MOB AT PHILADELPHIA IN 1779.
Early in October, in the year 1779, the peace of the city of Philadelphia was disturbed by a band of desperadoes, who, jealous of the prosperity and influence of many distinguished citizens, resolved on their destruction. When I name Mr. Wilson[1], Robert Morris[2], G. Clymer[3], all signers of the Declaration of Independence, and General Mifflin[4] and Major Lenox[5], who had so often fought, that they might be free, I do not hesitate to say, that theirs was a blind infatuation—their guilt consummate, and beyond excuse. A number of the most enlightened whigs, to save the lives of such valuable men, determined to aid them in defending themselves, and repaired for that purpose to Mr. Wilson's, where the party threatened had shut themselves up. A mob of two hundred persons had assembled on the commons, composed, as it generally happens, of strangers and vagabonds. A North-Carolina Captain headed them, who immediately, with drums beating, marched his men to Mr. Wilson's house, and commenced firing, which was warmly returned by those within. No impression having been made by the fire-arms, the door of the house was assailed by large sledge hammers, and was yielding to the vigour of the strokes applied to it, when a party of the 1st Philadelphia troop of horse, seven only in number, and aided by two Dragoons of Bayler's Regiment, resolved to save or perish with their fellow-citizens. They were in a street contiguous, unseen by the mob. Dashing suddenly round the corner where Mr. Wilson's house was situated, the cry of "the horse—the horse" was raised, and their numbers not being known, the rioters fled with precipitation in every direction, but not before two other detachments of the same troop had appeared, who took many prisoners, and wounded not a few; the sword being very freely used, till opposition was no more. Colonel Thomas Morris, of our city, was one of the seven engaged in the conflict terminating so favourably to order and good government.
[ANECDOTES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE TALENTS AND VIRTUES OF TBS HEROES AND PATRIOTS WHO ACTED THE MOST CONSPICUOUS PARTS THEREIN BY ALEXANDER GARDEN Of Lee's Legion. SECOND SERIES. CHARLESTON: PRINTED BY A.E. MILLER, No. 4 Broad Street. 1828.]
[1] James Wilson was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence. Wilson was elected twice to the Continental Congress, and was a major force in drafting the United States Constitution. He was one of the six original justices appointed by George Washington to the Supreme Court of the United States.
[2] Robert Morris, Jr. was a Liverpool-born American merchant, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. In 1787 Morris was elected to the Constitutional Convention. During which he nominated his friend George Washington as its President. He was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
[3] George Clymer was an American politician and founding father. He was one of the last Patriots to advocate complete independence from Britain. As a Pennsylvania representative, Clymer was, along with five others, a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He attended the Continental Congress, and served in political office until the end of his life.
[4] Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, PA. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from PA., President of the Continental Congress, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, President of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council and the first Governor of
Pennsylvania.
[5] Major David Lenox was appointed Marshal of the U. S Admiralty Court September 26, 1793, serving until May 18, 1795. He was also one of the Marshals of the Grand Federal Procession July 4, 1788 ; Member Committee of Correspondence appointed after the Chesapeake outrage 1807 ; was selected by Girard, one of the Trustees of the Girard Bank, May 23, 1812, and continued until his death. He was also, 1813, one of the Committee of Superintendence for the Protection of the River Delaware and Philadelphia; President Philadelphia Bank 1813-1818. During the Revolution ha had been taken prisoner by the British. During his residence as a prisoner, he was visited by his brothers Robert and William, with a view to bring him to abandon the American cause. They tried every motive, and pressed him by considerations the most tender. The interview was had under the large linden-tree near the house. On their leaving him, he was met by the present Mrs. Lloyd, who observing him to be bathed in tears, asked what was the cause of his distress. He told her that his brothers had been endeavoring to prevail with him to forsake the Americans and join the British. But said he with Roman firmness, "I will never do it."[www.Kirkcudbright.co]
[2] Robert Morris, Jr. was a Liverpool-born American merchant, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the United States Constitution. In 1787 Morris was elected to the Constitutional Convention. During which he nominated his friend George Washington as its President. He was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania.
[3] George Clymer was an American politician and founding father. He was one of the last Patriots to advocate complete independence from Britain. As a Pennsylvania representative, Clymer was, along with five others, a signatory of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. He attended the Continental Congress, and served in political office until the end of his life.
[4] Thomas Mifflin was an American merchant and politician from Philadelphia, PA. He was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, a Continental Congressman from PA., President of the Continental Congress, and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He served as Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, President of the Pennsylvania Supreme Executive Council and the first Governor of
Pennsylvania.
[5] Major David Lenox was appointed Marshal of the U. S Admiralty Court September 26, 1793, serving until May 18, 1795. He was also one of the Marshals of the Grand Federal Procession July 4, 1788 ; Member Committee of Correspondence appointed after the Chesapeake outrage 1807 ; was selected by Girard, one of the Trustees of the Girard Bank, May 23, 1812, and continued until his death. He was also, 1813, one of the Committee of Superintendence for the Protection of the River Delaware and Philadelphia; President Philadelphia Bank 1813-1818. During the Revolution ha had been taken prisoner by the British. During his residence as a prisoner, he was visited by his brothers Robert and William, with a view to bring him to abandon the American cause. They tried every motive, and pressed him by considerations the most tender. The interview was had under the large linden-tree near the house. On their leaving him, he was met by the present Mrs. Lloyd, who observing him to be bathed in tears, asked what was the cause of his distress. He told her that his brothers had been endeavoring to prevail with him to forsake the Americans and join the British. But said he with Roman firmness, "I will never do it."[www.Kirkcudbright.co]
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