Dinwiddie's Long Goodbye
Through most of 1757 there is one long ongoing story. Dinwiddie is leaving. He tried to leave as soon as he announced leaving.
He indicated his intention to leave in March of 1757.
That request to leave for "home", England, was written by Dinwiddie to William Pitt 22 March 1757.
That was when he was in Philadelphia with the other governors to meet with Lord Loudoun.
He's even ready to go right now, mentioning the "packets' or ships that can take him back to Britain.
On 14 April 1757 session of House of Burgesses, Dinwiddie indicates this session will be his last.
I take this Opportunity of acquainting you, that my Health is so much impaired, that I cannot transact the Duties of my Appointment, in so proper a Manner as, I think, they require; I have therefore wrote Home for Leave to resign my Trust, and I have Reason to expect that Liberty soon : And as I probably may not have the Pleasure of meeting you again in a legislative Capacity, I desire to assure you of my sincere and hearty Regard for this Dominion, and if I can be of any Use to the Country at Home [England], I cheerfully offer my Service, and I shall at all Times embrace every Opportunity in my Power for the Good of the Country.
Apparently not everyone was sure, especially if they did not hear of Dinwiddie's April address to the House of Burgesses. But here is evidence others knew the possibility of Dinwiddie leaving in October 1757. See correspondence of John Spotswood to Lt Gov Dinwiddie.
Speaker of the House of Burgesses John Robinson writes to GW 3 Nov 1757 that,
"His Honor [Dinwiddie] is at this time almost wholy taken up with settleing his Affairs for his departure, as he expects a Man of War every day to carry him, . . . "
And here it is December 1757 and he hasn't left yet.
Dinwiddie fulfills his duties to the very end, though. You can see proof of that in his letters.
He doesn't go all lame duck, despite his failing health.
Dinwiddie leaves 12 Jan 1758.
Lord Loudoun had recommended Lt Col John Young as Dinwiddie's successor but Young was severely wounded at Fort William Henry in 9 Aug 1757. Young was so sure of the appointment that he even sent a chaise to Virginia in anticipation of his new office.
However, Dinwiddie's actual replacement,
Francis Fauquier, appointed 26 January 1758, does not arrive until 5 June 1758.
Other source says appointment was 10 Feb 1758 and that source claims arrival is 7 June 1758.
Between Dinwiddie leaving and Fauquier arriving,
John Blair, President of Council presides as acting Governor.
That's why you see a lot of letters between our Colonel George Washington and John Blair during that time.
So who is this man?
Robert Dinwiddie (1692 – 27 July 1770)
This source in footnote "h" claims the portrait of Dinwiddie was painted by "Allan Ramsay."
Per a reader's comment, no other sources confirm Allan Ramsay as the artist. That reader gave this source.
December 1, 1727,
appointed collector of the Customs in the Island of Bermuda.
April 11, 1738,
when, in acknowledgment
of his vigilance and zeal
in the discharge of official duty,
in the detecting and exposing
a long practiced system of fraud
in the collection of the Customs
of the West India Islands,
he received the appointment of
"Surveyor- General of Customs of the southern ports of the Continent of America."
1742
Given a seat on Virginia Council
He was named, as his predecessors had been, a member of the respective councils of the American Colonies.
This mandate was recognized by Governor Gooch, of Virginia, (in which colony Dinwiddie appears to have fixed his chief residence,) but was resisted by the Councilors, who, jealous of interference with their prerogatives, refused to allow him to sit with them, and transmitted a remonstrance to the King for his exclusion. The controversy was decided by the Board of Trade, in May 1742, advising that the royal purpose should be enforced, in opposition to claims dangerous because they were new.
August 17, 1743
Appointed Inspector-General," to examine into the duties of the Collector of Customs of the Island of Barbados, and in the discharge of this trust, exposed to the English government an enormous defalcation in the revenues there.
1749
Dinwiddie "appears to have resided in London as a merchant, engaged in trade with the colonies."
July 20, 1751
appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Virginia,
"and with his wife and two daughters,
Elizabeth and Rebecca,' arrived in the colony
November 20th [1751], following.
Source:
Page viii to ix of Introduction
to Dinwiddie Papers
published by the Virginial Historical Society
His first official
interview with GW:
This man invited a 19 year old
in January 30, 1752
after he completed his return trip from Barbados.
This meeting shared a common experience both Men had of Barbados. Dinwiddie knew that island's finances. GW just came back from that island.
See page 115 Refers to a cockfight in Yorktown, where GW returned after his interview with Governor Dinwiddie.
of “Adjutancy of the Northern Neck”
.
Dinwiddie responds
offering instead the job:
Adjutant for Southern District.
Now to the Complaints.
We don't think those complaints do him justice.
But Douglas Southall Freeman, who is the most detailed biographer of George Washington, seemed a little harsh on Dinwiddie.
With that admonition we humbly ask for more mercy on Dinwiddie.
Dinwiddie has a decent defense.
When you read his letters, there's a tone in them: an effort to play fair or to ask mercy.
Regarding just one of Colonel George Washington complaints:
In this case, GW complains about one of Dinwiddie's orders of requiring a 100 men to leave Fort Loudoun to garrison Fort Cumberland when GW didn't have 100 able men at Fort Loudoun. See Dinwiddie respond here.
Lt Gov Dinwiddie could have just lost his temper but decided to be earnest in his own defense. How much that was due to GW having influence with other high officials we don't know. But even were that so, Dinwiddie did not shy from confronting any high official. In this situation Dinwiddie earnestly argues his defense instead of a preemptory dismissal of Washington's challenge.
Both GW and Dinwiddie had so many obstacles stopping both of them from their goals that some friction of just getting the job done was inevitable and understandable.
And what job to be done was that?
Secure the frontier.
Stop French encroachment.
And the Indians?
Our allies were often disappointed by delays in presents and supplies for their help.
And the enemy Indians?
They just really cannot stop this juggernaut, this juggernaut called history, which is the story of hypocrisy, hope, hell, honor, and the handiwork of God knows what.
Under a Rock (Lord Loudoun)
and a Hard Place (House of Burgesses)
Lord Loudoun who was actually technically Governor of Virginia and who never stepped foot in Virginia, got really angry with Lt Gov Dinwiddie requested permission to not follow Loudoun's ordered embargo of tobacco ships.
The colonies were guilty of trafficking with the French in the Caribbean.
Dinwiddie had originally followed Lord Loudoun's order.
Later Dinwiddie requested his Lordship (Loudoun) countermand his own order after hearing forceful and reasonable arguments against it from his own upper chamber Council and from the House of Burgesses.
Those arguments were simply that the colonies cannot raise any taxes to pay for this war if the tobacco is rotting and lying still from the embargo.
Lord Loudoun later got over the disagreement.
He said to Dinwiddie he had moved on, t
hat he is no longer angry with Dinwiddie about that.
Under a Rock (London)
and a Hard Place (House of Burgesses)
The pistoles disagreement and the constant pressure to raise taxes to pay for war are two big examples.
But really, let us give Dinwiddie some due process.
We believe that Dinwiddie made a good strong effort over the long haul of time with everyone in this colony.
All the way to the end of his leaving, he kept working.
You will notice that Dinwiddie doesn't quit working despite his health concerns.
And what were those health concerns?
He mentions in a letter the need to go to Bath, England to take care of himself. In another letter he mentions having a violent cold since he arrived in Williamsburg after his month long time in Philadelphia for the Lord Loudoun conference with the southern governors. In yet another letter he mentions difficulty in movement. See those letters in March and April 1757 here.
He keeps working right to the end of his leaving, all while not feeling in the best of health.
Lots of Change for GW:
And Colonel George Washington? He loses two giants in his life.
William Fairfax dies. And Dinwiddie leaves.
Both were top leaders of Virginia in GW's life right from the start of his foray into the frontier.
But more than that, Lord Loudoun is leaving. So is Colonel Stanwix in Lancaster.
That's our lead story.
Skip around.
Read bits and pieces at your leisure.
Now let's go to the references of his leaving.
Blog compiled and authored by Jim Moyer Nov 2021, updated 1/9/2021, 1/27/2022, updated with a 24 Sept 1757 letter 6/14/23
References to Dinwiddie leaving:
22 March 1757
Douglas Southall Freeman on page 244 writes:
Indications were that the session would be long and that it probably would be Governor Dinwiddie’s last. He had applied to the ministry in March for leave to go home in the hope of restoring his health At that time he had spoken in a letter of resigning and, in a later paragraph, of procuring leave of absence, (Dinwiddie wrote this to William Pitt, March 22, 1757) but when he addressed the General Assembly on the 14th of April, he spoke as if his departure were final.
From Douglas Southall Freeman's Young George Washington, Volume 2, Pages 244, published 1948, Charles Scribner's Sons:22 March 1757
Dinwiddie writes letters to William Pitt, to Lord Halifax, to Abercrombie about this request for leave due to ill health.
We find out something else in those letters. Dinwiddie mentions that Lord Loudoun suggests Colonel John Young to be Dinwiddie's successor. We know that never happens. Fauquier is the designated successor.
Lieutenant-Colonel John Young was severely wounded at the fall of Fort William Henry, August 9, 1757. It is stated in the Abercromby correspondence, previously referred to, that so confident was Young of his appointment that he had sent to the colony " a post-chaise for his use." -page 602 footnote, Vol IV Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society
22 March 1757
Letter to James Abercrombie:
". . . and, if obtain'd, I desire you to transmit me the same by two or three different Opp'tys, particularly by the Packets for N. York, and I further desire Yo. to aply to the Adrairalty Board for the Favo. of an Accommodat'n of Passage in one of His M'ty's Ships of War. I believe the Garland, Capt. Arbuthnot, now on the Virgin'a Stat'n, may be order'd home. A Passage in her w'd be very agreeable. If Yo. have Occasion, or if thought necessary to aply by L're from me to that Board, or any other, you may write proper L're in my Name; but pray be as Expe ditious as possible, and forward my Leave, if granted, by differ ent Opp'tys. "
Page 601. Vol IV Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society
Dinwiddie writes to GW on 7 April 1757,
alluding to his health since leaving Philadelphia and arriving in Williamsburg:
.
I have been very much indispos’d ever since arrival here that I can write no more at present, but remain Sir Your humble Servant
Dinwiddie indicates this session will be his last.
I take this Opportunity of acquainting you, that my Health is £o much impaired, that I cannot transact the Duties of my Appointment, in so proper a Manner as, I think, they require; I have therefore wrote Home for Leave to resign my Trust, and I have Reason to expect that Liberty soon : And as I probably may not have the Pleasure of meeting you again in a legislative Capacity, I defire to assure you of my sincere and hearty Regard for this Dominion, and if I can be of any Use to the Country at Home [England], I cheerfully offer my Service, and I shall at all Times embrace every Opportunity in my Power for the Good of the Country.
3rd Session
For above quote see Page 414
Journal, 1757, April Session, page 413, April 17, 1757 to June 8, 1757
24 Sept 1757
Dinwiddie claims he has not heard of anyone casting aspersions on Washington making up alarms to get money from the House of Burgesses. And in that letter Dinwiddie says he will be leaving in November 1757.
However as I’ve his Majesty’s Leave to go for England I propose leaving this in Novr & I wish my Successor may shew Yo. as much Friendship as I’ve done. I wish Yo. Health & Happiness & am Sr Yr m. h. S.
22 Oct 1757
Spotswood mentions he knows Dinwiddie may be leaving
Founders Online makes a footnote to Memorandum respecting the Militia, 11 May 1756
Founders Online Footnote 1.
John Spotswood (d. 1758), the son of Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood (1676–1740), had been county lieutenant for Spotsylvania County since 1753, and John Thornton (d. 1777), a close associate of the Washington family, was the colonel of the militia.
In an attempt in 1757 to get Spotswood removed from his position as county lieutenant, Thornton wrote Dinwiddie that “the March of the [Spotsylvania] Militia to Winchester was greatly retarded” because Spotswood “put every thing into the greatest disorder & Confusion by Abusing both Officers & Soldiers with the most Scandelouse Language” (29 Oct. 1757, Vi: Colonial Papers, miscellaneous).
Foreseeing Thornton’s move, Spotswood wrote to Dinwiddie a week before asserting that there were men in the county who wished for the distinction of militia rank without assuming any of its burdens.
“They suspect your Honor is going Home,” he wrote on 22 Oct. 1757,
“& that when another Gentleman succeeds you there will be a general Election, & as there are some of them Ambitious to gett into The House of Burgesses they have Thought no Scheme could be so takeing with the Commonality to make themselves popular as to cry down Military Dissipline tho. their Country their Lives & Liberty are at Stake” (ibid.).
The third field officer for Spotsylvania County was Maj. Benjamin Pendleton, who whose commission as major of the Spotsylvania militia was dated 29 April 1756.
Source:
.
John Robinson writes to GW 3 Nov 1757
His Honor is at this time almost wholy taken up with settleing his Affairs for his departure,
as he expects a Man of War every day to carry him,
We have not yet heard who is to succeed him,
God send it may be some Body better acquainted with the unhappy Business we have in hand, and by his Conduct and counsel dispel the heavy cloud at present hanging over this distressed and unhappy Country
.
At a Council held December 14th 1757
The Governor [Dinwiddie] acquainting the Board [The Governor's Council] that he had taken his Passage with Captain Crookshanks , who , for his better Accommodation had agreed to leave out fifty Hogsheads of Tobacco , the Council on Consideration thereof , were pleased to order the Receiver General to pay his Honor Three hundred pounds sterling to satisfy the Cap tain for the Loss of so much Freight.
Source:
This link added per reader Richard Gamble's comment and contribution, 2/13/2022
To GW from John Blair, 25 January 1758
" I understood by the Govr, who sailed the 12th inst. . . . "
Founders Online Footnote: John Blair (1687–1771) as president of the council after William Fairfax’s death on 3 Sept. 1757 became acting governor on Robert Dinwiddie’s departure, 12 Jan. 1758, and served until the arrival of Francis Fauquier, 5 June 1758.
Health Problem is what?
To General James Abercrombie, Dinwiddie writes on 22 March 1757:
I can't well represent the bad State of Health I'm in, but I live in hopes, if I get home, a Season at Bath may recover me. As I'm from home, I can't enlarge,
Page 602, Vol IV Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society
To Md Gov Horatio Sharpe, Dinwiddie writes on 22 March 1757:
I have been confin'd to my Chamber ever since my Arrival by a violent Cold.
Page 604, Vol IV Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society
Sources:
Founders Online on transfer of power:
.
The official records of Robert Dinwiddie Lieutenant-governor of the colony of Virginia, 1751-1758,
Dinwiddie
John Blair
William Fairfax
Lt Gov Robert Dinwiddie
Francis Fauquier
List of Colonial Governors:
Pres John Blair
March 1757 Philadelphia Conference
of Governors with Lord Loudoun:
Barbados Trip
Page 115
GREAT MAIN: Refers to a cockfight in Yorktown, where GW returned after his interview with Governor Dinwiddie.
.
Pistoles Fee Controversy
The Transfer of Power dates:
John Blair (1687–1771) as president of the council after William Fairfax’s death on 3 Sept. 1757 became acting governor on Robert Dinwiddie’s departure, 12 Jan. 1758, and served until the arrival of Francis Fauquier, 5 June 1758. Source: Founders Online.
3 Sept 1757
President of Council dies.
Before his death in the same year, President of Council, William Fairfax, performed duties of the Governor:
On 29 March [1757] in Dinwiddie’s absence Fairfax as president of the council met in Williamsburg with “King Blunt and thirty three Tuscaroroes, seven Meherrins, two Saponies and thirteen Nottoways” before sending them up to GW in Baker’s charge (Exec. Journals of Virginia Council, 6:38).
George Washington was much closer to William Fairfax than the man we know as "Lord Fairfax." See more on William Fairfax here. William Fairfax was supporting and advising George Washington from the beginning of his foray into the western frontier. Now this mentor and high echelon supporter is gone.
becomes President of Council
on this date of 3 Sept 1757 when the previous President of Council, William Fairfax dies.
But Lt Gov Dinwiddie is still here on the job.
And now a note about the Council.
Council was not only the upper chamber to the House of Burgesses, it was also advisor to whoever performed Governor duties. The council also acted as Supreme Court in Virginia, but sometimes the case went beyond them to London, as did Colonel George Washington's case on his wife's inheritance.
12 January 1758
finally departs from Virginia.
becomes acting Governor when Dinwiddie leaves.
Founders Online Footnote to a letter John Blair writes to Colonel George Washington on 25 Jan 1758:
" I understood by the Govr, who sailed the 12th inst. . . . "
John Blair (1687–1771) as president of the council after William Fairfax’s death on 3 Sept. 1757 became acting governor on Robert Dinwiddie’s departure, 12 Jan. 1758, and served until the arrival of Francis Fauquier, 5 June 1758.
You will see a lot of letters during this time between John Blair Sr and our Colonel George Washington.
Any letters in that list of letters after 1770 is between John Blair's son, John Blair Jr. and George Washington.
More on John Blair Sr, t
he President of Council:
(updated by Jim Moyer 7/10/2022)
5 June 1758
arrives to assume role as Lt. Governor.
Like Dinwiddie he was not the official Governor. The official governor is technically still Lord Loudoun. Then Jeffery Amherst takes the title of official Governor of Virginia in 1759. But from 1758 to 1768 Francis Fauquier is the Lt Governor. He is doing the job of Governor under both absentee Governors Lord Loudoun and Jeffery Amherst.
See source of dates here.
.
.
.
First posted on Facebook 1/9/2022
Sunday Word 1
Dinwiddie has been saying Goodbye since March of 1757 when he was in Philly in a conference of other Governors with Lord Loudoun. Lt Gov Dinwiddie will be leaving 12 Jan 1758. Mark your calendars. :) This man knew he was leaving but he kept an eye on the duties of his job to the very end.
.
And we're going to have our eye on 1758 in this year of 2022. There's a lot that pops this year, after a somewhat dead year of no progress in 1757. And progress? Well that's certainly a POV.
.
But, 1757 was a year of Cherokee and Catawba and Nottoway and Tuscarora scouring the woods for the French and their Indian allies. If it weren't for that, we would have reported a lot more carnage. Those allies have never received a veteran's ceremony. One day, we keep saying. One day.
.
Lord Loudoun is leaving too, a little after Dinwiddie in 1758. He still is dealing with some issues with Robert Rogers and his Rangers. Lord Loudoun will resume command in 1762 in this world wide war, of a much larger army in Portugal, an ally of England since medieval days.
.
After Revisions Posted on Facebook a 2nd time
posted 1/30/2022
Sunday Word 1
We are saying Goodbye again to Dinwiddie because Lt Gov Dinwiddie of Virginia gave us a long goodbye. He first alerted us of his wanting to leave for health reasons on March 1757. And throughout the year of 1757 we are reminded of it. By November 1757 he is thinking any day now a ship of war will arrive to take him home (Great Britain). But it doesn't arrive. Not until 12 January 1758 does he finally leave.
With such a long goodbye, we thought we'd take a 2nd look at Dinwiddie, especially after discovering that Lord Loudoun had recommended a Lt Col John Young to become Lt Gov of VA. And that Lt Col John Young is so confident he will be running Virginia he sends a "post-chaise" for use in his office. We know better that this would not be his fate. Francis Fauquier would be the next Lt Gov.
.
.
Pistole Fee Controversy
Dinwiddie finding that the regulations governing the patenting of lands were but little regarded, and that a practice had long prevailed of securing the possession and use of lands by warrants of survey, without the entering of patents,' by which more than a million of acres were unpatented, and the royal revenue from the Quit-rents seriously defrauded — with the advice of the Council, in an endeavor to correct the abuse, and by the exaction of a fee of a pistole on every patent issued, incurred yet greater animosity.
The House of Burgesses unavailingly remonstrated against this exercise of the royal prerogative, and, in 1754, sent Peyton Randolph, then Attorney- General of the colony,) to England, as its agent, with a salary of ;^2,5og, with a petition to the King for relief from the fee. The decision of the Board of Trade was virtually in favor of Governor Dinwiddie, though their instructions were at first singularly indefinite.
Page X of Introduction to Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society
The Privy Council upheld the fee and Dinwiddie’s right to establish it, but imposed certain restrictions on the fee to conciliate the House of Burgesses—a compromise that was accepted by the opposing parties but did not address the constitutional issue of whether colonial legislatures had the right to defeat local taxes proposed by the British government.
Internal notes while doing research
The last letter between Dinwiddie and GW:
To George Washington from Robert Dinwiddie,
14 November 1757
From Robert Dinwiddie Williamsburg Novr 14th 1757 Sir Yr Letter of the 5th I duly recd & I am much surpriz’d at what You write that the Indn Affairs have been impeeded by a Train of Mismanagemt when I consider Mr Atkin’s Report that he had established every Thing in regard to those People in a most regular Manner1
I have wrote the Necessary to Ct. Gist on that Head, & order’d up a Quantity of Goods from Petersburg for that Service which I hope will be at Winchester before this reaches You—I have it much at Heart to encourage the Cherokees & did not doubt but Mr Atkin had agreeable to his Declaratn fix’d every Thing in proper Order, if any Deficiency I hope the Goods sent up will supply;2
& Ct. Gist writes that he sent away the last 20, & nine that came before, tolerably pleas’d, by the Advance of some Goods;3
& You write that with the advice of Yr Officers You stretch’d a Point in supplyg them with some Necessaries, which I suppose was more than what Ct. Gist had given them.
I am glad the last Party had the Success of scalping two & wounding a third of the Enemy, they are to be applauded & rewarded for their Service—Gist complains he has no Goods which surprizes me, when Mr Atkin says he left upwards of 800£ in Goods, with him; I believe they were design’d for the Catawbas, but on Occasion they shd be made use of for those Indians that may come to our Assistance, & those for the Catawbas may hereafter be compleated, as the Country has sent Home for a large Quantity.
The Interpreter Smith left this a Month ago contrary to my Opinion Mr Atkin sent him by Augusta but I hope he is with You long before this reaches You[.] Gist’s Employmt is to take Care of the Inds. & to deliver them Presents with Discretion, & he has Goods for that Purpose, if not restrain’d by Mr Atkin’s Instructions, but I suppose he now writes him fully how to act.
Mr Boyd carried up Money to pay Ct. Gist & the others employ’d by Mr Atkin till the 14th of last Month: the Neglect or Delay of the Interpreter has occasion’d some Difficulties entirely owing to Mr Atkin sending him by Augusta, but I hope he is now with You.
I have formerly wrote You to know the Demands of the poor People on Acct of the Inds. which I dare say is but a Trifle if any Thing, Mr Boyd carried up Money for several of them; Gordon’s Acct was paid, Brinker was also pd—& a Person from the So. Branch carried up Money to pay several Accts there; & if any is now due it is the People’s own Fault in not giving them to Mr Boyd.4
There has been a considerable Sum pd this Court on that Acct—besides 220 to Mr Atkin for the Inds. Expences durg his Time, & indeed I was in hopes there was no more due.
I am with Respect Sir Your mo. humble Servant Robt Dinwiddie
LS, DLC:GW; LB, ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers.
1. An item from Williamsburg dated 7 Oct. in the Pennsylvania Gazette (Philadelphia), 20 Oct. 1757, reported that Edmond Atkin had returned from the frontier on 5 Oct., “having, we hear, settled the Affairs with the Cherokees in those Parts entirely to Satisfaction . . . it may be supposed the back Inhabitants, will have little to fear from the Enemy’s Parties for the future. The several Parties of those Indians went Home in the best Disposition imaginable.”
2. Dinwiddie wrote Christopher Gist on this date about his role in dispensing Indian presents, and saying, “I presume before this reaches you, a good Quantity of goods are Sent You by Mr [Robert] Turnbull of Petersburg” (ViHi: Dinwiddie Papers).
3. On 12 Nov. 1757 Dinwiddie gave the council “a Letter from Mr. [Christopher] Gist dated from Winchester November 4th informing that Thirty Cherokees from Chota and Tellico were then there” (Exec. Journals of Virginia Council, 6:73–74). For further indication of the contents of Gist’s letter, see Dinwiddie to Gist, 14 Nov. 1757, in Brock, Dinwiddie Papers, 2:713–14).
4. Brinker is probably Henry Brinker. The “Person from the So. Branch” has not been identified. Gordon may be former Cornet George Gordon of Stewart’s light horse who was murdered in Maryland in the spring of 1756. As late as 13 May 1757, 6s. 15d. was credited to his executors by paymaster Alexander Boyd (Va. Regimental Accounts, 1755–58, DLC:GW). Boyd apparently went up to Winchester after the council approved on 18 Oct. 1757 Edmond Atkin’s appointment of Christopher Gist and others, and he was back in Williamsburg before this date (see Dinwiddie to Christopher Gist, 14 Nov. 1757, in Brock, Dinwiddie Papers, 2:713–14).
Source:
.
.
To George Washington from John Blair, 25 January 1758
From John Blair WmsBurg Jany 25. 1758. Sir, We had a council here yesterday in which was considered a letter from Col. Clement Read of Lunenburg, advising his intelligence from an Indian Harbinger, that a large body of Indians to the number of 7 or 800, were on their march 5 days behind him to our assistance, and would take his house in their way to Fort Loudoun, notwithstanding the directions given by Col. Atkins for another route thro’ Augusta. The Council do not suppose their number can be so large as Col. Atkins had directed their coming in small parties; but whatever number com⟨es⟩ to you, we hope you will be able to employ them in small parties, as may be judged by you most beneficial.1 I understood by the Govr, who sailed the 12th inst. that there was I think £1000 worth of Indian Goods for presents left with Mr Gist who had directions from Col. Atkins for the proper disposal of them.2 I hope you will do all in your power for having it conducted in the best manner. I take the opportunity of Mr Binn Clark of Loudon to give you this intelligence of their coming. Sir, Yr most obedt Servt John Blair, Prest
Sprague transcript, DLC:GW.
John Blair (1687–1771) as president of the council after William Fairfax’s death on 3 Sept. 1757 became acting governor on Robert Dinwiddie’s departure, 12 Jan. 1758, and served until the arrival of Francis Fauquier, 5 June 1758.
1. GW reported to John Blair on 9 April that about 400 Indians had already been at Fort Loudoun by the time GW arrived in early April and that 140 more were expected that day. Capt. Paul Demeré of the S.C. Independent Company at Fort Loudoun in the Cherokee country wrote Gov. William Henry Lyttelton on 2 April 1758 that despite his efforts to delay their departure 157 Cherokee in several parties had gone in March “towards the French Fort” and that even “greater Numbers are gone to the Northward” (McDowell, S.C. Indian Affairs, 1754–1765, 455–56). 2. See Dinwiddie to Christopher Gist, 14 Nov. 1757, in Brock, Dinwiddie Papers, 2:713–14.
PERMANENT LINK What’s this?
Pennsylvania troops names
real powder horn
.
Suppressed Official British Report of the Siege and "Massacre" at Fort William Henry, 1757
Lt Colonel john Young is referenced on Footnote 2 on last page:
Lt Col John Young brought 812 men of Colonel Joseph Frye's Massachussetts regiment, 57 New York troops, and 122 of his own Royal Americans.
BTW that's the same Joseph Frye who got mad at Robert Rogers taking his recruits enlisted on Massachussetts money to New Hampshire instead.
A reference to the portrait of Dinwiddie
the portraits of the Governor, and of his daughters (in her possession), are gratefully acknowledged. The portrait of the Governor is noble in its expression of earnest purpose, candor, and benignity, whilst that of the daughters, who are depicted at the ages apparently of sixteen and twelve years respect ively, evince that the original, by "Allan Ramsay," is a work cf art, of exquisite execution in its details and accessories
.
Page iX of Introduction to Dinwiddie Papers published by the Virginial Historical Society
Who authorized payment out an established fund?
When the assembly voted to raise money and field a regiment of soldiers during the French and Indian War, it refused to allow Dinwiddie to control the fund. With each appropriation, the assembly appointed a committee of burgesses, with Robinson as chair, to oversee the payments. That removed Dinwiddie from daily management of the money, but it produced inefficiencies, as when the personal affairs of the committee members made it difficult to assemble a quorum to do business. On one such occasion an agent for Colonel George Washington traveled to Williamsburg to pick up the regimental expenses and discovered that Robinson was not in town. Even after Robinson returned he could not bring together a quorum for several more days. The agent complained that the public business had to “waite the Conveniency of the Grandees of Government.”
To George Washington from John Kirkpatrick, 14 August 1756
Williamsbg Augt 14 1756 Sir.
An opportunity offering to Fredericksbg I thought it requisite to Acquaint you of Our progress, & prospects of dispatch.
The Speaker was from home when we call’d—its Said on Courtship of Miss Chiswell1—and only came to town last night—today he proposes a Committee, but the uncertainty of Collecting a Sufficient Number is so great that I fancy this day Will Stand a Blank in Business—& then we can expect, he says, no Committee before Tuesday—However we must assume patience, and waite the Conveniency of the Grandees of Government.2
Footnote 2. The committee supervising the expenditures of public funds for the defense of the colony met and passed the accounts of the Virginia Regiment on Tuesday and Wednesday, 17 and 18 Aug. 1756. It was composed of ten leading members of the House of Burgesses, including Treasurer John Robinson, Atty. Gen. Peyton Randolph, and Charles Carter of Cleve. Any seven of these members, “with the consent and approbation of the governor or commander in chief of this dominion,” could act as the committee (7 Hening 9–25).
.
To George Washington
from John Blair,
5 February 1758
Did Dinwiddie slip on his duties to get this done?
Or was some one blocking Dinwiddie from obtaining the ships to get the 2 companies of the VA Regiment back?
7. Loudoun wrote Col. Henry Bouquet of the Royal Americans in Charleston, S.C., on 12 Oct. 1757 with instructions to send back to Virginia from Carolina the companies of the Virginia Regiment commanded by Adam Stephen and George Mercer (see Bouquet to Dinwiddie, 16 Dec. 1757, in Stevens, Bouquet Papers, 1:261).
Dinwiddie reportedly had not sent the transports for the troops in Carolina when he left Virginia on 12 Jan. 1758, but on the day of his departure the minutes of the Virginia Council noted that “Transports had been order’d to bring [the troops] back” from Carolina (Exec. Journals of Virginia Council, 6:78–79). Adam Stephen arrived with his detachment in Fredericksburg on 22 April, and GW wrote John St. Clair on 4 May 1758 that Mercer’s and Stephen’s companies had arrived at Fort Loudoun on 3 May 1758.
8. There seems to have been a false rumor that Lord Loudoun, governor of Virginia, had succeeded in getting his protegé Lt. Col. John Young, paymaster of the Royal American Regiment, an appointment as lieutenant governor of Virginia to replace Robert Dinwiddie. An entry for 12 Jan. 1758 in the Exec. Journals of Virginia Council mentions the impending “Arrival of the Honourable Colonel Young (whom we may soon expect to succeed [Governor Dinwiddie]).”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Comments