REVOLUTIONARY WAR GENERAL CONTINENTAL ARMY COLONEL 20th CT MILIT DOCUMENT SIGNED
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GEN. JEDEDIAH HUNTINGTON(1743 –1818)REVOLUTIONARY WAR BRIGADIER GENERAL INTHE CONTINENTAL ARMY, COLONELand COMMANDER OF THE 20th REGIMENT OF CONNECTICUT MILITIA AGAINSTTHE ENEMY AT LONG ISLAND, KING'S BRIDGE, NORTHCASTLE, AND SIDMUN'S BRIDGE, ASSIGNEDBY GENERAL WASHINGTON TO A BOARD OF SENIOR OFFICERS INVESTIGATING WHETHER THECAPTURED BRITISH MAJOR JOHN ANDRE OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED A PRISONER-OF-WAR ORGUILTY OF SPYING BEHIND THE AMERICAN LINES&POST-WARTREASURER OF THE STATE OF CO...NNECTICUT, and DELEGATE AT CONNECTICUT'S CONVENTIONTO RATIFY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES!Huntington was commissioned a Brigadier General in theContinental Army in 1777, upon the explicit wish of General George Washington.He was thereafter present at the winter encampment of the American forces atValley Forge in 1777. It was upon Huntington's recommendation in 1783 that WestPoint, New York was chosen as the future site of the United States MilitaryAcademy in 1802.HERE’S ADOCUMENT SIGNED BY HUNTINGTON – A CERTIFICATION OF MERCHANDISE SHIPPED FROM THEPORT OF NEW YORK and LANDED AT THE PORT OF NEW LONDON ON BOARD THE SLOOP BORNEO(FLOUR, TEA & GLASS), 1p., DATED AT NEW LONDON, [CT] OCT. 11, 1808.The document measures 7½” x 11½” andis in very good condition for its advanced age.<<>::<>>BIOGRAPHY OF JEDEDIAHHUNTINGTONHuntington, Jedediah (04 August 1743–25 September 1818), revolutionary warsoldier, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, the son of Jabez Huntington, amerchant, and Elizabeth Backus. His father, who had become prosperous bytrading with the West Indies, was well known socially and politicallythroughout the colony. Hence, when he enrolled in Harvard College, youngHuntington was ranked second in his class in terms of status. In 1763 hegraduated from Harvard, delivering an oration during the commencement services, and returned home to join his father’s business. Firmly establishing himself inthe community, he enhanced his position by marrying Faith Trumbull, daughter ofGovernor Jonathan Trumbull(1710–1785). As tensions arose over the next few years between Britain and theAmerican colonies, Huntington became an ardent proponent of colonial libertiesand began educating himself in military matters. In 1769 he was appointedensign in a local infantry company raised at the behest of the ConnecticutAssembly. Two years later he was promoted to company lieutenant and in 1774 wasraised to the rank of captain. Before the year was out, he was chosen by theassembly as colonel of the Twentieth Regiment of the Connecticut militia. On 26April 1775 he marched with his regiment to Roxbury, there joining the rebelarmy besieging British troops in Boston. In July he assumed command of theEighth Connecticut Regiment. On 24 November 1775 his wife, who had becomementally unhinged because of the war, died suddenly. After her funeral, Huntington served at Roxbury until the British evacuated Boston in March 1776, then in April he accompanied General George Washington toNew York. En route Huntington entertained Washington and his father-in-law, Governor Trumbull, at his home in Norwich.At New York Huntington was commissioned a colonel in theContinental army and was given command of the Seventeenth Regiment. On 27August 1776 he and his regiment fought gallantly and “suffered greatly, ”according to Washington, in the battle of Long Island. They also were engagedin numerous skirmishes as the American army subsequently was driven fromManhattan. He was ordered to Peekskill, New York, on 3 April 1777 and later inthe month was detached to Danbury with fifty men to guard military storesthere. On 26 April he retreated when British general William Tryonattacked the town, but the following day he joined Generals Benedict Arnold and David Wooster inharassing Tryon’s troops as the British withdrew toward the sea. Impressed byWooster’s fighting spirit, Huntington wrote Washington on 28 April that Woosterhad shown “great Spirit, Skill, and Bravery” against Tryon. On 12 May 1777 Huntington was promoted to brigadier generalby Congress in the Continental Army, upon the explicit wish of General GeorgeWashington and that summer served under General Israel Putnam atPeekskill. Although the fighting came near him in October when Sir HenryClinton seized Forts Montgomery and Independence on the Hudson River, he saw noaction. He rejoined General Washington’s army near Philadelphia on 11 October.On the 24th he served on the court-martial of General Anthony Wayne, whowas charged with dereliction of duty at Paoli, and voted with the majority toacquit him. Huntington remained with Washington the following winter at ValleyForge, suffering with his colleagues the dearth of provisions. He growled to Timothy Pickering on 22December 1777 that even combat was “preferable to starving.”On 30 May 1778 Huntington’s regiment was attached toGeneral Charles Lee’s(1731–1782) division, and Huntington was with Lee in the battle of Monmouth, 28June 1778. A month later Huntington was appointed to a court-martial ordered byWashington to try Lee for refusing to obey orders at Monmouth, for conducting“an unnecessary, disorderly and shameful retreat, ” and for showing “disrespectto the Commander in Chief.” On 12 August Huntington voted with the majority infinding Lee guilty on all counts and suspending him from command for a year. Inlate 1778 Huntington marched his regiment into winter quarters at Danbury, Connecticut, then went home for an extended visit. In the summer of 1779 heserved under General William Heath inthe Highlands, and in the following year he was posted at Springfield, NewJersey. On 29 September 1780 he served on a board of general officers thattried Major John André forspying. He and his colleagues, agreeing that André was guilty, declared thatthe young man “ought to suffer death.” Washington approved the sentence, andAndré was hanged at noon on 2 October. In 1781 Huntington remained on duty inNew York while Washington administered the coup de grâce to Charles, Lord Cornwallis atYorktown, Virginia. The following year he spent most of his time inConnecticut, attempting to recruit his regiment to strength. At the army’s lastcantonment at Newburgh, New York, in 1783, he helped found the Society of theCincinnati. Just before his retirement from the army on 3 October, he waspromoted to brevet major general by Washington, who expressed “esteem andaffection” for his comrade in arms.Resuming his business career in Norwich, Huntingtonprospered financially and socially. He was married a second time, to Ann Moore, and entertained many distinguished visitors at his home. (His two marriagesresulted in eight children.) For a time he was sheriff of New London County, then he was appointed state treasurer. He served as a delegate to a state constitutionalconvention, was on a board of foreign missions, and zealously supported variouscharitable institutions. In 1789 he was appointed by President Washington ascollector of customs at New London, to which place he and his wife moved.Huntington held the office for twenty-six years and died in New London.Washington considered him to command the Legion army in 1792, praising him asbeing “sober, sensible and very discreet, ” but finally chose Wayne. Never adashing or glamorous man, Huntington was a steady, dependable individual whosebasic decency was appreciated and utilized by his fellow citizens.BibliographyHuntington’s extensive correspondence with Washington is inthe George Washington Papers, Library of Congress. Some of it is printed inJohn C. Fitzpatrick, ed., The Writings of George Washington from theOriginal Manuscript Sources, vols. 3–31 (1931–1939). His publishedcorrespondence is “Letters of Lieut. Jedediah Huntington (1775–1776), ”Massachusetts Historical Society, Collections, 5th ser., vol. 9 (1885);and “Correspondence of the Brothers Joshua and Jedediah Huntington, during thePeriod of the American Revolution, ” Connecticut Historical Society, Collections20 (1923). Sketches of his life are Abel McEwen, A Sermon Preached at theFuneral of Gen. Jedediah Huntington, of New London … (1818); and Charles W.Heathcote, “General Jedediah Huntington Rendered Patriotic Service for HisCountry, ” Picket Post 52 (1956): 12–18. Other information is in ElijahBaldwin Huntington, A Genealogical Memoir of the Huntington Family …(1863); and Huntington Family Association, The Huntington Family in America… (1915). For his role at Danbury, see James R. Case, An Account ofTryon’s Raid on Danbury in April, 1777, Also the Battle of Ridgefield …(1927). Background information on his life is in G. H. Hollister, TheHistory of Connecticut … , vol. 2 (1855); and Francis Manwaring Caulkins, Historyof Norwich, Connecticut … (1845). Birth 4 Aug 1743 Norwich, New London County, Connecticut Death 25Sep 1818 New London, New London County, Connecticut Burial OldNorwichtown Cemetery, Norwich, New London County, ConnecticutI am a proud member of the Universal Autograph Collectors Club(UACC), The Ephemera Society of America, the Manuscript Society and theAmerican Political Items Collectors (APIC) (member name: John Lissandrello). 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