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HUNTINGTON FAMILY FILE 1737-1898
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Title: Huntington Family File
Date (inclusive): 1737-1898
Creator:
Huntington
Extent:
136 pieces
2 boxes
Repository: The Huntington Library
San Marino, California 91108
Language:
English.
Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information
please go to following
URL .
In order to quote from, publish, or reproduce any of the manuscripts or visual materials, researchers must obtain formal permission
from the office of the Library Director. In most instances, permission is given by the Huntington as owner of the physical
property rights only, and researchers must also obtain permission from the holder of the literary rights. In some instances,
the Huntington owns the literary rights, as well as the physical property rights. Researchers may contact the appropriate
curator for further information.
Huntington Family File, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
The collection contains items relating to the history of the Huntington family acquired by Henry E. Huntington from various
sources in 1912-1919. In 1916, Mr. Huntington purchased from Charles Frederick Heartman, through the agency of Robert D. Dodd,
75 letters of Ebenezer Huntington. Charles F. Heartman had acquired the letters from G.W.F. Blanchfield of Hartford, Conn.
Other items acquired at various occasions, chiefly at sales at Anderson Galleries and G.D. Smith, in 1912-1919.
The collection numbers 136 pieces and is contained in 2 boxes.
The history of the Huntington family goes back to Simon Huntington of Norwich, Norfolk, England who arrived to Boston in 1633.
In 1660, his descendants were among members of a party that settled Norwich, Conn. During the Revolutionary War, the Norwich
Huntingtons played prominent role in the state and national affairs. Among the most distinguished members of the extended
family were Jabez Huntington and his sons Jedediah, Andrew, and Ebenezer, Samuel Huntington, and Benjamin Huntington.
Jabez Huntington (1719-1786) was a wealthy West India trader and a member of the state legislature. During the war, he was
active on the committee of safety and from September 1776 was Major General of militia. His son Jedediah (1743-1818) raised
a regiment in 1775 and joined the army at Cambridge on Apr. 26, 1776. At the close of the war he was brevetted major general.
He was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. He was then appointed by Washington to the post of collector of New London.
Andrew Huntington (1745-1824), manufacturer of paper at the Falls of Norwich, was a commissary of the brigade during the Revolution.
Ebenezer Huntington (1754-1834) left his studies at Yale to join the army at the outbreak of the war. He served first in the
Lexington alarm in April 1775 and later with the Third and First Connecticut Regiments. He was elected as a Federalist to
the Eleventh Congress (1810- 1811) and elected to the Fifteenth Congress (1817-1819).
Samuel Huntington, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a member of the Continental Congress from 1776 till 1783
and served as president of this body in 1779-1781. He was also judge of the supreme court of Connecticut (1774-1784), Lieutenant
Governor (1785) and Governor of Connecticut (1786-1796). His nephew Samuel, adopted and educated by his uncle, was Governor
of Ohio (1808-1810). Benjamin Huntington (1736-1800) was member of Connecticut state house of representatives (1771-80), state
delegate to Continental Congress (1780-84 and 1787-88), member of Connecticut state senate, 1781-90, 1791-93 and mayor of
Norwich 1784-96. His grandson Daniel Huntington was a prominent artist and President of the National Academy.
The collection consists of correspondence and a few documents and organized in the following manner:
- Box 1 1737-1780. 79 pieces.
- Box 2. 1781-1898. 54 pieces.
Ebenezer Huntington's letters to Jabez and Andrew Huntington describe his experience in the Revolutionary War and his political
and social activities in the 1810-1830's.
The correspondence of Samuel Huntington and Benjamin Huntington reflect their legal practice and public service and concern
procurement for the Continental Army, acts of Continental Congress, political and military news, including Revolutionary War,
Whiskey Rebellion and War of 1812. Correspondents include Jabez Huntington, Andrew Adams, Alexander McDougal, Thomas Mumford,
Thomas Simm Lee, Samuel Johnston, Caesar Rodney, Joseph Reed, Benjamin Lincoln, and Jonathan Trumbull. This portion of the
collection also contains Samuel Huntington's Masonic certificate (1786).
There are also individual letters by William Reed Huntington, Ulysses S. Grant, Daniel Huntington, and Collis Potter Huntington.
Important or interesting items:
Huntington, Benjamin, To Jabez Huntington. 1767, Feb. 23. Norwich, Conn. A Publick Flatterer is never fit to sustain Publick
Office.
At Ecclesiastical Council Convened at Enfield on Tuesday the 3
rd Day of May A.D. 1774 & Continued by adjournments to this day: Minutes. Signed by Samuel Huntington
United States. Congress (Continental), Proclamation [setting aside Thursday, Dec. 7, 1780 to be observed as a day of public
Thanksgiving and Prayer.] Singed by Samuel Huntington, 1780, Oct. 8.
Huntington, Samuel, To John Reed. 1780, June 22, Philadelphia, Pa. Re: plans of military operations; includes a reference
to a letter from George Washington.
Huntington, Samuel, To Samuel Huntington. 1779, Aug. 30. Philadelphia, Pa. A letter imploring the future Governor of Ohio
to be careful to pursue your studies and acquire useful knowledge.
Note
These letters were published in: Letters written by Ebenezer Huntington during the American Revolution (New York, Printed
for C.F. Heartman [1915] (Heartman's historical series, no. 2)
Digges, Thomas, The Convict Ships which sailed from Dublin since the War disposed of their cargoes. 1788, Sept. 13. Dublin,
Ireland.
Trumbull, Jonathan, To Samuel Huntington. 1794, Nov. 5, Philadelphia. Political news including the Whiskey Rebellion.
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885.
Huntington family
Huntington, Andrew, 1745-1824
Huntington, Benjamin, 1736-1800
Huntington, Collis P., 1821-1900.
Huntington, Ebenezer, 1754-1834
Huntington, Jabez, 1719-1786
Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818
Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796
United States. Continental Army.
United States. Continental Congress.
Legislators - United States - 18
th century.
Legislators - Connecticut - 18
th century.
United States - History - Revolution, 1775-1783 - Personal narratives.
United States - Politics and government - 1775-1865
Connecticut - Politics and government - 1775-1865
Connecticut - History - 1775-1865
Letters (correspondence)
Documents
Manuscripts