Overview of the Collection
Access
Administrative Information
Biographical Note
Scope and Content
Arrangement
Indexing Terms
Overview of the Collection
Title: Ebenezer Huntington Papers
Dates (inclusive): 1737-1898
Bulk dates: 1774-1818
Collection Number: mssHM 3649-3726
Creator:
Huntington, Ebenezer,
1754-1834
Extent:
136 pieces in 2 boxes
Repository:
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.
Manuscripts Department
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
Phone: (626) 405-2129
Email: reference@huntington.org
URL: http://www.huntington.org
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.
Language: English.
Access
Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services
Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.
Administrative Information
Publication Rights
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.
Provenance
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.
Biographical Note
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.
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.
Some notable 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.
-
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.
Note: Ebenezer Huntington's letters written between 1774 and 1783 were published in:
Letters written by Ebenezer Huntington during the American Revolution (New York, Printed for C.F. Heartman [1915]).
Arrangement
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)
Indexing Terms
Subjects
Huntington, Ebenezer, 1754-1834.
Huntington, Andrew, 1745-1824.
Huntington, Jabez, 1719-1786.
Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796.
Huntington, Benjamin, 1736-1800.
Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818.
Huntington family -- Archives.
United States. Continental Army.
United States. Continental Congress.
Legislators -- United States -- Correspondence.
Legislators -- Connecticut -- Correspondence.
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Personal narratives.
United States -- History -- 1783-1865 -- Sources.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865.
Connecticut -- Politics and government -- 1775-1865.
Connecticut -- Social life and customs -- 18th century.
Forms/Genres
Letters (correspondence) -- United States.
Family papers -- United States.
Alternate Authors
Huntington, Andrew, 1745-1824.
Huntington, Jabez, 1719-1786.
Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796.
Huntington, Benjamin, 1736-1800.
Huntington, Jedediah, 1743-1818.