[revolutionary War]. Auction
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[Revolutionary War].
[Revolutionary War].
Item Details
Description

187. [Revolutionary War]. From a clearly penned journal kept by Miss Faney Clifton, 14 loose pages (4.25 x 6.5 in.; 108 x 165 mm.), some front and verso. On laid paper. [Philadelphia], 1778-1781. Minor toning with some chipping on edges.

A woman’s remarkable Revolutionary War-dated caretaker’s journal including the hiring out of slaves to such notables as a wounded Benedict Arnold, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Gouverneur and/or Robert Morris.

On 19 June 1778, the day after the British withdrew from Philadelphia for New York, General George Washington wrote a letter to General Benedict Arnold beginning, “You are immediately to proceed to Philadelphia and take the command of the troops there...” On 8 July 1778, from Philadelphia, Gen. Arnold wrote to Gen. Washington, in part, “My extreme illness has prevented my writing as often as I wished; at present I am entirely free from the disorder in my stomach; my wound is in a promising way and pretty free from pain...” He was still recovering from the severe leg wound suffered at Saratoga nine months earlier. Arnold was not well enough to return to the field, so Gen. Washington put him in command of Philadelphia.

Entry for July 13, 1778: “Hired Jenny to General Arnold at £4-15 pr month hard money.” Arnold was living in one of the largest houses in Philadelphia. Built in 1767, it had been the home of Richard Penn, the Lieutenant-Governor of the colony, and a grandson of Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn. Arnold lived in the house for about a year beginning in June 1778. He married Philadelphia belle Peggy Shippen the following April, and the two lived here for a few months. It has been established that Shippen was involved in Arnold’s treason, and may have encouraged him to betray his country. Arnold hired Joseph Stansbury to redecorate the dining room of the house. According to Stansbury’s testimony after the Revolutionary War, he was the courier who carried the messages between Arnold in Philadelphia and Major Andre in New York City.

Jenny, identified by first name, was most probably a slave. Slaves and indentured servants, who would usually be listed with their full names, were frequently hired out during wartime to help in homes temporarily occupied by the military, politicians, or businessmen staying in Philadelphia.

A receipt is present, Autograph Document Signed (“Daedesqui”) on verso of a page of entries. In full: “Received of Miss Faney Clifton Two Half Joes to Purchase one Barril of muscarde Suggar and a Barril of Coffee which Suggar & Coffee I will send to Miss Faney Clifton by the first opportunity when I shall be arrived in the west indias. Philadelphia March the 30th 1780.” A Half Joe was a Portuguese coin worth about £3.

One page, possibly the first, begins “Begun houskeeping [sic] December the 10 at which time I had in the house £97-15.10 in hard Money – About 1 hundred and forty dollars Continental. December changed a half Joe...” 

Other entries include:

“July 7 [1778] Bot 3 Pounds of Bohea Tea 19.6 – 3 Pounds of Green Tea 5,5. [July] 10. 1 Barrell of flour.”

“Recd January 9 1779 of Emanuel Eyres One hundred and Twenty five Pounds for a half years rent due the first of January.” Eyres was a shipbuilder.

“1779 ... Febry 15 Recd of Mr Lee 102-26 for two Months rent. March 29 recd of Mr Biddle for Muslin 7.11.10 1/2” 

“1780 Feb 1 hired Jenny to Don Marelles [sic] at 4 Pound pr Month - March 3 Recd of Don Mirelles [sic] one Months Wages for Jenny due the first of March . 4.00” Juan de Miralles was an agent of Spain sent to the United States during the American Revolution to observe the Continental Congress. He became a partner in the trading firm of Robert Morris and Thomas Willing and became a personal friend of Gen. Washington. He was in Philadelphia from August 1777 until his death in May 1780.

“July 19. Sam Return’d from Genl Thomson [July] 21 hired Sam to Mr. Hasenclever at 8 pound pr Month Cloaths shoes and stockings.”

“April 10 hired Jenny to Mr Morris at the rate of 3 Pound hard money to be paid in Continental Money.” Possibly Gouverneur Morris. A signer of the Articles of Confederation in 1778 and a Member of the Continental Congress in 1778 and 1779, he moved from New York to Philadelphia in 1779. Possibly Robert Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and Member of the Continental Congress 1775-1778. 

“May 13 Recd of Mr Morris one Months wages for Jenny due the 12. £3.00. June 16 recd one months wages of Mr Morris for Jenny Due the 12.”

“April ... 15 Recd of Mr. F. Lee one hundred and twenty Pounds for the rooms &c” Undoubtedly, Francis Lightfoot Lee, Member of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, 1775-1779, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

“Dec ... 15 Let the rooms furnished and use of the servants to Mr & Mrs Lee & Mr Smith at the rate of Seven hundred and forty pounds pr year.” Both Francis Lightfoot Lee and his wife Rebecca lived in Philadelphia while he served in Congress. $3,000 - $5,000

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[Revolutionary War].

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Historical Auction 72

Dec 16, 2014 2:00 PM EST|
Calabasas, CA, USA
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[Revolutionary War].: 187. [Revolutionary War].
Dec 16, 2014[Revolutionary War].
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