,l.-i E 302 .6 .H9 ni3 Copy 1 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. Chap. _._..... Copyright No... UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. ^ THE HUNTINGTON LETTERS THE HUNTINGTON LETTERS IN THE POSSESSION OF JULIA CHESTER WELLS \ ^- E^TED BY W. D; McCRACKAN MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION AUTHOR OF "the rise of THE SWISS REPUBLIC," ETC. PRINTED FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION \\^%\'^'\ THE APPLETON PRESS NEW YORK, 1897 .':■ I MIS Copyright, 1897, By JULIA CHESTER WELLS. Pv^ CONTENTS. PAGE A Word of Explanation . . . . i First Period (1761-1792) . . . .11 Containing mainly the letters which passed between the Hon. Benjamin Huntington and his wife Anne. Second Period (i 796-1 798) . . . .115 Containing mainly the letters written by Rachel Huntington to her sisters, Lucy and Anne (Nancy). Miscellaneous Letters and Documents 173 THE HUNTINGTON LETTERS. A WORD OF EXPLANATION. These letters are contained in a folio marked " Invoices." On the inside of the cover is pasted a slip of paper with the words : 1856. Mrs. Fanny T. Wells. Found among the papers of her mother, Mrs. R. Tracy. Then follows an engraved portrait of Judge Benjamin Huntington, member of Congress from Connecticut, 1789. It is the same portrait which is to be found in " A Genealogical Memoir of the Hunt- ington Family," by Rev. E. B. Hunting- ton, A. M., and is painted by a grandson, ®I)e ^Sttntington fetters. Daniel Huntington, the well-known por- trait painter, and engraved by A. H. Ritchie. The words "from an original miniature" appear at the bottom of the portrait. After this come the letters, spread out flat, but having once been folded and addressed in the old-fashioned way, without envel- opes. The collection is by no means com- plete, many letters having been given away in course of time, or scattered in such a manner that they can no longer be traced. The correspondents are various mem- bers of the family of Benjamin Huntington, of Norwich, Conn., the period covered be- ing from 1 761 to 1799. Most of the letters passed between the Hon. Benjamin Hunt- ington himself and his wife Anne, when he was serving in the General Assembly of Connecticut at Hartford, or in the Con- tinental and United States Congresses at Philadelphia, Princeton, and New York. Others were written by a daughter, Rachel Qri)c ^itntington betters. Huntington, when on visits in New York, Stamford, and Rome, N. Y., to her sisters, Lucy and Anne, in Norwich. There are letters also from the sons, George and Benjamin Huntington. The folio, further- more, contains a more or less miscellaneous collection of letters and documents, only a few of which have been deemed of suffi- cient value for publication. While it would be too much to claim that these letters are capable of arousing widespread, popular interest, they are nev- ertheless of real value to close students of American history, as showing the life of an American family which bore its part in the struggles of more than a century ago. The spirit of the Revolutionary era per- vades them in very truth. Especially will they deserve the attention of the descend- ants and family friends of the persons men- tioned in the following correspondence. In fact, it is for the sake of this compara- tively small group of readers that Miss ^[)c f untington £etter0. Wells now desires to publish the Hunting- ton Letters. At her request I have undertaken to add a word of explanation, without, how- ever, attempting to annotate more than a few of the many names of persons which occur in these pages. It has been my ob- ject to reproduce these letters as much as possible in their original condition — to let them tell their own story, and not to edit away their peculiarities. For this reason I have retained their vagaries of spelling; have refrained from supplying punctuation, even when it seemed much needed ; nor have I ventured to cut down religious effusions, conventional precepts, harrowing descriptions of bodily ailments, or pretty phrases of courtesy ; these are touches of the time, and throw light on social and economic conditions. The following facts in regard to the family history are gleaned from the work already mentioned, " A Genealogical Mem- QElje fluntington betters. oir of the Huntington Family in this Country," by Rev. E. B. Huntington, A. M., published in Stamford, Conn., 1863. The name of Huntington has been well represented in all the industrial, educa- tional, military, civil, and religious move- ments of the American continent for more than two centuries. The common ancestor was a certain Si- mon Huntington, a Puritan emigrant from England. A record of the Roxbury Church, in the handwriting of its pastor, the Rev. John Eliot, states that Margaret Hunting- ton, a widow, came to Roxbury in 1633; that she was a member of the church ; that she had sons with her ; and that her husband had died on the passage, from the smallpox. Margaret Huntington remained about two and a half years in Roxbury, married Thomas Stoughton, then of Dorchester, and with him, taking probably her young- QL\)c iguntington Cotters. est three sons, she removed to Windsor, Conn., then a new settlement, where she spent the rest of her life. Two of her sons, Christopher and Si- mon, went first to Saybrook, and in 1660 joined the colonists who settled Norwich. They and their descendants at once took a foremost position there both in church and state. Anne Huntington was a great-grand- daughter of Christopher ; Benjamin Hunt- ington a grandson of Simon. They were thus second cousins, once removed. They were married May 3 or 5, 1765, she being twenty-five years of age and he twenty- nine. The career of Benjamin may be summed up as follows : He graduated from Yale in 1 761, soon after entered upon the practice of law in Norwich, and rose rapidly to the front rank of his profession. In 1775 he was chosen by the Legislature of his native State on the Committee of Safety, ap- ^1)0 f untington Cetters. pointed to advise with the Governor of the State during the recess of the Legisla- ture. Only the ablest and truest patriots of that trying day would have been put upon that important committee. Again, in 1778, on the recommendation of Wash- ington, he was appointed by the Legisla- ture one of that convention to be held in New Haven for the regulation of the army. From 1780 to 1784, and again in 1787 and 1788, he was a member of the Continental Congress ; and when the new Government went into operation, in 1789, he was chosen to represent Connecticut in the First Con- gress of the United States. From 1 78 1 to 1790, and also from 1791 to 1793, he was a member of the upper house of the Connecticut Legislature. On the incorporation of Norwich City, in 1784, he was chosen, for an indefinite period, its first mayor, in which office he served until his formal resignation in 1796. He was also appointed in 1793 a Judge of the Su- QL[)t f untington Cettcrs. perior Court of Connecticut, holding this office until 1798. The children of Benjamin and Anne Huntington were all born in Norwich: Henry, May 28, 1766; Gurdon, March 16, 1768; George, June 5, 1770; Lucy, Janu- ary 21, 1773; Anne (Nancy), March 30, 1775; Benjamin, March 19, 1777; Rachel, April 4, 1779; Daniel, December, 1781. Rachel married at Rome, N. Y., Janu- ary 19, 1800, William Gedney Tracy, a merchant of Whitestown, N. Y., who was born in Norwich, Conn., November 15, 1768. Their youngest child, Frances (Fanny), married William Henry Wells, of Brattle- borough, Vt., and it is her daughter, Julia Chester Wells, who now desires the editor to prepare for publication " The Hunting- ton Letters," which are in her possession. FIRST PERIOD. 1761-1792. CONTAINING MAINLY THE LETTERS WHICH PASSED BETWEEN THE HON. BENJAMIN HUNTINGTON AND HIS WIFE ANNE. FIRST PERIOD I761-I792. When the correspondence opens, Anne Hunting- ton is not yet married, and is living with her mother at Windham, Conn. She writes to her elder sister, Hannah, wife of Gideon Tomlinson, of Stratford, Conn., an officer in the army : Dear Sister! Our last News from Stratford was by Mr. Chandler and then no Letter which I thought was cruel we are impatient to hear from you and hope Shortly to hear good News thinking if any thing to the contrary had happend we Should have heard from you before now.* O my Dear Sister I am with you in my thoughts almost continually as well in my Sleeping as waking Hours last * Hannah Tomlinson's only child, Jabez Huntington, was born December 24, 1760. His son, Gideon, was Governor of Connecticut from 1827 to 1831. 2 IX 12 QTlje fnntington £etters. Night I wakd my Self Talking to Sister Hannah & Lucy I fain would have gone to sleep again and Dreamd on but so great was my Disappointment in finding all to be a Dream that I could not compose my Self to sleep for some Hours. I have no News except what I have wrote to Sis- ter L. Honrd Mama & all Friends at Windham are in Health through Divine Indulgence, and Nothing would add more to my Happiness than your presence Mama Designs to hold you to your Prom- iss of coming to Windham in the Spring I cant but Long for its approach for if you come it will be a Spring indeed to me. Pleas to give my compts. to Capn. Tom- linson tell him I shall Heartily Rejoice to see him at Windham I Congratulate him & you on his return from the Champaign * * The close of the war between England and France, called in the American colonies " The Old French and In- dian War." It ended with the surrender of Canada to the English, September 8, 1760. ®l)e guntington Cetters. 13 Mama gives her Love to you & says she shall think you unkind if you Dont write by Mr Ripley who Designs to make you a Visit. Farewell Dearest Sister my best wishes attend you am your Affectionate Sister & Friend Anne Huntington Windham 14 Janry 1761. P X S. pleas to give mamas & my regards to your Honrd Dadda & Mama Compts Miss Polly. A H To Mrs Hannah Tomlinson 14 S^i)c Huntington Cettcrs. II. More than thirteen years have elapsed. Anne Huntington, settled in Norwich, writes to her husband, Benjamin Huntington, in Hartford : Dear Sir ! I rec^ your Second kind Let- ter Saturday Evening which in some meas- ure Compensated for your not returning which I was in great hopes of on account of what Brother W Wrote which he never told me of till some days after he wrote I have partly wrote you two Letters but throwd them by because I had no News to write but what would add to your Trouble and concern about me I have had a MelanchoUy time of it ever since you"*' been gone for twas but the next Morning after you went from home I was taken with raising Blood but not to that Q;i)e ^tintin9t0n betters. 15 Degree I did the other turn the Doctors Still Speak incouraging to me and think my Complaints rather of the Histerick than Hectick kind but doctors are Liable to Mistakes and often Fail in their Judg- ment Especially in Hectick disorders I Rest but very 111 Nights Saturday Night had but very little Sleep rode out with Na- than W yesterday and rested much better last Night and am Better this Morning tho I Tremble and am weak but have no Cough and I hope no setled Fever am much discouraged at turns about my Disorder but do not dispair of relief God has ever been Favourable and is ever Merciful I trust I^ an Interest in your Prayers Dear Sir pray for me that I may not have a False Hope Dont be too much concernd about me but let us rest assured that God will do that which is for the Best The Children are well and send their i6 a:i)e ^txntington Cettets. Duty the berer waits and I can only Sub- scribe my Self most AfTec*y yours Anne Huntington Norwich Monday Morning- 23d May 1774 Benjn Huntington Esq' Q:i)e ftintingt0n fetters. 17 III. Benjamin Huntington is deputy from Norwich to the General Assembly of Connecticut, in session at Hartford. Hartford Apfil 2gth lyjs Mrs. Huntington This is only to let you Know that I am well and hope to Come home Next Week The Assembly is very full of News and a Great Deal of Business but the Members Sworn to Secrecy therefore Cannot In- forme you of Any News or thing^ of Con- sequence but Matters Do not appear to me to be Worse than 1 Apprehended when I came from home I have Wrote to M^ Wetmore Concerning Mother Hunt- ington & Mr P Wetmore and have heared that Friends at the Westward are well. i8 OTIje ^nntin%tan betters. M'" Hancock* from Boston arived here today on his way to the Congress — Write to me by Every Opportunity who am your Benj Huntington * Meeting of the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, May 10, 1775, with John Hancock as President. ®l)e Huntington tctuts, 19 IV. Hartford J/ajr ijtA jj'js Mrs Huntington I have the Pleasure to Informe you that the Lower House have Determined Not to Do any Private Disputable Business this Session which will make a Short Session & I hope to be at home in Ten Days or a fortnight Please to Informe Capt Jz Putnim thereof and any others that may Inquire of you There is News from New York that the Forces that are Coming are Destined to New York and that the Ships are Chief- ly Loaden with English Good & Agents on Bond to Sell them to the Yorkers in Spite of the Sons of Liberty* but they may * The term " Sons of Liberty " was first used by Isaac Barre, the companion and friend of Wolfe, sharer in 20 Qi\)c f untington betters. find the Market more Troublesome than they Expect — I am your Benj Huntington Mrs Anne Huntington the capture of Louisburg and Quebec, in a speech which he delivered in the British Parliament against the Stamp Act. It was reported in the American colonies, and at once became a household term here. Local organizations were formed in the different colonies under this name, having as their object the practical nullification of the odious Stamp Act by preventing importations and encour- aging home industries. 9[l)e Huntington Cetters. 21 V. Hartford May 24th lyj^ Mrs. Huntington, after Tenderest Re- gards to you I would Inform you that I am in Health and hope to be at home this Week but not before Saturday as I must Come by the Way of Middle Town and you must not be Concerned if I Don' git home before Next Week — I hear Betty has been sick but Bitter [Better] am afraid you^^ Fatigue your Self with hard Work without help Pray get help and fav'^ your- self as 'much as you Can I have no Great Matter of News to Write only that no Tories are allowed to Sustain any Office in the Colony five or Six Justices and Capt Hide for one are left out & Sundery Military Officers are Broken on Account 22 ^\)t iguntington £eUers. of Toryism it is a Terrible Time for the Enimies to their Country and I wish it might Never be better for them till they Repent I am your Constant Benj Huntington Give my Love to the Children & tell them I shall very Glad to hear they have been good Children, When I come home B H May 23th ijys P. S Since I wrote The foregoing Capt Mott has arrived from the Congress & Brings news that they are unanimous and highly Approve of what we have Done in taking Tyconderoga* and Crown * '* The possession and control of Lakes George and Champlain had from an early date been regarded by the people of New York and New England as necessary to their protection against the encroachments of the French in Canada. It was around Ticonderoga and Crown Point that the greater part of the fighting in the French and In- dian War occurred. When the Revolutionary struggle opened, the importance of those posts was at once recog- nized in the Northern colonies, and far-sighted individuals (S;i)e gtttttiitigton betters. 23 Point and have Sent orders for the Mili- tary Stores in those Places to be kept at the Joint Expence of the Whole Continent as also that they Determine that the Whole Cost of Defence Shall be born by all the Colonies alike in Proportion to in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York alike pro- posed their immediate seizure. . . . Ticonderoga was then garrisoned by Captain Delaplace, of the Twenty-sixth Regi- ment, British Army, and a small company of regulars." Captain Edward Mott thus describes the origin of the Ti- conderoga enterprise : " A number of the principal gentlemen of the Assem- bly at Hartford, on Friday, the twenty-eighth day of April, Conversing on the distressed Condition of the people of Boston, and the means necessary to relieve them, fell on the Scheme to take that fortress [Ticonderoga], that we might have the advantage of the cannon that were there to relieve the people of Boston. I told the Gentlemen that in my opinion it might be taken by surprise with a few men, if properly Conducted." Captains Mott and Phelps, with six or eight volunteers from Hartford and re-enforcements from many places on the road, marched to Ticonderoga. They were joined by Ethan Allen and Seth Warner with their Green Mountain Boys. A Massachusetts force, under Benedict Arnold, overtook this Connecticut force, and entered the fortress gate at the same time — May loth. Thereupon Crown Point also was taken. On May i8th, Benedict Arnold surprised St. John. — Connecticut Military Record, 1^^^-1848. 24 ®I)e ^untingtcn Cettera. their Ability About forty or fifty Regu- lar Soldiers with their Wives and Children are now in Hartford who were brought from the Northward in a word we have none but good Newes these two or three Days Except that three Men are Missing who were in a Fight a S* Johns last week and M^ Wales & others have Wrote from New York that they have Intelligence that the Indians in Canada are about to take up Arms against us I Shall not be at home be- fore next Week and am yours till Death Benj Huntington QTlje ^nntinqton Cetters. 25 VI. Norwich May p/t I'jyd Sir I rec^ your Fav^^ of the nth & 14th Ins* Have had no oppertunity to send you a Line since your Absence to aleviate your Fears about Gurdon* He nearly recover^- his Lameness the Day after you left Home and his Eye is much mended and he Quite Brisk and Hearty He shed * Gurdon, the second child, married " first, March 20, 1792, Susannah Tracy, who was born August 8, 1770, and died August 21, 1793. He married for his second wife, July 6, 1794, Anna Perkins, who was bom February i, 1768, and died April 21, 1802. He began life as a carriage maker at Norwich, but after a few years removed to Rome, N. Y., where he became a merchant, and by his strict and unbending integrity and the genial kindliness of his heart acquired the esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was successful in his business, from which he retired some years before his death, which took place in 1840." — Hunt- ington Memoir^ 26 2[l)e ignntington Cetters. Tears when I read the parts of your Let- ters that concern vvich & M^ Hyde has not arived. I e .ect him dayly but with no more reason than I did seven weeks ago. I was here three weeks without doing any business then I opened Goods and am selling with tolerable incouragement I have estab- lished a good character for the shop & perhaps have done as well as if Hyde had been here — I want nothing but the com- pany of my near Friends to make me very contented in this country, within a few rods where I live there are Two Attor- neys. Two Doctors who Drugists & a merchant, all very respectable well edu- cated young Men these added to a Num- ber respectable Farmers make a very good society, besides almost every day there are Gentlemen from N York, Albany, or N England traveling into this Country & ®l)e guntinigton genets. m to the Genesee, all make a stanc lere man}^ stay Two or three days to R uit, this affords a variety in our compan -.nd gives us the News and will make , a Place of consequence — since my last I ve obtained the Census of Whites Town,in Septemb'" 1790 there were 1840 Inhabitants May 91. 3875. May 92. 5743 many who have moved into this country the last year have settled without the limits of the dis- trict where the census is taken, this de- ceived Judge White who told me there would be 8000 inhabitants this year — the increase is now very rapid in the district where there was one Cap^ Compay of sol- diers 3 years ago there is now Two Regi- ments of eight large companys each, the soldiers are all Young active Men fit for duty, this makes us sufficiently strong to defend us from the Indians was they dis- posed to Quarrel — I am in good health my Friends tell me I grow fat fast am anxious to hear from 112 QL\;)c §nntin%ton Cetters. Noi ch every Opportunity. Please to giv ly love to all Brothers & Sisters I ha'< eceived no letters from them except on '^oni Lucy — I am with the strongest Fi 1 Affection & Respect your Son Geo Huntington Benjamin Huntington Esq^ SECOND PERIOD. 1796-1798. CONTAINING MAINLY THE LETTERS WRITTEN BY RACHEL HUNTINGTON TO HER SISTERS, LUCY AND ANNE (NANCY). 113 SECOND PERIOD 1 796-1 798. I. Rachel Huntington, seventeen years of age, pays a visit to her brother, Henry, in New York, and writes to her sisters, Lucy and Anne, in Norwich. New York November igi^ lygb My Dear Sisters this is the first time I have had leasure to write to you, since I parted from you at Norwich, perhaps by this time, a little narrative of my adventures, will not be ungratefull to you. — About thre hours after Cousin Alice & I left you, we ar- rived at New London; we went immedi- ately to M^" Laws, made a good visit, & about four o clock P M embarked for N York, which we reached in 1 5 hours ; we went directly to Brother Henry's, & Alice, "5 n6 Qri)e i^i^ntington Cotters. finding on enquiry that M^ W Fitch's family were at Stamford & M^ Watsons, about setting out for Bethlehem, concluded to take up her abode with me while we stay in town — Monday & Tuesday we went a shopping all about town, Wensday morning went to M'^ Watsons, & in the evening to the Theatre, where the tragedy of the Earl of Essex, (founded on the story of Queen Elizabeth, & the Earl of Essex,) or the unhappy favorite, & the Padlock a musical entertainment were performed with considerable applause — I confess to you, I was not so delighted with the play, as I expected to be, but there are very few plays, that have nothing disgusting in them — I spent Thursday at Mr W Wolsey's with M''^ John Davenport, her daughter Mary Davenport, Cousin Alice, & Miss Patty D wight, a niece of M^^ Wolsey's, from North Hampton — last night we were again at the Theatre, & were entertained with the Comedy of the young quaker, & @:i)e Huntington £etters. ny my Grandmother, a whimsical, well per- formed, farce, — I believe you will think dissipation has got fast hold of me, but do not be troubled, I will shake it off whenever it is necessary — I have bought a camels hair shawl for Lucy, & some lace, which I shall send by Culver, I shall buy some knitting nedles for Nancy, & also a brown beaver hat if I can find one that I think would suit her ; I have been to M^ Tiffin's for one, & he has none but sattin beavers, which are ex- travagantly dear & in my opinion not so good as the other kind — I will enquire further & if I cant find a brown hat to suit my fancy, shall buy a green one, like one I purchased for myself — I think it is probale Miss Cogswell [and] I shall go to Stamford about the middle of next week, but cannot certainly tell — I'd like to have forgot to tell you that Doctor Brown has been here, & brought me a letter from Benjamin, & I wrote by him to ii8 ®l)e ^guntingt0n fetters. Ben — He desired me to give his compli- ments to leather & Nancy, he says he thinks it very probable, brother George & Lady visit Norwich this winter, so I told him Lucy would return with them, if they should, — O sisters ! if I could see you but for one hour, what pleasure it would give me — I am engaged to spend the day at M^ Cotton's tomorrow, it is quite late & I must rise early — Give my duty to Father, love to brother & sister, & their children & believe me most affectionately your sister Rachel Huntington Misses L & A Huntington Ql[\c iQuntington £euet3. 119 II. New York December gt^i i^gd My Dear sisters by M' Carew I have just time to write you a few lines to inform you where I am, & that I shall stay a fortnight longer in New York, you must not be surprised if your sister should spend the winter at Bachelors Hall, at present I certainly have no expectations of it, nor, on my arrival here, did I intend to stay any longer than a week. Last night there was the most dreadfull fire that has been known for a great many years, forty, or fifty houses & stores were burnt, & a great many poor families, turn'd out of doors ; at present nobody, is able to make any estimate of the losses, they must certainly be very great — I20 ^[)c funtington Cutters. It was about one o clock, when the cry of fire was heard, our family rose immediate- ly, the gentlemen ran to the fire, & M^^ Duncan, Miss Cogswell & myself to the too of the house, from whence we had a fiiil view of the City which was perfectly illuminated, the tops of the houses being covered with snow gave a fine appearance to the scene — I can hardly concieve a more beautifully sublime object there are thre or four poeple talking in the room where I am writing which may serve as an apology for the inacuracy of this letter — You cant tell how much I was disappointed at not receiving any letters by Charles Carew, you must not disappint me so any more if you should I am determined it shall not lessen the number of my beautifull litterary productions — Cousin Carew promised to call for this at ten o clock, it is now past ten, & as he does not appear I believe I may as well write on — Last monday afternoon as Alice & myself were out a shopping we Qi[)c funtington Cetters. 321 happened to meet Miss Betsey Rogers & cousins, Eliza & Betsey Davenport Miss Rogers ivited us to call & take tea with her, & we accepted her invitation & in the evening had a most agreeable little ball Miss Rogers was the musician a harpsi- chord the instrument — I have bought a black beaver hat for Nancy & shall sent it by Niles, it is a very pretty one my letter is calld for. adieu your most affectionate sister R Huntington. Qli)c Huntington jLetters. III. Rachel Huntington is on a visit at the house of Major John Davenport, of Stamford. Stamford January jd lygy My Dear Sisters M'' Thomas has just calld here for letters to carry to you. I wrote two or thre days ago a letter which I have given him & am now seated in Major Davenports Office, scribbling again — M^ Thomas tells me he heard Brother George & Lady, had set out for Norwich, & that Col Colebirth told it him in N York — I wish it were pos- sible for me to be present to partake in the pleasure such a visit must give you, but as it is not, I must content myself without it, wish you a full enjoyment of it, & please myself with idea that you are happy — SCIie ^nntin%ton tenets. 123 Present my congratulations to Miss Char- lotte Tracy, & tell her I remember the agreement of the "6th of July 1796' — The news concerning M'^ Eels & Miss R gives me pleasure tho it does not sur- prise me. You wish to know whether I saw our Cousin Wetmores, I saw Victory, & Rob- ert, at the Play House, the former came to our box & had quite a long conversa- tion with me, he informed me Prosper & his family were at Stratford, & that all our friends there were well, but not a look could I get from Bob, 'tho he sat directly opposite me, & I stared him full in the face severall times-— There is a fine body of snow on the ground, & we are quite apprehensive of Company from New York, a party of our friends having engaged to visit us the first sleighing, when we are to have a Ball I say we are '' apprehensive " of thier coming before Alice's & my own trunk arrive as we have but very few 124 ®I)^ igtxntington fetters. cl oaths here, & those not very Tippy — We have sr>ent this day at Mag Davenports, it grow? ate enough for us to think of tak- ing our departure, & I believe it behoveth me vo finish my letter, I shall keep letters written, by me, for future, & send them every opportunity if you will do the same, you will much oblige & gratify your ever affectionate Sister R Huntington Misses L & A Huntington Qi\)c Huntington fetters. 125 IV. New Haven /any 6t^ ijgy Dear Son Your Letter of the first Instant was handed to me after the Mail for New Lon- don was gone which Prevented me from an Immedeate answer but as soon as I could I wrote to Lucy by a M^ Allyn of this Place who was to go & I suppose is gone this Day for N London but lest the letter by him should fail I now think it best to put this into the Post Office for the Next Mail I am most heartily sorry not to See you and your Wife before your Return but must Consider it as an un- avoidable Misfortune I w^rote Lucy My Consent that She shall go with you tho, she has A Right to do as she Pleases as 126 @:t)e Huntington £ettcr0. she is of Age to act for herself your kind offer to supply her with Necessary Ac- commodations for the Journey is very obliging I am unhappy in not having it in my Power to furnish her with Cash and other Articles sufficient for the Journey and Support for so long a Time but what you advance for her you must Charge to my Account as I dont desire you to Sus- tain the Cost without my assistance it will be a tedious Journey for you to Come from Hartford to New Haven for no Pur- pose but to see me whene I cannot spend but little Time with my friends I am in hopes of Coming to See you at Fort Stan- wix in May or June Next if well enough to Endure the Journey I am at Present in usual health excepting a Visit of the Rehu- matism in my left leg which came upon me before I left home and yet Continues painful but hope it will leave me soon I have not heard of Rachel Since I came here but hope Major Davenport will bring ^[)c Huntington fetters. 127 her to meet me at Fairfield my Confine- ment in the Court for so great a Part of my time is very tedious but I must attend that business to obtain a Subsistence in my Declining Age which will soon be pass^ & gone — Give my kind love to Benjamin & tell him I hope he will be contented to Remain with you untill of Age and that he may have the good fortune to go into Business as his Brothers have all done without loss of Time I was obliged to spend much Time and money in fitting myself for Business after of Age having been left an Orphan at five years of age ^ & Destitue of friends who had Abilities or Inclination to put me forward since which time I have been a Slave to the Publick and have at last nothing to Expect as a Reward but to be Despised in old Age I have Indeed been highly favoured * Benjamin, St., was born April 19, 1736, and his father, Daniel, died September 13, 1741. His mother married again, November 30, 1742. 128 Sri)e igtintin3t0n Cetters. by Divine Providence in being Enabled to afford a Decent Education to my Children and I hope I have Property Enough to prevent my being Burthensom to them in old age If Gurdon has Collected the Note I left in his Hands against Gen^ Williams I hope Nancy can Spare a Part of it for Lucy's Expences on her Journey but must at this Distance leave the Concern of it to your Descretion I have already Wrote too much because I know not how to Stop My Affectionate Regards to your wife & to Gurdon & his wife & Nancy I am &c Benj Huntington M^ George Huntington S:i)e gnntington fetters. 129 This letter is undated. It seems to have been written from Stamford, and to fit in to this period. My friends here treat me very politely, & appear glad to se me, & my time passes very agreably, & I hope not unprofitably — Mrs Stiles is here on a visit, & expects to spend the winter, I treat her with due cir- cumspection & shall endeavour to keep in her good graces — I believe the society here is nearly the same as when you visited Stamford, we have no beaux unless thre or four students, at M'^ Smith's, may be calld so ; two of them M^ Sands, & M^ Marlot, a frenchman, have spent an evening with us & appear to be smart young gentlemen — Alice & myself have become quite enlight- ened in the science of Phisiognomy, & find I30 ®l]e Huntington Cetters. no difficulty in cutting- profiles of persons two or thre weeks after seeing them — we have got quite a collection, of miniature profiles, of some persons which we saw in New York, it is not an unpleasing amuse- ment, to cut them where the features of the persons are striking — Cousin Eiza [Eliza] desired me to apolo- gise to you, for her not writing to you, she said she believed several letters had been written to her from you, which she never recieved she said she felt rather awkward about writing to you at present, as the last letter she recieved from you was almost torn to pieces — I found one letter from you directed to her, dated Feb- ruary 1795 I read it, & as the contents were rather out of date for the present time, commited it to the flames. Eliza bade me tell you she had the promise of going to Rome with you — she says if you write to her again she shall cer- tainly be a good girl & answer your letters 9ll)e Huntington fetters. 131 — she is quite a Belle in New York, & if she is not made a vain quoquet, before spring, may with propriety be pronounced a person of an an uncommonly strong un- derstanding, she is very beautifull, & if she is proof against flattery will make an exe- lent woman — I suppose Father is now on the circuit, & intend to write to him very soon — I in- tended this only as a cover to the enclosed, but believe I shall fill it up— Give my love to Brother & sister, & my Nephew & nieces^ tell Edward I hope to see him very much improved in his reading, when 1 return home — Give suitable regards to all my acquaintance who enquire after me in a friendly manner & tell them, think of them, & love them just as well as I used to do Adieu your gratefuU & affectionate R Huntington Misses L & A H. 132 ®l)e f untin9t0n fetters. VI. Lucy Huntington goes on a visit to her brother George, in Rome, N. Y., and Rachel addresses her letter to Anne, in Norwich. Stamford January 2gt^'- lygy My dear sister, I have written several letters to you within the last fortnight, & for want of some private opportunity to send them, have destroy'd them, but if no other con- veyance offers soon I shall send this by the mail. I have got a little picture, pocket handkerchief for Edward, & an- other for Susan, which I think will please & instruct them, & if a good opportunity presents, shall send them with this. Well sister how do you like solitude? should QL\)c ^nntin^tan £etter0. 133 you be sorry, or glad, to see Rachel ? or are you rather indifferent about it ? Your letter to Cousin Alice, made me feel quite consequencialy I assure you, when you mention'd, I must expect to be summond home soon, let me request that it may not be too soon — I last week recieved a letter from sister Lucy, she was then a few miles beyond New Canaan, & had dined with the M^s Whitings & I suppose brother & his party arrived at Fort Stanwix in safety, or I should have heard of it before this time — Lucy mentioned that Cousin Re- becca Huntington promised to spend some time with you, & I think, with her. Miss Miner & Cousins Betsey & Polly Perkins, to each of them make you a visit, you may consent to my staying till May, when I calculate to return home by the way of New York — Last week I went to Fairfield with Major Davenport & Lady & Cousins Alice & Alfred, in a sliegh — Our Cousin Burr appeared glad to see me, & I was 134 ^^c ^nntin9t0n tctUxs. quite pleased with her, she appears to be a good friendly woman, of very plain man- ners & I think bears some resemblance to our deceaced Mother I was extremely grieved to find Father so ver}^ lame as he was, 'tho he told me he was getting better, & thought his unusual lameness came in consequence of a bad cold, which he caught in the extreme cold weather in the begin- ing of this month — Father said that before he left home, you almost repented letting me make a visit at Stamford before you. If it were possible I would willingly fore- go the pleasure I shall recieve in my visit, & take your place at the old mansion in Norwich & let you finish my visit at Stam- ford — but as it is impossible, cutting short my visit can do no good — but if you will consent to my making a good long visit, I promise you that I will be a good girl & stay at home, steady as any quaker lass. M'^ Watson & Cousins Eliza & Betsey Davenport came up from New York last @:i)e ^untinjgton £euers. 135 Monday, & Tuesday evening, after Alice & I, returned from Fairfield we had a very agreable little Ball. M^s W & Cousin Eliza went away on Thursday, the former to Hartford & the latter to N York Cousin Betsey is still with her Stamford friends & will stay 'till the next sleighing, when M^^ Watson is to return from Hartford & take her with her to New York Cousin Betsey is in the Chamber writ- ing with me, & every minute there comes a mandate for us to appear below stairs, it seems there is a little, coxcomical French- man there, who keeps enquiring for " de Ladies." he came here one evening & staid 'till allmost midnight, notwithstand- ing, repeated hints were given that it was time for him to depart, & then he asked **a thousand pardons " for going so early, when he went away — but I must stop writ- ing Cousin Betsey sends you — here's another message — good night to 136 ®l)c ^nntington Cettcrs. you — I fear it will be long before I have the pleasure of saying so to Monsieur — your truly affectionate sister, Rachel Huntington Miss Anne Huntington Qri)e Huntington Cetters. 137 VII. Stamford day after fast lygj My dear sister, the enclosed was written several days ago, & the careless postmaster neglected to send it to Norwich, but I am determined to send it by the next stage with the addition of another sheet, & I hope you will be glad to see it — This after- noon the stage stop'd at the Stage house opposite here & Gen^ E Huntington & M'^ Zach Huntington were the first per- sons who met my eyes, & I felt as much delighted as I should at home at the sight of old acquaintance General H calld to see Major Davenport, & was very polite to me, he told me all the Norwich news he could think of, & wish'd he could tell me better news about my father, but he was very lame, though much better than he had 13S QL[)c ^untittigton ^Letters. been. M^ H says that he believes his niece is very soon to be married to M^ Mumford, & more dependance may be placed on that, than on the New York tattles, therefore I wish you not to mention what 1 have written concerning him in my other letter, to any one — Oh dear, I can- not help continually thinking of papa's leg, do Nancy let me know how it is whether you think it will get well as the weather grows warm, & if he still keeps up his spirits, if he does not, remember my sister, that it is doubly necessary for you to be cheerfull, I wish I could be contributing to his comfort, with you, but circum- stanced as I am, it seems best for me to finish my visit as I have proposed, am I acting right, or not ? I must stop writing 'till tomorrow — Sunday I have been to Church this day & heard M'^ Burnet, (who was at our house last Summer) preach, he dined here, & enquired after father, was very sociable & agreable in conversation, ®l)e Huntington Ccttcrs. 139 but no great orator. M^" & M^s Smith & thier family are going to Sharon next week & soon after thier return M^ Smith is going to Windham, & has promised to call on me at Norwich about the second tuesday in June. I wish you could be ac- quainted him & his Lady, they are really a very worthy pair, I was thinking Lucy was to see my letter, when I began to write about them, but no matter — I am very glad to hear M^"^ Uriah Tracy has so fine a son, the family are undoubtedly much pleased with it, M^ Huntington informd me that all the mischief of M'^ T's Barn & out houses' being burnt was plotted by a little boy, who had confess'd the fact, it is to be hoped his confession, may stay the hands of worse incendiaries, For some time I was almost afraid to hear from Norwich, for fear the news would be that Brother Gurdons shops were burnt, but I hope the danger is now over — How does M^ Hyde like Capt Burnham's attention I40 ®l)e f untington £etters. to Sally? don't you think the Whites- town man would be quite as agreable ? How does M^'s E Tracy, & her sisters do ? I suppose it is allmost time for Miss Debby, to return from Boston — when you see them I will thank you to give my love to them — Indeed Nancy, I wish very often that my visits were over & myself fairly fixed down in the old mansion, again, prac- ticing the industry & Philosophy which I have been planning since I left home — I hope they will not both forsake me when they are put to the test, & make me sing the old tune " how much easier it is to theorize, than practice '* — I hope Papa will send me some money, by the mail, — Re- member me affectionately to all friends, particularly to brothers children & let me know if Edward is a good Boy, I suppose Susan has forgotten me — your affectionate sister R Huntington Miss Anne H QTlje Huntington iLetters» 141 VIII. Stamford April 12^^ lygj My dear Anne, A day or two, previous to the reciept of your letter of March 19*^ in which you desire me to prepare for my journey home- ward as soon as I conveniently can, I dis- patched a letter to you, in which (if re- member right) I told you Brother Henry was married, & was to carry M^^ Hunting- ton to New York in May — Major Daven- port was at New York last week & brother told him that he should go to Shelter Is- land the first week in may, & return as soon as possible to New York with M« H. he did not write to me, but sent word that he would in a few days. My friends here advise me to stay & visit my new sister, & 14^ Cf)e ftttttington tetters. I need not tell you how much I wish to, for you can easily immagine it) it will probably be a long time before another op- portunity as good as the present, will offer, M^ & M^ Davenport will be going to New York the second week in may^ (&, it was told me, with an injunction not to let any one know it hereabo^its, Cousin Alice is to go with them,) I have concluded to wait & go with them, if I do not hear from you, that it is necessary for me to come home imme- diately. O Nancy, I wish it were possible for me to get at a little of yours, or Lucy's wholesome advise, (the last word is spelt wrong, but no matter) I assure you it would very often be gratefull to me — I believe you have really had a great many trials for your patience within a few months, (the consolatory visit of our dear Crank cousin s cannot be a very small one) That of not recieving your new hat must, I believe, be laid to my charge, for I ought not to have depended on its being sent on ^l)e ^ttntington betters. 143 board the vessel without my particular care — Cheer up your spirits my sister, & remember it will be your turn to go abroad next, & leave me at home to pay for gadding ail last winter. When I saw Papa at Fairfield, he offer'd to give me ten dollars, which, as I did not then need it, I declined accepting, he however bade me write for it in the spring if I should want it, I will thank you to tell him that I should be very glad of it now, if he can spare it; if not, I cajt do without it — I re- cieved a letter from Benjamin a few days since in which he writes, that Lucy Is very much pleased with her visit at Rome, & talks of returning home in April or May, but I suspect we shall not see much of her before September, I am pleased that you have finished reading Humes England, & am determined to bring you some pleasing novel for a desert, but cannot promise that it will be Cammilla, as I have heard it con- demn'd by some persons, on whose judge- 144 2^l)e ^nntinqton £euers. ment, I should put a good deal of depend- ance, as being far inferior to Miss Burneys other writings. M^s Radcliffe's " Castles of Athlin & Dunbaine " is advertised in the New York papers, & as there is only one volume the expence of it will not be much — I intend buying it, & I think you will be pleased with it if you like such things as well as you used to — The Mysteries of Udolpho, have been so much caressed, (poor things), that they have not had suf- ficient liesure to keep thier cloaths in re- pair, a continual round of dissipation & visiting has preyed upon thi&v feeble frameSy & they have grown old in the days of their youth — Brother bought some books at auction when I was in New York & would have given a very good novel, entitled *' Caleb Williams ", to me, but on examin- ing them, he found all the volumes were alike, he gave me the " Ghost seir or Ap- paritionist, which some person who has read it, has justly defined with a pencil at ®l)e ijuntingtan Cetters. 145 the end of it, " A very miraculous nothing at all." You write that perhaps M"^ B M Mumford will be company for me on my (way to) Norwich — but I begin to have serious doubts (whether) the match between him &. Miss Huntington ever takes place, his behaviour is certainly very odd if that match is still in contemplation, there is a Miss Sedgwick in New York to whom he pays very particular attention ; & (to use the expression of Miss Rogers, Cousin Elizas correspondent) " he is out shopping with her evry morning & at the play, or visiting with her, every evening," very fine things, he has said also of Cousin Eliza, which it would not be worth my while to repeat, even if I had more paper such conduct is rather uncommon for a mortgaged man but perhaps Vanity may be the cause of it all. Have you heard any whisperings concerning it in Norwich? if you have'nt pray keep what I have written 146 Ql[)c f untington Cetters. to yourself, for I should be mortified to be the propagator of such a stor^ M^ M is a great favorite with the Ladies, & per- haps he may be for quoquetting, & Miss S rings louder than any belle in New- York. With duty to Father & love to all friends, I am my dear sister, yours, R Huntington Seeing I have begun to write the tattles, & my letter can't go till next mail, I may as well finish — I believe that Miss Eliza D Miss Sedgwick & a Miss Gordon, have been rathther greatest belles in New York last winter, (Eliza & Miss Gordon were both guests to Miss Rogers) for some time M'" Mumfords attention seemed to be paid equally to those three Ladies, Eliza came away in her glory, Miss G went soon after, (to Balls town) but not before Miss Sedgwick had begun to out ring her — since that time Eliza has recieved several letters ®l)e Huntington Cetters. 147 from Betsey Rogers, in each of which, she says something about Mumford's particu- lar attention to Miss S Cousin Bet- sey Davenport is very intimate with Miss Sedgwick & writes to me, that she has not calld on her friend this some time with- out meeting M^ M Miss R "can- not think he has any thoughts of courting that Norzvich Lady'' — M^ Bell, (a second Elisha Tracy) says " Miss Sedgwick has made twenty victim's," & himself & M^ Mumford must be ranked among the first of them — thus my sister I have given you some of the tattles of New York — I hope in compassion to me you will burn this page as soon as you have read it, least, a bird of the air should carry the sound — Probably this will very soon be handed to you by one of the " Sacerdotal order," if it is, do give him one for me in return. R H 148 ^\)c f tintington Cetters. IX. New York May i^th lygy Monday P M My dear Anne. Christopher Leffingwell call'd here a few minutes ago for letters to carry to you, & as M^s Duncan had heard me once express a wish that he might not call very soon, she pretended I was not at home, & he has promised to call in half an hour, 2$ minutes of that time will be devoted to writing to you ^perhaps I may indeed be out before he comes — Brother Henry has gone to Shelter Island & is expected back on Saturday next, Brother George will stay 'till he return & would if possible go to Norwich. He is very anxious to visit Papa, & if he was not detained in New York by Henrys business I make no doubt but ©l)^ Quntington Cetters. 149 he would — Our House is all in confusion, sriibbers painters & white washers, are all uniting thier skill to make the house look as well as possible when M^^ p^ ar- rives, who I am told by all her acquaint- ance, is a pattern of nicety — I have spent but one afternoon from home since I came to New York & yet have been very busy. I am now engaged in making a gown for myself which (I regoice to tell you) Fash- ion, (that tyraness) will permit to swing above the dirty puddles & filthy cinque & drains — I have a multiplicity of commis- sions to execute for Lucy & Hannah, I have been out shopping a great deal with brother George, & whenever I go with him I bid him remember his wife & sister, & they may thank me for many handsome things which he has got for them — Benja- min Mumford moved from here several days ago, but as he has no housekeeper, he comes here when he is hungry, I have had his deserted chamber clean'd out for 150 ©he i3untin9t0n tctuxs, my drawing- room & have enacted that no Gentleman shall presume to spit in it." Brother Henry desired me to make all necessary revolutions in the house, & many will undoubtedly be made, but it will not cease to be a kind of Bachelors Hall 'till the mistress of the house arrives Miss Sedgwick (the high sounding belle) has been gone out of town a fortnight, & I think Ben begins to look a little sober, he has been quite unwell for a day or two but has now in his usual health he has in- deed play'd the coquette at a high rate for five or six months — I wish Betsey H would come to New York & set up for a belle, (it would be amply in her power) & just pay him in his own coin for his jilting her — but I have reason to believe he has the bag here is M*" Leffingwell Give my love to all friends & believe me your affec- tionate sister Rachel Huntington Miss Anne ®l)e Huntington iLetters. 151 In this letter Rachel describes to her sister Lucy the fashions prevailing in New York in 1797. A part of this letter has already been published on pages 16 and 17 of " Old Houses of the Antient Town of Nor- wich," by Mary E. Perkins. New York 3 fay 28^^ lygy My dear sister The enclosed pacquet was intended to be sent by General Floyd, but he went away before it was given to him — I have forgot what I wrote in it, but shall send it along & perhaps there may be something entertaining in it — Lucy I believe most of the comissions from you & sister Hannah have been attended to by Brother George or myself — I have bought two bands which are the most fashionable trimings for beaver hats, a white one for the blue 152 @^l)e flnntington Cettets. hat, & a yellow one for the black one, they should be put twice around the crown & fastned forward in the form of a beau knot. Brother has got each of you a pink silk shawl which are very fashionable also — Many Ladies wear them for turbans, made in the manner that you used to make mus- lin ones last summer, George has given me one like them, The fine lace cost lo shillings a yard, & I think it is very hand- some, there is enough for two handker- chiefs & two double tuckers, the way to make handkerchief's is to set lace, or a ruffle on a strait piece of muslin, (only pieced on the back to make it set to your neck,) & put it on so as to show only the ruffle, & make it look as if it was set on the neck of your gown, many Ladies trim the neck of thier gowns with lace & go without handkerchiefs but I think it is a neater way to wear them — with fashion- able gowns it will not be necessary to have much more than half a yard in the width ^\)t ^nntinqtan Cettets. 153 of your tuckers — I send a doll,* by Brother George which I intended to have dressd in a neater manner but really could not find time — it however has rather a fashion- able appearance, the cap is made in a good form but you would make one much hand- somer than I could, the beau to Miss Dollys poultice neck cloth is rather large but the thickness is very moderate — I think a cap crown & turban would become you — I have got a braid of hair which cost four dollars it should be fastned up with a comb, (without platting) under your tur- ban if it has a crown & over it, if without a crown — Brother has got some very beau- tifull sattin muslin, & also some handsome " tartan plad " gingham for your gowns, there is a large pattern for two train gowns of the muslin, which should be * " It was customary at this time, in the larger cities, to exhibit the fashions on dolls imported for this purpose from Europe." — Old Houses of the Antient Town of Nor- wich^ p, j6. 154 ®l)e ^nntingtan £eucts. made thre breadths wide two breadths to reach to the shoulder straps forward, & one breadth to be cut part of the way- down before, to go over the shoulder & part of it to be pleated on to the shoulder straps, meeting the back breadths, & some of it to go around the neck, like the doWs — the pleats should be made pretty small, & not stitched to the lining, but you should wear binders over your shoulders — an inch & a half should be the width of your bind- ers. (I must have done writing this pretty soon, the last sentence if you observe is quite poetical — but let me stick to my text Fashion) It is the fashion to have draw strings fastned on the corners of the shoulder straps by the sieves on the back, and have a tack large enough for them to run in, made to cross on the back, run under the arms an inch below the sieves & tie before — I should advise you to have your gingham one made in that way, with draw'd sieves for sister Hannah & I have ®l)c jluntington Cetters. 155 seen as large Ladies as you with them, & I think they would look very well for you Sieves should be made half a yard wide & not drawd less than seven or eight times, I think they look best to have two or three drawings close together & a plain spot alternately — Some of the ladies have thier sieves coverd with drawing tacks, & have thier elbows uncovered if you dont like short sieves, you should have long ones with short ones to come down allmost to your elbows, drawed four or five by the bottom — if yo want to walk with long gowns you must draw the train up thr'o one of the pocket holes, I have bought some callico for chints trimings for old gowns, if you have any that you wish to wear short they are very fashionable at present, & gowns that are trimed with them should be made only to touch the ground, there is enough of the dark stripe for one gown, & enough of the light for one there should be enough white left on II 156 ^\)c j^ttntington Cettera. the dark stripe to turn down to prevent its ravelling. I gave 10 shillings for the cal- lico & have been laughed at for my ' fool- ish bargain ' but I am not convinced that it is foolish The William street mer- chants ask three shillings a yard for trim- ings like the wide stripe & two for the narrow — I guess you will like the narrow — the kid shoes are of the most fashion- able kind, & the others, of the best qual- ity Brother George keeps enquiring for my letter — & as I have fill'd up my paper ril leave the improvement for you to make With love to sister Hannah & Benjamin I am my dear sister yours, most affec- tionately R Huntington Miss Lucy Huntington ®l)c jgitntington Cetters. 157 XL New York June ^th jygy My dear Anne I intended instead of writing- to you to have seen you myself at the time in which you will recieve this letter — but our sister has been but a little while in New York, & M}^ Duncan is about moving so that she will be very much alone, (or what is as bad surrounded by men) if I go away — she is very urgent to have me stay longer, & so is brother — they bid me stay till next week, & ask you to set a time when I must come home — (Indeed I have particular reasons for wishing to be away from Nor- wich a fortnight from this time — but I will tell you when I see you — I am very much pleased with our new sister she is a plain 158 QLi)c ^untinQton ^ctUxQ. woman, who will not enter into all the fashionable follies of the Town, but I be- lieve will make an excellent wife for Brother Henry, she is fond of retirement & is a pattern of neatness — you Nancy must make her a good visit when I am once more Jixed at Norwich — Brother George, & Betsey Davenport went from here last Sunday, & I suppose George is at home before this time, last wensday evening I went to the theatre for the first time since I have been in New York — • my beau was M^ Richards & the party in our box M' & M'^s Gurdon Mumford Ben. & William. Mumford, a M^^ Pomeroy, & M"" Bell the latter of whom, in manners, resembles Elisha Tracy you will see him if ever you come to New York — The play was the school for Scandal, which was ad- mirably performed, it is indeed a very excellent burlesque upon scandal — I have been out a visiting but very little in the mornings, & have drank tea out, only one 6ri)e f untington £etters. 159 evening- since I have been here — but am now deeply indebted to many Ladies who have done me the Honor to call on me — Sister Huntington is soon to have a great deal of company, & it will be in my power to assist her a good deal if I stay in New York a little longer I send by M'^ Thomas a silk shawl for Sister Gurdon it cost eleven shillings & six pence — it is small, but I could not get a larger one, as they are not fashionable & nobody has them to sell — I tried also to get one with a greater proportion of black in it — but could not get such an one as I wished to — Brother Henry has given me a dozen handsome silver tea spoons, but I believe I shall keep them till I go home myself, unless you wish me to send them I send a little printed handkerchief for Edward, & a large one which if you please you may give to James Latham You say perhaps I shall be " shocked at your old fashion'd appearance — no no sis- i6o 3:1)0 iguntitijgton Cotters. ter Anne, I am not so easily shocked — you will see your sister Rachel return home without much alteration in her appearance — A little time may be advantageously ap- propriated to fashion — but to pay too much attention to it, is in my opinion worse than to assume the dress of a quaker — I am glad Betsey Huntington bears Mumford's fickle- ness with so much spirit — it is surprising to me that the reports of his gallantries did not reach Norwich sooner — Here, it is not generally believ'd that he was ever engaged to Miss Huntington — M^ Bell was here the other day, & speaking of the '' charmifig " Miss Sedgwick, said that she had " laid prostrate half the gentlemen in town " — as for himself he was " leveled with the dtist, & had it in serious contem- plation to take a voyge to Italy to recover him of his malady — but " Mumford was undoubtedly the highly favored man " — Bell is a great news monger, & among other things he told me that Abby How- ^\)t iguntington fetters. i6i land is courted by a M'^ George Muerson Woolsey, a respectable merchat in this Town. I cannot 'votic/i for the truth of the report — M^ Mumford does not certainly appear in quite so high spirits as he used to — whether in consequene of /aU events or not, I cannot determine, he has given up all thoughts of housekeeping & is going to a Boarding house to live — I hope you will destroy this letter as soon as you have read it, as so much scandal had better not be preserved — but I hear so much that it is difficult to refrain from writing some of it — It is time for me to dress for dinner, as we are going to have company — I must stop writing in three minutes. With duty to Father & love to Brother Gurdon's family ^ yourself \ am my dear Anne your affectionate sister Rachel Huntington Miss Anne Huntington i62 @:i)e jguntington Ccttcrs. XII. This letter is undated, but seems to have been written by Rachel Huntington on the eve of Her de- parture for Rome, N. Y., where she was to live at the home of her brother George. My Dear Sisters I arrived here in safety yesterday at sun set — I had the pleasure of spending" the evening with Miss J Watson, & Miss Hudson, sisters of Henry Hudson — who were on a visit to Miss Leffingwell — Doc- tor Cogswell calld with M^^ Colt, in five minutes after I got here — I am much pleased with her, she will be an excellent companion for me on the journey which we have undertaken the Doctor says he has thoughts of going to Norwich soon — Perhaps Fanny L will return with M*" Thomas to Norwich — if she does she ®l)e f untington fetters. 163 will stay part of her time with you — she is a charming girl, & I think M^ Leffingwell is a very worthy woman — Col Wadsworth has promised to send his sleigh & horses to help us on twenty or thirty miles, where we shall meet M'^ Colt's sleigh. I am afraid we shall have but little snow — I have had only a few minutes to write, but I know you had rather have this letter than none — I will finish with a little advise — Brighten up your countenances my sis- ters, & weep no more — I must stop writing — my love to Father & all friends Your sister R H Mrs G H & Misses L & A H— 1 64 9n)e Huntington betters. XIII. Rome March i^ih ijgS My Dear Sisters, I arrived here yesterday, after a very fortunate passage from Albany & found our friends in good health — M^^ Tracy was so polite as to bring M}^ Colt & me in his sleigh from Whites town here as the snow was almost gone we have however had excellent sleighing three fourths of the way from Albany — Sister Hannah says She is glad I have come & has given me the room which leads from the parlour — I believe I shall feel very happy here — but I can hardly realize that I am to return no more to Norwich — Indeed it is difficult for me to speak of parting from you — Ben- jamin was at a ball last evening & has been ^\)c Huntington fetters. 165 very much engaged to day so that I have seen him but a few minutes — He seemed sorry that I was not here in season to attend the Ball but 'so was 7iot F Brother G has enquired at almost every place be- tween this & Hartford for Surinam beans & seed peas, but could no where get a suf- ficient quantity to plant. & he wishes you to send him as many of those articles as you can spare, if you have more than he wants M^s Qolt will be very glad of some, good lettice seed will be very acceptable, perhaps you may have an opportunity to send them by land, or if not we would thank you to send them to New York as soon as the river opens & we can send for them — Mrs Colt will be glad of some other kinds of garden seeds if you have them to spare — I hope you have ere now written to Cousin Eliza Davenport, if you have not I beg you will soon & make some apologies for my leaving Norwich at a time when I was expecting her & Betsey 1 66 Qi\)c funtington betters. — I hope sister Nancy will go to New York as soon as possible perhaps Sister Caty will return with her to Norwich, but if Nancy stays but one fortnight it will be much better for her than not to go I hear there is a man going to Norwich in a few days — I shall then write to Edward — Ben- jamin wishes to write a few lines in my letter, but before he takes it I must request you to write to me very often as we shall feel anxious to hear from father — My love to all friends Your affectionate Rachel Huntington Miss Huntingtons Sister H desires love to you Dear Girls Brother returned last evening soon after I was gone to a ball (mentioned by Rachel) so that I had not the pleasure of seeing them till this morning I was fearful! least ®l)e Huntington tctUxs, 167 the sleighing would be so bad that Rachel could not conveniently come to Rome with brother George but it has fortu- nately prooved otherwise. I am not as yet determined how to spend the summer but have a number of schemes which I hope may turn out to advantage I shall take care to give you notice w^hen I have determined on any measures — You will percieve by this that I am in (what Rachel calls) a /ow key and can hardly keep open my eyes. I continue affectionately Your Brother Benj Huntington Miss Huntingtons It only remains to add a few details, before taking leave of the principal persons mentioned in these letters. Miss Wells desires me to mention the tradition that Tom Moore, when he was in New York, sought the hand of Rachel Huntington in marriage, and wrote her many letters and poems. These she is said to have destroyed before her marriage to Mr. Tracy. 1 68 ^l)c f untinjgtou Cotters. LaFayette is said to have visited her in Whites- town in 1825. Many stories of the patriotism of Rachel's mother- in-law, Margaret (Grant) Tracy, have been handed down in the family. Not content with hanging the portraits of George Guelph and his wife upside down, she dug a ruby out of her engagement ring, sold it to the British, and gave the money to the American army. It is also recorded of her that she was very fond of tea, but being too patriotic to drink it openly in conse- quence of the agitation against the Stamp Act, she used a mahogany table, made with a drawer in which the cups could be hastily slipped when visitors arrived. Sister Anne, or Nancy, was a great beauty, opened many balls, and at the same time cultivated her mind by studying Blackstone and reading German. She never married, and died at Rome, N. Y., in 1842. Lucy married Dr. Matthew Brown, resided for a while at Rome, N. Y., and afterward at Rochester, N. Y. Among the grandchildren of the Hon. Benjamin Huntington, of Norwich, and his wife Anne, a word should be said about the noted portrait painter, Daniel, son of Benjamin, Jr. He was born October 14, 1816, and married at St. Ann's Church, Brooklyn, June 16, 1842, Sophia Richards. He is now living in New York. His life has been given to the cultivation of the fine arts, for which Nature designed him, and in which his success has been unquestioned. Especially has he acquired a continental reputation as a portrait painter. It may be interesting here to quote part of a review of his work. Q:i)e ^nntington Cetters. 169 which appeared in the " Whig Review " as long ago as August, 1846, and is reproduced in the " Huntington Memoir " : " Huntington, to whom we are inclined to give the highest place among our artists of the highest school, sent five pictures, exclusive of three portraits, any one of which would have asserted his pre-emi- nence in this department of his art. . . . His female heads are remarkable for their graceful contour, their high foreheads, but broad, low, and classical brows, and for their perfectly feminine expression, which, as well as their freedom from that exaggeration of points of beauty, such as large eyes and small mouths, into which modern painters are apt to fall, gives them a truthful air which some of hot-bed taste mistake for materiality. . . . His heads of old men have equal excellence, and are full of character and vigorous draw- ing. . . . Huntington's pictures bear the stamp of high cultivation and of great genius. Not only are his conceptions beautiful, just, and of a high poetic order, and his designs clear, but his work is almost always well done. The tone of his pictures is such that the eye rests upon them with delight and content- ment ; the heart sympathizes with the sentiment ex- pressed, and the judgment approves almost without a but.'' Daniel Huntington is one of the founders of the Century Association in New York, and in 1861 was elected President of the National Academy of De- sign as the third president, the first two having been Prof. Morse and A. B. Durand. MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. 12 MISCELLANEOUS LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS. The following letter within a letter is perhaps the most curious in the whole collection. It purports to have been written by one Abigail Grant to her hus- band Azariah, but it exists only in the form of a copy, being part of another letter, which bears no address, and of which the signature has been torn, or cut off. The two letters together, in the same handwriting, are written on both sides of a single sheet, now yellow with age. As there is no direct indication either of the sender or receiver of the second letter, one could only guess at thei'- identity from the context, but the editor is constrained to admit that, after considerable research, he is unable to give a satisfactory solution to this riddle. Moreover, the date which heads the sheet, might be read either 1775 or 1776, though the latter seems the more likely. To cap the climax of uncer- tainty, however, Abigail Grant, according to the records, died twelve years before the battle of Bunker Hill, so that the first letter may possibly not be genuine at all. 173 174 ®l)e funtington jLetters. I. August ye igth A, D. 1776 [or 177s ^'\ Loving Husband after Love to I would inform you that we are well through Gods mercy upon us and through the Same Mercy I hope these Lines will find you well also I keep writing to you again & again & never can have only one Letter from you tho I hear by Cap^^ Wm Riley * news that makes me very Sorry for he Says you proved a Grand Coward when the fight was at Bunkers hill & in your Sur- prise he reports that you threw away your Cartridges So as to escape going into the Battle I am loath to believe it but yet I must unless you will write to me & inform me how it is, And if you are afraid pray * No Captain William Riley appears in the lists of Revolutionary soldiers of Connecticut. Sri)e Huntington ILettere. 175 own the truth & come home & take care of our Children & I will be Glad to Come & take your place, & never will be Called a Coward, neither will I throw away one Cartridge but exert myself bravely in so good a Cause. So hopeing you will let me know how it is, & how you do. So bid- ding you farewell, wishing you the best of heavens Blessings & a Safe & manlike return, subscribing myself your Loveing wife untill Death Abigail Grant* (Dont Shew Grants Letter) The Above is a true Coppy of a Letter Sent to Azariah Grant by his wife. I was * In "Ancient Windsor, Connecticut," by Henry R. Stiles, vol. ii, p. 309, is to be found the following account of Azariah and Abigail Grant : "Azariah Grant, born at East Windsor about 1722; was appointed one of the administrators of his father's, Samuel Grant, estate. May, 1751, and called the eldest son in the distribution, 3 Dec, 1751. He married 6 July, 1749, with Abigail Beman ; settled in the house which stood next north the late Major F. W. Grant's house ii) 176 Qii)c f untington fetter©. so vastly pleased with the natural Simplec- ity of it & the Cutting Reflections I could not but Send it you. What must a man of East Windsor, where she died 26 (var. 19) Feb., 1763. He married with (2) Eunice , and she died 19 Feb., 1784. He married 26 Oct., 1886 [sic], with (3) Mrs. Mary (Benton) White, b. 15 Sept., 1741, wid. of George White. He died at Windsor, 17 (var. 16) April, 1798, aged 76 years. She died at Winsted, 3 Dec, 1800, aged 59 years." Azariah and Abigail had six children, of whom all did not grow to maturity. Azariah was great-great-grandson of that Matthew Grant, one of the original company, who came in 1630 to Dorchester. General Ulysses S. Grant was a descendant of this same Matthew. As for Azariah's v/ar record, the editor has gleaned the following facts : He enlisted May 9, 1775, in a Connecticut regiment raised on the first call for troops. His regiment, marching by companies to the camps around Boston, took post at Roxbury, and served during the siege until the expiration of its term of service in December, 1775. Detachments of officers and men were engaged at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17th, and in Arnold's Quebec expedition. Aza- riah was discharged December loth. In November, 1776, the General Assembly, in view of approaching cold, directed the selectmen of each town to collect blankets to send to soldiers serving in the Conti- nental Army. On this occasion Captain Ebenezer Grant made out a list of towns, and the blankets were carefully apprized by Messrs, Nathaniel Strong and Azariah Grant. 9ri)e ^^untinigton Cotters. 177 any feelings undergo at the upbraidings of such, and so 7tear a friend Would you not rather be cut inch by inch to pieces? Would you undergo half so much in that In 1777 Azariah Grant joined the additional infantry raised in Connecticut for the Continental Army. He en- listed March 20th for the war, and his name appears on the military rolls at various times until December 31, 1781. On April 12, 1779, Azariah Grant was among the per- sons in East Windsor who took the oath of fidelity to the State of Connecticut. Finally, he is found among the Connecticut pensioners, residing in Vermont, who benefited by the pension laws, passed by Congress on March 18, 1818, for the survivors of the Revolutionary War, who had served for nine months or more in the Continental Army or Navy. Azariah Grant's military record is, therefore, on the surface a thoroughly good one. The Grant and Huntington families have been more than once united by marriage. Matthew Grant married a widow, Susanna Rockwell. Her second daughter, Ruth Rockwell, married Christopher Huntington, great-grand- father of Anne Huntington, wife of the Hon. Benjamin Huntington. A great-granddaughter of Christopher Hunt- ington, Martha Huntington, married Noah Grant, a great- grandson of Matthew. From this marriage came a second Noah Grant, a captain in the old French War. The third son of this captain, who also bore the name of Noah, re- sided in Coventry, Conn., and had a son named Jesse Root Grant, who was father of General Ulysses S. Grant. lyS ^i)e funtington £euers. way ? but he is Callous & does not feel it Laughs & makes a Jest of it as much as any of his Mates do. Tho he Owns & Swears it is Certainly his Wifes hand, She Certainly wrote it &c &c When I began Coppying it I thought not of adding, but it is a pity to Send much Clean paper out of Camp & So I will go on — What Came of my Letter to the Treasurer ? Did he give you no An- swer? My Men are Suffering, many of them, for want of the Money for Necessary Cloaths, Sauce, [?] which they are most unrighteously Obliged to buy themselves a great part of the time Since the new Continental Regulations took place &c &c Your Blanketts I cannot yet hear a Word of. — Pray how goes the Onions? If you can get any here they will fetch you 4^ pr Bunch — I hear you have had a Brush with Meddliters [?] (alias Mat Talcott) * because * Matthew Talcott, of Middletown, Conn., was lieuten- ant colonel of the Sixth Regiment at the outbreak of the ^[}c iJiJ^tii^flton £ettcrs. 179 they stopped 2 or three of your Vessells loaded with Onions* going Down the River Why do you not write me of Such kind of News? How goes on the Skeen Business of your being a To?y etc. etc. ? Pray give me a Little discription of Leon- ards House I believe it may Safely be worshipped for by all acc^s its neither the Likeness of anything in Heaven Above or in the Earth beneath or in the Waters under the Earth Sammy was over here yesterday at Cap^ Watermans f & Sent for me, but I was Tied fast on a Court Martial war. Was promoted colonel of the Twenty-third Regiment in May, 1775 ; commanded his regiment in the campaign around New York during the summer of 1776, and re- signed in the fall of that year. * The mention of onions suggests Wethersfield as the home of the person to whom this letter is addressed. f A John Waterman, of Norwich, was a quartermaster sergeant of the Third Regiment, General Putnam's, in 1775. A Captain Abraham Waterman marched with part of the Twenty-fifth Regiment of the Connecticut militia in the alarm when the British shipping lay off New London, September 4, 1778. i8o Qrlje gnntington Cetters. & could not possible go till almost (2) (3) Clock & then he was gone. He is so Ele- vated with his promotion that he will not Condescend to come up the hill to Our en- campment — Never Mind we'll be in ... . .... him up yet ®lie gnntington Cetters. i8i II. This copy of a document is in a woman's hand- writing, on modern white note paper. (copy.) In 1779, Col. William Browne, of Salem, in the Old Bay State, had a farm in Lynn, Conn., of twelve thousand four hundred & thirty-six acres, which had been leased for a term of years, with nine slaves — Benja- min Huntington, Esq. the administrator on confiscated estates, when making his return of the inventory of Mr. Browne's property, stated to the general assembly that there were " a number of slaves ap- prized, who beg for their liberty ; " & that the lessee of the farm would assent to their 1 82 @:i)e jguntington fetters. being liberated, without requiring a dim- inution of his rent. Accompanying the inventory was the following petition, in the handwriting of Mr. Huntington: To the Hon. General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, now sitting in Hart- ford : The memorial of Great Prince, Little Prince, Luke, Caesar, & Prue & her three children, all friends to America, but slaves (lately belonging to Col. William Browne, now forfeited to this state,) humbly shew- eth, that their late master was a tory, & fled from his native country to his master, King George, where he now lives like a poor slave. That your memorialists, though they have flat noses, crooked shins, & other queerness of shape peculiar to Africans, are yet of the human race ; free born in our own country, taken from there by man-stealers, & sold in this country as QLl)c j^untinQtott £jeiter0. 183 cattle in the market, without the least act of our own, forfeit liberty ; but we hope our good mistress, the free State of Cojinect- icut, engaged in a war with tyranny, will not sell good honest Whigs & friends of freedom & independence of America, as we are, to raise cash to support the war ; because the Whigs ought to hQ free^ & the tories should be sold. Therefore your memorialists pray your honors to consider their case, & grant them their freedom upon their getting security to indemnify the State from any expense for their support in case of want, or in some other way release them from slavery. And your poor negroes, as in duty bound, shall ever pray. Great Prince, Little Prince, Luke, &c. Dated at Lynn, Election Day, 1779. 1 84 ^Ije iguntington £cUcrs. The Lower House granted but the Upper House negatived the prayer of the memorial. A Commitete of Conference was appoint- ed, but each House adhered to the original vote. ®l)e ^ttutington Cetters. 185 III. A letter ifrom Governor Huntington. Norwich April 24th- lygo Sir I have receiv^ your several letters of March 6*^ — 13th — & 20^^, besides several packets of newspapers under cover of your superscription. Your Son hath found Joseph Storys power of Attorney to you, together with my letter which first enclosed it to you I now send them both herewith en- close, & wish you may be able to obtain the whole demand due to Story both money & Clothing, it will do the poor 1 86 OTlie i^untington Cettcra. Soldier a great kindness, & he asks no more than Simple Justice With sincere Esteem & Respect I am sir your humble Serv* Saml Huntington HoN^LE B. Huntington Esq» QL^^e §nntin%tan iLetters. 187 IV. Newhaven Fedy it ijgi. Sir, Mr Eveleigh has presented me my ac- count from the Treasury books & indulges me only the present Sessions of Congress to procure him an authority for my dis- charge. I have heretofore attempted to interest you in this business & given you some in- formation of the difficulty attending it. The time is now become short & the case pressing — & as neither the State of my health or finances admit of my coming to Philadelphia to procure myself justice ; & as I know very well by experience that it is ruinous to a poor man's affairs to dance 13 1 88 ®i)e ^nntington £etters. attendance upon Congress for such pur- pose — I must repeat my Solicitations that you would endeavour to get justice done for me, or at least procure an Act to can- cel my Account at the Treasury. — I must now recapitulate the circum- stances which hitherto have obstructed the business : In the first place applications from time to time during my service in the pay- Office to have my Salary fixed were either ineffectual or prevented by more impor- tant affairs in Congress — even immediately prior to the disbanding the Army, Con- gress were in no disposition to do any- thing with me — (perhaps because a larger representation of the nature & difficulties of my Service was thought necessary to be made than any Member of Congress was willing to attend to.) On My discharge from the Army there- fore, the Paymaster General, who having had previous conversation with the Super- eilje i^untington betters. 189 intendant of Finance upon the Subject, & being unwilling to Send me home without a penny, put into my hands a Sum of money, which, with what I had before re- ceived, he declared was within the allow- ance which the said Superintendant of Finance conceived I was intitled to — The opinion of a person who was had at that time in Such universal & supreme respect, as well as Authority in Some Similar mat- ters, was a kind of warrant to the Pay- master General, & I certainly never ex- pected afterwards but to receive a balance not to pay any — However in the winter following, when Congress were at Anapo- lis, upon a representation of my having re- tired from Service & a request by the pay- master General that my Salary might be fixed Congress immediately passed an Act without any enquiry which did not defray my necessary expenses. — The Pay- master General declared he never would Suffer the allowances made by that act igo ^\)c ^iintingt0n fetters. to be passed to my credit, & accordingly nothing hath ever been entered. Frequent Applications were afterwards made, both by the Paymaster General & myself — at length a Committee was obtained, who seemed disposed to consult entirely with the Paymaster General, I left all to him & them & came home — M^ Pierce drew out my account for the Committee agreeably to the ideas before settled upon between him & the Superin- tendant of Finance, & the Committee made report thereon which M^ Pierce informed me cast the balance in my favor — certainly this event gave great quiet to my mind, as I thought by it, my object was more than half obtained. — However the report hath never been called up, though I have en- gaged Members to attend to it, they in- formed me there had not been a fit oppor- tunity. But Colo Wadsworth told me not to fear, that Congress would certainly pass my account. I rested upon that, till lately ^l)c iguntington £eUers. 191 I have heard that the report & every thing- concerning it were lost. 1 now am in de- spair, for I have no more money to lose upon the affair, & cannot attend upon Con- gress be the event w^hat it will. I am in an extreme low state of health, & it is well known enough that I have not ten pounds to comjnand in the world. I Suppose that what I shall add to this Letter, if you can have patience to read it through, will be a Sufficient foundation for you to make a representation to the House by which if nothing can done for me, an unnecessary public prosecution may be prevented when nothing is to be obtained. The Articles of my Account drawn out for the Committee by the paymaster Gen- eral I presume were these — depreciation of pay as Adjutant of Ar- tillery, (Stevens's Corps not recognized by any State till after I left it) August 1777 to October 1778 at 50 Dollars per month & three rations per day — 192 Q^l)e Huntington betters. Pay as Chief Assistant Paymaster Gen- eral at Camp from November i* 1779 to M^ Pierce's appointment to the office of Paymaster General, at Six hundred dol- lars a year & two rations a day — Salary as Deputy paymaster General from M^ Pierces promotion till the end of November 1783 at one Thousand Dollars a year & Six rations per day — Allowance for Forage for two horses when forage was not Supplied by the For- age Master — Ditto for two hired Servants from the time that the Commander in Chief forbid Officers not of the line to take servants from the line — Ditto for Stationary, fuel & Office rent (when not furnished by the Quarter Mas- ter)— Extra expenses of Journeys on public business. As I have not a Single paper respect- ing my transactions in the Pay Office ^[)c Huntington betters. 193 I can only as I have done state these matters generally — Every Letter & all my Vouchers & Documents & every paper of whatever kind of a public nature were left with the Paymaster General — they were necessary to him — to me I supposed they could be only a useless burden. For I supposed my Salary would be ineviata- bly fixed upon some just principles, as I expected to be a citizen of the independent States of America — As I never saw the Account drawn out by M'' Pierce for the Committee nor know not what it was, only I know it was in- tended to be as I have Stated — I know not what the report of the Committee was, what they allowed, or what they disal- lowed, only that I was informed it was Sufficient to cover me & more. These however are facts — that I served the period mentioned in Stevens Corps of Adjutant of Artillery & never had my de- preciation made up by any State for the 194 QTl)^ Huntington betters. reason assigned — Also in the Pay Office as represented — two horses I kept while deputy paymaster General, part of the time at my own Charge, I cannot tell par- ticularly, — they were absolutely necessary, any one who knows the Service will be convinced of it on a moments reflexion — two Servants I hired at lo Dollars per Month each, from the time of the Com- mander in Chief's order, which forbid me & all other Officers not of the line to take Servants of the line— The order ex- ists & may be found — The order which forbid taking Servants from the line, did not prohibit servants to this description of Officers but the order itself directed such Officers to hire their own Servants. The two Servants were absolutely neces- sary to me, one as a Messenger & for other Services, the other as a Cook — It could not be expected that I should pay the whole Army Six times a Month, as I absolutely did, examine & keep accounts, Srije Huntington Cetters. 195 without any clerk, which is also a fact, & ] sides all this, run of errands & cook my c n victuals. The pay of the Servants \i .s less than the allowance to Soldiers, reckoning their clothing — Stationary, fuel & Office rent I frequently provided at my own charge ]- — Several journeys to Albany & Livingston's Manner after public Money at great expense — The amount of all which I cannot say particularly — With respect to my Salary as Assist- ant & Deputy Paymaster General — it was justly considered that a chief & confiden- tial assistant in the Pay Office with the trust of money was different from a com- mon Clerk in a common Office who writes Six hours a day & the rest of the time to pleasure, & the Six hundred dollars was but a moderate allowance. As Deputy Paymaster General the whole business was performed by me without any Clerk, & M' Morris directed the pay to be divided, so that I absolutely 196 @:i)e ^ttntington Cetters. made Six different payments a month to the whole Army. The Service, Sir, & the care* * Thus incomplete. ®l)e jguntington Cetters. 197 V. OsTEND Austrian Flanders ib^^ May I'jgi The Hon Benj Huntington Sir— Presuming on your well known Be- nevolence & Candour, I've taken the Lib- erty to address you on a Subject which your Superior Judg^ & good Sense must Convince you is worthy your Attention I address you as a friend & Patriot to the Country who I have the Honor to belong to and Seeing the Laws of that Country Violated I think it my Duty as a Citizen to Seek Redress & Know of no Person to whom I may better apply to than a man of 198 ^l)c jpuntington Cotters. your Exalted Station. I will briefly open the mater to you and point out Several instances where the Colours of the United States and the Commanders of such Col- ours have been treated with the Greatest Indignity One Instance Occurred 4*^ In- stant (viz) Capt Curtis Reed of the Ship Abigail of Boston felt severely the want of a Consul to Represent his Case to the Court of Brussells — Several of the Ship's Crew had left Capt Reed four or five days without leave and then applied for their Wages. By the laws of the United States their Goods of every kind with their whole wages were forfeited, of Course Capt Read Denied Paying their wages untill his ar- rival in America Agreeable to his Articles as the wages were not due untill that Time and further he could not answer it to his owners, on his denial his Sailors made application to the Grand Bailieu of this Town who Immediately sent two officers and arrested Capt Reed in the Open QTlje ^ttntingtcn iDetters. 199 Street and took him to Prison like a Com- mon Vagrant where he was detained untill he gave Sufficient bonds for his appear- ance at Court 5*^ Instant Capt Reed ap- peared before the Magistrates and was ordered Immediately to pay the Wages of his Sailors at a time they were not due and to Discharge Such of his Sailors as were not Satisfied to go the Voyage within him & further & further to pay all Costs of arrests &c to the amount of £^2 — 10 — & this in open Violation to the laws of the United States of North America Ive now been two Years a Resident of this Town & never knew of an Instance of the Kind with the Ships of any other Nation there being Consuls of all Nations residing in this Town Except of America. Another Instance, Adam Babcock Esq^ Commander of the Ship Enterprize belonging to Bos- ton was treated in the Same manner and Remained in Prison two Days for not pay- ing the Wages of his Sailors that were not 200 @:i)e jgnntington Cettere. due and was after Obliged by arbitrary power to pay and Discharge the whole Crew (which were American Subjects) which was very much to the Detriment of his Voyage, Capt Samuel Foster of the Ship Despatch of Boston was treated in the Same Manner Lodged in Prison and Obliged to Pay his People when their wages was not Due in open Violation to the Laws of the United States — Instances of this kind so Often Occurring and so much to the Disadvantage of the Trade of the united States and Derogatory to the Honor of a free and Independent Nation, I doubt not but you will take matter into your wise & Serious consideration and lay the same before that most august Body the Congress of the United States of North America and they beyond a Doubt will find Just Cause to appoint an Ameri- can Consul to Reside in the Town of Ostend in the Austrian Netherlands to prevent any further Abuses and Indigni- ©he Huntington betters. 201 ties Offered either to the Colours or Commanders of Ships belonging to the United States of North America Being a Resident of the Town of Ost- end and an American I take the further Liberty to Offer myself as a Candidate for the Office & Should that most august Body the Continental Congress think Proper to Confer on me that Honor I flatter myself I should so fill the Office as to Give them Intire Satisfaction — The earlier part of my life was Spent in a Counting house — My family are residents in the Town of Boston in New England & I Believe Sir my Father not wholly unknown to you — Dan^ Hubbard Esq Merchant of Boston, Should this Meet your approbation & You Should think Proper to do me the honor to answer this Letter if you Direct for me to the Care of Mess^'s Sharnock & C° Merchants Ostend it will come Safe to hand — Let- ters lodged in London to be put into the 202 ®l)e ^ttntin9t0n £euers. Flanders Mail is the Most Direct & Safe Conveyance Interim I have the Honor to be your most Obedient humi Serv* Thqs. G. Hubbard ®l)e ^itntinigton iLettcrs. VI. Norwich in Connecticut Nod^ first ifgi Sir I Rec^ the Inclosed Letter on the 3^ of August but as the President was on his Tour to the Southward I Supposed it needless to Convey it to you untill his Return to do Business at Philad^ when Congress would be together and the Gen- tlemen from Massachusetts might be En- quired of Concerning the Character to M^ Hubbard he is of a Good Family in Boston but I have no Acquaintance with him I find on Inquiry that he is a Young Gentleman of a Sprightly turn and Good [abilities?] As The Necessity of appoint- ing a Consul at Ostend is a Subject of which the President is to Judge I have 14 204 ^}i)c Huntington Cettcrs. send you the Original Letter and kept only a Copy & Submit the Propriety of laying it before the President to your Dis- retion — I am with Great Respect Sir your Most hum^ Serv* B H His Excy Thqs Jefferson SeCT of State ^[)t Huntington £etter0. 205 VII. Q Hartford 2g^^ Jmie lyg^ — I propose to g^o to Boston in a few days on some Special Business and as I have not been there since since the year 1772, in which time almost all my old acquaint- ance are either dead or gone away, I there- fore beg the favour of you that you would be so good as to give me a few Lines to his Excellency John Adams to assist me in his friendly advice if need be, Relative to the business I am going upon, your compliance will much Oblige your Hum : Sert in hast at the ferry 5 oClock — A. m. P S. the Stage is this moment gone into the boat without my Letter I have now before another oppertunity presents, Just to give you a hint of the business I am 2o6 @:i)e ^untingtcn £ettere» going upon to Boston (viz) the old Mis- sisippi Lands said to be obtaind by Gen- eral Lyman before the year 1772 & which is now about to be reviv'd again, and I believe from what I have heard that there is yet some Probibility of making some- thing out of that affair, but more of this when I shall have the pleasure to See you, 1 wrote Govenor Huntington Last week, but afterwards understood his Excely was gone to New Haven, but my Letter is now Lodg'd at the Gov'' House in order to procure a Letter to Gov"^ Adams in Boston I wish you would speak with Gov^ Huntington to give me as good a Letter to Gov^ Adams as he thinks best as also one to President Adams if he Judges it proper. I formerly shew those Missisippi papers (Now by me) to Judge Jay Docf^ Franklin, Gov'^ Livingston, the Honble. W^^ Smith DoC^ Johnston & the Hon^ie Richard Law, Gov^ Handcock Gov^ Adams the Hon^ie James Dewane of S^l)e i5untin9t0n betters. 207 New York and Mathew Clarkson Esq^ in Philadelphia who all of them gave it as their oppinion, that perhaps something might arise out of these papers Concern- ing the before mentioned Grant to Geni Lyman & that might be of some conse- quence to those original Proprietors that first embarked in said Missisippi scheam, and sent Gen^ Lyman over to England to Solicitt a Grant from the Crown of the afore said Lands on the E. Bank of the River Missisippi and as his Excellencys & your names (I think) are Entered on the Book Containing the Records & names of the Old Proprietors, as also Gov' Handcock, Gov'^ Adams, Gov'^ Livingston, Docf^ Franklin, Gov' Franklin Gov' Oli- ver, Mathew Clarkson Esq'- now Mayor of the City of Philadelphia, John Foxcraft Esq' Late Postmaster Gen^, with DoC Franklin &c &c &c, as also some hundred scattered from the River S^ Croix to Sa- vannah in Georgia and many of the first 2o8 gClje f tttttittjgton betters. Characters in these States as also in Eng;- land, Ireland, & Scotland are are also amongst the Proprietors of the Grant said to be obtained on the E. Bank of the River Missisippi by Gen* Lyman, & his associates, Doctr Johnston, & the Hon^i Richard Law are also both of them pro- prietors in said Grant, and Now Sir, as I had not time when I wrote Gov'^ Hunting- ton, I wish you would be so kind as to go to him when he returns from New Haven and Shew him what I have wrote you and that you would also desire the Gov^ to give me as good as a Letter as he Can to Gov'^ Adams and also to the Hon^i John Adams, your attention to the Above will add to the many favours already received, by Sir Your Very Hum : Ser* H : Ledlie N : B Sr as I purpose With the Line of proveidence to Sett off for Boston, by the QL[)c ^nntin%ton Cetters. 209 first or mieddell of next Week you^ plese to Return me an answer to What I now Write you togeather With His Exe . . cys & your Letters this Week or if the gov' Should not Return time enough from N haven or that no oppertunety Either pub- lick or priviett presents then in that Case if you or the gov"" Will Send S^ Letters to me at or Monday the 13th of July nixt I Will pay the bearrer of S^ Letters or his Excellency or you therefore all the prince- pall Gentellmin in this &. the neighbour- ing States Were Conserned in y^ above Grant. H. L. June 6th Since : Writting the above at which time & Since I Could hear Nothing Conserning which Way his Exe^cy our Gov' intended to Return home from N Haven by yesterday I Saw Co^^ Grese- ciner at our meetting who informed me for the first time, altho I have Repietted- ely Sent to Cap^ bulls the gov's usuall 2IO gclje Huntington Cett^rs. Loadgings that his Excell . . cy Was gone home by the Way of Seabrook & conce- quently Would not Return this Way I therefore Embrace this oppertunety by the Way of the Norwich Stadge to Send for- weard this Letter & have promised him a Reward Exclucsive of postedge provieded he Will bring me an answer, as Well from the gov"" & also from you N : B there is Contin^i in the above grant to Gener^ Ly- man on the E bank of the River: Missippie ab^ tweenty two millions of (Acres) So that the above Spackeuliation (Will) farre Exceed anything of the Kind that Ever Eithier M' Judge Willison or M^ Rob' Morris Were Ever conserned in, it begins N on the River Yesua [?] & extends S from the Lattude of 31 N to 32 S on the River Missippie & I Verieley belive by the beste & most (akkurate) information I Can gett there is Some prospact of obetinninge & Making Something of the above grant if it is Reguelerly & properely prefered — but I ^\)c ftintington Cetters. 211 shall no more of this & which I Will Com- munacatt to you & his Excei^cy When I Return With the Line of proviedence from boston S^ as I Write this in very great hurrey you Will plese to excuse the bad Writting Spelling Dicksion & gramer and as I sepose by What Co^^ Greseciner told me yesterday that the governor gott home Last Satturday Evining I must Just take the Liberty to Desier you Would be So good on the Recp* of this to Step Down to the governors & Shew him this my Letter to you which togeather With What I Wrott his Exciellincy the 29th of June last Will give Him a More particular Nerretive of what I mean ab^ the Lands on the River Missippie then What I Wrott him as above I am S^^ as before &c your Hone's Most Humble Servant in great hast H: Ledlie Honorable Binjemin Huntington Esq» Norwich. 212 ^[)c Huntington betters. VIII. Mansfield t^e iS^^ Octobr ijqq Dear S^^ I begin my letter now knowing- of any Oppertunity not how I shall get it to you but propose to Send it to Cap^ Gurdon your Son expecting that it is the most provable Way to get it to you. Our long Aquaintance, & as I have Reason to con- clude, our near Friendship & Connection create in me a Strong Desire of letting you know that Friendship has not abated on my Part, hope it has not on Yours & that I ardently desire to hear from you, & know Somithing about you, how you are, where you are & of your State of Health, I Suppose let you be where You will You have the Satisfaction of the Company & ^}^c ^nntington Cetters. 213 Society of your Childred, who in Case they have that filial Respect for you that markt thare former Conduckt towards you it must yeld You an agreable Satisfaction & Consolation in your Solitary State let You be in what part of the World So- ever. I part with one near Friend alter another last Week I attended the Fue- neral of my Friend the Rev^ m^ John Storrs, whose Company and Society used in time pass to be agreeable, liveing lattar- ly in the Same Society. Your Sister con- tinues much in the Same State She was in before you went to the Westward, except that her Fitts are more frequent tho not So hard. Was Advised last Winter by Sundry Phisicians to take a lengthey Journey with her into the Cuntry, accordingly this Spring I let out my Farm disengaged my Self from Buisnes & Set out on the 28* of May last to the Northward, We Steard our Course to Strike Connecticut River as Soon as conveniant, came on its Banks 214 @^l)e jguntinston Cetters. at Infield in this State & continued on the Bank as nearly as convenient to Lebanon Newhampshire where I had many Friends & Relatives we taried there allmost a Week & then passed through Dartmouth crossing the Bridg there & proseeded Westward part of the Way on White River to Randolf in Vermont on our Way there we past by Salle & Phyle that were Brother Huntingtons Childred, as allso Spencer who is Setled in Lebanon in the Sadling Buisness on the River, Salle in a Town called Bethel, and Phile in Norwich all of which are in comfortable Health, But at Randolf I found my Brother Aaron & Sister & other Friends where we Taried for about three Weeks on a good Soil & among a very Industrious People, It is but 17 Years Since they began to Settle here they have now 2 Companies of Trained Soldjers of more than 74 Men in each, likewise an Artilery Compy & a Cannon made of wrought Iron about 3 Feet in ®l)e Huntington fetters. 215 Length, mounted on Cariage which on the 4th July they put to Service, that Day they Observ^ in as conspiciuous a Manner as is observ^ in New York or Philadel- phia & in Immitation of those Places. You are Sensable there is a Mountiain passing about N & S through the State of Vermont on the E Side the Mountain they are allmost unanimously good loyal Federalists, love their Cuntry, are Indus- trious & healthy & Despise the Polloticks of the W Side who. many of them are Jacobites or Ante Federalists as is Said, But Vermont is a fine growing State they really have a most excellent Soil for Wheat & Grazing it does now allmost & will Soon excel any State in the Union for Raising excellent Horse & Cattle & most excellent for Dayries It is not uncommon for their Cows to fill a common pail at a Meal & more, 20 Cows will yield 20 Pails of Milk, or their abouts, of the best which you are Sensable makes the best Butter 2i6 QL[)c Huntington £etters. or Cheese .... But I am wearing You I Doubt with Observations on Vermont . . After we had taried there about 3 Weeks We Sot out towards Home came down White River crost the Bridg at Dart- mouth came back to Lebanon New Hamp- shire where we taried about 2 Weeks among our Friends & Aquaintance while we were there I heard M'* Aaron Cleave- land Preach in that Place, who has a lisence for Preaching & makes that his Buisnes. . . After finishing our Visit in Lebanon we Sat off down the River came on the E Side to Wallpole where we crost on the Bridg & came on the W Side as far as Northampton then took a Post or a Turnpike Road & Traveld West about 40 Miles to Pitts Field, Thence through Bar- rington Stockbridg & Lenox to Sandis- field to my Brother Eleazar where we taried about a Week & then Returned Home through Hartford got Home about the midle of August, your Sister was bet- S[l)e Huntington £etter0. 217 ter while on our Journey, tho had Some poor Turns & Seemd better for a time after our Return Home, But her ill Turns Still continue & I know not now that She is better than when we Sot out on our Journey — However Despicable the State of Newhampshire might be in their In- fancy, I Some how or other have got mutch attacht to their Manners & Gov- ernment I had an Oppertunity of Seeing their last revised Laws & the Journals of their Assemblies for two Sessions I think they Discover as great Wisdom Justice Regularity & Prudence as any State on the Continent I must confess more pleas- ing to me & I think the Subjects are happey under a Wise Administration of Government, While at Lebanon, I Visited our old Friend Col^ Pain whose head is ornamented with those Silver Locks that adorn the old Man, he retains the Frank- nes & Hospitallity which markt his Car- ackter in younger years — tells me that he 2i8 @:i)e Huntington betters. Intends to obtain a Turnpike Road from Portsmouth to Dartmouth to pass near his Hous & then he has done with all publick Buisnes . . I believe that we Scarsly past any Town either goeing up along the River or in the State of Vermont & So on to Pittsfield & through Barrington but in allmost & I know not but in quite one, their is a revival of Religion espe- cially among the younger Sort of People, Some Places more & Some less. They As- semble in Conferences (1/2) a Day in a Week & perhaps one or two evenings in each Week. Old M"" Tim^ Allen with whome we taried one Night Says he thinks So general a Concarn on the Minds of the People indicates that the Days of Mileni- um are comminsing. — We have had I be- lieve with us a fruitfuU Summer & plenti- fuU Harvest, But I believe the Demands in Market are but small — I have not ben in Norwich Since you went from there & have not heard anything More from you ®I)e jgnntington £cuers. 219 than that the Water at the Pool in New Lebanon was Some benefit to you, I reall}^ am Desirous of hearing from you & your dear Children with You, Your Sister De- sires to be rememberd to You & to your Children & wants to hear from them & from you in Case it may be Agreeable. — Friends at three or fourscore years old I think are necesitated to Retain their So- ciety & Friendship, for enexorable Death is continually lopping off one after an- other, untill by our Age We have but few of our Cotemporariries left, he that lives the longest has the Most Friends generally to Bemoan, But that my dear Sir is not much Matter provided we So live here that we may meet in a better World than this, where all the Interven- tions of Friendship Shall cease & We Shall Se as we are Seen & know as we are known, I Still continue in great Meas- ure confind at Home, very rarely go abroad without M^s Storrs & am allmost 15 220 3i:i)e Huntington Cetters. Discouraged with respect to her ever ariveing to a comfortable State of Health, But as my Name is pritty much So has the Visisitudes of Fortune ben with me through Life, But it is true in general that Experience is the best Schole Master, but unless I make a profitable Improve- ment of the advers Dispensations of Prov- idence towards me, these Troubles I now feel & are (daily conversant) with, will be greatly to my hurt & Disadvantage — I hope in Case (this letter) reaches You that you will be kind enough to to let me hear from my ever dear Friend. untill then I remain Dear S^'" your near Friend & Affectionate Brother Exp Storrs HoN^LE Benjn Huntington Esq THE END,