Description:

Only months after he began his treasonous correspondence with British agent John André in New York Benedict Arnold places his New Haven home up for sale



BENEDICT ARNOLD (1741-1801) Autograph Letter Signed B Arnold as Major General 3 pages 6 x 7.5 front and verso on two conjoined sheets addressed by Arnold on the verso of the third page to Mr Jacob Thompson / New Haven . Philadelphia November 2 1779. Expected folds loss from seal tear (repaired) affects two words in text archival tape remnants at top margin small pin hole and minor loss to third page not affecting text else very good.

Deeply in debt and with little hope for reimbursement from Congress Arnold was also about to face a court martial investigating his conduct while military governor of Philadelphia. Arnold had already offered his services to the British in May 1779 and anticipating that his New Haven mansion would be confiscated in the event of his defection he sends instructions to his friend Jacob Thompson to sell it: As I believe People are under no Apprehension of the Enemy's Visiting New Haven again I am determined to make one more attempt to sell my House for which Papers[?] I must request you to have the Inclosed [sic] Advertisement [not present][ Inserted in the New Haven Papers I will take One thousand Pounds in hard money or Thirty Thous[and]d in Paper which is the present Exch[an]ge if sold for Paper I will give one or two years Credit with good Security & Interest. If any Person will give the Above I will execute & find them a deed on the shortest notice. If any offers are under for it please to let me know as soon as you canâ€" It is some time since I have heard from either Brother Giles or Sam[ue]l. I make no doubt the latter is Exchanged & in So[uth] Carolina at this time â€" I was happy to hear by Mr. [Chauncey] Whittelsey that all Friends in New Haven were well. I am in hopes of having the pleasure seeing you soon but it is very Uncertain as it depends on the Settlement of my Public Acco[un]ts which are now before a Committee of Congress & great Bodies move slow. There was an Old Sail left in Leterman[?] House if it is not cold I with you to dispose of it. Mrs. Arnold Joins me in best Respects to Mrs. Thompson Mrs. Mansfield & Family... PS If you have any offer please to let Mr. Whittelsey know He will do the same If any [offers] are made...

Arnold's mention of his financial problems is important as this is usually cited as one of the main factors that led him to treason. In December he would face a court-martial over accusations of his profiteering while serving as military governor of Philadelphia following the British evacuation of that city in June 1778. His lavish lifestyle while living in Philadelphia together with his penchant for cavorting with known Loyalists brought further suspicion upon him. (His marriage to Peggy Shippen the daughter of a Loyalist tendencies did not help his situation either). Although the court martial vindicated Arnold in January 1780 he remained embittered by his treatment and continued in his cooperation with the British forwarding critical intelligence. When he obtained command of the fortress at West Point the strategic key to the American interior he slowly let the defenses crumble as he plotted to turn over the post to the British. Arnold would be exposed by the capture of Major André less than a year after the writing of this letter on September 23 1780. Per Arnold's instructions Thompson inserted advertisements in the local papers in November and December but they were unsuccessful in their efforts to sell the house. (Apparently William Tryon's July 1779 raid on New Haven still spooked local residents.) When Arnold defected to the British the following autumn the local authorities confiscated his property. According to an auction advertisement placed in the newspaper in 1782 by the estate's administrator Pierpont Edwards the property consisted of about an Acre and a half of Land on which there is a very choice Collection of the best Fruit Trees; a large commodious and well planned Dwelling-House four of the Rooms of which are finished; a large Barn calculated in Part for a Store and finished in the best Manner and of necessary Out-houses. (Connecticut Journal New Haven Conn April 18 1782 4). Arnold's house a substantial mansion that he had constructed around 1770 on Water Street in New Haven was later inhabited by Noah Webster. By the turn of the 20th century it had fallen into disrepair and was being used for storage by a lumber dealer before it was demolished in 1910.

Jacob Thompson (1745-1807) was a family friend of Arnolds. Charles Whittelsey (1746-1812) was the pastor of the First Church of New Haven. During the Revolutionary War Whittelsey served as a purchasing agent for the Continental Army and continued his work as an army supplier into the 1790s. He also served in the Connecticut legislature (1809-1811) and was a deacon of the Congregational Church for 23 years. (Finding aid: Inventory of the Chauncey Whittelsey Papers 1707-1852 Newberry Library Chicago.)

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June 21, 2016 10:30 AM EDT
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