PASSAGES FROM THE DIARY OP CHRISTOPHER MARSHALL, KEPT IN PHILADELPHIA AND LANCASTER DURING i I. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. EDITED BY WILLIAM DUANE, MEMBER or THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA. VOLUME I. 1774 1777, PHILADELPHIA: HAZARD & MITCHELL, No. 178 CHESTNUT STREET. Criasy & Markley, Printers, No. 4 Minor Street, 1839—1849. X' , ( >i.^' PREFACE. The part of the following work comprising the years 1774, 1775 and 1776 was published in the year 1839, and having met with the approbation of those qualified to judge of its merits, extracts from Mr. Marshall's Diary for the year 1777, are now added. The extracts which I have made for the four following years are sufficient to make a second volume of like size, which, I hope, will one day be laid before the public. The Diary, so far as it at present exists, covers only the eight years from 1774 to 1781, inclusive. Christopher Marshall, the Diarist, was one of the most respectable citizens of Philadelphia. Having accumulated a competency as a druggist, he had retired from business prior to the commencement of the revolution, and having ample leisure, his attachment to the American cause brought him forward into various posts of honor and responsibility connected with the progress of the revolution. It will be seen from the following pages, that he was on friendly and confidential terms with many leading men in the Conti- nental Congress, and the new Government of Pennsylvania. iv PREFACE. Mr. Marshall was cut off from the Society of Friends for the active part which he took on the Whig side in the contest with the mother country. This will account for the severity with which he notices some of the actions of the members of that society, who in taking an active part on the side of Great Britain, departed, as he thought, as much from the doctrine and discipline of the society as himself. Full confidence may be placed, however, on all that he mentions as coming within his own knowledge, his character for truth and honor having come down to us unsullied. December^ 1849. MARSHALL'S REMEMBRANCER 1774. January 9th. Very little news has transpired this week, except an observation on the conduct of the Bos- tonians. See Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1623. * * ISth. Sundry resolves were passed by our As- sembly respecting the riots in the county of Northumber- land; also, some resolutions were laid before the House from Maryland. 20th. This day was published a scheme for a So- ciety of Innoculating for the Small Pox. March 23(1. Account of [the] destruction of tea in Boston reached London about [the] 20th of January, and our tea ship sent back arrived at Dover the 25th same month. ^^pril 25th. Received by ship Concord, Captain Vo- lans, from Bristol, eighty-four pamphlets from my friend, George Stonehouse. Great debates in the House of Com- mons. See Pennsylvania Journal, No. 1641. May 21 St. This day part of [the] Standing Commit- tee met to consider the resolve of the town of Boston, sent here by express, but as they were uncertain what the Pro- vinces of Maryland, Virginia, and Carolina would do, they a2 6 Marshall's [1774. appointed a suitable answer to be wrote back to New York and Boston, and at [the] same time wrote to other Pro- vinces to know their minds on this alarming occasion, which was sent by express, and [they] wait till its return. The same day arrived the ship Prosperity, Captain M'Culloch, from Belfast in twenty-eight days, with four hundred and fifty passengers. May SOth. A number of the inhabitants, composed of most of the different Societies in this city, met and agreed that it would be proper to express their sympathy for their brethren at Boston, by suspending all business on that day, viz. the first of June. June 1st. This being the day when the cruel act for blocking up the harbour of Boston took effect, many of the inhabitants of this city, to express their sympathy and show their concern for their suffering brethren in the common cause of liberty, had their shops shut up, their houses kept close from hurry and business ; also the ring of bells at Christ Church were muffled, and rung a solemn peal at in- tervals, from morning till night : the colours of the vessels in the harbour were hoisted half-mast high ; the several houses of different worship were crowded, where divine ser- vice was performed, and particular discourses, suitable to the occasion, were preached by F. Allison, Duffield, Sprout, and Blair. Sorro-w^, mixed with indignation, seemed pictured in the countenances of the inhabitants, and indeed the whole city wore the aspect of deep distress, being a melancholy oc- casion. 4th. This being the birth-day of King George III., scarcely, if any, notice was taken of it in this city, by way of rejoicing: not one of our bells suffered to ring, and 1774.] REMEMBRANCER. 7 but very few colours were shown by the shipping in the har- bour ; no, nor not one bonfire kindled. June Sth. This day a petition was presented to John Penn, our governor, (signed by near nine hundred respecta- ble freeholders in and near this city,) requesting him to call the Assembly, in order to consider the proceedings of the British Parliament towards America in their proceedings against the town of Boston, &c. ier, one of the Committee. A true Copy from the Original, per order of the Com- mittee of Correspondence of Worcester, April, 1775. Attested and forwarded by the Committees of Brookline, Norwich, New London, Lyme, Saybrook, Killingsworth, E. Guilford, Guilford, Brandford, New Haven. Fairfield, Saturday, April 22, 8 o^ clock. Since the above was written we have received the fol- lowing by a second express. Thursday, 3 o'clock, afternoon, A. M. Sir, I am this moment informed by an express from Wood- stock, taken from the mouth of the Express, then two of the clock, afternoon — That the contest between the first Brigade that marched to Concord was still continuing this morning at the town of Lexington, to which said Brigade had re- treated, that another Brigade had, said to be the second men- tioned in the letter of this morning, landed with a quantity (21; of Artillery at the place where the first did. The Provin- cials were determined to prevent the two Brigades from joining their strength if possible, and remain in great need of succour. JV. B. The Regulars, when in Concord, burnt the Court House, took two pieces of cannon which they rendered useless; and began to take up Concord bridge on which Capt. ^J - '''''' " (who with many on both sides were soon killed) made an attack upon the king's troops, on which they retreated to Lexington. I am, Eb. Williams To Col. Obadiah Johnson, Canterbury. P. S. Mr. McFarlan of Plainfield, Merchant, has just returned from Boston, by way of Providence, who conversed with an express from Lexington, who further informs, that 4000 of our troops had surrounded the first brigade above mentioned, who were on a hill in Lexington, that the action continued, and there were about 50 of our men killed, and 150 of the regulars, as near as they could determine, when the express came away : it will be expedient for every man to go who is fit and willing. The above is a true copy as received per express from New Haven, and attested by the Committee of Correspond- ence, from town to town. Attest Jonathan Sturgis 'v Andrew Rowland / ^ Thaddius Burr \ Committee. Job Bartram j The above was received yesterday at 4 o'clock, by the Committee of New York, and forwarded to Philadelphia, by Isaac Low, Chairman of the Committee of New York. Printed by W. and T. Bradford. (22) [B] Philadelphia, April 26, 1775. Wednesday, 12 o^ clock. By an Express just arrived, we have the following. Wallingford, Monday morning, April 24, 1775. Dear Sir C^OL. Woodworth was over in this place yesterday and ^^has ordered 20 men from each company in his regi- ment, some of which have already set off, and others go this morning. He brings accounts which came to him authenti- cated as late as Thursday afternoon. The king's troops being reinforced a second time and joined as 1 suppose from what I can learn by the party who were intercepted by Col. Gardiner, were then encamped on Winterhill, and were surrounded by 20,000 of our men who were entrenching. Colonel Gardiner's ambush proved fatal to Lord Percy, and one other General Officer, who were killed on the spot the first fire. To counterbalance this good news, the story is, that our first man in command (who he is I know not) is also killed.- — It seems they have lost many men on both sides. — Col. Woods worth had the account in a letter from Hartford.- — The country beyond here are all gone off, and we expect it will be impossible to procure horses for our waggons, as they have or will in every place employ their horses them- selves. In this place they send an horse for every sixth man and are pressing them for that purpose. 1 know of no way but you must send immediately a couple of able horses, who may overtake us at Hartford possibly, where we must return Mr. Noy's and Meloy's, if they hold out so far. Re- member the horses must be had at any rate. I am in great haste Your entire friend and humble servant James Lockwood. P. S. Col. Gardiner took 9 prisoners, and 12 clubbed their firelocks and came over to our party. — Colonel Gar- diner's party consisted of 700, and the regulars of 1800 (23) instead of 1200, as we heard before. — They have sent a vessel up the Mystic river as far as Temple's Farm, which is about half a mile from Winterhill. — These accounts being true, all the King's Troops, except 4 or 500, must be en- camped on Winterhill. At the instance of the gentlemen of Fairfield just departed this copy is taken verbatim from the original, to be forwarded to that town. Isaac Bears The above is copied and authenticated by the several Committees through Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey -*** Winter Hill is about two miles from Boston. Wal- lingford is fourteen miles from Neio Haven. Printed by W. and T. Bradford. 24 MARSHALL'S [1775. April 29th. * * Went and drank coffee at James Cannon's. He was not there, being gone to [the] State House Yard to help consult and regulate the^forming of the militia. After coffee, I went back to [the] Factory by an appointment of some of the managers, who had appointed to meet Gardiner, a committee man of New York, with whom we spent the evening. This day, about noon, Jabez Fisher came by persuasion to the Coffee House, and there declared, in the presence of a great concourse of people, that it was Robert Holliday, of Duck Creek, that wrote and sent that letter to him, which he had caused to be published in the Pennsylvania Ledger, No. 3, and no other person, upon which the people, with some reluctancy, let him go ; but the overseers of the poor interfered, by obliging him there to give security for the maintenance of his two bastard children. James and Drinker had bonded a vessel for New- foundland, and intended to slip away with her, but a number hearing, waited on them. At first, they equivocated, but the people being resolute, they delivered up the ships papers, and hindered her proceeding. That also prevented Samuel Shoemaker from loading a vessel to the same place. May 1st. * * This day a number of the associators to the militia met in each of the wards of this city, to form themselves into suitable companies, and to choose their respective officers. * * 2d. * * Viewed some companies learning the use of fire-arms. * * * This day, about noon, Thomas Loosly, shoemaker, was brought to the Coffee House, and there being exalted as a spectacle to a great number of re- putable citizens, he there very humbly and submissively asked and entreated their pardon and forgiveness for his illiberally and wickedly villifying the measures of Congress, 1*775.] REMEMBRANCER. 25 the Committee, and the people of New England, sincerely promising that his future conduct should be just, true, and equitable, as should recommend him to the particular notices of all those whom he had so unjustly, falsely, and wickedly villified. On those assurances and promises, the company discharged him. May dd. * * There was a company of young men, Quakers, who this day asked leave of the managers to learn the military exercise in ^e Factory yard, which was granted, and they began this evening. 4th. * * This day account came that Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams are arrived at New York, on their way to this city, to attend the Continental Congress. The Quaker company, Humphries, captain, about thirty, exercised in the factory yard, and such is the spirit and alacrity of them, that few, if any, of the companies will sooner learn the military art and discipline, and make a handsomer appearance, nor be more ready to assert, at the .isk of their lives, the freedom of America on Constitutional principles. 5th. * * Visited two families that have left Boston government through the violent oppressive measures exer- cised over them. * * * This afternoon arrived [the ship Pennsylvania Packet,] Captain Osborne, from London, in which came passenger. Dr. Benjamin Franklin, to the satis- faction of his friends and the lovers of liberty. 6th. * * After dinner, went to the State House Yard, from thence to the commons, seeing the various com- panies exercise. While standing there, Major John Sullivan and John Langdon, Esq., two of the delegates from New Hampshire, with my son Benjamin, came, who, the dele- gates, spoke to me very kindly. * * c 26 Marshall's [1775. May 1th. * * It's admirable to see the alteration of the Tory class in this place, since the account of the engage- ment in New England : their language is quite softened, and many of them have so far renounced their former sentiments as that they have taken up arms, and are joined in the asso- ciation; nay, even many of the stiff Quakers, and some of those who drew up the Testimony, are ashamed of their proceedings. It is said that J** P**, who signed that paper, and had called the people rebels, now declares in favour of the opposition made to king and parliament. The Friends held a meeting last Fifth day afternoon, in order to consider how to send a supply to the Bostonians, it being a matter that before they had treated with contempt and ridicule. A petition has been presented to the House, praying them to grant a sum, not less than Fifty Thousand Pounds, for the use of the Province at this critical time, and another petition praying them to consider the situation of our City, and re- questing them to grant leave to stop our navigation, by sink- ing some vessels at Red Bank. Both these petitions were signed by great numbers, of all the different ranks and sects of this city. This was done last week. This day, arrived Captain Robison, in [the] ship [Sukey,] from London, in six weeks, who brought account that the marines were em- barked, and the vessels sailed for Ireland to take the soldiers on board. He brought also a copy of the petition of the Quakers to his Majesty, and that the printers of the piece called the Crisis, were had before the Ministry on account of finding out the author, who being interrogated and pressed hard, declared that one of the writers was the Duke of Gloucester. They immediately discharged them without any farther confession. * * 1775.] REMEMBRANCER. 27 May 8th. * * Account from New York is that a ge- neral association was set on foot on the 29th ultimo, and signed by above one thousand of the principal inhabitants of the City, and it is to be transmitted to all the counties in the Province, when they make no doubt but it will be signed by all ranks of people. The purport is, that they will abide by, and put into execution, whatever measures may be recom- mended by the Continental Congress, or resolved upon by their Provincial Convention. This they engage to perform under all the sacred ties of religion, honour, and love to their country. (See General Advertiser, No. 185.) We hear also from Willismsburgh,* of Governor Dunmore's deliver- ing to Captain Collins's party of men, in the night, out of the Magazine, twenty barrels of gunpowder, which they carried on board the schooner Magdalen. This was highly resented by the people, who addressed him on the occasion, and requested him to return it ; but instead of his complying, the locks were taken off the magazine, and the schooner put under the protection of the Fowey, man-of-war, in York river, and that the Governor had fortified himself in the palace, &c. * * 9th. * * This morning, arrived four of the dele- gates from South Carolina, in the brig Charleston Packet, Captain Barton, in four days passage, viz., Henry Middleton, Christopher Gadsden, John Rutledge, and Edward Rudedge, Esq's. Christopher Gadsden came to see me, and dined with me. In conversation, he expressed the great satisfac- tion he had received in reading some of the books he had from me, when he went last home to Carolina from this City, particularly Paul Sigevolk's book, entitled " The Ever- ♦ Then the capital of Virginia. 28 Marshall's [1775-. lasting Gospel," and those two books, entitled " The World Unmasked, or the Philosopher the Greatest Cheat," request- ing, that if it should please God that he and I should live to see peace and harmony once more restored among us . in these parts, I would promote a correction of the Everlasting Gospel, and have it, with the two other volumes of the World Unmasked, fairly and neatly printed, unto which he would sub'scribe largely, and, upon completing them, 1 might draw on him to the amount of Sixty Guineas, which he would immediately pay. This conversation gave me great pleasure. * * * N. B. This day, arrived these sundry delegates, viz., Peyton Randolph, George Washington, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, Edmund Pendleton, Benjamin Harrison, and Richard Bland, Esq's., from Vir- ginia ; Richard Caswell, and Joseph Hewes, Esq's., from North Carolina 5 Samuel Chase, Thomas Johnson, and John Hall, Esq's., from Maryland; Caesar Rodney and George Read, Esq's., from the counties of New Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on ihe Delaware. It is said they were met, about six miles from town, by the officers of all the companies in the city, and by many other gentlemen, on horseback, to the amount of five hundred. Within two miles of the city, the company of riflemen and infantry, with a band of music, met them, and conducted them through the City with great applause. May lOth. * * This day, about one o'clock, came into town .these following delegates, viz., John Hancock, Thomas Gushing, Samuel Adams,. John Adams, and Robert Treat Paine, Esq's., from Massachusett's Bay; Eliphalet Dyer, Roger Sherman, and Silas Deane, Esq's., for the Colony of Connecticut ; (and Thomas Lynch, South Caro- lina, arrived in the evening.) Delegates from New York» 1775.] REMEMBRANCER. 29 James Duane, Francis Lewis, John Jay, Lewis Morris, Philip Livingston, [and] John Alsop. Delegates from the Jerseys, [ ] May llth. * * This afternoon, the delegates opened the Congress at the State House; began with prayer, in which officiated Jacob Duche.* There were also added to them by our Assembly, now sitting, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Willing, and James Wilson, Esq's. The Congress this day elected Peyton Randolph, Esq., President, and Charles Thompson, Secretary. ISth. * * The Congress are daily sitting, but scarcely any thing transpires from them, saving the deposi- tions taken relating to the beginning of the engagement at Lexington and Concord. 14th. * * This morning, set off from this city, for Burlington, the Captains, Bradford, Pryor, and Melchor, with a number of others, on the report of a deserter from General Gage's being confined in prison there, for desertion, the which, upon their arrival at Burlington, they found to be true. They immediately went to the prison, took him out, and brought him to Philadelphia. * * I5th. '■ * This day, arrived the Hon. Samuel Ward, Esq., one of the delegates from the Colony of Rhode Island. Within these two weeks past, sundry families have arrived in this city from the territories of Boston, whose re- lations of their sufferings and distress there, are very melan- choly and afflicting to hear, and at present no prospect of any relief from under the hand of unmerited cruelty. A vessel this day arrived, which left Cork the 4th of April, says the * Rector of St. Paul's Church, Philadelphia — author of the Letters of T. Caspipina. BO Marshall's [1775. troops were not sailed, but were taking their horses aboard, &;c. May Mth. * * In P. Journal, No. 1693, is [a] copy of Robert Holliday'^s recantation and acknowledgment of his misconduct, the which was accepted by their committee in Kent county. In the Evening Post, No. 49, is [an] account of Governor Dunmore's Proclamation, and an account of his paying for the gunpowder he had suffered to be taken away, to the amount of three hundred and twenty pounds sterling, also the resolves of the committee of King William's county on that occasion, with the New York General Committee's Circular Letter to the other Colonies. * * 18^^. * * Account brought of the taking of Fort Ticonderoga. See Evening Post, No. 50, for particulars. 20/^. * * The Congress sitting every day this week constantly, and the militia, light infantry, horse, and company of artillery, exercising every day, and some ©f them twice a day. 22fZ. * * This day was published, in the Penn- sylvania Packet, No. 187, the Congress's advice in answer to the New York request, how they should behave in regard to the troops expected there. In said paper is the Address of the General Committee of Association for the city and county of New York, to Governor Colden. * * 24//i. * * In the last Evening Post, No. 52, is, it is said, General Gage's circumstantial account of the attack on his Majesty's troops by a number of people of the Mas- sachusett's Bay, April 19th. In said paper is [an] account, via Liverpool, 30th [of] March, that the whole regiment of light dragoons had, to a man, refused to come over to fight against this country. * * * From there to son Christo- pher's ; stayed and supped with eight of the delegates. 1775.] REMEMBRANCER. 31 About nine, an alarm was spread by beat of drum, that our prison was beset by a number of men, in order to rescue two prisoners who were under sentence of death ; but by the in- terposition of Captain Bradford's company, they were pre- vented, and some of the offenders, it's said, secured. How- ever, this company, with the assistance of , watched the prison all night. * * May 25th. Yesterday morning, Peyton Randolph, President of the Congress, set off for Virginia, as his pre- sence was necessary in their General Assembly, that is called by their governor to meet on the first of next June, at Wil- liamsburgh, of which he is speaker, and the Hon. John Han- cock was elected President. For the etymology of the word Yankee (alias Yankee Doodle) see Evening Post, No. 53.* * * * Part of two companies mounting guard at the prison, as I came home, in order to keep watch all night. 27th. * * After dinner went to the place ;t drank Balm Tea ; from thence to a walk on the commons, near [the] Bettering House, seeing sundry companies of militia exercising, till past seven. 28^/i. * * This day, it is said, Mary Harris, a Quaker preacher from Wilmington, visited the three Quaker Meeting Houses in this city, in a very odd manner, viz., by walking through each of the preacher's galleries, then down, passed amongst the people backwards and forwards, seem- ingly in great affliction and distress, uttering, it's said, words to this effect — '^ See to your standing, for that thus the Lord was about to search and examine his camp," th. * * Came home past nine. Moonlight and pleasant. I met part of the First Battalion of Phila- delphia Militia, just returned from camp in the Jerseys. * * * Yesterday, came to town, several companies of forces from the back counties, from Maryland, &:c. 27//^. * * Past eleven, the Second Battalion came to town. * * * Past seven, went to [the] Committee Room, Philosophical Hall ; came home past ten. * * * [At] this meeting, Samuel G**** was sent for, to answer for his not producing satisfaction respecting two chests [of] green tea, which refusal he still persisted in, and as he had treated those members who before waited on him with great violence and contempt, and called the Committee, robbers, and that he would prove them so, &c.