National Identity, Loyalty, and Backcountry Merchants in Revolutionary America, 1740-1816
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The University of Southern Mississippi The Aquila Digital Community Dissertations Spring 5-1-2015 Trading Identities: National Identity, Loyalty, and Backcountry Merchants in Revolutionary America, 1740-1816 Timothy Charles Hemmis University of Southern Mississippi Follow this and additional works at: https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Hemmis, Timothy Charles, "Trading Identities: National Identity, Loyalty, and Backcountry Merchants in Revolutionary America, 1740-1816" (2015). Dissertations. 77. https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/77 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by The Aquila Digital Community. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of The Aquila Digital Community. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The University of Southern Mississippi TRADING IDENTITIES: NATIONAL IDENTITY, LOYALTY, AND BACKCOUNTRY MERCHANTS IN REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA, 1740-1816 by Timothy Charles Hemmis Abstract of a Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2015 ABSTRACT TRADING IDENTITIES: NATIONAL IDENTITY, LOYALTY, AND BACKCOUNTRY MERCHANTS IN REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA, 1740-1816 by Timothy Charles Hemmis May 2015 This project tracks the lives a select group of Philadelphia frontier merchants such as George Morgan, David Franks, and others from 1754-1811. “Trading Identities” traces the trajectory of each man’s economic and political loyalties during the Revolutionary period. By focusing on the men of trading firms operating in Philadelphia, the borderlands and the wider world, it becomes abundantly clear that their identities were shaped and sustained by their commercial concerns—not by any new political ideology at work in this period. They were members not of a British (or even American) Atlantic World, but a profit-driven Atlantic World. The Seven Years’ War destroyed the fur trade, so they turned to land speculation. These merchants looked to the British government for repartitions in the form of land grants. When they were repeatedly denied, the merchants approached the new American government for assistance. However, the unstable American government under the Articles of Confederation also rejected their land claims. Although they all failed in land speculation, the new American economy offered enhanced opportunities for them. Ultimately, these men wanted to gain personal wealth and economic stability above any national loyalty or political ideology. After the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1789, the American people still had little or no knowledge what an American was or was supposed to be. It was worse in ii the backcountry—which as a middle ground had always lacked a clear political identity. Business was their true identity. Ironically, being part of the founding generation of America, these merchants did not develop a true American identity. It was their children’s generation that would cultivate a new American identity and culture. iii COPYRIGHT BY TIMOTHY CHARLES HEMMIS MAY 2015 The University of Southern Mississippi TRADING IDENTITIES: NATIONAL IDENTITY, LOYALTY, AND BACKCOUNTRY MERCHANTS IN REVOLUTIONARY AMERICA, 1740-1816 by Timothy Charles Hemmis A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate School of The University of Southern Mississippi in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Approved: Dr. Kyle F. Zelner ____________________ Committee Chair Dr. Andrew P. Haley___________________ Dr. Andrew Wiest_____________________ Dr. Heather Stur ______________________ Dr. Allison Abra ______________________ Dr. Karen S. Coats____________________ Dean of the Graduate School May 2015 DEDICATION To: the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty. There a several people that will always be more than friends, but family and the greatest thanks are reserved for them. They supported me through my lows and highs. First, the Runkel family: Jack, Judy, and Jared you have always sustained me in pursuit of my doctorate. Either by giving me a place to stay, while I was in the Pittsburgh area or sending an encouraging note, you have been there for me. Jared has always understood my elations and frustrations of archival and graduate work. Often we commiserated about work and more importantly Pittsburgh sports. Personally, I want to thank the Lazenby Family for treating me like their own. Cliff, Joanne, Kaci, Jeff, and Kasey: y’all will always be part of my family. Lastly, thank you to my Hattiesburg Community Church family who has always bathed me in prayer throughout tenure at Southern Miss. Without any of this help, I would have never made it—Thank You! iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS While writing a dissertation there are many people who have supported and inspired my work. I am forever in debt to many people including my advisor and committee, Dr. Kyle Zelner, Dr. Andrew Haley, Dr. Andrew Wiest, Dr. Heather Stur, Dr. Allison Abra, and the late Dr. Bill Pencak. Thank you for putting up with my endless questions and unexpected visits. To the Southern Miss History Department, thank you for the McCain Dissertation Fellowship and all the support in my work. My time at Southern Mississippi has been seemingly a long period that has disappeared like fog at sunrise. It has been an enjoyable ride. A dissertation is built upon primary sources and the support of USM and the Travel Grants have really helped me finish my project. In addition to the monetary support from Southern Miss, I also received the Pennypacker Fellowship 2012-2013 at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Archives. While in Harrisburg, I want to thank Jonathan Stayer who guided me to the proper collections. Furthermore, while I was in Harrisburg, I want to thank John Miller and Sara Mears for letting me become their unofficial roommate for several weeks that summer. In addition, to my research trips, I want to thank John Hoffman and the Illinois History and Lincoln Collection at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for their support while researching at their archives. It was great to talk to someone that understood my passion for history and always encouraged me in my project. Furthermore, I want to thank Mark Stern for his help in tracking down a few obscure documents from David Franks. You have been a great help. v I want to thank Matt and Mary Ann Hood for while I researched in Philadelphia, without your assistance my dissertation would have never been finished. Moreover, there are so many people that I will list here for their individual help either by reading over portions of my project or just inspiring me to continue. Thank you for all your editing help and encouragement: Jared Runkel, Kaci Lazenby, Joel Bius, Andrew Davis, Lynne Calamia, Dan Vogel, Kevin O’Connor, Christian Pinnen, Robert Thompson, Jason Engle, Jeremy George and Charlie Wilmoth. Along the way there have been many people that have contributed and I thank you for your help and encouragement. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT........................................................................................................................ ii DEDICATION................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ...................................................................................................v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS……………………………………………………………viii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................1 The Summer of 1806 II. A WAR FOR MARKETS...............................................................................31 Seven Years’ War III. THE TURNING POINT…………………......................................................71 Pontiac’s Rebellion IV. ON THE EDGE OF THE EMPIRE...............................................................104 Frontier Business V. CHARTING A NEW COURSE..……..........................................................156 The Business of the American Revolution VI. THE REVOLUTIONARYAFTERMATH....................................................209 A New Nation, Same Problem VII. EPILOGUE……………………………………………….………...………251 APPENDIXES….……………………………………………………………..………..261 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………….…………………………………..….…...……….263 vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Figure 1. Map of Pontiac’s War, 1763.....………………….………………....….....…....…77 2. Thomas Hutchins’ Map of the Illinois Country....................................................113 3. The Proposed Vandalia and Indiana Claims……….….……...…………...…….168 viii 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The Summer Of 1806 The summer of 1806 began much like any other summer in Western Pennsylvania; however, it ended with much excitement especially for the George Morgan family. The excitement began with a visit from George Morgan’s old friend and fellow veteran Colonel Aaron Burr. Morgan, a shrewd merchant, farmer, and public servant, was pleased to hear about the arrival of his old acquaintance. In August 1806, Burr arrived at Morganza, Morgan’s estate just south of Pittsburgh. And Morgan opened his home to Burr. Greeted by Colonel Morgan and his two sons, John and Thomas, they escorted the former Vice President of the United States to their homestead. Burr was the Morgan’s esteemed dinner guest and while the dinner conversation began with fond memories and shared past experiences between