1778, Cornwall Furnace, Curtis Grubb, Canon Maker, Patriot, Signed Pay Order
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:63713 |
This is a wonderful, original document, dated 1778, Cornwall Furnace, Pennsylvania, where Curtis Grubb has requested that Captain William Bird be paid by Major Charles Lukensat the Carlisle barracks.....signed at lower right by William Bird. Document is 6x8, toned, else in overall good condition.Curtis Grubb (c.1730—1789), Patriot and oldest son of Peter and Martha Bates Grubb, was a second-generation member of the Grubb Family Iron Dynasty along with h...is younger brother Peter Jr. The brothers operated the Cornwall Ironworks, making significant contributions to the American Revolutionary War effort, and Curtis served several terms in the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly.Curtis Grubb was an outspoken radical and an early supporter of the Revolution. The brothers were major contributors to the Revolutionary War effort, their ironworks supplied cannon, ammunition, shot and saltpans (used to make salt from seawater) to the Colonial forces. George Washington personally visited Cornwall to inspect the facility. Both brothers were elected as militia colonels, Curtis' unit was the 2nd Lancaster Battalion, Peter Jr.'s the 8th Lancaster Battalion, both assigned to the Flying Camp. Curtis was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 1775, 1777, 1778 and 1782.An interesting anecdote provides a bit of insight into the times. One of Curtis' roles during the war was to oversee 340 Hessian prisoners of war who had been brought to Cornwall in August 1777 to help alleviate the severe war-induced shortage of labor. The Hessians were housed in a local Moravian Congregation's meeting house, over the objections of the pastor. Unfortunately, they behaved poorly and caused serious problems, including damage to church property. Later, the pastor told Curtis that "they made themselves outrageously drunk, and then the women began to fight; after them the men, who took sides with the women; finally the fight became general." The life of a Colonel was not all about fighting the British!During the war, numerous substantial brick buildings were erected at Carlisle Barracks for military stores and to accommodate workmen of the revolutionary government's dedicated managing body for the Army, the Ordnance Department. While the facility might have been used to store ammunition and explosives, its lack of access to water transportation made it impractical because of the difficulty of overland travel. The Hessian Powder Magazine, now Hessian Guardhouse Museum, was built in 1777.Colonel William Bird (1765 - 1812) the son of ironmaster, William BIRD (1706-1761) and Brigitte HULING , was born on MAY 18, 1757 in the Bird Mansion in Birdsboro, Amity Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania. William died on December 15, 1812 in Aviary Plantation, Sparta, Warren County, Georgia, at age 55, and was buried on December 19, 1812 in the Aviary Plantation Cemetery.Please view the other historical and Civil War related documents I'll be listing this week.SEE SCAN.I now accept PAYPAL but PREFER other forms of traditional paper payment. Buyer pays shipping(usually FREE within the US and $12 for International), payment must be received within 5 days.
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