Important 1776 Revolutionary War Diary of Thomas Contee, Prince Georges County, MD

September 17, 2011 Maryland Auction

Price Realized: $15,525.00 (Price includes 15% buyer's premium).

Extremely Important 1776 Revolutionary War Diary of Thomas Contee, Prince George's County, MD, eighteenth-century leather pocket diary with flyleaf bearing the inscription, "The Original Diary of Thomas Contee, Esqr., of Prince George's County Maryland. In Octr., 1776, to Genl. Washington's Camp near New York, in company with John Hanson, Esq., who married the sister of said Contee." Although pages at the beginning and end of this book contain Contee's expense notations, fourteen pages in the middle of the diary, surrounded by blank leaves, bear the personal account of Thomas Contee's 1776 journey from Annapolis, MD, to Philadelphia, PA, and Brunswick, NJ. Contee, along with John Hanson, James Lloyd Chamberlaine, and Benjamin Rumsey, was appointed commissioner by the Convention of Maryland on October 9, 1776. Diary is an extremely rare first-hand account, which describes meeting with Congress, including John Hancock, meeting twice with George Washington, the retreat of the Continental Army from New York, the siege of Brunswick, NJ, the poor morale of the Maryland troops, and the general public histeria in the Fall of 1776, which inspired Thomas Paine to write, "These are the times that try men's souls." A resolution of Congress issued on September 16, 18, and 19, 1776, required each state to raise a quota of battalions to form a United States regular army. Maryland was asked to provide eight batallions and, as with other states, offer soldiers state land in exchange for enlistment. On October 9, 1776, the Convention of Maryland responded, "That this State, desirous of exerting the most strenuous efforts to support the liberties and independence of the United States, will therefore use its utmost endeavours to raise the eight Battalions required," but since state-owned land was in short supply, they would offer a $10 bounty in lieu of land. Given the disagreement with Congress and the difficult task of raising a regular army, the Convention of Maryland appointed the four commissioners, including Contee and Hanson, to meet with Congress in Philadelphia and travel to George Washington's camp near New York to meet with the Maryland militia (called "Flying Camp") and encourage them to join the regular army when their militia term expired on November 30, 1776. The commissioners were also "instructed to consult with, and take advice from, his Excellency General Washington, respecting the promotion or appointment of Officers in Colonel Smallwood's Regiment, and the appointments to be made in the Battalion to be formed of the Independent Companies and Flying-Camp of this State." Thomas Contee's account of this 66-day journey, as recorded in this diary, offers personal insight into this pivotal moment in the American Revolution. Contee's record of events from October 16 until November 27 reads as expected, describing such events as "got over Susquehanna Ferry at Stephenson's where I met with good entertainment and a chatty landlady", "[Oct.] 22nd the same, waited on some gentlemen of the Congress; 23rd rode out to St. Davids, went in the Museum, where are the skins of many curious fish, etc. etc" and "[Nov.] 5th we remained in town; the same evening we received a letter from the Convention desiring us to apply to Congress for their determination on the resolves of our Convention, and to take our measures accordingly; Nov. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12th nothing remarkable happened; in this time we received two letters from our Convention and waited on Mr. Hancock; got a copy of the resolutions of Congress, which we transmitted to the Convention, and await their future instructions." By November 28, however, the four commissioners got word of the Continental Army's defeat at Fort Lee and consequential retreat into New Jersey. The morale of the army had darkened and the trajectory of the Contee et al.'s mission had changed: "Friday the 29 Novr. we breakfasted at Piscattaway and remained there till General Washington and a great part of the army came past; we then rode down to the bridge over Brunswick; we stayed at the foot of the bridge some time, and saw most of our army pass by. After riding about a little we went to George Washington's headquarters to inform him of our business, but got little satisfaction from him on the head. We were introduced to Lord Stirling, General Greene, and several other gent; were treated politely by the General." Clearly Washington had more important matters to tend to than consult with the commissioners on appointing officers. On November 30, Contee describes his inability to convince any of the flying camp to re-enlist, for which George Washington "expressed his sorry, and expatiated on the inconvenience of short enlistment." Ultimately, Contee describes the British seige of Brunswick and the resulting public terror. The Brunswick events detailed by Contee are corroborated in Washington's own hand. In a December 5, 1776, letter to John Hancock, Washington writes, "and at Brunswick, because I was disappointed in my expectation of Militia, and because on the day of the approach of the Enemy and probably the reason of it, the term of the Jersey and Maryland Brigade's Service expired and neither of them would stay an hour longer. These, among ten thousand other Instances, might be adduced to shew the disadvantages of short Enlistments, and the little dependance upon Militia in times of real danger..." Contee finishes his account with descriptions of time spent in Philadelphia and his journey home, twice mentioning John Hanson.

FULL TRANSCRIPTION OF THE CONTEE DIARY

Prince George's County, Wednesday, 16 Oct., 1776- Set out from home; reached Annapolis and attended the Convention, 5 o'clock; got no answer that evening; next morning waited on the Convention and got their resolves. The President informed me the Convention had no further orders for me. I set out from Annapolis the 17th at 10 o'clock; reached the ferry at Patapsco same evening; next morning, 18th, breakfasted at Baltimore Town and pursued my journey; got over Susquehanna Ferry at Stephenson's where I met with good entertainment and a chatty landlady; lodged there and set out the 19th; breakfasted at the head of Elk, where we fed our horses and set out for Christeen Bridge; dined there at Reed's near the bridge; from thence pursued our journey thro to Wilmington to Archd. Dicks near Marcus Hook; lodged there and set out the next morning the 20th; breakfasted at Darby, from thence to Philadelphia, where we arrived 11o'clock on Sunday 21st; stayed in town all day; 22nd the same, waited on some gentlemen of the Congress; 23rd rode out to St. Davids, went in the Museum, where are the skins of many curious fish, etc. etc; 24th remained in town; 25th rode out to the meadows and down to Gloucester Point- many fine meadows and cattle; 26th rode out into the country; 27th, Sunday, went to Christ Church; heard Mr. Coomes preach in the morning, who is a good orator; in the afternoon went to the same church and heard the famous Mr. Duche read prayers- a holyday for St. Simon and St. Jude; 29th remained all day in town; 30th rode down to the fort on Muddy Island; dined at the Ferry over Schoolkill, paid 7s. 6d. for dinner, etc.: 31, stayed in town; Novr. 1 remained all day in town; Novr. 2 went out to Frankfort; took a view of the powder mill; Novr. 3, Sunday, remained in town; went to church, Mr. White preached in the forenoon and Mr. Duche in the afternoon, the latter famous for oratory; Nov. 4 rode out in the afternoon; went to no house. Tuesday, Nov.5 the election for county and city came, on which we attended part of the day; all carried on with great good order and much regularity; it lasted till about 11 o'clock at night; then eight gentlemen were appointed for the county and as many as to the city, a sheriff and coroner; all carried on and ended at the same time. The 5th we remained in town; the same evening we received a letter from the Convention desiring us to apply to Congress for their determination on the resolves of our Convention, and to take our measures accordingly; Nov. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12th nothing remarkable happened; in this time we received two letters from our Convention and waited on Mr. Hancock; got a copy of the resolutions of Congress, which we transmitted to the Convention, and await their future instructions; Novr. 13 stayed in Philadelphia; Novr. 14 went out to Chester Town, and from thence as low as the head of Elk; the 17th returned to Philadelphia; spent on the jant $3 1s. 6d.; the 18, 19, and 20 stayed in the city; 21,22, and 23 remained in Philadelphia. Sunday,the 24th, about three o'clock in the afternoon, set out from Philadelphia; went that day to a tavern 12 miles, sign of the Red Lyon; Monday, 25th, breakfasted at Bristol; from thence to Trenton to dinner, and from there to Prince Town, where we lodged and breakfasted; set out from Prince Town the 26th November; rode in a heavy rain about eight miles to a tavern kept by Mr. Jones, where we took supper and breakfasted; on Wednesday the 27 started from Jones's Tavern in the rain; went to Brunswick, where we found so many troops that we could not get in any house; proceeded over Brunswick River on the other side; Mr. Parian, Quarter Master to Col. Ewing's battallion, had a camp in the house; we rode on two miles, and put up at a small tavern in Pisscattaway, where we supped and lodged; Thursday, the 28th, after breakfast, went from Pisscattaway; rode thro Woodbridge and to a tavern three miles above, where we dined, and after preparing to proceed to meet George Washington, Mr. Pala came from Elizabeth Town and told us that the General and the whole army were retreating, upon which we turned back and went thro Woodbridge to Amboy; there we found some companies; after meeting them we mounted our horse and returned that night to Piscattaway, where we lodged; Friday the 29 Novr. we breakfasted at Piscattaway and remained there till General Washington and a great part of the army came past; we then rode down to the bridge over Brunswick; we stayed at the foot of the bridge some time, and saw most of our army pass by. After riding about a little we went to George Washington's headquarters to inform him of our business, but got little satisfaction from him on the head. We were introduced to Lord Stirling, General Greene, and several other gent; were treated politely by the General. That evening we went to a farmer's house about two miles on this side of Brunswick, where we lodged. Saturday, the 30th of November, the time for which our flying camp was enlisted, expired, and we could not prevail on them to stay for ten days or a fortnight longer. General Herd's brigade was in the same situation; the time for which they enlisted expired, and they could not be prevailed on to stay any longer. The same day, in the evening, I went with Colo. Ramsey to headquarters, and informed the General that our flying camp would not be prevailed on to stay, for which he expressed his sorry, and expatiated on the inconvenience of short enlistment. That night we lodged at the farmer's again. Many of the flying camp attended us at the farmer's house, but we could do nothing with them. On the 1 day of December we rode out to the bridge to see Smallwood's Battallion; met General Washington and some other Generals, and were informed the enemy was advancing. We rode to Brunswick to see the officers of Smallwood's Battallion. They were advanced to their posts on an alarm. General Chamberlain and myself rode up the hills above the town. We saw the enemy's light horse approach towards the ferry at Brunswick. In a short time the field pieces appeared, and in a little time they fixed upon a hill and began to cannonade the town. We saw the first fire, and remained till several shots were exchanged from our side. The enemy fired six to our one. We left our carriages at out lodgings; went there to order our servants to go away with them. The cannonading soon ceased. When we got our horses we intended to go to the bridge and the town to see what was going on, but we had not got half way before we met our army retreating to Trenton, upon which we rode on to overtake our carriages. Never did I see such a scene of distress- women and children crying, not knowing what to do with themselves. That night we rode about twelve miles; got to a Mr. Berryanes at six o'clock in the morning, and got over Delaware at a ferry eight miles above Trenton; breakfasted at the ferry house; set out thence about eleven o'clock, and got to a tavern on the road, the sign of the Buck, where we dined; from thence rode to Frankfort, within five miles of Philada., where I lodged myself. My company went on to the city. Tuesday morning, the 3rd Decr., I got to Philadelphia about nine o'clock in the morning, where we remained endeavoring to enlist men and making commissions for officers till the 10 Decemr. On Tuesday morning we came to Darby and stayed there till the 12th; in the afternoon we came as far as Archd. Dick's, a tavern on the road three miles this side of Chester. On the 13th, Friday morning, set out from Dicks', and came to Wilmington to breakfast; set out from thence the same afternoon; we left General Chamberlain at Wilmington, and he was to go from thence next day. We dined at Newport, four miles this side of Wilmington; from thence proceeded to head of Christeen, were we could get no lodging; went to Coln. Patterson's hard by, where we were hospitably entertained; left Coln. Patterson's Saturday morning, the 14th; came to the head of Elk, and from thence to the head of North East, where we dined; after dinner went to the ferry at Susquehanna, where we found the house full; could not get over the ferry, the wind was so high, the house being full and lodging scarce; we went to Mr. Sam Thomas's hard by, and we were well and kindly entertained. Sunday morning the 15 we dined at Susquehanna ferry; after dinner got over the ferry and rode that evening to Mrs. Hall's, where we lodged and were kindly treated; on Monday the 16th set out from Mrs. Hall's and came to Harford Town, at the head of Bush; we did not stop there; proceeded to Joppa to Coln. Ramsay's, where we were kindly received and treated with great hospitality by his ladey and the family. The Colonel himself is a very friendly, generous, open-spirited man; we stayed two nights, and were very busy with filling up commissions, etc., to compleat our business for the Council of Safety. On Wednesday, the 18th, Mr. Hanson and myself left Coln. Ramsey's after breakfast, and came up as far as Baltimore Town that day, where we met with part of the Congress. The President, Mr. Hancock, had not reached Baltimore when I left on Thursday, the 19th, in the morning. The same day I parted with Mr. John Hanson he went to Frederick Town and I came to the City of Annapolis. On Tuesday, the 20th, I waited on the Council of Safety with the Commissioners' report and papers, and to inform them what was done; was in the Council-room about three hours. The same afternoon, about three o'clock, I left Annapolis; got to Rollings that evening. On Saturday, the 21 Decemr., I got home about 1 o'clock; found my family well, except some of the negroes. I lost a negroe woman in my absence who was ill when I left home. Expenses From Home To The Camp Near New York And Back. $ s. d. Oct. 16th, at Mount Pleasant ferry, 2 at South River ferry, 3 9 17th, at Annapolis, 18 2 at Ditto to Petty, 1 feed the horses, &c., 15 0 at Ramsey's 3 4 18th, at Kelsey's, Patapsco ferry, 18 7 at Baltimore, Mr.Chilton's, 2 6 at Mr. Chyne's, 2 at Harford Town-Stiles, 5 8 at Gunpowder ferry (omitted) 9 at Susquehanna ferry, 4 6 at Stephenson's, the east side Susque- hanna ferry, 10 8 at Birds', the head of North East, 1 6 at Christeen bridge, at Reed's, 10 8 at Marcus Hook Arch'd Dicks, 6 9 at Darby, 3 at Schoolkill ferry, 9 11 for an oyster supper, 5 for sight of the wax-works, 2 at the Bettering house, 10 for sight of a tumbler, 4 Dinner at Greentree's on venison, 7 6 at Saint David, 1 6 at Germantown, 5 4 at the Fort on Muddy Island, 7 6 To the head of Elk and back to Ph'a., 3 1 6 To Petit, 1 17 6 From Phil'a to a tavern two miles above Woodbridge, where we were informed the army were retreating, and from thence to Philadelphia, 9 18 9 To Petit, 1 2 6 " 1 10 at Philadelphia, 6 13 9 at Darby, 1 8 5 from Darby home, 5 9 2 My servant's expenses down from Philadelphia to my house. Sent him with Ben Contee, who was sick. 5 2 6 [ Original total], 73 1 5

A significant piece of Americana, with references to three founding fathers: George Washington, John Hancock, and John Hanson. Diaries from this pivotal period in our nation's history are extremely rare. Pages with writing are in generally excellent condition, with minor toning. Some expected wear to cover. Toning to first page, which is blank. Dimensions: 6 1/4" x 4 1/4".

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