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Lot 212
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Fantastic Archive of 102 War of 1812 items in Norwalk, Connecticut
Fantastic Archive of 102 War of 1812 items in Norwalk, Connecticut
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Description:

Fantastic Archive of 102 War of 1812 items in Norwalk, Connecticut

This archive of commissions, orders, muster rolls, correspondence, and receipts primarily concerns the War of 1812 service of Captain Elijah Reed of Norwalk, Connecticut, and his 6th Company in the 34th Regiment of the Connecticut Militia.

[WAR OF 1812.] ELIJAH REED, Archive of 102 documents, 1763-1934. 115 pp. Also includes some materials related to his father Jesse Reed (1734-1822) and his son Roswell Reed (1821-1893). Several documents have tears along folds; some folds have been repaired by cellophane tape that has yellowed; one document is encapsulated in Celluloid; good.

The archive includes eight complete or partial muster rolls for Reed's company, 1812-1815; one printed general order for the entire state, 1812; seven regimental orders or orders from the commander of the 34th Regiment, 1812-1815; and eighteen company orders, most signed by Reed, 1812-1815. Many of Reed's company orders summoned certain men to appear for musters or are related to fines imposed on those who did not appear for militia duty. The archive also includes five deeds and approximately thirty statements of account or receipts. The oldest of these receipts are dated in 1763, 1776, and 1789, and involve Jesse Reed. The 1763 receipt was for a payment made by Jesse Reed for his father Thomas Reed. The 1776 receipt is signed by Peter Reed, Jesse Reed's brother, as part of the execution of their father's will. The 1789 receipt was for taxes.

Individual documents include:
• Lt. Col. Buckingham Lockwood (1774-1850), commandant of the 34th Regiment, appointment of Elijah Reed as sergeant in the 6th Company of the 34th Regiment of Militia, September 3, 1808, Norwalk, CT;
• Governor John Treadwell (1745-1823), appointment of Elijah Reed as Ensign in the 6th Company of the 34th Regiment of Militia, November 1, 1809, New Haven, CT;
• Governor John Treadwell, appointment of Elijah Reed as Lieutenant in the 6th Company of the 34th Regiment of Militia, October 11, 1810, New Haven, CT;
• Captain Isaac Hoyt (1767-1828), 6th Company of the 34th Regiment of Militia, arrest order for Jonas Seelah for neglecting and refusing to muster for militia service until he paid fine of $2.50, August 5, 1809;
• Col. Enoch St. John (1765-1846), commandant of 34th Regiment, Regimental Orders, May 14, 1812, New Canaan, CT:
"You are ordered and directed to detach eleven privates from the Company under your command that is equipped according to law and hold themselfs in readiness to march at the shortest possible notice and returns to the Adjutant of the Redgement of all the names of those detached at or before the 20th of Inst May but so hold themselfs under the direction of the officers of the Company to which they respectfully belong – Untill actually called in to the Field."
• Justices of the Peace Ebenezer Davenport (1773-1833) and Nathan Weed (1760-1819), Certificate of Inability for John Mills, July 13, 1812:
"We the Subscribers two of the Civil authority of said Town of Stamford hereby Certify to Elijah Reed of Norwalk in said County Captain of the 6th Comy 34th Regimt that John Mills of said Stamford a Soldier in said Company is unable to equip himself with arms and accoutrements required by Law."
Nathan Weed was the grandfather of prominent nineteenth-century newspaper publisher and Whig and Republican politician Thurlow Weed (1797-1882).
• Address by Elijah Reed to his fellow officers and soldiers, [?] 4, 1812, Norwalk, CT:
"You se this day & have now heard that the Genal Assembly & Captain Genal have established your votes last [paid?] by granting me a Commission You se likewise the trust & Confidence that is reposed in me to be faithful in executing the Laws that respecting officers, and in execution of the same I shall in the first place Call on all Subordinate Officers commissioned & non commissioned to be vigilant & active in executing all orders that they receive from me or from any Superior Officer and for any default will be called to an acct. and in the second place shall call on you fellow soldiers to yield yourselves to good discipline to keep profound silence while under arms & on the Parade, to receive instructions from your Officers (whom you have appointed) in the use of your arms and other military exercise."
"The present situation of our Country is such that we are threatened with war does it not then stand us all in hand who bear arms to be well disapplined to be ready to encounter any enemy that may envade our Country, that we may not appear in any other shape that good disapplined troops. Since the Militia of our Country is the great Bullwark of our National Defence let us go hand in hand in the suport & defence of our Country, and everything in my power shall be Cheerfully Contributed to your good & the good of my Country"
• Lt. Col. Nehemiah Lockwood (1771-1847), 34th Regiment, Regimental Orders, August 23, 1813:
"In pursuance of a statute law passed in May session AD 1813 for Exercise and Discipline of officers belonging to Regiments The several Captains Commanding Companies of the 34th Regt. are hereby Directed to meet with their Commissioned & non Commissioned Officers in uniform at the House of Edward Nash in New Canaan on the 30th Day of August AD 1813 at 9 Oclock in the morning for Exercise and Discipline in Arms – The Commissioned Officers with side Arms the non Commissioned with muskets The music are also Directed to meet at the above place and time"
• Lt. Col. Nehemiah Lockwood, 34th Regiment, Regimental Orders, August 28, 1813:
"In pursuance of Brigade Orders, the several officers Commanding compys in the 34 Regiment are ordered to parade their companys in Norwalk on the field near Capt Stephen Lockwood's on the 13th and 14th days of September next at 10 oclock A.M. on the first and 8 oclock on the second with arms and accoutrements complete as the law directs for inspection & review."
• Lt. Col. Nehemiah Lockwood to Elijah Reed, September 11, 1813, New Canaan, CT:
"Sir, you are hereby ordered and Directed to Continue In Service the Company under your Command During the Appearance of the Enemys Squadron on our Waters At your discretion Not to Excede one Month unless I shall Direct otherwise. The above force is for the Defence of Middlesex & its harbour"
• Elijah Reed, Company Orders, September 5, 1814:
"Gent Soldiers you now stand before this company charged with the offence of disobedeance of orders an offence which in itself is productive of some of the worst of consequences – in the first place you not only bring disgraced upon yourselves but also on your officers if you are not restrained – in the 2d place in these times of difficulty & danger you increase the danger of those who by a strict attention to there duty are willing to step forward & do there duty faithfully & for whose safty each of you as one in are in part accountable – whether the offence alluded was premeditated or not remains uncertain. The comanding officer however is willing to put the best construction possible on your conduct & is willing to suppose it arose from carelessness he therefore for this time remits the fine which the law inflicts in such cases made & provided – at the same time assures not only you but the whole of the company that such lenity is not to be looked for in future but that the least disobeydeance of orders will be punished as the law directs"
• Physician Warren Percival (1783-1851) to Whom It May Concern, August 20, 1815, Stamford, CT:
"having been Caled frequently To attend Capt Reed and prescribe for him for his complaint that appears to be of the [ph?tic?] kind which by Exposur to Cold and fatigue increases it I do therefore Give it as my opinion that he is not a fit subject of Military duty"

Historical Background:
Connecticut generally disapproved of the War of 1812. Although the state raised more than 10,000 militiamen, it forbade them from leaving the state, and only about 3,000 served for a significant length of time. Connecticut contributed only about 320 men to the Regular Army. The state legislature did spend some money on internal defenses, including funds for 3,000 muskets, eight cannon, powder, and bullets. During the war, only one militia unit was dispatched for service outside of the state, and the governor soon recalled it.

Typical Connecticut militia companies had 30 to 40 men. Their primary duty was to protect the state's coast, particularly harbors, the mouths of rivers, and other key positions. At the end of the war, Connecticut Governor Joseph Cotton Smith praised the militia for "their uniformly spirited and honourable conduct."

Elijah Reed (1780-1851) was born in Stamford, Connecticut. In 1804, he married Hannah Seely (1782-1855), with whom he had at least nine children between 1806 and 1826. During the War of 1812, he served as captain of a company in the 34th Regiment to defend the coast against the incursions of the British. He served as a deacon in the Congregational Church of Darien. He died in Norwalk, Connecticut.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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