Ebenezer Huntington papers, 1737-1898, bulk 1774-1818

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Summary

Creators:
Huntington, Ebenezer, 1754-1834
Abstract:
This collection contains letters, with a few manuscripts and documents, from the Huntington family, a prominent Connecticut family, who played a important role in the state and national affairs at the time of the Revolutionary War. Chiefly consists of letters from Ebenezer Huntington (1754-1834) describing his experience in the Revolutionary War and his political and social activities from 1810-1830s, as well as some correspondence of Samuel Huntington (1731-1796), president of the Continental Congress, and Benjamin Huntington (1736-1800) a Continental Congress delegate, reflecting their legal practice and public service, and concerning procurement for the Continental Army, work of the Continental Congress, political, and military news.
Extent:
2.33 Linear Feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Ebenezer Huntington papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains letters, with a few manuscripts and documents, by the Huntington Family of Norwich, Connecticut. Letters from Ebenezer Huntington to Jabez and Andrew Huntington describe his experience in the Revolutionary War and his political and social activities from 1810-1830s. The correspondence of Samuel and Benjamin Huntington reflect their legal practice and public service, and concern procurement for the Continental Army, work of the Continental Congress, political and military news, including the Revolutionary War and 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.

Biographical / historical:

The Huntingtons, a prominent Connecticut family, played a important role in the state and national affairs at the time of the Revolutionary War. 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. Besides Samuel Huntington (1731-1796), the signer of the Declaration of Independence, President of the Continental Congress, and Governor of Connecticut, and Benjamin Huntington (1736-1800), state delegate to the Continental Congress, among the most distinguished members of the extended family were Jabez Huntington (1719-1786), Major-General of the state militia, and his sons, Jedediah (1743-1818), Major General of the Continental Army and delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Andrew (1754-1824), an entrepreneur and Army commissary, and Ebenezer (1754-1834), revolutionary soldier and member of the 11th and 15th Congresses.

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 (1731-1796), 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.

Acquisition information:

Letters of Ebenezer Huntington (75 items) purchased from Charles F. Heartman through the agency of Robert D. Dodd, 1916

Other items acquired at various sales, chiefly Anderson Galleries and G.D. Smith, 1912-1919.

Custodial history:

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.

Arrangement:

The collection consists of correspondence and documents organized in the following manner:

  1. Box 1: 1737-1780 (79 pieces)
  2. Box 2: 1781-1898 (54 pieces)
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Ebenezer Huntington papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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