Chapter XV: Part 15

And it seemed that those who before pitied the Misfortunes of others
were now wholly taken up, with getting clear from seeing or relieving
them, and those enfeebled by disease would not relieve themselves,
were left to the Mercy of Death. Such was some of our Distresses which
always follow, Sickness & precipitate Retreats, Especially when there
is no Place prepared for that Purpose. A rapid Conquest—a successful
scene of Events lulled into a state of Security—we imagined every
thing would fall before us—and while a Montgomery lived, they did. But
his Death ushered in our Misfortunes—and one continued scene of ill
success Indeed. If we had, as all good Generals ought—secured, to
ourselves a Place of Retreat—our Army would not have suffered so much.
But a fatal blindness pursued us, and we are now to Encounter a large
Army by dispirited, Sickly men.

The opening blossoms and the balmy air
Returning graces of the blushing Fair
With softest charms no more the heart inflames
No more inspires the Philosophik dreams
But now each breast from God & Natures Laws
Asserts his freedom & his Country’s Cause
With humble passion first he beg’d redress
The supphant Posture shew’d our deep distress
Shew’d our own rights; our supplications now
To George’s throne & there unmasked our woes
Yet found too true that Britain’s envious throne
Had lost that Goodness which a George should own
For kind returns the bellowing cannons roar
And hostile fleets invade our infant Shore
Inhuman wretches mark their crimson way
And faithful Boston falls their eager prey.
Can you my Polly hide the tender tear
Or mark unanxious all their mad career
Can your friend Pierce withold himself from good
His heart, his country, or his hand, from blood
No; Let him in freedom pass his happiest days
Or die contented with its setting rays
Then do not mourn if Pierce no more remain
To hear or see his Country’s groans & Chains
See the rich Lordling Virgins Claim
And force sweet Innocence to Death & Shame
His Sisters’ murdered, or his friend betrayed
His Father shackled, and unknown his God
Let his pale Corpse e’er Carnaga thus shall come
Lie low within the dark and silent tomb
Nor know, nor fear, in that propitious hour
A North, or George or any friend of Power
But safe pursue my sister Polly’s way
And in some vale obscure smile on departing day
Secure with him your love alone can claim
Unknown to Envy, and unknown to Fame
With cheerful thanks partake in Natures bower
The purest stream & herb & roots & flower
There in sweetness, Temperance & Love
Fore Taste the blessings of the Blest above

May 5th. 1775

Mr. John Pierce Jun^r. of Litchfield in Connecticut, having the summer past been employed by Comissary Phelps at Albany as his Clerk and to assist him generally in the Comissary business, which M^r. Pierce I am well informed has done with fidelity and dispatch, and M^r Phelps having now resigned that Department and M^r Pierce being desirous of some proper employment in the army—I can with great satisfaction, recommend M^r Pierce as young Gentleman of fair and unexceptionable Character—I have known him from his Infancy and he has in my Opinion very justly acquired the reputation of a faithful, industrious prudent and virtuous Man—A good Writer & Accountant a Man of Business and Dispatch, amiable in his Disposition, and entirely well affected to the American Cause—And I believe may very safely be employed in any business, in the Army where those Qualifications are necessary.

Litchfield 6^{th} Janu^y AD 1776
OLIVER WOLCOTT

The above is a true Copy of an original, which is now in my Possession
as a security for the s^d Pierce’s faithful performance of the Duty of
an Ass. Pay Master.

Albany 29^{th} Feb^y 1776.

JON^A TRUMBULL Jun^r PMast^r Gen^{ll}
in Northern Department.

ALBANY 10^{th} July 1777

DEAR PIERCE

We are Thunderstruck here with the Evacuation of Ty—&c. not so much
att the Thing itself—as at the _Manner_—from the Circumstances we are
possessed of it is altogether inconceivable to us the Necessity or
Expedience of the Measure—& that at the _Appearance_ only of the
Enemy—without a Gun fired—the Minds of People are amazingly
agitated—the Characters of the _Officers_ are suffering, perhaps
irretrievably—the Men tis said would have fought—nay cried with
Vexation at turn^g their Backs——I have received yours—& am exceedingly
rejoiced att _our fortune_—& much pleased with the Account I have of
your Behaviour & good Conduct on the occasion, can it be necessary
that you remain with the Chest att Fort Edward?—Tis not probable
_Money_ will be wanted there—it may be safer _here_—200,000 Dollars
came yesterday from Philadelphia—let the General know this—& hint to
him the _Chest’s_ com^g to Albany.—We hear nothing yet of the
Movements of the Enemy in this River—we are in Expectation of a
Concert being struck up below us——I am

D^r Sir Your most humble Servant & Friend
J TRUMBULL JR.

ALBANY 17 July 1777—

DEAR PIERCE

This Day I received yours of 13^{th} June Day Col^o Lewis carried One
from me to you—I hope he has given it you—

Is Ty abandoned? or is it a Dream?—certainly it is a more
unaccountable affair than the most fantastic Dream—The
more I think—the more I consider—the more am I astonished—Not
one Gun fired!—scarcely the Shew of an Attack waited for!—so
precipitate a Retreat—or rather Runaway—leav^g
Artillery—Stores—Amunition—Provisions—Tents—Baggage—every Trophy of
Victory—to an Enemy who had not even dared to fight for them—I can’t
endure the Tho^t—Where is American Honor!—where is American
Bravery!—all levelled with the Dust—all trodden to the ground—in one
fatal Step—some Reason I suppose will be given—Ostensible att
least—would I could hear it—But they have made a safe Retreat—&
vanquished the Enemy at Castleton—Is it become a Maxim in Warr—unheard
of before—that a Body of Troops, who, when collected to a Point, in a
strong Port, are unable to resist or even face their Enemy—shall when
Divided be able to defeat them—Excellent!—tell it not in Gath!—publish
it not in the Streets of Askelon!—how are the Mighty fallen!—the
Mighty! how are they fallen from the Mount of Independence!

We have no certainty yet of the Movements of the Enemy below—I expect
they will trim their Course this Way—had we kept Ty—it is matter of
Doubt if we heard any thing more of them in this River—

What is doing above—what mode of _Defence Offence_ you don’t much
think of _now_—where is to be the Stand—5000 Troops I am told are
com^g up the River under Gen^{ll} Sullivan—some are already embarked &
on the River—if Report does not lie—

Are you to remain att Fort Edward with the Chest—were I to give my
Opinion—should think it best here—all Demands may as well be made here
as there—Dangers may not press as hard here as with you—you cannot
think of doing much Business as you are now circumstanced—If political
Reasons operate I have Nothing to say—let the General determine——

This comes by Gen^{ll} Wadsworth—is it not strange that no authorative
Acc^t of the Evacuation has been sent to Connecticut?—to obtain this
Gen^{ll} Wadsworth is specially sent by the Gov^r & Council of
Safety—& to obtain a true Acc^t of the Situation of Matters & to know
what & whether any assistance is needed—Gen^{ll} Wadsworth brings also
a Letter from your Friends att Litchfield—Give me all the Intelligence
you can obtain—the more particular the better—

Yours most sincerely—
J. TRUMBULL, JUN^R

I don’t know when I shall
get an opportunity to send
on your Cloath, &c.—

May
YORKTOWN 6^{th} March 1778

SIR

Your kind Favor of the March is rec^d I wish that the Arrangement of
the Army which you mention had been made last Winter, but it is not
yet done. It is intended to be adopted—but perhaps in the advanced
Season it may as well be omitted. The Auditors for settling the
accounts in the Northern Department I hope are now upon that
Business—I need not tell you that the Northern and Hudson River
Departments are put under the Command of Gen^l Gates who is now at
Head Quarters from where he will proceed to take his command. You
seemed to apprehend your own Situation might possibly be affected by
the Appointment of Mr. Trumbull to Mr. Palfrey’s Place who you
understood meant to Resign, but I believe you may banish all Fears on
that acc^t as Mr. Palfrey’s salary is now augmented to 250 Dollars per
month and I think that your Services will be fully wanted in the
Department in which you are—you must be very busy in your office
[_illegible_] more money, I think 250,000 Dollars and a Draught of
100,000, on the New York Loan Office, is directed to supply Mr.
Trumbull’s Chest—You doubtless acted with Propriety in not paying
Money till you was well assured of the Authority of the Person who
issued the Warrants, which I [_illegible_] the Gentleman you mention
had no Authority to do—Whether Gen^l Gates will think it best to have
a Paymaster under any Denomination at Albany I cannot say. But I
imagine he will think it necessary—

You have doubtless heard that some Treatys have been entered into by
our Commissioners and the Court of France—I have now to assure you of
the Truth of it—and that those Treatys the one of which is commercial
the other Defensive are ratifyed by Congress—and that the Tenor of
them are to their great Satisfaction, as they are evidently founded on
the Principles of mutual advantage and Security—and as liberal as we
might expect in a State of the greatest Strength and Prosperity—The
great object of the defensive Treaty is the Independence and unlimited
Sovereignty of the United States—The Wisdom of France whose Councils
are guided by the best Policy will never lead her to wish to confine
our territorial Jurisdiction on the Continent of N America—I enclose
to you, Hall and [_illegible_] Gazette which contains Publications not
directed by Congress, and consequently premature—Yet they are
published here and are abroad I may well gratify a Friend with one of
them.—But at the same Time I advise you to read it with attention, but
not with an entire Credulity, as I well know there is something
inserted which conveys a wrong Idea.—Whether G Britain will instantly
admit our Independence and cultivate Peace with her Neighbours or
involve herself in a War with France, and probably with Spain and
Prussia and perhaps other Powers may well deserve her consideration.

Some imagine she will continue the War against America and not molest
France in her Trade to this Country. But as base as her Conduct has
been I cannot believe she will submit to such an Insult, and if she
should do so, I do not conceive it would exempt her from a War with
her Neighbours—Our Business indeed is to exert every Nerve and
endeavour to bring matters to a speedy close—At most one Campaign more
will settle the Contest if it is carried on with vigor on our part. No
Reinforcements except such Recruits as are necessary to fill up the
German Battalions in America, will come from the continent of
Europe—and G. Britain in the present Situation of affairs can spare
none from thence—We are now then to consider France as our good
Friends and Allys—As for poor old England her Folly will probably
prove her Ruin—What seems to have given this important Turn to our
affairs was the Capture of Burgoyne’s Army. So that by a mysterious
Providence what in the general opinion was considered as a great Evil,
the sudden Loss of Ticonderoga has been productive so farr as We have
yet, observed of the most extensive Benefit. This Intelligence has
been rec^d with much Satisfaction. This Town has been Illuminated this
evening upon the Ocassion. All [_illegible_] rejoice but the Torys.
Poor sorry [_illegible_] what would become of them was America as
merciless as Britain—But Congress have Recommended to the States to
forgive those People who shall leave the Service of the Enemy by the
tenth of next month under such [_illegible_] and [_illegible_] as they
shall judge proper—

I hope to leave Congress within four Weeks. Mr. Adams I expect will be
here by that Time. If you shall send me a Letter directed to me here I
shall give order if it comes after I have gone home to have it
transmitted to me.—My kindest Wishes for your Welfare, and be assured
that your Friendship for me and my Family exacts my sincerest
acknowledgments. I am

Your Friend and
humble Servant
JOHN PIERCE, ESQ^R OLIVER WOLCOTT—

P. S. Gen^l Conway’s resignation upon his Desire is accepted—I enclose
you a Paper of this Date.

LITCHFIELD Aug. 17th 1783

Are you not surprised my dear Sister to see a letter from me dated
from this place—the fact is however true, and you may be as certain
that I am at this present moment in my Father’s House, as that you
will be at the place you will read this letter. I got the Generals
liberty to come and spend Sunday here & am to be at Camp again on
Monday night, you see therefore how strict they keep me & little I can
play the truant. I should otherwise have made my compliments to your
Ladyship at Lenox Hall, but _inclination_ is only what I can do at
this time, I hope however when you get your House a little in order
and Aunt has a spare bed set up for a stranger, that I shall wander to
Lenox, but of this I must yet only form hopes.

I have only just arrived here and have seen nobody but our Family, and
can only therefore inform you that they are well except Father who is
still in his poor way, as to myself if it is a matter of any
consideration, I am perfectly well & very much at your service

J. PIERCE.

PHILADELPHIA Apr. 9th 1784

DEAR SISTER

On the last evening I arrived here, very much fatigued, which is the
natural consequence of riding in a stage, where our feelings cannot
keep pace with the velocity of the machine. I am now however tolerably
well over it and have been to see some of my acquaintance. I do not
however feel quite so happy as if a certain favorite of mine were not
married, altho’ this event is not seriously interesting me as I never
had a wish or a thought of being married to her, yet it destroys the
cordiality of our little circle, by placing her out of it, and perhaps
slightly wounds my pride [as I have paid some attentions to her] that
a foreigner in my absence and without my being informed of it, should
come into the country, should make his suit so effectual as to marry
her before my return. I however find myself counter balanced by the
happiness I experienced in N. Jersey where there are three Ladies I
admire much more than I ever did this one, the first is at Eliz’t
Town, Miss DeNast, who is the most accomplished woman, I ever was
acquainted with, she has a great show of beauty, but that is hid by
her genius & education, she is a better poet than Mrs. Blucher and
has—almost every history extant, but with all these qualities she is
scarcely acquainted with one [_illegible_] makes marriage state
tolerable, she is [_illegible_] and perfectly fond of her wit and
accomplishments [_illegible_] no man ever will be happy with her any
more than as an acquaintance, but in Miss Dunham the next Lady I
intended to mention, a Man will find all the domestic and social
virtues with out any of the splendor either in mind or person of Miss
DeNast, her friendship I therefore cultivated for a long time,
[_illegible_] when you see her for she is endowed with [_illegible_]
accomplishment in a female superior to every [_illegible_] brilliance
except that of beauty. My next stage was at Princeton, where I spent
the evening with Miss Polly Stockton, who is my greatest favorite of
the three. I do not know well how to describe her character, unless I
should say she more resembles Miss Crosby than any other person, she
has always been in the best company both in this city, and at
[_illegible_] under the direction of a prudent mother and has had an
elegant and useful education, the endowments of her heart appear to be
goodness and sensibility and I assure you I am half in love with her,
which was also the case when I left Princeton before. I have just
spent this evening with her sister, and now retire to my room to enjoy
a little conversation with you.

The short time you have and the many things you have to learn,
occasions me to wish you would employ every moment for the purpose, I
hope you will not miss a single dancing school, and that you will take
lessons from Capt. Turner at other times, pray get him and Katy your
friend, to instruct you in every thing in walking standing and
sitting, all the movements of which tho’ they appear in a polite
person natural, are the effects of art, while country girls never
attend to and which you had best take the utmost pains, or you will
never appear natural & easy in. I am somewhat fearful that your old
habits at your age can not be so thoroughly removed, as to give place
to a natural careless genteel air, and which totally hides all the art
of it. The Books I left with you I wish you not to read much in town,
I want you to study the fashions, the art of pleasing to advantage and
for this purpose to spare no necessary expense, and if you do not
appear as genteel as any of the girls it will be your own fault, you
must however pay a great regard to economy & always remember that
every Dollar takes so much from my future prospects, on which you know
that not only yours but mine and all our families happiness depends. I
wish you to cultivate the acquaintance of the Roosevelt family, it
will be of future use to me, I have been careful to place you in a
situation where your inexperience cannot lead you astray and with a
Lady of all women, from the goodness of her heart the best capable to
advise and direct you, consult therefore my dear Girl her wishes and
render her in return every happiness & service in your power, do not
give more trouble than you can help, and make yourself happy.

... You must make my compliments to all the Ladies of my acquaintance
and my love to Mrs. Crosbey. I am my Dear Sister sincerely yours

J. PIERCE

PHILADELPHIA June 8, 1784

MY DEAR SISTER

I came here the day before yesterday so much fatigued, that I am yet
almost sick, riding in the heat is too severe for me, who am at other
times almost continually in the walls of my office, you meet with so
much Friendship & attention at N. York, that I feel myself under very
great obligations, you must know that your letter of the 6th is now
before me. Col Hull is going to Canada and the army is dismissed, of
course he will not be able to get my horse fat as he expected, and
your plan of going home by the way of West Point is also by this means
interrupted, unless you go soon which you will consult Mrs. Hull on,
and do as she and you think best.

Do you not think the Miss Dunhams are fine, friendly Girls, and that
Miss Steel is also agreeable? I will assure you I do not know a more
engaging little circle, I have been as happy with them as at any other
place, you will give my love to them & inform Miss Steel that I am in
love with her as much as ever.

Notwithstanding what Mrs. Crosbey says, I am afraid you cannot help
giving the family considerable trouble, a woman always must, we have
received so considerable favors from the family that we ought to be
cautious of going too far, for this reason I thought it prudent for
you to return, but you can be a better judge of the propriety of
staying longer. In living in N. York you must guard yourself against
several things.

In Dancing you must take care not to be so precise as to give an air
of formality to your deportment, the most engaging persons are those
which appear free and easy, politeness ought to be the effort of habit
rather than study.

You must take care also not to get your ideas of Happiness from a
City, you know you are not to live there, and ought therefore to be
cautious of the refinement & pleasures attending your situation. You
most endeavor to obtain such a versatility of disposition, as to
really reconcile yourself not only to the solitude of the country, but
also to the manner of it so that you may not be unhappy in the one
case, nor appear proud or vain in the other. You may expect on your
return a great many ill natured observations made on you and the only
way to prevent the effect intended or indeed to keep your sisters easy
will be to be very unassuming in your deportment.

I by accident lately was under the necessity of buying a book or a
picture. I made choice of the first, and took a book entitled Letters
Moral and Entertaining, because I had never read it. I find this Book
contains very good maxims for young Ladies, I have therefore sent it
to you for the use of you Girls.

The bearer of this Letter is Mr. George Reid a Gentleman who is going
to West Point on business for me, I wish you to be friendly to him.

Your brother
JOHN PIERCE

CHARLESTON Feb, 22nd, 1785

MY DEAR SISTER

I wrote you from Newburn in N. Carolina, giving you some account of my
progress so far; my continuance there was very agreeable, I was
treated with the greatest politeness, hospitality, and friendship, and
what endeared the scene was a number of Northern people who took a
delight to make me happy. I left this place on the 29th of Jan’ry. We
crossed the Trent about 13 miles above Newburn, we rode this day 30
miles without stopping, and it beginning to rain we were much
mortified to find ourselves three or four miles out of our way, which
took us until the evening to reach a Mr. Starkness where we lodged. On
the 30th we crossed New River, which abounds with fish, and small
delicious Oysters. We put up that night at Sages about 40 miles. The
roads were sandy, lofty forest of pines, interspersed with deep
swamps, which when cultivated might afford good crops of rice, the
country thinly settled. The next day we arrived at Wilmington about 28
miles, this Town is seated about 7 miles from the sea, on Cape Fear
River, is confined in a small hollow piece of ground, which makes it
very hot in summer, is the best harbor in N. Carolina, and has a very
extensive back, country opened for its commerce, by means of Cape Fear
River which is navigable about 10 miles above it, we staid here
several days, went to an assembly, but saw but few ladies, there being
at that time raging in the Town, the putrid sore throat, which carried
off several very suddenly, and frightened every body. The Ladies are
very polite and well accomplished.

On the 3rd. of February, we crossed Cape Fear River and an Island, on
which was a cross way of near two miles very bad & mirey, we only got
over this bad place this evening, we rode the next day 26 miles only,
found the roades very wet & mirey, at one place we had to hire some
negroes to hoist our carriage thro’ the mud and over a rivulet, the
land here is poor marshy & juicy, on the 5th we rode 36 miles, the
roades being more sandy, we put up near long bay, on the 6th we rode
16 miles on the Beach at low water which left the sand hard &
beautifully level, after which we had a very sandy road for 10 miles,
and there being no place of public entertainment we stopped for that
evening at a Mr. Alotines a private gentlemans house. On this day &
the 7th, rode on a neck of land formed by the ocean on the one hand
and Ossamack River on the other, which river has some very elegant,
rice plantations on it, & being so near the sea air is esteemed
healthy, we had 16 miles to ride before we arrived at the Ferry which
was three miles over, owing to some Islands, and the increase of
waters by the meeting of the Perdue, Black River and Ossamack, ...

EXTRACT OF LETTER FROM COL. JOHN PIERCE.

We then rode about nine miles, to Mount Vernon the seat of Gen.
Washington—nothing could afford me greater satisfaction, than this
site of my old General and his Lady and I had the satisfaction to
experience their attention so particularly that I felt myself very
much flattered by it—the General looks heartier and younger than when
he left us—he feels interested in the conduct of the officers, and
enquired particularly about those that I could know anything of.

We had also the company of a Mrs. Stewart, who was formerly the wife
of Mrs. Washington’s son Custis, a very aimable woman—the country
around the Generals is chiefly covered with woods, his seat is on an
eminence, near the banks of the Powtowmack—and commands a view of that
river for several miles both above and below—the house and out houses,
connected by pillars and arches form a very happy appearance, and when
a large lawn before it is properly walled in, which is now doing, the
view to the house from the country side will be considerably improved.
The next morning the 19th, one of the General’s brother’s came to see
him, tho’ younger he looks older, and has but a faint likeness. We
dined at the General’s, and after dinner, as I did not wish to give
him more trouble, we left his house & rode eleven miles—to
Colchester—it was well we did for the next day the 10th we found the
roads almost mountainous, very stormy & misty—rode from there to
Dumfries, from thence to Stafford Court House, and arrived at
Fredericksburgh about sunset, being about 36 miles—but the most
fatigueing day we have had—This last Town lays at the head of the
navigation of the Rappahannack River, and is growing very fast into
consequence. Gen. Washington gave us a letter of introduction to a
Gen. Woudon here, who treated us with the hospitality of a prince—and
obliged us to remain with him the next day [the 11th], we here first
saw the Virginia way of taking a hoggshead of Tobacco to market—it is
by having two large pins stuck into the centre of each head of the
Hoggshead, by way of axle tree to a small stick or slat which has a
hole bored into the end to which it is put and in which it moves, the
slat, the horse is fastened to like a dray, and the horse draws the
Hoggshead by its rolling on the ground—this way of conveyance is used
for a hundred miles sometimes. General Washington’s Mother lives here,
she is between 70 & 80, I did not see her as I did not wish to
interrupt her retirement—they tell me she is not tall and possesses
her understanding fully. She called the Gen’l her _Georgy_ until our
success was certain, and said he had better be on his farm, but when
that was secure, the old Lady partook of his triumph and enjoyed his
fame, and gives him the name of General. The next day [the 12th] we
rode in a delightful country down the Rappahannack, ...

NEW YORK, Sept. 3rd. 1786

MY DEAR SISTER

I design to be at Commencement with my sweetheart and hope to see some
of you there also, you will see each other and be able to form some
opinion whether you will like each other, for sisters, which must be
the case shortly. I gave your love to the little Girl, and she asked
me if I had returned hers, which I think I did not in my last letter,
an omission she did not like very well, if you expected that I should
have made choice of wit, beauty or Fortune, you will be mortified in
the one I have made, and some years ago my ambition led me to find
such qualifications, but now my heart acquires to be happy, which must
arise I am convinced from the disposition, a good under standing, the
sweetness of temper and sincerity of affection, these I hope to have
found, and these I presume will contribute much more also to my
Sisters’ felicity.

You will not let anybody but my Sisters’ read this letter, who are
entitled alone to know the feelings of my heart or the principles of
my conduct.

I have not yet determined absolutely to go to Georgia, but would
however be in some preparation to set off, if I go, by some time in
October,

When are you going to be married? teasing Girls I do not know, before
however I go to Georgia.

I am my dear Sisters
Your affectionate
JNO. PIERCE

NEW YORK. November 12th. 1786

MY DEAR SISTERS’

The gentleman who hands you this Letter is the Rev’d Mr. Beach, he is
a friend of mine and I wish you to treat him with every mark of
consideration and civility that you are capable of, to consider him as
more than a common acquaintance, to entertain him in the best manner,
and to introduce him to Mr. Champion, Mr. Tracy, Col. Talmage and the
other gentlemen of the Town, this gentleman is the parson who last
monday gave you a new sister and to your brother a new interesting and
important connexion, he is the dear friend of this sister and of
course is very dear to me. I am now my affectionate sisters at the
goal, to which I have considered as the end of my ambition and as the
object of all my pursuits, and I have no doubt but I shall enjoy in
this new connexion every happiness which my imagination had so loudly
pictured to itself, her tenderness, delicacy, and affection I have no
doubt of, and I have every thing to hope from the sweetness of her
temper & the elegance of her mind. I have been more cautious in my
choice, in regard to these qualities not only on account of my own
happiness, but of yours. for though it is not likely you will ever
make my home your entire home, yet you will ever be with me in turn as
long as you are unmarried and my happiness would certainly be
destroyed could not you be with me and receive the greatest
satisfaction. I hope my dear Girls that you, Mama, & all my friends
will rejoice on this occasion, my attention to you will not be the
less nor my affection any way diminished. I shall ever hold you in the
same dear relations and consider myself as the head of the family to
whom you are to look up for protection, support, and happiness.

The wedding being delayed some days, will occasion some delay in
Mollies return, and her new sister and her friends here have taken up
a great liking to her & will not suffer her to leave them. I am
determined however that she shall go about the first of the month, and
you must be in readiness at that time to take her place. James Brace
had in the meantime best go to his Father’s and get his consent that
he live with me this winter

I am my dear Sisters’ your loving brother
JNO. PIERCE.

ACCOUNTS AND MEMORANDA FROM JOHN PIERCE’S ALMANACH, 1776.

The accounts, memoranda, etc., are entered on blank pages opposite the months to which they belong.

Get Kee to my Trunk.
Get a R’cept for Military Chest.
For 1 Barrel Gun Powder——
Mr. Bloodgood’s Tent——
French’s Pork return^d——
Number the last R’cept.
Mr. Seymours Wool
Doct. Smiths shoes
Good Castor——
Capt. Whitneys Certificate.
Change Doct. Smiths Money——
Mr. Strong Rcept for Flour
Elisha Frisbie Rcept
Allens business
John Vanderheyden
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Jan^y 01. Made a settlement with Jed.
Strong——
Recev^d of him for my Wages & Expenses 12 · 6 · 0
& for going to Hebron 0 · 12 · 0
————————————————
Horse hire 34/ } Deduct^d £ 12 · 18 · 0
44/6 } (?) 3 · 18 · 6
———— ————————————————
78 6 £ 8 · 19 · 6
being what is allow^{ed} for
my wages in M^r Strongs
business as Com^y——
Feb^y 21 recev^d for Draw^g a Pay Roll 2/8
York.[94]
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
List of Articles taken with me to Tyconderoga ——
21 lb sugar — — 30/
1 lb Tea 20/
1 Blanket Coat
1 Surtoat
1 Old Great Coat
1 blue Broad Cloth Coat
1 do Jackett
1 Double Breast’d D^o
2 p Breeches
1 p Indian Shoes
1 p Woolen Mitts
1 p Leather D^o
1 Buff Cap ——
6 p Worstead Stockings
9 Shirts—8 Stocks
1 Black Neck Cloth
1 Silk Handkerchief
2 Linnen D^o ——
2 Vols Spirit Laws (?)
1 p Shoes. D^o silver Shoes & Buckles & 1
stock ^{D^{o}}
1 p Stone Buttons
1 castor Hat
1 p Nitt^d Stockings a present
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
An Account of my Expenses
from Albany (?) to Tyc—— Nov ——
19 Wid (?) 0 · 3 · 0 y [95]
J. Vernons —— 0 · 1 · 0
20 Capt. Baldwin 0 · 6 · 0
M^— Nieles — — 0 · 2 · 4
On Road J. G. —— 0 · 2 · 0
Ty Landing 0 · 5 · 4
———————————
£0 · 19 · 8
(January)
4^{th} Rcev^d of Jed. Strong Esq. for Writ^g
done for Capt Curtiss 6/ Le NY—— & ?
5 Bought some Buttons 1/8
8 Sold M^r Strong 1 Sword 22/
13 Bot. 1 Piece of Tape 1/ York
Bot 2 lb Tea for my Grandmother—— 11/York
Bot for mak^g my Shoes 1/—— York
15^{th}: 1 Pair Stockings 10/6 York
Borrowed of M^r Strong two Dollars
16 Paid for M^r Reeves Letter 2/
M^r Phelps D^r To 2 Dollars Lent
M^r Strong has settl^d for a bear skin &
30 Bot. a Pair of Stock^g 10/ y.

(February.)
Pocket Expenses D^r.
5. To 1 Pen Knife 3/ y NY
To Beer—— 2/ D^o
7. To 1 Pair of Breeches 36/4. York
To 1 pair of Drawers 10/York
To given in Charity 1/ y
12 To 1 pair of Shoes— 11/
14 To 2 Handkerchiefs @ 9/—— 18/ y
To shaving = 2/6 y NY
24 To 2 Handkerchiefs @ 3/

Began to Shave with Barber 8^{th}
10 Wash^g Cloths O 4 3·y
D^o 2·3·
———————
one Dollar 8/ 6 6

United Colonies D^r
1776 To 1 Buntch of Quill 3/y
Feb^y 12
To 1 Piece of Tape 1/y

(March):——
Recev^d of Jon. Trumbull Esq. 4^{th}
March 26⅔ Dollars towards my wages.

Pocket Expenses D^r
3^d To 1 Pair Breeches 39/York
To mending my Coat 4/6 Y. NY
12 To Present to Servant 1/

Profit & Losst D^r
9 To 1 Dollar given a Fellow for returning a
saddle which I lost—— 8/y

(April):——
Pocket Expenses D^r all in Y. NY
4^{th} To Postage of a Letter— 1/6
To 2¼ y^d Rib^d Everlasting @ 6/—13/6
6 To mending a pair Shoes 4/
9 To ¾ y^d Cambrick—— 13/6
Have spent 3 Dollars at the Tavern this
Month 24/
Paid for a Military Chest 29/

(May):
All in York Mony
15^{th} Bought a p^r Gloves 3/
Bought two p^r Stockings @9/
Expenses on a Journey to Fort George (viz)——
16 At Minifies, bought Prov’s & 7/6
At Lansing to Dinner—— 2/
17 At a Tavern Brakefast & 2/
18 At Fort George Brakefas 2/
19 At Fort Miller—— 1/6
At Still Water’s—— 2/
Hiring Carriages Down 8/
————
25/0
23^d Gave Gin—— 2/

(June):——
Expenses on a Journey to & from Dartmouth College—York Money
2. Ferryage— 0 · 0 · 9
at Lansyng Oats 0 · 0 · 4
At Tom (?) Din^d & Oats 0 · 1 · 6
Oats &— 0 · 1 · 0
3^d White Creek Lodg^g Horse & Sup^r 0 · 2 · 8
Shaftsbury. brakefast & Oats 0 · 1 · 1
Manchester Din^d Bait^d & Oated 0 · 1 · 3
4^{th} At N d leys House Lodg^g & Brakefast 0 · 2 · 8
Dinner & Bait^g— 0 · 1 · 4
—————————
0 12 7/8
£0 ·12 · 7
1 · 12 · 3
Paid for 1 · 12 · 0
—————
Horse Hire 3 · 16 · 10
Ferryage—— 0 · 0 ·11
5. Oats & Din^r 0 · 1 · 4
6. At College 0 · 2 · 4
Rode to no 4 0 · 2 · 2
At Walkers
Going & Riding & Hiring Horse 0 · 3 ·10
Paid for Horse Hire—— 0 · 8 · 0
Mend^g saddle 0 · 1 · 2
Ferryage—— 0 · 0 · 6
Sup. Lodg^g & Oats & 0 · 2 · 3
Brakefast & Oats 0 · 1 · 2
At(?) 0 · 2 ·11
At Powels 0 · 0 · 4
Arlington 0 · 1 · 0
9 St Crix 0 · 1 · 9
Tom(?) 0 · 0 · 4
Barber 0 · 1 · 6
Ferryage 0 · 0 · 9
————————
John Pierce Jn^r 1 ·12 · 3
Recev^d the Above of Mr. Trumbull

1 Recev^d of M^r Trumbull towards my wages 20
Dolls—— £8 · 0 · 0
12^{th} Rcev^d of D^o for the above Expenses—— 3 ·16 ·10
14 Bot of Robert Henry 1½ y^d Linnen for stocks
@ 10/ 1 · 4 0
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
12^{th} M^r Strongs Acc^d clos^d with me. Bot me a
Straw Hat 13/4
12^{th} Paid Elisha Sheldon Esq. six Pounds Law
Money in part pay of a Note ———— or in
whole Pay or more
Paid Oliver Wolcott Esq. eight Pounds Law
Money on Acc^d ———— NB I now owe him 40/9
ny ————
15 Recev^d of Mr. Trumbull seventy Dollars
towards my Wages ————
Paid M. Watson—for 1 Pair Breeches £2 · 4
for seat^g D^o 2/6 Mak^g Coat 17/— 19 · 6
4 y^d shalloon 20/ Send^g dº 11/9- 1 11 · 9
for White Breeches ———— 1 ·12 ·
——————————
£6 · 7 · 3

Recev^d of M^r Trumbull 15 Dollars for my
Expenses in return^g w^{th} Mess
Trumbull——
Spent on s^d Journey myself 4/
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Bot 10 y^d Cor^d du Roy @ /6— £3 · 0 · 0
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
01 two pr stockings @ 12/—— 1 · 4 · 0
20 1 pr silk stock^{gs}—— 1 ·12 · 0
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
July 0076—— York C^y—
20 Spent for Mud—— 1/4
24 Paid John Mynderse for Mak^g
2 Jacketts & 2 p^r Breeches & for Lin^g
Buttons & —— £1–16
M^r Price D^r to 10 y^d of Corde Roy @ 6/

(August):
4^{th} Spent at the Mead House £0 · 4 · 6
8 Paid M^{rs} Meredith 1 · 5 · 0
18 Recev^d 3 Doll for writing
20 Spent 5/2
21 Bought a Bever Hat—— 64/
23 Turning my Coat—— 28/
24 Wid. Vernons 1/

(September):—
Recev^d for Draw^g a Pay Roll 13/4
7^{th} bought a Ribbon 3/4

(October)
(In pencil)
Proportion of Colonies
in 1695——
Penn- L 80
Masssech 350
Maryl^d 160
Virginia 240
Rhode I- 48
Connect 120
N- York 200
Oct. 22^d paid Mr^s Meredith for washing 45/
23 bought a Latch 3/9
30^{th} (something scratched out)
sent p. A. Catlin 1 lb to my father
two Dollars—

(November)
13 Recev^d of E. Avery Esq. eleven Dl^s for
cash I lent Lt. Colo. Whiting last Year—&
took his Note w^h must be sent him—it is
now in A. Adam.
Nov. 01 Gave Gin ½ Dol^r
Paid for Wash^g— (?)
18 My Barbers Bill 30/ p^d
Clean^g my Hat— 5/
Buttons 1/6 Tape 2/10
21 lb^s sugar 30/ 1 lb 20/
2 gallons Rum (?) cash p^d
4 lb^s Chocolate 16/
70 lb^s Butter @ 1/9
Cash 2/ £ 6. 2. 6.
18 paid M^r Watson for mak^g my Blanket Coat a
p. Breeches & a Jackett 52/4——
p^d James Vernon 12/for what I have had
from him.
19 Rece^d of Mr. Trumbull
p^d M^r Price on Acc 60 D
for Potatoes 12/
Gave Negro Boy 4/
25 Bought a Tea Pot 6/8
Spent f^m Albany to Ty as p part. in this
Book 19/8[96]

(December):
Left at Albany of wear^g apparile
4 p white Breeches
1 silk Jackett
1 Nankeen D^o
3 white Jacketts 2 (?) 2
1 p cotton stockings
6 p thread D^o
1 p silk D^o
1 straw Hat
1 p rid^g Trowzers
1 Watch
1 p Leather Breeches
1 p Stock^g Nit D^o
1 p Boots
1 Hat New Beaver Hat
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
May 21
6 shirts
6 Stocks
5 p Stockings
2 Handkerchiefs
1 Jackett

June 1
5 shirts
1 Stock
2 Stock^{gs}
1 Handkerchief

June 13—the above
1 Handkerchief
1 Trowzers
3 shirts 3 stocks—3 Stock^{gs}
Borrowed of Mr. Trumbull
2 cheeses at Vernon’s Stillwater
1 Cheese weighed 35 lb

PL. LXV.—DR. TIMOTHY PIERCE, SON OF JOHN PIERCE AND MARY GOODMAN

_b._ 1778. _d._ 1801.

From a pastelle
]

APPENDIX B.

Timothy Pierce,

1- To Mary Pierce, Hartford, Ld. no date.
2- „ „ „ „
3- To Mary & James Pierce, Litchfield, New York, 1798
4 To „ „ „ Litchfield, New York, Oct. 5th „
5 To James, „ „ „ „
6- To my brother & sisters, „ „ 1799
7- „ James Pierce, „ Camp, 10 Sept. 1799
8 „ „ „ „ „ „ „
9- „ my mother, to my brother, to my „ Union Camp, Nov. 1799
sisters,
10- To my dear friends, „ „ Cantonment, Jan. 6, 1800
11- „ Mary Pierce, „ Camp, Jan. 18, 1800
12- „ James Pierce, „ „ Sept. 30 „
13- „ James „ „ Charleston, S. C. Dec. „ „
14- „ Dr. Croswell, Columbia, „ „
15- „ „ „ Statesburg, Feb. 1801
16- „ my sister Polly, „ May, 1, „
addressed to Thos. O. H. Catskill.
Croswell,
17- „ Miss Mary Pierce, „ July, 24, 1801
18- To Dr. Reed, to Mrs. Widow Litchfield. „ Aug.
Pierce, 2, „
19- Mr. Wm. Rees, to Miss Sarah „ „ „ 6 „
Pierce,

No. 1

TO MY SISTER MARY:—

I improve this early opportunity that I may be thus entitled to an answer, giving an account of your journey, your situation, of the plans you have formed for the disposal of your time, & of whatever has occurred most interesting since you left us. The opportunity with which fortune has at present blessed you of improving your mind by refined society, of enriching your mind by reading & conversation, & of taking an extensive view of human nature, is probably far more advantageous than what you will enjoy at any future period. Of this you are undoubtedly sensible. It is superfluous, therefore, to enlarge upon the necessity of making every exertion in your power to reap all the advantages the nature of your situation will allow.

I shall sometimes take the liberty of advising you. We are none of us perfect. You must advise me in return, & let us each become as faultless as a brother’s & sister’s watchful care can make us.

Let me recommend to you a practice which I began on New Year’s day, from which I already have received evident advantage. So many things were crowding upon my mind at the time of your departure that I entirely forgot to mention it. The practice I refer to is that of noting down in the evening by way of diary, every observation worth remembering that you have heard in conversation, & all the reflections that have occurred to you of any importance in the course of the day. Each evening fill up one page at least & it will induce a habit of exerting your mind by reasoning, and paying strict attention to all judicious conversation, & you will in a little time acquire a facility in the art of composition which alone would fully compensate you for your labors. Without preserving exertion of your rational faculties you can never expect vigor of intellect. Without exercising the talents of conceiving & communicating ideas, & profiting by the remarks of the sensible it is in vain to think of excelling in conversation. Nor can elegance in composition ever be attained without long and careful practice.

Knox in his moral essays disapproves of transcribing the substance of what we read in a common book. Copying verbatim would it is true spend time to little purpose, but writing a concise abridgment may be useful by fixing the mind upon the subject. He who pays that strict attention that transcription requires will find the subject more firmly stamped upon his memory than he will who reads for amusement only. Write me what you think upon this subject.

Post Script to Miss Wylls.

TO MY OTHER SISTER MARY:—

It is nearly time for the post to call for the bundle which is to enclose this, & perhaps I shall have little more time to write you than barely sufficient to inform you that all who are dear to you in Litchfield enjoy health, prosperity, & happiness. The tears of joy from embracing your dear parents & receiving the hearty welcome of your friends, have hardly yet ceased to flow. Then what an apology can I offer for so soon recalling your attention to those you have left behind.

Without doubt the interest your warm heart feels in the concerns of your Litchfield friends will make intelligence of their welfare pleasing to you altho’ a few days only have elapsed since you were bedewed by their parting tears. I will confess however, that the hope of reading a postscript by your hand in Polly’s first letter is an excellent inducement for thus intruding upon your attention. Just so, however laudable may be ostensible motives for actions, it frequently happens that selfish motives, which we desire to conceal, are full as powerfully influential. But it is not my intention to give you a moral lecture at present.

The long expected young lady from Poughkeepsie has at last made her appearance to supply the place you left vacant in our family. She seems about 14 years of age, & little taller than Hannah, figure fine, complexion & features delicate, & if I may judge by her air & face, (for I have not heard her converse) is more likely to become a fine lady, than a philosopher. But I am much more pleased with her mother Mrs. Williams with whom I spent an hour very agreeably. Suppose Betsey Canfield 6 or 7 years older & you will have a striking likeness of her face and figure, but Betsey never can attain to more than a small portion of the refinement which appears in Mrs. W’s conversation. Can you prevent that awkward, country girl Polly Pierce from staring & gaping after wonders & curiosities about the Commercial City till you are ashamed of her? Can you keep her in order—Can we ever make a woman of her? An answer to these enquiries will delight.

Your sincere friend,
Remember me affectionately to St. John. T. PIERCE.

To MISS MARY PIERCE, Hartford.

No. 2

Several weeks have elapsed since I have received a single line from my sister. In the name of wonder why this silence? While you were in Hartford, your friends here (Fanny Smith for instance) ascribed your neglect of them to hurry of amusements. But you have spent much of your time of late in the _country_. _There_ surely time to write might have been found, if inclination had not been wanting. It is with mortification I remark that those among my correspondents whose communications I value the most are the least punctual in the performance of their promises in regard to writing. Several weeks or rather months have elapsed since my last to Mary Wylls & not a word have I received in return. However, I endeavor to think of her neglect as charitably as _circumstances_ will permit.

Our mother has been unwell. About 10 or 12 days ago she was attacked by symptoms denoting the access of slow fever. We contrived to strangle the disorder at its birth. Since that time she has been harassed by pains &c. of the nervous kind, but I hope her health will soon be reestablished. What a pity it is that you have not been at home to have learned a little of the skill in housewifery that I have displayed during her sickness?

Mamma makes frequent & anxious inquiries about you, talks about you a great deal & I fancy a letter from you would prove a more efficacious cordial than any that Dr. Smith’s shop affords. Do write to her Polly, & let us hear from you in the future much oftener than heretofore. I engage to answer every letter of yours the day we receive it, and send by the earliest opportunity.

Sally says, “Give my love to Polly, and tell her I have the headache & cannot write.” The crazy democratic priest, Ogden, has just sent her as a present a copy of his travels in Canada for the use of her school.

This letter is not your due, let that account for its shortness. My friendship to St. John W.

&c. &c.
MARY PIERCE,
Hartford.

No. 3

(I suppose 1798.)

SISTER:—

Here I am at New York, I have not time to write a regular letter, but shall throw out without form or order, in the most expeditious manner, whatever thoughts the occasion suggests. I rode the only passenger in the Stage almost to Derby, but to compensate for my loneliness the fore part of the day, 2 gentlemen & 4 ladies accompanied from Derby to N. Haven—tell S. Curtis & P. Thompson that the two Miss Graceys were of the number—& that one of the Gentlemen had sense enough to conceal his want of sense by taciturnity—one had been a Schoolmaster, & the third was cutting a dash in a sky blue speckled velvet coat, his hair dressed a la quotatine, the ear locks powdered & frizzled so as almost to meet in front of his nose, truly indicative of the furniture of his brain. I still recollect the black eyes of one of the young ladies—You will receive an account of Commencement from Daniel, therefore I shall be silent on that head. My room mate at New Haven, was a clergyman with whom I conversed a great part of the evening, & almost all night, neither of us being disposed for sleep, an elderly gentlemen who had listened to our _learned_ conversation, asked me if I had a _son_ in College.

Commencement evening, I set afloat for New York, & arrived here after a head wind voyage of—I have forgotten exactly how long. I have taken temporary lodgings near the centre of the City, price at the rate of 100 pounds a year. My fellow lodgers are two young attorneys, who have very much of the gentleman in them, one student at law, one French Priest who speaks no English, but converses with us wholly in French & Latin, so that our table conversation is a mixed jargon of French, Latin & English. Nat’n Sanford also is one of my fellow lodgers, transformed into a steady student, bearing a respectable character, & seeming much like a gentleman, he is certainly an excellent scholar. Dr. Mitchell dines with us, you have heard what respect his theory of Septon has met with in Germany. I shall attend his first lecture upon Chemistry tomorrow, next to Dr. Smith he is perhaps the most pleasing man I am acquainted with. The other evening he conducted a number of us to an eminence near the City that we might get a sight at the much talked of Comet, but we found it not, the next evening walking upon the battery I found a number of the pretended literati of the town with their telescopes squinting at Venus, fancying that the Comet, after viewing it sufficiently, they went home tickled most hugely to think they had seen the Comet!! Men of science indeed!!