There's no proof that The American Crisis was read to the troops before they crossed the Delaware, but it's in my family oral tradition that Private Isaac Cleaver, a Quaker from Germantown, Pennsylvania, who had left the church to join the fight, was a member of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia and was among the 5,000 troops who heard …
There's no proof that The American Crisis was read to the troops before they crossed the Delaware, but it's in my family oral tradition that Private Isaac Cleaver, a Quaker from Germantown, Pennsylvania, who had left the church to join the fight, was a member of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia and was among the 5,000 troops who heard the pamphlet read to them (it was commissioned by Washington for that purpose). Then he and the others crossed the Delaware and lay in the snowy forest overnight, and in the morning they took Trenton Barracks and saved the Revolution, and he took the Hessian short sword made in Hesse in 1745 according to the stamp on the haft of the blade, from the Sergeant of the Hessian Guard. It's been in my family for six generations now and hangs on the wall over my desk, as "inspiration". I had it dated and verified by an antique weapons expert at Sotheby's local office here 40 years ago. The sword is real and I think the story is, too. Though they were selfishly too busy that night giving us the Christmas Gift of the Revolution living, to take the time and do their duty and write down anything of what happened for we later historians. I once offered it to the Smithsonian, but their historians told me an "oral provenance" was insufficient for them to accept. So we keep it.
That is a wonderful tidbit of history. I suspect I have a patrilineal ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War; sadly, the side of the family that traced the genealogy was only interested in the maternal line. His entry into the genealogy was "<insert female name> married Tom House, a Farmer, in 1791." That fits with the oral tradition of reporting that every generation of House in the US had a member that served in the military. Until mine.
I have a long story of why my generation broke that but it is not for telling here.
I'd love to have you write about this on Another Fine Mess.
No pictures, you never know where one will go nowadays or what it might inspire. I'll try and find another photo of one of these so you can see what they look like, but not the genuine article.
There's no proof that The American Crisis was read to the troops before they crossed the Delaware, but it's in my family oral tradition that Private Isaac Cleaver, a Quaker from Germantown, Pennsylvania, who had left the church to join the fight, was a member of the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia and was among the 5,000 troops who heard the pamphlet read to them (it was commissioned by Washington for that purpose). Then he and the others crossed the Delaware and lay in the snowy forest overnight, and in the morning they took Trenton Barracks and saved the Revolution, and he took the Hessian short sword made in Hesse in 1745 according to the stamp on the haft of the blade, from the Sergeant of the Hessian Guard. It's been in my family for six generations now and hangs on the wall over my desk, as "inspiration". I had it dated and verified by an antique weapons expert at Sotheby's local office here 40 years ago. The sword is real and I think the story is, too. Though they were selfishly too busy that night giving us the Christmas Gift of the Revolution living, to take the time and do their duty and write down anything of what happened for we later historians. I once offered it to the Smithsonian, but their historians told me an "oral provenance" was insufficient for them to accept. So we keep it.
Our thanks to Private Isaac Cleaver, to Gen. George Washington, to Thomas Paine - and to you.
Flattery will get you *everywhere* Jean-Pierre! :-)
That is a wonderful tidbit of history. I suspect I have a patrilineal ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War; sadly, the side of the family that traced the genealogy was only interested in the maternal line. His entry into the genealogy was "<insert female name> married Tom House, a Farmer, in 1791." That fits with the oral tradition of reporting that every generation of House in the US had a member that served in the military. Until mine.
I have a long story of why my generation broke that but it is not for telling here.
I'd love to have you write about this on Another Fine Mess.
I'm going to. Friday.
Dances for joy! Well... trundles happily.
TCinLA. Absolutely amazing add on to Dr. Richardson's letter. Thank you.
Flattery *will* get you *everywhere*, Mike! :-)
:-)
Between your creative, revolting and scrambled curses, you are, TC, an 'inspiration' to us. Thank you.
Old Hollywood Rule: "the best flattery is the truth." :-)
thanks!
You know, TC, I cling to the truth as I know it.
You do indeed! :-)
What an inspiring account! Thanks for sharing this "oral provenance" with us, TC :)
Wow! Thank You TC! Can you post this story on your Substack site with a picture? We could use the inspiration, too!
No pictures, you never know where one will go nowadays or what it might inspire. I'll try and find another photo of one of these so you can see what they look like, but not the genuine article.
Thanks.
TC, what a great family story. Maybe it belongs in your family and not hidden away in a museum.
The problem is, it doesn't meet "museum standards" - unless I was donating it to an "aviation museum."
Very informative - and interesting! Thanks for that.
Your historical musings are gems, TC. Awesome family history.