Journal of Samuel Curwen, May 16, 1775

Spoke Capt. Waterman in a schooner from Nantucket, who brought me a letter from Nathan Goodale, stating that his family, Mr. Pynchon's, and Mr. Orne's, had arrived there, to which I replied.

TO NATHAN GOODALE, ESQ.

 

In the Delaware, May 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR:

 

You can scarce conceive my joy at hearing that my neighbours, suffering in the same cause as myself, and for whom I sincerely profess a friendship, were in a secure retreat. Continue there by all means, safe from the alarms and dangers you have fled from.

 

Philadelphia is wholly American, strong friends to congressional measures; at least, no man is hardy enough to express a doubt of the feasibility of their projects. Mr. Joseph Lee leads a recluse life there. The inhabitants are displeased that the New Englanders make it their city of refuge. The new established post (instead of the old eastern one which is stopped,) admits no letters to pass but those franked; the contents of which must be known to one of the committee to be entitled to that benefit.

 

Yours truly,

SAML. CURWEN.

SOURCE: George Atkinson Ward, Journal and Letters of the Late Samuel Curwen, Judge of Admiralty, etc., An American Refugee in England from 1775 to 1784, pp. 29

Samuel Curwen to Nathan Goodale, May 16, 1775

TO NATHAN GOODALE, ESQ.

In the Delaware, May 16, 1775.

DEAR SIR:

You can scarce conceive my joy at hearing that my neighbours, suffering in the same cause as myself, and for whom I sincerely profess a friendship, were in a secure retreat. Continue there by all means, safe from the alarms and dangers you have fled from.

Philadelphia is wholly American, strong friends to congressional measures; at least, no man is hardy enough to express a doubt of the feasibility of their projects. Mr. Joseph Lee leads a recluse life there. The inhabitants are displeased that the New Englanders make it their city of refuge. The new established post (instead of the old eastern one which is stopped,) admits no letters to pass but those franked; the contents of which must be known to one of the committee to be entitled to that benefit.

Yours truly,

SAML. CURWEN.

SOURCE: George Atkinson Ward, Journal and Letters of the Late Samuel Curwen, Judge of Admiralty, etc., An American Refugee in England from 1775 to 1784, p. 29

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, May 27, 1776

After Capt. Marshall's company formed at the Cross Roads, Drumore township, Lancaster County, we all marched at 3 o'clock P. M., and arrived at Colonel Thompson's at 6, where we remained that night. Being necessitated to Lodge without a Bed, I passed the night without sleep,—it being the first night I ever was denied a bed.

SOURCE: “Diary of Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, May 28, 1776

Marched from Col. Thompson's at 7 A. M., proceeding thro' Fagg's Manor and arrived at Welch's Tavern. Here I spent the night with my worthy friend Lieut. John Clark.

SOURCE: “Diary of Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, May 29, 1776

Having orders to proceed to Chester we marched at daybreak, and at 2 P. M., reached our destination; but orders being countermanded we returned to Prospect Hill, near Marcus Hook, where we encamped in tents, which was to me very disagreeable.

SOURCE: “Diary of Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195

Diary of Sergeant James McMichael, May 30, 1776

Having now joined Col. Miles's Regiment we were this morning ordered on parade, when we went thro' our manœuvres and evolutions with great applause.

SOURCE: “Diary of Lieutenant James McMichael,” William H. Egle, Editor, Pennsylvania Archives, Second Series, Vol. XV: Journals and Diaries of the War of the Revolution with Lists of Officers and Soldiers, 1775-1783, p. 195

Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, April 8, 1777

Set from home.¹ Very hot. Dined Newall's, reached Waltham.

_______________

¹ On his preliminary journey to the station at Brookfield.

SOURCE: William B. Weedex, Editor, formerly Captain Battery C, First R. I. Light Artillery, and Chief of Artillery, First Division, Fifth Corps, A. P., Diary of Enos Hitchcock, D. D., A Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, p. 106

Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, April 9, 1777

Lodged Revd Cushing. Set off about nine oclock; dined Hows Marlboro.

SOURCE: William B. Weedex, Editor, formerly Captain Battery C, First R. I. Light Artillery, and Chief of Artillery, First Division, Fifth Corps, A. P., Diary of Enos Hitchcock, D. D., A Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, p. 106

Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, April 10, 1777

Lodged Baldwin's Shrewsbury — Arriv'd at Brookfield.

SOURCE: William B. Weedex, Editor, formerly Captain Battery C, First R. I. Light Artillery, and Chief of Artillery, First Division, Fifth Corps, A. P., Diary of Enos Hitchcock, D. D., A Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, p. 106

Diary of Reverend Enos Hitchcock, April 11, 1777

Received of Capt Greenleaf 60 Dollars to be sent to his wife—paid him ten for my share of Tickets No. 3014 & 3015.¹ —Officers set off for Ti— about Ten o.clock—Fair Day.

_______________

² This is only the beginning. The reader may be surprised as he discovers how often our examplary and devout clergyman bought Lottery Tickets. The custom prevailed at that time, and all classes participated in it freely. The states granted lotteries constantly for all sorts of enterprises, and the Continental Congress (Stiness, R. I. Hist. Tracts, 3, 45) raised money for the war by this means.

SOURCE: William B. Weedex, Editor, formerly Captain Battery C, First R. I. Light Artillery, and Chief of Artillery, First Division, Fifth Corps, A. P., Diary of Enos Hitchcock, D. D., A Chaplain in the Revolutionary Army, p. 106-7