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Accessibility:
Title:
  • General John Sullivan Papers
Author/Creator:
  • Sullivan, John, 1740-1795
Call Number:
  • MSS 743
Record Level:
  • Collection
Physical Description:
  • 0.25 ft.
  • AB
Inclusive Dates:
  • 1778-1781
Bulk Dates:
  • 1778-1779
Cataloged By:
  • Karen Eberhart, October 2003
Summary:
  • Military officer in Rhode Island

  • Military records of General John Sullivan and the troops under his command in Rhode Island.

Cataloging Note:
  • See also: MSS 468 for letters written by John Sullivan to William Greene., MSS 554 "Mason's Newport" volume 3, p.194 for a portrait of John Sullivan
Historical Note:
  • General John Sullivan was born in Berwick, ME on Feburary 17, 1740 and lived a large portion of his life in Durham, NH where he practised law. He served in the New Hampshire militia and was sent to the Continental Congress in 1774 where his work earned him a commission as one of the eight brigadier-generals of the Continental army. He served with distinction in many battles includind the siege of Boston and an attack on Fort William and Mary. General Sullivan was sent to command the forces in Rhode Island in 1778 and cooperated with French forces in the defence of Newport. The Battle of Rhode Island on August 29th in which Sullivan's forces drove back those of Lafayette was one of the decisive battles of the war. After the end of the Revolutionary War, Sullivan returned to New Hampshire. He served that state as a lawyer, politician and statesman until his death on January 23, 1795.
Scope and Content:
  • The materials in this collection relate to the military activities of John Sullivan in Rhode Island. The majority of the collection are orderly books kept troops under his command in Rhode Island from May,1778 to July 1779. The troops are not necessarily all Rhode Island troops. A few pieces of correspondence written to him during 1778 are also here along with several examples of pay orders Sullivan gave to Paymaster Benjamin Stelle. Of note is also the draft of the address presented to Gen. Sullivan by the town of Providence thanking him for his services.
Accession Number:
  • 1825.3
  • 1829.1.2
  • 1841.11.31
  • 1891.28
  • 1900.31
  • 1909.5
Provenance:
  • This collection has been brought together from several different sources. From Peck Collection, MSS 9005: Letter from James Varnum to John Sullivan, Aug 10, 1778, Letter from Ezekiel Cornel to John Sullivan, Nov 4, 1778, Letter from Henry Laurens to John Sullivan, Aug 28, 1778, Letter from John Sullivan to Henry Laurens, Aug 6, 1778. From Shepley Collection, MSS 9006: Order to Benjamin Stelle, Paymaster, signed by Gen. Sullivan to pay John Reynolds, Nov 7, 1778. From Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts MSS 9003: Orders to Benjamin Stelle, Paymaster, signed by Gen. Sullivan to pay: Lt. Osgood Carleton, Oct 28, 1778, Thomas Greene, Jul 6, 1778, Nathaniel Norton, Oct 11, 1778, Maj. James Sumner, Jun 5, 1778, James Sumner, Aug 4, 1778, Col. Stephen Peabody, Jun 1, 1778, Capt. Thomas Wooster, Nov 8, 1778, Brig. Gen. John Glover, Aug 1, 1778, Capt. James Wallace, Nov. 7, 1778, Col. Edward Wigglesworth, Nov 23, 1778, Resolution appointing Gen. Sullivan as commander of troops in Rhode Island, undated, Address to Gen. Sullivan from town of Providence, Mar 19, 1779
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