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Home , Benjamin Lincoln, Charles Lee (general), Customs officer, Jedediah Huntington, John Gunby, John Lamb (general)

~THE~ FIRST OFFICERS __...... ,..OF THE~-- SERVICE ~ Appointed by President in 1789

by Michael N. Ingrisano, Jr. June 1987 ccour 198th Year) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledges the help and encouragement from so many sources without which this study would have taken much longer to complete. Dr. Carl Prince's The Federalists and the Origins ofthe U.S. Civil Sen>ice, University Press, 1977, is filled with biographic and anecdotal tidbits char proved invaluable where no other information seemed to exist. Dr. Prince also directed me to sources I had not envisioned, thereby saving me countless steps. The basic source for many of the contingent was Earl Gregg Swem, Virginia Historical Index, Roanoke, 1934-1936, reprinted 1965. The author also wishes to thank the following individuals, public libraries, state libraries, and historical societies.

Emerson W. Baker, Dyer Library, Saco, Elizabeth B. Knox, The New London County Historical Society, Conn. Ottila Knox, Neiv Haven Colon_v Historical Society, Co1111. John Dojka, Yale Uni1>mity Library, Nt11• Haven, Conn. Marion A. Harding, Cape Ann Historical Association, Gloucester, Mass. Ruby Shackleford, Urbanna Public Library, U1·banna, Va. Francis P. O'Neill, Museum and Library ofMaryland History'. , Md. A. J. Goldwyn, Dukes County Historical Society, E.Wartown, Mass. Thomas Morabito, Wilmi1!!ftOn Library, Wilmit!!l'ton, Del. Mary Carey, The New York Historical Society, Nt11• York, N. Y. Doris Post, Godfre_v Memorial Library, Middlero1vn, Conn. Bruce F. Pomerantz, Hudson Arta Association Library, Hudson, N. Y. Jean B. Russo, HistoricAnn11polis, Inc.. Ann11polis, Md. Allan W. Robbins, Alex11ndria Libr11ry, Alex11ndri11, Va. Frances Fugate, Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, Va. Mary M. Boyd, Georgetown County Memoriiil Libr11ry, Georgero11rn, S.C. Josephine F. Wyman, The Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. H. Grace, St. Mary's Count)' Historical Society, Leonardtown, Md. Peggy A. Haile, Noifolk Public Library S,.vsrem, Noifolk, Va. Miles Barnes, Eastern Short Public Library, Accomac, Va. Coreen Hallerbeck., Alb11n.v Institute ofHistory 11ndArt, Alban_v, N.Y. Charles E. Smith, Kansas Road, Box 286, MilbritWe, Me. Barbara P. Willis, Central Rappahannock Regional Library, Fredericksburg, Va. Barbara P. Andrews, Nantucket Atheneum Library, Nantucket, Mass. Elizabeth Evans, Historical Society, Sa1•annah, Ga. Arley L. MacDonald, Fairfield Historical Society, Fairfield, Conn. Dennis J. Adams, Be11u.fort County Libr11ry, Be11ufort, S.C. Alexia J. Haisley, Department ofArchiJ>es and History, Colt.mbia, S.C. Dorothy Zaykowski, The John fermiiin Memorial Library, San H11rbor, N. Y. Lucille Showalter, The New London M11ritime Museum, .Neiv London, Conn. John Kilbourne, Society ofthe Cincinnati, Washington, D.C. Kay Demine, College of William and Mary Alumni Office, Williamsburg, Va. Florence Kern, author of11 series on the first reve11ue cutters, E.Wart01vn, Mass. Marcia J. Hodges, Brunnl'ick-Gl,.vnn Count_v Regional Library, Brunnl'ick, Ga. Natalie Anderson, Ipswich Public Libr11ry, Iprn>ich, Mass. Finally, notes of thanks to Margaret Boudren of the Customs Library at Headquarters who helped me to run down every lead that I was able to find. She, too, saved me countless steps and minutes. And to Patricia Coss of my Division, who took my raw manuscript and made it the work of art our colleagues so richly deserve.

Michael N. In_grisano, Jr. Wasili'!!l"on, D.C.. Felm1ary 1987

2 The First Officers of The United States Customs Servi.ce

At the end of the list is a States. He was succeeded almost n Act to regulate the Col­ notation that "Sharp Delaney, es­ immediately by William McPher­ A lection of the Duties im­ quire, is appointed Collector of the son. posed by law on the ton­ Port of ; Frederick This study includes a copy of the nage of ships or vessels, and oi:i Philc, esquire, Naval-Officer, and original commission issued to goods, wares and merchandises im­ Samuel Meredith, esquire, Surveyor of Virginia (father ported into the United States­ of the same." On the following day, of ) who was named dated July 31, 1789-created the August 8, 1789, the newspaper the first Collector at the Falls of United States . Sec­ printed the entire list of nominees. Ohio (now Louisville, Ky.) after tion 1 of that Act stipulated that The official commissions, signed Peyton Short refused the nomina­ "there shall be established and by the President and by the Secre­ tion. The copy was supplied by the appointed district, ports and tarv of State, , present port director at Louisville, officers, in manner following, to were not issued until March 21, Arthur Trussell. wit: The State of New Hampshire 1791, making recordkeeping a bit The availability of biographical shall be one district to include the confusing. By that time, some of information about the 119 officers town of Portsmouth as the sole the first appointees had already left ranges from readily available to port of entry...." office either because of death or to practically nonexistent. Data about And so follows an entire litany of assume other positions. Therefore, the better known figures, such as States and ports. It became the · in a few cases, one will find in this Joseph Whipple, , responsibility of President George study two names for the same port: John Lamb and Sharp Delany were Washington to nominate and for the original appointee and his im­ readily available from our Biographi­ the Senate to approve Collectors, mediate successor. cal Directory ofthe U.S. Customs Naval Officers and Surveyors for For example, Samuel Meredith Service, Volume I. the 59 ports cited in the law. was the Surveyor at Philadelphia For men like Christopher Hillary In this document, the officers arc just a few months before he was and Cornelius Collins, gathering listed in the order in which they appointed Treasurer of the United information was more pure luck appear in the statute. To each is than historic research. Even after an added a brief biographical sketch of appeal to the local historic societies the individual who was nominated and public libraries, it was a ran­ and approved for the various posi­ dom selection from the book shelf tions. Each peer group is separated of local histories at the Library of by title with the Collectors leading Congress that yielded one entry the list, followed by the Naval from the Historic Collections ofthe Officers and Survevors. Joseph Habersham Chapter ofthe Many of the individuals applied DAR noting that Second Lieute­ for positions soon after President nant Christopher Hillary and First Washington took office on April Cornelius Collins were 30, 1789. The Packet, charter members of the Georgia and Dai~y Advertiser for August 7, Society of the Cincinnati. 1789, included the Act creating Customs in its entiretv. Under a New York dateline ofAugust 4, the On August 7, 1789, The paper gave a partial list of Revenue Pennsylvania Packet, and Dailv Officers nominated by the Presi­ Advertiser printed the Act that· dent, and "advised and consented" established the U.S. Customs by the Senate.

3 The First Bank of the United States-Customs receipts Jliere deposited, here, 1791-1811 .

Approximately 40 percent of the graduate of Harvard College, as The War took its toll on some of appointees had held similar posi­ were Epes Sargent IV, Willian1 the men. Nathaniel Wilkins lost his tions under the customs agencies in Watson and Nathaniel Fosdick. hand and was declared indigent and the original 11 States that had Yale contributed Jonathan Fitch unable to support himself. George ratified the Constitution in 1789. and Asher Miller. Princeton­ Bush died in office in 1797, re­ ( and , John Habersham and portedly from wounds suffered dur­ came in later; hence, the Customs William McPherson. ing the War; and General James officers in those States are not Numbered among the self­ MacCubbin Lingan, after spending included in this study.) educated were Generals Benjamin three and one-half years as a pris­ The most common title used by Lincoln and Otho Holland Wil­ oner of the British (he had been the States was "Searcher," and this liams. brutally bayonetted), had difficulty helped to complicate the research. Some were first generation An1er­ sleeping except in a sitting position. A few individuals, like Andrew icans. Lachlan Mcintosh, John Apparently, he had been confined Aggnew, Jacob Wray, John Lamb, Muir and John Davidson were born to a space so small that all he could John Davidson, and Frederick Phile in Scotland. Sharp Delany was Irish do was rest in that position. had served in the customs service and Lewis Frederick Delcsdenier Regardless of their war records, under the British system. For the was born in , Canada, education, professions, ancestry, other 60 percent, it was the begin­ of Swiss immigrant parents. (His disabilities, religious affiliations ning of a new career in the first father was Swiss; his mother, Rus­ (Edward Pope was a Quaker and Federal enforcement agency. sian). founded the Most were rewarded for their Others had lineages dating back An1erican Society of Missionaries) services during the Revolutionary to the Mayflower and the begin­ or political beliefs (William Pick­ War. John Ten Broeck recalled his nings of the colonies. Stephen man was a loyalist), all shared one experiences at and the Smith's maternal descendants did common thread: They were the visit by his old commander, the come over on the Mayfiower. John First Officers of the United States Marquis de Lafayette, in 1824. Pease was fiftl1 generation in Edgar­ Customs Service. Daniel Bedinger and General Jam es town, Mass.; and Stephen Cross Lingan bitterly remembered their was the third generation of his Michael N . Ingrisano, Jr. experiences as prisoners of war and family to operate his family's ship­ Washington, D.C · February 1987 the cruel treatment meted out to building business in Newburyport, them by the British. Mass. William Gibb took part in the The professions, too, were widely Battle of the Barges, the last naval represented. Land and ship owners engagement of the war (being dominate the list. The law profes­ fought on November 30, 1782­ sion was represented by Charles the same day that the articles of Lee, Richard Marshall Scott and peace were being signed between Asher Miller. Medicine contributed and the United States). Frederick Philc and John Scott. Samuel Smedley commanded the Samuel Whittemore and Ja.mes State boat, The De­ Lowell were both Harvard­ fence; and George Catlett was com­ educated teachers. William McPher­ manding a company of marines son was a professional soldier, hav­ aboard tl1e Mosquito when he was ing served in both the British and taken prisoner. American armies. Several of the leading colleges Among the land and slave own­ can lay claim to some of the first ers were John Scott, Jeremiah officers. Hodijah Baylies was a Nichols, Andrew Aggnew and Christopher Hillary.

4 First Officers ofthe United States Customs Service

COLLECTORS Port of Entry

NEW HAMPSHIRE CONNECTICUT VIRGINIA Joseph Whipple, Portsmouth Samuel Smedley, Faiifi.eld Jacob Wray, Hampton MASSACHUSETIS Jedediah Huntington, NeJ11Lon"'111 William Lindsay, Norfolk Stephen Cross, Newburyport Jonathan Fitch, New Haven William Heth, Bermuda Hundred Epes Sargent, IV, Gloucester NEW YORK Abraham Archer, Yorktown Joseph Hiller, Salem John Lamb, New York Hudson Muse, Tappahannock Richard Harris, Marblehead John Gelston, Sag Harbor Charles Lee, Alexandria Richard Marshall Scott, Dumfries Samuel R. Gerry, Marblehead NEW JERSEY George Savage, Cherrystone Benjamin Lincoln, Eli Elmer, Bridgeton Nathaniel Wilkins, Cherrystone William Watson, Plymouth John Ross, Burlington William Gibb, Folly Landing Joseph Otis, Barnstable John Halstead, PerthAmbf.!V Stephen Hussey, Nantucket Thomas Bowne, South Quay PENNSYLVANIA John Pease, Ed!J.artown' Vincent Redman, Yeocomico Sharp Delany, Philadelphia Eaward Pope, Nen• Bedford Richard Taylor, Falls ofOhio Hodijah Baylies, Dighton DELAWARE SOUTH CAROLINA George Bush, Wilmington MAINE* John Cogdell, Georgetown William Webb, Bath George Abbott Hall, Charleston John Lee, Penobscot , , Baltimore Andrew Aggnew, Beaufort Meletiah Jordan, Frenchman's Ba_v John Scott, Chester GEORGIA Lewis Frederick Delesdenier, Passamaquodd_v Jeremiah Nichols, Chester John Habersham, Savannah Stephen Smith, Machias Jeremiah Banning, Oxford Christopher Hillary, Brunswick Nathaniel Fosdick, Portland John Muir, Vienna Cornelius Collins, Sunbury Jeremiah Hill, Jr., Biddeford , Sno11•Hill James Seagrove, St. Mary's Francis Cook, Wiscasset John Davidson, Annapolis George Biscoe, Nottingham Richard Trevett, York *AU the Maine ports were pan ofthe Commonwealth of John Courts Jones, Nanj~ until 1820. James MacCubbin Lingan, Georgetown** **Later a section in Washiligton, D.C., Georgetown wm a pan ofMaryland in 1789.

NAVAL OFFICERS Port of Entry ------­ NEW HAMPSHIRE NEW YORK VIRGINIA Eleuer Russell, Portsmouth Benjamin Walker, New York Philomen Gatewood, Norfolk MASSACHUSETIS PENNSYLVANIA SOUTH CAROLINA Jonathan Titcomb, Newburyport Frederick Phile, Philadelphia Isaac Motte, Charleston William Pickman, Salem MARYLAND GEORGIA James Lovell, Boston Robert Purviance, Baltimore Lachlan Mcintosh, Savannah SURVEYORS Port of Entry------­ NEW HAMPSHIRE CONNECTICUT VIRGINIA Thomas Martin, Portsmouth Nathaniel Richards, New LontWn Daniel Hedinger, Nuifillk MASSACHUSETIS Jonathan Palmer, Jr., Stonington Archibald Richardson, Suffolk Michael Hodge, Newburyport Asher Miller, Middletown James Wells, Smithfield Samuel Whittemore, Gloucester Hezekiah Rogers, New Haven Christopher Roane, Bermuda Hundred Bartholomew Putnam, Salem NEW YORK James Gibbon, Petersburg Josiah Batchelder, Jr. Beverl,,v John Lasher, Nm• York Zachariah Rowland, Richmond Jeremiah Staniford, Jr. lpm>ich Jeremiah Lansing, Albany John Spotswoosl Moore, Wi:it Point Thomas Melvill, Boston John C. Ten Broeck, Hudson Staige Davis, Urbanna George Catlett, Port Royal MAINE PENNSYLVANIA William Lewis, Fredericksburg James Lunt, Portland Samuel Meredith, Philadelphia Samuel Hanson, Alexandria William McPherson, Philadelphia SOUTH CAROLINA MARYLAND Edward Weyman, Charleston Robert Ballard, Baltimore Robert Young, To11111 Creek GEORGIA Robert Chesley, St. Mary's John Berrien, Savannah

5 The First Collectors

Joseph Whipple ... Portsmouth, Richard Harris ... Marblehead, N.H.... 1789-1798 and 1801-1816 Mass... . 1789- 1790 . .. Collector for . . . Merchant and ski lled financier ... the state for several years under the Fought in Revolutionary War ... Col­ Confederation . .. Served a short time onel with 25th New Han1pshire Reg­ before he died in office . .. Succeeded iment .. . Brother of Gen. Willian1 by Samuel R. Gerry. Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence ... First white man to Samuel R. Gerry ... Marblehead, climb Mount Washington and to settle Mass . ... 1790-1802 ... Brother of in Crawford Notch, N.H. Eldridge Gerry, signer of the Declara­ tion .. . During the Revolution, he Stephen Cross .. . Newburyport, supplied provisions for troops stationed Mass... . 1789-1 792 .. . State Collec­ ne ar his area in Marblehead ... Served tor of Customs ... Third generation to as Naval Officer of the port during the operate fami ly shipbuilding business . .. Confederation for one year . . . Gave up His firm built two frigates for the post for better position ... Ran afoul - The National Portrait Gnllery, during tl1e Re­ of Secretary Gallatin in 1801 , when the Smit/Jsoninn InsriwrUm volutionary War ... Held several local Secretary asked Benjamin Lincoln, the offices, and was a member of the Collector at Boston, to send someone Massachusetts House of Representa­ to check Gerry's accounts .. . Some­ nves. times listed as first Collector because he succeeded Richard Harris, who held the post for a short time before he died in Epes Sargent, IV . .. Gloucester, office. Mass.... 1789-1795 ... Harvard graduate, class of 1766 ... Son of a prominent shipper, Epes made several Benjamin Lincoln ... Boston, Mass. voyages for his father before settling . . . 1789-1809 .. . Served in the Pro­ into his own business career ... In vincial Congress ... Was a General in 1779, delegate to convention to form the ... Accepted State Constitution ... Left Gloucester Cornwallis' sword at the British Surren­ after serving as Collector for Hamp­ der at Yorktown . . . Secretary of War stead, N.H. . .. in the Confederation government . .. In 1803, moved to Boston, where he Led the troops which put down Shay's was made president of the Suffolk rebellion ... Not formally educated, he Insurance Company. was a botanist, geologist and an author­ ity on Indian affairs. Joseph Hiller . . . Salem, Mass. 1789-1802 .. . Led a company ')f William Watson . . . Plymouth, militia from Salem on the day of the Mass.. . . 1789- 1803 . . . Graduate of Battle of Lexington . .. Was a volun­ Harvard College . . . First postmaster of teer in the 1778 Rhode Island expedi­ Plymouth . .. in the local tion and commanded a company there m;litia and part owner of a privateer Benjamin Lincoln .. . Attained rank of major ... Had during the Revolutionary War . .. Nav­ been Salem Collector of Customs dur­ al Officer (of Customs) of the port in ing the Confederation. 1782 ... Honorary inductee taken in by the Society of the Cincinnati.

Duties of the collector. Joseph Otis ... Barnstable, Mass ... 1789-1810 ... Popularly known as Sec. 5. And be it jitrther enacted, That the duties of the respective officers to be appointed by virtue ofthis act, shall be as follows: At such of the ports to which there shaU be appointed "Brigadier Otis" for his valuable service a coUector, naval officer and surveyor, it shall be the of the co llector to receive all during the Revolutionary War . . . For reports, manifests and documents made or exhibited to him by the master or commander of many years he was Clerk of the Court any ship or vessel, conformably to the regulations prescribed by this act, to make due entry of Cornman Pleas and a member of tl1e Massachusetts Legislature ... Held the and record in books to be kept for that purpose, aU such manifests and the packages, marks and numbers contained therein; to receive the entry of all ships and vessels, and of all the post of Collector until his death in goods, wares and merchandise imported in such ships or vessels, together with the original 1810 at the age of82 .. . H is nephew, Harrison Gray Otis, became a power in invoices thereof; to estimate the duties payable thereon, and to endorse the same on cacl1 entry; to receive ail monies paid for duties, and to take all bonds for securing the payment of Massachusetts and national politics. duties; to grant ail permits for the unloading and delivery of goods, to employ proper persons as weighers, gaugers, measurers and inspectors at the seve ra l ports wi thin his district, Stephen Hussey ... Nantucket, together with such persons as shaU be necessary to serve in the boats whid1 may be provided Mass.. .. 1789-1805 ... Merchant . . . for securing the coUection of the revenue to provide at the public expense, and with the Served in the State House of Repre­ approbation of the principal officer of the treasury department, store-houses for the safe sentatives ... Judge of the Superior keeping of goods, together with such scales, weights and measures as shall be deemed Court of Common Pleas ... Naval necessary, and to perform all other duties which shall be ass igned to him bv la w. Officer under the Confederation ...

6 Belonged to the Committee which was Lewis Frederick Delesdenier ... Francis Cook ... Wiscasset, Me .... organized to raise men to go to Canada Passamaquoddy, Me .... 1789-1811 1789-1829 ... Active in local politics ... None went and the committee was ... Born in Nova Scotia, Canada, of ... Held several offices ... Built home dissolved ... Died in office in 1805. Swiss immigrant parents . . . Revolted in Wiscasset in 1795 ... Used a small against British ... Joined Continental building on his land as the Custom Armv; made Lieutenant in 1777; taken House ... Was also collector of re­ John Pease ... Edgartown, Mass .... capti~e ... Moved permanently to Pas­ venue ... Had been Customs collector 1789-1809 ... Fifth generation at samaquoddy after the War ... Was for the State of Massachusetts in 1787, Edgartown ... Ancestor believed to be made Collector under the State ... 1788, 1789 ... "Mr.- Cook, the old and first settler ... Merchant and Selectman Appointed first postmaster in 1795 ... very respectable Collector of Wiscasset, . . . Served in militia in 1753 ... Naval Although an old friend of Albert Galla­ who has been removed bv General Officer from 1783-1790 ... Died at tin, he was replaced as Collector in Jackson to make room for a foreigner, age of 82 in 1813 ... Father of 10 1811 ... For his services in the Rev­ had his commission from George children. olutionary War, he was granted a liberal Washington, and is said to have been land grant in Ohio ... Appointed a the only Collector remaining in office Edward Pope ... New Bedford, member of the General Court in 1811 of Washington's appointment. Deacon Mass.... 1789-1808 ... Self-educated; and 1812 ... Died in Machias, Me., in Cook is a very worthv man ..." (from Quaker and nonmilitant ... Operator 1831. Pou/son's Daily Advertiser, Philadelphia, of general store on the waterfront ... April 10, 1829. Dateline: Augusta, Judge on the county court of common Stephen Smith ... Machias, Me .... Me., March 27, 1829.) pleas ... Member of the Massachusetts 1789-1806 ... Descendant (maternal) House of Representatives ... "One of of John Tilley and John Howland who the most prominent cutizens of New came on the Mayflower ... Merchant in Richard Trevett ... York, Me .... Bedford." Boston (1761) and in Machias (1772) 1789-1793 ... A seamen before the and mill owner (lumber) ... Delegate Revolutionary War ... Appointed Nav­ to the Continental Congress and al Officer of York in 1776; succeeded Hodijah Baylies ... Dighton, Mass. brought the news of Bunker Hill to in 1777; reappointed in 1780, and ... 1789-1809 ... Graduate of Har­ Machias ... Commissioned Captain remained until named Collector in vard College ... Enlisted as lieutenant and Commissary Officer . . . Served 1789 ... Served on the local Commit­ in Continental Army . . . Rose to rank around the area of St. John's in Nova tee on Correspondence prior to the of major; served with distinction: aide Scotia ... Appointed Naval Officer of ·war ... Commanded a privateer dur­ to General Washington ... Managed Customs at Machias in 1782 ... Had ·ing the War ... Died in office. his family's ironworks at New Bedford been a delegate to the Provincial Con­ while serving as Collector of Customs gress of in at Dighton ... Active in Massachusetts 1775 . . . Died in office as Collector in Samuel Smedley ... Fairfield chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati. 1806. (Bridgeport), Conn.... 1789-1812 ... Member of the Connecticut State Navy, serving first as a lieutenant and in 1777 William Webb ... Bath, Me .... Nathaniel Fosdick ... Portland, Me. as captain and commander of the De­ 1789-1803 ... Had been Naval Officer ... 1789-1803 ... Native of Salem, fence ... From May 1776 to June at the port under the State government Mass.... Graduate of Harvard College 1778, the Defence took 12 prizes and from 1779 until 1789 ... "A promin­ ... Under 30 at the time of his over 600 prisoners ... Was wrecked in ent man of his day." Served as Federal appoint~ent as Collector ... Not too 1779 ... After British burned and Collector from 1789 to December 21, successful as a merchant ... Extremely . destroyed Fairfield and Smedley's prop­ 1803 ... A corporator of the King ·active in local politics ... Served for · erty, he took command of the Recovery Turnpike and Bridge in 1805, and a several years as Naval Officer at Port­ ... Was taken prisoner and sent to trustee of the Bath Academy . . . Died land under the Commonwealth ... In Plymouth, England ... Escaped and in 1822 at 58 years of age.· 1803, returned to Salem, Mass. arrived in Philadelphia in 1782 in command of the Heer Adams ... Re­ turned to Fairfield at War's end and John Lee ... Penobscot, Me .... Biddeford, was appointed Collector ... Served 1789-1801 ... Had been Naval Officer Jeremiah Hill, Jr. ... Me.... 1789-1809 ... Enlisted in until his death in 1812. under the State government for two or April 24, 1775 ... Was chosen Captain three years before he was replaced. . . . Served with Colonels Scammel (1775), Phinney (1776) and Vose Jedediah Huntington ... New Lon­ Meletiah Jordan ... Frenchman's (1778) ... Served as major and Com­ don, Conn.... 1789-1815 ... Gradu­ Bay, Me.... 1789-1818 ... There had missary of Prisoners under General Sul­ . ate of Harvard College . . . Son of never been a Customs Collector or livan ... Was Adjutant General under General Jabez Huntington ... Leader Naval Officer at Frenchman's Bav under General Gates in the "expedition to the of the . . . Raised a the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Penobscot" ... Was granted an Honor­ regiment and ended his service with the ... Jordan, a prominent citizen of the ary Degree of Master of Arts from Continental Army as a Major General town of Ellsworth, Mc., was picked as Harvard College, 1787 ... Collector . . . President of both the state and the Collector ... Complained to Secre­ under the Commonwealth of Mass­ national chapters of the Society of the tary that he had nothing to achusetts during the Confederation Cincinnati . . . Deeply religious, he do but collect tonnage duty (50Justice of the Peace ... Owner of large sionaries ... Fan1ily relationship with was receiving his mail . . . Died in tracts of land ... Leader in the Federal­ first Commissioner of Customs, Charles office. ist party ... Died in 1820 at age 73. Rockwell.

7 New London Harbor, loo/ling north. Jonathan Fitch ... New Haven, John Ross . .. Burlington, N.J . . Conn.... 1789-1793 ... Son of Gov­ 1789-1795 .. . Served in the Revolu­ ernor Thomas Fitch ... Graduate of tion from 1776 ... Attained rank of Yale, 1748 ... Colonel during the major ... Naval Officer for the middle Revolution . . . Member of the State district of New Jersey from 178 1-1 784 Commissary and a nava l supplier in . . . Reappoimed for the next five vears charge of purchasing goods for the up to rJ1e formation of the Federal ... After the War, Customs. became High Sherill~ a Steward ar Yale for 25 vears and Naval Officer of John Halstead . .. Perth Amboy, Custon;s during the Confederation . . . N.J... . 1789- 1800 ... Native of New Member of the Stare Legislature .. . Jersey . .. Was in business in Quebec, Collector w1til his death in 179 3 .. . Canada, for 11 yea rs up to the outbreak Married twice and had 17 children .. . of the Revolution . . . Quartermaster The first eight died in infancy or before for General Montgomery in Canada in rhe age of seven; the ninth lived to 30 December 1775 ... After the War, years of age only to die at sea. returned to Canada to find all his assets were gone. John Lamb ... New York, N.Y ... . West Point in 1780. Sharp Delany ... Philadelphia, Pa. 1789-1797 ... Native New Yorker ...... 1789-1798 .. . Born in ... Board of Conunissioners at British Cus­ AporJ1ecary . .. Held various civil and tom House in New York ... Joined militia posts during rJ1e Revolutionary Sons of Liberty in 1765 ... Served in War ... Was an honorary member of Revolutionary War ... Breveted Gen­ the Society of the Cincinnati . . . Served eral . .. Conunander at West Point ... in Pennsylvania legislature during the Customs Collector for New York dur­ Confederation . . . Dissolved part­ ing Confederation . .. Member of the nership in drug business to become Society of the Cincinnati and of the Customs officer for the State of Penn­ Society for the Manumission of Slaves. sylvania ... Member of the American Philosophical Society and of the Hiber­ John Gelston ... Sag Harbor, N.Y. nian Society ... Customs tenure ended ... 1789- 1790 ... Adjuranr in Colonel abruptly in 1798 when it was disco­ Mulford's regiment during the Revolu­ vered rJ1at he had embezzled at least john Lamb tionary War . .. Was forced ro leave $86,000 in Federal revenues from the and go ro Connecticut customhouse. He was permitted to after defeat by the British in the battle resign, but never had to repay the of Long Island ... Was appointed funds, and was never prosecuted on Collector, Searcher and Surveyor for either civil or criminal charges. Customs in 1789 . .. Member of rhe New York Assemblv, 1791- 1795. George Bush .. . Wilmington, Del. His brother, David; was a prominent 1789- 1797 ... Businessman \\'ho figure in New York politics and Collec­ enlisted during the Revolutionarv War tor of the port of New York from . . . Severely wounded at the Battle of 1801-1820 .. . Died in 1834 .. . Brandywine ... Was breveted major, Buried in Bridgehampton, N.Y .. .. Sag and made paymaster, serving in that Harbor in 1789 had more tons of capacity until 1781 ... Appointed Col­ sguare-rigged vessels engaged in foreign lector of the port during the Confedera­ commerce i;han the port of New York. tion period ... Died in office in 1797, according to one account, from wounds Eli Elmer ... Bridgeton, N.J .... incurred during the War. 1789-1803 . . . Served in the Revolu­ tionary War ... Was ar rhe siege of Otho Holland Williams ... Balti­ Yorktown and the surrender by Corn­ more, Md. ... 1789-1 794 . . . Of wallis . .. Member of the Stare Conven­ humble beginnings, self-educated ... tion which ratified the Constitution .. . Successfi.d merchant . . . Commissioned Member of the State Council (Senate). officer during the Revolutionary War

8 .. . Ended War as General ... Member Camden, Guilford Courthouse and Known as General .. . Brutally killed of the Society of the Cincinnati ... Cowpens in South Carolina ... by a mob in Baltimore in 1812 during Was Naval Officer of Customs during Prosperous landowner supported the a political riot ... Also injured severely the Confederation ... Judge in the families of three officers killed in the at the same time was General "Light Baltimore County Criminal Court and South Carolina campaigns ... Ended Horse Harry" Henry Lee ... Honored officer in the Bank of Maryland ... War with title of Brigadier General . . . with a military funeral ... Buried in Was chosen to escort President Died at age 63 at his Snow Hill farm Arlington Cemetery. Washington through Baltimore on ... Buried in Stockton, Md. Washington's inauguration trip to New Jacob Wray . . . Hampton, Va ... York. John Davidson . .. Annapolis, Md. 1789-1791 ... Longtime Collector ... 1789- 1793 . .. Scottish-born, was under the Confederation ... Recom­ John Scott ... Chester, Md .... in the Colony by 1766 ... Owned land mended that his brother, George Wray, 1789-1790 ... Native of Kent County in Alleghany Count)' (near Cumber­ be appointed to care for the lighthouse ... Literate landowner and physician · land, Md.) ... Parmer in one of the at Cape Henry . .. He described him­ .. . Member of the lower house of few Maryland-based tobacco firm s, self: "I am a Theocratic under the Maryland, 1784 .. . Justice of Kent 1771-1 777 ... Was deput)' Naval auspicious Saviour. The world that Cou;1t)', 1777-1780, 1782-1790 ... Officer under the British ... Resigned quickening spirit that is to influence the Justicc of Orphan's Court, 1778- 1780, his post as Collector at Annapolis in whole world in good time." ... Re­ 1782-1790 . .. Naval Officer of Cus­ 1793, apparently because of the decline quested that he be succeeded by his toms, 1785-1789 ... At death, person­ of income resulting from the eclipse of son, George Wray, Jr., Collector under al wealth totaled 912 pounds (including Annapolis as a port by the Cit)' of the Confederation. 15 slaves and 145 books). Baltimore . .. Hamilton expressed re­ Norfolk, Va. gret but could nor offer an increase of William Lindsay ...... 1789-1797 ... Served in Revolu­ Jeremiah Nichols ... Chester, Md. salarv. ... 1791-1806 .. . Literate landowner tionary War, first with Virginia Dra­ . . . Member of the lower house of George Biscoe . .. Nottingham, Md . goons, and then as li eutenant with the Marvland, 178 7-1788 ... Justice, Kent . . . 1789-181 7 . . . Had been Naval First Continental Dragoons . . . Co u.~tv , 1774-1777, 1787-1789, 1791­ Officer at Patuxent, Md. , for 20 vears Wounded at Valley Forge . . . Fought 1794; ·orphan's Court, 1787- 1789 ...... In 1807, he applied for the Collec­ in New Jersey . .. Resigned from Armv Was Quartermaster of the 13th Batta­ tor's position at Baltimore. in 1778 with the rank of major ... lion, Kent Couritv Mil itia, commis­ Lawyer ... Received grant of 4,000 sioned in 1777 . : . Assessed value of John Courts Jones ... Nanjemov, acres of land in Kentuckv at the end of personal proper()': 1,335 pounds (in­ (St. Mary's) Md. . 1789- 1802 ... the War . .. Died in office .. . Suc­ cluding 27 slaves and 210 oz. plate). Was a clerk in the State Customs as a ceeded by Otwav Bvrd . .. Lindsay had yo uth ... Entered the Army during the the lighthouse at Cape Henry built. Revolution and was commissioned a Jeremiah Banning ... Oxford, Md. William Heth . .. Bermuda Hun­ . .. 1789-1795 ... Spent 25 years at captain of the line ... Was made major of brigade and aide-de-camp of general dred, Va ... . 1789-1802 ... Politicallv sea as mate, master and manager of a influential ... Officer of the line . . . · merchant vessel ... Served in Maryland Smallwood . . . Fought at Camden where he rallied the brigade to which Colonel ... Later member of the Virgi­ militia during the Revolutionarv War ni a executive council ... wrote of ... Reached rank of colonel ... Was he belonged after his general had le ft the field ... After the War, was elected himself to George Washington ... "My Inspector of the Currency ... "He did birth, education, mv pursuits and con­ not live at Oxford, and as his gout was to the Marvland General Assemblv . Was appoi1ited Naval Officer of duct in life are unknown to you. Of d1e so bad that he could not get about tl~e North Potomack first division by the first I can boast nothing; nor has the without great uneasiness he seldom . · other been marked with anything con­ went there. From his description of the spicuous or extraordinary. Still I am desuetude of trade at that point, it is James MacCubbin Lingan . vain enough to believe that the part certain that the official demands upon Georgetown (D.C./Md. ) ... 1789­ which I have borne in the Revolution hi s time were infrequent." (From the 1807 ... Born in Marvland ... En­ of my Native Country, from the hour Log and Will of Jeremiah Banning). listed and commissioned second lieuten­ of its commencement to that which ant ... Fought at Long Island . .. Cap­ gave Independence to America, has met John Muir . . . Vienna, Md. . .. tured and wounded brutally ... Pris­ with vour approbation." 1789-1795 ... Born in Scotland; came oner aboard the]ersey ... Served from to America at an early age ... Took an 1776-1783, and was a prisoner for active part in the Revolutionary War three and one-half years . .. Member of ... Represented Annapolis in the the Societ)' of the Cincinnati . .. The prison ship Jersey. Maryland Legislature for six years ... Succeeded his brother, who was the incumbent Naval Officer at Vienna, but who lived 20 miles from the port .. . Was President of the Farmers' Bank /~ when he died at age 60. I i I r John Gunby . .. Snow Hill, Md. / ~ 1789- 1794 ... Colonel Gunby orga­ I nized and equipped his own companv in 1775 ... Fought in the battles of Long Island, White Plains, Trenton and Brandywine ... Then led first Maryland regiments in the Southern campaigns in 1780-1781 , in action at

9 Abraham Archer .. . Yorktown, Va. Nathaniel Wilkins ... Cherrystone, 1789- 1794 . Naval Officer of Va. 1791- 1801 ... Was a li.e ute­ Customs during the Confederation nant in the Virginia Continental Linc period ... A member of the Common Lost a hand during the War .. Council at Yorktown, 1787 . .. Mavor Declared indigent and unable to sup­ of Yorktown, 1790. · port himself . . . Received a pension of 24 po unds per annum ... Was made Hudson Muse ... Tappahannock, an elector to choose d1e President in Va . . .. 1789-1794 ... Merchant ... 1789 . . . Appointed Collector for Customs Collector during the Confed-' Cherrvstone in 1791. eration ... Embezzled Federal customs ri.mds .. . Removed from office bv William Gibb . . . Folly Landing, Va. President Washington .. . Succeeded in . . . 1789-1810 ... Naval Officer of hav ing his son named as his successor. Customs under d1e Confederation . Took part in the Battle of the Barges, Charles Lee. . Alexandria, Va. the b st naval engagement of the Re­ 1789-1 792 . .. Grad uate of College of volutionary War (bei ng fought Novem­ New Jersev (Princeton) .. . Lav.1yer . .. ber 30, 1782, the same day that the Customs officer during the Confedera­ articles of peace were being signed tion . .. Attornev General in Washing­ between England and the United ton's cabinet . . . Continued as Attorney States) . .. Escaped being wounded in General under Adams until 1801 the battle by leaping overboard "at the Circuit Judge ... Declined the office of alarm of d1e barge blowing up" ... Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Proposed resigning as Naval Officer offered by Jefferson. ( 1784) because d1e 50 pounds per annum did not justify his moving from Richard Marshall Scott . .. Dum­ his home in Onancock to Follv Land- fries, Va. . . . 1789-1 79 5 ... Merchant mg . Became a large landoV.:,ner in ... Lawyer . .. Was Deputy to the the area ... Owned a 600-acre planta­ Naval Officer at South Potomack for six tion called "Montrose." years, 1783-1789 ... Appointed Col­ lector, August 5, 1789 ... Resigned Thomas Bowne . .. Soud1 Quav, Va . October 16, 1795 ... Recommended . . . 1789-1 798 ... Voluntee red for Charles Lee his brother, David Wilson Scott, to durv In the Revolutionarv War ... - The NarUmnl Portrait Gnllcr:•. succeed him and d1e latter was Rose through the ranks ro captain .. Smirhso11in11 l 11stit11tio11 appointed. Made assistant conunissary officer .. . Captured at Charleston . .. Offered George Savage ... Cherrvstone, Va. post of Naval Officer during the Con­ 1789-1 791 . .. Had been Commis­ federation; refused because the recom­ sioner of W reeks at Cherrvstone for pense was too small ... Succeeded bv seven yea rs , 1782- 1789 . .· . Was :ilso Archibald Richardson, first Survevor of Naval Officer of Customs at North­ Customs at Suffo lk, Va. · ampton during the Confederation ... Represented Northampton County in Vincent Redman ... Yeocomico, d1e Virginia Assemblv one year, 1776. Va. . . 1789-1796 ... Major during the Revolution ... Sat as President of the Court Martial trial of Fauntlerov Dye . Led a parry of mounted · volunteers in a skirmish against d1e ~'¥1 W~on Prefident of the United States of America. British ... In 1807 designated as field .. officer of a rifle regiment to be raised in TO ALL WHO SHALL SBB THBiB PRESENTS, GR.EETING. the State of Virginia-the 14th Brigade . . . Was a colonel.

KNo_w_YE, ThatrepoGng fpccial Trull and Confui.;,.., in the IAtegrity, Diligcftce :uid .fl>~ of~~ Richard Taylor ... Falls of Ohio, _ _ :..•• -;;:;:, - . I havenonuuat. · cd, and by and wirb the Adv.ice and Confentof the of~ - -;,0 · . ~ ~ Va. (now Louisville, Ky. ) . . . 1789­ 6cnm1 Do APrOINT him .,,.. M\ir -- -- - .___.. ~ ..!/)~ 'i .J~ ~ - ~ - --+- ~-- 1800 ... Recommended bv James and.do au~andempower him to execute and fulfil the Dutie1 of that Of&ccaccordingto Law; AND TO 1uvt A.ND To uot.o the faid offi ce, with Madison .. . Veteran of the Revolu­ all the Right& and Emoluments thereunto legolly appcrWning, ur.~o him the faid ~ q-u.r .....- during the Plcafurc of the tionarv War; attained rhe rank of col­ Prclident of the United Stlt01 for the Time being. onel . ·.. Naval Officer of Customs under the Confederation ... This IN T 11TrWOKY •"~r1of I havt ca'!fi

IO John Cogdell . . . Georgetown, S.C. There is no evidence of when he was the Constitutional Convention in 1787 ... 1789-179 1 ... Born in North succeeded as Collector; it is possible . .. Commissioned colonel in the Geor­ Carolina ... A Georgetown merchant tl1at he died in office in 1795. gia Glynn County Militia, 1790 ...... Elected by the General Assembly as Was an extensive landowner, owning the port's first postwar Collector in John Habersham . .. Savannah, Ga. over 1,000 acres on St. Simons Island February 1783 ... Left the post in . .. 1789- 1799 ... Graduate of Prince­ . . . Hillary Island, once owned by him, September 1783 because of legislation ton in 1776 .. . Made a major in the is named in his honor .. . Died in which fixed the Collector's salarv in lieu Continental Army and took part in the office after a brief illness on Februarv of the traditional fees .. . Became Col­ w1successful invasion of Florida in 18, 1796. , lector w1der the Federal svstem ... 1776 . .. Fought in the unsuccessful Cornelius Collins ... Sunbury, Ga. Died at age 78 on his plantation near battles in Savannah in 1778 and 1779 . . . 1789-1791 . .. First lieutenant of Georgetown in 1807. and in tl1e final victon' over the British the line during the Revolutionary War in Savannah in 1782 : .. A delegate to ... Received his final pay on May 18, George Abbott Hall .. . Charleston, tl1e Continental Congress from 1785 to 1785 ... Charter member of the Geor­ S.C. ... 1789-1791 . . . Merchant .. . 1787 ... Secretary of the Society of the gia Society of the Cincinnati . . . Large Had been collector under the State Cincinnati ... A founder of the Uni­ landowner and planter; bought the government for 13 vears, since the versitv of Georgia. Revolution . .. Died in office, August Cherry Hill Plantation and "Dublin" on the Ogechee River in 1786 ... Major I, 1791. Brunswick, Christopher Hillary .. . Collins died in office on December 22, Ga . . .. 1789-1796 .. . Enlisted and 1791. .'\ndrew Aggnew . .. Beaufort, S.C. made second li eutenant ... Member of .. . 1789 ... Deputy Collector of the Georgia Line ... Captured by the James Seagrove ... St. Mary's, Ga. Customs under the British ( 1760) . . . British in May 1781; exchanged Febru­ .. . 1789-1798 ... Irish-born ... Mer­ Notary Public ( 1768 ) ... One of the ary 1782 in Ashley Ferry, S.C. . .. chant in New York, Philadelphia, Char­ Commissioners of Fort Lyttleton for Charter member of the Georgia Society leston, Savannah and Havana ... Mem­ putting the fort in repair ( 1772) ... of the Cincinnati .. . Became promin­ ber of the Georgia House of Assembly Collector of Customs under the Con­ ent in Glvnn County affairs after tl1e . .. Negotiated with the Spanish in St. federation, and Tide Water (Inspector War ... Served in the Georgia House Augustine on the problem of fugitive of Customs, 1786- 1789) ... Justice of in 1787, 1788, 1789 . . . Member of slaves . .. Was a Creek Indian agent. the Peace during the Colonial Period and after Independence, 1783 and 179 1 ... Died sometime after 1795, as the Customs officers Charles last document bearing his signature was Lee, John Habersham and dated November 6, 1795 .. . In the William McPherson were 1790 Census, his household consisted of nine persons and eight slaves .. . graduates of Princeton, shown below.

JI The First Naval Officers

Eleazer Russell . . . Portsmouth, Robert Purviance .. . Baltimore, N.H . .. . 1789-1 798 . . . Em:nrric Md. 1789-1793 . . . Member of a First postmaster of Portsmouth ... His prominent Baltimore merchant familv home was used as the Customs office that had suffered reverses and had for tht District of Piscataqua .. . Dini declared bankruptcy at the end of the in office. Confederation . . . Appointed Collector at Baltimore on the death of Otho Jonathan Titcomb ... Newburv­ Holland Williams. port, Mass . ... 1789- 1794 ... Com­ manded a regiment under General Sulli­ Lachlan Mcintosh ... Sav:innah, 1·an during tht Revolutionarv War ... Ga. 1789- 1800 ... Scottish-born Attained rank of Brigadier General Helped establish the settlement at Served in the Massachusetts House of New Inverness . .. Survevor ... Mem­ Repn:senratives. ber of the Provincial Co1~gress in Savannah ... Served in the Continental William Pickman ... Salem, Mass. Armv .. . Rose to the rank of Brigadier ... 1789- 1803 . . . From o ne of the General ... Delegate to the Continental btst families in Salem . . Lovalist . .. Congress . Merchant and shipowner, later recanted hi s lovalism . .. Allowed a Yessel he Philomen Gatewood .. . Norfolk, The first U.S. Custom House ow ne~i to enter the War as a privateer Va. 1789-1824 . . . Clerk in the in Philadelphia. . . . Member of the State Legislature customhouse during the Confederation . . Rtsigned position with the legisla­ under , Collector ... ture to accept appointment as Naval Served as Naval OHiccr of the port Officer of Customs. until hi s death in 1824 ... Born in 1751. James Lovell . . . Boston, Mass. 1789- 1797 ... Collector :it Boston Isaac Motte . .. C harleston, S.C. .. . during Confederation . . . Harvard 1789- 1795 . .. SerYed 11·ith the British graduate . . . Teacher ... Fought in tht Armv in Canada during the French and Revolmionary War, and was taken cap­ Indian Wars . . . Member of the Somh tive . .. Member of the Continental Carolina House of Commons . .. Dele­ Congress and a receiver of ta..'\es . gate to the . . . Commissioned lieutenant colonel .. . Benjamin Walker . . . New York, Active in the defense of Fort Moultrie N.Y. . . . 1789-1 797. English im­ Promoted to colonel ... Elected to migrant ... Served in Revolutionarv Privv Council ... Member of the Con­ War as aide-de-camp to both Gener.als tine1ital Congress and of the State Baron \'Oil Steuben and Washington Convention that ratified the Constitu­ . . . Rose to the rank of colonel .. tion ... Died in office . Also acted as ;i confidant to President Washington while serving as Na1·al 011 f tt~v JO, 1789, Con__ q1-ess specified Officer of Customs .. . Movtd to Uti­ duties on imported merchandise to talw ca, N. Y., where he was an agent for the landed estate of the Earl of ltlth . . effect A11Hust 1, 1789. The duties are Elected as a Democrat ro the 7th listed in this issue ofThe Pennsvkmia Congress. Packet, and Dailv Advertiser.

Lach/an Mcintosh Frederick Phile . .. Ph il adelphia, P:i . . . . 1789-1 793 . .. A doctor of mtdi­ cine ... Had been a Naval Offictr of Customs for 35 vears ... More than 20 vears before the ·Revolution, he was acting Depurv Naval Officer ... Under the State government he was a N;ival Officer . .. Had been out of the medi­ cal field for so long that he could not practice medicine, and so appealed to remain ;is Naval Officer under the Federal Government . .. Accused of drunkenness, but was absolved Naval officers Died in office.

it shall be the durv of the 1ia1·al officer to rcceil'e rnpics of all manifests to estimate and record the duties on each cnrrv made ll'ith rhe collector, and ro correct a1w error made therein, before a permit ro unlad~ or dcli,-cr shall be granted; ro countersign all f)ern1its and clearanrcs granted bv rhc collector. '·

12 The First Surveyors

Thomas Martin ... Portsmouth, Surveyors N.H.... 1789-1798 ... Kept a gener­ al store . . . Served in the customs It shall be the duty of the surveyor to superintend and direct all inspectors, weighcrs, service during the Confederation ... measurcrs and gaugers within his district, and the employment of the boats which may be Named Collector to succeed Joseph provided for securing the collection of the revenue; to go on board ships or vessels arriving Whipple in 1798 ... In that office until within his district, or to put on board one or more inspectors, to ascertain bv an hydrometer, 1801. what distilled spirits shall be of j amaica proof rating all distilled spirits which shall be of the proof of twenty-four degrees as of j amaica proof and to examine whether the goods imported arc conformable to the entries thereof; and the said surveyors shall in all cases be Michael Hodge ... Newburyport, subject to the control of the collector and naval officer. Mass.... 1789-1809 ... Merchant from a prominent family, before and Bever~y august 11th 1789 after the Revolutionarv War ... Naval Officer of Customs during the Confed­ Honored Sir, this is to acknon,ledge the receipt ofyour esteemed faPor dated the 4th inst. enclosing an act of Congress Regulating the Colection ofDuties imposed by Law, on the Tonage ofShips or Vessels and a eration ... Resigned from the post in Commyssion by which I am appointed a Sun'eyor of the Port ofBeJ>erzv, in the state ofMassachusetts, it is . protest against the Embargo of 1809. with sentiments ofgratitude I accept the trust, shall Qualifo. myself and Enter on the Execution of my office immeadiately. I sincear~v hope my conduct will give satisfaction, and have the honor to be with the highest sentiments ofRespect. Samuel Whittemore ... Gloucester, Mass.... 1789-1803 ... Harvard Your exclencys most obedient Honorable, D&Poted]. Batchelder graduate ... Teacher ... Member of the Constitutional Convention ... His Exclency George Washington, Esq Served in the Massachusetts House of President oftbe United States ofAmerica Representatives ... Collector during the , serving from 1778-1789 Bartholomew Putnam ... Salem, Mass.... 1789-1808 ... Ship's officer /J~t1~/1?} a/7uff //.~?!f and master . . . Owned his own vessel during the Revolutionary War ... Ac­ .'ft8-/l(}Tf;) dr1 , ~i 1.f ~ a~A./tav?~ $- r~-:,~· tive in both the local militia and as a privateer operating out of Salem. ttf}~ ~/e_i77L~ (:Uhff' tk~d ·~ 41!-j,,,P Josiah Batchelder, Jr. ... Beverlv, Mass.... 1789-1809 ... Seaman \\;ho became the master of his own vessel . . . 6,na~f:7 rtrn ~- ~( 6~V'/7' ~~~~ In 1761 on a passage from Georgia to t:d~,.~~:;,.,,, l)l ift.itb" ~ff-2- 7 ~' h7'1.x~ 111"'~ St. Christopher, taken prisoner by a French privateer ... Elected six times to Massachusetts General Assemblv ... Member of the Provincial Congress in 1775, 1776, 1777, 1779 ... Justice of the Peace ... Surveyor and Inspector of Customs when Salem and Beverlv were formed into one district in 1789 '. . . Born in 1736 ... Died in office De­ cember 10, 1809 ... The first Sundav school in New England was founded· in his home in 1810 by his daughter, Joanna Batchelder Prince, to take care of the children of seamen who were beached by the Embargo Act of 1807.

Jeremiah Staniford, Jr.... Ipswich, Mass.... 1789-1796 ... Enlisted as a Minuteman on January 24, 1775 ... Served for a short period as a private with Captain Nathaniel Walde's com­ pany of volunteers in Colonel John Baker's (3rd Essex Co.) Regiment ... Part owner of the sloop Fox (built in Ipswich) in 1786 ... Born September 28, 1751 ... Died, Februan· 29, 1816 ... As a Minuteman, was required to "provide for and equip himself with an effective Fire Arm, Bavonet, Pouch, Knapsack, & Thirty round of Car-

13 rridgc.:s rc.:ady made. And thar we.: may on the death of Jonathan Fitch in 1793 obrain the skill of compleat Soldiers, . Born in 1753; died in 1810 or We promise to convene for exercise in 1811. the Art Military, at least twice everv week; and ofrener if our officers shall John Lasher . . . New York, N.Y. ... think necessary." 1789-1800 ... At the age of 15, served in the local militia and progressed to Thomas Melvill . .. Boston, Mass. the rank of lieutenant bv age 40 ... ln . . . 1789- 1814 .. . Also served as 1776, was made colonel of one of the Naval Officer of the , four regiments raised "for the defence 1814-1830 ... Took part in the Boston of the Colony" ... nominated by John Tea Party and was one of the Sons of Hancock, President of the Provincial Liberty .. . As an elder statesman in Congress in New York . .. Quartermas­ Boston, he was the subject of the poem ter ... Taken captive in 1778 .. . Afrer by Oliver Wendell Holmes, "The Last the War, was in the wholesale grocery Leaf' . . . Paternal grandfather of the business . .. Appointed Surveyor dur­ author and Customs employee, Herman ing the Confederation from 1784-1789 Melville. . .. Died at age 83. James Lunt . . . Portland, Me .... Albai1y, N.Y. 1789-1800 ... Served in Rc.:volutionary Jeremiah Lansing . .. 1789- 1791 . . . Descendant of Ger­ War; attained rank of Colonel ... rit Frederickse Lansing who came to Collector of excise for the Countv of America from Hassclt, Holland in 1640 Cumberland ... Born 1750; died in .. . Enlisted in the Revolutionarv War office in 1800. with the Albanv Counn1 Militia,· First Regiment . .. Became Brigade-Major to Thomas Melvill Nathaniel Richards ... New Lon­ don, Conn .... 1789-1814 ... Native General Abraham Ten Broeck, New of New London ... Merchant ... Was York Troops, 1780 ... Afrer the War, also Inspector of the Revenues, 1798­ was a merchant in Albanv ... Born in 1803 ... Died 1832 . .. Married to 1754; died in Albany, N:Y., 181 7 .. Elizabeth Coit, first wife ... Richards' 1790 Census shows he owned nvo familv also prominent and wealrhv. slaves.

Jonathan Palmer, Jr . .. . Stoning- John C. Ten Broeck . .. Hudson, ton, Conn .... 1789-1810 .. . Native N. Y.. .. 1789-1803 ... Enlisted and of Stonington . . . Served in the Re­ commissioned first lieutenant, regiment volutionary War as a first lieutenant of of the New York Continental Line, the 5th Company, Colonel Selden's 1776 ... Captaincv in 1781 and regiment from Connecticut .. . Raised brevetted major .. . Fought at Trenton, in June 1776 to reinforce Washington Brandywine and Monmouth ... Was at in New York . . . Served as a Minute­ Valley' Forge ... Received a shoulder man prior to his enlistment . .. Born in wound at Yorktown ... Member of the 1746; died in office in 1810. Society of the Cincinnati ... Town alderman, 1785-1796 . .. Fifrh genera­ Asher Miller . .. Middletown, Conn. tion descendant of Wissel! Ten Broeck, ... 1789-1791 . . . Graduate of Yale who came to what is now New York ( 1778) . . . Lawyer ( 1780) ... Repre­ with Peter Mi nuet in 1626 with the sentative in the Connecticut General Dutch West Indies Trading Company Assembly, 1785; and for I 0 additional . . . Died in 1835. sessions, 1788-1 793 ... Stare Attorney, 1785-1794 . .. Surveyor of Customs, Samuel Meredith . . . Philadelphia, 1789-179 1 . . . Judge of Superior Pa.... 1789 ... Officer in the Revolu­ Court, 1793-1795 . . . Elected Repre­ tionary War with the "Silk Stocking sentative to legislature, 1798, 1803­ Company" ... Promoted to Brigadier 1804 . . . Presidential elector, 1804 . General for gallantry at the Battles of Member of the Connecticut upper Brandywine and Germantown ... house, 1806-1817 ... Mayor of Mid­ Member of Pennsylvania Colonial dletown, 179 1 to death in 1821 . . . Assembly ... Member of the Congress Presiding Judge, Middlesex County of Confederation ... Surveyor of Cus­ Court, 1807- 1821 ... Judge of the toms from August to September .. . Probate Court, District of Middletown, Appointed first Treasurer of the United 1789- 1793, 1807-182 1 ... At death: States. "Judge Miller's estate was hopelessly insolvent. " William McPherson ... Phila­ Hezekiah Rogers . . . New Haven, delphia, Pa .. .. 1789-1793 . .. Naval Conn.... 1789- 1792 ... Chief clerk in Officer of Customs, 1793-1813 ... the War Office in Washington, D.C. Militarv man . .. Graduate of Princeton . . . Delegate to the Connecticut con: ... Officer in the .. . vemion which ratified the Constitution Joined the Continental Army ... Rose . . . Applied for the collector's position to the rank of colonel ... Member of

14 the Socierv of the Cincinnati ... Com­ land Parker as Survcvor ... Lieutenant manded rlic "McPherson Blues," the colonel and comma1ider of the militia at best militia cal'alrv unit in the eountrv the Isle of Wight ... Court martialed .. . Participated iii die suppression of in 1794 as a result of delinquencv in the Whiskev Rebellion and the Fries's fai lure to take action on the illegal rebellion. . provisioning of a privateer (The U11­ icorn ). Ar that time, it was a high crime Robert Ballard ... Baltimore, Md. against the Go\'ernmcnt to fir privateers ... 1789-1793 ... Volunteered and in the United States and for Americans commanded in the first regiment of to se rve on board ... Owned 11 slaves. Virginia .. . Fought ar Heights of Haarlem ... Was in the retreat through Christopher Roane ... Bermuda New Jersev ... Fought ar Trenton and Hundred, Va .... 1789-1 795 ... at Brandywine ... Was in the defense Veteran of the Revolutionary War . of Fort Mifflin ... And in the winter Captain in the State Artille1-{. ... camp ar Va ll ev Forge ... Attained rank Appointed Searcher (Survevor) of Cus­ of colonel ... After the War, speculated toms during the Confederation . .. in land and lost his fortune ... Applied Died in 1796, just after he left office. for a position as Clerk of Court ... Instead appointed Surveyor ofCustoms. James Gibbon . . . Petersburg, Va. . .. 1789-1800 ... Taken prisoner at Fort Washington in 1776; exchanged Robert Young ... Town Creek, Md. and made li eutenant in 1777 ... Hero A McPherson Blue. . .. 1789-1 791 ... Part of the commit­ of Stony Point in 1779 ... Led one of tee that picked a member of the Con­ tl1e two. "forlorn hopes" of 20 men tinental Congress from Charles Count\', when General Wavne carried die for­ Md . ... Justice of the Orphan's Court tress at Stony Poiiir. Of hi s 20 men, 17 in 1778, 1779, 1784 ... Justice of the were killed or wounded ... Promoted Peace in 1782, 1784 . . . Succeeded as to captain . . . Ended me War as a Surveyor by Charles Chilton. colonel . . . Moved to Richmond where he was Coll ector for many years (pos­ Robert Chesley . .. Sr. Marv's, Md. sibly 1800-1835) ... Died in 1835 at ... 1789-1799 . .. As a cadet on age 77. March 8, 1776, was appointed to the Council of Safety ... Served during the Zachariah Rowland ... Richmond, Revolution with the 2nd and 4th Marv­ Va. . . . 1789-1796 ... Merchant . .. land Regiments as a captain . .. Ap- · Loyalist ... Arrested just prior to the f "\ plied for the Survevor's position on Battle of Yorktown ... Succeeded by I \ June 20, 1789. his son, Janies, who was just 21 years old. I Daniel Redinger ... Norfolk, Va. I . . . 1789-1800 ... Ran awav from ! - . John Spotswood Moore . .. West \ home in 1776 at age 16 to join the Point, Va .. . . 1789- 1791 . .. Searcher I Revolutionarv Armv ... Taken prisoner I I for State Customs, succeeding Corbin by British, and exchanged in 1778 . .. Braxton on Februarv 4, 1788 ... Rejoined the army ... Discharged with Wrote the Governo;. in Ju ly 1788, " . . . rank of lieutenant in 1783 in South needs a boat, inasmuch as \1essels fre­ Carolina . .. Member of the Societ1' of quent!~ , escape after being forfcared." me Cincinnati .. . Opened a book .store ... ln 1801 showed up as a tradesman in Norfolk . .. Married a wealtlw selling brick and lime for a new tobacco woman ... Became a landowner ... warehouse to be built. Appointed Navy Agent by Jefferson, 1802-1808 ... Built a manor home in Staige Davis . .. Urbanna, Va . ... Shepherdstown (now ), 1789-1791 ... Succeeded his bromer, "Bedford" ... The manor was des­ George B. Davis, as Surveyor of Cus­ troved bv Federal troops during the toms during the Confederati on period Civi l War . . . Died in 1818 of lung .. . A man of property, Davis owned disease from the effects of his long one plantation, "Fairfield," which was imprisonment by the British. deeded to him by his father in 1784 Archibald Richardson ... Suffolk, (358 acres ) and "Prospect Hill" (460 Va . ... 1789-1791 ... Justice of the acres) which he purchased in 1808. Peace ... Member of the voting com­ mittee to count ballots for me Gol'­ George Catlett . .. Port Ro~ · al, Va. ernor's election in 1795 ... Later . . . 1789-1815 ... From an old Virgi­ 0HDt:R OF THE CINCINNATI. appointed Collector at South Quav to nia familv with ancestors daring back to Societ)' of the Cincinnatir-Many of succeed Captain Thomas Bowne in 1630's .. . Served as a lieutenant of the first U.S. Customs officers 1798 ... served until 1804. marines aboard the Pocahantas .. . In belonged to this fraternal December 1776, as captain commanded James Wells . . . Smithfield, Va . . .. m;ganization, composed of officers 25 marines aboard the Mosquito . .. J11ho had served in the Revolutionary 1789-1792 ... Veteran of the Revolu­ Was taken captive by British in June tionary War ... Succeeded bv Cope­ 1777 .. . Imprisoned in Britain . .. War.

15 Escaped but did not get back to Virgi­ Edward Weyman ... Charleston, John Berrien . . . Savann;1h, Ga. nia until Spring of 178 1 ... His S.C. ... 1789-1 792 Earlv citizen of 1789-1 795 . .. New Jersev born . . . frelings

Charleston in 1780.

Letter from James Madison to Mr. Feby 7. 17 90 , George Washington's Secretarv, dated February 7, 1790. Sir Pevton Short had been recommended and approved by the Senate, but apparently declined the position (prob­ I have consulted with Mr. Brown (?) on this subject of the ably because of the small salary). Madi­ sucessor for Mr. Short. H e is apprehensive that the reasons which son recommends Richard Tavlor, who induced Mr. Short to decline his appointment will have the same accepted the job as Collector' at the Falls of O hio (Louisville, Kv. ), part of weight with any other person who could be recommended. H e names the Virginia territorv. Col. Richard Taylor as worthy of the appointment, and as not more likely to follow the example ofMr. Short than any other fit person JVithin his knowledge. I am acquainted with this gentleman and consider him as perfectly trustworthy. He held formerly a similar offi ce on the Ohio when the trade of that country was regulated by the State of Vi1'lfinia.

I have the honor to he . J. Madison fr.

16 Index of Names

Aggnew, Andrew .. . . . · · .. · · · 11 Heth, William ...... 9 Pickman, William 12 Archer, Abraham · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 10 Hill, Jeremiah, Jr. 7 Pope, Edward . . .. 7 Hillary, Christopher ...... 11 Purviance, Robert 12 15 Ballard, Robert · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Hiller, Joseph ...... 6 Pumam, Bartholomew 13 9 Banning, Jeremiah . . . . · . . · · · · · · · · · · · Hodge, Michael .. , . 13 13 Redman, Vincent . . .. . 10 Batchelder, Josiah, Jr. Huntington, Jcdedial1 7 7 Richards, Nathaniel ...... 14 Baylies, Hodijah .. · · · · · · · · · · Hussey, Stephen .. 6 Bedinger, Daniel .. . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 15 Richardson, Archibald .... . 15 Berrien, John .. . · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · 16 Jones, John Courts 9 Roane, Christopher .. 15 Biscoe, George ...... 9 Jordan, Meletiah 7 Rogers, Hezekiah 14 Bowne, Thomas ...... 10 Ross, John . .. 8 Bush, George ...... · ...... 8 Lamb, John ...... 8 Rowland, Zachariah 15 Lansing, J cremiah 14 Russell. Eleazer 12 Catlett, George ...... 15 Lasher, John 14 Chesley, Robert ...... 15 Lee, Charles 10 Sargent, Epes, IV .. . . . 6 Cogdell, John ...... 11 Lee, John 7 Savage, George ...... 10 Collins, Cornelius 11 Lewis, William ...... 16 Scott, John ...... 9 Cook, Francis 7 Lincoln, Benjamin ...... 6 Scott, Richard Marshall 10 Cross, Stephen ...... 6 Lindsay, Willian1 ...... 9 Seagrove, James 11 Smedley, Samuel 7 Davidson, John ...... 9 Lingan, James MacCubbin ...... 9 Smith, Stephen . . . . 7 Davis, Staige ...... 15 Lovell, J anlcs ...... 12 Staniford, Jeremiah, Jr...... 13 Delany, Sharp ...... 8 Lunt, James ...... 14 Delesdenier, Lewis Frederick ...... 7 Martin, Thomas ...... 13 Taylor, Richard ...... 10 Elmer, Eli ...... 8 Mcintosh, Lach.Ian . . 12 Ten Broeck, John C. 14 McPherson, William 14 Titcomb, Jonathan .. 12 Fitch, Jonathan ...... 8 Mclvill, Thomas . . 14 T revert, Richard ...... 7 Fosdick, Nathaniel ...... 7 Meredith, Samuel ...... 14 Walker, Benjamin ...... 12 Gatewood, Philomen ...... : . . 12 Miller, Asher . . 14 Watson, William ...... 6 Gelston, John ...... 8 Moore, John Spotswood 15 Webb, Willian1 ...... 7 Gerry, Samuel R ...... 6 Motte, Isaac .... . 12 Wells, James 15 Gibb, William ...... 10 Muir, John .. . 9 Weyman, Edward 16 Gibbon, James ...... 15 Muse, Hudson 10 Whipple, Joseph ...... 6 Gunby, John 9 Nichols, Jeremiah ...... 9 Whittemore, Samuel 13 Habersham, John . .. 11 Otis, Joseph 6 Wilkins, Nathaniel ...... 10 Hall, George Abbott ...... 11 Williams, Otho Holland . . . . . 8 Halstead, John 8 Palmer, Jonathan, Jr...... 14 Wray, Jacob ...... 9 Hanson, Samuel ...... 16 Pease, John . . . . 7 Young, Robert ...... 15 Harris, Richard ...... 6 Phile, Frederick ...... 12

Members of the Society of the Cincinnati, formed in Ma_y 1783, pledged to perpetuate the ideals for which they had fought in the Re11olutionary War.

BACK COVER

Most ~(the men who late1· became the first U.S. Customs officers foitght for the new Nation during the Re-Polutiona1')' War. This haiving depias the engagement ofthe Bon Homme Richard unde1· Captain and HMS Serapis on September 22, 1779. Department of the Treasury U .S. Customs Service June 1987

'· CU STOHS PUBLICATION NO. S78