Description:

Revolutionary War

Important Revolutionary War Letter, “they lay in ambush and fire on people as they pass along the roads”

 

PETER KINNAN, Autograph Letter Signed, June 30, 1778, to Moore Furman, Pompton, New Jersey. 1 p., 7" x 12". Browning; burnt borders, tears involving loss of text on thirteen lines; reinforced. From the Library of Charles I. Forbes, off the market 63 years.

 

Partial Transcript

                                                                        Pompton June 30th 1778

            You have herewith my return for grain &c I have got in for the Mon[th of June. I have more engaged which I shall [get as soon as I can get Waggons which is very di[fficult to do at this post, on account of its being on [the open high Road and there is so many of them pr[essed to transport baggage and Stores to and from the Army. You have undoubtedly heard of the three Men that has been wounded int his County within a short time two of which are dead and God knows how soon it will be my turn as I am threatned. they lay in ambush and fire at People as the pass along the roads. Genl Gates sent a party of men not long since to repair the Roads and bridges they have had a Quantity of Planks for repairing the bridges at this post and have gave the people receipts for which I suppose I must pay. we have had a barn repaired and bends made [? the Grain &c on Account of which Expence I [herewith send you, the wheat all Except 3½ Bushels [which in itself which remains unbroke. I should be [grateful if you send me a warrant or Commission from under [your seal of the Q.M.Gs department as that would settle all dis[putes in the matter with Mr Tripp who has been sick and from [today off the list.

                                                                        I am your Most Obt Srt

                                                                        Peter Kinnan

Furman Esqr

A Return of Grain and Hay &c Purchased for the Store at Pompton for the Month June 1778

Pompton June 30th (Errors Excepted)

                                                                        Peter Kinnan A. Q. [M.

[Address: (On publick service) / To / Moore Furman Esqr / D. Q. M. Genl of New Jersey / Pittstown

[Bracketed text missing or obscured; supplied from backing; unclear source.

 

Historical Background

Meeting the food needs of the Continental Army and a civilian population at war was a constant challenge for the Quartermaster General’s department. While food was available, paying for it and transporting it were major problems. The devaluation of continental and state paper currency also exacerbated the problem of provisioning an army on the move. From March 1778 to August 1780, General Nathanael Greene served as Quartermaster General of the Continental Army.

 

Finally, Congress, unable to pay for necessary supplies, determined to require each state to provide in-kind resources on a proportional basis. To meet these requisitions, state quartermasters general like Moore Furman had to keep track of what was available in their states, and reports like this one from Peter Kinnan of Bergen County were essential for the system to work properly.

 

 

Peter Kinnan (1751-1836) was born in New Jersey and enlisted in the New Jersey militia as a sergeant. In 1777, he was promoted to be Assistant Quartermaster General for Bergen County, New Jersey. In June 1780, he married Mary Fine (d. 1819), with whom he had three children. During George Washington’s first administration, Kinnan became Inspector of Customs for the port of New York.

 

Moore Furman (1728-1808) was born in New Jersey and became a successful and prominent merchant in Trenton, where he served as postmaster for a time.  In the mid-1760s, he purchased a tract of land and laid out Pittstown on it. In March 1778, he was appointed Deputy Quartermaster General and Forage Master for New Jersey, positions he held until September 1780. He worked with Quartermaster General Nathanael Greene to gather and transport supplies to the Continental Army. After the war, he served as the first mayor of Trenton from 1792 to 1794.


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