  these  Precautions,  I  tarried  that  ISTight  at  !Mr. 


JAEED    IIS^GERSOLL    PAPERS,    17G5-GG,  343 

Bishop's.     The  next  Morning-,   Thursday  the   10th,   I  set  otT 
alone  about  seven  o' Clock,   for  Hartford,  but  just  as  I  was 
mounting,  Mr.  Bishop  said  he  would  go  along  and  see  what 
would  happen,  and  accordingly  overtook  me,  as  I  did  ]\Iajor 
Hall,  a  Member  of  the  Assembly,  upon  the  Road;    and  so  we 
went  on  together  until  we  come  within  two  or  three  ]\liles  of 
Weathersfield,  when  we  met  an  advanced  Party  of  about  four  or 
five  Persons.     I  told  them  who  I  was,  upon  which  they  turned, 
an^  I  fell  into  Conversation  with  them,  upon  the  general  Sub- 
ject of  my   Office,   &e.     About   half  a  Mile  further  we  met 
another   Party   of  about   Thirty  whom   I   accosted,    and   who 
turned  and  went  on  in  the  same  Manner.     "We  rode  a  little  fur- 
ther and  met  the  main  Body,  who,  I  judge,  were  about  Five 
Hundred  Men,  all  on  Horseback,  and  having  white  Staves,  as 
before    described.     They  were   preceded  by   three   Trumpets; 
next  followed  two  Persons  dressed  in  red,  with  laced  Hats ;  then 
the  rest,  two  abreast.     Some  others,  I  think,  were  in  red,  being, 
I  suppose.  Militia  Officers.     They  opened  and  received  me; 
then  all  went  forward  until  we  came  into  the  main  Street  in 
the  Town  of  "Weathersfield,  when  one  riding  up  to  the  Person 
with  wliom  I  was  joined,  and  who  I  took  to  be  the  principal 
Leader  or  Commandant,  said  to  him,  We  can't  all  hear  and  see 
so  well  in  a  House,  we  had  as  good  have  the  Business  done  here; 
upon  this  they  formed  into  a  Circle,  having  me  in  the  Middle, 
with  some  two  or  three  more,  who  seemed  to  be  the  principal 
Managers.  Major  Hall  and  Mr.  Bishop  also  keeping  near  me. 
I  began  to  speak  to  tlie  Audience,  but  stopt  and  said  I  did  not 
know  why  I  should  say  any  Thing  for  that  I  was  not  certain  I 
knew  wliat  they  wanted  of  me;    they  said  they  wanted  me  to 
resign  my  Office  of  Stamp  Distributor.     I  then  went  on  to  tell 
them  that  I  had  always  declared  that  I  would  not  exercise  the 
Office  against  the 'general  Inclinations  of  the  People.     That  I 
had  given  to  the  Governor,  to  be  communicated  to  the  Assembly 
my  Declarations  upon  that  head ;    and  that  I  had  given  Orders 
to  have  the  stamp'd  Papers  stopt  at  Xew-York,  from  whence  it 
should  not  come  until  I  should  be  able  to  learn  from  the  Assem- 
bly that  it  was  their  Choice  and  Inclination  to  have  it  come,  as  I 


344        ^  JARED  IXGERSOLL  TAPERS,  17 C)t)-C)C}. 

did  not  think  it  safe  to  bring  it  in  withont.  That  I  was  nnder 
Bonds  to  the  Stamp  Otfice  in  England,  and  did  not  think  it  safe 
or  proper  for  me  to  resign  the  Otfice  to  every  one  that  should  ask 
it  of  me ;  and  that  I  only  waited  to  know  the  sense  of  the  Gov- 
ernment, whether  to  conform  to  the  Act  or  not  in  order  to  my 
getting  dismissed  from  my  Office  in  a  proper  Planner.  And 
as  it  had  been  said  that  the  Assembly  would  not  say  any  Thing 
about  the  Matter,  I  had  now  put  it  upon  this  fair  Footing,  that 
if  they  did  not,  by  some  Act  relative  to  the  Affair,  plainly  shew 
their  Minds  and  Inclination  to  have  the  stampt  Paper  brought 
into  the  Colony,  I  should  not  think  it  safe,  as  Times  were,  to 
suffer  the  same  to  come  in,  nor  take  any  Steps  in  my  Office ; 
also  observed  to  'em,  that  the  Governor,  would  have  Power  and 
Instructions  to  put  in  another  if  T  should  be  removed ;  that  the 
Step  could  do  them  no  good,  kc.  They  said,  Here  is  the  Sense 
of  the  Government,  and  no  Man  shall  exercise  that  Office.  I 
askt  if  they  thought  it  was  fair  that  the  Counties  of  Windham 
and  Xew-London  should  dictate  to  all  the  rest  of  the  Colony? 
Upon  this  one  said,  It  don't  signify  to  parly — here  is  a  great 
many  People  waiting  and  you  must  resign.  I  said  I  don't 
think  it  proper  to  resign  till  I  meet  a  proper  Authority  to  ask  it 
of  me;  and  added.  What  if  I  won't  resign?  what  will  be  the 
Consequence  ?  One  said  Your  Fafe.  I'pon  which  I  looked  him 
full  in  the  Pace  and  said  with  some  Warmth,  ]\Iy  Fate  you 
say.  Upon  which  a  Person  just  behind  said,  TJie  Fate  of  your 
Office.  I  answered  that  I  could  T)ie,  and  perhaps  as  well  now 
as  another  Time  ;  and  that  I  should  Die  but  once.  Upon  which 
the  Commandant  (for  so,  for  Brevity  sake,  T  beg  Leave  to  call  the 
Person  who  seemed  to  have  the  principal  Conduct  of  the  Affair) 
said  we  had  better  go  along  to  a  Tavern  (and  which  we  did) 
and  cautioned  me  not  to  irritate  the  People.^     When  we  came 

■  *  Tlie  direct  mad  from  Xow  Haven  to  TTartford  fa  part  of  wliat  \va> 
known  as  tlie  Old  Colony  Road  to  Boston)  passed  tliroiijjfli  ^Meriden.  Ber- 
lin, and  the  western  part  of  Wethersfield  (now  Xewiiiirton)  :  and  what  w;i^ 
universally  known  a-  "'the  Old  Stune  House"'  was  on  the  Bekher  Fann 
in  the  pre=;ent  city  of  !Meriden. 

Mr.    In;:er>()ll"s   escort    ap[)ears   to  have   turned   to   the   ri^ht   haml    after 
leavintr   Berlin    (to    fjive   time    for   the    Assembly   to   convene),    and    pa^^^ed 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765—06.  34o 

against  the  House  and  the  People  began  to  alight,  I  said  You 
can  soon  tell  what  you  intend  to — my  Business  is  at  Hartford — 
may  I  go  there  or  Home? — and  made  a  ]\Iotion  to  go.  They 
said  Xo,  You  sha'n't  go  two  Eods  from  this  Spot,  before  you 
have  resigned;  and  took  hold  of  my  Horse's  Bridle;  when, 
after  some  little  Time,  I  dismounted  and  went  into  the  Huuse 
with  the  Persons  who  were  called  the  Committee,  being  a  cer- 
tain Xumbcr  of  the  principal  Persons,  the  main  Body  contin- 
uing without  Doors.  And  here  I  ought  not  to  omit  mentioning 
that  I  was  told  repeatedly  that  they  had  no  Intentions  of  hurting 
me  or  my  Estate;  but  would  use  me  like  a  Gentleman;  this 
however  I  conclude  they  will  understand  was  on  Condition  I 
should  comply  with  their  Demands. 

When  I  came  into  the  House  with  this  select  committee  a 
great  deal  of  Conversation  passed  upon  the  Subject,  and  upon 
some  other  ^Matters,  as  my  being  supposed  to  be  in  England 
when  the  first  leading  Vote  of  Parliament  passed  relative  to 
the  Stamp- Act,  and  my  not  advising  the  Governor  of  it; 
whereas  I  was  at  that  time  in  America, — and  the  like,  too 
tedious  to  relate.  Upon  the  whole,  This  Committee  behaved 
wdth  ^loderation  and  Civility,  and  I  thought  seemed  inclined  to 
listen  to  certain  Proposals  which  I  made ;  but  when  the  Body  of 
the  People  come  to  hear  them  they  rejected  'em,  and  nothing 
would  do  but  I  must  resign. 

While  I  was  detained  here,  I  saw^  several  Members  of  the 
Assembly  pass  by,  whom  I  hailed,  acquainting  them  that  I  was 
there  kept  and  detained  as  a  Prisoner;  and  desired  their  and 
the  Assembly's  Assistance  for  my  Eelief.  They  stopt  and 
spoke  X6  the  People ;  but  were  told  they  had  better  go  along  to 
the  Assembly  where  they  might  possibly  be  wanted.  Major 
Hall  also  finding  his  Presence  not  altogether  agreeable,  went 
away;  And  I\[r.  Bishop,  by  my  Desire,  went  away  to  let  the 
Governor  and  Assembly  know  the  Situation  I  was  in. 

After  much  Time  spent  in  fruitless  Proposals,  I  was  told  the 

tliroii;.']!  Wetliprsfield  villaj:?.  hiiUin<j  to  carry  out  their  .K'siou  on  tlie 
Avest  >i«le  of  lower  Broad  Street,  in  front  of  Colonel  John  Chester's  house, 
under  an  elm  tree  whieh  has  disappeared  only  within  tlie  last  half-century. 


346  JAKED  IXGEESOLL  TAPERS,  1765-66. 

People  grew  very  impatient,  and  that  I  must  bring  the  flatter 
to  a  Conclusion ;  I  then  told  "em  I  had  no  more  to  say,  and  askt 
what  they  wonld  do  with  mo  ?  They  said  they  wouM  carry  me 
to  Windham  a  Prisoner,  but  would  keep  me  like  a  Gentleman. 
I  told  them  I  would  go  to  Windham,  that  I  had  lived  very  well 
there,  and  should  like  to  go  and  live  there  again.  This  did  not 
do.  They  then  advised  me  to  move  from  the  front  Window,  as 
the  Sight  of  me  seemed  to  enrage  the  People.  Sometimes  the 
People  from  below  would  rush  into  the  Poom  in  great  Xumbers, 
and  look  pretty  fierce  at  me,  and  then  the  Committee  would 
desire  them  to  withdraw. 

To  conclude.- — After  about  three  Hours  spent  in  this  Kind 
of  Way,  and  they  telling  me  that  certain  of  their  Gentlemen, 
Members  of  the  General  Assembly,  had  told  them  that  they 
must  get  the  Matter  over  before  the  Assembly  had  Time  to  do 
any  Thing  about  it ;  and  that  it  was  my  Artifice  to  wheedle  the 
Matter  along  until  the  Assembly  should,  some  how  or  other  get 
ensnared  in  the  Matter,  &c.  The  Commandant  coming  up  from 
below,  with  Xumbers  following  close  behind  in  the  Passage, 
told  me  with  seeming  Concern  in  his  Countenance,  that  he  could 
not  keep  the  People  off  from  me  any  longer ;  and  that  if  they 
once  began,  he  coiild  not  promise  me  where  they  would  end.  I 
now  thought  it  was  Time  to  submit.  I  told  him  I  did  not  think 
the  Cause  worth  dying  for,  and  that  I  would  do  whatever  they 
should  desire  me  to  do.  Upon  this  I  look'd  out  at  a  front  Win- 
dow, beckoned  the  People  and  told  'em,  I  had  consented  to  com- 
ply with  their  Desires ;  and  only  waited  to  have  something 
dra"\Am  up  for  me  to  sign.  We  then  went  to  Work  to  prepare 
the  Draught.  I  attempted  to  make  one  myself;  but  they  not 
liking  it,  said  they  would  draw  one  themselves,  which  they  did. 
and  I  signed  it.  They  then  told  me  that  the  People  insisted  on 
my  being  Sworn  never  to  execute  the  Otlice.  This  I  refused  to 
do  somewhat  peremtorily ;  urging  that  I  thought  it  would  be 
a  Prophanation  of  an  Oath,  The  Committee  seemed  to  think 
it  might  be  dispensed  with ;  but  said  the  People  would  not 
excuse  it.  One  of  the  Committee  however  said,  he  wouLl  go 
down  and  try  to  persuade  them  ofl:"  from  it.     I  saw  him  from  my 


/       ,r'^ 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-CG.  347 

Window  amidst  the  Circle,  and  observing  that  the  People 
seemed  more  and  more  iixt  in  their  Kesolution  of  insisting  upon 
it,  I  got  up  and  told  the  People  in  the  Room,  I  would  go  and 
throw  myself  among  them,  and  went  down,  they  following  me. 
When  I  came  to  the  Circle,  they  opened  and  let  me  in,  when  I 
mounted  a  Chair  which  stood  there  by  a  Table,  and  having 
pulled  olT  my  Hat  and  beckoned  Silence,  I  proceeded  to  read  off 
the  Declaration  which  I  had  signed ;  and  then  proceeded  to  tell 
them,  that  I  believed  I  was  as  averse  to  the  Stamp-x\ct  as  any 
of  tliem ;  that  I  had  accepted  my  Appointment  to  this  Office,  I 
thought  upon  the  fairest  Motives ;  finding,  however,  how  very 
obnoxious  it  was  to  the  People,  I  had  found  myself  in  a  very 
disagreeable  Situation  ever  since  my  coming  Home ;  that  I 
found  myself,  at  the  same  Time,  under  such  Obligations  that  I 
did  not  think  myself  at  Liberty  peremtorily  to  resign  my  Office 
without  the  Leave  of  those  who  appointed  me;  that  I  was  very 
sorry  to  see  the  Country  in  the  Situation  it  was ;  that  I  could 
nevertheless,  in  some  Measure,  excuse  the  People,  as  I  believed 
they  were  actuated,  by  a  real  though,  I  feared,  a  misguided  Zeal 
for  the  Good  of  their  Country ;  and  that  I  wished  the  Transac- 
tions of  that  Day  might  prove  happy  for  this  Colony,  tho'  I 
must  own  to  them,  I  very  much  feared  the  Contrary; — and 
much  more  to  the  same  Purpose. 

"V^Tien  I  had  done,  a  Person  who  stood  near  me,  told  me  to  give 
Liberty  and  Property,  with  three  Cheers,  which  I  did,  throwing 
up  my  Hat  into  the  Air;  this  was  followed  by  loud  Huzzas; 
and  then  the  People  many  of  them  were  pleased  to  take  me  by 
the  Hand  and  tell  me  I  was  restored  to  their  former  Friendship. 
I  then  went  with  two  or  three  more  to  a  neighbouring  House, 
where  we  dined.  I  was  then  told  the  Company  expected  to 
wait  on  me  into  Hartford,  where  they  expected  I  should  pub- 
lish my  Declaration  again.  I  reminded  them  of  what  they  had 
before  told  me,  that  it  might  possibly  ensnare  the  Assembly  for 
them  to  have  an  Opportunity  to  act,  or  do  any  Thing  about  this 
Matter.  Some  inclined  to  forego  tliis  Step,  but  the  main  Body 
insisted  on  it.  We  accordingly  mounted,  I  believe  by  this  Time 
to   the   Xumlier   of  near  one   Tliousand    and    rode   into   Hart- 


348  .TARED    TXOEKSOLL    TArERS,    1TC5-GG. 

ford,  the  Assembly  then  sitting.  They  dismounted  opposite  the 
Assembly  House,  and  about  twenty  Yards  from  it.  Some  of 
them  conducted  me  into  an  adjoining  Tavern,  while  the  main 
Body  drew  up  I'our  abreast  and  marched  in  Form  round  the 
Court  House,  proceeded  by  three  Trumpets  sounding;  then 
formed  into  a  Semi-circle  at  the  Door  of  the  Tavern.  I  was 
then  directed  to  go  down  and  read  the  Paper  I  had  sigiied,  and 
which  I  did  within  tlie  Presence  and  Hearing  of  the  Assemldy; 
and  only  added  that  I  wisht  the  Consequences  of  this  r)ay''s 
Transaction  might  be  happy.  This  was  succeeded  with  Liberty 
and  Property  and  three  Cheers;  soon  after  which  the  People 
began  to  draw  off,  and  T  suppose  went  Home.  I  understand 
they  came  out  with  eight  Days  Provision,  determined  to  find 
me,  if  in  the  Colony. 

I  believe  the  whole  Time  I  was  with  them  was  better  than 
three  Hours,  during  a  Part  of  which  Time,  I  am  told  the  Assem- 
bly were  busy  in  forming  some  Plan  for  my  Pelief,  the  lower 
House  thinking  to  send  any  Force,  was  it  in  their  Power,  might 
do  more  hurt  than  good  to  me,  agreed  to  advise  the  sending  some 
Persons  of  Influence  to  interpose  by  Persuasion,  tSic.  and  com- 
municated their  Desire  to  the  upper  Board,  in  Consequence 
whereof  certain  Gentlemen  of  the  House  were  desired  and  were 
about  to  come  to  my  Kelief,  it  being  alx)ut  half  an  Hour's  Bide ; 
but  before  they  set  out  they  heard  the  Matter  was  finished. 
Had  they  come,  I  conclude  it  would  have  had  no  Eft'ect. 

This,  according  to  the  best  of  my  Becollection,  is  the  Sub- 
stance of  the  Transaction ;  and  in  most  of  it  I  have  had  the 
concurrent  Ben\embrance  and  Assent  of  the  beforementioned 
Mr.  Bishop.  Tf  I  have  omitted  or  misreported  any  Thing 
material,  I  hope  it  will  be  imputed  to  want  of  Memory  only — as 
I  mean  not  to  irritat<^  or  inflame,  but  merely  to  satisfy  the 
Curious,  and  to  place  Facts  in  a  true  and  undisguised  Light. 

J.  L* 
Xew-Haven,  September  23,  17G5. 

*  This  account  was  piiUli-luHl  by  Mr.  In^'cr^oll  in  The  Connecticut  Gnzcite 
of  Sei)teniber  27..  17r>-5.  and  republished  in  the  Letters  relating  to  the 
Stamp-Act.  *•'     '"  ''■    •■     '■      "         ;-r;;,.      f  :.  .; 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS.  iTGo-GG.  349 

P.  S.  I  perceive  these  People,  the  Xight  before  this  Affair 
happened,  phieeJ  a  Guard  round  the  Court  House  in  Hartford, 
and  at  my  usual  Lodgings  in  that  Town ;  also  secured  the  Pas- 
sage over  the  Bridge  in  the  Town ;  and  all  the  Passes  even  by 
the  Farmington  Poad ;  to  prevent  my  getting  into  Town  that 
Xight ; — a  needless  Pains  had  they  known  it.  The  Members  of 
the  Assemblv  arrived  in  Town  the  same  Evenino;. 


Letter  to  William  Livixgston. 

■  -    -         :N':  Haven,  Oct^  r\  1765. 

It  is  much  if  you  dont  by  this  time  paint  me  out  in  imagina- 
tion as  a  kind  of  fiend  with  a  cloven  foot  and  fury-forked 
tongue,  a  Court  Parasite  &:  a  Lover  of  the  Stamp  Act;  and 
yet  the  truth  is  that  I  love  the  Stamp  Act  about  as  little  as  you 
do,  ifc  remonstrated  to  the  late  Minister  against  it  all  in  my 
power.  What !  and  Accept  of  the  Office  of  Distributer  of 
Stamps  when  you  had  done  ?  impossible !  a  Strange  paradox 
this  I  suppose  at  present,  &  I  dare  say  will  remain  so  till  y^ 
times  are  a  little  more  moderate,  tS:  so  I  wont  trouble  you  with 
an  xVttempt  to  Explain  it. 

We  having  now  got  rid  of  all  the  Stamp  Officers,  I  suppose  we 
have  nothing  left  for  us  to  do  but  just  to  get  rid  of  the  Stamp 
Act  itself.  I  wait  impatiently  to  See  how^  you  will  go  about 
this  at  X :  York.  I  own  I  expect  you  will  be  the  very  first  who 
will  introduce  it;  not  iK-cause  I  think  you  less  patriotick  than 
your  neighbors,  but  because  the  Stamps  will  be  handier  to  you 
than  to  most  others. 

I  went  to  England  last  winter  with  the  strongest  prejudices 
against  the  Parliamentary  Authority  in  this  Case;  &  came 
home,  I  don't  love  to  say  convinced,  but  confoundedly  begad  & 
bcswompt,  as  we  say  in  Connecticut.  Virtually  represented, 
has  been  so  prettily  ridiculed  that  one  should  almost  conclude 
that  Calvinism  itself  is  a  blunder,  and  that  Representation  lic 


350  JAKED    IJv'GERSOLL    TAPEUS,    1765-66. 

Election  are  always  Correlitives.  ISTothing  is  more  true  than 
that  no  Taxes  can  be  Imposed  according  to  the  English  Law  ^l- 
Constitution,  hut  by  the  peoples  consent  in  Parliament  by  their 
representatives,  and  tis  Equally  a  !Maxim  of  English  Libcrtv 
that  no  Laws  can  be  made  or  abrogated  but  by  their  Consent  in 
the  same  manner.  iSTow  I  want  you  to  tell  me  whether  the  Par- 
liament can  or  cannot  make  any  Laws  that  shall  have  any  bind- 
ing force  upon  us  in  America.  ^STo  man  sees  in  a  stronger  light 
than  I  do  the  dangerous  tendency  of  admitting  for  a  principle 
that  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain  may  tax  us  ad  libitum. 
I  view-  it  as  a  gulph  ready  to  devour,  but  when  I  look  all  round 
I  am  at  a  loss  for  a  plan.  I  think  there  is  all  the  reason  in  the 
world  why  we  should  be  in  a  Situation  Equally  safe  with  the 
people  in  England ;  but  how,  and  what,  and  when,  I  am  almost 
weary  in  y®  Enquiry.  I  want  to  talk  with  you  about  four 
hours.  I  spent  the  whole  winter  among  Politicians,  both  Eng- 
lish &  American,  and  among  Em  all  found  no  plan  for  America 
that  did  not  appear  to  me  full  of  the  greatest  diiBculty  &  Embar- 
rassment. 

Brother  Johnson  will  be  with  you  soon  &  can  tell  you  more 
from  me  than  I  can  Communicate  in  a  Letter,  &  by  him  I  shall 
be  exceeding  glad  to  Learn  your  real  Sentiments  in  this  matter. 
I  think  it  behooves  every  one  to  do  his  utmost  at  a  time  when 
nothing  but  distress  and  trouble  are  in  prospect. 

I  hear  there  are  many  Strange  Stories  to  my  disadvantage 
Current  at  X  York,  which  T  shall  not  give  myself  the  trouble  to 
contradict,  as  I  know  at  this  time  tis  not  in  my  power  to  con- 
vince by  the  best  «t  strongest  evidence.  !My  own  consciousness 
of  innocence  no  man  can  take  from  me. 

Please  to  make  my  Comp^  to  M"  Livingston  &  to  all  those 
gentlemen  whom  I  had  once  the  honor  of  calling  my  friends  cV* 
who  I  hope  will  not  quite  give  me  up  yet. 

I  am  S".  y'  Most  Obed'.  Humb.  Serv'. 

J.  Ingersoll. 

W"  Livingston  Esq^  .     .  '       ■ 

[Copy.]  ■"    ■    '■ 


jared  ixgersoll  papers,   1765-gg.  351 

Letter  to  Thomas  Whately. 

Xew  Haven  Xov^  2'^.  1765 
Dear  Sir. 

In  niv  last  wliicli  was  the  9^^.  of  SeptemV.  I  acquainted  you 
witli  the  Appearances  in  these  parts  relative  to  the  Stamp  Act, 
with  the  very  general  commotion  among  the  people  vt  with  the 
many  insults  that  had  been  offered  to  me  as  well  as  to  the  Act 
of  Parliament  itself,  by  burning  in  Effigy  &  the  like.  Since 
that,  viz.  on  the  19*^.  of  September  I  met  with  an  Extraordinary 
instance  of  violence  offered  to  me  in  person,  &  wbk^  Exiorte»i 
from  me  a  declaration  of  renouncing  the  office  of  Distributer  of 
Stamps  for  this  Colony,  a  particular  Account  of  which  aff'air 
you  have  in  the  inclosed  Xews  paper  of  the  27^^.  of  the  same 
Septemb'". 

I  also  acquainted  you  that  the  General  Assembly  of  last  ^lay, 
from  the  [Moderation  of  the  times,  did  not  Seem  at  all  disposed 
to  oppose  the  Stamp  Act,  tho  the  Same  was  far  from  being 
agreeable  to  them ;  but  the  Confusions  of  later  times  occasioned 
a  Choice  of  new  Members,  to  the  amount  of  about  half  the  lum- 
bers in  the  lower  house  of  Assembly,  for  the  late  Session  in 
OctoV.,  A:  generally  such  as  were  very  warm  against  the  Stamp 
Act.  This,  with  the  general  Cry  that  way,  so  iixt  the  Assembly 
in  their  opposition  to  the  Act,  that  it  has  been  almost  dangerous 
for  any  person  to  talk  of  a  Submission  to  it,  and  the  result  of  all 
has  been  the  passing  the  Kesolutions  contained  in  the  enclosed 
Xewspaper  of  the  iirst  instant,  wherein  among  other  things 
they  say,  the  Stamp  Act  is  unprecedented  and  unconstitu- 
tional—in which  I  am  told  all  the  Members  of  the  lower  house 
Concurred  except  about  five^ ;  the  Upper  house  also  Con- 
ctirred  by  a  Majority  of  voices,  in  directing  to  have  the  resolves 
go  on  the  records  of  the  Colony,  and  tis  concluded  to  transact  no 
business  this  winter  that  requires  Stampt  paper,  nor  until  we 

*  Captain  Henry  Glover,  of  Newtown.  Thomas  Fitch,  Jr.,  and  Epcnetus 
Piatt,  of  Xorwalk,  Soth  Wetmore,  of  Middlero^-n,  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Gale, 
of  Killing^vorth,  are  the  five  usually  named  in  this  list  of  exceptions;  to 
these  names  are  le««s  confidently  added  Oliver  Tousey,  of  Newtown,  and 
Partridge  Thatcher,  of  New  2^Iilford. 


352  JARED  IXGERSOLT,  PAPERS,  1765-G6. 

shall  hear  wliethcr  the  Act  will  be  repealed  or  not ;  if  it  should 
not,  I  dont  yet  know  what  we  are  to  do  next.  The  peoples 
Spirits  are  kept  up ;  no  person  dares  introduce  or  make  use  of 
any  Stamps ;  those  for  this  Colony  are  lodged,  by  my  desire,  in 
the  fort  at  X.  York,  there  to  remain  till  further  orders. 

The  Govcrnour  with  much  difficulty  got  Sworn  to  the  Observ- 
ance of  the  Act,  all  his  Council  except  four  expressly  refusing 
to  Swear  him,  &  Even  abruptly  left  the  room  when  the  oath  was 
about  to  be  administred,  declaring  they  could  not  in  Conscience 
be  present,  as  they  Esteemed  the  Oath  inconsistent  with  the 
Provincial  Oath  of  the  Govcrnour,  &  some  of  them  say  they  shall 
not  Scruple  as  Judges  to  Declare  the  Act  of  Parliament  ipso 
facto  void.      Such  are  the  times  here. 

The  Govcrnour,  from  the  first,  since  the  Act  passed  has  been 
fully  resolved  to  Comply  with  &  obey  it,  as  being  a  Command  by 
the  Authority  of  the  Xation,  which  he  is  not  disposed  to  Contro- 
vert or  disobey.  Of  the  same  opinion  &■  disposition  are  four  of 
his  Council  and  indeed  many  other  people,  but  their  voice  is 
drowned  amid  the  general  Cry,  and  those  in  power  who  dare 
favor  the  Act  may  Expect  Speedy  Political  death.  A  Govcr- 
nour in  this  Colony  you  know  has  no  jSTegative  to  any  Act  of 
Assembly,  nor  can  he  Exercise  Scarce  any  power  but  as  the 
Assembly  give  him  leave,  tS:  no  one  dares  »S:  few  in  power  are 
disposed  to  punish  any  violences  that  are  oifered  to  the  Author- 
ity of  the  Act ; — in  Short  all  the  Springs  of  Government  are 
broken,  and  nothing  but  Anarchy  and  Confusion  appear  in 
prospect. 

Some  think  the  distresses  which  the  want  of  the  Stampt 
papers'uill  Occasion,  will  put  the  people  upon  moving  the  Assem- 
bly to  desire  me  to  introduce  and  distribute  them.  Should  this 
be  the  Case  I  should  not  Scruple  to  Officiate,  notwithstanding" 
my  forced  resignation ;  but  if,  as  others  think,  the  people  will 
Suffer  any  Evil  rather  than  become  Shives,  as  they  think  they 
shall,  by  Conforming  to  the  Act,  «S:  if  in  that  Case  any  kind  of 
force  should  be  made  Use  of  to  guard  the  officer  or  the  like. 
T  should  not  think  my  person  or  dwelling  safe  was  I  to  attempt 
to  Exercise  the  Otfice.  and  therefore  must  in  that  Case  beg  to  lie 
Excused  and  that  some  other  may  be  Appointt-d  in  my  room. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-G6.  353 

Tis  bard,  my  friend,  after  having  done  every  thing  in  my 
power  to  prevent  &  to  moderate  the  Act,  as  you  are  my  "Witness 
I  did,  to  be  Charged  with  being  the  Author  of  it,  at  least  with 
having  inhanced  it  for  the  Sake  of  my  own  proiit,  then  to  have 
the  Office,  which  you  know  was  mentioned  to  me  by  you  before 
over  I  thought  of  it,  wrested  out  of  my  hands  by  a  ^Mob,  and  to 
be  left  to  be  insulted  by  that  very  ]Mob  A:  those  very  persons  who 
set  Em  on  me,  for  my  reward,  having  run  the  risque  even  of  my 
very  life  also  in  the  matter.  These  are  trying  things,  I  assure 
you,  yet  I  keep  up  my  Spirits  &  preser\-e,  I  think,  a  good  degree 
of  philosophick  fortitude.  I  am  not  without  friends,  &  those 
whom  you  would  Esteem  the  better  people  in  the  Colony.  The 
Governour  is  my  fast  friend,  as  I  am  his,  &:  can  only  wish  he 
had  that  Countenance  and  Approbation  which  his  Conduct  &: 
behaviour  upon  all  Occasions  well  deserves.  I  am  full  of 
Apprehension  for  my  Country,  which  I  cannot  but  regard  not- 
withstanding the  Abuses  I  have  met  with  in  it. 

Some  say  the  Stamp  Act  is  to  be  repealed ;  if  it  should,  I 
will  be  Content  to  Suffer  all — cV'  bear  all  without  regret  or 
recompence.  Others  say  it  is  to  be  moderated  only ;  this  I 
think  may  well  be  done,  as  tis  most  likely  we  rather  under  than 
overcast  the  probable  amount  of  it.  Let  me  suggest  that  to 
repeal  all  the  Probate  testamentary  part  will  take  away  the  Cry 
of  the  widow  &  fatherless.  The  Registry  of  deeds  amounts  to 
but  little  &  is  very  burdensome  as  we  register  in  books.  Process 
before  Single  Justices  for  forty  shillings,  being  generally  for 
debt,  falls  very  nuich  on  the  poor.     Do  try  to  get  these  Eased, 

if  no  more 

T  am  S""  ..  :      . 

Y'  Most  Obed^  Ilnml/  Serv*. 

J.  Ino-crsoll." 
To  Th :  Wliately,  Esq^  -^      ^  -         "• 

Copy  .      ■  ' 

*  This  lelter  liaviiifr  hoconio  pulilic  boforo  bcina  forwartled.  \vn>  VPcalled 
In-  the  author  an<l  never  sent.  Throe  sojiarate  drafts  of  the  nianu-eript  are 
preserved,  \vliich  have  been  eonijiared  for  the  present  purpose.  A  few  foot- 
notes were  added  in  tlie  copy  printed  in  Letters  rclatimj  to  tlte  Stamp-Act. 

13 


354  jared  ixgeesoll  papers,   17g5-66. 

Letter  to  the  Stamp  Com.missioners. 

X:  Haven  Xov^  2*^:  1705 
May  it  please  Y"".  Hon'. 

Upon  my  first  arrival  from  England  at  Boston  the  later  End 
of  July  last,  I  found  Every  thing  full  as  quiet  with  regard  to  the 
Stamp  Aet,  as  T  expected,  and  from  the  informations  I  there 
received  from  this  Colony  had  no  reason  to  Expect  any  other 
than  a  Submission  to  it  here,  tho  much  ag\  the  peoples  inclina- 
tions. About  this  time  the  resolves  of  the  Assembly  of  Virginia 
(&  which  you  have  doubtless  seen  before  now)  began  to  be 
spread  abroad  in  these  parts,  at  which  the  peoples  Spirits  catch- 
ing fire,  burst  forth  into  a  blaze,  first  at  Boston,  then  in  this 
Colony  »S:  Elsewhere,  an  Account  of  all  which  you  must  have 
had  before  this  time.  The  plan  adopted  by  the  populace  was  to 
force  the  Stamp  Otiicers  to  a  resignation  »k  then  to  proceed  in 
business  as  usual  without  the  use  of  Stamps.  I  myself  after 
being  burnt  in  Effigy  in  many  places  by  the  populace  «i^  Suffer- 
ing all  the  insult  and  indignity  that  either  tlie  wit  or  malice  of 
men  could  invent,  besides  threats  as  to  my  person  &  house,  met 
with  a  force  on  the  19*^.  of  Se2^t^.  which  Extorted  from  me  a 
like  declaration  of  renouncing  the  office  of  Distributer  of  Stauips 
for  this  Colony,  as  had  been  done  in  neighbouring  Colonies, — a 
particular  Account  cl'  detail  of  which  affair  is  contained  in  tho 
inclosed  news  paper  of  the  27'^.  of  Sepf.  to  which  I  beg  leave  u^ 
refer  you.  I  was  about  to  write  you  of  this  matter  immediately 
after  it  happened,  but  on  further  thoughts  concluded  to  wait  till 
this  time,  as  not  knowing  but  that  the  people  who  offered  this 
violence  when  they  come  to  cool  would  think  proper  to  release 
me;-  or  that  the  Gen\  Assembly  of  y''  Colony  which  mt-fts 
annually  in  OctoV.  would  take  some  Steps,  either  inviting  m<- 
to  officiate  in  the  office  or  engaging  some  protection,  in  whieii 
case  I  should  not  have  Scrupled  to  proceed  in  distributing  the 
papers,  if  by  these  means  I  found  it  to  be  the  mind  of  the  body 
of  the  people  that  I  should.  But  instead  of  my  meeting  with 
any  thing  of  this  kind,  I  have  now  to  inform  you  that  the  IL>ii~<' 
of  Bepresentatives  of  this  Colony,  at  their  late  Sessions  hav-^ 
among  other  things  Vuted  the  Act  of  Parliament  imposing  th<' 
Stamp  duties  unprecedenled  and  U nconstitutional,  k  concliulfii 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-6G.  355 

to  let  the  Ensuing  winter  pass  without  transacting  any  business 
that  requires  the  use  of  Stampt  papers,  &  in  the  meantime  to 
Petition  Parliament  for  a  repeal  of  the  Act.  What  will  be  done 
in  case  the  Act  shall  not  be  repealed  I  cannot  tell.  Gox-^.  Fitch 
from  the  first,  as  also  four  of  his  Council,  altho'  heartily  wishing 
the  Act  had  not  passed,  have  been  disposed  to  Submit  to  it.  as  to 
A  Law  Enacted  bv  the  Authority  of  Parliament  «t  which  they 
should  not  undertake  to  dispute  or  disobey ;  which  four  as  well 
as  the  Gov'",  Especially  the  later,  have  but  too  much  reason  to 
Expect  to  fall  a  political  Sacrifice  to  the  resentments  of  the  peo- 
ple ;  the  one  for  presuming  to  take,  the  others  to  administer,  the 
Oath  required  by  the  Act;  the  Lower  house  I  understand  all 
concurred  in  their  resolves,  Except  about  five  persons. 

The  first  parcel  of  Stampt  papers  designed  for  this  Colony 
arrived  at  Xew  York  about  a  week  ago  &  are  Safely  lodged  by 
ray  desire  in  the  fort  there.  I  have  advised  with  Gov^.  Fitch 
about  Sending  for  them  into  this  Colony.  He  thinks  it  by  no 
means  Safe  as  we  have  no  Strong  hold  in  which  to  place  them, 
tt  the  peoples  threats  continued  in  the  most  open  &  highhanded 
strain  to  destroy  them  if  they  come;  specimens  of  which 
threatnings  you  may  see  in  the  inclosed  Xewspaper  of  the  first 
instant,  »i:  which  contains  the  resolutions  of  the  house  of  repre- 
sentitives  of  this  Colony.  Indeed  you  must  know  &  be  fully 
informed  from  all  quarters  that  the  rage  of  the  people  is  so 
great  that  it  is  almost  dangerous  to  say  a  word  in  favour  of  a 
Submission  to  the  Act.  &  that  it  is  at  present  al>solutely  impos- 
sible for  me  to  distribute  any  of  the  papers.  What  will  be  the 
End  of  these  things  God  only  knows.  Some  think  the  dis- 
tresses of  the  people  which  will  bo  occasioned  for  want  of  y^ 
Stamps  will  force  them  even  to  invite  me  to  distribute  them. 
1  he  people  most  of  them  say  they  are  as  willing  I  should  dis- 
tribute them  as  another,  but  that  they  shall  not  be  distributed  by 
anybody.  Others  think  they  will  even  Suft'er  death  k  Every 
Evil  before  they  will  Conform  to  the  Act,  as  thinking  from  that 
moment  they  shall  commence  Slaves.  Should  the  people  con- 
clude to  take  Em  I  should  be  willing  to  distribute  the  papers, 
but  if  there  must  be  any  kind  of  force  or  compulsion  used  to 
this  End,  I  shall  be  ghid  to  be  excused. 


356  JAEED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1TG5-G6. 

It  is  said  by  some  the  Act  will  be  abated  in  part,  by  others  that 
it  will  be  repealed.  It"  the  later  takes  place  I  shall  be  glad  to 
drown  all  my  little  interests  in  the  general  good;  but  if  part 
only  is  intended  to  be  taken  off,  I  beg  leave  to  suggest  to  ease  all 
Probate  &  Testamentary  matters — the  Cry  of  the  "Widow  *N: 
fatherless  would  not  then  be  heard,  and  Estates  here  are  but 
Small  (i:  can  but  illy  bear  any  duty ;  also  the  duty  registring 
deeds,  which  will  raise  but  a  trifle  &.  yet  occasions  so  much 
troulde,  especially  here  where  we  make  use  of  books  to  register 
in ;  also  the  Judgments  &  process  for  forty  Shillings,  which 
with  us  is  before  Single  Justices  of  the  peace,  &  being  gen- 
erally for  Debt  the  duty  falls  heavy  on  the  poor.  I  think  these 
abatements  might  well  enough  be  made,  as  tis  probable  to  me  the 
computations  of  the  Sums  expected  to  be  raised  were  rather 
under  than  overcast  by  the  ^Ministry  &  those  who  assisted  them 
in  that  matter  and  money  in  the  Colonies  at  this  time  is  certainly 
extremely  Scarce. 

I  shall  write  to  you  again  soon  &  in  the  luean  time,  while  I 
impatiently  wait  the  Isue  of  the  measures  on  your  side  the 
water  as  well  as  ours,  shall  consult  the  Govcrnour  from  time  to 
time  and  pursue  such  measures  in  disposing  k  securing  of  the 
Stamp  papers  as  I  shall  Judge  will  turn  to  the  best  Account  of 
his  ^Majestys  interest. 

I  have  received  no  letter  or  directions  whatever  from  the 
Board,  but  shall  expect  something  by  the  next  Packet.  The 
Go^'^.  cannot  but  wonder  (5:  regret  that  he  should  not  have 
received  from  the  ^linistrv  or  otherwise  one  sin2;le  word  al)0ut 
the  Stamp  Act. 

I  am  Your  mcist  Obed\ 
'    ■  •■  it  most  HumV  Serv'. 

J:  Ingersoll.* 
To  the  IIon\  Commiss'^.  of  Stamps. 

*  This  letter,  which  was  tiiuiUy  witliliekl  and  never  sent,  is  preserA'ed  in 
two  separate  drafts  amnng  Mr.  IiigersoU's  papers.  As  printed  in  lii-' 
Letters  rrhitinq  to  tfie  Sfnnip-Art,  with  foot-notes,  it  is  drawn  mainly  ivmu 
the  longer  of  tlie  two  nianu<eript  drafts;  but  the  other  draft  is  here 
followed,  as  ai)pareiitly   representing  the  author's  maturer  judgment. 


jared  ixgersoll  papeks,   17g5-gg.  357 

Letter  to  Richard  Jacksox. 

X  Haven  Xov^  3^  1TC5 

jy.  s\ 

I  wrote  you  from  Boston  soon  after  my  arrival  there  from 
England  in  July.  Since  tliat  time  I  have  been  too  much 
Employed  for  my  own  Safety  tt  the  regulation  of  my  Conduct 
amidst  the  Confusions  of  this  Country  to  be  able  to  attend  to 
the  rights  of  friendship.  ^Yhen  I  first  came  home  every  thing 
appeared  tolerably  quiet,  but  the  Virginia  Resolves  taking  air 
threw  Boston  into  a  flame,  where  after  having  ofl'ered  the  high- 
est indigTiities  to  ]^I^  Oliver  the  ]\[ob  fell  upon  Lieu*.  Gov'' 
Ilutchinsons  house  &  destroyed  it,  with  every  thing  in  it,  with  a 
more  than  Savage  fury.  The  Same  Spirit  Spread  itself  into 
this  Colony,  where  I  suffered  in  common  with  my  brother  offi- 
cers the  indiunitv  of  bein"-  b\irnt  in  Eflio-v  &  of  havinir  everv  ill 
natured  thing  published  of  me  in  Xewspapers  in  the  most  unre- 
strained manner.  I  have  been  called  Traitor,  Parricide  l^-  the 
hardest  of  Xames — am  Charged  with  having  Contributed  to  get 
the  Stamp  Act  passed,  &  all  to  secure  to  myself  the  Office  of 
Distributor.  '         •     '  ■ 

On  the  lO**".  of  SeptemV.  I  met  with  a  very  Extraordinary 
violence  &:  which  Extorted  from  me  a  Declaration  of  renounc- 
ing the  afores^.  office,  a  particular  account  of  which  you  have  in 
the  enclosed  Xewspaper  of  the  27*^.  of  the  same  Sep''.  Since 
that  time  I  have  been  a  little  more  at  Ease,  but  the  Colony  as 
well  as  the  Xeighbouring  Provinces  are  in  a  great  ferment.  Our 
Assembly  of  last  May  I  am  told  were  moderate,  but  that  of 
Oct'',  have  gone  so  far  as  to  Vote  the  Stamp  Act  unprecedenteil 
i:  unconstitutional,  as  you  will  see  by  the  inclosed  Xewspaper 
of  the  first  Instant.  The  Gov'',  with  much  difficulty  got  Sworn 
by  four  of  the  Council,  the  others  refusing  as  thinking  the  Act 
of  Parliament  derogatory  to  the  rights  of  the  Colony; — these 
four  Sc  the  Gov^.  are  all  now  threatned  in  the  highest  manner 
with  political  death,  so  strong  are  the  peoples  resentments 
against  the  Stamp  Act.  It  has  been  generally  concluded  not  to 
use  any  Stamp  papers,  but  to  lie  still  this  winter  in  full  Confi- 
dence that  you  will  repeal  the  Act ;   if  you  dont  I  cannot  tell  yuu 


358 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1TG5-66. 


\vliat5  to  be  done  next.  For  mx  own  part  I  shall  be  glad  it  may 
be  repealed,  altbo  I  was  sure  in  that  case  to  be  almost  trampled 
upon.  You  know  I  did  not  aid  or  assist  in  bringing  the  Stamp 
Act  upon  us,  but  was  as  unwilling  to  have  it  pass  as  any  man 
could  possibly  be.  You  know  also,  I  believe,  that  the  Office  of 
distributer  was  first  mentioned  to  me  by  W.  AVhately  without 
my  seeking  or  even  before  I  thought  of  it. 

If  the  Stamp  Act  should  be  abated  only,  pray  attempt  to  takt- 
off  the  whole  of  matters  testamentary;  that  branch  of  thp  dutv 
makes  a  gToat  uneasiness  &  is  really  burdensome  upon  our 
Small  Estates.  The  Registry-  of  Deeds  will  be  very  burden- 
some, or  rather  inconvenient,  as  we  register  in  books,  tt  will 
amount  to  but  little.  Process  before  Single  Justices  to  the 
amount  of  forty  Shillings,  being  mostly  for  debt,  falls  princi- 
pally upon  the  poor.  AVe  had  rather  have  a  little  than  nothing 
at  all ;   a  repeal  of  the  whole  is  what  we  wish  for. 

TTe  have  had  a  great  Congress,  as  you  will  hear,  whose 
representations  *t  petitions  will  be  sent  to  you,  as  also  instruc- 
tions from  this  Colony  how  to  prefer  &  urge  the  same.  The 
matter  of  your  right  to  tax  us  you  will  see  is  uppermost 
&  mixt  in  with  all  the  other  matter.  How  far  these  Peti- 
tions will  serve  us  I  cant  tell.  I  hope  you  will  do  Every  thing 
in  your  power  to  obtain  for  them  a  reception  &  hearing,  how- 
ever different  from  your  Judgment  they  are  dra\\Ti.  You  will 
Easily  see  by  Every  thing  we  say  or  do  on  this  side  the  water 
that  our  Xotions  of  our  Constitutions  »ic  rights  are  such  as  I 
suspect  you  on  your  side  will  call  Xotions  of  independance— 
where  &  how  things  will  end  I  dont  know. 

Some  think  the  distresses  of  the  people  occasioned  bv  the 
want  of  the  Stamp  papers  will  move  them  to  desire  the  Assembly 
to  apply  to  me  to  distribute  them,  in  which  Case  I  should  not  bo 
against  doing  it,  notwithstanding  what  has  passed;  but  with- 
out such  request  from  the  Publick  or  being  Convinced  that  it  is 
the  general  inclination  of  the  people  to  make  Use  of  them.  I 
shall  not  think  my  dwelling  or  person  safe  was  I  to  attempt  it. 
nor  yet  incline  to  have  the  business ; — indeed  at  present  it  is  as 
much  as  a  persons  life  is  worth  to  make  use  of  Stampt  paper. 


JAEED    IXGERSOLL    TAPErvS,    17G5-CG.  359 

Think  for  me  in  ray  critical  Scituation  »S:  be  so  good  as  to  let 
me  know  what  I  ought  to  do ;  in  the  mean  time  T  will  hope  for 
better  times.  Yon  cannot  Easily  conceive  the  perplexity  of 
Scituation  I  have  been  in.  between  my  Obligation  &:  duty  of 
Office  on  one  side  and  the  rage  of  a  distracted  multitude  on  the 
other,  &•  for  weeks  together  I  have  been  under  Constant  Appre- 
hensions, at  least  for  my  house  k  Substance. 
\Yith  Comp'.  to  all  friends 

I  remain  Y^  most  Obe'^.  Humb^  Serv*.  '    ' 

J  Ingersoll. 

P.  S.  I  perceive  you  have  had  a  great  revolution  of  Ministry 
since  I  left  you,  but  that  they  Expect  they  shall  be  able  to  return 
things  back  into  their  former  Channel  again.  I  care  not  who 
are  in,  so  they  are  friends  to  America. — A  Map  of  this  Colony 
drawn  by  one  Mott,  one  of  our  people,  is  lately  sent  over  to  the 
Secretary  of  State,  which  I  shall  be  glad  you  will  see.  I  think 
it  is  done  in  a  very  accurate  as  well  as  Elegant  manner. — The 
Go\''.  did  all  he  could  to  prevent  the  Extremes  that  have  hap- 
pened, but  you  know  he  has  little  power  as  Gov'.  This  Colony 
is  Eighty  thonsand  pounds  in  debt,  arrears  of  taxes  that  cannot 
be  collected  by  reason  of  the  poverty  of  those  on  whom  they 
are  laid. 

Dec^  19.  this  Letter  was  dispatched  A:  recalled  on  a  Surmise 
that  I  had  wrote  something  detrimental  to  the  Colonies  inter- 
ests. To  prevent  all  Suspicion  for  the  future  I  shall  write  no 
letters  across  the  water  but  such  as  are  absolutely  necessary  till 
things  ar^  more  settled  than  they  now  are.  I  hope  you  will  be 
the  Colonies  friend,  whatever  some  people  here  may  think  of  me, 
and  I  hope  I  can  yet  say  with  a  much  greater  man  than  myself, 
^'Whatever  Errors  I  have  committed  in  Publick  life  I  have 
always  loved  my  Country ;  whatever  faults  may  be  objected  to 
me  in  private  life,  I  have  always  loved  my  friend ;  whatever 
Usage  I  have  received  from  my  Country,  it  shall  never  make  me 
break  with  her;  wliatever  Usage  I  have  received  from  my 
friends,  it  shall  never  make  me  break  with  one  of  them  while  I 


360  JAT^ED    IXOEUSOLL    TAPERS,     IT^O-GG. 

think  him  a  friend  to  niv  Country."  I  have  received  much 
undeserved  favour  and  good  at  the  hands  of  m_v  Country,  (t 
shall  I  not  hear  with  a  little  Abuse,  especially  upon  so  irritating 
an  Occasion  as  the  Stamp  Act. 

Let  W.  Whately  know  I  dont  think  it  best  for  me  to  write  to 
him  just  now,  but  shall  be  glad  to  hear  from  him. 

Shew  as  much  of  this  as  you  shall  think  necessary  on  my  Ace", 
to  the  Commiss".  of  Stamps,  if  you  shall  find  that  my  Letter  to 
them  dispatched  with  this  shall  by  any  means  miscarry. 

J.  L" 
E.  Jackson  Esq'.  -  "  "  ' 

Copy 


Letter  to  the  Stamp  Commissioxeks. 

]^:  Haven  Dec^  2:  1765 
!May  it  please  Y"".  Hon\ 

In  my  last  which  was  of  y'  2^^.  Ult.  T  acquainted  you  fully 
with  the  Several  Occurrences  I  met  with  since  my  Arrival  in 
these  parts  &:  with  the  disposition  of  the  people  with  regard  to 
the  Stamp  papers.  I  have  now  further  to  acquaint  you  that 
the  people  in  this  Colony  as  well  as  Elsewhere  continue,  &:  if 
possible  increase  in  their  opposition  to  the  Act  &  seem  deter- 
mined, at  all  Events,  not  to  Submit  to  it.  As  there  is  there- 
fore no  prospect  of  my  being  able  to  Serve  Either  them  or  hi- 
Majesty  in  the  Office  of  Distributer  for  this  Colony,  I  have  to 
Desire  that  their  Lordships  of  the  Treasury  will  Excuse  me 
from  tliat  office.  We  flatter  ourselves  here  that  there  will  be  w" 
Occasion  for  any  Xew  A})pointment,  as  hoping  the  Act  will  !"■ 
repealed  this  Session.  The  office  is  at  this  time  the  most  odi'>n- 
here  in  America  of  any  thing  that  can  well  be  imagined.  1 
have  found  myself  in  the  most  distressed  Seitnation  between  tlu' 
Obligations  of  my  Office  t.\:  the  resentments  of  y^  people,  I"'-' 
hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall  be  rid  of  both. 

*  From  the  manuscript  copy  of  !Mr.  IngersoU's  letter.  ptiMisheil  a1-n  i"  '"" 
Letters  relating  to  the  Sta»ip-Act. 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1705-66.  361 

I  have  not  as  yet  rec'^.  anv  Letter  from  the  Board.     I  shall 

take  the  best  Care  I  can  to  secure  the  Staijip  papers  for  his 

Majestys  Use  vl'  take  such  Steps  to  that  End  as  the  Xature  & 

Circumstances  of  things  shall  require  *L'  admit  of. 

I  am 

Y\  Hon^  most  Obed^ 

"       .    '    ••  &  most  Ilumb^  Serv'. 

J  Ingersoll.* 
To  the  Hon^  Com',  of  Stamps 

Copy 


:  Letter  to  William  Samuel  Johxsox. 

]ST-IIaven  2  Dec^  1765 

it  is  a  time  when  mankind  Seem  to  think  they  have  a  right 
not  only  to  Shoot  at  me  with  the  Arrow  that  flyeth  by  Day,  l)ut 
to  Assassinate  me  in  the  dark,  as  you  will  see  by  the  inclosed 
Letter  which  I  desire  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  read,  then  Seal  & 
Deliver  to  the  person  to  whom  directed,  and  to  let  him  know 
that  you  are  acquainted  with  the  Contents,  or  not,  as  you  shall 
think  best.  The  truth  is  I  Strongly  Suspect  that  /.  'M\ 
Chandler  was  not  the  Original  Author  of  the  Story. 

tis  pretty  certain  that  my  letters  have  been  intercepted  & 
broke  open— they  were  sent  to  X  York  by  ^P.  John  Ray— he 
was  at  our  'M\  Chandlers  after  I  gave  them  to  him  cl'  he,  W. 
Chandler,  saw  them  in  his  hands.  This  I  happened  to  know 
only  by  M^  Chandlers  dropping  such  a  word  some  little  time 
ago;  further  I  have  not  been  able  as  yet  to  trace  the  matter. 
Xow  if  you  tliink  proper,  I  shall  be  glad  you  will  send  for  y,>ur 
Xeighbour  Chandler  to  ^v'  house.  «S:  if  ho  will  to  talk  freely  v' 
whole  matter ;  it  may  be  he  will  Consider  you  as  a  mediator,  as 
indeed  I  wish  you  would  l>e,  and  settle  y*  matter.  I  want  only 
a  reasonable  Satisfaction  &  am  willing  you  should  be  Judae  of 
that.       .       .       ...-,.  ■-.      "■.^.     :-..    :      ..•.•.,.,^..  :    :  ."         - 

•From  the  manuscript  copy,     published  also  in  Letters  reJatlnfj  to   the 
Stamp-Act. 


362 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66. 


were  ever  times  like  these  ?  any  man  has  it  in  his  power  at 
this  time  by  suggesting  any  ill  natnred  thing  about  what  he  mav 
suppose  I  have  wrote  either  about  publick  or  private  atfairs,  to 
Occasion  a  Deputation  of  a  Gonial  from  a  Body  of  People  con- 
sisting of  not  less  than  three  or  four  thous*^  men,  to  come  to  me 
&  tell  me  if  I  will  satisfy  'em  in  the  matter  by  letting  that  body 
of  people  see  the  Copies  of  my  Letters  it  will  be  well — if  I 
wont  they  cannot  promise  in  what  way  they  will  see  Cause  to 
resent  it — that  it  was  with  difficulty  they  could  keep  them  from 
publishing  in  Xews  papers  the  whole  matter  which  had  been 
reported,  even  without  Enquiring  of  me  or  otherwise  any  fur- 
ther about  it.  The  Gentlemen  who  came  to  me  upon  the  Sub- 
ject were  Captains  Liddle  &  Cleveland  &  Cap*.  Asah\  Fitch; 
they  appeared  friendly — behaved  with  Candor  »S:  Declared  them- 
selves Satisfyed  with  what  I  had  wrote.  I  found  my  self  under 
that  kind  of  Xecessity  above  described  of  Delivering  out  to  them 
y*  Copies  of  y^  Letters  I  had  wrote  to  y^  Com^  of  Stamps  »L'  to 
]\r  AVhately  with  a  number  of  other  Copies  &  original  Letters  A: 
which  I  conclude  will  be  publickly  read  to  Large  numbers  of 
people  t&r  that  before  the  originals  (some  of  them)  will  have 
half  reached  the  persons  to  whom  they  are  directed — which  you 
know  will  be  Esteemed  a  great  indecency  by  people  who  are  not 
distracted  with  the  present  times.  Xot  only  so  but  in  private 
Letters  altho'  there  should  be  nothing  wicked  or  offensive  you 
know  how  disagreeable  it  must  be  to  have  ones  own  most  free 
thoughts  like  tete  a  tete  Conversations  proclaimed  aloud  on  the 
house  tops,  '  ,    ■     ■     ■■  ■  .,',■• 

the  Substance  of  what  I  have  wrote  home  in  those  Letters  is 
giving 'a  general  it  I  l)elieve  it  will  be  thought  a  very  Just  \' 
Candid  Account  of  the  publick  transactions  relative  to  the 
Stamp  Act ;  as  to  y*"  particular  matters  alledged  I  have  said,  not- 
withstanding all  the  hardships  I  have  undergone  in  this  affair. 
I  shall  1)0  glad  to  have  t;he  Stamp  Act  repealed,  that  in  that  Case 
I  shall  ])e  glad  to  drown  my  little  interests  in  the  general  good — 
that  T  shall  be  gla<l  to  suffer  all,  to  bear  all  without  regret  or 
recompenee — that  if  it  is  intended  to  Abate  of  y"  Act  only  T 
suggest  what  Articles  I  think  oudit  to  be  taken  oft'  with  some  uf 


JARED    INCxERSOLL    PAPERS,     1TG5-6G.  363 

/  reasons.      I  press  M^  Jackson  to  do  his  utmost  to  obtain  for 
the  Petitions  a  hearing  kc.     I  inform  them  that  some  people 
think  v"  distresses  of  y"  people  will  oblige  them  to  ask  me  to  fur- 
nish them  with  the  Stamp  papers— which  if  it  should  happen  in 
a  gen',  way  &  f  Assembly  desire  me  to  do  it,  I  should  not  think 
myself  so  bound  by  my  promise   of  renunciation   but  that  I 
should  do  it,  but  that  I  could  not  do  it  without  such  gen\  Invi- 
tation, A:  that  many  thought  the  people  would  suffer  death  & 
Every  Evil  before  they  would  Submit  to  y'  Act  as  thinking 
from  tbat  moment   they  shall   Commence   Slaves   &c  <S:c.     In 
short  I  wiote  in  as  strong  terms  as  I  d [missing]  considering  the 
Board  of  Com^  I  knew   (whatever  may  be  thought  here) ''will 
consider  me  as  their  Officer  bound  as  well  by  my  Obligation  as 
otherwise  to  do  every  thing  that  I  properly  &  reasonably  could 
to  Carry  f  Act  into  Execution,  until  some  other  should  be 
appointed  in  my  r,om.     I  tell  them  that  if  any  kind  of  force 
must  be  used,  as  guarding  y^  Officer  or  y^  like,  I  must  ask  to  be 
excused  &  that  their  Lu-dships  of  y^  Treasury  will  appoint  some 
other  person;    in  short  to  that  p [missing]"  in  general  that  I 
cannot  be  their  distributer  unless  y«  people  of  f  Colony  are 
willing  I  should,  &  Volenti  non  fit  injuria  you  know.  "  The 
Gentlemen  who  came  to  m?  found  no  fault  with  these  Senti- 
ments, said  they  were  y"  same  that  were  mentioned  at  Weathers- 
field  etc  and  that  if  it  should  so  happen  that  before  these  things 
can  be  kiiown  at  home  ,S:  proper  Answers  &  new  Appointments 
made,  f  people  in  gen\  should  conclude  to  take  y^  Stamps  it 
would  doubtless  be  my  duty  to  supply  them  with  them;    but 
there  is  no  danger  of  this  as  I  fully  acq^^iint  y^  board,  telling 
them  what  y«  Assembly  have  Voted  .^-  that  it  is""  even  dangerous 
for  any  person  to  talk  of  a  Submission  to  y^  Act.     Let  me  hear 
from  you  upon  the  Subject  of  this  Letter  as  soon  ^s  conveniently 
you  can.     There  are  but  few  friends  at  this  Day  wn-^m  I  dare 
trust  with  my  whole  heart.     You  arc  one  of  them. 
I  am  y".  »S:c 

J.  Ingersoll.* 

*Thi*   letter   is  taken   from   tlie   niamisoript   collections  bclonginj^  to  the 
Connecticut  Historical  Socictij. 


'664: 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-G6. 


[To 

W".  S :  Johnson  Esq''. 
at 
Stratford.] 


■  .  Letter  of  Richard  Ray. 

Xew  York  December  12''':  iTCo 
^r :  Ingersall 

Sir — Yours  of  the  2^:  Instant  I  but  yesterday  Rec'^:  or 
should  have  imcdiately  answered  it,  by  it  I  find  that  I  am  Sus- 
pected of  Opening  &  Communicating  the  Contents  of  the  letters 
you  Sent  by  me  to  be  forwarded  to  England  ana  am  surprised 
from  what  such  suspicion  Should  arise.  There  has  been  no 
opportunity  to  forward  them  since  thej'  have  ieen  in  my  Care  or 
should  have  sent  them  as  directed.  In  oraer  to  Clear  mv  self 
from  being  thought  the  opener  &  Coramu]:icator  of  the  Contents 
of  letters,  that  I  had  undertaken  to  serve  a  friend  in  forward- 
ing, I  am  under  the  Xessessity  of  Returning  them,  from  which 
by  the  impression  of  your  Seal  you  Can  Determine  wether  such 
Suspicion  is  Justly  founded.  Yot:  have  them  here  inclosed : 
the  Ship  Grace  Cap^  Pell  will  Sail  for  London  in  about  10  or 
12  Days,  by  whom  I  should  have  sent  them,  but  as  I  am  sus- 
pected of  Communicating  tlie  Contents  of  what  I  never  knew,  to 
Clear  my  self  I  have  Returned  them :   <t  am 

.      .  ...  S^•  Yourllumb':  Serv^• 

•-   .       •       :       ■'  Rich'':  Rav.* 


Letter  of  Joiix  Chandler.      '     -    ■' 

S^ 

tave  rec'^.  your  favor  of  2"^  instant.  Should  readily  have 
given  y'  intclliuvnei'  cV  satisfaction  you  requird,  had  not  the 
middle  of  your  Epistle  contained  several  menaces,  which  led  me 

*A  young  mereliaut,  son  of  Jolui  Ray,  of  New  York,  died   17S4. 


JARED  IXGEESOLL  PAPERS,  1765-G6.  365 

to  conclude  j^  I  should  be  calld  to  clear  myself  in  a  more  pub- 
lick  manner  «ic  being  not  concious  of  guilt,  I  care  not  to  flee  when 
unjustly  persued  or  to  be  intimidated  to  the  humour  of  any 
man.  However,  would  let  you  know  that  I  was  not  the  orig- 
inal of  any  report  made  to  Col^  Putnam ;  neither  was  I  ever 
guilty  of  making  up  of  or  even  thinking  of  those  expressions 
you  charge  me  with,  demanding  "wheitlier  I  had  them  from 
another  or  not" ;  k  y*  what  was  said  if  tracd  back  will  come 
directly  on  a  professd  friend  of  yours  who  said,  as  I  am  informd, 
that  he  had  the  same  words  from  your  own  mouth,  but  as  men- 
tioning names  would  innevitably  make  breaches  in  a  valuable 
friendship,  I  shall  decline  it  to  the  last  extremity.  Am  how- 
ever sorry  to  find  y*  a  fals  suspition  raisd  immagination,  or  a 
report  as  you  say  hath  bin  to  you  of  bad  consequence,  although 
you  had  the  pleasure  to  hear  the  com"^  "say  they  were  satisfied 
with  your  conduct  k  found  the  story  to  be  groundless." 
Remain  S'^  your  wrongfully  suspected 
hum^  Serv' 


Stratford  15'^  Decemb  1TG5 

[For  •      . ■     :    .  . 

■  Jared  Ingersol  Esq'      .-   , 
i^.  Haven] 


Jn°  Chandler.* 


Letter  of  '\Yillia:m  Samuel  Joiixsox. 

Dear  Sr": 

Agi'eable  to  my  promise  I  have  confer'd  several  times  with 
]\P.  Chandler  on  the  subject  of  your  Letters  to  him,  &  to  me. 
He  utterly  disclaims  having  Originated  any  part  of  the  Story 
himself,  but  says  he  deliver'd  it  precisely  as  he  received  it  from 
his  Friend,  who  had  it  from  a  Person  who  receiv'd  it  from  an 

•John  Chriniller,  liorn  1730.  died  170.>.  \v;\~  gnidnated  at  Yale  in  1750, 
and  served  as  Tutor  in  1 70 1-03.  Hi-  fatlit-r's  ^^econd  cousin,  Joshua 
Chandler  (Yale  1747),  was  a  prominent  citizen  of  Xew  Haven. 


3^^  JAItED    IXGEKSOLL    PAPERS,     1TG5-G6. 

intimate  Friend  of  yonr's,  ^vlio  collected  it  from  a  Conversation 
with  you  upon  the  subject  of  Stamps.     But  he  will  not  be  per- 
suaded to  mention  the  Xames  of  those  thro'  whom  it  came.      He 
also  insists  the  alfair  was  not  represented  to  him  nor  h/j  him  in 
the  Terms  you  mention,  nor  in  any  Lanj^-uage  that  could  con- 
vey such  Idea's,  or  indeed  anything  like  them.     By  his  Account 
of  the  matter  he  only  represented,  that  you  had  wrote  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Stamps  cN:  to  :\Ir.  AVhately  upon  the  suljject, 
without  mentioning,  or  pretending  to  point  out  the  purport  of 
your 'Letters;  and  supposes  that  the  People  to  the  Eastward  have 
thence  Imagin'd  that  you  must  have  wrote  in  the  manner  thev 
have  represented.     They  have  in  Truth  excellent  Imaginations 
in  that  part  of  the  Country,  and  it  would  not  be  verv  surprisein<^ 
to  hnd  a  story  ot  this  kind  exaggerated  amongst  them.     To  dis- 
cover the  Person's  thro"  whose  hands  this  story  came  to  him,  :Sh\ 
Chandler  thinks  would  be  a  breach  of  Friendship  unpardon- 
able in  him,  unless  under  an  absolute  necessity  to  do  it,  and  it 
would  also  he  thinks  make  a  disagrcable  breach  between  you  A: 
y\  Friend  who  took  it  first  from  you ;   but  was  he  at  Liberty  he 
says  he  could  by  Evidence  exculpate  himself.     I  told  him  you 
would  run  the  venture  of  the  breach  with  your  Friend,  <S:  desired 
him  to  see  his  Author  who  might  perhaps  consent  to  have  his 
name  mention'd.     He  took  time  to  do  it,  but  still  gave  me  the 
same  answer.     He  alledges  that  he  had  not  the  least  Intention  to 
misrepresent  or  Injure  you,  «t  if  he  has  been  the  means  of  douvj: 
it,  the  transgression  was  involuntary,  and  he  hopes  you  will  take 
no  farther  notice  of  it.      He  add's  finally  that  he  expects  to  be  at 
Xew  Haven  this  week,  when  he  will  wait  upon  you  i-  have  a 
farther  Eclaircissment  upon  the  subject.      I  hope  by  compare- 
ing  liis  representation  of  the  matter  with  what  you  have  frr.ui 
others,  you  will  be  able  to  discover  who  has  been  the  Calum- 
niator, k  cause  him  to  do  you  right;    towards  which  if  I  can  be 
farther  useful  you  will  freely  command 

■'••  T)\  S^  Y^  most  affectionate  humble  Serv'. 

'•         W"".  Sam\  Johnson. 
Stratford 

Doc^  IG'^  17G5 


JARED    I^'GERSOLL    TAPERS,    17G5-6G.  367 

Letter  to  the  Stamp  Commissioxers. 

X  Haven  Jan^  4'^  176G 
May  it  please  Y\  Hon". 

Upon  my  first  arrival  in  these  parts  I  found  Every  thing  full 
as  quiet  with  Regard  to  y^  Stamp  Act  as  I  Expected,  knowing 
the  same  would  at  least  be  very  unwelcome  to  the  people ;  but 
soon  after  the  Virginia  Eesolves  began  to  be  spread  abroad,  the 
peoples  Spirits  took  fire  &  burst  forth  into  a  blaze.  The  plan 
adopted  by  the  populace  was  to  force  the  Stamp  Officers  to  a 
resignation  of  their  offices  &  then  to  proceed  in  business  as 
usual  without  Stampt  paper.  Open  violences  first  began  at 
Boston,  where  ]\r.  Oliver  suffered  in  the  manner  you  must  be 
particularly  acquainted  with  before  now ;  then  the  Lieu*.  Gov'". 
&  so  on  to  Rhode  Island  &  this  Colony.  I  suffered  in  this  Col- 
ony in  Conmion  with  my  Brother  Officers  Elsewhere  the  indi"-- 
nity  of  being  burnt  in  Efiigy  in  many  Towns  ^l'  of  having  Every 
ill  natured  tiling  said  of  me  in  Xewspapers  in  the  most  unre- 
strained manner,  &  was  besides  under  constant  Apprehensions 
for  some  time,  at  least  for  my  house  &  Substance,  from  the 
threats  of  y^  people  because  I  would  not  resigTi,  as  they  called  it, 
that  is,  declare  I  would  not  officiate  in  my  Office. 

In  this  Critical  Scituation  between  the  Obligations  &  Duty 
of  my  Office  on  one  hand  and  the  resentments  &  even  rage  of 
y^  people  on  the  other,  I  declared  publickly  that  I  would  not 
Exercise  the  Office  of  Distributer  if  generally  disagreeable  to 
the  people,  but  would  seek  a  dismission  from  it ;  indeed  I  knew 
if  y^  people  should  generally  Determin  to  run  the  risque  of  a 
non  Compliance  with  the  Act  of  Parliament,  it  would  be  to 
little  purpose  for  me  or  any  other  to  hold  the  Office. 

I  hoped  this  would  have  stopt  the  fury  of  y"  people,  but  it 
had  little  or  no  effect.  Accordingly  on  the  lO**".  of  Sept^  I  met  ' 
with  a  Violence  which  Extorted  from  me  a  Declaration  of 
renouncing  the  Office  in  the  manner  as  you  will  see  particularly 
described  in  the  inclosed  Newspaper  of  y^  27'''.  of  y*"  same 
Sept^  to  whifh  T  beg  leave  to  Refer  y.iu. 

As  our  Gon\  Assembly  sets  annually  in  Oct"".,  I  chose  to  wait  & 
see  hoAvfary*"  people,  when  Cooler,  would  discover  an  inclination 


36S 


JAKED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPEKS,  17G5-66. 


to  liave  &  make  use  of  the  Stampt  papers,  as  I  should  certainly 
have  thought  it  my  Duty,  notwithstanding  all  that  had  passed, 
to  have  distributed  the  papers  to  the  people,  had  they  generally 
or  the  Assembly  desired  it,  at  least  until  I  could  have  heard  from 
the  Board,  &  this  y^  people  have  known;  but  you  will  see  by  the 
other  Xewspaper  of  y'  1''.  of  Xov^  that  the  Assembly  as  well  as 
people  are  sufficiently  opposed  to  y^  Stamp  Act.  The  Gov'. 
got  sworn  to  y'  Observance  of  it,  but  much  Clamour  of  many  of 
y'  people  has  ensued.  In  short,  such  is  y''  general  opposition 
that  no  man  at  this  time  would  Venture  to  make  Use  of  Stampt 
-  paper,  was  it  Ever  so  Easy  to  be  come  at,  and  it  would  be 
dangerous  to  punish  any  breaches  of  y^  Act. 

It  has  been  generally  Concluded  by  the  people  not  to  transact 
any  business  this  winter  that  requires  the  Use  of  Stampt  paper, 
in  hopes  the  Parliament  Avill  repeal  the  Act;  if  they  should  not, 
I  cannot  tell  what  will  be  done  next,  only  in  general  that 
According  to  the  present  Appearance  of  things  the  people  seem 
Determined  to  Sulfer  Every  Evil,  rather  than  Submit  to  it. 

I  have  Advised  with  the  Go\^.  about  Suffering  the  Stampt 
papers  that  have  Arrived  at  X :  York  to  be  bro*.  into  this  Col- 
ony. He  is  clearly  of  my  opinion  that  it  is  by  no  means  Safe, 
as  w^e  have  no  Strong  hold  to  place  them  in,  &  the  people  in  the 
most  open  manner  declare  they  will  Seize  «!'  take  them  from  me 
as  soon  as  they  shall  ari-ive.  In  short,  you  must  be  fully  Con- 
vinced from  the  Accounts  which  you  will  be  continuallv 
receiving  from  all  quarters  that  it  is  at  present  Absolutely 
impossible  for  me  or  any  other  person  to  take  a  Single  Step  in 
the  Office  in  this  Colony :  A:  I  am  glad,  by  f  help  of  the  Gov',  of 
Xew  "York  el'  Gen^  Gage  whose  aid  for  that  purpose  I  have 
requested,  to  preserve  the  papers  from  being  destroyed.  Such 
are  the  times  here  vt  almost  Every  where  else  throughout  y'  Con- 
tinent of  America.  I  myself  have  suffered  Shipwreck  of  my 
reputation  among  the  people  for  accepting  this  very  Obnoxious 
Office,  S:  after  havin^'  run  the  risque  of  Even  life  itself  in 
endeavouring  to  Discharge  y'  Obligations  A:  Duty  of  v'^  Oliicc 
which  T  am  under,  T  see  no  way  but  to  ask  for  a  Dismission  from 
the  same  &  to  set  down  contented  with  the  resentments  of  v' 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-CG.  369 

people  for  my  reward.  They  generally  indeed  say  they  are  as 
willing  I  should  have  the  Office  as  another,  but  that  they  have  no 
need,  nor  will  have  any. 

Your  favour  of  y*  13'^  of  Sept'',  giving  an  Acc°.  of  one  parcel 
of  Stampt  paper  X°  1  shipt  on  board  the  Edward,  Cap^  Davis, 
also  X°.  2  p^  Cap*.  Haviland,  &  y°.  3  p^  Cap\  Tillet,  I  rec"! 
the  2-2^  Ult,  together  with  my  Deputation  &;  Instructions;  also 
y.  favour  of  the  11*^.  of  Oct"",  giving  an  Acc°.  of  one  parcel  of 
Stampt  paper  shipt  for  Boston  on  Board  the  John  &  Sukey, 
Cap'.  Bruce,  X°.  40,  not  yet  arrived,  I  rec'*.  the  27'^  Ult.  I 
have  taken  Care  as  mentioned  above  to  have  these  taken  proper 
Care  of  ^  protected  as  they  arrive,  but  I  could  not  possibly,  was 
I  to  attempt  it,  open  those  parcels  or  do  any  one  thing  with 
them. 

Former  Letters  of  mine  to  the  Board,  giving  a  very  full  &  par- 
ticular Acc°  of  y^  Occurrences  that  I  have  met  with  since  com- 
ing home,  have  been  obliged  to  be  recalled  &  thereby  a  Delay  of 
Information  has  happened,  but  I  hope  no  other  inconvenience. 
You  cannot  easily  conceive  the  perplexed  as  well  as  distressed 
Scituation  I  have  been  in,  and  shall  hope  for  your  Candor  & 
Excuse  accordingly. 

You  have  one  Letter  from  me  before  this  which  I  trust  will 
get  to  you,  bearing  Date  2^.  lit.  ''      ' 

.      ,  I  am  (Sic. 

J.  I.* 

To  y^  Hon\  Comm\  of  Stamps 
Copy 


Advertisement  ix  the  Coxxecticft  Gazette. 

"Whereas  I  have  lately  received  two  anonymous  Letters,  call- 
ing on  me  (among  other  Things)  to  give  the  Publick  some  fur- 
ther Assurance  with  regard  to  my  Intentions  about  exercising 
the  Office  of  Distributer  of  Stam]->s  for  this  Colony,  as  some 
others  have  done  since  receiving  our  Commissions  or  Deputa- 

*  From  a  copy  prrscrvptl  aTiion<r  ^^Ir.  Iii^iorsoll's  iiiamiscripts ;  publisliod 
also  in  hi>  Letters  rchitinq  to  the  Stamp  Act. 


370  JARED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-GG. 

tions  of  Office  for  that  Purpose ;  and  that  I  confirm  the  same  by 
Oath.  And  altho'  I  don't  think  it  best  ordinarily  to  take  Xotice 
of  such  Letters,  nor  yet  to  take  Oaths  upon  such  Kind  of  Occa- 
sions ;  yet  (as  I  have  good  Reason  to  think  those  Letters  came 
from  a  large  ]Srnmber  of  People  belonging  to  this  Colony,  and 
do  respect  a  Subject  of  a  very  interesting  Xature,  and  the  pres- 
ent Times  being  peculiarly  difficult  and  critical,  and  I  myself 
at  no  Loss  or  Difficulty  about  making  known  ray  Resolutions 
and  Intentions  respecting  the  Matter  aforesaid)  I  have  con- 
cluded to  make  the  following  Declaration  and  to  confirm  the 
same  by  an  Oath  ;   tluit  is  to  say, 

1.  I  never  was  nor  am  I  now  desirous,  or  even  willing,  to 
hold  or  exercise  the  aforesaid  Office,  contrary  to  the  Mind  and 
Inclination  of  the  general  Body  of  People  in  this  Colony. 

2.  I  have  for  some  Time  been  and  still  am  persuaded,  that 
it  is  the  general  Opinion  and  Sentiment  of  the  People  of  this 
Colony  (after  mature  Deliberation)  that  the  Stamp  Act  is  an 
Infringement  of  their  Rights  and  dangerous  to  their  Liberties, 
and  therefore  I  am  not  willing,  nor  will  I,  for  that  and  other 
good  and  sufficient  Lieasons,  as  I  suppose,  (and  which  I  hope 
and  trust  will  excuse  me  to  those  who  appointed  me)  exercise  the 
said  Office  against  such  general  Opinion  and  Sentiment  of  the 
People :  and,  generally  and  in  a  AVord,  will  Xever  at  all,  by 
myself  or  otherwise,  officiate  under  my  said  Deputation.  And 
as  I  have,  so  I  will,  in  the  most  effectual  Manner  I  am  able, 
apply  to  the  proper  Board  in  England,  for  a  Dismission  from 
my  said  Office. 

J.  Ingersoll. 
■  Xew-ITaven,  ss.  Jan.  8,  17G6. 
Then  personally  appeared  Jared  Ingersoll,  Esq.,  and  made 
Oath  to  the  Truth  of  the  foregoing  Declaration,  by  him  sub- 
scribed. Before  me, 

DAXIEL  LYMAX,  Just.  Peace. 

As  to  the  Letters  and  Papers  which  I  lately  delivered  out  nf 
my  Hands,  I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  the  Publick  that  T  <lid 
not  expect  there  would  have  been   any  Publications  of  theui 


1        ,i    V 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-GG.    .       371 

(especially  of  any  particular  detaclied  Sentences)  but  by  me,  or 
by  mutual  Consent ; — that  those  Paragraphs  which  have  lately 
been  published  in  the  Xew-London  Gazette,  I  conceive  to  be,  in 
some  Parts,  by  some  IMistake,  ditferentlv  worded  from  the  Orig- 
inals, and  commented  upon  very  differently  from  what  I 
imagine  would  be  thought  the  true  Meaning  was  the  whole  of  all 
my  said  Letters  and  Papers  published  together.  This  I  intend 
shall  be  done  as  soon  as  I  shall  recover  the  Papers  again;  and 
in  the  mean  Time  shall  hope  the  Publick  will  not  undertake  to 
make  a  full  Judgment  in  the  Matter.  And  this  I  think  may 
well  be  done,  as  those  particular  Letters  at  which  L^mbrage  has 
been  taken  are  recalled ;  and  if,  by  :\ristake  or  otherwise,  any 
Thing  was  said  in  them  that  was  liable  to  a  Construction  dis- 
favourable  to  the  Colony  or  to  any  particular  Persons,  I  shall 
be  always  ready  to  put  every  Thing  to  rights  whenever  They 
shall  call  upon  me  for  that  Purpose ;  and  to  prevent  all  Trouble 
of  the  Kind  for  the  future,  shall  take  Care  to  write  no  Letters 
abroad  (until  Times  are  more  settled  than  they  now  are)  with- 
out first  shewing  them  to  such  Gentlemen  as,  at  this  Day,  will  be 
entirely  confided  in. 

[From  The  Connedicut  Gazette,  January  10,  1766.] 


Letter  to  the  Stamp  Commissioners. 

'X:  Haven  Jan^.  10:  1766 
-May  it  please  y'  Hon". 

Since  ^ly  last  to  the  Poard  I  have  been  Obliged  to  take  an 
Oath  not  to  Exercise  the  Ofiice  of  Distributer  of  Stamps  for  this 
Colony,  mnch  for  the  Reasons  .t  at  that  kind  of  Eo.|Ucst  of  v^ 
people  which  has  occasioned  :\r.  Oliver  A:  some  others  to  do  the 
Like.  T:s  difticult  d:  I  believe  needless  for  me  to  undertake  to 
Explain  these  things  to  you.  I  can  only  say  in  general  that  the 
greatest  part  of  America  is  at  present  in  a  Scituation  altogether 
incompatible  with  the  being  of  any  Stamp  Otficcs  in  it,  and 
as  it  is  now  absolutely  impossible  for  me  in  Every  view  of  v^ 


372  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-66. 

matter  to  OfBciate  in  mv  Ofiice,  I  have  humbly  to  ask  &  hope  that 

I  may  be  Officially  dismissed  therefrom.     I  shall  take  Care  to 

do  my  utmost  to  preserve  y^  Stamp  papers  Dispatched  for  this 

Colonv,  ».^'  am 

Y'.  ^lost  OV.  ke 

J.  L* 

To  the  Hon'.  Com^  of  Stamps 


Letters  of  Dr.  Bexja^iix  Gale. 

Killiugworth  13^^  Jan^  1765  [eiTor  for  1766] 
Dear  S^ 

I  receiv*^  your  Fav''.  »&:  the  several  Packctts  Inclos'd  jnst  after 
I  had  returnM  from  Saybrook  whither  I  went  to  send  some 
Messengers  over  to  the  Bal>el  Convention,!  some  who  I  jiidg'd 
might  have  some  Influence  to  I\[itigate  their  Rage  &  Folly,  viz 
Cor  Willard  &  Cap*  Shipman,!  the  Two  Saybrook  Members — 
beside  several  Pimps  &  Smugiers  to  Gull  the  Rabble  &  sift  out 
every  thing  that  passes  from  Head  Quarters.  I  had  thoughts  of 
going  my  self  but  to  tell  the  truth  I  was  both  asham'd  and 
afraid,  asham'd  to  be  seen  in  the  Comp^  of  so  brainless,  thought- 
less, designing,  tiudesigning  Rabble,  afraid  of  being  included 
with  them  %vhcn  they  are  whipt,  for  without  the  Spirit  of 
Prophcsey  I  can  foretell.  Stamp  Act  Repeal'd  or  not  repeal'd. 
such  proceedings  will  meet  with  Rubbers  in  the  Head  if  not  the 
Tail.  However  after  the  Receipt  of  your  Packet  I  had  gone 
over  had  I  not  Previously  Engag'd  my  self  for  Middletown  on 
that  very  day  in  an  Important  Case — however  as  soon  as  I 
return  will  give  you  the  Best  Accounts  my  Embasseudors  can 
provide. 

*  From  tlio  manuscript  copy  among  the  Tnj.'ersoll  papers;  published  in 
Letters  relatinn  to  the  Stump  Art. 

t  A  meeting  of  tlic  people  of  New  London  County  was  called  to  nuvt  in 
Lyme  on  January  14.  to  discuss  the  situation  of  public  atTairs. 

t  Samuel  Willnrd  and  John  Shipnian  were  the  Deputies  from  Saybrook 
to  the  last  General  Assenildv. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-GG.  373 

A  more  wicked  Sceein  I  think  never  was  on  foot  in  this  Colony 
to  destroy  iis.     But  Quern  deus  vult  perdere  prius  dementat. 

The  ^Manuscript  I  mentioned  to  you  is  an  historical  Ace*  of 
the  several  Factions  wh.  have  subsisted  in  this  Colony,  ori^nat- 
ing  with  the  X  London  Society"^ — thence  metamorphisd  into  the 
laction  for  paper  Emissions  on  Loan,  thence  into  X  Light,  into 
y*"  Siisquehannah  k  Delaware  Factions — into  Orthodoxy — now 
into  Stamp  Duty — the  Actors  the  same,  each  Change  drawing 
in  some  Xew  Members — but  it  contains  such  Stubborn  Facts  & 
will  so  Blacken  some  mens  Coats  that  I  fear  the  Author  would 
not  Long  survive  the  Impression. 

Your  private  Letters  to  me  will  make  the  Best  Improvement 
if  I  am  able  to  serve  your  Cause  in  my  occasional  Jornies  in  y* 
Country.     I  may  not  at  this  time  add  but  that 
I  am  S"^  your  frind 
.     "  &  most  IIum\  Serv*. 

■       ■-■-'■■'■:     -  B  Gale. 

P.  S.  as  I  write  free  by  your  boy  I  trust  you  will  not 
Expose  it.        .     •.- 

[To  /J.  •■•^  :  V. :.-,..   ■^■.-         -  y  ■ 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq'         .  •   V    .■       ■■•.''■' 

-at  ••.  ■    '•..  .  ■ 

^N"  Haven]        ;  ,-    :.:  ::.         .  --  '  •     ' 

Killingworth  S  FebM766 
S^        . 

As  you  requested  in  y'^  Last  to  me  to  know  the  result  of  the 
Lime  Congress,  having  never  before  had  an  Opp^  that  I  could 
safely  A-onture,  I  now  wouM  Inform,  of  which  no  doubt  you 
have  before  this  time  had  Intelligence,  that  your  Letters  in  the 
general  were  well  approved,  or  at  least  that  you  do  not  deserve  to 
be  damnM  for  them,  k  that  there  still  is  a  day  of  Grace  for  you. 
But  with  regard  to  the  main  Business  that  I  sent  some  over  to 

*  "'Tlie  Xew  London  Society  United  for.  Tradt-  ami  Coniinfrce"  'was 
charterwl  in  1732.  but  it>  coiirsp  in  is^nin^r  hill-;  of  credit  reseiiihling  tlie 
paper  currency  of  the  Colony  caused  its  downfall  in  1733. 


374  JAP.ED  IXGEESOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-G6. 

penetrate  the  Secret  Views  of  their  herding  together,  I  have 
learnt  from  Good  Authority,  from  those  who  are  in  the  Seercrs 
of  the  Chib,  their  design  is  to  fix  and  unite  on  Men,  who  thcv 
conceive  will  serve  their  Turn,  that  the  final  conclusions  are  ni.t 
yet  made.  One  of  the  men  I  procured  to  go  made  Application 
to  know  what  men  we  should  Fix  on  "Westward.  It  was 
Answer'd,  Co^.  AValker "  was  well  Qualified.  My  Agent  then  pro- 
posed M""  Eowland,"^  but  was  answer'd  by  a  sig-nificative  Shake 
of  y®  Head,  which  shew'd  how  Ignorant  he  was  in  men  k  xlu-n 
reply'd,  no,  by  no  means,  M""  Eowland  is  a  man  of  too  much 
Sense,  he  will  not  answer  by  any  means,  and  very  readily  men- 
tioned M^  Davenporf^' :  to  be  short,  tbey  have  taken  Measures 
that  from  their  early  date  tt  too  great  Forwardness,  will  overset 
their  System  of  Politicks.  They  begin,  the  more  sensible  part, 
to  be  ashamed  of  the  thing.  Others  see  clearly  through  their 
Designs,  k  Dispise  the  thing  when  it  appears  to  them  puris 
nafuralibus  from  a  principle  of  Honesty  natural  to  Humane 
Xature  and  I  think  I  can  venture  to  predict  that  no  Alterations 
will  happen  in  y*'  Council  imless  the  dropping  M""  Sheldon  for 
Sam^  Johnson. 

I  hear  you  are  appointed  Judge  of  Admiralty  for  Connecticut 
&-C — £800  Sallary;    if  true  I  Heartily  Congratulate  you. 
■  I  am  S'' 

Your  Most  Hum^  Serv* 

B.  Gale 
[  Jared  Ingersol  Esq'' 

at 

X  Haven  .  .  - 

p^M^  Elliot] 

*Elisha  Sheldon,  of  Litchfield,  -Rol-CTt  Walker,  of  Stratford.  Ahrahan: 
Davenport,  fif  Stamford,  and  Sanuiel  William  Johnson,  of  Stratford.  ^M-r ■ 
elected  to  the  Gi)vernor's  Coimcil  in  the  folloM'ing  May;  David  Eowhuil 
of  Fairfield,  was  not  elected. 


jaked  ixgeesoll  papers,   17g5-6g.  375' 

Letter  to  ax  U^'kxowx  Coerespoxdext. 

'New  Haven  Feb^  1''  1766 

You  will  be  pleased  to  take  the  following  Account  as  an 
Answer  to  the  Objections  wich  vou  mention  as  made  to  my 
Conduct  relative  to  the  Stamp  Act.  And  first  as  to  my  being 
y*  Colonies  Agent  last  year,  the  Facts  are  these.  I  sailed  from 
X  London  for  England  the  20  Day  of  October  176-i  and 
arrived  in  London  y*  10  of  Dec""  following.  I  went  on  my  own 
Business,  and  not  charged  with  any  affairs  of  the  Colony. 
About  the  middle  of  Jan'",  tS:  about  two  or  three  Weeks  as  I 
remember  before  the  Stamp  Bill  was  carried  into  Parliment,  I 
receiv'd  a  Letter  from  the  Gov"",  acquainting  me  that  the 
Assembly  in  Oct""  (wich  must  have  been  after  I  sailed)  had  by 
their  Vote  desired  me  to  assist  the  Colonies  Agent  during  my 
stay  in  England.  This  I  did  to  y^  best  of  my  Ability,  not  only 
in  y^  Affair  of  y^  Stamp  Act,  but  in  Masons  and  other  Affairs ; 
but  as  to  my  haveing  receiv'd  any  Monies  or  other  thing  as  a 
reward  for  these  Services,  there  is  no  foundation  for  y^  Story. 
I  have  neither  Asked  for,  had  or  receiv'd  any  thing  therefor  in 
any  way  or  manner  whatever. 

There  is  not  in  those  Letters  wich  I  lately  delivered  out  of 
my  Llands  one  word  about  a  Change  of  Government  is  [  ?  as] 
lately  printed  in  y^  X  —  London  Gazette,  nor  do  I  therein  say 
that  y^  Gov''  &  four  Consellers  who  Swore  him  or  any  other  per- 
son in  y*"  Colony  are  Freinds  to  y^  Stamp  A-t,  but  the  contrary 
as  I  should  construe  y^  Expressions  in  my  Letters.  The  Truth 
is  that  I  endeavoured  in  those  Letters  to  give  y®  Commissioners 
of  Stamps  or  others  to  whom  I  wrote  a  pretty  ample  tS:  full  Xar- 
rative  of  the  several  Transactions  in  y*"  Colony  wich  were  Pub- 
lick,  in  Order  as  well  to  serve  myself  for  not  having  com- 
l)orted  with  my  Obligations  &■  Bond  of  otlice  as  to  shew  to  y* 
People  abroad  the  Quantity  or  kind  of  Opposition  that  was 
made  by  y^  People  of  the  Colony  to  the  Stamp  Act.  I  thought 
it  ]>est  tt  indeed  in  some  measure  Xecessary  for  me  so  to  do,  but 
whether  it  was  altogether  ])rudent  for  me  to  do  it.  or  whether  I 
did  not  mistake  the  Sentiments  of  some  Gentlemen  whose  Con- 


3T6  ,         JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1T65-6G. 

duet  in  certain  Transactions  I  had  occasion  to  mention  (tlio  I 
dont  mention  any  Xames)  I  -will  not  undertake  to  say,  and  those 
Letters  are  recalled  [and  I?]  did  freely  submit  them  to  such 
alterations  as  should  be  candidly  advised  too.  In  a  Word  I 
have  the  Ojiinion  of  Gentlemen  of  AVorth  who  have  seen  those 
Letters,  that  the  Publick  have  no  Eeason  to  take  L'mbrage  or  bo 
irritated  at  any  Thing  I  have  Said  or  Wrote  in  them:  at  the 
same  Time  it  is  not  impossible  but  they  &  every  judicious  person 
may  think  that  some  Things  contained  in  them  had  better  been 
left  out  than  to  have  been  inserted.  They  are  recalled  vL'  what- 
ever harm  they  might  have  done  had  they  been  transmitted  are 
prevented.  I  shall  publish  these  A:  all  my  other  Letters  lately 
delivered  out,  as  soon  as  I  shall  recover  them,  unless  I  shall  be 
advised  to  defer  it  for  some  little  Time. 

I  have  always  Thought  &:  Said  on  both  Sides  y^  Water  that 
for  America  to  be  taxed  by  a  British  Parliment  was  in  my 
humble  Opinion  of  dangerous  Tendency,  how^ever  many  & 
urgent  y*  Reasons  might  be  on  the  side  of  Parliment  to  come 
into  such  a  measure ;  but  after  they  had  done  it,  I  did  suppose 
y*  People  of  America  would  most  probably  submit  to  it ;  but  as 
they  have  thought  best  to  risque  y^  Consequences  of  a  non  Sub- 
mission, &  as  y^  Emergences  of  Goverment  absolutely  require 
the  Administration  of  Justice  to  *S:  among  y^  People — I  cannot 
but  be  of  Opinion  that  it  is  best  for  the  common  Law  Courts  to 
proceed  in  Business  as  usual,  &:  hope  y*  Courts  &:  others  who 
may  expose  themselves  to  penalties  for  so  doing  will  be  saveJ 
from  blame  as  well  as  harm  under  all  the  circumstances  i:  sit- 
uation of  Affairs.  ■■>  ■         •• 

I  myself  being  now  placed  at  an  absolute  remove  from  the 
Affair  of  Distributor  am  determined  to  take  my  share  of  dangiT 
in  this  matter,  and  hope  when  y^  People  see  me  embarked  in  y" 
same  bottom  with  themselves  they  will  think  I  am  in  earnest. 
I  am  S' 

your  most  Obr-dicnt 

.  ■  Humble  Servant 

J.  Ingersol* 

•This  letter,  without  address,  is  printed  from  a  copy  (made  !>>'  -^ 
careless  scribe)   imw  in  the  Xcic  York  Public  Lilrarij. 


'      .  JAKED    IXGERSOLL    PAPEIIS,     1705-OG.  377 

Letters  of  Joseph  Chew. 

l^ew  London  Feh"^.  5'^  1766 
Dear  Sir 

Since  the  Eece'  of  your  Letter  I  have  been  from  home  imtill 
yesterday;    it  came  to  me  so  torn  &  worn  that  the  Contents 
might  have  Leon  Examined  by  any  Person  who  had  the  Least 
Curiosity.     I  have  seen  your  letters"  and  am  surprised  at  the 
Clamour  they  have  made;    that  to  'M'  Jackson  I  Eead  in  all 
Company's  at  Xew  Port  and  did  not  meet  with  a  man  but  what 
Expressed  his  Astonishm*.  at  the  Clamour.     But  now  D"  S'. 
what  method  do  you  take  or  who  do- you  Consult  on  those  matters 
you  have  lately  been  ingaged  in  ?     Your  letters  are  discover'd, 
or  you  mention  the  Contents — or  perhaps  they  are  guessed  at. 
A  fine   Country  of  Liberty  we  live  in.     I- have  done  Every 
thing  in  my  Power  to  Promote  the  Remonstrances  to  the  King 
^  Palernint  for  our  Eelief ;  Xever  Showed  the  Least  inclynation 
to  Countenance  the  Stamp  Act — nay  I  defy  the  Devil  k  his 
Imps  of  his  own  and  this  world  to  say  I  ever  dirictly  or  Indi- 
rictly  had  or  Ever  thought  of  having  any  thing  to  do  with  the 
Act.     What  is  more,  have  found  fault  with  you  for  not  at  once 
giving  up  the  Office ;   and  will  you  believe  me  I  am  now  become 
the  attention  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty  who  are  desired  by  some  of 
their  western  friends  Closely  to  watch  ^^  observe  my  Actions  and 
motions,  for  that  I  Carry  on  a  very  traterous  &  wicked  Cor- 
respondance  with  you.     This  I  have  from  such  Persons  as  the 
truth  is  not  to  be  questioned.     If  any  Person  in  this  Colony  sus- 
pects me  and  had  told  me  so,  I  would  Convince  them,  but'  shall 
Really  think  it  very  hard  if  this  Suspicion  is  set  on  Foot  by 
Strangers  "who  neither  know  me  or  the  People,  and  shall  think 
mankind  worse  than   I  hope  they  are  to  give  Credit  to  such 
Rei)orts.      I  may  Perhaps  see  you  one  of  these  days  when  I  shall 
say  more;    in  the  mean  time  believe  me  to  be  D'  S' 

Y^  very  Ilbl  Serv^ 

Jos  Chew 

*ilr.  Infrersoll's  letters  are  those  published  by   him   in   tlie  Connecticut 
Gazette  since  the  last  summer. 


37S  JAKED  IXGF.RSOLL  TAPERS,  ITCt-OO. 

There  was  no  Copvs  of  y""  Letters  printed  in  the  X  London 
Papers. 
[To 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq^  "  •  •        ^       - 

X.  Haven]  •  .  .      ' 

Dear  Sir 

AVe  jnst  now  have  the  very  airrcable  news  from  Boston  that  a 
Ship  is  arrived  there  that  has  Ero\  papers  to  the  27*^  of  Dee'',  in 
which  is  his  Majestys  Speech  to  Both  Ilonses  of  Parliment. 
Vei'y  Favoiirahle  fis  said  towards  his  Ajncrican  Suhjects,  that 
Private  Letters  say  the  Stamp  Act  will  Certainly  be  Bepealled 
or  Suspended — no  matter  which,  so  we  do  but  get  Clear  of  it.  I 
most  earnestly  pray  that  these  Favourable  accounts  may  Prove 
true. 

I  have  your  Letter  of  the  lO'''.  by  the  last  Post.  All  I  know 
of  the  unjust  Suspicions  which  have  been  Propagated  of  my 
being  a  Friend  to  the  Act  is  that  I  am  told  it  has  been  wrote 
from  Xew  York  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty  here  that  I  have  Carryed 
on  a  pernitious  and  Dangerous  Correspondance  with  you.  an^l 
that  great  Care  should  be  taken  to  keep  Every  thing  secret  from 
me,  or  you  wotild  be  acquainted  with  it,  for  that  I  was  sttrely  a 
Friend  to  the  Act  or  a  Tool  to  Power.  Very  fine  &  Cleaver  this. 
is  it  not  ? — and  wdiat  I  very  Little  Expected  to  be  laid  to  my 
Charge.  T  am  told  ]\P  Ledlie^  saw  this  Letter,  &  what  I  think 
hard  is,  as  I  had  Let  him  see  those  I  had  from  you,  that  he  di'I 
not  at  once  Contradict  the  Report  which  he  knows  is  unjust :  biu 
it  appears  to  me  in  all  things  of  this  Sort  it  seems  Xecessary  t" 
say  one  thins-  to  a  Persons  Face  and  another  behind  his  Back. 
God  knows  that  no  man  AYishes  his  Cottntrys  good  more  than  I 
do — and  I  dare  say  would  go  as  great  Lenghths  to  serve  it  n^ 

*  Captain  Huph  Ledley.  or  Ledlie,  of  \Yindliain,  Connecticut,  and  livi'!" 
of  Xorwicli.  had  [ireviou.sly  been  a  legal  client  of  Mr.  IngersoU;  lie  ^v.\- 
]>roniinfnt  in  the  mob  Avhicii  forced  IngersoU's  resignation  a.«  Stai:ij'' 
Distributor,  and  Mas  also  afterwards  sent  by  the  .Sons  of  Liberty  i" 
\\'indham  to  interview  Ingursoll  respecting  his  correspondence  wiiii 
England. 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1TG5-6G.  379 

many  who  are  now  making  a  good  deal  of  Xoyse.  I  dislike 
all  Violencies  and  invasions  of  private  Property  Szc — neither 
do  I  believe  you  had  any  hand  in  getting  the  act  Passed,  but 
think  I  can  Venture  to  Assert  that  you  opposed  the  same  with 
all  your  might  &:  Strength;  nay  more,  I  have  said  that  I 
thought  you  was  Cruelly  used  to  be  abused  as  you  were,  that  I 
had  not  the  Least  objection  to  your  being  even  Forced  to  Resig-n, 
but  there  I  would  have  stopped  and  Left  you  to  your  Self  while 
you  had  let  the  Paper  lay  in  the  Boxes  »tc  it  was  Packt  up  in.  I 
propose  seeing  you  one  day  next  week  &:  beg  you'll  give  My  Little 
"Womans  &  my  own  best  Eespects  to  good  ]\P  Ingersoll  who  we 
have  often,  yes  very  often  thought  of.     Accept  the  same  from 

Dear  Sir 
X  London  IQ'""  Feb^  1766  Tour  very  Obed*  Scrv* 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq^  Jos  Chew 


S^ 


Lettee  of  Gex.  Gold  Selleck  Sillimax. 

Fairfield  March  1^  1766 


Since  You  suggested  to  me  at  Xew  ITaven  your  Thoughts  of 
publishing  your  Letters  wrote  to  be  sent  Home  I  have  thought 
further  of  the  matter,  and  therefore  take  this  Oppor*-'.  to  use  the 
Freedom  to  let  you  know  that  the  more  I  think  of  that  matter 
the  more  I  am  conviuced  that  such  Publication  can  do  no  Harm, 
either  to  the  Pul)lick,  Yourself  or  the  Gent'',  mentioned  in  them, 
but  that  tis  more  than  probable  that  it  will  l)e  of  Eeal  Service, 
especially  if  they  are  pulilished  with  such  explanatory  Xotes  as 
you  mentioned  to  me,  for  I  well  know  from  my  own  Observa- 
tion, that  the  General  .Report  that  prevails  among  People  makes 
the  Contents  of  them  dangerous  to  the  Publick,  injurious  to  the 
Gent",  who  are  mentioned  in  them,  and  very  prejudiciall  to 
Yourself,  «&:  I  suppose  that  the  Publication  of  them  will  shew 
that  the  Contents  of  them  have  hitherto  been  injuriously  mis- 
represented. I  have  communicated  the  nuitter  to  my  Father, 
and  he  thinks  that  tis  probable  that  such  a  Publication  of  them 


380  .TARED    IXGERSOLL    TArERS,     1TG5-GG. 

can  do  no  Hurt,  but  that  it  may  perhaps  do  good ;  this  I  write 
because  I  find  that  my  Father  intends  beyond  X.  Haven  on 
^lunday  and  therefore  tis  not  probable  that  you  will  see  him. 

Permit  me  further  to  say  that  I  think  the  Publick  now  have  a 
Right  to  exspect  such  a  Publication  of  them  in  Consequence  of 
the  Encouragement  you  have  given  them  in  a  former  Publica- 
tion of  yours,  and  also  in  Point  of  equal  Dealing,  for  it  seems 
not  right  that  a 'small  Xumber  of  zealous  People  in  the  Col- 
ony should  have  them  as  long  as  they  please  and  publish  such 
Part5  of  them  as  they  think  proper  with  their  own  Comments 
on  them,  and  that  a  full  Publication  of  them  should  be  sup- 
pressed by  means  of  those  very  People  or  rather  only  one  of 
their  Xumber. 

Xow  pray  S''  what  is  the  Language  of  this  their  Conduct  I  is 
it  not  this  '.  that  they  know  they  have  published  such  things  of 
your  Letters,  that  their  own  Consciences  tell  them  your  Letters 
will,  Avhen  published,  shew  them  to  have  no  other  real  Pounda- 
tion  than  Malevolence  \  if  that  is  the  Cause  of  their  desireing  a 
Suppression  of  them,  I  think  it  is  &  ought  to  be  the  strongest 
Reason  for  publishing  them. 

I  cant  but  hope  from  all  I  can  observe  that  your  Troubles 
have  now  past  their  ^Eeridian  and  that  they  are  upon  the 
Decline.  I  can  assure  you,  S'',  I  have  been  concerned  for  Fear 
that  the  Usage  you  have  met  with  would  have  thrown  you  into 
a  State  of  Melancholy,  and  it  hurt  me  to  the  Heart  in  Court 
this  TVeck  when  I  heard  the  mean  &  illnatured  Language  i' 
Remarks  Avith  which  You  was  used  by  a  Certain  Appurtenant 
of  the  Court ;  however  I  am  glad  to  find  you  possessed  of  such  a 
Degree  of  tlie  Christian  as  well  as  Philosophic  Fortitude  as  that 
you  seem  eahn  and  unrutUcd.  Your  Friends  this  way  of  tht- 
Steady  thinking  Surt,  which  are  not  a  few  only,  arc  more  at  a 
loss  to  account  for  your  being  in  your  Town  Vote  &  being  to  all 
Appearance  in  Earnest  to  go  on  with  Business,*  than  any  thing 
in  your  Conduct  before,  because  say  they  Mr.  Ingersoll  knows 

•  A  Town  ^[ectiii.Lr  lii'ld  in  New  Haven  on  Fehruary  3.  ITOri,  liad  jvccin- 
mended  tlio  re-unijaiun  of  tnisiness  by  tlio  Courts,  and  :\Ir.  Ingoisoll  >ceni-i 
to  have  joined  in  tin-  Town  Vote. 


JAKED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1TG5-G0.  381 

that  such  a  ]\reasnre  would  most  certainly  be  a  Cause  of  the 
Forfeiture  of  the  Charter,  <S:c.  I  mention  not  this  because  I  am 
not  satisfied  with  the  Reasons  that  you  o-ave  me,  but  only  to  let 
you  know  what  some  People  think.  I  shall  take  all  Opportuni- 
ties when  I  hear  that  rnatter  mentioned  to  use  my  Endeavours 
to  set  the  matter  in  its  proper  Light  you  may  depend  upon  it. 
As  I  think  you  told  me  you  should  not  go  the  Circuit,  I  should 
be  very  glad  you  should  improve  a  leisure  hour  to  communicate 
to  me  any  new  Occurrence,  or  news  of  Importance  from  Home 
that  may  be  ]:)rcper  to  be  communicated,  as  I  exspect  you  will 
now  pretty  Certainly  soon  hear  from  some  of  your  Friends  on 
the  other  Side  the  "Water.  I  have  no  need  to  subjoin  any  Cau- 
tion to  you  that  it  would  do  no  good  to  communicate  this  to  any 
one,  or  that  if  you  write  it  must  be  by  somebody  that  you  know 
will  let  me  have  the  Letter. 

I  am  sir  Your  sincere  Friend  and  Very  Hum^'  Ser* 

G.  Selleck  Silliman." 

P.  S.     If  you  publish  those  Letters  be  so  kind  as  to  contrive 
to  let  me  see  them.     I  had  almost  forgot  to  tell  you  that  on 
Tuesday  next  our  Sons  of  Liberty  are  to  meet  to  hear  your  Let- 
ters read  I  am  told :   prav  how  did  thev  aet  them  ? 
[To 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq' 

iN^ew  Haven]  '.  .       • 


Letter  to  the  Sta:\ip   Co:mmissioxers. 

jST  :  Haven  5  ]\Larch  17GG 
^lny  it  please  Your  non'"\ 

Since  my  last  I  have  been  hon'^.  with  yours  of  7'^.  of  Xov"", 
advising  of  a  parcel  of  Stampt  paper  X".  5G,  shipt  for  this  Col- 

*Gold  SelHck  Silliman.  son  of  Ebonezt-r  Silliman  (Yalo  1727),  of  Fair- 
field, Connecticut  (one  of  the  Assistants  who  administered  the  oath  to 
observe  the  Stamp  Act  to  Governor  Fitch),  and  fatlier  of  Professor  Ben- 
jamin Silliman,  was  born  in  1732,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1752,  and  died 
in  1700. 


382  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-06. 

ony  on  board  Cap*.  Chambers,  &  which  is  arrived,  &  I  believe 
Lodged  in  the  fort  at  X :  York. 

Yon  must  have  heard  of  a  quantity  intended  for  this  Colony, 
how  much  I  cannot  tell,  being  burnt  by  the  Populace  at  X: 
York.  Every  thing  remains  here,  &  in  the  iSTeighbouring 
Provinces,  much  as  when  I  wrote  you  last;  for  particulars 
must  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  Xews  papers  tS:  other  general 
information.  .    •. 

I  am 

Y^.  Most  Obed* 
•'    '"  .-'  l.--Humb^  Serv'  ••■>     - 

•'  '  J.  Ingersoll.^' 

P.  S.  I  am  Informed  by  a  Letter  from  ]\P.  Theoph'.  Bache 
of  jST  York  that  the  Stampt  papers  belonging  to  this  Colony  that 
were  destroyed  as  above  were  those  sent  by  Cap*.  Haviland.f 
]\P.  Bache  desires  there  may  be  no  more  Consigned  to  him: — 
indeed  no  person  I  believe  will  receive  them  at  Xew  York  nor 
does  there  appear  any  prospect  that  any  will  be  wanted  or  made 
Use  of  here. 

J.  L 
To  the  Hou^  Commr*.  of  Stamps 

Copy  - ,  .        .,  -. 


'^  '"    •    ■'  Letter  of  Richard  Jacksox. 

Temple  22  March  1766 
Dear  Sir,  i  •    ,,■.;,;  i  ■,■    , 

I  received  your  Letter  of  Xov''.  cl'  take  the  Earliest  oppor- 
tunity I  have  had  since  my  receipt  of  it,  to  do  you  the  Justice  of 
declaring  T  never  did  in  my  life  perceive  any  disposition  in  you 

*  From  the  Ingorsoll  manuscripts:  published  in  Letters  relating  to  the 
Stamp  Act. 

t  The  only  Connecticut  stamps  destroyed  were  tliese  received  in  the 
PoUii,  of  the  allc'red  value  of  £in00.  Ten  bales  of  parchment,  of  which 
three  were  designed  for  Connecticut,  were  taken  out  of  the  vessel  by  a  mol) 
early  in  January,  ITOt),  at  midnight,  in  New  York  harbor,  and  burnt. 


JARED    IXOERSOLL    PArERS,    1T65-6G.  383 

to  Encourage  the  passing  tlie  Stamp  Act,  &.  that  Every  thing  I 
ever  heard  from  yon  tended  to  disswade  the  passing  it,  partic- 
ularly at  the  last  interview  ]\r.  Franklin,  yon  i:  I  had  with  ]\r. 
Grenville  on  the  Snljject,  when  he  heard  ns  give  our  reasons 
against  the  Bills  being  brought  in  for  near  two  hours. 

As  for  what  passed  between  M^.  Whately  &  you  I  am  a 
Stranger  to  it,  having  never  been  myself  privy  to  any  measures 
taken  with  respect  to  that  Act,  after  having  formally  declined 
giving  any  other  advice  on  the  Subject  excepting  that  I  had 
always  given,  to  lay  the  project  aside  ;  but  I  took  the  opportunity 
of  asking  him  upon  this  Subject  in  the  House  the  other  day, 
when  he  informed  me  that  what  you  have  said  in  your  Letter  is 
in  Substance  true  on  this  Subject,  and  if  it  varies  at  all  it  is  in 
relating  a  Circumstance  or  two  no  way  material.        ,  •,  . 

I  am  heartily  Sorry  for  your  misfortunes,  but  flatter  myself 
that  when  the  Stamp  Act  shall  be  forgot,  as  I  hope  it  will  for 
Ever,  the  prejudices  conceived  against  you  wall  be  forgot  too. 

I  hope  no  disputes  about  Speculative  rights  will  keep  up  any 
animosities  on  that  Subject,  for  I  sincerely  believe  that  Sober 
moderate  men  in  America  who  deny  the  right  of  Parliament, 
while  yet  they  apply  for  a  repeal  of  a  Law  passed  by  Parlia- 
ment, must  mean  the  same  that  I  understand  ]\F.  Pitt  to  mean 
&;  that  I  mean  myself,  for  I  conceive  they  Admit  what  we  call 
the  right,  by  saying  Parliament  has  the  power  to  make  the  Law. 
I  conjecture  that  when  we  deny  the  Expediency  k  admit  the 
right,  in  England,  we  admit  only  that  imperial  right,  that  is 
inseperable  from  a  Supreme  Legislature  who  have  it  as  part  of 
their  Essence  to  make  that  legal  that  was  illegal  before;  but 
which  it  is  not  to  be  presumed  they  will  do  in  Cases  that  must 
be  eternally  improper,  nor  even  in  those  that  may  by  possibility 
become  proper,  unless  they  should  become  so, 
lamD^S^ 
-      ■       A'^  :Most  Obcd'  Ilumbl  Serv*. 

Copy 

*  This  letter  from  Riolranl  Jackson,  Esq..  of  London,  to  'Sir.  Ingersoll, 
had  already  been  printed  in  part  in  the  Connecticut  dazctte  of  June  14, 
before  its  inclusion  in  a  fuot-note  in  Letters  relating  to  the  Stamp-Act. 


3s4  jared  ixgeesoll  papeur,   1765-66. 

Preface  to  a>'d  Explaxation  of  Letters  Relating  to  the 

Stamp  Act. 

To  the  Publick.* 

About  tlie  beginning  of  last  December,  three  persons  came  to 
me  as  a  Committee  from  the  people  called  the  respectable  popu- 
lace, then  lately  assembled  at  AA'indham,  and  acquainted  me  that 
those  people  had  received  information  of  my  having  then  lately 
wrote  Letters  to  the  Commissionei^s  of  Stamps  &  others  in  Eng- 
land (naming  to  me  the  persons  to  whom  I  had  wrote)  in  which 
Letters,  they  were  told,  T  had  advised  to  take  away  the  Jurisdic- 
tion of  Admiralty  Courts  &  some  two  or  three  other  matters 
from  the  Stamp  Act,  and  then  to  inforce  the  same,  Urging  to 
have  the  same  Crammed  down,  with  assurances  that  the  people 
would  receive  it,  and  the  like.  They  let  me  know  that  those 
people  were  Extremely  enraged  at  this  intelligence  and  that  it 
was  with  difficulty  they  (the  Com^^\)  had  obtained  leave  to 
come  &:  give  me  an  oportunity  of  clearing  up  this  matter  and 
which  they  intimated  they  thought  could  not  well  be  done,  with- 
out my  giving  out  Copies  of  those  Letters.  They  said  they  did 
not  come  to  demand  them  of  me,  but  that  they  could  not  answer 
for  consequences  if  L^hould  refuse  to  do  it,  as  some  of  the  peo- 
ple talkt  in  a  Strain  which  I  do  not  choose  to  repeat — and 
from  the  Story  &  Circumstances  of  the  intelligence  which  had 
been  received,  tho  far  from  being  true,  I  did  then  think  my 
Letters  had  been  intercepted. 

I  let  the  Gentlemen  know  that  the  report  of  what  I  had 
wrote  was  not  true;  Observed  to  them  that  it  was  very  Extra- 
ordinary for  me  to  be  Obliged  to  Expose  my  private  Letters,  or 
to  take  the  chance  of  Consequences  from  an  exasperated  people 
at  a  time  when  their  resentments  bordered  so  nearly  on  open 
violence,  and  all  from  meer  Suggestion  &  hearsay;  however,  I 
immediately  had  recourse  to  the  Copies  of  those  Letters  &  read 

*  Tlii3  Preface  to  tlie  Letters  relating  to  the  Stamp-Aet.  as  well  as  an 
explanatory  statement  (introductory  to  ^[r.  Ingersoll's  letters  of  Novem- 
ber, 1705)  in;serte(l  in  tho  text  of  tlie  same  pamphlet,  is  liere  printed  from 
the  manuscript  draft;  the  date  (June  2,  ITOO)  was  altered  to  June  15 
on  publication. 


JARF.D  INGERSOLI.  PAPERS,  1TG5-G6.  385 

those  paragraphs  to  which  the  Story  seemed  to  have  relation, 
with  whioh  the  Gentlemen  appeared  to  be  Satisfied. 

I  therenpon  conchided  (this  was  over  night)  to  draw  Copies 
of  those  paragraphs  onlv,  together  with  some  minutes  I  should 
make  &  give  to  them ;  accordingly  the  next  morning  one  of  the 
Com^^^  came  <!'  T  gave  him  such  Copies  i-  minutes.  He  said  on 
further  thought  he  very  much  feared  the  people  would  not  be 
asswaged  without  full  Copies  of  Every  thing  Except  what 
might  relate  to  private  affairs,  &  repeated  to  me  the  temper  the 
people  were  in  «&:  the  Language  some  of  them  used.  Much  dis- 
course was  had  between  us  upon  the  Subject.  On  the  whole  I 
read  to  him  the  whole  of  the  Letters  I  had  then  lately  sent  away 
k  askt  him  whether  he  thought  the  people  would  be  more  or  less 
Exasperated  by  knowing  what  they  contained.  He  said  he 
believed  the  Letters  would  have  a  favourable  Effect  and  advised 
me  as  a  friend  to  suffer  this  Com"*,  to  take  the  Copies  &  added 
that  he  believed  if  they  were  shewn  to  some  of  the  principle  peo- 
ple they  might  bo  kept  from  a  publick  reading  as  the  body  of  the 
people  would  most  likely  be  satisfyed  with  what  they  should  be 
able  to  inform  them  about  the  same.  The  other  two  Com^.  also 
coming  in  heard  them  read  &  Expressed  themselves  much  in  the 
same  manner.  ■''  "'•'■.■"■     - 

Upon  this  I  delivered  out  to  them  those  &  all  my  other  letters 
of  Correspondence  about  the  Stamp  Act  from  the  beginning, 
together  with  a  Copy  of  my  bond  of  OiKce  that  so  one  thing 
might  serve  to  Explain  another. 

When  this  Com'^  returned  to  Windham  the  peoples  Expecta- 
tions Sz  impatience  I  am  told  were  so  great  that  nothing  short  of 
the  publick  reading  of  my  Letters  would  answer.  This  occa- 
sioned another  c^-  another  such  reading,  until  1  found  they  had 
been  made  known  not  only  to  many  thousands  in  this  Colony, 
but  to  many  persons  in  higher  as  well  as  lower  Stations  in 
Neighbouring  Provinces,  and  that  one  Complcat  Copy  had 
been  taken  &  certain  pretended  Extracts,  taken  upon  memory  or 
otherwise,  given  out,  so  very  deficient  ».^'  to  my  Apprehension  so 
ditferent  from  the  true  meaning  of  the  original  Letters  them- 
selves, that  I  found  myself  under  a  Xecessity  of  promising  the 
13 


386  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1705-00. 

Publick  that  as  soon  as  T  should  recover  the  Letters  I  would 
publish  the  \vhole.  This  has  been  delayed  hitherto  upon  the 
Advice  of  one  of  the  persons  principally  concerned  in  obtainini:- 
these  Letters  of  nic.  Indeed  the  peoples  Spirits  ^vere  in  such  a 
ferment  while  we  continued  in  a  State  of  Suspense  with  regard 
to  y*  repeal  of  the  Stamp  Act  that  I  feared  a  publication  of  them 
would  answer  no  good  purpose  »t  perhaps  might  give  Occasion 
for  further  Crimination  as  to  me ;  but  now  as  we  are  favoured 
with  undoubted  intelligence  of  its  total  repeal,  J  think  I  cannot 
fairly  Excuse  myself  from  fullfilling  my  promise  to  the  Pub- 
lick  in  this  particular. 

I  expect  very  different  Judgments  will  be  passed  upon  these 
Letters  by  different  persons  according  to  their  different  preju- 
dices, passions  and  inclinations,  as  I  find  has  been  the  Case.  It 
must  however  be  owned  by  all  to  be  a  peculiarly  hard  Case  to  be 
under  such  kind  of  Xecessity  as  I  have  before  described  of 
Exposing  to  the  world  my  most  Secret  thoughts  ct  those  con- 
ceived (in  the  later  Letters)  in  a  Sciruation  the  most  perplexed 
with  complicated  difficulty  cl-  the  most  distressed  that  can  well  be 
imagined.  The  Extraordinary  &  peculiar  Circumstances  of  the 
times  must  be  the  only  Excuse  on  all  sides.  I  shall  therefore 
hope  for  as  much  Candor  as  the  nature  it  Circumstances  of  the 
Case  will  admit  of. 

The  whole  of  these  Letters  are  now  offered  to  the  publick 
view,  (Sr  however  little  they  may  avail  me  as  to  my  own  private 
Caracter  &  reputation,  yet  as  they  contain,  with  the  Xotes 
annexed,  a  short  history  of  the  rise,  progress  &  Ending  of  the 
Mem.orable  Stamp  Act,  I  cannot  but  hope  they  will  afford  some 
profitable  Amusement  to  numy  persons  in  this  Colony  who  from 
their  Scituation  have  not  been  under  Advantages  of  knowing  all 
that  has  passed  with  regard  to  it,  and  that  they  may  receive 
some  helps  from  thorn  in  Solving  vt  Explaining  some  pieces  of 
publick  Conduct  which  have  been  so  much  the  Objects  of  Atten- 
tion of  late. 

I  think  in  times  of  general  Connnotion  the  people  have  a 
right  to  know  the  general  Outlines  at  least  of  that  Conduct  in 
any  of  their  Mendjers  which  may  lie  supposed  any  way  nuite- 


JAKEL)  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  17G5-G6.  3S7 

riallv  to  affect  tlicni.  This  I  mean  to  apply  to  my  self  more 
especially  only  while  I  am  Endeavouring  to  apologize  for  my 
own  Conduct;  I  shall  have  occasion  to  take  Xotice  of  that  of 
some  others  incidentally  only  ti:  as  the  same  relates  to  my  own. 
I  hope  no  Offence  will  be  taken  by  any.  I  mean  not  this 
Step  to  furnish  new  matter  for  popular  disputation  &  Animos- 
ity, but  as  a  fulhlmeut  of  my  Obligations  k  with  a  view  to 
satisfy  k  quiet  honest  minds  who  are  desirous  of  knowing  the 
truth  in  these  matters,  and  as  the  finishing  Act  to  that  Scene  of 
trouble  which  the  Stamp  Act  has  Occasioned  to  me  as  well  as 
to  many  others.  ._   . — '•" 

J :  Ingersoll 
X :  Haven  June  2:1700 


Before  I  proceed  to  the  other  letters  I  beg  leave  to  observe  a 
few  things  with  regard  to  my  office  of  Distributer  of  Stamps  and 
the  obligations  of  it,  as  there  is  nothing  perhaps  in  this  whole 
affair  that  has  been  less  attended  to  or  less  understood.  The 
Common  opinion  seems  to  have  been,  that  I  should  immediately 
have  resigned  the  office  as  soon  as  I  saw  the  temper  the  Country 
was  in  upon  my  arrival  from  England,  whereas,  in  my  humble 
opinion,  it  was  absolutely  impossible  in  the  nature  of  things 
that  I  should  make  such  resignation,  ti'  would  have  been 
Extremely  hazardous  to  my  office  bond  to  have  attempted  it, 
and  that  for  the  following  reasons.  It  is  well  known  that  I  was 
in  England  when  I  was  appointed  to  this  offi.ce ;  I  accepted  it  by 
my  own  Act ;  undertook  the  trust,  and  gave  bond  at  the  Stamp 
office  in  the  Sum  of  £3000.  Sterl:  for  a  due  fulfilment  of  it, 
with  two  Sureties  resident  in  London  to  whom  I  also  gave  my 
own  bond  of  indemnification — the  Condition  of  which  office 
bond,  among-  other  things,  is  as  follows  : — 

"AMiereas  the  above  bound  Jared  Ingersoll  is  nominated  and 
appointed  Chief  Distributer  nf  vStampt  ^Tellum,  parchment  tV: 
paper  within  the  CoLjny  of  Cunnecticut.  in  America;  and  as 
such  is  intrusted  and  Employed  to  furnish  ».^'  supply  the  said 
Colony  with  Stampt  Vellum.  ».Vc.  and  to  collect  c^'  receive  Sev- 


388 


JAKED    I^-GEKSOLL    PAPERS,     1765-GG. 


eral  Duties,  penalties  k  forfeitures  by  virtue  &  in  Execution  of 
the  powers  A:  dirt-ctious  contained  in  an  Act  of  Parliament 
made,  i'c.  The  Condition  therefore  of  this  obligation  is  such, 
that  if  the  said  Jared  Ingersoll  or  his  Deputies,  &:c.  shall  well  t 
truly  Collect,  recover  &:  receive  all  t  Every  Sum  k  Sums  of 
money,  which  shall  arise  &  become  due  of  &  for  the  several  and 
respective  Duties  cV  penalties  or  forfeitures  mentioned  in  the 
said  Act  of  Parliament,  «i:c.''  Then  reciting  many  other  par- 
ticulars of  the  duty  of  the  office,  says,  '"'And  also  if  the  said 
Jared  Ingersoll  shall  d:  do  well,  faithfully  &  truly  observe,  obey, 
perform  »fc  Execute  as  well  all  &  everv  the  matters  and  thin"-s 
which  are  enacted  and  required  to  be  by  him  done  &  performed 
in  &  by  the  said  Act  of  Parliament,  as  also  all  &  every  such 
^  Eules,  methods,  orders  and  Instructions  as  he  the  said  Jared 
Ingersoll  shall  from  time  to  time  receive,  &c ;  and  also  if  he  the 
said  Jared  Ingersoll  shall  and  do  well,  faithfully  &  duly  Exer- 
cise, Execute  £  perform  the  said  office  and  all  &  every  the  mat- 
ters and  things  touching  or  concerning  the  same,  which  he 
ought  to  do  lV-  perform  by  virtue  thereof,  according  to  the  several 
trusts  reposed  in  him  by  the  said  Act,  then  kc."  Xow  it 
appears  most  plainly  from  the  words  of  my  bond  &  indeed  from 
the  very  nature  of  the  trust,  that  my  business  was  to  furnish  the 
people  of  this  Colony  with  the  Stamp  paper  in  order  to  the 
raising  a  revenue  to  the  Crown,  and  had  I  by  my  own  Act 
defeated  these  ends  I  should  most  undoubtedly  been  Judged 
guilty  of  the  most  gross  infidelity  of  office.  Again,  there  is  no 
such  thing,  I  conceive,  as  resigning  an  Office  in  any  Case  but  to 
those  who  Created  the  office  or  to  such  as  are  lawfully  author- 
ised and  impowered  to  receive  such  resignation.  Persons,  I 
know,  may  say  they  wont  Execute  their  offices  &  so  break  their 
trust  Sz  incur  all  the  penal  Consequences  of  such  a  Step,  but  they 
cannot  to  any  effect  or  purpose  say  they  resign,  except  to  tliose 
who  have  power  to  appoint  others  in  their  room.  'Twas  doubt- 
less with  me  just  as  it  would  have  been  with  a  Sheriff,  should  he 
refuse  to  serve  a  writ  Avhen  tendred  to  him  Sz  think  to  Excuse 
himself  by  saying  he  resigned  his  office,  when  perhaps  the  Gor. 
<S:  Council  who  appointed  him  were  a  hundred  miles  of.      The 


JAEEU  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1705-66.  389 

same  with  a  Custom  house  Officer,  should  he  refuse  to  enter  & 
clear  vessells  upon  that  pretence  &  the  like.  This  is  so  plain  a 
Case  that  no  one  ever  doubted  it  before.  I  could  have  wrote 
home  to  England,  I  know,  for  a  dismission  from  my  office,  there 
resigned.  »1^'  been  clear  of  it ;  but  must  have  been  considered  as 
the  appointed  officer  &  act  as  such  in  the  mean  ,time  &  until  I 
was  succeeded  by  some  other,  k  which  must  necessarily  have 
taken  up  many  months  time,  k  when  it  was  done  would  not 
have  answered  the  peoples  End. 

Tis  true  I  told  the  Gov'.  Early  after  my  coming  home  and 
several  of  the  Council  and  indeed  Declared  publickly,  that  in 
case  the  General  Assembly  A:  bidy  of  the  people  should  conclude 
not  to  Submit  to  the  Stamp  Act,  but  to  go  abreast  the  same,  that 
in  that  case  I  should  not  take  any  Steps  in  my  office,  for  in  that 
case  there  would  be  an  End  of  the  principal  part  of  my  busi- 
ness (viz)  that  of  Collecting  a  Revenue  by  the  Sale  of  the  Stamp 
papers ;  and  as  for  the  other  part,  that  of  collecting  such  rev- 
enue by  the  fines  and  forfeitures  that  would  be  incurrd,  as  there 
would  not  be  any  need  of  any  Steps  being  taken  to  that  End 
immediately,  I  certainly  should  have  wrote  home  and  insisted 
upon  a  dismission  from  my  office. 

Perhaps  it  will  be  said,  upon  my  own  principles  it  w^as  best, 
as  I  could  not  resign  voluntarily,  to  force  me  to  a  promise  not 
to  introduce  the  Stamp  papers,  &  by  every  means  to  prevent 
their  being  brought  into  the  Colony,  least  they  should  get  into 
Use  among  the  people.  As  to  that  I  have  nothing  to  say;  all  I 
contend  for  is  that  while  the  people  were  tieing  my  hands  in 
that  matter,  for  the  general  good,  as  they  supposed,  that  they 
would  let-me  at  least  Endeavour  to  keep  Em  at  liberty,  in  order 
to  save  my  fidelity  to  the  King,  whose  Servant  in  office  I  was,  & 
my  Interest  which  was  so  bound  Sc  fettered  by  my  office  bond. 
What  I  here  said  therefore  I  would  apply  to  the  general  tenor  & 
Spirit  of  the  Ensuing  Letters,  which  some  have  thought  do  not 
sufficiently  Comport  with  my  Weathersfield  resignation,  as  it  is 
called.  It  is  very  well  known  that  in  my  printed  account  of 
that  matter  published  soon  after  it  happened,  T  never  took  the 
merit  of  a   Voluntary  resignation.     I   always  knew,   at  least 


^^^  JAKED    IXGERSOLL    PAPEI^S,     1705-00. 

thought,  T  was  not  at  liberty  to  make  any  such  Sacrifice.      I 
knew  that  all  the  Stamp  papers  Consignea  to  my  Care  to  the 
Value  of  thousands  of  pounds  Sterling  were  Charged  to  niy 
Acc°.,  those  that  were  burnt  at  X:  York  as  well  as  the  others. 
which  Account  is  yet  open  &  to  l)e  settled  as  I  am  advised  bv 
letters  from   the   Comm".   of  Stamps;    that  I   was  Expressly 
Ordered  by  printed  instructions  received  long  since  to  receive 
&  to  transmit  a  Eeceipt  for  those  very  papers— *S:  by  my  bond 
to  distribute  them;    every  one  of  which  orders  and  Obligations 
I  had  failed  of  complying  with.     I  knew  it  would  not  do  to  sav 
merely  that  T  would  not  obey  these  orders ;    I  must  say  I  could 
not,  Sz  I  must  also  tell  how  cV  why  I  could  not.     I  did  not  think 
it    would    be    sufficient    merely    to    Inform    that    a    Mob    had 
obliged  me  to  promise  I  would  not,  when  the  Assembly  had 
isued  a  proclamation  treating  those  people  as   rioters,  k-  the 
people  I  was  writing  to  might  naturally  think  the  Publick  had 
interposed,  &  by  punishing  the  :\rob  fas  they  to  be  sure  would 
Consider  it)  had  freed  me  from  my  restraints,  &  that  the  body 
of  the  people  stood  ready  to  receive  the  Stampt  papers.     I  must 
therefore  acquaint  them  that  the  Publick  themselves,  by  the 
time  I  wrote,  did  not  seem  inclined  to  do  any  thing  toward 
freeing  me  from  those  restraints;    in  short  T  found  it  necessary, 
I  thought,  to  acquaint  the  people  T  was  writing  to,  generally, 
with  the  publick  as  well  as  particular  transactions  which  related 
to  the  Stamp  Act,  as  they  all  tended  to  the  principal  point  of 
Excusing  me  for  my  Xegle<>ts  of  Office,  in  doing  which  however  T 
told  of  nothing  but  what  was  as  publick  as  Newspapers  could 
make^it,  .1^  yet  would  be  Expected  officially  from  me:   nor  d<.  I 
mention  a  Circumstance  which  might  give  I^mbrage  without  ui\-- 
ing  at  the  same  time  the  reason  of  the  Step.    If  some  of  the  Coun- 
cil refuse  to  swear  x'  Gov^,  tis  not  left  to  be  guessed  to  proceed 
from  Caprice  or  humour,  but  is  alledged  to  be  from  principles  nf 
Conscience ;— and  if  it  is  said  no  Steps  had  been  taken  to  pun- 
ish those  people  who  obtain^  my  afores'^  resignation,  it  is  added, 
that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  attempt  it ;   &  the  like. 

Again,  some  have  blamed  me  for  Seeming  to  keep  Sight  of 
luy  office,  after  the  AVeatherslield  affair.      To  this  I  beir  leave  t.' 


JARED  INGEKSOLL  rAPERS,  17G5-G(5.  391 

say  in  the  first  place  I  was  really  afraid  least  it  should  be 
thought,  on  tother  side  the  water,  that  I  was  secretly  Consent- 
ing- to  be  forced  out  of  it,  &  so  betraying-  my  trust,  and  further, 
as  I  told  the  people  at  Weathersfield,  altho  I  could  very  freelv 
part  wth  the  office,  if  by  that  means  we  should  get  rid  of  the 
Stamp  Act  itself,  yet  if  that  Step  should  serve  no  other  purpose 
than  only  to  Oust  me  of  the  office  in  order  to  be  filled  by 
another,  I  should  not  very  well  like  it.  I  therefore  in  these 
Letters  stated  the  whole  of  my  Situation  and  left  it  with  my 
Employers  &  my  friends,  to  whom  I  wrote,  to  do  and  to  advise 
what  they  should  think  ought  to  be  done  tt  what  in  honour  I 
miglit  do,  taking  this  one  thing  all  along  into  the  Account,  that 
I  could  not  be  willing  to  Exercise  the  office,  unless  the  people 
should  generally  Conclude  to  Submit  to  the  Stamp  Act,  and  cer- 
tainly Volenti  non  fit  injuria. 

Eut  I  Avill  no  longer  detain  the  Header  from  the  Letters 
themselves,  only  desire  if  any  shall  be  disposed  to  find  fault, 
that  they  will  place  themselves  as  in  my  Situation,  in  the  first 
place  conscious  of  having  faithfully,  to  the  Utmost  of  my  power, 
opposed  the  passing  the  Stamp  Act ;  then  loaded  with  infinite 
reproach  for  having  taken  an  office  under  it,  and  which  I  took 
thinking  it  might  be  even  agreeable  to  the  people  under  all  the 
Circumstances  to  have  me  take  it;  then  to  have  my  bond  & 
interests  involved,  intangled  &  Exposed,  by  at  least  a  very 
unusual  &  Extraordinary  Step ;  and  then  ask  themselves  fairly, 
whether  they  think  thcv  should  have  done  much  better  than 
I  did. 


'I  -\  K 


Letter  to  Goverxok  Moorp:,  of  Xew  A"ol-k. 

X:  Haven  14  Julv  1TG6 

Sir     ,       ■ 

I  have  received  orders  from  the  Com",  of  Stamps,  to  Ship  to 
them  all  the  Stampt  Parchment  iS:  paper  which  has  been  Con- 
signed to  me — they  also  intimate  that  it  is  Expected  Orders  will 
come  from  the  Lords  Comm'.  of  the  Admiralty,  for  the  Ships  of 


392  JAPvED    TNGE"RSOLL    P-VrFRS,    1705-86. 

war  returning  home  to  take  on  board  and  Carry  the  Same  to 
Engdand,  and  Accordingly  direct  me  to  Apply  to  the  Com- 
manders of  Such  Ships  to  receive  all  Such  as  I  have  in  my  Cus- 
tody or  power. 

As  I  have  been  Obliged,  during  the  late  troubles,  to  Desire 
Your  Excellency,  And  before  your  Arrival,  Leu'.  Gov''  Colden 
to  receive  into  the  fort  at  X.  York  &  there  keep  until  further 
Orders,  whatever  Stamps  vShould  come  consigned  to  me  that 
way,  and  as  I  live  remote  from  where  any  Ships  of  war  iire  Sta- 
tioned, I  have  to  Ask  the  favour  of  Your  Excellency  to  Order 
to  be  put  on  board  any  Such  returning  Ship,  all  and  any  Boxes 
or  parcels  of  Starapt  parchment  or  papers  which  You  shall  have 
in  your  Custody  or  power  which  Shall  appear  to  be  directed  and 
Consigned  to  me  that  So  the  Same  may  be  Carried  back  to  the 
Stamp  Office  in  London  agreeable  to  the  before  mentioned 
Orders  from  that  Board — A  particular  Ace",  of  which  boxes 
with  their  numbers  You  will  be  So  good  as  to  take  and  favour 
me  with. 

The  Common  Xecessity  &  peculiarity  of  the  times  will  I  hope, 
plead  my  Excuse  for  giving  your  Excellency  this  further  trouble 
I  am 
:         Y"  Excellencys   iMost   Obcd'. 
&  :^ro3t  HumV  Serv^ 


S'  H.  ]\Ioore. 


Jared  Ingersoll 


.    :     •    ^       Letters  of  TIev.  Xehemiati  STRO^'G. 

Sir 

Complements  paid  ».l'C.     Am  Enformed  that  my  Antagonist 

Mr  B r  h;is  tied  his  Coimtrey— that  wdiat  Estate  he  has  lofr 

is  on  a  Slippery  Bottom.  This  therefore  waits  on  you  with  niv 
Desire  you  would  by  no  means  fail  to  take  y^  most  Effectual 
]\rethod  for  my  Security,  by  Attaching  (if  need  be)  his  IIous- 

*  This  letter.  addres<eil  to  tlie  Governor  of  tlie  Province  of  Xew  York,  i- 
copied  from  a  copj-  in  tlie  Library  of  Congress, — the  original  being  in  the 
Britisli  Museum. 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPEKS,  1T65-6G.  393 

hold  furniture,  or  some  other  Part  of  his  Estate,  if  it  can  be 
done,  and  jou  think  it  adviscable. 

His  Wife  I  am  indeed  Sensible  can  be  no  otherwise  than  in  a 
forlorn  State  of  wretchedness ;  and  would  be  more  So  Should  I 
deprive  her  of  her  things ;  I  have  indeed  no  desire  to  add  to  her 
wretchedness  for  the  Sake  of  Increasing  her  misery.  Her  mis- 
ery is  her  own,  not  mine;  must  thank  her  Self  not  me  for  y* 
whole,  but  know  she- must,  that  her  own  degenerate  &  perfidious 
Conduct  to  me  which  has  renderd  her  the  Scandal  of  her  Sex, 
and  Shamefully  dishonourd  me,  can  now  lay  no  Claim  to  my 
Compassion  to  her  !Misery,  or  Influence  me  to  use  any  forbear- 
ance towards  her ;  So  but  that  I  can  &  Shall  from  a  Sense  of  my 
own  honour  and  Interest  Spare  no  pains  so  that  I  can  but  recover 
from  her  that  part  of  my  Estate  which  by  her  Treasonable  Con- 
duct She  has  deprived  me  of  and  Injuriously  Detains  from  me, 
Let  the  Consequence  to  her  be  what  it  will. 

Must  Therefore,  Sir,  in  a  word  beg  leave  to  desire  you  to  pro- 
ceed on  with  y^  Same  Attention  and  Vigour,  which  you  would 

do  was  ^[r  B r  present  &  under  affluent  Circumstances. 

.1  am. 

Sir,  •■     ' 

.    .,  -  with  much  respect  your 

very  humble  Ser'. 

1^.  Strong.* 
Turkey  Hills  in  Sirasbury 

Octo^  1 :  1765 
To  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq'.  ■' 

*  Xeheuiiali  Stronc:  (born  1720.  died  ISO")  ^vas  graduated  at  Yale  in 
1755,  and  after  studying  divinity  in  Xew  Haven  became  a  tutor  in  the 
College.  In  Xovember,  17G0,  just  as  he  left  tlie  tutorship,  he  married  here 
Lydia  Smith,  whose  husband,  Andrew  Burr,  Jr.,  from  whom  slie  had 
obtained  a  divorce  for  desertion  in  1750,  afterwards  reappeared,  and 
secured  an  annulment  of  the  divorce  in  ^lay,  17C1. 

^Meantime  Mr.  Strong  had  been  settled  as  pastor  of  the  congregation  in 
Turkey  Hills  (now  East  Granby),  Simsbury,  Connecticut.  The  debts  and 
lawsuits  in  which  lie  became  involved  in  consequence  of  his  domestic 
troubles,  brouglit  about  the  termination  of  liis  ministerial  career.  Subse- 
quently, from  1770  to  17S1,  he  filled  tlie  Professorsliip  of  :\[athematics  and 
Natural  Pliiloso]thy  in  Yale  College. 


394  JAKED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1765-66. 

Sir 

After  proppei-  Salutations,  I  present  voii  with  mj  Desire 
that  you  would  not  fail  to  do  the  best  you  can  for  me  at  y*  Supe- 
rior Court  in  February  next,  if  any  there  shall  be,  in  the  Atfair 
of  ^Ir  Burr :  I  shall  not  be  present  my  self,  to  agitate  any  thing 
in  the  affair,  must  Leave  it  with  your  Self  to  Carry  thro  the 
whole  with  as  much  Vigour  as  if  I  was  upon  the  Spot  to  Stim- 
ulate &:c.  Be  so  good  Sir,  as  to  Take  all  the  Advantage  that  is 
Reasonable  of  his  absense.  Perhaps  Mr  Johnson  may  be 
Engagd  on  my  Side;  act  in  that  as  your  wisdom  shall  direct. 
If  I  should  recover,  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  Isue  out  Execution 
forthwith  ;  you  know  what  I  have  Sufferd  by  Delays  heretofore. 
Let  not  any  Calamity  or  poverty  of  the  woman  prevent  the  full 
force  of  the  Execution.  If  I  should  not  Recover  I  shall  without 
Doubt  Carry  the  Affair  to  the  Assembly  in  ^May.  I  am,  Sir, 
With  much  Respect  ..•-.. 

A'our  very  humble  Servant 

Xehemiah  Strong 

P.  S.    be  so  good  as  not  to  let  the  Tryal  be  put  off  if  you  can 
prosecute  it. 

Turkey  Hills  in  Simsbury,  •  ,  . 

Jan  1S'\  17G6. 

To  Jarcd  Ingersoll  Esq"".  .,      . 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  176(3-G9.  395 

IV.     Xew  Ha  vex,  17G6-17C9 

In  compensation  for  Lis  treatment  as  Stamp-:\raster,  :\Ir. 
Ingersoll  received  in  1769  a  commission  as  Jndge  of  the  new 
Vice-Admiralty  Court  for  Xew  York,  Pennsylvania,  Marv- 
land  and  Virginia,  with  headquarters  in  Phihuielphia,  on  an 
annual  salary  of  £000. 

^  A  few  documents  arc  given  herewith  in  illustration  of  his 
life  during  the  period  from  the  episode  of  the  Stamp  Act  to  his 
assumption  of  judicial  duties  in  Philadelphia.    - 


Lettee  to  Eiciiaed  Jacksox. 
"       ^  -■..■...      :>^  Haven  IS  Aug\  1766 

this  waits  on  you  Solely  on  the  Subject  of  the  Indian  bene- 
faction which  you  was  so  good  as  to  mention  to  me  when  last 
with  yon.  Enquiry  has  been  made  into  the  State  of  the  Indians 
near  Kent  in  this  Colony.  They  appear  to  be  nnder  the  Care  of 
a  Moravian  Teacher,  &  from  some  Connections  formed  l>etween 
them  and  that  Interest,  I  find  whatever  monies  shdl  be  sup- 
plied to  their  benefit  must  be  nnder  the  direction  of  the  Mora- 
vian Benefactors- ;  so  that  our  Clergy  do  not  seem  to  be 
inclined  at  present  to  solicit  your  bounty  [  i  ]  for  them.  As  to 
those  of  the  ^Monhegan  Tribe  near  Xorwich  I  have  not  as  yet 
been  able  to  learn  any  thing  particular  about  them.  The  State 
of  this  Cr.untry  of  late  you  will  easily  conceive  has  verv  much 
retarded  Enquiries  of  this  kind,  A:  indeed  Every  kind  of  bus- 
iness. 

the  llox\  :sl\  Elea//.  Wheelock,  :\[inister  of  a  Parish  in  Leb- 
anon in  this  Cnlony,  has  been  for  some  time  Eiigaged  in  a  plan 
of  Guspelizing  tlie  Indian  Xatives  upon  our  Western  frontier  A: 

'•*  S.-p  a  valual>le  acnnint  of  tlu'  Moravians  in  ihr  TIou.<iatonic  Valln/,  by 
the  Rev.  William  (;.  Andrews,  in  the  Awrricaii  Church  Rrri^ir  vof  3--> 
pp.  104-211.  2(;4-S7. 


396  JARKI»    I.VaERSOLL    PAPERS,    1TG6-69. 

Elstnvl'..-rx\      This  ii'*  doos  by  getting  the  Youth  of  those  Tribes 
to  ooTiie  vV  be  educaW.fl  at  a  School  he  has  set  up  for  that  End  at 
Lebuu..:;  afores'^  &  vvlifn  properly  Instructed  and  qualifyed  he 
sends  d.om  out  aiuf.tig  those  people  as  Preachers  &  some  I 
believe  ;i<  Schoohn;i.,tcrs.     Same  English  Instructors  are  also 
sent  air.-r.g  them.      In  this  way  tis  generally  thought  this  Gen- 
tlemau  r.-iS  had  r.'u)  Success.     He  is  well  known  &  among  all 
denouiii-r.ions  amon-  iis  is  reputed  to  be  a  person  of  unspotted 
Caracu-.-.  Truly  Zcaloi..^  \:  most  heartily  Engaged  in  this  Cause. 
and  luis  <o  recominf^Hlod  the  same  that  it  has  been  &  now  is 
patror.-:e-l  by  a   So.-icty   in   Scotland,   I  think— the  name  of 
which  I  :.:iTe  forgot,  --<Jv:  is  also  favourably  thought  of  &  helpt  ni 
some  !ir.:t^  degree,  nr.r.rding  to  their  ability,  by  the  people  of 
this  Col.-riV.     This  l,r;ing  the  Case,  W  Wlieelock,  as  well  as 
other   G-.v.Tlemen,   lliliik   it  would  be  happy  &  most  for  that 
Interest  \vhich  thr  institution  of  your  Society  was  intended  to 
Answer,  -"or  the  betic  faction  which  you  mentioned  to  me  to  be 
Exteitd-A  TO  this  S.buol.     ]\P  Whitaker,  a  Clergyman  belong- 
ing to  X.Twich  in  Ibis  (Colony  &  Connected  with  this  School,  is 
now  i-    Enirland  willi   an  Indian  Preacher  Educated  by  'M'. 
WheeLx-;-,  to  whom  vV  to  W.  Wheelock,  both  of  whose  Veracity 
you  ir.Av-  P.ely  upon,    I    must  Pefer  you  for  many  particidars 
whicli  I  xr.i  not  fully  juMpiainted  with,  both  with  relation  to  the 
plan  .-:  ?:.!?  Institution  k  tlie  Execution  of  it,  &  will  only  add 
that  ii5  :>.iiigs  apix'iti-  to  me,  the  Extending  the  Charity  to  this 
School  -.:;.]  most  likrly  answer  great  &  very  Valuable  purposes. 
&'  as  gr-:j-  .V  as  valnnl.lc  ones  as  any  that  may  be  Expected  from 
an  Apvo"i;Tion  of  it  lo  any  other  School  or  plan  of  Instruction 
of  the  iv;.'3,  in  these  parts. 

1  am  S^  '••     •,     :',.■,    •,  ,.      .^ 

' :-  Y^  most  Ob'  kc 


J.I. 


To  11.  T^^K-lcson  Esij'. 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  TAPEKS,  1700-69.  397 

Letter  of  Richard  Jacksox. 

15  Xov'  17GG 
Dear  Sir 

I  cannot  avoid  troubling  you  with  a  Letter  though  I  have 
heard  but  once  from  you  since  your  Arrival  in  Connecticut,  & 
though  I  have  long  since  answered  that  Letter.  Possiblv  that 
Answer  might  not  reach  you ;  if  it  did  I  hope  you  have  not  been 
prevented  by  Illness  from  writing,  for  I  am  sensible,  &  shall 
always  bear  Testimony  that  whatever  Connection  you  have 
unwillingly  had  with  y*  Stamp  Act,  you  have  done  real  services 
to  your  Country  while  you  were  here. 

It  is  partly  in  hopes  of  hearing  of  my  farm  in  Kent,  that  I 
now  write  to  you.  I  have  heard  nothing  of  W  Elliot,  of  my 
Crop  of  Wheat,  or  of  y^  Inclosure  or  further  Improvements  on 
the  farm,  since  I  remitted  the  sum  of  100  ^  thither. 

The  ^Ministiy  is  now  such  that  America  can  never  hope  for  a 
better ;   should  there  be  a  Change  it  must  be  for  the  worse. 

]\rany  important  Projects  are  on  the  Anvil,  some  regard 
America.  I  hope  the  Xumber  of  Troops  will  be  reduced.  I 
have  always  thought  that  dumber  -unnecessarily  large;  pos- 
sibly there  may  be  an  Application  to  y*  Colonies  for  somewhat 
to  maintain  y*  Eest  of  them  after  y*  present  American  Rev- 
enue has  been  first  applied. 

•     I  am  Sir  ..-• . 

:.    •••■      .  '  ^  Y^  most  Obed*  hble  Serv^     -  •      •  - 

'  R  Jackson 


'•;*•:!     Letters  of  James  Parker. 

Xew  York,  Feb  10,  1TG7 
Sir, 

Your  Favour  of  the  l^'''.  I  received  last  night,  as  also  one 

from  W  Xathan  Beers  of  ^STew  Haven,  ottering  to  take  the 

Office,^  and  pleading  that  the  Posts  put  up  there  always,  and  it 

•The  postmastersliip  of  Xeu-  Ilavpu,,  which  liml  \>^on  heM  >ince  ITGo  by 
Benjamin  iNrecom.  a  nephew  of  Dr.  Franklin  an.I  jnihli-lier  of  TIip  Connect- 
icut Gnzpttc.  Luke  Bahcock  (Yale  175.5)  recoivtHl  tlie  appointment  about 
March  1,  1707. 


398 


JAREP  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  ITGO-GO. 


would  be  most  convenient  for  tliem : — T  confess  I  have  no  Objec- 
tion to  :\rr  Green,  yet  I  am  a  little  afraid  that  D'  Franklin 
won't  like  him :  from  a  Prepossession  against  W  Green's  Uncle, 
Jonas  Green  of  Annapolis,  who  liad  the  Post  Office  many  Years, 
and  never  wonld  dnly  account  for  it:  so  that  the  D'  was 
obliged  to  displace  him:  Alth./  T  can't  see  why  he  should  be 
•thonght  nnfit  because  his  Uncle  did  not  behave  well  in  it.  I 
seem  to  like  W  Green  very  well,  and  yet  I  fear  my  Constitu- 
ents will  not.  However,  as  you  may  know  more  of  ]\r  Beers,  T 
will  delay  till  I  hear  from  you  again,  and  will  determine  upon 
which  you  shall  think  most  proper ;  for  as  there  is  a  Bond  to  be 
given  for  due  Performance,  I  fancy  Beers  the  most  substan- 
tial.— Yet  I  could  rather  Green,  if  my  own  Sentiment  were  to 
preponderate,  but  I  would  please  my  blasters  rather.  Indeed 
let  who  will  have  it,  it  can  only  be  a  Verbal  Appointment  yet 
because  :NF  Uoxcroff"  is  gone  to  Virginia,  and  I  must  write  to 
him  for  a  Commission, — tho'  he  will  send  it  to  whom  I  request. 

If  it  would  not  be  too  much  Trouble  to  you,  I  would  ask  tliis 
Favour  of  you :— I  claim  a  small  Lot  of  Ground  there  near  the 
College,  which  D'  Franklin  bought  of  :\['  'Mix  and  which  I 
bought  of  D'  Franklin.t  There  is  no  Building  on  it,  as  I  know 
of;  but  I  am  told,  one  ]\Iunson  occupies  it,  without  either  Leave, 
Liberty,  or  paying  me  any  Thing  for:  which  is  a  Practice  I 
don't  understand :  and  :\[ecom  is  such  a  Stupid  Wretch,  that  I 
can  get  no  Account  of  it  from  him.  Xow,  The  Favour  is  to  beg 
you  to  enquire  about  it,  and  to  let  it  out  for  me,  if  others  must 
use  it,  for  Some  Rent:   It  cost  me  I  think  00  Dollars  in  Cash. 

ITolti  never  will  account  with  any  if  he  can  help  it. — unless 
they  are  in  his  Debt;   but  if  *tis  needful  I  have  got  his  Original 

*John  Foxorott  lia.l  succmled  \A"il]iam  Hunter  as  Franklin's  associate 
in  the  Postniaster-^renoral's  office. 

t  On  the  present  C'olletre  square,  facint^  College  street,  just  north  of 
Phelps  Gate. 

t.John  Holt  (horn  in  Virginia  in  172(1.  died  in  Xew  York  in  17.S4) 
married  a  sister  of  Colonel  William  Hunter  (see  ahove,  p.  305).  From 
17.^..5  he  was  associated  with  the  writer  a^  puhlisher  and  e<litor  of  the 
Connecticut  Cnzcitc.  being  al^o  at  tlie  same  time  jmstmaster  of  Xew 
Haven,  until  in  17(10  he  removed  to  Xew  York. 


JAKED  IXOERSOT.L  PAPERS,  ITOG-GO.  309 

Post-Office  Books,  but  they  are  a  good  deal  defaced  with  marks. 
Those  were  during  his  Time  ;  and  Green's  Accounts  were  deliv- 
ered in  by  himself  Sworn  to,  and  Holt  received  the  Money,  as  M' 
Green  says,  so  tliat  I  see  no  Reason  for  such  Delays.  ^V  Fox- 
croft  and  D'  Franklin  of  their  own  Accord  allowed  him  all  the 
Letters  he  ought  to  be  allowed  for,  and  how  the  Auditors  can 
allow  him  more,  is  what  I  can't  see:  but  I  have  no  Business  to 
judge  in  the  :\Iattcr: — only  I  suffer  all  this  while:  tho'  I  have 
had  Writs  out  for  Holt  these  Six  Months,  yet  I  can't  take  him. — 
I  think  he  has  wronged  me  much:  But  Injuries  is  what  I  have 
been  so  used  to,  that  I  must  be  patient.  Doubtless  others  have 
their  Share  at  Times  also.     With  all  Eespects  remain. 

Uour  most  obedient  Serv*^ 

James  Parker 
To  Jared  Ingersol,  Esq"" 


Xew  York,  March  16,  1767. 
Sir, 

Yonr  kind  Interposition  and  Enquiry  about  tho  Lot  of 
Ground,  demands  my  best  Thanks: — I  am  quite  willing  you 
should  nominate  two  indifferent  Persons  to  Value  what  he 
ought  to  pay  me  for  the  Time  he  has  had  it,  and  for  the  Year  to 
come : — I  never  could  get  any  Thing  out  of  ]\[ecom  about  it:  but 
that  one  Munson  had  it,  but  no  Offers  or  Proposals  of  any 
Kind. — I  suppose,  according  to  Law  T  could  not  sell  it,  tho' 
I  paid  90  Dollars  for  it  about  10  Years  ago: — The  Case  being 
thus,  ^r  Franklin  bought  it  of  ]\P  3fix,  and  tis  recorded  in  his 
Xame:  "but  when  he  sold  it  to  me,  not  having  Opportunity  to 
make  a  Conveyance  suitable  to  your  Country,  I  have  only  his 
Acknowledgement  in  his  own  Writing,  on  the  back  of  his  Orig- 
inal Deed,  that  he  had  received  the  full  Suui,  and  promised  to 
make  me  a  Conveyance  as  soon  as  an  Opportunity  offered  : — But 
that  Time  is  not  yet  come;  altho'  the  Pa^ht  "s  really  mine. — I 
hope  he  wiH  i-eturn  this  Sprini;-,  and  such  Opportunity  may  be 
had: — If  it  shall  be  found  that  indifferent  Persons,  shall  think 
it  worth  any  Thing  worth  ^Miile,  he  may  probably  continue  in 


400  JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1766-69. 

the  Occupation  of  it :  but  if  not,  I  must  try  to  see  if  others 
won't  give  more. — You'll  please  to  settle  it  as  soon  as  you  can 
conveniently :  and  if  I  can  satisfy  you  for  y^  Trouble  I  shall  be 
pleased — I  am  glad  the  Appointment  of  ]\r  Babcock  is  agreeable 
to  you,  because  I  know  it  will  be  agreeable  to  D^  Franklin : — 
With  respectful  Compliments  remain 

Your  most  obliged  Ser'^ 

'     ■        '   "  '    '  •  James  Parker"- 

[For  ' 

Jared  Ingersoll.  Esq'" 

at    .  "  '  ■    -  ^'  -r '''■■■■-''■  ■ 

]Srew  Haven  .     -     ' 

Free  J  Parker]  '  "    " 


w      -  ■•  : '   :   ;,    -  .    .      Xew  York  April  6,  1767 

Sir, 

If  any  Thing  can  be  done  in  the  following  Case,  whatever 
shall  be  the  usual  Cost  shall  gladly  see  it  paid. 

You  know  a  little,  that  I\P  Holt  carried  on  printing  in  the 
Xame  of  me  &  Comp.  both  at  iSTew-Haven  &  Xew-York :  which 
naturally  implied  I  had  some  Concern  in  it :  but  notwithstand- 
ing my  often  repeated  Demands,  I  never  could  get  any  Settle- 
ment or  Account  of  him ;  nor  of  AI^  Green,  tho'  I  am  told 
Green  has  accounted  with  Holt,  Avhilst  I  had  as  much  Eight  to  it 
as  Holt :  I  apprehend  from  that  Partnership  I  have  much 
due,  exclusive  of  my  attaching  the  Tools  on  Col.  Hunter's 
Account: — Also  exclusive  of  that,  I  have  Holt's  Bond,  for  320£ 
York  Money  now  live  Years  on  Interest: — Besides  this  Bond  T 
apprehend  a  Considerable  Sum  is  due  to  me:  but  what  I  can- 
not say  for  want  of  a  Settlen:ient — Holt  having  had  many  Goods 
of  me,  and  I  some  Payment  of  him ;  but  nothing  on  that 
Bond : — I  have  tried  every  possible  ^^feans  I  knew  of  to  get  him 
to  a  Settlement,  but  he  eludes  it  continually. — I  have  had  two 
Writs  out  f(jr  him, — one  on  that  Bond,  and  one  on  an  Assumjtsit 

*  Tliis  letter  an<l  tVie  two  following  letters  are  from  tlie  Tuanu-scripts  in 
Yale  University  Library. 


,1  '. 


JAKED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1766-GO.  401 

Account,  now  above  6  Months,— twice  returned  Non  est.  and 
y'  third  likely  to  be  so,  he  having  secreted  himself  and  kept 
close:— I  yesterday  heard  he  was  gone  privately  to  Xew  Haven, 
I  suppose  to  have  the  Post-Office  Affair  finished,  at  least  T  hope 
it  will  be:     :N'ow  the  Intent  of  this  is,  to  beg  of  you  to  know,  if 
he  could  be  arrested  there  or  not  by  me,  and  if  he  could  be, 
would  you  do  it  before  he  returns  :  whatever  Power  is  necessary 
for  me  to  give  in  the  Case,  I  hereby  give,  and  will  give  any  other 
Form  that  shall  be  lawful  and  will  prosecute  the  Bond  there:— 
possibly  he  may  find  Bail  there,  and  if  he  does,  I  may  have  a 
Chance  of  my  Money,  or  if  he  goes  to  Jail,  he  may  then  find 
Time  to  settle  the  Account,  which  is  the  chief  Thing  I  want : 
for  if  he  Avill  settle  Accounts,  and  give  me  Security  for  the  Bal- 
lance,  even  if  his  own  Bond  &  Judgment,  then  I  will  drop  the 
Actions,  and  pay  all  the  Charges,  at  least  all  such  as  I  ought  to 
pay:— I  suppose  he  will  return  here  as  soon  as  possible,  so 
should  be  glad  ho  could  be  arrested  while  there:— if  he  escapes 
from  there,  I  must  still  try  to  take  him  here,— or  if  ho  can't  be 
arrested  there:— but  if  he  is  arrested  there,  I  can  drop  the 
Actions  here  on  losing  the  Costs,  which  I  would  gladly  do,  to 
get  a  Settlement  of  him  :— I  wanf  ^^othing  but  strict  Justice  of 
him  ;  tho'  my  Conduct  to  him,  might  have  intitled  me  to  that  and 
some  gratitude  with  an  honest  Heart,  but  however  smooth  or 
placid   his  Behaviour  is  outwardly,   he  certainly  acts   like   a 
deceitful  Knave  and  Villain  to  me:— However  every  Man  ought 
to  have  Justice,  and  I  desire  no  more.     You  will  doubtless  know 
if  he  be  there,  and  whether  any  Thing  can  be  done  for  me,  for 
which  all  legal  Demands  shall  be  satisfied  by  S^ 

Your  very  Humble  Ser* 

James  Parker. 

[For  '  ■ 

Jared  Tngersoll,  Esq''  ;'    ,       "; 

at  .      -  . 

Xew-Haven  "   '  ':"''•■    '*'  "■■""    '•:'         ■'    '     ' 

Free  J  Parker]  ;'  ^       '  '.•    -■-■■■/:■:--  <--<y^-y-^^\y- ; ./■;,,    ,■    ■. 


^^*-  JAKED  INGEESOLL  PAPERS,  1766-09. 

Xew  York,  June  24,  1767. 
Sir, 

Yours  of  the  20"^  per  Post  I  duly  received  :  I  am  quite  obliged 
to  you  for  your  Kindness  in  relation  to  that  Lot  of  Land: — It 
not  only  cost  me  90  Dollars,  but  I  paid  Interest  for  that  Sum  for 
it  to  W  Franklin  about  seven  Years,  as  well  as  for  One  Half  the 
Printing  :\Iaterials  and  all  the  Books  and  Stationary  I  had 
there:  and  which  the  Dishonesty  of  Ilolt  has  deprived  me  of 
any  TIcturn : — The  Lot  is  paid  for :  and  tho'  I  am  not  fond  of 
keeping  it,  I  think  it  never  shall  go  from  me  if  I  can  help  it, 
under  the  first  Cost :— I  trust  as  I  have  weatherVl  sundry  Diffi- 
culties, I  shall  this  also: 

M'  Foxcroft  writes  me,  he  expects  I  must  go  up  to  Xew 
Haven,  to  be  an  Evidence  in  Holt's  Aft'air:  for  which  Reason  he 
says  he  has  or  will  write  to  you:  to  know  wdien  it  will  be  a 
proper  Time,  and  that  the  Auditors  can  meet. — I  am  properly 
interested  in  Holt's  Behalf;  because  one  Half  of  what  is  allowed 
to  him,  is  my  Ptight :— Yet  it  seems  M'  Foxcroft  will  have  my 
Evidence  and  I  must  go  when  you  think  it  proper. — then  I  will 
shew  you  all  the  Title  I  have  to  that  Lot;  Mean  while  I  am 
respectfully  .  -.,  ... 


[For 
■'i'         Jared  Ingersoll,  Esq"" 
@       ■ 
'^ew  Haven 
Free  J  Parker]    •-.  , 


Your  obliged  Serv* 

James  Parker 


■.     "'^''ti  Letter  of  Eichakd  Jacksox.    ■  .    .    .' 

^  ■.    -■  .     •    20  fel/  17G7 

Dear  Sir 

I  received  l)oth  your  Letters  from  :\[^  Johnson^  who  seems, 
from  tho  litth^  I  have  seen  of  him,  a  very  sensible  ^l-  a  verv  wor- 

*  Win.  Sanii.  Jolinson  (Yale  1744)   was  at  this  date  in  London  on  Colmiy 
busine-js.  .     .      ,  ,         ,    .  , 


JARED    KXGERSOLL    PAPERS,     ITGG-Ol).  403 

thy  3Jan;    to  morrow,  we  shall  dine  at  the  Speakers,*  wlir.  von 
know  to  be  a  sincere  friend  of  the  Colonies.     I  shall  serve  'the 
College  as  much  as  I  am  able,  &  ^^U  Johnson^  Address  may 
when  he  comes  to  be  known  procure  them  something,  but  I  dare 
promise  for  nothing.     Somewhat  for  y'  Benefit  of  the  Colleo'e  I 
intend    hereafter,    but    even    tJuit    depends    on    Casualtic-sr    I 
heartily  wish  you  may  meet  with  a  proper  Token  of  Ke-ard 
from  Gov'  here.     I  will  do  what  I  can  to  promote  it,  but  a'ln  I 
confess  uncertain  as  yet  on  that  point.      I  have  the  honour  of 
being  knoAvn,  ^'  that  too  on  Terms  of  Friendship  to  almost  all 
the  Administration,  but  cannot  yet  discover,  either  how  long 
their  Power  is  to  continue  nor  what  plan  will  be  adopter!  in 
America  that  will  open  you  a  Door.      I  have  indeed  already 
proposed  somewhat  beneficial  for  Gov'  Fitch,t  &  if  he  sh'^  not 
accept,  for  you,  if  it  sh^  take  place;    but  I  am  not  at  libertv  to 
disclose  what  this  is,  nor  can  I  tell  when  it  will  take  place/nor 
whether  it  will  take  place  at  all,  nor  even  whether  there  will  be 
room  either  for  ^F  Fitch  or  yourself;    all  that  I  can  sav  now  is 
that   it   will    not   be,    I   believe,    disagTeable   to    any   bodv    in 
America. 

Should  3P  Grenville  again  come  into  Administration,  which 
many  People  think  he  will  soon,  I  shall  ask  him  for  no  favour 
either  for  myself  or  any  other  Person,  but  vou  will  have  an 
Interest  with  him  through  Whately,  who  I  ^believe  sincerelv 
wishes  to  serve  you,  &  their  Plans  may  better  admit  it,  than 
those  of  my  friends 

I  am  Dear  Sir  '   >"  '    '  ■ ' 

\  ^^       .     ;        ^'"  most  Obed'  h^'^  Serv'      .  ...::_:      .  ;,^ 

,  ,•  :  .       ...  P  Jackson     :  r  r    T       •    ,  /, 

*The  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Commons  ^vas  Sir  Jolm  Cust  (b.irn  171S. 
(lied  1770).  whose  residence  then  was  in  Downin-  Street,  adioinin- 
St.  Jajnes  Park.  " 

t  Thomas  Fitch  (Yale  1721),  born  1700,  died  1774,  had  forfeited  a 
re-election  (in  May.  1700)  to  the  Cxovernorship  of  Connecticut,  bv  takin^ 
the  oaU.  to  carry  out  the  Stamp  Act.  and  the  rest  of  his  life  w^.  .pent 
in  retirement.  At  the  same  election  Ebenezer  Silliman.  John  Chester 
Benjamin  Hall  and  Jabez  Hamlin  lost  their  places  in  the  Hn,.e  of 
As.i.tunts,  for  having  adndnistered  to  G..v.rnor  Fitch  the  unpopular  oath 


404  jaeed  ixgeesoll  papers,  176g-69.  - 

Letter  of  Titus  Hosmer. 

Hartford  April  14^  1767 
Sir 

M"".  Tshara  presented  me  tliis  morning  with  your  favour  of 
the  2G'''.  Instant  .  .  .  Your  Xew  Haven  pLiin  facts'^  was 
handed  about  yesterday,  but  did  not  prevent  our  freemen  from 

giving  Governour  F h  Three  Hundred  Votes,  &  the  four 

Enemies  of  Liberty  something  more  than  that  number.  At 
Weathersfield  a  large  Majority  in  favour  of  the  Jurors,  &:  at 
least  an  Equilibrium  at  Hartford  &:  Colchester;  if  the  western 
parts  do  as  well  as  the  Towns  on  the  River,  we  may  see  as  great 
a  Revolution  next  May  as  we  did  last. 
I  am  Sir 

with  sincere  respect 

Your  obed^  humb^  Servant 
Titus  Hosmer.f 
[To  ■  ' 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq""  •     ■         '  . 

.  •  at  ■•       .    '    •-:  .    ..•^■:.       -■  ■  -  ^  '•    , 

■    ■     ■  !N'ew  Haven.]  -      ■ -■    -\;'- •..:;-• 


Letter  of  Kev.  Xehemiah  Strong. 

Turkey  hills  in  Simsbury 
May  5  1767 
Sir 

I  have  Kccev*^  no  Information  concerning  the  Situation  of  my 
Affairs  at  Xewluiven  since  the  Icecept  of  a  Letter  from  your 
Self  Dated  Last  Octo^ 

If  there  is  a  good  prospect  that  upon  the  whole  I  can  recover 
against  Burr  and  if  he  has  anv  Estate  so  that  I  can  get  mv  Dne 
or  any  Valuable  part  of  it,  I  must  Desire  you  to  proceed  on  au'l 

*  The  reference  in  "New  ITaveii  plain  facts''  is  to  an  article  in  tl"' 
Conncctiriit  Gazette  for  February  14. 

i"  Titus  Ilosnicr,  born  1737.  died  17S0.  was  graduated  at  Yale  ColKi:i' 
ill   1737,  and  became  a  lawyer  in  Middletown,  Connecticut. 


JAKED  IXGERSOLL  TArERS,  1T6G-C0.  405 

do  the  best  you  can  for  me;    otherwise  I  desire  the  affair  may 
drop  unless  he  should  stir  in  it  himself. 

how  the  matter  stands  you  can  toll,  Sir,  better  than  I :  I 
desire  you  would  be  so  good  as  to  manage  &  conduct  the  whole 
affair  as  prudently  as  may  be,  and  so  as  to  save  me  from  being 
Exposed  to  Charge  and  costs  as  much  as  may  be  by  Burr.  Tis  a 
perplexd  affair  which  I  wish  was  finished  and  settled,  and  must 
depend  wholly  upon  you  to  do  it,  for  I  dont  choose  to  have  any 
further  personal  concern  with  it,  any  further  than  to  pay  Such 
charges  as  will  arise  from  the  management  of  y*  affair,  and 
receve  what  money  I  can  get. 

Be  so  good  Sir  as  to  write  to  me  by  the  first  opportunity 
who  am  Sir 
■      •     ,  your  very  humble  Servant 

[N'ehemiah  Strong 

PS  I  have  here  sent  you  Inclosed  a  bill  which  with  the 
Interest  amounts  as  near  as  I  can  make  to  the  Cost  you  men- 
tiond  in  your  Letter ;  Should  have  sent  it  before,  if  I  could 
have  had  a  Safe  opportunity.     Be  so  good  as  to  give  me  Credit. 

[To  . 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq'  ''  •■,   '    :-'      - 

■  ■■■■■■_  •         [N'ew  Haven]       ..'••'  '.:■"■'"-'   ./-,:;:••-■■ 


Letters  of  ^VILLIAM  Samuel  Johxsox, 

London  :\[av  10^  1767." 
Dear  S' 

Having  given  the  Gov"",  a  pretty  full  Account  which  you  will 
no  doubt  see  of  all  that  has  hitherto  pass'd  in  Pari',  since  they 
entered  hist  Wednesd-'  upon  Amer".  affairs,  <S:  the  ship  being  to 
sail  tomorrow  morning,  I  have  only  time  to  be  particular  in 

*  This.  a>  well  as  the  next  succeed iii;::  letter,  is  taken  from  a  draft  in 
the  Letter  Book  of  the  author.  Dr.  William  Sanuicl  .Tolui^nu.  in  the  Library 
of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society. 


406'  JAEED  IXGERSOLL  TAPERS,  ITCC-GO. 

what  relates  to  yourself,  as  you  was  I  assure  you  this  !Morn^ 
about  one  o'clock  in  Person  the  object  of  Parlian/.  Consid- 
eration iS:  recoraniendod  with  others  ^-^  Broth''  suifer's  to  the 
Xotice  A:  fav^  of  the  Crown,  W.  G  having  Indefatigably 
labour'd  in  the  course  of  a  very  long  it  warm  debate  to  bring 
the  House  to  2  resolutions,  one  (as  the  foundation  for  the  other) 
That  the  Colo',  still  persisted  in  denying  &  oppugning  the 
sovereigntv  of  this  Country  A:  the  Parliani^.  Right  of  Legisl".  »\: 
Taxation  in  Am"".,  And  the  other  what  he  call'd  a  necessary 
Political  Test,  That  all  Pers".  at  entering  into  office  &  every 
Memb'.  of  Council  or  Ass-,  in  the  Colo',  before  he  sho'd  be 
allow'd  to  set  k  Act  sho'd  be  obliged  to  subscribe  a  declarat".  in 
the  words  of  the  late  declarative  Act  of  Parl^  ackuowleding  the 
Sovereignty  of  Parf.  lV  their  right  to  Tax  Amer^  &:c ;  and  having 
lost  both  his  ^Motion's  by  a  very  large  Maj-\,  He  then  said  since  I 
now  Esteem  the  declarative  Act  in  effect  repeal'd,  &  see  you  will 
not  come  into  any  effectual  resolutions  to  support  y''  own  sover^ 
&  Authority,  I  hope  you  will  at  least  do  something  for  those 
who  have  endeavour'd  to  supp'.  it  in  Am*.  «fc  suffer'd  by  their 
loyalty  k  Obed^  to  f  Act's ;  he  then  menf^  y"  Case,  lI'  that  of 
se\'".  others,  k  thereupon  moved  that  an  hum^  Address  sho'd  be 
present'^,  to  his  !Maj-\  that  he  would  be  pleas'd  to  bestow  some 
Marks  of  his  fav^  upon  those  Gon-^".  cV  ofticrs  who  had  suffer'd 
in  Conseq^  of  their  Obed".  to  the  Acts  of  this  Legislature :  he 
was  seconded  by  L"*.  Xorth  who  had  been  before  applied  to,  «S:  it 
passed  Xem^  Cont^  Y\  Xame  will  certainly  be  in  the  list 
which  gus  up  with  the  Address,  *t  you  have  only  to  point  out 
what  you  would  have.  T  trust  you  have  already  said  something 
to  'yV  W.or  me  in  Cous^.  of  what  both  he  cl'  I  wrote  you  upon 
this  sul)ject  soon  after  I  arrived  here ;  if  you  have  not,  let  us 
hear  from  vou  as  soon  as  pussible.  I  can  only  tell  you  in  a  word 
what  is  done  »&:  what  is  propos*^.,  not  whether  they  shou'd  do  any- 
thing, but  whether  this  or  something  like  it,  more  lenient  or 
more  severe.  The  ^Tatters  proposed  (Jc  which  are  yet  to  be  legis- 
lated are:  The  IF',  have  lie^cdv''.  to  suspend  the  Leg^  Pow^  .-f 
X  Y  till  they  submit  to  the  ^lutiny  Act.  Tax's  are  prop"^.  up'Ui 
Wind".   Glass  kc.  Upon  Wine  kc  with  Lib^  kc.     A  board  of 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEKS,  ITGG-GD.  407 

Com'  of  Customs  to  be  Estab''.,  And  the  Gov".  &  Judg^.  to  have 
2000 :  the  first  k  the  latter  500 :  0  paid  out  of  the  Am".  Reven^ 
Gov^  F.  has  been  named  for  one  of  the  Com",  of  Customs,  but 
the  doubt  is  wheth".  he  wouki  renr.  I  wish  I  knew  his  sentim*'. 
upon  this  subj\,  tho  &  shou'd  venture  to  write  him  but  that  I 
fear  it  will  be  imposs^.  to  receive  his  Ans^  soon  enough  to  do  him 
any  serv^  in  that  reg'^. ;  the  sail-,  will  be  500  :  0  p''.  Ann.  A  duty 
upon  salt  was  intend'^,  but  is  given  up ;  that  upon  Tea  is  post- 
poned till  the  dispute  with  the  E.  India  Co  shall  be  settled,  that 
is  within  the  last  6  weeks  become  all  in  all  in  the  11".  &  if  he 
do's  not  make  some  blund^  stands  a  very  good  Chance  to  have 
the  lead  in  all  public  affairs.  L^  Ch^"."  is  Xoth^;  it  is  bcliv^ 
his  T_"ndcr".  is  gone.  A  change  of  ^lin^  is  expect'',  but  who  will 
turn  up  is  imccrtain.  I  came  from  the  IP.  this  Morn^,  after  one 
^l-  it  is  now  12  at  Xight,  so  that  I  must  have  done.  The  Am". 
Ag'\  were  expressly  ord"^.  not  to  be  adm'^.  into  the  Gallery,  but 
I  fomul  means  notwithstanding  to  slip  in  at  the  last  debate. 
I\P  G.  in  the  midst  of  one  of  his  speeches  stop'',  short  &  look^  up 
to  the  GalF  said,  I  hope  there  are  no  Am".  Agents  here,  I  must 
hold  such  Lang^.  as  I  w''.  not  have  them  hear,  kc  I  expected 
to  be  taken  into  Custody  being  there  in  direct  breach  of  the  order 
of  the  IP ;  but  the  Speaker  told  him  he  had  expressly  orded  the 
Sar"-''  to  admit  none.  «i-  he  mii2;ht  be  ass'',  there  were  none  pres- 
ent ;  nol>ody  hapen'd  to  discov^  me  &  I  escaped.  I  long  to  hear 
from  you  «S:  am  with  Comp^.  to  y''  Household,  all  the  Brother- 
hood A:  all  Friends  most  aftectionatelv 


P.  S.  ^fay  1S^\  As  the  Ship  did  not  sail  so  soon  as  was 
expected  I  have  the  pleasure  to  enclose  you  a  letter  from  M^. 
"Whately  which  I  dare  say  has  superseded  my  adding  any  thing. 
I  know  not  whether  he  has  mention'd  to  you  that  the  Cheif  Jus- 
ticeship of  X  Y  is  talked  of  for  you  if  it  can  be  genteeVy  dis- 
engaired  from  another  person  (I  imagine  ]\P  Gardiner)  wlio  had 
long  since  applied  for  it  iJc  had  some  encouragement.     T  ment''. 

*  Chatham. 


^^S  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1TG6-G9. 

to  him  the  object",  yon  had  made  to  me  with  respect  to  that  sit- 
uation, but  neither  he  nor  I  think  it  of  suff".  weight,  to  prevent 
obtaining  it  if  possible.  One  thing  he  desired  me  to  mention 
which  he  had  forgot,  viz.  that  he  wonld  be  mnch  obliged  to  you  to 
send  him  next  Autumn  a  Cask  or  two  of  good  Xewtown  Pip- 
pins for  his  own  Table. 

To  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq""  "     '•       " 

London  May  10'^  &  1S*\:  1767.  '     "  ■    -*' 


London  June  O'*".  1767. 

I  am  now  fav^  with  y".  of  the  27'^  of  April.     Three  Days 
ago  I  receird  f.  of  the  Sr\  of  Jan^.,  for  both  which  I  thank 
jou.     By  my  last. you  will  see  the  turn  things  have  taken  here, 
&  especially  that  part  which  immediately  Concern's  Y".  self. 
I^Tothing  farther  than  I  then  acquainted  you  with  has  occurred 
The  :y  in^.  have  given  up  the  Idea  of  Taxing  AYine,  fruit  k  Oil 
&  opening  the  Trade  to  Portugal  as  being  at  this  Juncture  too 
great  an  Infringe  of  the  Act  of  Xavig^  &  a  dangerous  Eelaxa- 
tion  of  the  sovereignity  of  this   Country,  but  they  say  if  we 
behave  mtII  we  shall  have  this  Indulgence  by  &  by.     The  busi- 
ness of  Pap".  11°.  too  seems  at  present  to  be  laid  aside  for  this 
session,  &  Parliam^  are  proceeding  in  the  other  matters  which 
I  have  mention'd  to  you.     ]\P.  S.  (who  is  appointed  one  of  the 
C)  will  now  be  Convinced  that  something  is  to  be  done  with  the 
disobed*.  Colo\     The  :Jin^  say  this  Meas^  adopt"',  with  respect 
to  X.  Y.  is  the  most  lenient  they  could  devise,  c^'  if  this  do's  not 
bring  them  to  submit,  they  may  expect  more  severe  treatment. 
He  Judg^  rightly  that  party  Puage  is  here  very  predominant.  l)ut 
however  they   may   be   divided    in   other  matters   i'  hate   one 
another  heartily,  it  seems  they  are  at  present  enough  agreed  in 
having  an  111  Opinion  of  the  Colon^  cl-  in  a  Pesolutiou  to  assert 
the  supremacy  of  this   Coimtry.     All   Attent".   is  now  tnrn'd 
towards  j^  T  &  everybody  will  be  anxious  to  know  the  part  she 
will  take  upon  this  occasion.     Georgia  has  not  only  refused  rlic 
Troops,  but  the  post  office  Act.  which  is  highly  resented,  bur  T 


JARED    IXGErwSOLL    PAPER?:,    17GG-G9.  409 

do  not  vet  find  what  steps  are  likely  to  be  taken  with  respect 
to  that  Prov^     I  am  dad  the  Soldiers  you  have  behave  so  well ; 
It  is  still  cr.ntidently  said  that  the  Troops  ,coue  out  to  A.  are  not 
to  encrease  the  Establish^  there,  but  only  to  relieve  a  like  Xum- 
ber.   pursuant   to   the  plan  long  since   adopted.     The  o-eneral 
Liberty  you  have  given  :\F  W  .1-  myself  we  shall  make  as  good 
a  use  of  as  may  be  in  our  Power.       I  was  to  the  last  degTee 
cautions  that  nothing  relative  to  this  matter  sho'd  perspire  till 
2\r  G.  mention'd  it  publickly  in.  the  W.,  after  which  it  could 
no  longer  remain  a  secret  that  something  was  to  be  done,  but 
what,  iu  part^  is  not  even  yet  mentioned.     I  own  I  have  had 
fears  that  the  mention  of  it  by  :\P  G.  »S:  the  Princ*  he  uro-^.  it 
upon  would  be  in  danger  of  exposing  you  to  fresh  Odium,  But 
it  could  not  be  avoided,  he  will  do  everything  in  his  o%vn  way, 
and  I  am  willing  to  hope  the  best.     It  seems  you  have  had  more 
violent  struggles  about  Election  than  the  Import^  of  the  Object 
seems  to  ZMerit.     But  to  me  observ^.  the  violence  of  Faction  ^' 
Party  here,   what  has   happen'd  with  you   scarcely  seems   an 
object,  .^-  is  like  the  light  ruffle  of  the  Pish  Pond  compared 
with  the  rough  raging  Wave  of  the  Tempestuous  Ocean.     Tho' 
the  Election  here  is  yet  12  ]\I°*  distant,  they  are  already  in  the 
depth  of  Intregue  about  it,  &  every  Party  are  striving  to  secure 
&:  su].port  themselves,  &  to  ruin  &  blacken  their   Opponents. 
^  As  to  Dear  Conn\  tho'  Party  strife  is  in  all  Countries  *S:  at  all 
'  times  :N[ischeiv'.,  yet  it  will  be  peculiarly  so  to  her  at  this 
Juncture,  when  she  is  watch'd  with  a  Jealous  Eye,  &:  tho'  prettv 
well  in  favour,  I  trust,  if  she  go's  much  astray,  may  depend 
upon    receiving   a   Box   in   the   Ear.      Temple's   observ".    with 
respect  to  this  Country  which  you  mention  was  I  doubt  not 
very  just:    it  re(]uires  a  close  &-  repeated  observat".  to  form  a 
Just  Estimate  of  its  System:    tho'  in  the  <j:cm^\  as  I  told  you  it 
do's  not  Ans^  my  Expect^,  yet  I  own  I  find  very  many  things 
to  Commend  it  even  admire,  as  well  as  many  to  Censure  ct  not 
a  few  to  detest.     T  shall  not  forgot  y^  Charge  as  to  Westm". 
Hall.      I  have  always  attended  there  whenever  it  was  possible 
«&:  sliall  omit  no  Opport\  to  observe  the  course  of  Business  in  that 
yet  uncorrupted  »S:  well  Executed  Department.      1/  Xs  Tnfir- 


^10         '  JARED  IXGEKSOLL  TArERS,  17GG-G0. 

mity  or  Inattention  to  Bnsi'  or  both  hitherto  prevent  my  fore- 
seeing when  I  shall  be  able  to  return ;  I  already  wish  for  it  cl'  us 
soon  as  it  is  possible  shall  loose  no  time  in  embracing  my  Am". 
Friends.  T  lament  the  death  of  Bror.  Seym'''''  whose  too  close 
attention  to  business  has  no  doubt  shortened  his  Days.  !^P 
Clapt  (whose  death  I  was  informed  of  by  the  Papers  before  y'". 
fav^)  has  been  an  extreme  good  steward  of  his  £500  •  •  0  •  •  & 
I  know  not  how  it  was  possible  for  him  in  his  situation  to  amass 
such  a  fortune  as  you  mention.  Y""  Son  is  I  trust  by  thi?  time 
perfectly  recover'd  of  the  small  Pox  of  which  I  give  him  &  M". 
Ing".  cV  you  Joy  c^'  am  with  Comp^^  to  all  friends 

•  ■    :;    -  T)^  S^  Y^  most  aff" 

■        ■'    ;-■■"■   "      ■    •  hum^  Serv''. 

P.  S.  I  tho't  it  not  worth  while  to  tell  you,  who  are  an  old 
Sailor,  of  my  tempestuous  Passage,  which  was  in  truth  bad 
enough.  But  I  really  forgot  to  acquaint  you  as  I  intended 
that  T  took  Dyers  lodgings  at  ^[''l  Wilsons  in  Lancast''.  Court  *ls: 
find  them  very  agreable.  ]\P.  Jackson,  who  appears  to  be  both 
your  &:  my  hearty  friend,  has  had  no  time  yet  to  make  Trial  of 
me  on  horseback,  but  we  Promise  ourselves  that  pleas^.  as  soon 
as  Pari*,  rises. 

To  Jared  Tngersoll  Esq'.  ■  '-  ''^  ^"'       "  '^ 

London  June  0.*^.  ITGT. 


Letter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Piciiarp  Salter. 

^Lansfield  Aug^'  4*^  1707   • 

s^"  •     '■■  ■■  ■- ^  ■■" 

I  expect  to  have  a  Case  depending  at  y^  next  Term  of  y^ 
Superiour  Court  in  y^  County  of  Windham  by  an  appeal  from 
y^  Judgment  of  y""  C<;»urt  of  Probate.     The  facts  are  as  follows. 

*  Tliornas  Si'vimiur  (Yale  1724),  a  prominent  nieniln'r  of  tlie  Coniiocticut 
bar.  died  in  Hartfoid  on  March  IS.  171)7. 

t  Thomas  (la|).  tlie  former  Tre-siiK'nt  of  Yale  Colle^^e,  died  in  Xow 
Haven  on  .Januarv  7,  17G7. 


JAKED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  ITOG-CO.  411 

The  Jlcv^.  Eleazer  Williams  of  !Manstield  died  Siezed  of  an 
Estate  in  fee  Simple.  Left  0  Dangliters,  6:  one  Grand  Daugh- 
ter. To  his  Grand  Da\ii,diter  he  Left  a  Small  Legacy ;  to  y^  3 
DaiightLTS  y""'  whole  of  his  Estate  besides,  hoth  lical  (S:  Personal, 
y®  Estate  was  settled  according  to  y^  will  to  Sarah  &  Mary; 
Hannah  Dying  without  Issue.  Sarah  Dies  *S:  leaves  issue  2 
Daughters,  Hannah  &  Ann,  by  y^  liev"^.  I\r  Hobart  Estabrook. 
Ann  Dies,  cV:  Hannah  has  Divided  to  her  y""  whole  of  y®  Estate  y'^ 
was  her  Mothers,  tSc  w''''  descended  from  her  Grand  father. 
Hannah  Dies  a  Minor,  her  father  still  Living  with  children  by 
a  2''.  wife,  &  her  Aunt  Mary  also  Living;  since,  both  father  &■ 
Aunt  are  Dead.  The  Question  is  whether  y^  Estate  derived 
from  her  Ancestor,  descends  by  Law  to  her  father,  as  next  of 
Kin  by  Propinquity,  or  to  her  Aunt  as  Xext  of  Kin  Llered- 
itable.  I  am  in  favour  of  »fc  stand  to  Defend  y^  Claim  of  y^ 
Aunt  as  Sole  Lleir  at  Law.  There  is  a  claim  set  up  on  y^  behalf 
of  y^  heirs  of  y*  Xiece  before  mentioned.  Grand  Daughter  to 
y*  Rev*^.  W  Williams  from  whom  y^  Estate  Descended.  This 
I  mean  also  to  oppose.  I  should  be  Glad  you  would  Think  on 
y*  Case  before  hand,  6:  shall  Depend  on  your  Help  in  Conjunc- 
tion with  ]^r  Huntington  at  y^  Superiour  Court  at  Windham  as 
before,  if  y"  Case  should  Then  be  Depending  there,  &  hope  to 
make  you  Recompense  to  Satisfaction.  These  are  the  Xeedfull 
from 

s^  •  ^    ■■■■     •     - 

y  humble  Serv^  = 

■    .■■■      •      Richard  Salter " 

P:  S:  •  The  Widow  of  the  Rev-^.  W  Estabrook  deceas.l 
stands  in  Defence  of  his  Claim  to  s"".  Estate  in  opposition  to 
me,  t.^'  on  behalf  of  his  Children  by  her. 

To  -Tared  Ingersol  Esq^ 

•The  Rev.  Dr.  llichard  Salter  (born  1723,  died  1780)  was  graduated  at 
Harvard  College  in  N-iSI.  and  in  .June.  1744,  .-^ucoeeded  the  Rev.  Eleazer 
Williams  as  pa.^t<jr  in  ^lanslield,  Connecticut.  lie  married  ^lary,  daughter 
of  his  predecessor,  in  the  following  September,  and  she  died  in  September, 
170G. 


■il2  JARED    IXGEKSOLL    PAVERS,    17GG-G9. 

Letter  of  Bernard  Lixtot. 

Xew  Haven  v«  ll**^  Ana'ust  1707 
Sir 

I  have  at  length  agreed  with  ]\r.  Arnold"^  to  take  y*^  Rum  at 
2y3'^  lawful  per  Gallon:  also  a  parcel  of  Drv  Goods  at  £">0  law- 
fnl.  The  Freight  ]\Iouey  is  also  to  be  paid  to  me.  which  I 
think  will  rednce  the  Sura  due  to  about  £160  lawful  money,  of 
"which  I  can  not  be  certain  as  I  have  not  yet  a  perticular 
account  of  any  thing  except  the  Dry  Goods.  A  difficulty  seems 
to  arise  between  ^P.  Arnold  &•  me  respecting  the  exchange, 
which  ^V  Arnold  calculates  at  the  nominal  exchange  in  this 
Colony :  but  as  Bills  rise  &  fall  &:  are  generally  higher  than  the 
rate  he  calculates  at.  I  think  it  but  just  that  it  should  be  calcu- 
lated at  the  price  I  actually  can  buy  Bills  at ;  otherways  I  am 
not  paid  the  proposed  Sum ;  and  this  I  also  take  to  l>e  the  cus- 
tome  of  Merchants.  I  suppose  £180  York  Curr\  for  £1(^0 
SterP  to  be  the  present  price  of  Bills.  I  shall  desire  ~Sl\  Isaacs 
to  lay  before  you  the  amount  of  the  Rum  &  Freight  I\Ioriey 
when  receivd — being  oblidg'd  to  leave  an  order  with  him  to 
receive  it  from  Cap'.  Goodwin.  I  must  depend  upon  you  Sir  to 
see  that  the  remaining  Sum  is  fully  secured  as  you  can  well 
imagin  how  much  I  should  be  blairaed  to  suffer  the  property  to 
go  out  of  my  hands  without  adequate  security.  If  these  matters 
can  not  finally  be  settled  until  my  return  to  X  Haven  ( which  I 
expect  will  be  in  four  Weeks),  leave  the  whole  to  your  direction 
which  will  always  be  approved  by  me;  and  ashaimed  of  being 
so  troublesome  remain  S'" 

Y'  most  Obed*  Ser* 

Ber**.  Lintotf 
[To    •     ■     ■     -^-      '  -   •  ■  - 

Jared  Ingersol  Fsq^] 

*  The  notorious  Benedict  Arnold  (born  1741,  died  1801),  a  druggist  and 
shipping  merchant  in  Xew  Iliiven  from  1762  to  1775. 

In  May,  17G7,  the  Avriter  as  attorney  for  certain  London  merchants 
had  secured  from  Arnold,  in  part  payment  of  a  debt,  a  sloop  engaged  in 
the  West  India  trade  and  its-  cargo.  Mr.  Ingersoll  had  been  the  medium 
through  whom  thi>  tran>aotion  was  arranged,  and  the  pre>ent  letter  relates 
to  its  further  settlement. 

t  Bernard  Lintot.  a  merchant  who  removed  from  the  neighboring  trnvn 
of  Derbv  to  New  Haven  about  this  date.     He  removed  in   1709  to  Bran- 


jared  ingersoll  fal'eks,   17gg-69.  413 

Letter  of  Augustus  Johnston. 

Little  Eest^  August  13'\  1707. 
Dear  Sir 

I  have  but  just  time  bv  ]\[^  ]\ruinfoi"d  of  Xew  Loudon,  who  is 
attending  the  Court  here,  to  Inform  you  that  the  Ilage  of  the 
People  in  this  Colony,  agst  me,  on  acc*^  of  my  late  Appointment, 
Still  continues,  «i>:  I  believe  never  will  end,  which  has  deter- 
mined me  to  go  for  England,  which  I  shall  do,  in  about  three 
Weeks ;  if  you  have  any  Commands  there,  you  may  be  assured 
I  shall  take  great  pleasure  in  Executing  them,  &  am 

D^  Sir 
"•'••'.       Y^  much  obliged  hb'®  Serv\ 

..    "  A.  Johnston,  t 

[To  '■    •    ■     ■•   '■■ 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq'".  ' 

in  ■        ■   ^  .■■''■'.'■■  '■  ■■■■  ■    ■  ■■■'■  :o- 

Xew  Haven]  '   .'    '  ■'         "; 


Letter  of  TJiciiakd  Jackson. 

.-,        :  •       -    .  8  Sep*  1767 

Dear  Sir 

I  have  yours  of  the  27'^  Ap'  before  me.  I  am  heartily  glad  to 
hear  both  of  your  health  tt  of  the  Quiet  happily  reestablished 
in  the  Colony.  I  heartily  wish  it  may  last  long  &  shall  cer- 
tainly earnestly  endeavour  that  it  shall  not  be  disturbed  bj-  the 
miscarriag-e  of  the  ^lohegin  Suit.  But  Events  are  uncertain  & 
of  Law  Suits  most  of  all.  I  have  in  my  Publiek  Letters  spoke 
with  more  Confidence  than  perhaps  my  Opinion  warrants,  fear- 
ford,  wliere  lio  remained  until  tlio  Rfvolution,  when  he  seems  to  have 
taken  refuge  with  the  British  army. 

He  was  presiimably  a  rehative  of  tlie  London  publisher,  Bernard  Lintot 
(born  1675,  died  1730).  made  famous  by  his  relations  with  Pope. 

*  A  village  in  Kingston,  Rliode  Island. 

t  Augustus  Johnston  was  born  in  New  Jersey  aI)out  1730,  and  had  served 
for  eight  years  as  Attorney-General  of  Itliode  Island  (where  his  mother 
had  removed),  before  liis  appointment  as  Stamp  Distributor  in  17t)5. 


■^1^  jarp:!)  ixgehsoll  papers,   170G-G9.  *  , 

iug  that  an  Expression  of  Diffidence,  which  could  not  but  be 
known  to  y'  Adversarys  might  be  the  means  to  encourage  them. 
Yet  I  sincerely  think  the  Cause  a  good  one  &  as  safe  as  a  Cause 
of  this  sort  can  well  be,  but  Prejudices  abound,  the  Case 
is  liable  to  a  thousand  misrepresentations  that  will  meet  the 
Prejudices  of  those  who  have  got  strange  Xotions  of  the  Oppres- 
sions Poor  Indians  have  met  with  from  Europeans,  the  original 
Justice  of  whose  settlements  in  America  it  is  now  the  fashion  to 
condemn,  &  that  too  in  the  lump,  for  vou  know  a  Condemnation 
in  the  lump  saves  trouble. 

I  shall  not  forget  to  further  your  Interests  wdienever  it  is 
in  my  Power.  I  think  you  will  not  want  much  Assistance,  but 
will  infallibly  sometime  or  other  be  somehow  remembered  to 
your  advantage,  but  Publick  Affairs  have  been  involved  in  a 
kind  of  Whirlwind  ever  since  you  left  us.  A'ou  know  long 
before  this,  that  there  is  a  Parliamentary  recommendation  of 
those,  who  have  suffered  by  the  Violence  cl'  Disorders  occa- 
sioned by  the  Stamp  Act.  Xo  Persons  are  I  think  named  in  y' 
vote  as  it  now  stands,  but  both  you  &  ]\P  Fitch  were  named  in 
the  House.  I  mentioned  you  both"  &  urged  one  of  your 
Appointment  as  Commissioner  of  the  Customs,  before  this 
Vote;  I  mentioned  both  afterwards  as  more  proper  since  that 
Vote,  but  it  was  objected,  that  the  ^Measure  might  be  rendered 
obnoxious  by  naming  unpopular  People.  This  I  suppose  was 
y^  ostensible  Peason  only;  both  of  you  however  will  certaiulv 
be  remembered,  either  by  W  Grenville,  sh'^  he  come  in,  or  by 
any  other  ]Minister.  We  are  now  in  gTeat  confusion  caused  by 
the  Death  of  :\['  Townshend.      There  are  a  1000'*  Engines  at 

Work."     I  cannot  guess  what  will  be  the  Result 

I  am  D'  Sir  with  much  Esteem 
Y'  most  Obcd^ 

hble  Serv* 
,       -  /.■..;  ..    ,  „  P.    Jackson. 

*  The  writer  was  a  ^Member  of  rarliarmnt  for  Wevniouth. 


JAKED    IXGERSOLL    P.vrERS,     IT6G-GO.  415 

Letters  of  "\Villia>[   Sa^iuel  Joirxsox. 

London  Xov'.  12*\  1T»;7 

Put  not  if.  Trust  in  Parliaments  nor  in  Princes  if  I  wa.s  von 
I  w'onld  assnme  for  my  Motto.      Tn  Conseq^  of  the  Parliani-". 
reconimontr.  I  expoet^  very  soon  to  have  had  the  plea^^uro  of 
acqnaint".  yon  of  some  very  beneficial  Appointment.     I   was 
made  to  believe  that  it  conld  not  fail  nor  be  delay'd.     It  was 
confidently  expected  A:  even  relied  npon  that  you  or  Gov^  Fitch 
k  probably  both  would  be  appoiTited  of  the  Board  of  Cusroms 
(or  as  Huske  calls  it  board  of  Sallaries j  :    beside  the  Vore  of 
Parr,  yon  were  both  ment'^.  by  y".  Friends  to  the  Ministers  »\:  all 
proper  Interest  made  for  yon,  Yet  we  har-e  seen  that  Board 
fill'd  np  (i-  all  the  lucrat*  offices  dependant  npon  it  dispused  of 
without  any  Xotice  taken  of  you  or  any  of  those  whc.  were 
recommended  to  the  fav'.  of  the  Cro^vn.     And  as  to  the  Ch.  J. 
I  ment^.,  nothing-  is  said ;    it  seems  to  be  looked  upon  as  full  at 
present.  A:  that  the  Reversion  is  not  to  be  disposed  of.      It  has 
been  hinted  to  me  indeed,  but  I  cannot  say  that  I  rely  at  all 
npon  it,  that  it  is  reserv'd  for  a  certain  Gent"",  now  in  Am'\  d:  to 
a  particular  purpose  which  I  durst  not  mention  unless  I  could 
whisper  it  in  y'  Ear.     AVh^  says  the  Ptecommend".  cannot  fail 
to  have  its  effect,  eV  that  the  :\IinisTry  shall  hear  of  their  neglect 
of  it  in  the  filling  up  the  board,  &:  be  calFd  to  Account  for  it, 
when  Parliam'.  meets,  so  that  you  are  still  to  expect  something 
very  clever,  but  what  or  when  or  where  I  cannot  at  present  tell 
you;    it  may  come  very  soon  «S:  we  have  already  seen  it  nuiy  be 
delay'd.     I  am  obliged  to  'M'  AV  it  seems  not  only  for  his  friend- 
ship to  me  but  for  assuring  you  of  mine  to  you;    you  may  relv 
upon  it  that  I  lun-c  done  A:  shall  still  do  all  in  my  Power  to 
serve  you.     But  if  you  did  not  already  know  this  Country  I 
shou'd  tell  you  they  are  strange  People  here ;   Very  unsteady,  so 
exceedingly  unsettled,  that  one  is  almost  tempted  to  think  all 
affairs  go  by  Accident  cV  are  govern'd  by  Chance,  rather  than 
by  design.      Lord  X.  you  have  heard  is  Chan',  of  the  Excheq'. 
in  lieu  of  Clr.  T.  ^:  there  is  now  little  talk  of  a  Change,  which 


410  JAPvED    IXGEESOLL    PAPERS,    1766-G9. 

till  verv  lately  Las  been  confidently  expected.     All  that  I  can 
find  the  ^linistry  are  upon  relative  to  Am^.  is  the  design  of 
forming  settlements  in  the  Illinois  Country  &  at  Detroit,  which 
they  have  in  Consideration,  in  view  to  save  the  heavy  expence 
they  have  been  at  in  Indian  atlairs.      The  board  of  Trade  have 
consulted  the  Merch''.  who  Ileport  in  favour  of  it,  so  that  G. 
L.    [  ?  ]    affairs    now    go    on    swimingly.     Tell    y^    neighbour 
Tomson  that  Poor  father  Kobinson  died  a  few  days  ago  of  the 
small  Pox,  which  is  a  sad  misfort^  to  the  X.  Hampshire  cause, 
&•  what  I  shall  do  without  his  Evidence  which  was  of  the  last 
Importance  I  know  not.     "When  I  may  hope  to  return  I  cannot 
yet  foresee,  as  L.  President  gives  us  no  Opport'^.  for  a  hearing 
of  the  ^[ohegan  Case.     We  have  been  ready  this  7  ^^I*^.  »S:  the 
other  side  tell  us  they  are  so  too.      I  am  impatient  to  see  an  end 
of  it  &  to  return  to  ]ny  old  System,  for  (to  Ans^  y\  Queries)  I 
never  indulged  myself  with  any  expectation  of  a  provision  in 
this  Country  or  my  own  which  might  exempt  me  from  business. 
Industry  in  my  Profession  has  been  ever  my  only  reliance,  ».\: 
tho'  it  may  after  so  long  an  Interval  at  first  seem  a  little  odd  to 
bustle  again  at  the  Bar.  yet  I  doubt  not  after  a  while  it  will 
become  again  familiar.     The  story  you  had  from  I.  II.*  I  doubt 
not  is  very  near  the  Truth  *i'  will  be  justified  by  the  event, 
but  (tho'  it  Lx)ks  too  like  the  usual  cant  in  these  occasions)  I 
will  venture  to  assure  you  that  I  am  as  Easy  about  all  that  mat- 
ter as  a  ^lan  can  be.     I  am  resolved  to  take  no  Pains  to  be  in  or 
out.     I  do  not  contemn  the  favours  of  my  Country  ;   on  the  con- 
trary I  set  a  proper  Value  upon  them ;    but  I  cannot  anxiously 
court  them.     While  the  Peop^  Imag"".  I  can  do  them  any  ser- 
vice, I  "am  willing  to  endeavour  it:    when  they  shall  be  of  a 
different  Opinion.  I  shall  readily  acquiesce  in  it  without  mur- 
muring, &  I  think  without-  "uneasiness,  unless  accon\panied  with 
other  Circumstances  than  barely  being  neglected.     I  can  never 
so  much  wonder   at  their  leaving  me  out  as   I   did   at   their 
putting  me  in.     But  this  is  too  much  of  myself  which  you  will 
however  pardon  because  you  led  me  to  it.     The  t- stablishm  .  oi 

*  Joseph  Harrison? 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PArEKS,  1T6G-60.  417 

the  Board  at  B.  rather  than  at  X.  Y  was  owing  to  M".  Paxton's'' 
Int*.  with  Ch^  Townsend  who  conducted  that  whole  affair. 
Gov^.  Pitkins  proceed"",  with  respect  to  the  Troops  was  at  first  a 
little  grumbled  at,  but  the  proper  Excuses  from  our  Circum- 
stances &  the  Xature  of  our  Const",  being  made,  it  was  pretty 
well  approvVI.  The  next  Questn  you  ask  is  a  very  shrewd  one 
&  I  have  been  very  anxious  to  know  what  was  intended,  &  at 
present  as  far  as  I  can  discover  there  is  no  design  to  take  any 
iJs'otice  of  our  Gov',  or  Judges,  but  to  leave  them  upon  their 
present  footing.  There  has  never  you  know  been  any  CompP. 
of  want  of  Salary  from  our  Gov'^.  or  Judges,  &  consequently  no 
room  for  his  Majesty  to  interpose  where  Civil  Govern\  has  been 
so  well  supported  as  with  us  <^'  there  has  been  so  little  alteration 
about  it.  In  a  word  I  think  it  was  not  an  Object  with  those 
who  plan'd  &:  pen'd  the  Act,  nor  did  they  attend  to  the  distinction 
between  the  Ch^  Gov*^  »S:  the  others.  We  had  a  Prince  Born 
the  2*^  Ins''  &  the  D.  of  Y.  was  Interd  the  3<^.  with  much  Pomp, 
so  you  see  notwithstand^  our  loss's  we  keep  our  stock  of  Poyal 
Blood  still  Intire. 

I  am  with  Compl'^\  to  all  friends  very  affectionately 

Y'.  F.  &H.  S.f 

To  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq^ 

London  Xov^  12'^  1767.     •  '  ■    /      -'■"~^.-    •■^.•.  ^ 

-     "■   -■■^'.  ■  ...':^    ..  ♦         London  Xov'.  30'\  1767. 
DearS'.    „  ,■:■  .   .:.,'.., 

I  wrote  you  a  gloomy  Letter  the  12*".  Inst\,  which  I  now 
wish  you  may  never  receive  or  at  least  not  before  this,  since  it 

*  At  the  time  this  letter  was  written  Charles  Paxton  (born  1704,  died 
17S8)  was  collector  of  the  port  of  Boston.  On  September  8,  1767,  he,  (as 
head)  and  four  others.  Hulton,  Kobinson,  Temple,  and  Burch,  were  com- 
missioned the  American  Board  of  Custom  Commissioners  to  sit  at  Boston, 
under  the  Townshend  Act  of  June  20  of  the  same  year.  This  board  met 
for  the  first  time  in  Boston  on  November  18.  Paxton  ceased  to  be  collector 
on  his  appointment  as  commissioner  and  was  succeeded  by  Joseph  Harrison, 
who  arrived  in  America  probably  in  17ii"^. 

t  This  letter  from  l^r.  William  Samuel  .ToluHon.  as  well  as  the  two  next 
following',  is  co]>ied  from  his  Letter-book  in  tlie  Cotmeeticut  Historical 
Society. 

14 


4:18  JAHKD  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1760-00, 

must  give  you  some  pain  as  it  did  mo  to  find  we  had  so  little 
Expectations  that  anything-  would  be  soon  done  for  you  not- 
withstanding the  great  hopes  conciev'd  from  the  Parliam^. 
Recommend".  I  own  I  began  to  fear  for  you  that  it  had  been 
in  a  manner  forgot.  &  would  be  neglected,  But  am  now  very 
agreably  disappointed.  L.  Xorth  it  seems  bore  it  in  ^lind,  ^-  of 
his  own  accord  sent  to  M^.  W.  to  know  whether  he  tho't  it  would 
be  agreable  to  you  to  be  appointed  Judge  of  Admiralty  with 
a  saF  of  £400-0  p^  Ann  at  Philad^,  Virg\  or  S".  Carolina,  upon 
which  ]\r.  "W  was  pleased  to  Advise  with  me,  &•  upon  the  whole. 
Judging  for  you  as  T  would  have  done  for  myself,  It  was  my 
opinion  that  you  sho'd  accept  it  if  fixed  at  either  of  the  2  first 
places,  but  not  at  Carolin*.  that  being  too  far  South  for  a 
Xorth°.  Constitution ;  in  which  3F.  TV.  concuring  with  me,  & 
after  as  mature  a  delilieration  as  we  could  give  the  subject,  he 
waited  upon  L.  X  &:  accept*^,  with  that  limitation,  &  there 
seems  no  room  to  doubt  that  one  of  the  two  places  agreed  to 
will  be  pitch'd  upon  cl'  yon  may  depend  will  be  accordingly 
appointed,  of  which  I  heartily  give  you  Joy.  As  W.  do's  not 
chuse  to  be  seen  in  the  affair,  it  will  be  my  part  to  [make  i]  out 
y  Commiss",  which  I  will  do  with  all  the  dispatch  I  can.  What 
the  Fees  will  amount  to  I  cannot  yet  tell,  but  doubt  not  you  will 
very  readily  repay  ,them.  The  office  is  Honor°.  &  lucrative  &  I 
hope  will  be  agreable  to  you,  cl*  if  it  sho'd  not  may  probably  be 
Exchaug'^.  for  something  that  is.  The  Intention  it  seems  is 
that  there  shall  be  only  three  Judges  for  the  Continent,  so  that 
you  will  have  a  large  district,  &  tlio'  yon  are  to  have  no  part  of 
the  Forfeitures,  I  take  it  for  granted  you  may  in  time  of  War 
especially  take  trial  fees,  so  it  must  be  much  better  than  a  C. 
Just^.  at  Common  Law  with  the  propos"^.  salary  of  £500:  0:  0. 
k  from  the  diff*".  of  Fees  in  those  two  kinds  of  Courts  probably 
not  inferior  in  time  of  Peace.  The  session  was  opened  the  24*'^, 
when  upon  the  ^Motion  for  an  Address  in  Answer  to  the  Kings 
Speech  !M^  Burke  <S:  y^.  Friend  Wedderburn  each  of  them  gave 
us  a  fine  spirited  Declamat".  ag^  the  Ministry,  &  upon  the  sd 
State  of  affairs  botli  at  home  &  abroad.  ]\I^  Greenville  pursued 
the  same  general  plan  but  could  not  let  poor  America  escape, 


JAKED    I>'GERSOLL    PAPERS,    ITGO-GO.        ,  419 

having  taken  up  two  or  three  peices  wh^  I  have  not  seen,  pub- 
lished in  the  Boston  Papers,  which  he  said  were  Infamous  libels 
upon  Parliani\,  tended  to  stir  up  the  People  of  that  Country 
to  sedition  ti:  rebellion  6:  ought  to  be  punish"^.  &e  <Sjc,  but  they  are 
at  present  deliberating  upon  the  high  Price  of  Provis^  &  the 
distress's  of  the  Poor,  but  seem  at  a  loss  what  to  do  for  relief. 

The  next  day  he  made  a  formal  Comp?  of  those  Papers,  wh*". 
occasion'^  a  good  deal  of  debate.  But  tinally  the  House,  tho' 
they  tho't  them  Papers  of  a  very  111  Tendency,  seem'd  to  thinlc 
them  beneath  their  Xotice,  &  avoided  determining  upon  the 
Compf.  by  puting  the  previous  Question  to  adjorn  the  debate 
for  six  Months.  ^L^  AVhately  assures  me  he  will  write  you  by 
this  Convey*.,  so  I  need  say  no  more  upon  Politics  but  with 
Compl*'.  to  all  Friends  am 

sincerely  y^.  Priend  &  humble 

Serv^ 
To  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq'.  -  -. 

London  Xov'.  3rA  1767.  '  ■       . 

'"     ■  ■"_  ■"'■     London  Jan^.  2^  17GS. 

T  thank  you  for  y'.  fav^  of  the  29'^.  of  Oct',  which  I  have  just 
now  received  &  am  very  happy  that  you  approve  the  depart- 
ment assign'd  for  you  in  the  Partition  made  of  the  Judgeships. 
You  must  before  this  time  have  received  y'.  Commission  which 
went  with  the  others  to  Judge  Auchmuty  of  Boston  with  a 
request  to  forward  it  to  you;  &  I  hope  it  came  safe  to  hand. 
Happily  the  Fees  at  Doct".  Commons*  did  not  rise  so  high  as 
we  were  told  they  would,  the  whole  sum  amounting  to  no  more 
than  £12. 9. -4  which  I  have  paid 

Boston  has  indeed  made  a  most  insignificant  "figure,  *.l'  ex- 
posed themseves  to  Infinite  Pidicule  in  this  Country.     They 

•  Doctors  Commons,  the  place  of  residence  of  the  doctors  of  civil  law, 
who  practiced  in  the  ecclesiastical  and  admiralty  courts,  was  located  at 
this  time  in  the  City  of  London,  on  St.  Bennet's  Hill,  soutli  of  St.  Paul's 
Churchyard.  The  building's  consisted  of  the  dining-hall  or  commons,  the 
hall  where  the  courts  were  held,  the  library,  and  the  doctors'  chambers. 


420  JATiKD    IXGERSOLL    TAPERS,    17CG-60. 

were  certainly  very  imwise  to  talk  of  their  Arms  when  tliey 
did  not  intend  to  nse  them,  indeed  they  sho'd  have  known  that 
the  Weapons  of  their  warfare  icere  not  Comal,  &  that  they  can 
make  a  much  hotter  figure  upon  Paper  than  they  can  in  the 
field — and  have  more  effectual  Arras  to  Combat  this  Country 
with  than  iMusquets  or  Bayonets.  Their  Resolutions  to  import 
no  goods  ti'  encourage  Frugality  &  Industry  could  they  keep 
them  &  engage  their  Neighbours  to  join  Avith  them  would  have 
Infinitely  more  weight  here  than  any  other  opposition  they  can 
make,  but  one  is  apt  to  suspect  now  that  they  have  no  more 
firmness  in  that  respect  than  with  regard  to  Arms,  &  mean 
only  to  bluster  &  make  believe  which  will  never  answer  the 
end ■     • 

Administration  flushed  with  the  success  they  have  had  in 
humbling  the  Bostonians  now  sedra  to  think  it  their  Turn  to 
talk  big  &  bold  ^:  hitherto  seem  inflexible  in  their  Resolution 
not  to  Repeal  their  Laws  compl*'.  of  by  the  Colon^  at  least  for 
this  session  of  Parl\  nor  until  the  Colon^  submit  to  give  up,  or 
at  least  wave  the  point  of  Right 

L.  T.  I  believe  &:  some  others  fancy  that  the  Colo^.  are  com- 
ing about,  &  that  if  they  put  on  a  face  of  firmness  &  hold  a 
strict  hand  over  them  for  a  while  they  will  submit;  others  even 
in  Ad°.  doubt  it  but  are  willing  to  try ;  yet  I  believe  with  you 
that  the  difficulty  is  not  yet  over,  that  the  same  uneasiness  &  the 
same  opinions  *S:c  will  continue  &:  will  continue  till  some  Agree- 
ment &  mutual  understand"  is  bro't  about,  but  when  or  how  this 
shall  be  effected  I  do  not  yet  see,  tho'  it  is  most  earnestly  to  l>e 
wished.  This  Country  cannot  yet  bear  the  humiliating  Idea 
of  treating  with  that ;  Shall  we  submit  to  treat  with  our  Sub- 
jects, say  they?  No  let  us  rather .     Yet  the  Day  will 

come  I  think,  tS:  the  sooner  the  better  for  us  both 

Heaven  will  I  yet  hope  open  to  us  some  door  of  Reconcilia- 
tion &  not  leave  us  to  destroy  one  another  as  we  must  do  in 
the  way  things  are  now  proceeding     .... 

Y'  sincere  FricTid 

&  aff^  hum^  Serv*. 
Hon\  • 

Jared  Tngersol  Esq"". 


JAEED  ixgp:rsoll  PAPERS,  176G-69.  421 

Letter  of  Riciiart)  Jackson. 

Southampton  Buildings 

12  Mar  1768 
Dear  Sir 

It  is  so  long  since  I  wrote  to  you  or  heard  from  you  that 
I  have  really  forgot  who  is  the  Debtor  of  the  two.  Xo  man 
can  more  sincerely  rejoice  at  y"  succeeding  in  your  wishes  than 
I  do,  (S:  therefore  at  a  venture  I  should  have  risked  the  rejoicing 
with  you,  though  T  was  not  quite  certain  you  would  relish  the 
offer  made  you  of  a  seat  on  the  Eench  of  Admiralty  Jurisdic- 
tion,"^ had  I  not  known  that  AVheatly  had  communicated  that 
otfer  beforef  k  had  I  not  at  the  same  time  been  taken  up  in  a 
close  Attention  to  my  father  (S:  Brother  Bridges,  both  of  Avhom 
are  since  dead,t  &:  then  lay  as  they  bad  done  for  some  weeks 
before  in  the  tortures  of  the  Stone  6:  Gout.  This  lone;  illness  of 
two  persons  for  whom  I  had  a  sincere  Affection  &  with  whom  I 
have  lived  so  much,  has  perhaps  left  abundantly  more  impres- 
sion on  my  mind,  than  their  Deaths  at  a  distance  could  have 
done,  i:  the  Impression  is  not  at  all  lessened  by  the  Increase  of 
fortune  I  receive  from  them,  &  even  little  by  the  Consideration 
of  the  Age  of  one  &;  y^  Infirmities  of  both. 

I  hope  the  offer  I  speak  of  will  be  acceptable  to  you ;  if  it  be 
not,  be  so  good  as  to  signify  what  you  think  will  suit  you  best ; 
sh*^  it  be  in  my  Power,  the  little  Assistance  I  can  give  you  is 
at  your  Service. 

*  Owing  to  the  stricter  measures  adopted  after  1763  to  check  smuggling 
and  enforce  the  acts  of  trade  a  reorganization  of  the  system  of  vice-admi- 
ralty courts  took  place  in  Aim-rica.  The  old  courts  remained  unchanged 
but  in  17(14  a  single  court  iov  all  America  was  constituted  to  sit  at 
Halifax.  Later  this  was  given  up  and  four  courts,  at  Halifax,  Boston, 
Philadelphia,  and  Charleston,  were  established  with  power  to  exercise  both 
original  and  appellate  jurisdiction.     These  are  the  courts  referred  to. 

t  A  letter  from  ^^fr.  Wliat^ly  to  ^^■illiam  Samuel  Johnson,  Xoveml)er 
15,  1707,  mentions  that  Lord  North  had  asked  him  if  a  Judgeship  in  the 
new  Courts  of  Vice  Admiralty,  with  an  annual  salary  of  £400,  would  be 
agreeable  to  Mr.  Ingersoll. 

S  ilr.  Jackson's  father,  Licliard  Jackson,  died  on  January  10,  1708,  and 
his  sister's  husband,  Thomas  Bridges  (for  whom  see  above,  p.  2711),  on 
the  followinLT  dav. 


^22  JARED    IXGERSOLL    PAPEIIS,     1700-09. 

I  wish  any  tiling  could  be  thought  of  for  that  worthy  ^lan 
Governor  Fitch.  I  know  not  what  to  move  for  him ;  there  is 
no  man  I  more  wish  to  serve,  >Sr  hope  it  would  not  be  ditiicult  Uj 
succeed  if  one  knew  what  would  suit  him. 

One  Reason  of  my  now  writing  to  you  is  I  care  not  to  write 
quite  explicitly  to  Gov'"  Pitkin  on  y*"  Subject  of  y®  ]\[ohegin 
Suit,"^  because  such  Letters  are  read  publickly  &  come  to  y^ 
knowledge  of  y'^  adversary.  I  sincerely  think  y*  ^Merits  are 
with  us,  c^'  that  no  such  Commission  ought  to  have  issued  orig- 
inally, (.^-  as  it  has  issued,  it  ought  after  this  length  of  time  to 
rest  on  j®  Determination  of  y^  last  Commissioners;  but  I  can- 
not answer  for  the  Opinion  of  the  Privy  Council,  especially 
considering  y^  Disposition  ^Mankind  here  have  to  believe  the 
English  Americans  in  general  have  dispossessed  y^  Indians 
unjustly,  i:  considering  what  complaints  of  that  sort  are  lately 
come  over  from  otlier  parts  of  America,  which  you  know 
enough  of  this  Country  to  know,  will  probably  be  confounded 
with  our  Case. 

I  have  wished  therefore  to  stop  the  progress  of  the  Suit  with- 
out appearing  to  oppose  the  Sol""^  of  the  Indians  obtaining 
Money  from  the  Crown  (which  they  cannot  do  without)  by  dis- 
closing enough  of  the  Affair  to  put  tlie  Ministry  on  its  Guard 
ag^  the  fine  Impression  of  a  plausible  story,  &  by  intimating  that 
if  after  one  such  Trial  asquiesced  in  for  20  years  they  advance 

*  A  controversy  had  long  subsisted  between  the  IMohegan  Indians  of 
Eastern  Connecticut  and  the  Colony,  respecting  the  validity  of  certain 
purchases  of  territory  from  the  former  in  the  seventeenth  century.  After 
protracted  efforts  at  settlement  here,  the  case  had  been  transferred  to 
England,  and  in  October,  17G0,  Wni.  Sam'l.  .Johnson  had  been  sent  by  tlie 
Connecticut  Assend)ly  to  London  as  a  special  Agent  in  tliis  matter. 

The  Moliegan  case  was  not  finally  disposed  of  until  Jan.  1.5.  1773,  wlien 
the  Privy  Council  dismissed  the  appeal  of  the  Mohegan  Indians,  tlius 
afiirming  the  decision  of  the  commissioner  of  review  of  Aug.  l(i.  174.3. 
For  twenty  years  the  appellant,  Samuel  ilason.  acting  as  ''guardian" 
for  the  Indians,  had  persisted  in  his  etl'ort  of  obtain  possession  of  the 
Mohegan  lands  and  the  expenses  of  liis  apjieal  had  been  paid  out  of  tlie 
Briti-h  Exclioquer.  From  1700  to  1773  the  coluny's  case  was  conducted 
by  its  agt-nt-solicitor.  Jhoma^,  Lite.  Johnson  returned  to  America  before 
the  final  decision. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEES,  17CG-P)9.  423 

more  money,  they  mav  expect  like  Applications  from  100  worn 
ont  Tribes  in  all  the  different  Colonies  of  America;  &  this  I 
have  done.     ... 

I  am  T)^  Sir  sincerely 
/  faithfiill 
"  '^  hble  Serv' 

R.  Jackson. 


Letter  of  Augustus  Joiixstox. 

Xewport  February  7'\  1769. 
Dear  Sir 

I  came  to  Town  late  last  Evening,  &  found  your  favour  of 
the  20^^.  of  last  ^Month,  but  as  the  Post  goes  out  early  this 
Morning  (I  mean  at  10  O'Clock)  I  have  but  to  acknowledge 
the  Rec^  of  that,  &  the  just  sense  I  have  of  your  Friendship,  but 
before  I  set  off  for  Carolina,  I  will  write  you  more  freely.  I 
cant  help  saying  that  I  am  well  pleased  at  our  late  appoint- 
ments," not  only  for  our  sakes,  but  as  it  shows  a  desigTi  in  the 
Administration  at  Home,  to  support  those  Americans,  who  have 
endeavoured  at  acquitting  themselves  good  subjects.  God 
knows  I  am  grieved  at  the  Distresses  of  my  Country,  but  can't 
help  thinking  they  have  brought  it  upon  themselves,  by  being 
led  by  a  few  hotbrained  people,  ti"  T  don't  doubt,  but  in  a  short 
time,  the  misguided  ones  will  see  their  error  ^-  will  know  who's 
advice  it  would  have  been  most  prudent  for  them  to  have  fol- 
lowed.    "M".  Johnston  joyns  me  in  Complim^^  to  3[".  Ingersoll 

which  includes  me  in  hast. 

y^  very  hble.  Serv\ 

A.  Johnston. 

*  Mr.  Johnston  had  received,  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Injrer^oll's  appointment, 
the  appointment  of  Jiidp:e  of  the  Court  of  Vice-Admiralty  for  the  Southern 
District,  comprising  tlie  C'aroHnas,  Georgia,  and  the  Floridas,  with  head- 
quarters at  Cliarleston,  where  he  arrived  in  ^tay.  1760. 

During  the  Revohition  he  took  refuge  with  the  British  in  New  York 
Citv,  and  is  said  to  have  died  there  about  1779. 


424  JAKKD  INGEKSOLL  TAPERS,  17GC-69. 

I  agree  with  you,  in  your  Sentiuients  of  writing  to  LorU 
I^ortli,  &  Sir  Edward  Hawke,  &  shall  enclose  them,  to  be  deliv- 
ered by  our  Worthy  Friend  ^U.  Whately  to  whom  I  shall  write 

at  the  same  time. 

Y^.  A  J. 
Ilonble.  Jared  Ino;ersoll 


Letters  of  William  Sa:\[uel  Johnsox. 

London  March  S'\  17G9 
Dear  S^ 

I  have  the  pleasure  of  y".  of  the  7*^.  of  Jan'',  inclosing  y^. 
Bill  on  Mess".  Brown's  S:  Collinson  for  £20 :  0 :  0.  You  will 
have  seen  by  my  last  that  the  Estimate  made  of  the  fees  upon  y'' 
Commission,  which  I  communicated  to  you,  was  much  too  high 
&;  that  the  sura  I  have  advanced  (including  the  price  of  5  lb 
Bacon  which  T  delivered  ^F.  Life"  to  be  cons*^.  with  y''.  Stat",  i 
is  no  more  than  £13 :  14 :  4.  I  have  therefore  made  no  farther 
use  of  y^  Bill  than  for  reembursing  myself  that  sum.  I 
explained  the  matter  so  minutely  to  ]\F.  Brown,  k  have  Indorsed 
the  Order^  in  part  only  &  so  particularly  that  I  think  no  mis- 
take can  happen  among  us  in  Conseqn^  of  the  Orders  being 
larger  than  the  sum  rec'd.  You  would  certainly  enjoy  this 
Office  with  much  more  pleasure  &:  we  sho'd  be  all  much  happier 
were  those  unfortunate  disputes  betw"".  G.  B.  &  the  Colonies  set- 
tled, &  I  do  with  you  most  sincerely  lament  our  unhappy  sit- 
uation. But  at  present  T  see  little  prospect  of  the  compleation 
of  y'".  hope  that  we  shall  soon  either  untie  or  Cut  the  Gordion 
Knot.  I  fear  yet  farther  provocations  on  both  sides,  severities 
on  this  side  &  reluctance  lI'  Opposition  on  that.  Perhaps  we 
must  both  feel  more  effectually  the  folly  of  Quarreling  before 
we  shall  have  the  Wisdom  to  be  reconciled,  tho'  the  longer  it  is 

*  Thomas  Life,  of  Basiii^liall  St.,  Cripplegate,  London,  "vvas  appointed  in 
17C0  co-agent  for  the  CuIdiiv  %vitli  Jack.son,  acting  as  attorney.  -Jack?"" 
was  tlie  reguhir  agent,  ^\'m  Samuel  Johnson  the  special  agent  in  the 
Mohegan  case. 


JAKED  INGEESOLL  PAPERS,  176G-69.  425 

delay'd  the  more  the  wound  festers  &  rankles,  &  the  Cure 
becomes  every  day  more  doubtful  &  difficult.  However,  I  will 
still  hope  *t  pray  God  that  some  proper  Eemedy  may  be  found 
before  it  becomes  totally  incurable.  Part  of  the  present  !Man- 
ag'ers,  &  those  who  have  now  most  Influence,  arc  obstinate  in 
their  own  Opinion,  &  believe  or  at  least  affect  to  believe  that 
the  uneasiness  is  not  gen^  in  Am*,  that  they  are  only  a  factious 
few  that  disbelieve  the  Parliam^.  Right  of  Taxation  or  reluct  at 
the  Exercise  of  their  Power  to  kc  And  that  by  standing  iirm  or 
at  least  assuming  the  app*  of  it,  &  by  a  few  Troops  &  some  little 
severities  they  may  bring  the  Colon*  into  a  state  of  humble  sub- 
mission. Another  part  think  it  w"*  be  best  to  ease  away  &  give 
up  for  the  present  at  least  the  Actual  Exercise  of  their  Power  in 
the  litegated  points,  but  doubt  whether  they  can  do  it  with 
Hon''.,  d:  that  doubt  compells  them  to  conform  to  the  first  ment*^. 
part  of  Adm°.  &  agree  tho'  faintly  in  the  present  measures. 
They  are  all  indeed  as  you  observe  angTy,  but  many  of  them 
at  the  same  time  fear.  Xothing  farther  has  however  been  done 
since  the  Pcsolutions  which  I  communicated  to  you,  tho'  we 
are  told  that  adm'^  do  not  intend  to  be  silent  with  respect  to 
X  York,  &  the  opposition  we  know  propose  if  they  can,  in  some 
mode  or  other,  which  they  have  not  yet  agTeed  upon,  to  bring 
American  affairs  again  upon  the  Carpet ;  but  what  the  Issue 
will  be  no  body  can  pretend  to  say.  Wilks  you  see  has  been 
Expelled,  reelected  «S:  Expelled  again.  But  the  popular  Clamour 
is  high  in  his  favour;  his  friends  have  set  on  foot  a  Stibscrip- 
tion  to  support  his  Cause,  which  it  is  said  fills  very  fast,  &  it 
may  be  expected  he  will  yet  occasion  much  bustle.  I  long 
much  to  see  you  vS:  my  other  friends  in  A:  but  am  still  detained 
by  this  endless  ^NFohegan  Case  &  can  yet  fix  no  time  for  my 
return.  In  the  mean  time  present  my  best  Compl'^  to  I\P. 
Ingersoll  k  \^.  Sr>n  (t  nil  friends,  »1-  believe  me  to  be  always 

Y^  affect^  Friend  &  H :  S*  " 
To  Hon'  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq"" 

London  :\riirch  S'^  1700.  ■ 

*  This  letter  by  Dr.  William  Sannifl  Johnson,  a^^  well  ns  the  next  follow- 
inp  one,  i>  taken  from  hi?;  Lpttor-Book  in  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society. 


I       I 


426  JARED  INGEHSOLL  PAPERS,  1766-69. 

West^  Dec^  9'\  ITGO 

You  have  I  see  had  a  great  affair  before  you  at  X  York. 
which  after  all  you  have  not  the  good  fortune  to  Quiet.  ^V\ 
Bayard  &  Livingston  arc  Arrived  to  litigate  it  with  renewM 
Vigour  at  the  Cock  Pit.-'  I  know  nothing  of  the  Controv-'. 
tho'  I  have  heard  them  both  talk  of  the  branch's  of  Delawarts  of 
the  Latitude  of  old  ^'  new  Lines,  of  Ancient  Poss'  &  ^l.>d" 
Claims — One  Circum^  is  at  least  m*".  in  fav^  of  y".  Decree,  that 
you  have  pleased  neither  Party.  &  Truth  very  generally  lies  in 
the  !Mean  between  the  extremes  into  wh^'.  all  contesting  Parries 
are  too  apt  to  run.  We  have  had  indeed  fine  Confusions  here 
enough  to  amtise  a  sobar  ^faii,  but  they  are  in  some  degree  sub- 
sided. Whether  the  approaching  ParP.  will  renew  or  more 
effectually  quiet  them,  he  nuist  be.  more  of  a  Prophet  than  I 
pretend  to  be  who  can  determine.  To  them  howev^  all  our 
attent''.  is  now  turn'd  &  we  anxiously  expect  the  Event  of 
their  dcliberat'.  With  regard  to  An/,  ^linist^  are  rather  ;■'.•:- 
eled  than  Converted.  They  hardly  know  what  to  do.  They 
want  to  unite  Extremes  which  must  be  Eternally  seperated.  the 
full  Exercise  of  Prerogat^  with  the  complete  Enjoy*,  of  Libx?rTy. 
Surely  they  had  better  try  to  hit  upon  some  Medium.  I  will 
not  say  they  will,  tho'  I  will  give  Credit  to  the  good  Inten:\  of 
some  of  them.  Provid*.  above  I  begin  to  wish  must  extrica'v  us 
out  of  the  Dilemma  we  are  in.  if  we  are  extricated.  It  is  r.ow 
I  fear  beyond  the  reach  of  mere  human  Policy  to  Effect  it.  Let 
us  hope  the  best  «Sr  wait  the  Event.  Yoti  have  T  confess  ReL^-ai 
to  laugh  at  me.  e^'  T  to  be  ashamed  that  I  have  not  meritcvl  :he 
good  Qpin'\  ]\P.  Ing".  was  so  kind  as  to  enter'ain  of  me.      H;id 

*  The  Cockpit  was  the  building  ou  the  North  side  r>i  \"\T,:tehall  iu  'w-^k-b 
the  Privy  Council  sat  and  wIuto  the  Secretaries  of  State  had  their  ozi^-.-i^: 
portions  of  it  still  form  the  interior  coiistructinn  of  the  Treasury  buLI.;_:ii£!. 

William  Bayard  and  hi*  a--o>iate  had  been  senr  over  a?  special  j^'e-rts 
for  managing  the  protest  of  Xew  York  against  the  decision  of  the  tiiir-er-n 
Commissioners  appointed  to  settle  the  l>oundani-  rvrwe^n  Xew  Yorii  aud 
Xew  Jersey:  Ingersull  had  Ix^en  the  Connecticut  r-iresentative  oa  "i.i- 
Commission,  and  was  present  at  every  one  of  their  mettin^s   (Julv-Ofc:>!vpr. 

17G9).  ■...,■,..         ...        :,..   .  , 


JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPEIJS,  176G-69,  427 

aiiv  bodv  told  me  ^vlien  I  left  yoii  that  I  sboiiltl  have  spent  3  Y^. 
in  England,  I  should  have  replied  with  the  Words  of  assvrian, 
Is  thy  Ser\  a  Dog  that  he  should  do  this  thing.  Yet  I  have  to 
lament  with  him  that  I  did  not  know  how  little  my  own  Res- 
olut°.  would  sigiiifie.  All  :\Ien  must  submit  to  the  Xecessity 
of  Affairs.  I  wish'd  as  others  have  done  before  me  to  have 
done  better,  c^-  have  done  only  what  my  situation  admitted  me  to 
do.  I  hope  it  willnot  now  be  very  long  before  I  shall  see  you 
cV'  Account  for  my  Conduct,  in  wh".  I  do  not  ask  applause  but 
may  I  trust  hope  for  Pardon. 

As  to  f.  Salery  T  have  not  had  the  to  3P  Whately 

who  is  not  in  the  Country  these  3  ^[°\,  but  have  Enqu^  6:  am 
told  the  Course  is  this ;— you  are  to  get  a  Certif^  from  the  Com^ 
of  Customs  that  there  is  no  'Mohqx  in  their  hands  out  of  which 
it  can  be  paid,  »t  upon  the  ground  of  that  Certif^  a  :\rem".  must 
be  present^  to  the  Treas^  who  will  order  it  paid  without  much 
Expense.     Y^.   B'.   Audi',   has  gone  thro'   the  process,  k  was 
desired  I  am  told  to  let  you  all  know  the  steps  to  be  taken. 
Give  me  leave  upon  this  occas".  as  it  becomes  a  Eriend  to  hint 
to  you  that  I  have  heard  some  surprise  expres'd  here  at  \\  being 
yet  in  Connect,  c^-  :^P  Sewall*  at  Boston,  ka.  &  more  that  you  are 
still,  as  it  seems  somebody  has  said,  you  yet  are  in  the  Pract^ 
of  the  Law.     Do   those   Gent".    Imagine,   say   they,   that  this 
Office  is  to  be  a  sine  Cure,  Are  they  to  be  Xon  resident.  Judges, 
or  is  it  Consistant  with  the  Dig-nity  of  a  Judge  to  Cont".  in  the 
Pract^  of  the  Law  ?  kc.     You  may  have  Peasons  &  Authoritj 
which  I  know  notlr.  of.      These  things  I  should  not  trouble 
you  with,  did  they  come  from  En.      They  have  droped  from  y^ 
Friend,'  c^-  you  will  pardon  my  :Mcnt^.  them,  merely  that  vou 
may  make  such  use  of  them  as  you  think  best.      I  do  by  vou  as 
I  wish  every  Friend  to  do  l)y  me.     You  will  T  am  sure  pardon 
me  if  you  do  not  a})prove  such  Liberty — For  myself  I  do  not 
expect  any  of  the  good  things  you  are  so  good  as  to  say  You 
wish  T  may  have   (if  indeed  they  are  good  things).     I  know 

*  Jonathan  Sfwall  flfarvard  174S)  was  appointed  judj:..  of  tho  Vice- 
Adniiralty-court  at  Halifax  in  ITtlS.  hut  never  entered  on  tlie  appointment. 
He  died  in  New  Brunswick  in  1796. 


428 


JAIJED    IXGEKSOLL    PAI'EKS,     17GG-G9. 


the  insuperable  Barriers  wLicli  are  interpose*^  between  me  vie 
them.  I  look  forw*^.  to  the  Conu^  Bar  with  satisfaction  where 
I  have  eujoy'd  much  pleasure  &  think  I  may  again.  I  have 
no  Obj"'.  to  it,  l>ut  that  it  must  keep  me  too  much  from  my 
family  d:  is  rather  too  fatiging.  But  why  should  not  one  be 
busy?  Indolence  is  the  Eust  of  Life.  I  know  indeed  it  can 
afford  no  wealth,  but  I  have  long  since  settled  it  that  Prov*. 
never  intended  I  should  be  rich,  *S:  if  it  would  not  be  vain  I 
would  add  that  I  think  I  have  almost  acqr^  Philosophy  enough 
to  be  very  well  contented  without  it.  Be  it  as  it  may  I  am 
always 

'      '    '      .     :      -.  .  T^.  mostob\  H.  S*. 

You  do  not  say  a  word  whetlf.  you  have  rec'd  f.  Books  or 
not  or  my  Letter  relat^.  to  the  Order  you  drew  in  my  fav^  I 
hope  both  came  safe  to  hand. 

To  Jared  Ingersoll  Esq^ 


Letter  of  Dk.  Bexjamix  Gale. 

Killino- worth  29*''  Dec'  1769 
Dear  S'  '  '        ' 

I  receiv"^  y'  Fav^  p^  post ;  cannot  bo  at  Hartford,  but  Intend 
for  X  Haven  as  soon  as  I  possibly  can  come  over. 

You  need  not  be  under  any  Anxiety  of  my  mentioning  your 
Xame."  ;  I  have  carefully  avoided  that.  I  was  a  little  sorrv  I 
mentioned  it  in  my  Former,  but  still  was  thoughtfull  it  would 
not  be  unacceptable  as  I  know  the  Body  of  the  Freemen  hate  »i: 
fear  the  Consequences  of  the  Susquchannah  Affair. 

This  has  been  Co"  Dyers  Hobby  Horse  by  which  he  has  rose 

•  The  writer  here  refers  to  a  work  which  lie  is  printing,  Observations  on 
a  Pamphlet  .  .  of  which  the  Hon.  Eliphnh  t  Dyer  is  the  reputed  Author. 
He  had  already  printed,  earlier  in  1709,  A  Letter  to  J.  W.,  which  was  aho 
lar^'ely  directed  against  Colonel  Dyer  and  tlie  Susquehannah  Company  in 
wliioh  he  was  so  much  concerned. 


JAKED    J^-GERSOLL    PAPERS,    17G6-C9.  429 

&  as  he  has  been  unmerciful!  to  Gov^  Fitoh  &  Yourself  I  never 
design  to  Give  him  rest  untill  I  make  his  Hobby  Horse  throw 
him  into  the  Dirt. 

If  what  I  have  now  wrote  dont  Effect  it,  I  design  to  repub- 
lish his  Letter  to  Gov'  Fitch  which  he  published  soon  after  his 
return  from  England  in  w^  he  says  he  had  done  Xothing  on 
Susquehannah  Affairs,  &  had  given  himself  wholly  up  to  the 
Affairs  of  our  Gov'  respecting  the  Stamp  Act.  A  trusty  Agent 
for  the  Comp'' ! 

Some  of  our  side  seem  willing  almost  to  take  Coll  Dyer  in  on 
our  side.  FTe  is  too  fond  of  Popularity,  has  but  few  friends  he 
can  bring  over,  iS:  has  been  too  Cruel  to  be  Admitted;  I  had 
rather  have  S'  EoV  Himself. 

I  think  my  Answer  to  him  is  pretty  Avell  Calculated.  I  wish 
it  was  out,  but  the  Printer  is  very  dilatory. 

I  am  S'  Y^  Freind  k  Hum^  Serv^ 

Benj'^  Gale. 
[To 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq''  ,:        ■  ■:  .         ,    .    '  ,   . 

at  _.■•/..      '..,'..   ■■•..   .  /.,  ■.   :  ■ 

^  Haven]  ,.    ^  .   .  •  -  r  , 


430  JARED  IXGEKSOLL  rAPERS,  1 770-81. 


V,     Pirii.ADELPHiA  AND  Xew  IIavex,  1770-17S1 

Mr.  Ingeisoll  did  not  remove  Ids  family  to  Pliiladelphia  until 
April,  1771  :  and  in  September.  1777,  he  returned  to  Xew 
Haven,  where  he  died  in  Angust,  17S1. 

Of  the  few  records  of  this  period,  the  most  interesting  are 
his  free  and  confidential  letters  to  his  nephew,  revealing  his 
longing  for  his  old  home  while  enjoying  much  in  the  varied  life 
of  a  larger  social  circle. 

At  the  close  of  this  section  are  added  his  son's  letter  on 
hearing  of  his  death,  and  his  epitaph. 


Letter  of  Dr.  Jacob  Ogdex. 
Dear  Sir, 

"When  1  had  the  pleasnre  of  seeing  you  last  Summer  at  Xew- 
ark,  you  requested  my  ]\Iethod  of  Cure  in  the  Sore  Throat  Dis- 
temper, which  I  promised  you  to  publish;  and  accordingly 
did  2  or  3  months  after  in  the  Xews  Papers.  But  agreeable  to 
the  Kequest  of  several  Gentlemen  as  well  of  the  medical  Pro- 
fession as  others,  T  propose,  as  soon  as  I  conveniently  can,  to 
publish  a  Treatise  on  said  Disorder.  And  as  I  design  to  give 
a  brief  hystory  of  its  fatal  Effects,  especially  in  Xorth  America, 
I  beg  the  favor  of  you  to  inform  me  as  soon  as  convenient,  the 
iN'umbers  as  near  as  you  can  that  died  in  X.  Haven  in  173f>. 
The  nuinbers  in  such  families  where  it  was  most  fatal.  And  of 
the  greatest  ^Mra-lallity  in  any  other  Towns  in  your  Colony,  or 
[Massachusetts,  especially  in  Cambridge,  and  the  year  it  was 
most  fatal  in  that  Town.  And  also  what  Success  has  attended 
my  method  of  Cure  in  your  parts  since  I  published  it. 

I  also  beg  the  favor  of  you  to  send  me,  if  to  be  had  among 
your  Doctors,  D"".  Dnglass's  Treatise  on  the  aforesaid  Disorder. 
I  had  one  formerly,  now  lost,  and  am  not  able  to  procure  one  in 
!N'ew  York.  It  shall  be  retiirne<l  with  Thanks.  It  may  be 
ordered  to  be  left  at  'SW  yich'.  Ilotfinans,  between  Coentics  *.V: 
the  Old  Slip  ^[arkcts,  X.  York,      ... 


(It 


JARED    IXGEKSOLL    PAPEKS,    ITTO-Sl.  .•ISl 

From,  Sir,  your  old  Friend  «i:  humble  Serv*^.  (with  my  best 
regards  to  your  good  Lady) 


Jacob  Ogdeu.  " 


Mav  10,  1770. 
[To 

The  Hon^'"^ 

Jared  Ingersol  Fsc]^ 
iSTew  Haven] 


Letter  of  Arodi  Thayer. 
Sir,    " 

Fearful  lest  something  bad  or  disagreeable  had  taken  place 
with  your  health,  your  Lady  or  son,  I  had  set  down  to  write  by 
this  post,  when  your  obliging  favor  of  the  eighth  came  to  hand. 

By  the  middle  of  next  month  T  shall  have  the  pleasure  to 
wait  upon  your  honor  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia  by  water,  God 
willing. 

"Judge  Auchmuty  has  received  no  part  of  his  Salary  owing 
to  the  fines  and  forfeitures  in  his  district  not  yet  being  brought 
to  the  King's  chest.''  ... 

]\rr.  Sewall  grow?  more  fond  of  his  district ;  in  a  late  con- 
versation he  told  me.  Sir,  of  l)eing  about  resigning  the  Attorney- 
Generalship  of  this  Province,  and  quitting  the  seat  of  Bar- 
risters, to  attend  c^'  receive  his  twelve  hundred  pounds  Sterling 
due  in  September.  He  says  the  Commissioners  of  the  customs 
have  money  enough,  the  yielding  of  his  district,  to  pay  him,  & 
some  to  spnrp  over.  The  sign  manual,  or  Certificate  for  pay- 
ment, seems  hard  to  be  procured.  The  Commissioners  *.^'  my 
friends  ave  so  very  silent  I  have  it  not  in  my  power  to  com- 

*  Tho  writer  was  born  in  Newark  about  1722,  and  was  a  contemporary 
of  IMr.  In^Tfrsoll  in  Colle^sre,  altlio^ioh  lie  Jid  not  graduate.  His  half-brother. 
.Jndfre  David  0;^'den,  was  graduated  at  Yale  in  172^^. 

Dr.  Oiiden  ]iraoticed  medicine  in  .Tanuiica.  Lon^'  I-land.  and  is  supposed 
to  have  Vieen  the  pioneer  in  inTroduoiiiLr  (about  1750)  into  America  the 
use  of  mercury  in  the  treatment  of  inllammatory  diseases.  His  proposed 
treatise  never  appeared,  although  he  lived  until  17S0. 


432   •  JAKED    IXGKKSfJLL    PAPERS,    17T0-S1. 

miinicate  any  thing  material  to  voiir  honor  from  this  place  or 
the  Castle  where  they  are — save  Mr.  Temple,  who  certainly 
hath  weighty  interest  at  the  Treasury.  He  lives  in  this  town. 
!^rr.  Robinson^  is  after  ^Ir.  Sewall's  appointment.  Franklyn, 
Sir,  Lieut.  Governor  of  X,  Scotia,  married  Mrs.  Robinson's 
only  sister — Ladies  of  Fortune. "t 

May  I  beg  the  favor  of  ray  Respects  to  your  Lady  and  for 
Mr.  Ingersoll.  •  .     "  ■ 

I  am  with  all  possible  deference. 

Tour  honors  most  obedient  humble  servant 
A.  Thayer.t 
Boston  August  irith.  [1770.] 
The  hon.  Mr.'  Inaersoll. 


Letter  of  Judc^e  Augustus  Johxstox. 

iNTewport  21''.  August  1770. 
Dear  Sir 

Your  favour  of  the  8'^.  Instant  I  did  not  receive  timely  to 
send  you  an  answer  last  post,  as  I  was  not  in  Town,  Whatever 
may  be  the  Tate  of  some  other  Things,  that  the  People  clamour 
about,  I  can't  think  the  Admiralty  Courts  upon  the  late  Plan 
will  be  abolished.  I  lately  rec'^.  a  Letter  from  Dummer 
Andrews  E^(|^  from  London,  dated  at  the  'Na.yj  Office  the  5^''. 
June  last,  who  is  appointed  Register  of  the  Court  established  at 
Charlestown,  S°.  Carolina,  enclosing  me  a  Blank  Deputation, 
desiring  me  to  appoint  some  proper  Person  to  act  in  his  Behalf. 
t^'  to  agree  with  him  respecting  the  Terms,  as  I  find  he  is  to 
reside  in  England.     He  writes  me  that  he  delayed  sending  it 

*  Tlon.  John  Eobinson.  former  Comniissioner  of  Customs. 

t  Micliael  Francklin.  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Xova  Scotia  in  ITGO.  mar- 
ried in  17G2  Susannah,  daughter  of  James  Boutineau,  of  Boston;  ^Ir. 
Bobin^on  married  her  sifter  Anne  in  1  ?•")!>. 

t  Arodi  Tiiayer,  born  in  Braintree,  ^fa-s..  in  1743.  was  tlie  Marshal  of 
the  Massachusetts  District  of  the  Vice-Admiralty  Court,  as  well  as  of 
Judge  Ingersoll's  District. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-81.  433 

'til  he  saw.  the  Issue  of  the  business  in  Parliament,  and  that  he 
IS  now  well  assured  from  his  Friends,  both  in,  &  out,  that  it  is 
the  determination  of  the  Principals  of  both  sides  to  support  tl.at 
Plan.     I  have  not  as  yet  rec^  any  Part  of  mv  Salary.     When 
I  was  m  Boston  last  October,  W.  Auchmutv*  showed  me  a  Let- 
ter he  had  rec^  from  W.  Plallowellf  in  London  enclosing  him  a 
copy  ot  the  minutes  of  the   Treasury  Board  wherein  it  was 
determined,  that  we  should  be  allowed  our  Salaries  from  the 
dates  of  our  Commissions,  provided  we  entered  upon  the  Execu- 
tion of  our  Offices  in  six  months  from  the  date.     W.  Followell 
further  informed  W  Auchmuty  that  an  Order  would  be  soon 
made  out  for  the  Payment  thereof,  since  which  I  have  not  heard 
any  thing  more;   but  as  2l\  HoJIowell  is  expected  every  dav  in 
Boston  I  expect  by  him  to  hear  something  agreeable.     As  soon 
as  I  hear  any  tiling  that  concerns  us,  you  may  be  assured  I 
will  advise  you.     I  have  not  done  anv  Business  in  the  Office 
myself  yet.     I  left  Carolina  the  C>'\  of  May,  &  a  few  davs  after 
I  left  it,  there  were  two  Seizures  made,  which  have  been  tryed 
by  my  Deputy  in  my  absence.     I  propose  to  set  off  for  Charles- 
town  tho  beginning  of  ]N'overaber  again,  &  shall  stay  the  Winter 
there.     ]M".  Johnston  joyns  with  me  in  Complim*\  to  von  k  W. 
Ingersoll  which  concludes  me. 
D^  Sir 

Y'.  most  Obed\  hble.   SeiV. 
L    '  '-■'■     '■  A.  Johnston 


Letter  of  Tiio.mas  Wiiately. 

-P,        ^.  ■     ..  Esher  11*\  Oct^  1770 

Dear  Sir 

You  complain  of  my  Xoglect  so  much  in  your  Letter  of  16'^ 
August,  that  tho'  I  wrote  to  you  in  June,  .1^  nothing  has  since 

'Robert  Ancliniuty,  Jr.,  had  been  nppointed  Jud-o  of  Vice- \dmiraltv 
tor  the  Xeu-En;,^land  district,  and  bntli  h.  and  Mv.  Inger.oll  ^vGre  in 
iKdive  service:  but  Mr.  Johnston  does  not  appear  ever  to  iiave  actually 
Jield  Court  in  Charleston. 

t  Robert  Ilallowell  of  Boston  was  Comptroller  of  the  Customs. 


434  JARED  INGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  ITTO-Sl. 

oceiir'dj  I  write  agaiu  to  prove  that  I  do  not  neglect  vour  Cor- 
respondence. We  have  received  the  Xews  of  the  Xon-importa- 
tion  Scheme  being  broken  at  ZSTew-York,'^  the  Ministry  with 
Exultation,  &  the  People  with  IndilTerence ;  for  we  had  found 
out  that  the  ^TsTon-iniportation  Scheme  itself  was  a  meer  Bra- 
vado;  now  your  3Ierchants  have  found  it  out  also;  some  of 
your  People  carried  on  the  Trade  clandestinely,,  while  the 
Agreement  subsisted ;  &  now  who  please  may  carry  it  on 
openly;  that  is  all  the  Difference;  we  have  exported  the  whole 
time  large  Quantities  to  America.  The  Ministers  however 
rejoiced  at  the  Dissolution  of  that  Combination,  because  it 
relieved  them  from  the  Difficulty  of  proposing  the  Means  to 
break  it;  &  since,  the  Alarms  of  an  approaching  "War  have 
diverted  the  Attention  of  all  from  the  Colonies  to  our  own  imme- 
diate Situation;  it  is  not  yet  certain,  but  it  seems  veiw  prob- 
able, tt  has  all  the  usual  Effects  already.  The  Parliament, 
which  was  to  meet  soon,  before  the  Intelligence  came  from  Xew 
York;  .&:  which  was  not  to  meet  soon,  when  that  Intelligence 
was  received ;  is  now  to  meet  in  a  Month  on  account  of  the 
Apprehensions  of  a  War;  what  melancholy  Subjects  wait  for 
our  Deliberation  I 

I  am  very  glad  to  find  that  you  are  at  last  determined  to  settle 
at  Philadelphia ;  it  was  a  necessary  Precaution ;  tho'  at  pres- 
ent I  do  not  hear  any  Talk  of  the  Admiralty  Courts ;  k  I  sup- 
pose we  have  too  much  Business  on  our  hands  to  take  them  into 
consideration.  D'  Johnson  I  conclude  is  sail'd,  as  I  have  not 
heard  of  him  lately ;  you  will  remember  me  to  him,  if  you  see 
him;  he  is  a  very  valuable  ]\ran ;  I  shall  always  respect  him. 
The  Apples  you  mention  to  have  sent  me,  I  did  not  receive;  T 
believe  very  few,  if  any,  came  sound  last  Winter.  I  received 
your  Letter  while  ^f"  Xorths  happen'd  to  be  with  us ;  &  imme- 
diately presented  your  Comp^'  to  them  &  to  my  Mother ;  they  all 
desire  theirs  in  return.  My  ^[other's  Abode  at  Old  Windsor 
was  but  temporary  ;    she  is  now  fixed  at  Eslier  in  Surry,  about 

*  The  Xon  Importation  atrroonn'iit  was  broken  by  the  Xew  York  iiipr- 
cliaiits  in  July,  177i\  l^'causc  they  were  satisfied  witli  the  partial  repeal  of 
th>'  'rii\vii.,hend  Aets. 


JATJED    IXGEUSOT.L    I'ArEKS,    ITTO-Sl.  435 

15  ^liles  from  town,  vS:  eight  from  Xonsucli ;  I  have  spent  the 
Summer  with  lier ;  but  am  now  going  to  town ;  continue  your 
Direction  to  the  Care  of  my  Brother. 

Dear  Sir 

Your  most  ohcP  &  faithful  Serv*^ 
Thomas  Whately. 
[To  the  Hon"*^ 

Jared  Ingersol  Esq 
Xew  Haven        •    ' 
Connecticut 

Xew  England] 


Letter  of  AVilliaim  Samuel  Johxsox. 

Stratford  June  15'\  1772. 

D^  s^ 

I  have  ever  since  y^.  Arrival  amongst  us  intended  to 
spend  a  day  with  you  at  Xew  Haven  if  I  could  not  get  you  over 
to  Stratford.  One  way  or  other  we  must  meet.  The  only 
thing  I  have  to  urge  is  that  you  have  more  leisure  than  I  have. 
The  want  of  leisure  is  almost  my  only  misfortune,  &  I  have  less 
now  than  I  hope  to  have  by  &  by  when  I  have  a  little  arranged 
my  Affairs  after  so  long  neglect  of  them.  At  present  I  am 
absolutely  engaged,  but  in  a  week  or  two  if  you  cannot  come 
here  I  will  certainly  ride  over  to  X  Haven. 

I  feel  but  too  sensibly  the  Evils  you  complain  of  in  this  Col- 
ony, &  know  perfectly  well  that  you  impute  them  to  their  true 
Cause,  an  111  Judged  fear  of  the  People,  which  will  infallibly 
ruin  this  fine  Colony  unless  we  can  have  the  spirit  to  rise  supe- 
rior to  it.  At  present  I  fear  few  or  none  will  do  it,  but  such 
Z\Ien  will  I  trust  be  found  before  it  be  too  late'  to  save  us  from 
destruction.  It  is  in  vain,  as  you  hint,  to  Complain  while  we 
should  be  looking  out  for  remedies.  I  am  extremely  glad  to 
find  you  have  tuvn'd  \^.  Attention  to  this  part  of  the  subject, 


("W| 


436  JAKKD  IXGERSOLL  PAPEHS,  1770-81. 

&  shall  be  liappy  in  the  Communication  of  your  thoughts  upon 
it.     Pray  consider  it  in  the  manner  the  Importance  of  it  merits. 
The  sentiments  of  our  Friends  in  England  is  a  subject  of  too 
great  length  for  this  hasty  Letter.     I   defer  it  till  we  meet. 
Junius  Amer\  is  one  Jy.  Lee  a  Virginian/"  late  a  Physician, 
now  a  La"\vver,  a  sensible  but  very  sanguine  ^lan,  who  is  Con- 
nected a  little  with  L.  Shelburne,  &  most  heartily  hates  L.  Hills- 
borough because  Shelbunie  does  not  love  him.     He  delights  in 
the  fire  and  fury  of  a  Party,  &  is  perfectly  well  adapted  to 
please  the  Bostonians.      These  Countrymen  of  ours  have  acted 
a  very  Idle  part,  «fc  have,  inter  nos,  made  themselves  very  ridicu- 
lous on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.     I  am  in  utmost  haste 
D^  S^  T".  most  obed'. 
humble  Serv*. 

W"'.  Sam^  Jolinson 

[To  '      .         .:;;.;  ■,,■.:■ 

Jared  Ingersoll  Esq"".  '•'    '   "'  ■ 

New  Haven]  ''      \ 


'    .'  ••     Letter  to  Eltas  Siiipmax. 

Mr.  Elias  Shipman : 

Sir,— Please  to  keep  the  Ilomelot  altogether  free  from 
depasturing  this  Fall  &  next  Spring.  In  the  Season  get  it 
mowed,  next  year,  &  put  the  Hay  in  the  Barn.  Get  the  Dung 
made  by  the  Stable  carried  on  the  Lot  &  spread  this  Fall,  and 
the  Chip  Dung  next  Spring  put  on  the  Garden.  Inform  Henry 
Toles,  when  he  calls  on  you,  by  what  Vessel  he  shall  send  to 
Xew  York  on  the  Way  to  Philadelphia,  eight  barrels  Cider, 
which  lie  will  provide,  and  write  a  line  by  the  Master  to  Mr 
William  Dinning  at  Xew  York  to  store  the  same  &  ship  p'"  first 
Conveyance  to  me  at  Philadelphia.  Call  on  Jonathan  Ingcr- 
soll  for  ]\roney  to  pay  Freight  Szc.     Prindle  will  bring  five  or 

•Arthur    Lee     (born     1740,    died     1792)     was    the    author    of    Juniu'! 
Ainericanus. 


JAKED  IXGEK'SOLL  PAPERS,  1770-Sl.  437 

six  barrels  of  Cider,  which  store  iu  the  Cellar.     In  the  Spring 
earlv  rack  off  &  put  again  into  the  same  Barrels. 

Buy  30  or  40  Posts  in  the  Course  of  the  Winter,  if  you  can 
conveniently,  thrifty  White  Oak,  9  feet  long,  of  a  proper  Size 
to  replace  those  round  the  wood  yard.  Put  them  under  the 
Hovel  to  Season.  Enoch  Baldwin  has  promised  to  bring  some 
on  Acco.  of  his  Xote.  I  do  not  depend  much  upon  him!  Sell 
Jerry's  Desk;  it  cost  £7;  is  new;  get  what  vou  can  for  it. 
Perhaps  it  will  be  best  to  send  it  to  Sea. 

Pay  Xewraan  Trowbridge  for  S  Barrels,  for  the  Cider  that 
Toles  is  to  furnish.  Call  on  Jonathan  for  the  Money.  Mr. 
Ebenezer  Townsend,  Junr.  may  call  upon  you  for  about  30  sh. 
to  pay  for  Sticks  for  Trough  to  the  House;  if  so,  call  on  Jon- 
athan for  the  ]\roney. 

Lay  in  20  Bushels  of  Oats  for  me  next  Season.  Put  out  a 
locust  Tree  in  the  Yard  near  the  Gate  where  that  was  which 
blew  down;  also  remove  that  in  the  Garden  opposite  the 
Kitchen  about  2  feet  into  the  ]\Iiddle  of  the  Border.  In  the 
Spring  get  a  Hand  to  cut  from  the  Cedar  Posts  in  the  Chaise 
Room,  little  pieces  to  drive  into,  the  Ground  in  the  Garden  & 
nail  anew  where  'tis  wanting,  the  alley  Boards.  Let  Capt. 
Maltbie  of  Paug  have  his  two,  or  any  two  old  Barrels,  when  he 
wants  to  get  them.  .  . 

J.  Ingersoll. 
'      Oct\  1772. 

[Signed  and  dated  by  Jared  Ingersoll;  the  rest  in  the  hand 
of  his  nephew,  Jonathan  Ingersoll.] 


Letters  to  Joxathax  Txgersoll. 

■    ,  -     ""  '  Philadelphia  Xov'.  22^  1773 

S  . 

You  tell  mc  "I  have  doubtless  seen  in  the  papers  who  are 
appointed  Judges  in  the  County  Court  »jc  an  Account  of  Co\ 
Hubbards  death."     I  tell  you  I  have  not  seen  nor  heard  a  word 


438  JAKKD  IXGEKSOLL  TATEKS.  ITTO-Sl. 

of  these  matters.  T  have  seen  indeed  just  a  word  in  Goddards 
paper  of  the  death  of  Co'.  Hu])hard"— and  that  is  all:  tV  have, 
as  vou  may  easily  guess,  been  greatly  distressed  ever  sinrr  tn 
know  who  supplied  his  several  Otfices;  and  when  I  saw  your 
Letter,  knowing  it  was  yonrs  hy  the  hand  writing  of  the  Super- 
scription, 1  feasted  on  the  full  expectation  of  being  amply 
informed  upon  this  head — bnt  instead  of  that.  I  am  only  told, 
''•'that  I  hare  doubtless  been  informed  by  Xews  papers'' !  It 
wonld  not  have  cost  you  a  whit  more  Ink  or  time,,  to  have  told 
me  who  these  persons  were.  As  for  Greens  paper f  I  have 
never  seen  more  than  one  since  my  coming  here,  and  that  hap- 
pened to  be  a  most  barren  one;  tell  Green  if  he  dont  take  care 
to  get  them  to  me,  he  must  not  expect  I  will  pay  him  for  them. 
As  to  onr  Xews,  Printers  here,  you  know,  they  dont  care  a 
groat  who  is  Jndge  of  Probate,  or  of  any  thing  else  in  that 
Conntry  of  Selectmen  &  Grandjnrors.  I  assnre  you  this  dis- 
appointm*  has  so  Chagrined  me,  that  I  recieved  little,  or  no 
pleasure  in  the  Xews  of  T).  Lymans  ]\Iarriage,t  or  even  at  Par- 
son Birds^  :\Iisfortime.  Oh!  dreadf ull !  this  affair  of  his. 
however,  upon  recollection  is  no  Laughing  matter;  if  things 
are  come  to  that  pass,  that  some  folks  maynt  say  what  they 
please  about  those  they  dont  like,  I  think  its  very  hard  indeed. 
All  my  remaining  Comfort  is  that  when  the  Susquehannah 
Com^  come  here,  I  shall  be  able  to  find  these  and  several  other 
matters. 

\Ye  have  not  received  any  Letter  from  Jerry  since  being 
here,  tho  we  have  heard  of  him  by  a  hint  in  a  Letter  to  W. 

*  Colonel  John  Hubbard  was  partly  disabled  by  a  paralytic  shook  in 
May,  1772,  and  died  on  October  30,  1773,  in  his  70th  year.  His  succe-sor 
as  Judge  of  Probate  was  John  Whiting  (Yale  1740),  who  was  a  brother 
of  Mrs.  Jared  Ingersoll.  and  whose  first  wife  was  a  sister  of  Jonatlian 
Ingersoll. 

t  Thomas  Green  was  the  publisher  of  the  Connecticut  .Journal. 

t  Daniel  Lyman.  Jr.  (Yale  1770),  of  New  Haven,  married  Statira  Camp 
on  November  15,  1773. 

I  Kev.  Samuel  Bird  (born  17-24.  dit-d  17S4)  was  the  pastor  of  the  White 
Haven  Society  in  New  Haven  from  1751  to  17G7,  and  continued  to  reside 
here. 


JAKED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  ITTO-Sl.  439 

Reed   from   liis   brother  W.   JJebeit"    as   late   as   the   20"'.    of 

Ang^ 

We  are  glad  to  hear  of  the  welfare  of  the  family,  to  whom 
please  to  present  our  kind  Compliments.  I  hope  ]\P.  Shipman 
has  forwarded  the  Sider  from  Toles  and  the  Cane  I  left  at 
Beldens  in  my  way  hither. 

I  am 

Jared  Ingersoll. 

You  dont  tell  me  whether  ^U.  Isaaesv  has  Executed  the  bond 
for  the  purpose  of  Spreading  a  little  Gospel  among  the  back 
Carolinians.     Moses  Tuttlerj;  has  been  here  lately.      I  imagiu 
he  would  cladlv  take  the  Shovel  in  hand  upon  that  Occasion. 
[To  ^       '       ^ 

Jou^^.  Ingersoll  Esq'".  •      ' 

at  ■■.:■_'■•'  •;       •    : 

Xew  Haven 

Connecticut.]  •  .  • 


Philadelphia  Dec^  20^  1773 

S^ 

it  never  can  rain  but  it  must  pour — is  an  old  saying.  You 
have  told  me  at  last  who  is  Judge  of  Probate  and  all  that,  when 
the   Connect'.   Plenipo's§   have  been  able  to  tell  mc  that  and 

*  Joseph  Eeed,  a  prominent  younpr  lawyer  in  Philadelphia,  had  married 
in  1770  a  daughter  of  Dennis  De  Bcrdt.  of  Loudon,  the  Colonial  Agent  of 
Massachusetts. 

t  Ralph  Isaacs  (Yale  1761)  was  a  prosperous  and  high-spirited  mer- 
chant in  Xew  Haven,  one  of  wlmse  daughters  subsequently  married 
Jonatlian  Ingersoll.  lie  was  a  prominent  adherent  of  the  Church  ui 
England. 

t  Moses  Tuttle  (Yale  174.5)  was  an  eccentric  Congregational  preacher, 
now  living  in  Windsor.  Connecticut,  but  always  in  financial  straits. 

§  Eliphalpt  Dyer,  William  Samuel  Johnson,  and  Jedidiah  Strong,  mem- 
bers of  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Connecticut  General  Assembly  in 
October.  1773,  to  treat  with  the  Proprietaries  of  Pennsylvania  concern- 
ing the  Connecticut  claim  to  certain  lands  in  the  western  part  of  that 
Province,  conferred  with  Governor  Penn  at  Philadelphia  in  December,  and 
printed  a  Report  of  tlieir  mis-ion  in  1774. 


440  JATJED    IXGERSOLL    rATETIS,    1770-81. 

twenty  times  as  mucli.  T  liave  had  a  pretty  agi*eeable  as  well  as 
plentifnll  meal  upon  the  whole. 

these  Gentlemen  "vvill  be  able  to  te-ll  you  in  few  words,  the 
number  &:  Kind  of  Agreements  which  they  have  brought  ]\['' 
Penn  to  Enter  into  with  thetn,  respecting  y^  Connect^  Claim. 

I  have  recieved  a  Letter  from  Son  dated  Sept"".  S^^. ;  he  sais  he 
hopes  you  will  be  the  better  for  M^  Hilhouses*  proposition 
(here  I  find  he  is  mistaken)  but  says  you  never  can  hope  to 
rise  on  the  political  List  if  you  fire  gTins  late  at  night  &  walk 
before  Sunset  on  Sabbath  days — and  that  his  only  Comfort  is 
that  you  are  not  as  yet  quite  so  bad  as  they  are  in  France 
where  he  says  he  has  seen  em  after  Service  in  the  Country 
dancing  to  the  Violin — the  Priest  himself  playing  at  hun- 
dreds— and  Card-playing,  at  the  Taverns — oh  !  terrible — but 
they  are  Roman  Catholicks — Pank  Papists— &  so  one  cannot 
much  wonder  at  any  thing  they  do. — Jerr\"  was  just  setting  out 
with  a  I\P  Henry.'T  a  Templer  from  ^laryland,  upon  a  tour 
to  Portsmouth,  Bath,  Bristoll,  Oxford  &  Cambridge,  and  then 
says,  he  finds  he  shall  spend  so  much  time  this  year  in  travailing 
that  he  suspects  he  shall  want  another  year  to  study  in. 

the  reciept  which  Jerry  took  from  Cap*.  Clarke  for  Floyds 
money,  is  not  here.  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  find  it;  if  you 
shall,  let  me  know  it,  for  my  Ingersoll  temper  will  not  allow  me 
to  be  quite  Easy  until  I  know  how  the  matter  stands. 

the  Sider  is  arrived  here- — desire  M""  Shipman  to  Enquire 
out  the  Cane. 

But  one  Avord  about  tea.  We  have  just  heard  that  a  tea 
Ship  is  arrived  at  Charlestown  S°  Carolina;  and  what  is  worse, 
that  the  Boston  tea  has  found  its  way  into  Town  notwithstand- 
ing all  the  blood  which  the  Boston  people  Declared  they — 
intended — to  Spill  upon  the  Occasion.  I  hope  this  Story  is  not 
true — indeed,  now  I  think  ont,  it  cannot  be  true,  for  here  is  a 
!^ran  from  Boston  sent  on  purpose  to  tell  us  what  Clever  fellows 
they  are,  and  to  watch  us  to  see  that  we  do  our  duty;    never 

*  James  Aliraliaiii  IIillliou>p  (Yale  17-J9).  a  leading  lawyer  in  Xew 
Haven,  and  at  tlii*  time  one  of  the  Upper  House  in  the  Colony  As-emhly. 

t  .Tohn  Henry  (born  1750,  died  ITOs),  a  graduate  of  Princeton  Colh-go 
(ITtjIt),  afterwards  Senator  and  Governor  of  Marvland. 


JAKED    IXGKKSOLL    PA1>P:RS,     ITTO-Sl.  441 

fear  iis,  we  say  but  little,  but  we  are  as  firm  as  so  many  rocks. 
Our  Ship  has  not  yet  been  heard  of,  but  she  is  never  to  touch  a 
wharf  in  this  place  nor  be  allowed  to  take  out  anybodys  .awjds. 
Dont  let  what  I  have  said  upon  this  head  get  into  the  Boston 
Spy"'- — for  if  it  should,  some  people  will  Spy  high  Treason,  in 
every  word;  besides,  to  tell  the  trutli,  I  have  a  little  feeling  for 
America  upon  this  Occasion — as  much  as  a  Judge  of  Admiralty 
is  allowed  to  have.  Master  Pope,  you  know,  says — whatever  is 
is  right;    I  will  try  to  Ije  of  his  opinion. 

I  am  ^-c 

J.  Ingersoll, 

M'  Johnson  tells  me  your  father  is  mending  which  I  rejoice 
to  hear;   remember  me  to  him  in  much  Affection. 

24:'''.  poor  :\P  Babcocklf  Oh  dear!  Sic  transit  gloiia 
Mundi. 

25*''.  Oh  brave  Bostoni — If  you  and  I  are  not  furnished 
with  a  little  bit  in  our  way,  after  this,  I  shall  wonder.  I  wish 
you  a  I\rerrv  Christmas.  ■ 

[To  ^  ..,, /'^r  •  J;  J"^;'' ^::  ■■■■'. 1:/.,  \'"''.',.'' ■::;"/ 

Jon*^.  Ingersoll  Esq^      '      ■•■;'...■   ■  '  : 

at  """  ■■  ■'  '  ■'■■.,. 

"N  Haven.]  '        •  , 


Letter  to  the  Editors  of  the  Coxxecticut  Jourxal. 

^fessi'rs  Gj'eens,  •;-       ■''-  '■■■>-  ''■'-    '■'  ■;;'•■'■'■  .-'         •■.■  ■  ■•' 

Please  to  insert  the  following  in  your  next,  as  mv  answer  to 

all  that  has  been,  or  that  may  hereafter  be  published,  in  the  Xew 

London,  or  other  newspapers  in  Connecticut,  respecting  me,  and 

*  The  Massnchuseits  Spy  was  the  title  of  an  iiitoiisely  patriotic  weekiy 
paper  published  since  IMarcli,  1771,  by  Isaiah  Thomas  in  Boston. 

t  Colonel  Henry  Babcock  (Yale  1752),  of  Stonington,  Connecticut,  had 
begun  to  show  syniptmns  of  insanity. 

$The  final  postscript  was  added  after  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  tea 
having  been  tlirown  overboard  in  Boston  harbor  on  tlie  evening  of 
December  IG. 


442  JAKED    IXGF.ESOLL    P-VrERS,    17T0-S1. 

tbe  part  I  have  takeu  in  the  affair  of  the  Susquehannah  Com- 
pany.^ 

"When  I  went  to  England  in  1758,  a  gentleman, y  since 
deceasetl,  for  whom  I  had  the  highest  esteem,  furnished  me  with 
a  copy  of  the  act  of  assemLly  in  favour  of  the  Susquehannah 
Company,  desiring-  that  I  would  inform  myself,  in  the  best 
manner  I  could,  of  the  sentiments  of  people  in  power,  and  others 
in  England,  upon  the  matter ;  this  I  took  care  to  do,  and  upon 
my  return  home  in  1761,  I  communicated  to  the  Company,  by 
letter  fully  and  frankly,  what  I  had  met  with,  and  as  eveiw 
thing:  I  had  to  communicate  wore  a  very  discouraging  aspect,  I 
took  the  liberty  to  advise  them  to  give  up  early,  a  project,  which, 

I  thought  in  the  end  must  prove  abortive. 

This  step  brought  upon  me  a  suspicion,  among  many  of  the 
adventurers,  that  I  had  been  bribed  in  England,  by  ^Mr.  Penn. 
A  story  which  however  idle  and  groundless,  many  of  these  peo- 
ple have  been  fond  of  believing ;  or  pretending  to  believe,  ever 
since. — The  affairs  of  that  Company  have  taken  various  turns 
since  that  time;  through  the  whole  of  which,  I  have  never 
taken  any  part,  or  troubled  myself  with  their  concerns,  until 
the  last  summer,  when  being  at  my  former  home,  at  Xew- 
Haven,  I  accidentally  met  with  a  pamphlet  wrote  on  the  side  of 
the  Susquehannah  Claim,  addressed  to  J.  H.  Esquire:  in  this 
performance  I  found  mention  made  of  antient  memorials 
respecting  the  history  and  title  of  the  colony,  some  of  Avhich 
were  quite  new  to  me — this  put  me  upon  searching  more  fully 
into  the  matter,  the  consequence  of  which  Avas,  that  I  became 
more  convinced  than  ever  of  the  groundlessness  of  the  colony  s 
claim  to  the  western  lands ;  and  in  order  to  preserve  the  train 
of  my  own  ideas  of  the  matter,  I  committed  them  to  writing. 

The  materials  and  papers  which  T  had  thus  collected,  I 
obtruded  upon  none;  at  the  same  time  I  shewed  them  freely  to 
every  one  who  desired  to  see  them,  and  one  of  the  Susquehannah 
Gentlemen  took  a  complete  copy  of  the  piece,  which  I  wrote,  and 

*  The   CoHuecficuf   (Itizcftc.   of  Xew  London,  liad  published   on   February 

II  some   reflections   on   Mr.    Iiigcrsoll   fur   havinj;   cast    aspersions   on    tlie 
Su^queliainiali  settlers. 

t  Mr.  Edwards    [note  by  the  author].     This  was  Judge  Daniel  Edwards 
(Yale  Coll.  1720),  of  Hartford,  born  1701,  died  17r,.-). 


'  I , .  I ;  I 


JAKED  IXGKKSOLL  PAPEKS,  1770-81.  44:3 

I  own  T  should  have  been  happy,  if  hy  these,  or  any  other  means, 
the  assembly  had  been  prevented  from  taking  the  steps  which 
they  have  since  taken. 

"When  I  came  to  Phihidelphia,  I  said  nothing  to  any  one  of 
my  having  any  papers  rehiting  to  this  matter;  but  after  a  few 
weeks  it  became  known  that  I  had  such  papers;  when  Dr. 
Smith  the  Provost  of  tlie  College  here,  came  to  me  and  requested 
a  sight  of  them,  informing  me  that  he  was  writing  upon  the 
subject  of  the  Susquchannah  Claim — other  Gentlemen  applied 
to  me  to  the  same  purpose. — At  first  I  declined  doing  any  thing 
in  the  matter,  merely  from  motives  of  my  own  quiet,  and  to 
avoid  a  quarrel  with  the  Susquchannah  people,  who  I  knew 
were  always  disposed  to  think  the  worst  of  every  thing  I  said  or 
did  relating  to  their  affairs.  I  determined  at  least  not  to  take 
any  steps  until  after  the  Gentlemen  Committee  had  had  their 
treaty  with  the  Governor. 

In  the  mean  time  I  considered  of  the  matter — I  was  told  that 
the  colony  claim  to  the  western  lands  was  now  become  a  serious 
affair  to  this  province — that  every  material  paper  of  a  public 
nature  ought  to  be  known  to  both  the  parties,  and  that  I  ought 
to  consider  myself  in  my  present  situation,  as  equally  a  friend 
to  both — in  a  word,  I  found  that  I  was  in  danger  of  giving 
umbrage  by  witholding,  as  well  as  by  giving  up  the  papers. 
Further,  I  recollected  that  several  Gentlemen  in  Connecticut,  in 
high  estimation  for  their  friendship  to  America  in  general,  as 
well  as  to  that  colony  in  particular,  had  expressed  their  wishes 
to  me,  to  have  the  whole  of  this  matter  laid  open  to  the  public 
view,  by  some  person  who  was  not  in  the  Susquchannah  interest, 
that  so  tlie  public  might  have  a  chance  of  seeing  both  sides  of 
the  question;  and  finally  I  was  aware,  from  experience,  that  in 
case  I  should  communicate  nothing,  I  should  be  suspected  of 
communicating  every  thing,  and  even  more  than  everythino- 
that  I  know. — Upon  the  whule  therefore,  I  coneluded  to  deliver 
to  Dr.  Smith,  to  be  published,  the  records  and  papers  which 
were  in  nature  of  proofs,  as  I  had  been  able  to  collect  them, 
taking  care  t.»  pulilish  every  thing  that  I  thought  material,  as 
well  for,  as  against  th(^  claim. — T  also  gave  him  the  manuscript, 
which  T  had  wrote  upr.n  the  subject,  for  him  t«>  take  from  thence. 


4-4-1  J.VnKT)    IXGEK.SOI.L    PArKKS,    IVTO-Sl. 

and  make  use  of  auv  of  my  thoughts  upon  the  matter,  or  not,  as 
he  shouki  think  proper.*  And  I  cannot  hut  think  my  conduct 
in  these  particuhars,  has  been  right. 

Thus  much  then  I  have  done,  and  now  T  have  nothing  more 
to  do — the  puldic  measures  are  taken,  and  I  suppose  are  to  he 
pursued,  and  I  will  leave  to  time  to  discover,  who  have  been 
the  colony's  best  friends,  those  who  have  urged,  or  those  who 
have  disswaded  from  tliese  measures — A  defeat  will  be  very 
detrimental,  but  a  victory  must  be  absolute  ruin  to  the  colony, 
at  least,  I  think  so — And  who  sliall  hinder  me  from  speaking,  or 
publishing  my  sentiments,  if  T  am  disposed  to  do  either  ?,  Will 
anv  one  presume  to  interpose  his  authority,  in  a  squabble  about 
a  tract  of  land,  and  command  tliat  nothing  shall  be  wrote  or 
said,  except  on  one  side  only  ?  Or  do  those  who  are  loudest  in 
the  cry  for  the  freedom  of  the  press,  mean  that  the  press  should 
be  free  only  for  themselves?  Away  with  all  such  language — 
and  away  with  all  low  squibbing,  and  base  insinuation. 

I  am  not  in  the  secret  of  the  counsels  of  this  province,  nor  ani 
I  actuated  by  any  lucrative  or  sinister  views. — I  have  believed 
the  people  were  going  wrong,  therefore  have  I  spoken.— I  have 
an  interest  in  the  colony  and  have  a  right  to  speak ;  and  I  wish, 
since  there  is  like  to  be  a  dispute  between  the  two  colonics,  that 
tlie  same  may  be  carried  on,  on  both  sides,  with  a  temper  and 
spirit  becoming  men,  who  shall  appear  to  act  from  principle. 
and  not  from  wild  enthusiasm,  or  party  heat.  There  are  cer- 
tain people  at  this  time,  who  if  a  word  is  said  against  dear 
Susquehannah,  behave  as  if  they  thought  an  open  attack  was 
made  upon  their  honour  and  their  property;  and  impute  all 
that  is  said  to  the  worst  motives — They  can  charge  nothing  of 
the  kind  upon  me,  but  what  I  may  just  as  well  charge  upon 
them,  Avith  this  difference  however,  that  they  have  confessedly 
a  personal  interest  in  the  matter,  when  I  have  none. — I  am 

•Dr.  William  Suiitli  piiblislied  in  1774,  in  the  Appendix  to  Ids  (anony- 
mous) Examination  of  the  Connecticut  Claim  to  Lands  in  Pcnnsylv-ania. 
the  copie.=?  made  by  ^Ir.  Inpor-oll  fmrn  original  papers. 

A  manuscript  entitled  The  Claim  of  the  people  of  Connecticut,  to  Lands 
irithin  the  Proviiicc  of  Pen,sih-ania,  Considered,  is  preserved  among  Mr. 
IngersoU's  papers,  but  it  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  print  it  hfie. 


JARF.D  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-Sl.  445 

aware  that  people  who  take  opposite  sides  of  a  popular  ques- 
tion naturally  fall  into  parties,  and  a  party  spirit  is  apt  to  gain 
gi'ound — but  this  again  is  mutual.  Was  the  dispute  alx)ut  the 
constitutional  rights  and  liberties  of  the  people,  great  allowances 
might  be  made — but  this  is  a  controversy  about  property  and 
provincial  lines — Will  it  be  said  that  as  I  have  no  interest  of  my 
own.  T  ought  not  to  meddle  in  the  matter,  but  I  have  an  interest 
in  the  colony,  and  with  its  welfare — Further,  what  have  I  done 
that  so  alarms  these  gentlemen  ?  I  have  divulged  no  secrets 
committed  to  my  trust- — I  have  only  brought  np  to  public  view, 
a  few  more  ancient  records  than  they  themselves  puldished — 
and  will  any  one  of  those  people  openly  avow  to  the  world,  that 
they  would  willingly,  if  they  could,  attain  a  cause  of  this  mag- 
nitude and  complexion,  by  the  suppression  of  records,  which, 
from  the  circumstances  their  antagonists  could  not  come  at  ? 
they  might  as  well  move  the  assembly  to  destroy  all  the  records 
which  make  against  their  claim.  What  I  wrote  upon  the  sub- 
ject is  of  no  consequence,  if  the  reasonings  are  not  just,  and  if 
they  are,  T  think  they  ought  to  have  a  weight. 

Shame  on  those  then,  who  under  feigned  names,  in  news 
papers,  attack  those  who  venture  to  oppose  them — not  with 
arguments — this  would  be  fair  and  right — but  with  al)use,  and 
even  with  intimidation. 

They  don't  consider  that  it  is  equally  in  the  power  of  others, 
to  trace  the  conduct  of  the  principal  leaders  and  managers 
among  the  Susquehannah  company,  through  all  their  negotia- 
tions for  twenty  years  past,  and  with  the  help  of  a  few  ground- 
less reports — ill  naturcd  hints — and  wicked  innuendoes,  to 
explain  .their  motives— their  views — and  their  conduct,  in  a 
manner,  that  would  do  them  little  honour;  but  T  will  not 
myself  so  far  forget  the  rights  of  humanity  as  to  follow  the  vile 
example. 

Philadelphia,      [  ,..;-..: 

March  7,  1774    I  ■    .n     !   '•  •' 

J.  I. 

From  The  Connrcficui  Journal,  and  fhe  New-IIaven  Posl-Boij, 
:^[arch  IS,  1774. 


■140  JAUED    IXGERSOI.I.    l\\PEi;S,    ITTO-Sl, 

Letters  to  Joxatiiax  Ixgersole. 

Philadelphia  :\Iareh  12,  1774 

s^ 

Yours  of  the  27'^.  Ult.  arrived  two  days  ago.  I  am  much 
obliged  to  you  for  the  Sundries  by  way  of  Xews  &  shall  observe 
yonr  Caution.  The  Couucils  of  this  Province  are  very  Secret. 
The  pe^ople  here  are  all  of  one  mind  as  to  the  Connecticut  Claim, 
and  they  leave  to  the  Gon'^.  &  his  Council  to  devise  the  proper 
methods  to  oppose  the  Same,  about  which,  T  assure  you,  they 
say  nothing  to  me  or  T  to  them.  A  Scnrilous  piece  or  two 
having  appeared  ag^'.  me  in  the  Xew  London  paper,  I  thought 
proper  to  send  a  short  Narrative  to  be  published  in  that  and  the 
Xew  Haven  paper,  which  I  suppose  you  will  see  next  week. 
Our  news  publishers  here  I  find  do  not  republish  any  thing 
wrote  upon  the  subject  in  Connecticut.  I  cannot  but  think  the 
Assembly  of  your  Colony  were  guilty  of  an  imprudence  little 
short  of  madness,  when  they  passed  the  Votes  of  last  Jan'',  mak- 
ing &  planting  a  Town  in  this  Province,''^  and  I  think  it  is  a 
great  Chance  if  you  dont  live  to  see  much  greater  Consequences 
flow  from  it,  than  most  people  are  aware  of.  The  people  here 
begin  to  Consider  the  Northern  Xew  England  men  as  a  Set  of 
Goths  &  Vandals  who  may  one  day  overun  these  Southern 
Climes  unless  thoroughly  opposed,  and  to  this  End  they  will 
naturally  Court  the  friendship  of  the  Mother  Country. 

I  dont  know  of  any  thing  that  appears  more  likely  to  work  a 
Seperation  of  the  Colony  Interests,  than  this  Step.  Xew  York 
looks  with  a  jealous  eye  mi  the  ^Massachusetts,  expecting  that 
they  w^ill  follow  the  Example  of  Connecticut,  &  I  suspect  it  will 
not  be  very  long,  before  these  several  Colonies  will  hate  even  ohl 
England,  less  than  they  will  one  another. 

the  following  is  the  history  of  "Eussell"  and  the  late  i)ub- 
lications  here.  The  Collector  awhile  ago  made  a  Seizure  of  one- 
of  the  river  Vessells  called  a  Shallop  for  a  Cause  that  is  very 
interesting  to  the  people  in  trade.  Great  preparations  have 
been  making  and  the  Cause  is  expected  to  come  on  in  about  a 

*  Westmoreland,  in  the  Wvominir  country.      , 


JAKKD    IXGF.-RSOLT.    PAPERS,    ITTO-Sl.  447 

fortnight.  Thi>  threw  the  Town  into  a  fret.  Ixnssell  pn^ves 
to  be  a  ]\r^  -Tacob  iiush,^  a  yonng  Gentleman  of  the  Law  and 
with  whom  Jerry  had  some  little  Acquaintance.  This  ^V 
Rush  by  all  accounts  is  not  wanting  in  his  Understanding:,  bnt 
is  so  overloaded  with  a  family  disorder  commonly  called  Vanity  & 
Self  Conceit,  that  he  is  seeking  every  opportunity  of  ren<h'ing 
himself  famous,  but  hitherto  without  Effect.  He  had  heard 
so  much  said  in  ^STews  papers  about  the  Extension  of  the  pow- 
ers of  Admiralty  Courts  that  he  thought  there  must  needs  be 
something  in  it,  &•  so  went  gravely  to  work  to  shew  his  pro- 
found Learning  in  evincing  it.  This  gave  me  an  opportunity, 
under  the  signature  of  Civis,  of  shewing  his  ^Nristake,  and  I 
am  credibly  informed  that  ^F  Rush's  own  freinds  advised  him 
to  drop  the  Controversy.  The  Consequence  of  the  whole.  I 
beleive,  has  been  the  fixing  me  more  surely  in  my  office ;  indeed, 
however,  the  people  here,  as  every  where  else,  are  disposed  not 
over  much  to  like  Courts  of  Admiralty,  so  far  as  they  have  any 
thing  to  do  with  Seizures,  upon  the  late  Obnoxious  Acts,  yet 
they  know  that  if  there  should  come  a  war,  they  would  want 
such  Court,  and  they  know  their  own  interest  too  well  to  wish 
to  have  this  Cou.rt  of  Appeal  carried  away  from  themselves  to 

Xew  York  or  elsewhere 

Y".  <S:c. 

J.  Ingersoll. 
The  Jersey  College  Lottery  begins  drawing  the  25'^  ]May. 

[To 

Jon^^  Tnc:ersoll  Esq^  ,        ...    .„;.  • 

^  .         ,       .■}■'■       '  ■         ■■        •  ■ 

•  at  .., .    i 

Xew  Haven 

Connecticut.] 

*  Jacob  Rush,  lx)rn  174G.  died  1S20,  a  younjzer  brotlier  of  Dr.  Benjamin 
Rush,  and  a  graduate  of  Princeton  College  in  1705.  lie  became  a  lawyer 
of  distinction  in  Philadelphia,  and  Chief  Justice  of  the  State. 

The  article  by  him,  signed  'Russel,'  appeared  in  The  Pennsiilvnuin 
Journal  for  January  20,  1774;  Mr.  Ingersoll's  reply,  signed  'Civis,'  in  the 
same  paper  for  February  2;  and  a  second  article  by  'Russel'  in  the 
Journal  of  February  0,  and  also  in  The  Pcnnsijli-nni<i  Gazette  of  the  same 
date. 


448  JAKED    INGEUSOLL    PAIT-RS,     1770-81. 

Philadelphia  Ocf.  24^  177-i 

.  .  .  .  Present  mj  Comp".  to  'M\  Chandler*  &  tell  him 
that  if  yon  forgot  to  acquaint  me  with  his  being  chosen  Deputy, 
]\P.  Shipman  did  not — and  that  I  had  the  pleasure  to  acquaint 
]\r.  Sherman  ^vith  it.  By  the  way  Co'.  Dyer  &  W.  Dean  &  1, 
have  smoakt  the  pipe  together  at  my  house. f 

tell  M'".  Chandler  I  sincerely  congratulate  him  on  this  his 
Success,  and  that  I  must  suppose  he  owes  the  same  in  part  to 
his  so  openly  keeping  my  Company  last  Summer.  Here  again, 
to  what  you  observe  of  my  not  being  very  w^ll  received  here — 
if  I  am  not,  I  have  the  pleasure  not  to  know  it ;  my  friends  & 
Acquaintance  are  just  as  they  used  to  be,  as  to  other  persons, 
whatever  they  think  of  me,  they  keep  it  to  themselves.! 

And  now  what  shall  T  say  to  you  further?  I  intended  to 
have  wrote  largely  by  the  Delegates  to  ]\F.  Wliiting§  &  other 
friends,  but  I  find  myself  under  a  difficulty  in  that  respect,  both 
with  regard  to  them  &:  you,  for  whatever  I  write  must  Savour  of 
politicks  at  least,  and  as  to  that,  I  have  first  of  all  to  remember 
Lots  ^Yife — that  is  Parson  Peters,!!  &  to  take  care  not  to  sin 
after  the  Similitude  of  his  transgression — but  then  how  to 
avoid  this  is  the  question,  for  if  I  write  the  word  Yes  ever  so 
plainly,  good  people  have  a  right  at  this  day,  to  read  the  same 
as  plainly  Xo.  Every  one  has  his  Eyes  &  his  thoughts  fixt  just 
now  upon  the  Congress,  anxious  to  know  what  they  have 
done — what  they  have  said — and  what  they  have  thought. 
Nothing  else  therefore  can   amuse  you ;     hut   as   to  the  first 

•Joshua  Chandler  (Yale  1747)  'vvas  one  of  the  deputies  to  the  Con- 
necticut General  Assembly  from  Xew  Haven  in  October,  1774. 

t  Eoper  Sherman,  Eliphalet  Dyer,  and  Silas  Deane  -were  members  froTU 
Connecticut  of  the  First  Continental  Congress  in  Pliiladelphia. 

t  Silas  Deane  in  a  letter  to  his  wife  -WTites  on  September  3,  1774,  of 
finding  that  Mr.  Ingersoll  is  much  condemned  by  public  opinion  in  Phila- 
delphia.    See  Collections  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  ii,  170. 

§  Deacon  it  Judge  John  Whiting  (Yale  1740),  a  brother  of  the  writer'.s 
wife. 

II  Eev.  Sanniel  Peters  (Yale  1757).  of  Plebron,  Connecticut,  had  exposed 
himself  in  August  and  September,  1774.  to  visitation  by  angry  neighbors  on 
accoiuit  of  disloyal  utterances,  and  had  now  taken  refuge  with  the  Eriti-h 
in  Bos  ion. 


JAEED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  iTTO-Sl.  449 

I  dont  know  what  tbey  liave  done,  that  is  I  dont  know  it 
authoritatively,  &:  if  I  were  to  undertake  to  tell  you  a  long  Story 
of  what  I  have  heard  it- — &:  then  to  morrow  out  should  come  in 
print  all  that  they  have  done,  ti*  differing  in  several  particulars 
from  my  account  of  the  matter,  I  shall  be  charged  at  once  with 
having  had  some  sinister  views  in  telling  the  Story  as  I 
did — and  why  should  I  trouble  you  with  guesses  of  what  they 
have  said,  &  thought,  when  the  Delegates  themselves  are  coming 
directly  to  you  and  will  themselves  infonn  you  of  the  whole 
matter.  I  will  therefore  only  acquaint  you  in  general,  that  I 
understand  they  have  sat  till  they  have  found  out  pretty  clearly, 
that  the  Parliament  have  no  kind  of  Authority  over  us,  tho  for 
prudential  reasons  they  are  willing  that  some  of  their  Laws 
respecting  the  Course  of  trade  should  remain  for  the  present, 
that  is.  as  I  understand,  till  they  can  do  better;  and  that  they 
have  adjourned  themselves  to  next  Spring  in  order  to  see  how 
the  people  on  either  Side  the  water  will  Kelish  their  politicks. 
I  could  tell  you  long  Stories  of  what  one  said,  and  another  had 
a  good  mind  to  say — but  I  w^ont ;  You  must  find  it  out  by  your 
learning.     Tell  Green  not  to  forget  to  send  my  paper. 

I  am  ;  - 

T".  <^c  ..        .  •■:    •.. 

.    •.,       J-  Tngersoll  -         ,•  ■■.■ 

Let  me  know  as  soon  as  you  can  how  the  nomina- 
tion stands. 

2^/^.  .  .  .  Pray  tell  me  whereabouts  in  the  Green  Lib- 
erty pole  stands  and  who  are  the  principal  members  of  the 
Patriotick  Club  which  meet  at  Steph:  Munsons  in  order  to  take 
care  of  the  X.  Haven  Tories.  John  Sherman  I  perceive  by  the 
publick  papers,  is  Clerk. 

A]\P.  Devotion  was  at  my  house  last  Evening  and  gave  me  the 
particulars  of  the  Xorwich  meeting;  the  Story  of  my  Letter 
writing  I  find  by  him  came  to  nothing  upon  Examination.  Co\ 
Dyers  tells  me  he  never  did  hear  much  said  upon  that  Score: 
it  was  Parson  Trumbull  vho  Comuiunieated  my  Treasonable 
principles  li:  Conduct  to  y^  good  people  of  the  East.  The 
15 


•iSO  JARED    INGF.RSOLL    TAPERS,    ITTO-Sl, 

Anonymous  Letter  was  wrote  from  Xorwich  "bnt  the  persons 
name  is  witheld  from  me. 

I  perceive  one  poor  lad  has  sacritic^d  his  life  a:  .Southington 
in  the  Cause  of  Libertv-Pole 

the  Delegates  will,  I  believe,  break  up  to-morrow. 
[To 
Jon**" :  IngersoU  Esq^  ,         . 

at  .      •    ;..     ■ 

X :  Haven  ■',.' 

p' favour  of 

R:  Sherman  Esq^]  -       "■:.    . 

Philadelphia  ll*^  Feb:  1775 

Your  Aunt  thanks  vou  for  a  little,  of  what  she  hoped  to 
have  had  a  great  deal,  viz  home  news ;  but  says  she  finds  she 
must  not  expect  much  till  you  &  I  both  get  politicks  out  of  our 
heads. 

in  answer  to  your  queries  I  have  to  inform  you  in  the  first 
place,  that  it  is  well  known  here,  that  M""  Dickinson  in  the 
Provincial  Congress  the  last  Summer,  took  a  Strong  part 
against  non  importation  agreenients,  and  every  kind  of  forcible 
measure,  and  was  for  moderation,  that  is  for  a  Decent  &  finn 
application  for  a  redress  of  gTeivances;  in  a  spirited  Speech 
which  he  made  upon  that  Occasion  he  told  the  Com^''.  that  Phil- 
ad\  was  a  trading  City,  and  that  if  they  went  into  Schemes  of 
non  importation  they  might  expect  to  have  grass  grow  in  their 
Streets.  _  He  afterwards  went  into  the  Continental  Congress, 
tho'  late  in  their  Session,  where  he  joined  and  took  a  part  with 
them  in  their  System,  and  is  appointed  one  of  the  Com^'\  to 
carry  thier  resolves  into  Execution,  but  seldom,  if  ever,  attends 
thier  meetings — and  in  general  is  very  Silent  w^ow  tho  head  of 
politicks. 

the  more  warm  Patriots  are  rather  out  with  him  for  the  part 
he  took  in  the  Provincial  Congress  last  Aug^,  and  for  his 
Seeming  want  of  Zeal  Since;  yet  they  are  fond  of  having  it 
thought  he  is  of  their  side,  for  the  sake  of  that  weia'ht  which 


JARED    IXGEIJSOLL    TWEUS,    1770-Sl.  451 

they  think  his  name  &  Caracter  give  to  their  Cause — and  they 
Account  for  his  not  attending  on  thier  Com**,  meetings,  and 
perhaps  justly,  from  his  living  three  !Miles  out  of  Town, 
and  the  Season  disagreeable  for  travailing.  Add  to  this,  that 
he  may  Consider  himself  rather  above  putting  his  hand  to  the 
executive  part  of  the  business,  and  that  his  name  was  added  to 
the  Com*^  principally  to  give  them  a  weight  and  respectibility ; 
others  will  have  it  that  he  Spoke  his  real  Sentiments  in  the 
Provincial  Congi-ess  last  Summer,  and  that  in  his  Judgment 
he  disapproves  the  Violent  part  of  the  resolutions  of  the  gen- 
eral Congress  and  is  much  Alarmed  at  the  Consequences  which 
he  apprehends  from  them ;  but  that  he  joined,  or  rather  acqui- 
esced in  those  measures  in  order,  to  give  weight  &  force  to  the 
Counsels  of  America  »S:  to  prevent  the  ill  Effects  of  a  disunion. 

the  Quakers  have,  not  long  since,  publickly  disavowed  all 
Mnwarraniahle  Combinations;  it  is  said  they  are  not  all  of  a 
mind  as  to  this  Step ;  at  the  same  time  it  is  well  known  they 
never  openly  disagree,  or  divide  one  from  another. 

the  Committee's  of  the  Several  Counties,  except  one  that 
declined  coming,  were  lately  Convened  at  this  place,  in  order, 
among  other  things,  to- Consider  of  the  expediency  of  arming  the 
Province.  This  measure  was  Considerably  and  openly  opposed 
by  many  people  of  weight  <t  influence,  and  the  matter  dropt. 
The  Com^.  indeed  passed  a  Vote  that  they  would  arm  if  neces- 
sary, but  the  measure  is  generally  Considered  as  given  up. 

in  the  meantime  the  body  of  the  people  so  far  give  in  to  the 
Ideas  of  the  Congress,  respecting  Trade,  as  to  suffer  the  Com**, 
without  any  interruption  to  proceed  to  carry  into  Execution 
their  plan  of  opposition,  from  that  quarter,  &  wait  to  have  you 
Xew  England  men  drive  the  English  Troops  into  the  Sea,  when- 
ever you  shall  think  it  proper,  and  when  you  have  done  this  I 
beleive  we  mean  to  deal  generously  with  you,  and  reward  you 
properly  for  your  trouble. 

I  have  received  several  letters  lately  from  Jerry  who  T  dare 
say  has  Communicated  nothing  to  me,  of  Substance,  but  what 
he  has  also  Communicated  to  you.  It  is  a  time  of  anxious  & 
most  important  expectation.     "We  shall  soon  have  all  our  Con- 


'^^~  JAKED    IXGERSOLL    PAPEIJS,    ITTO-Sl. 

jectures  fully  explained  to  us.     I  ouly  wish  matters  may  end 
better  than  my  present  fears  Suggest. 

Ridgfield"  I  find  speak  tlieir  mind  plainly  and  not  in 
parables.  I  delay  giving  any  directions  about  buying  Oats, 
because  I  dont  know  whether  I  shall  Choose  to  be  placed  in  Xew 
England  or  not,  next  Summer. 

I  expect  to  be  able  to  form  a  better  Judgment  of  y''  matter  by 
the  beginning  of  April  at  farthest. 

I  am  .     ,  •    ■ 

■•■  -^     .    ■      T^\  kc  .;■  V  .-:^  •■;..,"■■,•     .  •,' 

J.  Inii'ersoll.        i  .  ••  ■ 

[To  •  .    :..■•••  ^  .;.-  •    :.:-.■;:,:.  ..■•. 

■■-■  Jon^^ :  Ingersoll  Esq'.  ,•  "•...•:  ,^;. ■,,;...  ;    ::,'.■.,. 

at  '■^-     ■       ■    ■  ■  ■:  ,    . 

-  •  .  jST:  Haven  - 

-'".'  •■^        in  Connecticut.]  ■'.;..     , 


^-   '       •      ■■   ■  >  ':  '  ;■';       ■  Philadelphia  March  10'^  1775 

You  judged  very  right  when  you  thought  I  wished  to  know 
what  your  Assembly  were  about.  Your  Aunt  had  jogged  me 
several  times  to  call  on  you  for  information,  but  I  told  her,  I 
was  very  sure  you  would  not  fail  to  Communicate  Every  thing 
that  was  proper  to  be  Communicated  and  as  soon  as  it  should 
be  proper.  iSTever  was  that  House  Employed  on  a  more  impor- 
tant or  a  more  delicate  tL'  Critical  business.  The  same  thing 
may  be  said  of  the  highest  Asscmldy  in  the  ISTation.  ^Ye  have 
here  just  arrived  some  Accounts  from  Ejigland  a  little  flatter- 
ing; you  will  see  what  it  is  in  the  next  weeks  papers ;  it  is  what 
comes  by  the  way  of  Eristoll.  For  my  part  I  dont  stand  to 
make  any  remarks  upon  the  prologue  or  the  detached  parts  of 
the  great  Scene  that  must  soon  fully  open  upon  us.  I  Charge 
you  however  at  the  Close  of  the  Session,  to  give  me  a  pretty 

*  At  a  Town  !^^c•otin;,'  lield  in  Paclgefieltl,  CoiiTiecticut  (where  ^Iv.  Iiiger- 
soll's  brother  was  the  minister),  on  January  30,  1775,  resolutions  of 
loyalt}-  to  tlie  King  had  been  ]ia>>ed  by  a  large  majority. 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  ITTO-Sl.  "ioo 

ample  Account  of  persons,  as  well  as  things,  as  they  Stood  in 
the  Assembly.  You  may  depend  on  my  prudence  to  the  point 
of  Secrecy ;  besides  there  are  scarce  any  persons  here,  Avho 
know  or  think  any  thing  about  individuals  with  you;  add  to 
this,  Every  thing  will  come  out,  that  is  transacted  in  so  large  a 
popular  Assembly.  Your  jSTarritive  in  your  last  gave  me  very 
particular  pleasure.  I^ray  why  is  not  Danbury  as  deep  in 
the  dirt,  as  poor  Tiidgfield  &  Xewtown  are  in  the  mire? 
According  to  Eivington  they  ought  to  be  so. 

Your  Aunt  &  I  jump  in  Judgnnent  intirely  with  ]\P.  Silli- 
man  &:  ]\^^  iSToyes,  in  their"  opinion  of  the  propriety  of  their 
Coming  together-' — &  we  wonder  how  we  came  not  to  think  of  it 
before :  to  whom  present  our  respectfull  Compliment.-?,  with  our 
sincere  k  hearty  wishes  for  their  United  happiness 

]VF.  "Websterf  desires  you  will  procure  &  send  to  me  for  him, 
the  Queries  from  the  Board  of  Trade  1773  to  your  Gov',  and 
the  Answers,  which  it  seems  are  printed  in  a  small  Pamphlet. 
You  must  send  it  with  wrapper  open  at  Each  End  &  get  it 
Frank'd  by  M".  Kilbyt  -or  it  will  come  to  hand  too  dear. 

You  will  obser^^e  that  I  give  no  directions  about  laying  in 
oats  this  year— not  being  yet  clear  that  Xew  Haven  will  be  a 
proper  asylum  next  Summer  for  a  Tory,  and  yet  I  think  I 
ought  to  pass  for  a  Piitriot,  for  I  have  drank  no  Tea  since 
March  came  in — thin  Chocolate  in  the  moraing,  &  Baume  *&: 
Sage  in  the  afternoon,  are  the  honourable  &  healthy  Substitutes ; 
to  tell  the  truth  I  was  willing  to  try  an  Alterative  this  Spring 
in  favour  of  the  blood.  I  suspect  you  fr  I  too  can  tell  better  a 
month  hence  how  the  times  are  like  to  be  at  X  Haven  the  next 
Summer,  than  we  can  just  now. 

Every  thing  here  is  veiw  quiet  outwardly,  tho'  tis  said  the 
Avorkings  of  party  are  not  wanting  amongst  us.     We  do  things 

*  Gold  SelUx'k  Pilliiiian  (Yale  17o3),  of  Fairfiold.  inairie'l  in  'M.xy.  1775 
(being  then  a  widower),  'Slury  (Fish),  widow  of  John  Xoyes  (Yale  1753), 
of  Xew  Haven.     They  were  the  parents  of  Professor  Benjamin  Silliman. 

7  Pelatiah  Webster  (Yale  1740).  of  Philadelphia,  later  became  widely 
kno\\'n  as  an  authority  on  economic  and  financial  questions. 

t  Captain  Christopher  Kilby,  Postmaster  at  Xew  Haven,  died  on  March 
1.  1774;    and  the  office  remained  with  his  family  until  January,  1775. 


^54  JARED  INGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-Sl. 

more  Covertly  and  w'ith  less  noise  here  than  they  do  in  Xew 
England.  I  trust  in  Case  the  Connecticut  forces  should  be 
called  forth  against  the  Kings  Troops,  that  you  will  not  degrade 
yourself  by  going  in  a  Caracter  below  that  of  a  Colonel. 

by  the  way  a  Pamphlet  is  lately  come  out  Entituled  A  Candid 
Examination  of  the  mutual  Claims  of  G.  Britain  and  the  Colo- 
nies kc  said  to  be  Compiled  principally  by  ^r  Galloway"^ ;  as  I 
happen  to  have  two  of  these  T  send  you  one  frankt  by  the  Post. 
]\P  Galloway  I  understand  openly  inveighs  against  the  ruling 
party  in  the  Congress. 

the  Secretary  of  State  for  America  has  sent  a  Circular  Letter, 
it  seems,  to  the  Governours  letting  them  know  that  his  !^^aje^ty 
was  ready  to  receive  any  Petitions  upon  the  score  of  Greeiv- 
ances,  that  should  come  from  the  respective  Assemblies,  which 
at  least  strongly  implied  that  Congressional  Petitions  would  not 
be  so  agreeable.  The  Gov'",  of  this  Province  lately  laid  the  Let- 
ter to  him  of  that  nature  before  the  house  of  Assembly  for  their 
Information.  This  brought  on  a  question  whether  the  house 
would  Petition  the  King  or  Parliament  or  not.  AL^  Galloway 
was  very  strong  in  favour  of  the  motion ;  however  it  was  over- 
uled.  The  Assembly  tell  the  Gov^.  that  they  think  the  Petition 
preferred  by  the  Congress  is  sufficient.  In  the  Debate  upon 
this  Subject  I  am  told  Pivingtont  was  somehow  mentioned  with 
a  Sneer,  perhaps  Alluding  to  his  being  supposed  to  have  been 
Employed  by  Galloway,  upon  which  ^U.  Galloway  said,  Piv- 
ington  was  an  honour  to  his  Coimtry.  I  suppose  no  man  in  X 
England  dare?  say  so  much ■,...■ 

T  find  Fairfield  County  Com***^  talk  the  language  of  Patriots: 
are  they  really  so,  excepting  the  excepted,  or  not  ?  Are  Nor- 
wich people  in  general  really  &:  in  Earnest  Engaged  to  Stop  all 
Ex:  &  im :  ».^'c  ?  pray  give  me  a  gentle  touch  upon  this  head — 
and  upon  as  many  other  heads  as  you  can  possibly  croud  into 

•  Joseph  Galloway,  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Philadelphia,  who  had  long 
been  Speaker  of  the  Provincial  Assembly,  but  now  and  henceforth  an 
active  Tory. 

t  Janiea  Pavington,  an  English  bookseller,  who  came  to  America  in  17'"''"*. 
in  1773  established  a  newspaper  in  Xew  York,  which  remained  the  orean 
of  the  British  until  that  city  was  evacuated. 


JAIJKD    IXGERSOLL    PAPERS,    1770-Sl.  455 

Yonr  whole  Sheet.     Remember  you  place  your  lines  at  a  great 
distance  from  one  another. 

Y".  kc 

J :  Ino-ersoll. 
[To 

Jon'^  :  Ingersoll  Escf.  .  ' 

at  .......  -      .      . 

X :  Haven 

Connecticut.]  ... 


'"■'      Philadelphia  :March  25'^  1775 
S^ 

Your  Aunt  &:  I  thank  you  kindly  for  your  last — it  was  a  feast 
of  good  things,  and  a  plentifull  repast.  You  are  desired  in 
your  next  to  give  some  Account  of  Th :  "Wooster "  ;  and  here 
before  I  go  farther  and  while  I  think  of  it  I  have  to  inform 
you  that  Jerrys  last  to  me  bears  date  the  22^.  of  Decemb".  at 
which  time  he  had  little  to  say  on  the  Score  of  politicks,  save 
only  that  he  had  received  the  proceedings  of  the  Congress,  which 
I  sent  him,  that  ho  had  read  the  same  with  a  mixture  of 
surprize,  hope,  k  fear,  and  that  no  body  could  know,  until 
after  the  holidays,  what  measures  would  be  persued  toward 
America.     ...  ■  ; 

Your  Aunt  thinks  she  cannot  get  along  comfortably  through 
the  Summer  without  at  least  paying  a  Visit  to  her  Xew  Haven 
friends.  A^ou  are  therefore  to  Desire  ]\P.  Shipmau  to  lay  in 
forty  bushels  of  Oats  as  Usual  cl'  which  you  must  pay  for.  I 
shall  come  with  her  or  not  according  as  business  &  other  Cir- 
cumstances will  admit.  I  fancy  I  shall  be  able  to  tell  pretty 
nearly  how  those  matters  will  stand  by  the  middle  or  latter 
end  of  ^fay.  Your  Aunt  is  afraid  you  dont  in  a  formal  manner 
remember  her  to  her  Brother  «.l-  his  family,  M^  Whittelsey  *.^' 
his  k  to  all  our  particular  friends,  so  if  you  please  you  may  go 
the  rounds  like  a  lister  or  Surveyor  of  highways  &:  deliver  the 

*  Tliomag  Wooster  (Yale  17GS),  son  nf  General  David  and  iMarv  (Clap) 
\Voo?ter  (the  latter  beinp  the  child  of  a  first  cousin  of  the  writer's  wife), 
was  a  shopkeeper  in  New  Haven. 


456  JAKED    IXGEKSOLT.    PArEItS,    ITTO-Sl. 

Messairo  in  the  most  particular  &  polite  manner;    as  you  are  an 
Ingersoll.  I  know  it  will  be  a  most  acceptable  piece  of  Service 

to  you. 

I  am  &c 

J :  Inoersoll. 

[To 

Jou^  Ingersoll  Esq\  •  .  ' 

at 

N :  Haven 

'■■■■  '  Connecticut]  '       :■.       - 

Philad^  Aug\  1:  I7T5 

I  Sot  do^^^l  to  write  you  a  Letter,  because  M".  Sherman  your 
NeigliKnir  is  going  home  and  because  it  would  appear  Strange 
not  to  Embrace  so  good  an  opportunity  of  writing  to  an  old 
aequaint;\nce,  and  yet  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  you :  hard !  is  it 
not?  V  at  head  Quarters  where  more  great  and  important 
Steps  ;iro  taken  than  perhaps  were  Ever  taken  by  the  National 
Council  itself,  and  yet  every  thing  Carried  on  so  Secretly  that 
we  Set^  and  Know  but  in  part,  and  the  little  we  do  know  we  dont 
think  ii  best  to  commuiiicate,  or  even  to  comment  upon.  ^  ery 
hard  tins',   for  people  who  love  I^ews  as  well  as  Some  Folks  do. 

You  dont  write  your  Aunt  any  more  about  the  times  with 
you.  She  thinks  «S:  talks  a  good  deal  about  Xew  Haven.  As  for 
me,  T  dvuit  know  what  to  tell  you.  I  pretty  much  expe<:t  -.o  hear 
soon  tr.>iu  England  such  things  as  will  render  it  very  probable 
that  tV.-s  Country  will  be  a  troublesome  one  to  live  in.  i:  yet 
forestvrag  the  evil,  I  do  not  hide  myso'lf  or  flee  from  i:.  I  am 
Consc',.->r.s  of  having  done  no  wrong  to  my  Country  ^-  s. :•  I  am 
incliiu-,^.  to  fear  none  from  it.  Add  to  this  that  my  pres^:::  Sit- 
uation which  is  Easy,  and  my  native  Lr-ve  of  ease,  not  t.:'  s.ay  my 
Laziuc^.<.  keep  me  from  taking  any  Steps  to  alter  my  Sin.2Tion: 
at  the  >.--,me  time  I  consi<ler  myself  like  a  Saint  of  old.  ^f  i  Pil- 
grim .-■.'■. d  Stranger  in  the  Earth  havii-g  no  Abiding  Ci"- 

Pn-iv  be  so  good  as  to  write  us  a  line  infonning  b:~  3Ir. 
Whitivc  iTcts  alouiZ,  and  how — Every  Iv.dy  get  along.     Z-  -hort 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-Sl.  457 

write  all  you  can  or  may  write  &  let  us  dream  the  rest.  You 
certainly  may  tell  us  wbetHer  Mr.  Daggett  is  married  or  not,-- 
that  being  a  Question  that  has  been  asked  and  answered  for  a 
great  while  in  the  best  as  well  as  the  worst  of  times;  and  I 
cannot  doubt  but  that  you  may  inform  of  many  more  such  mat- 
ters which  may  appear  to  you  to  be  trifling,  but  you  may  be 
assured  that  they  are  not  so  to  us ;  for  every  thing  that  respects 
ISTew  Haven  carries  a  kind  of  importance  with  it. 

I  would  ask  you  how  Dr.  Johnson  gets  along  if  I  dare,  & 
whether  !Mr.  Hillhouse  dont  think,  all  things  considered,  that 
the  day  of  one's  death  is  better  than  the  day  of  one's  birrh. 
Tell  him  if  a  man  will  live  righteously  he  must  suffer  some  kind 
of  persecution. 

Present  our  Comp^  to  all  friends. 

I  am  &c 

..  ■      .    J.  Ingersoll. 
Jonth.  Ingersoll,  Esqr. 


■    Philad^  Ocf.  7'^  1775 

I  duly  received  your  favour  of  tlie  first,  and  am  glad  to  find 
that  you  &:  ]\r  Whiting  are  so  far  recovered  from  your  late 
indisposition,  vfc  at  the  same  time  am  Sensibly  touched  for  ^r 
Hillhouses  declining  state  of  health. f  In  my  opinion,  when- 
ever he  dies,  the  world  will  lose  a  Valuable  member  of  Society. 

I  am  glad  to  be  informed  that  W  Shipman  can  continue  in 
my  house  through  the  Winter  without  detriment  to  his  affairs. 
I  hope  he  will  think  of  nothing  else.  In  the  meantime,  he  and 
you  &:  I  trxj  will  see  who  will  offer  to  take  his  place  next  Sprinc:, 
who  will  be  aaTeeal)le.  The  same  thing  which  vou  suirirest  with 
respect  to  the  Gentleman  I  mentioned  to  ]\P  Shipman,  occurred 
to  me,  but  I  hoped  better  things  than  to  indulge  the  thought; 

*  Prc>idont  Xiiphtali  Dagpett  (Yale  174S|.  of  Yalo  Collofre,  had  ht-cn  a 
widower  since  :\rarcli.  1772.  but  diM  not  again  marry. 

t. Tames  Ahrahani  Tnilhnuse  (Vale  1740),  an  oniiiiont  citizen  of  Xe^\- 
Haven.  difd  four  day-  before  tlic  date  of  this  letter. 


458  JAEED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-81. 

however  I  at  tliis  time  pretty  miicli  give  into  his  &  your  Senti- 
ments about  the  matter.  So  we  will  think  of  some  other  less 
exceptionable  person.  Oh  Shame  to  the  times  which  oblige  me 
to  apply  such  an  expression  to  so  good  a  man ! 

I  am  not  anxious  about  the  political  Caracter  of  the  family 
who  shall  occupy  the  house,  but  you  know  I  should  not  like  to 
have  it  abused  by  the  Tenant — and  for  many  reasons  shall  not 
be  willing  to  have  the  same  stand  Empty. 

Who  knows  what  next  Spring  may  bring  forth — perhaps  I 
may  Enjoy  it  myself — tho'  Alass  I  the  prospect  is  not  very  flat- 
tering. -  " 

I  believe  by  the  Accounts  I  have  received  we  have  had  a 
more  cool,  and  in  that  respect  a  more  agTeeable  Summer  here, 
than  you  have  had  nor  has  it  been  remarkably  Sickly  here. 
The  next  lies  as  yet  in  the  womb  of  ^nkno^^^ls. 

I  hope  you  are  out  in  your  guess  about  Sons  Letter  to  you,  as 

you  have  been  quite  misinformed  with  respect  to  me.     I  enjoy, 

thank  Heaven,  an  undisturbed  repose  &  have  good  reason  to 

believe  the  same  may  Continue.     Your  Aunt  joins  in  Comp".  to 

all  friends. 

I  am  &:e  " 

■•  '■  ....  J:  Insersoll.     ■        •  '  ''■"  . 

[To  .^  .:-  •■:•: 

.Jon'^  Ingersoll  Esq^  -   ■  •■   - 

at  •-  •■■■     -  ■  ;■■  ••'■••      ■■':  '■•  ^ 

'■'■'■'  K":  Haven  '    :-;■•■ 

■  :,,■■  .--'.i.       .  .  Connecticut.]  '   '  •.    ••'••    *' ■ 


1; 


Philad^  DecemV.  30'\  177:. 


S^ 

I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  yours  of  the  3*^.  ^-  also 
that  of  the  11*^.  p^  ^P.  Sherman.  'Mj  last  to  you  very  much 
anticipates  anything  I  have  to  say  on  the  Score  of  Letting  my 
house.  Your  Aunt  will  not  incline  to  live  with  a  family  to 
whom  she  is  an  intire  Stranger,  if  with  any.  T  believe  there- 
fore that  business  must  be  left  till  the  Spring. 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  ITTO-Sl.  459 

poor  l[^  Douglass!*  what  nnexpccted  Attacks  has  death 
made  of  late  in  Xew  ITaven  ?  I  sometimes  think  all  my  old 
Acquaintance  will  be  gone  without  my  Seeing  'em  again. 
Indeed  how  another  Summer  will  dispose  of  us  all,  if  living, 
is  more  than  I  can  tell  you.  We  had  an  agreeable  day  with 
Co\  Hubbardy  lately,  *i:  from  him  were  able  to  get  our  till  of 
home  intelligence;  we  thought  we  had  askt  him  so  many  ques- 
tions that  none  were  omitted,  but  we  have  since  found  out  that 
we  overlookt  some  pretty  material  ones.  Had  it  not  been  for 
him  we  should  never  have  known  that  Sal:  Sloant  was  mar- 
ried ;  I  suppose  if  her  Aunt  Peggy,  or  even  Cous.  ^Mabel  Trow- 
bridge should  marry,  you  would  not  think  it  worth  while  to  tell 
a  body  of  it.  Apropos  of  marrying,  you  intimate  in  your  last, 
that  was  it  Convenient  you  should  be  glad  to  marry  yourself  §  in 
order  to  accommodate  your  Aunt,  and  you  bring  the  matter  over 
again  and  tell  us  that  you  should  be  glad  to  marry  on  other 
accounts  also.  Xow  we  are  sadly  put  to  it  to  guess  what  those 
other  accounts  are 

go  directly  to  ]\ress\  Greens  &  stop  my  paper.  I  have  never 
received  it  more  than  twice  since  the  Xew  Post  was  set  up — 
and  it  failed  very  often  before. 

^loney  you  say,  you  get  none  for  me.  This  is  hard  when 
there  is  such  a  plenty  of  it  Stirring,  Especially  in  X  England, 
where  you  do  all  the  fighting,  •&:  consequently  get  all  or  most  of 
the  Cash.  Jemmy  Lockrvvood — (I  beg  Jemmys  pardon)  Major 
Lockwood,:'  I  suppose  is  by  this  time  at  least  Deputy  Gov',  of 
Montreal ;  thus  we  see  how  little  men  may  grow  to  be  great 
ones. 

I  dont  hear  of  your  having  rose  above  a  Col^  A>t — was  it 
not  for  your  ill  fated  name,   I  dont  see  why  you  might  not 

*  Benjamin  Dou;z]a5   (Yale  1700)   diod  in  Xew  TTavon  mi  December  3. 

tDr.  Leverett  Hii>.l»arfl   (Yale  1744)   had  been  a  Colonel  in  the  Militia. 

I  Sarah  Sloan,  of  Xew  Haven,  married  .James  Gourlie  on  November  ''■^ 
1775. 

S  Jonathan  In<rersol]  married  Grace,  daiijjhter  of  Kalpli  Isaacs,  in  April, 
17SC.     He  abstained  from  takinur  any  part  in  tiie  Revoluti(.n. 

'•:  James  Lockwood.  a  classmate  at  Yale  (UCC)  of  Jonathan  Tn,i:ersoll  and 
Jared  Ingersoll,  Jr.,  an.l  a  sliopkeeper  in  Xew  Haven,  iiad  lately  joined  the 
Xorthern  arniv  in  Canada. 


460  JARED  INGER.SOLL  PArERS,  1770-81. 

expect  soon  to  be  a  General — for  I  am  told  you  are  sufficiently 
orthodox^  and  Every  body  knows  that  you  are  not  wanting  in  the 
Article  of  Courage,  and  that  you  have  a  very  particular  turn  for 
the  Labour  &  fatigues  of  a  Military  life.  I  should  like  to  sit 
Perdu'e  behind  some   tree,   &  see  you  Engage  with  a  great, 

Brawny,  whiskered  Russian 

I  am 

Y«.  &c 


[To 

Jon*\ 

• .    \                        J.  Ingersoll. 

Tngersoll  Esq\    .    -  -  ; 

at 

]Sr :  Haven 

Connecticut.] 

Philad^Eeb:20'M776 

I  am  obliged  to  Co\  AVyllys  for  remembring  me,  to  whom 
present  my  Compl  when  you  shall  see  him,  &  let  him  know. 
that  the  present  are  times  which  I  believe  neither  he  or  I 
prayed  for.  Civil  wars  but  ill  agree  with  his  natural  turn  or 
mine — our  Caracteristick  prayer  being  '^•'Lord  give  Us  peace  in 
our  day."  But  it  seems  we  are  to  have  Commissioners  soon 
from  England,  to  settle  all  these  Disputes;  and  what  think 
you,  Shall  we  settle  them  or  not  ?  Some  people  will  tell  you  that 
if  we  have  Common  Scnse^  we  shall  not.  If  you  ask  my 
opinion  I  will  give  you  a  Cybeline  Answer,  which  is,  that  we 
will  Settle  if  we  have  a  mind  to,  if  not  we  wont;  whether  we 
shall  Incline  to  a  Settlement,  or  a  total  Seperation,  I  will  tell  you 
after  I  know  the  Issue  of  the  Conference.  One  thing  however 
I  will  Venture  to  tell  you  before  hand,  which  is  that  Englan<:l 
will  not  leave  to  us  to  make  onr  Election.  I  l)clieve,  whether  we 
will  Seperate  from  them  or  not,  so  that  T  infer  we  shall  Either 
have  Universal  peace  within  the  Course  of  perhaps  a  few  weeks, 

*  Thi3  powerful  paniplilot  by  Thomas  Paine,  then  of  Philadelphia,  first 
appeared  on  January  10,  177(>. 


JARED    IXGERSOLL    IWrERS,    ITTO-Sl.  461 

or  months  at  fnrtliost,  or  a  Jownriaht,  Woody  war.  And  now,  I 
am  thinking,  if  any  one  should  take  in  hand  to  open  this  Letter, 
whether  he  would  deem  me  Conjuror  or  Tray  tor  for  making 
such  wonderful  giiesses.  ]\P.  Eabcock  has  given  us  gTeat  pleas- 
ure by  an  ample  Account  of  Occurrences — some  disagreeable  & 
some  Laughable.  Oh !  how  I  did  run  round  the  Chair  & 
laugh,  to  hear  the  prayer  that  was  not  made  at  Town  Meeting— 
Cum  multis  aliis. 

We  are  waiting  for  the  first  of  April  to  arrive — and  yet  we 
know  that  is  an  unlucky  day ;  we  wait  for  it.  your  Aunt  at 
least,  in  hopes  of  being  able  about  that  time  to  set  out  for  X. 
Haven.  Should  we  be  made  April  fools  by  finding  ourselves 
all  at  full  Liberty  to  go  where  we  please — and  a  full  pacifica- 
tion taken  place,  we  will  not  regret  having  the  Epithet  applied 
to  us. 

it  is  a  long  time  since  we  have  heard  from  Son,  owing,  I  sup- 
pose, to  the  times — all  Communication  between  the  two  Coun- 
tries being  nearly  cut  off. 

.  '     _  .  I  am  &:c 

'    .  ••'"..  \  ■  "    ...  •         J-  Tngersoll. 

And  pray  what  has  W  Chandler  done,  that  he  should  have  a 
fit — he  is  neither  a  Glutton  or  Wine  bibber  nor  yet  Idle.  I 
hope  he  is  well  again.  'MaVe  my  Comp\  to  him  with  my  Con- 
gratulations for  his  recovery. 

^Receiving  in  your  last  another  Goading  to  Exercise,  from 
the  frequency  of  Apoplectick  &  other  disorders  I  hastily 
ordered,  up  the  old  horso  &  rode  about  two  Miles  to  M^  Hamil- 
tons" — 'twas  pretty  cold,  so  I  got  down  &:  sjicnt  an  hour  with 
my  old  friend  tt  then  came  home  again.  AVhile  I  was  unboot- ' 
ing  I  told  your  Aunt  I  hoped  now,  I  should  have  no  more  of 
your  hints  &  your  rules  about  Exercise  &  temperance ;  that  you 
knew  I  had  left  off  drinking  grog  &  Eating  meat  Suppers.  &; 
that  I  should  take  care  to  acquaint  you   with   this   .Tourney. 

*  Janips  Hamilton,  nf  riiila'lHpliia.  lioru  1710.  died  17S3.  had  repeatedly 
served  a?;  deputy-governor  of  the  Province. 


462  JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-81. 

This  Journey!    says  she,  what,  a  ride  of  two  miles  ha!     Well, 
but,  says  I,  you  know  I  rode  more  than  twice  as  far  last  Oct^ 

Mar.  6,  What  shall  be  done  with  the  Garden?  if  !M^  Ship- 
man  moves  away  I  wish  some  one  would  take  the  Garden,  plant 
it  &  have  all  the  profits ;  whatever  your  Aunts  family  may 
want  out  of  it  shall  be  paid  for.  I'doubt  whether  she  will  come 
to  you  as  soon  as  we  have  talkt  of.  What  can  we  say  or  think 
upon  that  head,  when  Every  thing  is  so  Unsettled,  &  when  we  at 
least  hope  Everv  thing  mav  be  SettL'^d  before  very  long. 

J.  I. 
[To  .  >      .- 

Jon'^:  Ingersoll  Esq^  .    .  "  .      .      ,.  .      ..',..■; 

at  ,         ..-/--.■..... 

-■..:.  X:  Haven  :..-••:  .-■     . 

Connecticut 
p'.  favour  of  I\P.  Babcock""] 

.     Philad^Mar:  13^  1776 

I  wrote  you  lately  by  M^  Babcock, .  since  which  I  have 
received  yours  of  the  3'\  I  just  now  learnt  that  M'.  Sherman 
sets  out  for  ]:^.  Haven  to  morrow,  so  I  just  put  pen  to  paper. 
.  .  .  .  Cap^^  Chew  »S:  Hughes,  who  called  to  see  me  two 
days  ago,  gave  me  some  reason  to  believe  that  ]\F.  Shipman  will 
not  remove  from  X  Haven  very  soon.  It  would  give  me  pleas- 
ure to  hear  that  he  was  not  going,  as  I  begin  to  suspect  your 
Aunt  will  not  get  to  you,  so  soon  as  we  talkt  of — and  we  know 
that  he  would  take  better  care  of  the  Garden  and  all  that,  than 
a  certain  other  Gentleman,  whom  was  it  worth  while  I  could 
name. 

poor  Doc.  Whittelseylv  well;  he  cannot  be  recalled — all  the 
kindness  we  can  now  shew  him  is  to  love  *.^'  cherish  his  widow, 

* '-ilr.  Babcock"  was  probably  the  Kev.  Luke  Babcock  (Yale  1755), 
formerly  of  New  Haven,  but  now  of  riiilip.sbnrvrh   (Yonkers).  X.  Y. 

tDr.  Samuel  Whittclsey  (Yale  ]7<Uk  of  Milford,  born  1745,  died  Jan- 
uary 15.  177*'). 

He  married  ^lary.  dauf,diter  of  Dr.  Leverett  Hubbard,  of  Xew  Haven, 
and  left  to  her  his  entire  estate. 


JARED    IXGEKSOLL    i'APEKS,    1770-81.  463 

to  Avhoin  he  has  been  so  liberal.     We  trust  you  will  not  be  want- 
ing in  this  particular — &  we  hope  all  is  for  the  best. 

You  ask  me  several  political  questions,  some  of  which  I 
believe  are  of  too  delicate  a  nature  for  me  to  answer,  was  I  able ; 
however,  M".  Babcock  will  be  able  to  infonxi  you  of  Every  thing 
that  he  knows ;  and  I  am  very  certain  he  knows  to  the  full  as 
much  as  1  do.  I  will  only  tell  you  that  the  same  guesses  were 
early  made  here  respecting  the  real  Author  of  Common  Sense, 
that  you  make.  There  is  just  published  here  an  Answer  to 
that  performance  called  plain  truth  by  Candidus — also  a  Course 
of  Letters  in  the  Xews  papers  sigiied,  Cato.  We  have  the  same 
report  also  which  you  mention,  respecting  a  certain  Gentlemans 
going  to  Europe,  but  how  well  founded  I  will  not  say. 

A  Packet  is  arrived  at  N  York  by  which  I  hope  to  receive 
a  Letter  from  Son. 

I  am  obliged  to  ^U.  Darling  for  remembring  me.  The  Scene 
begins  to  thicken.  I  think  we  shall  have  Xews  Enough  soon  (i- 
I  should  be  fully  willing  to  canvas  these  Subjects  a  little  in  a 
litterary  way — but  you  know  how  critical  Letter  writing  is 
become. 

I  am  &c  •  ..       ..  -  : 

•  .    •  .    .  J :  Ingersoll. 

I  perceive  by  tlie  publick  papers,  they  have  Split  the  old  Sow 
and  Crackt  the  Congress  near  Boston."^'  I  shall  be  glad  to  be 
informed  w^hether  these  breaches  are,  by  the  people  your  way, 
thought  to  be  irreparable. 

Jon'^''.  Ingersoll  Esq'"  ,    ;  '•  .i\  "'■.'  =■  -S'-'  ' 

at  ...  -^  .;  .  •'■'  •,-.-•  ■    ■  '■  ■  "■ 

X :  Haven  '      ■  '    , 

p^  favour  of  B.  Sherman  Esq'".]  ■ 

Philad^  Ap\  4*^  177G 
S' 

I  luive  at  length  Concluded  to  l)reak  \\\)  house  Keeping  at 
this  place,  cariw  my  household  gO(->(ls  to  Burlington  A:  transport 

*  The  reforciice  is  to  cannon  used  in  the  siege  of  Boston. 


464  JAKKD  IXGEKSOLL  PArERS,  iTTO-Sl. 

the  family,  at  least  all  besides  myself,  to  X.  Haven,  &  all  some 
time  in  the  Course  of  the  present  Month. 

]^o\v  S''  I  have  to  desire  of  you  to  transmit  to  me  full  and 
particular  Answers  to  the  following  Queries. 

1  Does  ]\r.  Shipraan  remove  away  from  iST :  Haven  or  not ; 
it  will  be  very  agreeable  to  me  lV  to  your  Aunt  to  have  him,  or 
you,  with  a  small  family  live  in  the  house. 

2  Will  it  be  prudent  or  not  for  her  to  come  up  in  the 
Chariot.  Your  Aunt  wishes,  for  the  Conveniency  of  it,  to  ride 
up  in  it,  but  does  not  think  of  keeping  it  in  Use  -after  getting 
there;  she  will  be  Content  with  one  horse  &  some  old  riding 
Chair  just  to  carry  her  now  and  then  to  the  water  side.* 

3  May  I  come  &  live  at  X.  Haven  or  may  I  not.  It  is  not 
very  likely  to  me  that  I  shall  ever  again  officiate  in  the  office  I 
hold,  but  I  shall  by  all  means  Choose  to  draw  the  Salary  until 
I  shall  be  able  to  part  with  it  upon  some  Composition  with  Gov- 
ernment. By  the  late  law  of  Connecticut  a  person,  I  think, 
forfeits  his  Estate  by  taking  refuge  on  board  a  iMan  of  War.  I 
-think  it  must  be  rather  hard  for  a  Man  who  owns  an  Estato  in 
that  Colony,  not  to  be  allowed  to  live  on  nor  yet  to  leave  it.  I 
can  live  here  without  any  kind  of  difficulty  from  the  people,  but 
you  know  it  would  be  most  convenient  for  me  to  be  with  the 

family.     ... 

T  am  &c. 

-■.\-,    •     '■         .         ■  J"  Ingersoll. 

We  have  heard  from  Son  as  late  as  the  2?>^.  of  Dec". 

We  send  our  goods  up  to  Burlington  as  I  said,  about  20 
Miles,  with  'M'  Eecds  who  moves  to  that  place.  When  he  will 
get  away  he  cannot  tell  exactly.  So,  of  course,  I  cannot  tell 
you  just  when  we  shall  move.  Eurthcr  we  expect  W.  Weljster 
&  a  daughter  of  liis,  will  go  to  Xcw  England  &  Escort  your 
Aunt,  in  case  T  dont  go  with  her  myself,  which  is  the  reason 

•^11-3.  Tiifrcrsoll  died  in  Xe\v  HavPii  on  Octohcr  8,  1779,  aged  60  years; 
and  lier  husl>and  was  a?ain  married,  alxmt  tlircp  months  later,  to  Haimah 
(Miles),  widow  of  Eiios  .-Mlin-  (Yale  1740).  of  New  TTaven.  She  was 
eleven  years  his  junior,  and  survived  him. 


JARED  IXGEESOLL  PAFEUS,  ITTO-Sl.  465 

■why  I  have  not  called  on  you  or  ISU.  Shipman,  for  that  pur- 
pose. If  that  plan  shall  fall  through,  I  may  yet  write  yon, 
to  meet  us  at  least  as  far  as  Paulies  hook  ferry,'^'  X :  York. 

I  hope  the  needful!  will,  by  some  means,  be  done  to  the  Gar- 
den. 
[To 

Jon^^  Ingersoll  Esq^  •. 

at 

X:  Haven 

Connecticut.]  .        . 

Philad\  April  13*.  1776 
S' 

I  duly  received  your  favour  p^  I\r.  Shemian  &  am  glad  to 
find  that  ]\P.  Shipman  thinks  of  tarrying  still  at  X  Ilaven.     . 

ir.  Sherman,  who  by  the  way  talks  of  taking  my  house  here, 
furniture  &  all,  for  the  Summer,  tells  me,  as  do  Co\  Dyer  &: 
others,  that  they  think  I  may  go  to  X.  Haven  without  diffictilty. 
I  hope  to  hear  you  more  fully  on  this  head  in  a  few  days.f  In 
the  meantime,  know  that  people  here  generally  say  Doc'^.  Smith 
is  the  Atithor  of  Calo — &  that  some  one  in  Jersey,  I  dont  know 
who,  wrote  Plain  Truth. i  There  is  a  ]\P.  Wells  of  this  place 
also,  said  to  be  the  author  of  certain  pieces  on  the  same  Side 
with  Cato — one  piece  last  w^eek  sighted  R,  on  the  same  Side  is 

*  Jersey  City. 

t  The  Supreme  Executive  Council  of  Pennsylvania  issued  on  August  4, 
1777,  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Judge  Ingersoll,  and  for  his  being  held 
on  his  parole  in  Winchester,  Virginia,  or  (at  his  option)  in  Hartford, 
Connecticut.  Four  days  later  they  advised  him  to  remain  in  Philadelphia 
for  a  few"  weeks  longer.  On  September  4  they  directed  him  to  depart  to 
Connecticut,  which  he  did. 

His  son  returned  from  Europe  early  in  177S,  after  about  five  years' 
absenee.  and  settled  in  Philadelphia. 

t  It  is  now  believed  that  the  JXov.  Dr.  William  Smith  was  the  author 
of  Plain  Truth;  a  series  of  Lcttas  to  th';-  People  of  Penmijlvania,  signed 
Cato.  which  appeared  in  Dinilap's  Penii.-^i/Ivania  Parlccf,  in  March  and 
April,  177G.  are  here  referred  to  as  also  his. 

Tiie  article  r«igiied  Pv.  appeared  in  the  issue  of  the  same  paper  for  April  S, 

The  artirles  addressed  to  Cato  by  Cassandra  appeared  in  the  same  paper 
for  March  and  April. 


■i:66  JARED    IXGERSOLL    PAPERS,    1770-Sl. 

supposed  to  Lave  been  wrote  by  the  Peusilvania  Farmer.  This 
Gentleman,  I  suppose  vou  know,  is  warmly  for  a  Keeonciliatiou 
(&:  of  course  opposed  in  that  particular  to  [Messrs  Adams's  dt 
Others.  I  may  not  add  at  this  only  that  I  have  this  day  Deliv- 
ered to  your  AP.  Austin  a  number  of  Articles  to  forward  to  Xew 
Haven.     We  shall  hardly  got  away  under  two  or  three  weeks. 

I  am  kc 

J :  Ingersoll. 

Doc'.  Eush  it  is  said  writes  Cassandra,  ag\   Cato;    tis  not 
unlikely  that  several  other  persons  have  a  hand  in  it  as  in  writ- 
ing- Common  Sense. 
[To  ,..-'.. 

Jon^^  Ingersoll  Esq^  .    •       '  r,_ 

.     •  ■•         at  -    .       ■ 

X:  Haven 
p^  favour  of  M^  Austin] 


-  Letter  to  Dr.  Bexjamix  Gale. 

■    ■••  l^ew  Haven  Octo^  30'\  1779.* 

Dear  Sir 

I  duly  received  your  favour  of  the  28'^  two  days  ago,  and 
soon  after  that,  the  ]\[anuscripts.  I  have  gone  through  the  first 
number  &  shall  take  care  to  send  it  to  you,  agreeable  to  your 
desire,  by  the  very  first  opportunity. 

I  do  assure  you  T  read  this  first  X°.  with  great  avidity — with 
much  pleasure ;  but  not  without  some  pain.  "When  I  found 
you  promising  not  to  be  intimidated  by  Councils,  or  influenced 
by  popular  names,  T  gave  you  full  Credit  from  my  knowledge 

*  The  latest  known  product  of  ^Tr.  Tneorsoirs  pen  is  a  serie?;  of  eialit 
letters,  written  between  Octol>or,  1779,  and  May,  17S1,  to  his  old  friend. 
Dr.  Benjamin  Gale,  on  the  subject  of  the  Scripture  prophecies:  the  first 
(and  briefest)  of  these  is  here  friven.  from  a  copy  in  his  own  hand,  preserved 
in  the  Yale  University  Library,  by  way  of  specimen. 

Mr.  Infrersoll's  comparative  sanity  of  juil^^ment  appears  in  refreshinj; 
contrast  to  Dr.  Gale's  wild  and  prejudiced  assumptions. 


JABED  IXGERSOLL  TAPERS,  1T70-S1.  467 

of  the  'Man,  and  when  I  found  jou  advancing  as  a  general  prin- 
ciple, that  ^ve  ought  to  look  for  a  literal  fulfilment  of  prophe- 
cies—urging that  a  Spiritual,  mystical  Accomplishment,   not 
warranted  by  the  common  and  usual  import  of  the  words,  was 
no  Accomplishment  at  all,  as  carrying  no  kind  of  proof  with  it, 
I  was  hig]i]y  delighted.     1  went  forward— read  your  account 
of  the    Creation— Clever,   said   I,   plain  simple   narration   of 
facts — no  room  to  imagine  a  thousand  hidden  mysteries — rioht. 
Then  come  the  Story  of  the  Judgment  denounced  on  the  first 
pair  and  upon  the  Serpent.     Xotice  is  taken  of  the  plain  & 
obvious  import  of  the  words  ''that  the  Serpent  was  more  Subtil 
than  thr?  other  beasts"— the  probability  that  he  could  talk— the 
probable  Alteration  in  his  Shape  &c  all  arising  from  the  literal 
meaning  of  the  words  made  use  of.     Xotice  is  also  taken  of  the 
well  kmown  general  Antipathy  to  Snakes,  on  the  part  of  man; 
it  is  also  very  well  known  that  men  often  kill  the  Snake  by 
Stamping  on  the  head  with  the  heel  and  that  the  Snake  in  his 
turn  sometimes  gets  a  Chance  to  bite  the  iMan  in  the  same  part 
This  is  all  very  well,  thinks  I— and  when  I  further  found  that 
Adams    Sin   was    personal — the    Soul    probably   material   tho' 
immortal— and  Christ  the  first  of  all  Creatures^  why;   where  is 
the  Doctor  going,  said  I ;    instead  of  quarreling  with  him  for 
Servilely  treading  the  ground  beaten  by  Schoolmen,  I  shall  for 
ever  admire  him  as  a  kind  of  original,  who  dared  to  think  for 
himself,  and  to  speak  what  he  thought :    but  how  were  all  my 
Joys  ,S:  flattering  hopes  Chilled,  when  I  found  that  this  same 
good  Doctor  had  discovered  the  Devil  &  the  Messiah,  in  the  plain 
simple  Story  of  Adam  and  the  Snake ! 

I  took"  of  my  Spectacles— hung  them  gently  across  my  left 
little  finger— threw  myself  back  in  my  Chair,  and  Exclaimed, 
Oh  Doctor,  Doctor !    Physician  heal  thvself. 

After  recovering  a  little  from  my  Surprize,  I  had  recourse  to 
my  bible— I  turned  to  the  sad  Story  of  Adams  fall,  and  read  it 
all  over  again,  as  I  had  done  before  a  great  manv  times-  I 
peeped  for  the  Devil,  and  look't  hard  to  see  if  I  could  discern 
the  least  glimpse  of  his  glorious  Counterpart,  but  could  see 
nothing  that  look't  like  Either. 


468  jARED  ixctERSoll  papers,  1770-81. 

how  Lave  I  kiiowu  people  iu  a  Delirium,  with  .Eager  Eyes, 
and  Anxious  looks,  point  to  some  part  of  the  room  &  cry  out — 
there — there  is  such  a  thing  or  such  a  Person — do  you  not  see 
it,  why  there  it  is,  right  before  you — and  after  all  I  could  say 
to  them,  I  could  not  convince  them  that  there  was  no  such 
thing  as  they  thought  they  saw — nor  could  they  convince  me 
that  there  was.  But  why  should  we  be  angry  at  one  another 
for  Seeing,  or  not  Seeing,  what  we  cannot  help  Seeing,  or  can- 
not See  at  all  ?     I  am  resolved  I  will  not — and  now  to  proceed. 

I  hope,  from  what  I  have  seen  of  your  general  plan,  that  I 
shall  find  myself  placed,  where  I  have  often  placed  myself,  in 
the  Situation  of  an  honest  Jew  or  Gentile,  with  the  old  Testa- 
ment in  his  hand,  at  the  time  when  our  Saviour  came  into  the 
world — hearing  his  pretensions  &  that  of  some  others,  such  as 
Theudas  &  Judas  mentioned  in  the  fifth  Chapter  of  the  Acts, 
and  Examining  with  the  utmost  Care  the  Several  Claims,  to  See 
which  of  them,  or  whether  Either,  were  warranted  and  sup- 
ported by  those  Scriptures.  Such  person  would,  you  know, 
have  to  throw  out  of  his  way  a  deal  of  learned  lumber,  com- 
piled by  Hebrew  Doctors,  before  he  could  come  at  the  naked 
text,  and  had  he  been  bred  a  Jew,  he  would  find  by  much  the 
hardest  task  would  be  to  divest  himself  intirely  of  all  precon- 
ceived Opinion ;  but  this  both  he  &  I  ought  to  do,  to  the  best  of 
our  power. 

here  then  I  will  stand,  Jew  or  Gentile  which  you  please,  and 
with  the  truest  Satisfaction  will  follow  you,  through  all  the 
]\razes  of  that  ]\[iscelanous  Book,  &  will  Examin  with  the  great- 
est freedom  and  at  the  same  time  with  the  utmost  Candour,  the 
important  question,  what  is  the  real  Caracter,  office  and 
business  of  that  Personage  commonly  called  the  ]\[essiah,  as 
described  in  the  old  Testament. 

your  first  prediction,  I  have  already  taken  some  notice  of. 
Tt  (that  is  the  Seed  of  the  wotnan)  Shall  bruise  thij  (i.  e.  the 
Serpents')  head  and  ihoii  sJiaJt  bruise  his  heel.  You  tell  me  this 
intimates  the  future  appearance  of  a  great  Personage  who  shall 
set  a  Church  in  the  world,  and  wage  a  long  war  with  the  Devil 


JARED  IXGERSOLL  PAPERS.  ITTO-Sl.  469 

^  all  that :    to  this  I  can  only  say  that  I,  poor  Jew,  or  Gentile, 
can  discover  nothing  at  all  of  any  Such  thins. 

Yon  next  urge  the  declaration  made  to  Abraham  Gen:  xii. 
and  xxii.  and  in  several  other  places  "that  in  him  and  in  his 
Seed,  all  the  nations — and  Sometimes  it  is  said,  all  the  families 
of  the  Earth  shall  be  blessed." 

•  Jew— I  see  nothing  particular  in  this;  it  appears  that  God 
had  repeatedly  declared  that  Abraham  .i:  his  posterity  (bv  the 
way  the  word  Seed  is  nomen  Collectivum  like  the  word  Cask, 
and  may  be  used  either  singularly  or  plurally)  should  possess 
the  land  of  Canaan— that  they  should  be  a  great  and  powerfull 
Xation,  able  to  give  the  Law  to  other  Xations— or  as  it  is  said, 
"Shall  possess  the  gate  of  his  Enemies:'  and  that  the  other 
Xations  should  be  happy  to  be  under  their  wing  ,S:  protection. 
I  see  nothing  mysterious  in  this  matter,  nor  any  thing  that 
relates  to  what  you  call  the  Messiah— that  word,  you  know,  sig- 
nifieth  a  CroAvned  head.  I  am  informed  by  this  book  that 
Abraham's  posterity  after  many  disappointments  did  get  pos- 
session of  this  same  Country,  and  am  only  puzzled  to  account 
for  it,  consistently  with  other  declarations,  that  they  so  soon  lose 
that  possession. 

You  next  quote  Deut :  xviii.  where  God  saith,  "I  will  raise 
them  (the  Children' of  Israel)  up  a  I^rophet  from  among  their 
brethren  like  unto  thee,"  ]Moses. 

Jew— Well,  and  what  then  ?  it  is  abundantly  Evident  from' 
many  after  passages  in  the  book  of  Deut^^  that  l^he  Successor  of 
Moses  alluded  to  in  that  declaration,  was  Joshua,  who  took  the 
Command  upon  the  death  of  Moses,  and  conducted  the  Israel- 
ites into  Palestine.  I  cannot  see  anv  thin-;  here  about  a 
:\ressiah. 

these  I  think  are  all  the  proofs  you  bring  from  the  five  books 
of  Moses  so  called.  Your  next  is  taken  from  Isaiah,  nianv  a 
hundred  years  after  the  Creation  ^'  fall  of  Man:  but  let  us 
hear  what  Isaiah  saith  Chap:  vii.  -liehold  a  Virgin  shall  Con- 
ceive .V-  bear  a  Son  and  shall  call  his  name  immanuel.'"  I  will 
here  give  you  the  .Vnswer  which  a  learned  Jew  actually  -ave 
me  many  years  ago,  upon  my  Urging  this  text  upon  him. 


■4:70  JARF.n    IXGEKSOLL    PAPERS,     1770-^1. 

Jew — the  whole  of  this  Storv  as  related  in  this  and  the  Suc- 
ceeding Chapter,  appears  to  be  as  follows. 

Jerusalem  was  invaded  by  two  Xations  of  Enemies.  Ahaz 
the  King  was  fearfull  of  the  Consequences.  Isaiah  the  Prophet 
assures  him  that  he  shall  not  be  Conquered  by  them,  «S:  in  Evi- 
dence of  his  declaration  gives  him  this  Sign,  or  proof — that  a 
Virgin  shall  have  a  Child — that  his  name  shall  be  immanuel 
(by  the  way  Christs  name  was  Jesus)  that  this  Child  should  be 
fed  upon  butter  tfc:  honey — and  that  before  he  should  arrive  to 
years  of  discretion  and  know  the  difference  between  floral  good 
&:  Evil,  the  Country  of  these  his  Enemies  should  be  forsaken— 
that  this  same  Prophet  went  &  lay  with  a  Prophetess  ('who 
must  have  been  a  Maiden).  She  had  a  Child — his  name  is 
Ma-her-Sha-lal-hash-baz,  and  before  this  Child  shall  be  old 
enough  to  begin  to  talk — to  say  Papa  &  !Mama,  the  two  Enemy 
ISTations  shall  become  desolate.  Xow  whether  these  two  names 
have  or  have  not  similar  meanings — and  whether  it  was  strictly 
proper  to  call  a  young  womans  first  child,  the  child  of  a  Virgin, 
as  we  say  a  heifer  calf,  and  whether  the  Event  turned  up 
agreeable  to  the  prediction,  we  are  not  now  Concerned  to  know ; 
it  is  Enough  that  we  do  know  that  the  point  &  design  of  the 
prophecy  was  to  have  an  Event  happen  that  should  be  proof  to 
King  Ahaz  of  what  the  Prophet  had  said — and  this  must  have 
happened  then,  at  that  time,  in  the  Course  of  a  few  years  at  fur- 
thest— nor  is  here  the  least  hint  that  this  Child  should  be  a 
King  either  temporal  or  Spiritual,  nothing  that  looks  like  a 
Messiah  in  the  whole  Story.  When  you  have  recourse  there- 
fore to  this  passage  in  Isaiah  in  proof  of  this  or  that  Person 
claiming  to  be  the  !^[essiah,  it  is  by  no  means  fair  to  tell  mo 
that  Isaiah  said.  A  Virgin  should  have  a  Child,  »Jc  say  no 
more:  you  ought  to  repeat  the  two  following  Verses  at  least  vS: 
tell  me  that  Isaiah  further  said  that  before  that  Child  should 
know  to  refuse  the  Evil  cV  Choose  the  good,  the  land  that  Ahaz 
abhoiTed  should  be  forsaken  of  both  her  Kings.  I  will  not 
insist,  said  the  Jew.  on  the  difllculty  of  my  being  able  to  knrAv 
whether  this  reputed  Child  of  Joseph  was  differenced  from  his 
other  Children  in  the  manner  of  his  Conception,  or  not. 


JARED  IXGEKSOLL  PAPERS,  1770-Sl.  471 

We  are  now  come  to  a  period  in  tlie  Jewish  history,  when 
mention  is  made  of  an  Expectation  that  some  Extraordinary 
Person  should  arise  who  shouhi  retrieve  their"  affairs  and  reform 
the  people ;   this  period  is  the  time  of  the  Babylonish  Captivity. 

but  before  I  go  into  a  Consideration  of  the  passages  relat- 
ing to  this  matter  it  will  be  proper  to  take  a  Summary  View  of 
the  State  of  the  Jewish  Xation  at  that  time.  Before  I  enter 
upon  this  I  will  give  you  *5c  myself  a  little  respite  and  will  then 
resume  the  argument,  after  which  you  shall  hear  from  me  again. 

in  the  mean  time,  I  remain 

' .    •  Your  obed^  humb^.  Serv*. 


To  Benj°.  Gale  E6q^ 
Copy 


J:  I. 


Letter  of  Jared  Ixgersoll,  Junior. 

Philadelphia  Sept^  [missing] 
D^  Sir, 

I  have  received  yours  &  !^^.  "NMiittleseys  favours,  giving  me 
the  Account  of  the  T3cath  of  the  best  of  Eathers.  At  any  time, 
the  loss  would  have  been  very  severe ;  particular  Circumstances 
concurred  to  render  it  additionally  so,  &:  to  occasion  my  suffer- 
ing with  the  most  particular  Sensibility;  will  explain  myself 
in  a  future  Trotter.  At  present  T  am  not  sufficiently  composed, 
present  my  most  affectionate  Compliments  to  my  g(X)d  Mother. 
I  feel  almost  as  much  for  her  as  for  myself,  assure  her  that 
she  may  rely  upon  the  first  moment  I  can,  I  will  come  up  «.^'  pay 
my  Respects  to  her — by  the  middle  of  next  month  at  the  far- 
thest. 

I  am  D^  Sir  your  very  afflicted  friend 
J.  Ingersoll. 

P.S.     :My  tluniks  to  my  T^ncle  Whittlesey 
for  his  Attention  to  me.^J.  I. 
[J.m".  Ingersoll  Esq^ 

Xew-haven] 


.»>' 


^72  JAUED    IXGEKSOLL    TArEIIS,     ITTO-Sl. 

Epitaph 
in  the  Crjpt  of  the  First  Chiircli,  Xew  Haven 

In  Memory  of 

The  HonWe  JARED  INGERSOLL  Esq. 

Judge  of  the  Court  of  Vice  Admiralty 

in  the  Middle  District 

in  America. 

A  man  of  an  uncommon  Genius,  • 

which  was  cultivated 

By  a  liberal  Education  at  Yale  College, 

And  improved  by  the  Study  of  Mankind, 

And  of  Laws,  Policy  and  Government, 

He  distinguished  himself  at  the  Bar, 

Where  his  perspicuity  and  Energy  in  Reasoning 

And  Equality  in  Conducting  Causes, 

Elevated  him 

''■■',-  To  the  First  Eminence  in  his  Profession. 

Under  the  appointment  of  the  General  Assembly 
He  was  twice  honoured 
With  the  AGENCY  from  CONNECTICUT 
At  the  Court  of  Great  Britain. 
.  .     .  His  Morals  were  unblemished. 

■■■       -  He  was  thoughtful,  collected  and  sagacious, 

open  and  sincere, 
mild,  affable,  and  courteous. 
Adapting  himself  to  all 
By  a  rich  Variety  of  sentiment  and  Expression 
■     "  Yet  preserving  in  his  whole  Behavior 

■'•    '  ..■  A  graceful  and  majestic  Dignity. 

'   •  ■      •  He  died  Aug.  25^''  A.D.  1781 

iEtat.  60. 
By  his  side  lieth  also  interred, 
-     '  His  amiable  Consort 

M«  HANNAH  INGERSOLL       ' 
.         Who  departed  this  Life 
;  Oct  gf"  A.D.  1779 

'      '.  Aged  65  Years. 


IXDEX   TO  VOLUME    IX. 


-Ai-lanis,  Andrew,  letter  of,  327. 

Adams,  John,  10,  406. 

Adams.  -John  Qiiiucy,   19. 

Admiralty  courts,  American,  3 IS.  395, 
41S.   421.   434. 

Alexander.  Wm.  (Lord  Stirling), 
247.  203. 

Ailing..  Stephen,  227-S. 

.\llyn,  John,  95-6,  104,  110,  112,  11.5- 
24. 

Andrews,  Prof.  Charles  :M..  201 

Andrews,  Diimmer.  432. 

Andros.  Sir  Edmund,  and  the  Conn. 
Charter,  10S-2S. 

Apprenticeship  papers,  20S. 

Arnold,  Benedict.  136,  412. 

AuchmutT.  Robert,  419,  427.  431,  433. 

Babcock.  Rev.  Luke,  397,  400,  4G2. 

Bache.  Theophvlact,  252,  3S2. 

Bacon.  Rev.  Leonard,  59,  S9. 

Balance,  The.  47-6. 

Baldwin.  Beth iah,  notes  of  ride  across 
Connectictit,    IGl. 

Baldwin,  Capt.  Ebenezer,  100-C5. 

Baldwin.  Rev.   Ebenezer,   161,   164. 

Baldwin.  Simeon  E.,  paper  on  Con- 
dorcet.  170:  on  the  Hartford  Con- 
vention, 1;  on  a  ride  across  Con- 
necticut in  1770,  161. 

Barber.  Dr.  Jonathan,  60. 

Barre.  Col.  Isaac,  1S3,  30S-12.  336. 

Bates,  Albert  C,  paper  on  Connect- 
icut official  printintr.   1775-6,  120. 

Beacli.  Rev.  John.  33. 

Beauveau.  Ch.  Juste  de.  171-2. 

Beekford,  Wm..  310.  317. 

Beerv.  Xathan,  307-S. 

Bellamy.  Rev.  Joseph,  167. 

Benedict.  Rev.  Abner,  165. 

Benedict.  Rev.  Joel,   165,  167. 

Bible  Societies,  61. 

Bills  of  credit  in  the  Revolution. 
133,  13S-9.  152.  156.  160. 


Bishop.  Abraham,  52,  65. 

Bishop.  Yale,  342-3. 

Boone.  Gov.  Thomas,  302. 

Eotsford,  Amo.s,  40. 

Brainerd,  Rev.  John.  230;    letters  of, 

231. 
Bridget,     Thomas,    421:      letters     of, 

277. 
Browne,   Daniel,  76,   SI. — 
Brownell,  Bp.  Thomas  C,  50,  53. 
Buckingham,  Rev.  Thomas,  the  elder, 

72;    the  younger,  73. 
Bulkeley,  Gershom,  US,  123. 
Burr.  Andrew,  392-4,  404. 
Cabot,  George,  19,  23. 
Camp.  Abiathar,  37. 
Canal  in  Xew  Haven.  67. 
Caner,  Rev.  Henry,  42. 
Centre  Church,  49,  79,  SO. 
Champion,  Rev.  .Judali,   149. 
Chandler,  .John,  361,  365-6;    letter  of, 

364. 
Chandler,     Joshua,  3S.  361,  365,  44S. 
Chapel  street,  67. 
Charles.  Robert,  317. 
Charleston.  S.  C,  in  1763,  301. 
Charlotte,  Queen,  243-6. 
Charter  government  in  Conn.,  loss  of, 

90. 
Cheever's  Accidence,  227. 
Chew,  Joseph,  letters  of,  2S1,  377. 
Chittenden,  Gov.   Martin,   5. 
Clap.  Pre^.  Thomas,  276.  410. 
Cokburne,     George,     letters     of,    256, 

25S,  262. 
Coleman,  John,  225:    letter  of,  326. 
Colton,  Rev.  George.  16'~i. 
Common  i<ensc.  460.  463,  466. 
Condorcet,  ifarquis  de,  170-72. 
Congress,     Continental,     44S,     450-1; 

Stamp-Act,  35S. 
Connocticiit  currency,  history  of,  223, 

239,  412:     loss  of  Charter  govern- 


474 


INDEX. 


nient  in,  90;  Loyalist  sentiment  in, 
30,  192;  map  of,  17G5,  359;  ofli- 
cial  printing  in,  1775-G,  129;  Penn- 
sylvania claims  oi,  442-(i;  policy  in 
War  of  1S12,  4,  14-15. 

Connecticut  Gazette,  letters  to,  329, 
331,  341,  3r>0. 

Connecticut  Journal,   letter   to,   441. 

Continental  Congress.  448,  450-1. 

Contribution  money,  212. 

Conventions,   State,    1. 

Conway,  Sir  Henry  S.,  317,  336. 

Cooks,  Rev.  Samuel,  74-6. 

Coster,  Mrs.  Esther.  80.  -  •    '" 

Cranfield,   Edward,   92. 

Crocker,  Eev.  Xatlian  B.,  58. 

Croswell,   Rev.   Harry,   paper   on,   46. 

Daggett,  Pres.  Xaplitali,  225,  457. 

Darling,  Thomas.  40. 

Davenport,  Mrs.  Abigail.  75,  77,  203. 

Davenport,  Abraham,   32,   374. 

Davenport,  Rev.  John,  of  Xew  Plaven, 
71. 

Davenport,  Rev.  John,  of  Stamford, 
73. 

Davies,  Mrs.  Ami:    see  A.  Robinson. 

Day,   Pres.   Jeremiah,   46,   58-9,   63. 

Deane,  Silas,  162-3,  448. 

Dering,  Henry,  230. 

Dexter,  F.  B.,  editor  of  Ingersoll 
papers,  201 ;  paper  on  Harry  Cros- 
well, 46;  on  New  Haven  Loyalists, 
29;  on  removal  of  Yale  College  to 
Nevr  Haven,   70. 

Dickerraan,  Isaac.  228. 

Dickinson,  John,  450,  406. 

Diodate,  .Wm.,  224 

Dongan,  Gov.  Tliomas.  100-02,  107, 
121. 

Durkee,  John,  102. 

Dyer,  Eliphalet.  281-7,  428,  448-9, 
465:     letters  of,  287. 

Edwards.  Daniel,  442. 

Ellsworth,  Oliver,  6. 

Embargo  on  exports,  131,  137,  150, 
156. 

Episcopalians  in   Conn.,   33,  •70. 

Fanning,   Edmund,   44. 


Federalism,  New  England,  8. 
Fitch,  Prof.  Eleazar  T.,  58,  60. 
Fitch,  James,  95,  97. 
Fitch,  Thomas,  30,  189,  331.  3.52.  355. 

403-4,    407,    422,    429;      letters    to, 

300. 
Foxcroft,  John,  398. 
Franklin,      Benjamin,    179,    182.    190, 

278,   281-3,   285,   312,   398-9;    letter 

of,  274. 
Franklin,  Wm.,  278;     letter  of,  280. 
Fuller,  Rose,  315-6,  336. 
Gale.   Benjamin,   32,  351;     letters   of, 

276,  372,  428;    letter  to,  4G6. 
Galloway,  Joseph,  454. 
Garth,  Charles,  312,  318. 
George  III,  coronation  of,  245. 
Goddard,  Calvin,  24. 
Goldthwait,   Joseph,   letter   of,   232. 
Green,  Samuel,   398. 
Green,  Timothy:      see     Xew     London 

printing. 
Grenville,  George,  291,  309,  312.  400, 

409,  418. 
Griswold,  Roger,  4,  8. 
Guarda  costas,  290,  290. 
Hall,  Elihu,  31,  343. 
Hallam,  John,  134. 
Hallowell,  Robert,  433. 
Flamilton,  Alex.,  9,  48. 
Hamilton,  James,  293,  461. 
Harrison,   Joseph,   416-7. 
Hartford,   printing   in,    131-33,    !<:•■':>-', 

148,   150-54,   157-9. 
Hartford    Convention,    paper    oci.    1 : 

local  sentiment  on,  19. 
Heaton,  Abigail,  61. 
Heminway,  Rov.  .Jacob,  76. 
Henniker,  John,  270. 
Henry,  Gov.  John,  440. 
Ilerpin,  John.  215. 
Higginson,  Steplien.  8. 
Hill.  Rev.  Benj.  M.,  52.  66.      " 
Hillhouse,  James.  9,   10,   15,  6.3-c-  9-9. 

225. 
Hillhouse,  James  A.,  440,  457. 
Hillhouse  avenue,  52,  (jO. 
Hobart,  John  S.,  letters  of,  2oI}. 


INDEX. 


475 


Holt,  John,  39S-402. 
Hosmer,  Titus,  letter  of,  404. 
Houdetot,   Comtesse  d',   171-2. 
Hubbard,  Col.  John,  437-S. 
Hubbard.  Dr.  Leverett,  211,  459. 
Hudson,  X.  Y.,  47,  49. 
Humphreys,  Daniel,  38. 
Hunter.  .John,  30.5.   400. 
Hunter,   Win.,   305,   39S. 
Independence  forecast,  322. 
Ingersoll,  Mrs.  Hannah    (^Miles),  4G4, 

471-2. 
Ingersoll,    !Nfrs.    Hannah     (Whiting) 

202.  4G4. 
Ingersoll,  Jared,  paper  on,  174;  Cor- 
respondence and  papers,  201;  Let- 
ters on  Stamp  Act,  305,  3S4;  career 
as  boundary  commissioner,  426;  as 
Colonial  agent,  178,  234;  as  mast- 
contractor,  178,  255;  as  Stamp- 
master,  305,  329,  341,  3G9,  387;  as 
Judge  of  Admiralty,  195,  374,  395, 
418-9,  421,  427;  household  ex- 
penses, 211;  marriages,  202,  464; 
residence,  212;  death,  471-2. 
Ingersoll,  Jared,   Jr.,   175;     letter  of, 

471. 
Ingersoll,    Rev.    Jonathan,    174,    441; 

letter  of,  234;    letter  to,  237. 
Ingersoll,     Jonathan,     Jr.,     89,     175, 

495;    letters  to,  437,  446. 
Ingersoll,  Ealph  I.,  175. 
Iron  in  Conn.,  162. 
Isaacs,  Ralph,  36.  439. 
Jackson.  Richard,  287,  289,  293,  309, 
312,  317;    letters  of,  382,  397,  402, 
413,  421-,.    letters  to.  262,  357,  395. 
Jarnac,  Comt«  de,  171-2. 
Jesup,  Thomas  S.,  20. 
John.son,  Rev.   Samuel.   S3.  217. 
Johnson.  Rev.   Stephen.    199. 
Johnson,  Sir  \Vm.,  2S4,  286. 
Johnson,   Wm.   Samuel,   36,   194,   225. 
290,  402,  434;    letters  of,  235.  324. 
365.   405,  415,  424.  435;     letter  to, 
361. 
Johnston,    Augustus,    letters    of,    413, 
423,  432. 


Jones,  Thomas,  44. 

Kent  Indians,  395. 

King,  Rufus,  6. 

Lacretelle,  P.  L.  de,  171-2. 

Lambert,  Marquis  de,   171-2. 

Latlirop,  Daniel,  letter  of,  324. 

Leaming,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  34. 

Lebanon,  Conn.,  161,   169. 

Ledlie,  Hugh,  362,  378. 

Tjee,  Arthur,  436. 

Leete,  Andrew,  98,  126. 

Leffingwell,  Christopher,  146. 

Liancourt,  Due  de,  171-2. 

Life,  Thomas,  422,  424. 

Lincoln,  Levi,  10. 

Lines,   Rt.   Rev.    Edwin   S.,   paper   on 

Jared  Ingersoll.   174. 
Lintot,  Bernard,  letter  of,  412. 
Livingston,  Peter    V.    B.,     letter     of, 

230. 
Livingston,  Wm.,     177;       letters     of, 
223,     227,     271;      letter     to,     349; 
poem  by,  223-6. 

Lockwood,  Jame3,   459. 

Lotteries,  242,  447. 

Loyalists  of  Conn.,  30,  192;    of  New 
Haven,  paper  on,  29. 

Lydius,  John  H.,  284. 

Lyman,  Daniel,  37,  438. 

Lyman,  Gideon,  264. 

Lyman,  Phineas,  289. 

Lyme,  convention  at,  372-4. 

McEvers,  James,   184,  332;    letter  of, 
328. 

^[adison,  James,  2,  3,  19,  25. 

MalVitt,  Rev.  John  X.,  58. 

Malbone,  Godfrey,  letter  to,  323. 

Mansfield,  Jared,  41. 

Mansfield,  Rev.  Richard,  36.  225. 

Mason,  Jeremiah,  26. 

Massachusetts  in  1814.  4.  11,  14;    loss 
of  charter,  91. 

Masts,  contract  for.   178.  255. 

Mather,  \\'arham.  77.  203.     . 

Mazzei,  Filippo,  170. 

Mecom,  Benjamin.  305.  397-8. 

Meigs,  .To^iah.   171. 

Mercer,  George,  333. 


476 


INDEX. 


Merwin,  Txev.  Samuel,  40,  59,  06. 
Meserve.  George.  .333. 
Methodist  church,  New  Haven,  00. 
Millei',  Jeremiah,  letter  of,  330. 
Mills,  Kev.  .Todidiah.  22(5,  271-3. 
Mitchell,  Steplien  :M..  164. 
Mix,  Timothy,  207,  214. 
Mohegan  case,  410,  422. 
Molasses  duty,  310-20,  323. 
Montagu,  Edward,  31C.  ' 
Moore.  Sir  ITonry.  letter  to,  301. 
^Morris,  Richard.  272;    letter  of,  275. 
Mott,  Samuel,  350. 
Muirson,  George,  41;    letter  of,  236. 
Munson,  Eneas,  40. 
Munson,  Stephen.  30S-0,  440. 
Xavy  Board.  British,  255. 
New  England,  currency  of,  230. 
Xew  Hampshire,  currency  of,  230. 
Xew     Haven,     bi-centennial     of,     68 : 
burial   ground   of,   64,   70:    freedom 
of  city  of,  171;    loyalists  of,  20,  44; 

■  population  of  in  1710,  76;  post- 
master of,  305,  307-8;  printing  in, 
305,  308,  400;  public  Green  of,  78; 
removal  of  College  to,  70. 

New  London,  printing  in,  86,   133-60. 

Newell,  Rev.  Samuel,  168. 

Non-importation  agreement,  420,  434, 
450. 

Noyes,  Rev.  James.  74. 

Noyes,  Rev.  Joseph,  74-5. 

Noyes.  Rev.  IMoses,   74. 

Ogden,  David,  42. 

Ogden,  Jacob,  letter  of,  430. 

Oliver,  Andrew,  184;    letter  of.  328. 

Ordination  customs,  105. 

Otis.  Harrison  G..  2,  10,   12.  20-7. 

Panthorn,   Conn..   103. 

Parker,  James,  letters  of.  305.  307. 

Paxton.  Charles.  417. 

Pembroke,  Earl  of,  245. 

Pennsylvania,  Connecticut  claims  in. 
281-02,    442:     politics    of.    450-1. 

Peters.  Rev.   Samuel,  34,   448. 

Pludps,  Charles,  letter  of,  327. 

Pickering,  Timotliy,  7,  11. 

Pii-rpont,  Rev.   James,    72-3. 

Pi«-rpunt.  James,  Jr.,  200. 


Pitkin,  Gov.  Wni.,  417. 

Pitkin,  Judge  Wm.,  84.  90. 

Plumer.  Wm..  0,  10,  15. 

Pringic,  Jolai,  253-4. 

Printing,  onicial,  in  Coiui.,  paper  on, 

129. 
Prout,  John,  70. 
Putnam,  Israel,   192. 
Pynchon,  Joseph,  38. 
Quincy,  Josiah,  4,  10,  15,  20. 

Railroads,  early,  67. 

Randolph,   Edward,   91,   93-4,   99-102, 

108-9,  112,   119-20,  122. 
Ray,  John,  361. 

Ray,  Richard,  letter  of,  304. 

Reeve,  Tapping,  7. 

Rivington,  James,  454. 

Robinson,  ZMrs.  Ann,  letters  of.  252. 

Rocliefoucauld.  Due  de  la.  171-2. 

Rowland,   David,   374. 

Rush,  Benjamin,  400. 

Rush,  Jacob,  447. 

St.  Paul's  Churcli.  New  Haven.  03. 

Salter.  Rev.  Richard,  letter  of,  410. 

Saltonstall,  Col.     Gurdon,     letter     of. 
229. 

Saltonstall,  Gov.   Gurdon.   84. 

Saltonstall,  Winthrop,  229. 

Sampson,  Ezra.  47. 

Sandemanians  in   the  Revolution.   37. 

Saybrook,  Collegiate  School  at.  72. 

Seabury,  Rt.  Rev.  Samuel,  43,  226. 

Secession,  right  of,  6-13. 

Sewall,   Jonathan,    427.   431. 

Seymour,  Thomas,  31,  410. 

Sheldon.  Elisha.  374. 

Sherman,  Roger,  448.  456.  402.  405. 

Sherman,  Roger  :M..  14.  28. 

Sherman.  Susan,  47. 

Sliipman.   Elias.  457.   402,   404-5:    let- 
ter to,  430. 

Silliman.  Ebene/.er.  180,  379,  403. 

Silliniau,  Gold     S.,     453;      letter    of, 
I       370. 

'  SmullpoK   treatment.   234-5. 
'  Smith,  Lucretia,  208. 
I  Smith,  Ruth,    208,   210. 
j  Smith,  Wm.,  Jr.,  43,  225-0. 
i  Smith,  Dr.   Wm.,  443- 1,  405. 


I^'DEX. 


Sons  of  Liberty,  183,  192,  311. 
South  Carolina  politics,   1703,  302. 
Snuthingtoii,  Conn.,  103. 
Stamp   Act.   discussed,   181,   2S9,  204, 

300-22,     331,     335;      opposed,     184, 

320,   32S-31,   334,   340-52,   354,   357, 

307-70,     3S4;      petitioned     against, 

310-7.   330. 
Stamp-Act  Congress,  358. 
Staiiip-Comniissioners,  letters  to,  354, 

30U.  367,  371,  381. 
Stamp-distribul-rs,    appointment    of, 

332,   337;     bond   of,   387;     deputies 

of,  324-7. 
Stamped    paper,    184,    341,    355,    308, 

381,  390-02. 
Stanley,  Nathaniel,  98,   125-0. 
States'  rights,  1-0. 
Stebbins,  Rev.  Stephen  W.,  55. 
Stiles,  Pres.  Ezra,  90,  170. 
Stirling,   Wm.   Alexander,   Lord,   247, 

293. 
Storrs,  Rev.   Andrew,    107. 
Strong.  Rev.  Xeheniiah,  41;  letters  of, 

302,  404. 
Sugar  Act,  295-8. 

Susquehannah   Company,  281-92,  442. 
Symes,  Wm..  letter  to,  200. 
Talcott,  John.  08,   115,   125-0. 
Taleott,  Joseph,  84. 
Talcott,  Matthew,  250;    letter  of,  200. 
Talcott,  Samuel,  32. 
Target.  Augustin,   171-2. 
Taxation   of   America,   294,   200,   335, 

350,    370,    400-8,   424;    internal    vs. 

external.  200,  307. 
Taylor.  Rev.-  Xathanifl   W.,  40,  50. 
Tea.  use  of.  222;    tax  on,  4  10. 
Temple.  Sir  John,  202.  417.  432. 
Thaeher,  Rev.  Wm.,  00.  00. 
Thayer,  Arodi,   letter  of.   431. 
Tobocco,   use   of.    138,    147,   223. 
To\\-nshend,  Charles,  310,  414. 
Treat,  Robert.  05,  00-111,   114,   121-3. 
Trecothick.  Barlow.  332-3.  337. 
Trinity  Church,  Xew  Haven,  40-50. 
Trinity  College,  64. 
Trumbull,  Rev.  Benjamin,  449. 
Trumbull,  Jonathan,  35.  v.,     » 


Trumbull,  Josepii,  280. 
Tuttle.  Rev.  Moses,  439. 
U.   S.  constitutional  amendments.  22- 

24. 
Wadsworth,  Joseph,  125-0. 
I  Wales,    X'athaniel,     324;      letters    of. 
!       325. 

Walker.  Robert,  374. 
I  War  of  1812.  4. 

I  Wasliington  Benevolent  Society,  23. 
I  Wasp.  The,  47-8. 
;  Webster,  Xoah,   13,  47,  180. 
:  Webster.  Pelatiah.  453,  464. 
j  Wedderburn,  Alex..  203.  418. 
Welles.  Lemuel  A.,  paper  on  Loss  of 

Charter  Government  in  Conn.,  00. 
Wells,  Sylvester,  19. 
X'N'entworth,    Benning,    82,    264,    200; 

letters  of.  255,  265. 
Wethersfield,  mob  at.   102,   343. 
Whately,     Thomas,     314,     415,     418; 
letters  of,  202,  433:    letters  to,  205, 
351. 
Wheelock,  Rev.  Eleazar.  305. 
Whiting,  Hannah,  202. 
Whiting.  Xathan.  280;    letter  of.  301. 
Whiting,  Wm.,   100.   117-21. 
Whittelsey.  Rev.    Chauncey,    31,    117, 

211.  223.  225.  272.  274. 
Whittelsey.  Dr.  Samuel.  402. 
Williams.  Rev.  Eleazer.  411. 
WiUiams.  William.    154,    150. 
Willis.  Samuel.  2550.  203;    letter  r.f, 

206. 
Windham.  Conn.,  342,  346,  378,  384-5. 
Wolcott.  Roger,  125-0,  128. 
Wood.  .Tohn.   104. 
Woodbridge,  Rev.  Benjamin.  40. 
Woodbridge,  Rev.  Timothy,  73,  84. 
Woodhull,   Richard,   38. 
Wyllys.  George.  31-2,  180. 
Wynkoop.    Benjamin.    221. 
Yale.  Elihu,  75,  88. 
Vale      College,    dedication    of    Chnpt-l 
of.  57:     loyalist  graduates  and  >tu- 
dents   of.   20:     removal   of   to   X-v,- 
Haven,  70. 
Yorke,   Charles,   310.  _     • 


6  7  .  •"J  ^  '"' 


6S84     1