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AMERICAN REVOLUTION
THE BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS
SEPTEMBER 6, 1781
The following is an extraordinary and unique collection of documents relating to the Battle of Groton Heights on September 6, 1781. On this date Groton and New London, Connecticut were attacked by a superior force of British infantrymen, led by the traitor Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. Arriving on 24 sailing vessels from New York, two divisions totaling about 1600 soldiers disembarked at the mouth of the Thames River. Half of the troops marched up the west bank of the river and burned virtually all of the homes and warehouses of New London to the ground. The second division marched along the east bank of the river to Fort Griswold in Groton, defended by Colonel William Ledyard. Outnumbered almost ten to one, the patriots recognized the hopelessness of their situation and surrendered. In spite of this, there followed one of the most despicable and momentous events of the American Revolution – a brutal massacre of Colonel Ledyard after he relinquished his sword as well as many officers and soldiers at Groton Heights, a massacre second only to that carried out against soldiers, women and children at Wyoming (Pennsylvania) by Indians and Tories in 1778. It was the only land battle with the British in Connecticut during the American Revolution.
Presented here are a portion of a large number of Seaport Autograph documents relating to the Battle of Groton Heights. They include pay orders, financial documents, officer’s bonds, &c. They are all original records of the State of Connecticut, officially discarded many years ago, thus not subject to replevin. All relate to acquisition of the land for the creation of Fort Griswold, the engineers who designed and built the fort, several documents signed by Colonel Ledyard, an extraordinarily scarce ALS of Ledyard, and documents of many of the soldiers killed or injured at the battle. It includes all the commanders of the fort, privateers, military suppliers, and records of provisions for families of soldiers. Presented also are documents signed by Lt. Governor Matthew Griswold for whom the fort was named, Maj. General William Holden Parsons, Oliver Wolcott, Jr. Oliver Ellsworth and many more as well as court martial papers that followed the battle. In addition there is the most complete bibliography of the battle included, as well as most of the publications relating to the battle including the latest paper back edition, copies of letters of the time and other pertinent material.
Fort Griswold still remains with its ramparts as a magnificent state park overlooking the Thames River
EACH PURCHASE OF OVER $100 WILL INCLUDE A COPY OF THE BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS, A 399PP REPRINT OF THE ORIGINAL ALLYN VOLUME LAST PUBLISHED 12O YEARS AGO (Value: $30.00). One free copy to a customer. It May also be purchased separately. See below.
Partial payment to Jonathan Chester by the Colony of Connecticut for the acquisition of his property on Groton heights, to build Fort Griswold
10749.
Ellsworth, Oliver (1745-1807). A member of the
Pay Table Committee, a delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention, Chief
Justice of the United States and Minister Plenipotentiary to France. ADS, 1p, 6
½”x8”, Hartford, July 29, 1776 (24 days after the signing of the Declaration of
Independence). Very fine. It is also signed by Thomas Seymour. It is an
order to the treasurer “to pay by the hand of Mr. Chas. Hopkins to Capt.
Jonathan Chester ten pounds in part & on Act of his Land & Damage
done thereto by Erecting the fort in Groton thereon – to be accounted for
accordingly on Settlement with him – pursuant to orders the Governor & Council
of Safety…” Charles Hopkins signs a receipt on verso. $950.00
COLONEL WILLIAM LEDYARD
Colonel William (1743-1781), throughout the Revolution, was a soldier involved in the defenses of Groton and later Stonington and New London He was the third officer in charge of the fort at Groton Heights, preceded by Edward Mott and Oliver Coit. In offering his sword, hilt extended, in surrender to the commanding British officer, on Sept. 6, 1781, he was immediately killed when his own sword was thrust through his heart. The following documents are either written or signed by Colonel William Ledyard or are signed by others on his behalf. Some relate to work or supplies ordered by him. Signed documents of William Ledyard are extremely scarce. One is known to exist in the Bill Library in Ledyard an done in the high school. Two have appeared on the manuscript market in the past 20 years. Seaport Autographs has several documents relating to and some signed by Colonel Ledyard, including two autographed letters signed by Ledyard, probably the only ones known to exist. There are probably few, if any, extant signed Ledyard pieces other than those cited and presented here.
Lt. Colonel William Ledyard authorizes a payment as commander of Fort Trumbull in New London
in the year that he was killed
10754.
Ledyard, William (1743-81). John Prentis. An express rider for
William Ledyard. His expense account. ADS, 2pp, 7”x7”, New London, Nov. 22,
1780. Fine. Some soiling of blank portion. “For expenses on Public Servis
[sic] By order of Colol Ledyard…” He lists his expenses,
“After Provisions to Lebanon & Windon three days; To Horse hire 30 miles;
expenses for my self & my horse.” On the verso William Ledyard adds an
extremely scarce ALS, New London, March 17, 1781 (the year he was killed).
He writes, “Sir, Pay Mr. John Prentis two Pounds thirteen shillings &c States
Money for the within amount. Wm Ledyard Lt. Col. N. London Commander” He
addresses it to “Mr. John Holt, Qr Master.” At this time
Ledyard was commander of the Forts at New London and Groton. Extremely scarce
ALS. Only one of two that we know exists, both in our collection. $1950.00
10755.
(Ledyard, William). Samuel Lyman, member of the Pay Table
committee. ADS, 1p, 6”x8”, [Hartford], Aug. 18, 1780. Fine. It is an order to
the treasurer to pay Ledyard £61-14-0. Samuel Wyllys signs across the
document as auditor. It is receipted on verso by Elijah Austin. $250.00
State of Connecticut Note to Dr. Philip Turner for his services in the Continental Army in 1781, which included attending to the injured at the Battle of Groton Heights.
10758.
Turner, Philip. He was a surgeon from Norwich. In 1759
he was appointed assistant surgeon for the provincial regiment that served under
Ger. Jeffrey Amherst at Ft. Ticonderoga. In 1775 he was the first surgeon of the
Connecticut troops before Boston and in 1776 accompanied the Continental Army to
New York and served in the battles of Long Island and White Plains and at Valley
Forge. In 1777 Turner was appointed Surgeon General of the Western Department.
Following the Battle of Groton Heights, he attended to the wounded there.
John Lawrence, Treasurer of the State of Connecticut. Partly printed ADS,
1p, 4”x7”, Treasury Office, June 1, 1782 with usual cancellation hole to left of
center. It is a note to pay Turner £130-6-6 for monies due him for his services
in the “Connecticut Line of the Continental Army.’ There are multiple
endorsements on verso indicating interest payments on the note from 1783 to
1789. $250.00
10759.
Wolcott, Oliver, Jr. Auditor of the Pay Table and
later Secretary of the Treasury in Washington administration. John Chenevard,
member of the Conn. Pay Table. ADS, 1p, 6½”x8”, [Hartford], Nov., 6, 1779. Fine.
It is also signed by Fenn Wadsworth; Oliver Wolcott, Jr. signs
across the face of the document. It is an order to the treasurer to pay the
“Groton Committee of Supplies £485-2-4…” It is receipted on verso by James
Avery, the father of Caleb Avery who was taken prisoner by the British at the
Battle of Groton Heights.
$200.00
10760.
Fort Griswold. Two photographs, each 4”x5” of the
ramparts and buildings of Ft. Griswold , ca1925. Slight fading and wrinkles, and
mounting traces on verso. Plus a 1924 Western Newspaper Union clipped
newspaper story, titled FAMOUS FORTS IN U.S. HISTORY, by Elmo Scott Watson,
Monument to Shame of Benedict Arnold. $30.00
10761.
Spicer, Silas. A Groton merchant. He manufactured salt
from the sea for the troops by boiling the water in huge cauldrons. ADS, 1p,
2”x8”, Groton April 7, 1781. Fine. Slight fading of ink. It is his promise to
pay Isaac Walden “three bushels of good Salt Delivered to Hartford…” One of the
sites of salt manufacture was on the Mystick River.
$75.00
Order to make a pension payment to Sanford Williams for wounds suffered at the Battle of Groton Heights
10762.
Williams, Sanford. A soldier who was hit in the chest
by a musket ball at the Battle of Groton Heights. ADS, 1p, 4”x8”, Groton, Sept.
25, 1788. Fine. It is an order to the state treasurer to pay “Isaac Avery nine
pounds…in full of my Pension for the year past, it being allowed me for being
wounded in Fort Griswold…” Avery was also wounded at the same battle. Oliver
Wolcott, Jr., as auditor, signs across the face of the document. He was
later Secretary of the Treasury under G. Washington. There are endorsements on
verso by James Cotton & Abijah Parke. $250.00
James Comstock, oldest soldier to be killed at the Battle of Groton Heights.
10764.
Comstock, James (1708-83). He was a captain in the
French and Indian war. As a lieutenant, at age 75, he was the oldest soldier to
be killed at Ft. Griswold on Sept. 6, 1781. He was from New London and was
visiting his son-in-law, Nathaniel Adams, Jr. On learning of the attack on the
fort, they both rushed into action and both were killed during the battle. MsDS
as a witness. Document is in unknown hand, 1p, 6”x8”, New London, June 4, 1755.
Very fine. A discharge of a restriction against Zachariah Whipple,
reinstating his properties “both real and personal.” The selectmen of New London
had confiscated his property in 1746 “according to the law.” Also witnessed by
Samuel Powers. Daniel Coit, Town Clerk dockets the document on verso.
$300.00
Pay order for Adam Shapley, mortally wounded at the Battle of Groton Heights. Receipt signed by Lt. Col. Joseph Harris, Jr.
who was court-martialed and cashiered for neglect of duty during the burning of New London
10766. 
(Shapley,
Adam) (1739-82). He was captain in command of Ft.
Trumbull when the British arrived. Overwhelmed, he and his 23 men escaped by
boat to Groton. Shapley was mortally wounded at the Battle of Groton Heights but
lingered on his death bed until Feb. 12, 1782. Partly printed pay order to the
treasurer to pay Shapley £14, 7 days before his death, 1p, 5”x6’, [Hartford],
Feb. 5, 1782. Fine. It is receipted on verso by Joseph Harris, Jr. & Daniel
Spencer. After the burning of New London by Arnold on Sept. 6, 1781, Lt.
Col. Harris was court-martialed for neglect of duty in New London and was
cashiered. $300.00
Arms furnished with reference to William Ledyard, John Morgan, Oliver Coit and Parke Avery, all involved in the Battle of Groton Heights
10767. 10767.
Spicer, Abel. He was a soldier from Groton who served
in the French and Indian War in 1757 in Capt. John Morgan’s company. He later
marched to Boston in 1775 and served in New York in 1776. Thomas Mumford
ADS in text, 1p, 6“x7”, Groton, July 13, 1776 (9 days after the signing of
the Declaration of Independence). Fine. It is a receipt for arms furnished
by the selectmen to Capt. Spicer’s company and apprized [sic] by Capt. Isaac
Gallup and John Morgan. It lists guns, bayonets, cartouch boxes, knapsacks and
blankets that were
donated by William Ledyard, Isaac Smith, Thomas Mumford, Parke Avery and Capt.
Oliver Coit. Spicer signs a receipt acknowledging receipt from the selectmen,
Thomas Mumford, Ralph Stoddard, John Hurlbutt, Thomas Fanning and Joseph Packer
for the above items for the use of “my company now bound for New York.” A
remarkable array of patriots and heroes of the battle of Groton
Heights. $650.00
REFERENCES ON THE BATTLE OF GROTON HEIGHTS
Newspaper report on the battle of Groton Heights, four days after the attack by Benedict Arnold
10769. The
Connecticut Courant and Weekly Intelligencer, 4pp,
14”x9”, Hartford, Sept. 18, 1781. The first published report of the attack by
Arnold on Groton Heights and New London, with the burning of both towns.
Col. Ledyard . . . and 70 other officers and men were murdered . . .” This
report was datelined New London, September 10, 1781. Moderate age-toning. Some
weak fold repaired with archival paper. This story, four days after the
battle, described the “murder” of the soldiers at Fort Griswold. Webster’s
definition of murder is “to kill (a human being) unlawfully and with
premeditated malice, or to slaughter wantonly.” A massacre is defined as
“a cruel and wanton murder.” For historians to question the mode of killing
at Fort Griswold in 1999 as not being a massacre, in not supported by this
earliest observation and the letters of Zabdiel Rogers. $950.00
The first printed narrative of the Battle of Groton Heights
10770.
Narrative of Jonathan Rathbun with Accurate Accounts of the Capture of
Groton Fort and the Massacre that Followed and the Sacking and Burning of New
London . . . by Rufus Avery & Stephen Hempstead, 1840. New gray
paper cover. Internally very fine. A very scarce imprint. $250.00
10052.
The Battle of Groton Heights: A Story of the Storming
of Fort Griswold and the Burning of New London . . .,
also containing The Narrative of Rufus Avery, by
Rev. N. H. Burnham, E. E. Darrow, Printer, New London, 1894. Original red paper
cover with marginal wear and detached at the spine. Internally very fine.
A scarce imprint.
$50.00
10768.
The Battle of Groton Heights, September 6, 1781 by Charles Allyn,
399pp, reprint with paper cover, edited by Norman F. Boas with new introduction
and 16pp of photographs of original documents relating to the battle, Seaport
Autographs, Mystic, Connecticut, 1999. New. The first reprint of Allyn’s volume
in 120 years. $30.00
ef
10433.
Biddle, Clement
(1740-1814). ). Revolutionary War hero, the "Quaker Soldier" and Philadelphia
merchant. He joined the army in 1775 and served at Princeton, Germantown,
Brandywine, and Monmouth and also wintered at Valley Forge. He was a close
friend of Washington who in
1787 appointed him U.S. Marshall of Pennsylvania. In 1794 he participated in
the Whiskey Rebellion. Partly printed MsDS, 1p, 10"x8", Philadelphia, 1792 April
23. Very good. Minor archival paper repairs on verso and other minor defects.
Biddle signs the document as a notary public in protest to a
promissory note identified in the document. At the lower left is his personal
embossed seal. $275.00
10434.
Biddle, Clement
(1740-1814). ALS, 1p, 10"x8", Philadelphia, 1802 Oct. 29. Fine. The second leaf
is inlaid and has several archival paper repairs on verso. The address leaf
bears a Philadelphia cds and Ms rate. It is a business letter addressed to the
Bank of Columbia. $450.00
108080.
Biddle, Clement
(1740-1814). S slip of paper mounted to a card. Fine. "Qr. M. Genl" is
written across his paraph in another hand. $150.00
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108085.
Dearborn Henry
(1751-1829). Soldier and statesman. During the American Revolution he led a
company at the Battle of Bunker Hill. He then joined Benedict Arnold on his
Quebec expedition. Captured, he was later exchanged. Dearborn subsequently saw
action against Burgoyne, wintered at Valley Forge and for a time was on General
Washington's staff. After the war he retired to Maine where he was made major
general of the militia. He was later a MOC and served in Jefferson's cabinet for
8 years as Secretary of War. He was then Collector of the Port of Boston from
1810 to 1812, when he was appointed senior major general of the army in command
of the northern frontier against the British. He was relieved of command in
1813. Ft. Dearborn (present site of Chicago) was named in his honor. ALS, 1p,
9"x8", Boston, 1810 Feb. 12. Fine. There is a seal tear and minor tears repaired
on verso with archival tape. The integral address leaf bears a Boston cds. It is
addressed to David Gelston, Collector at New York. He sends a correction of
dates on the clearance of the vessel Morningstar. $450.00
A pay order to a doctor for supplying medicines to Col. Belden's Regiment in 1777
10444.
Ellsworth, Oliver
(1745-1807). A patriot, delegate to the Federal Constitutional Convention, Chief
Justice of the United States, and Minister Plenipotentiary to France. John
Chenevard, a member of the Connecticut Pay Table during the American
Revolution, ADS, 1p, 7”x8”, [Hartford], 1777 Dec. 6. Very fine. It is also
signed by Oliver Ellsworth. An order to pay Dr. Elizur Hale ₤1-11-6
“for medicine Supplyd Colo Thos Beldens Regt…”
It is receipted on verso by Elizur Hale, Jr. Col. Belden commanded a
militia regiment from 1776 to 1780. In 1777 his regiment served at Peekskill
from March until June. On July 4, 1779, Hale served in Capt. Nathan Chapman’s
militia company in New Haven, when it was attacked and pillaged by General
Tryon. $175.00
W0003.
Ellsworth, Oliver (1745-1807. A patriot, delegate to the Federal
Constitutional Convention, Chief Justice of the United States & Minister
Plenipotentiary to France. MsDS in hand of John Chenevard, a member of
the Connecticut Pay Table, 1 page, 7"x8", Hartford, CT, 1777 Dec. 6. Very fine.
An order to the state treasurer to pay Dr. Elizur Hale for medicine supplied
to Colonel Thomas Belden's Regiment. It is signed on verso by Elizur Hale,
Jr. $180.00
Commander of the 6th Pennsylvania Regiment that attacked the Indians responsible for the Wyoming Massacre.
108091.
Hartley, Thomas (1748-1800). A soldier and statesman
in the American Revolution he volunteered as a lieutenant colonel in Irvine’s
Regiment (1776) and later, as colonel, commanded the 6th Pennsylvania
Regiment in attacking the Indians responsible for the Wyoming Massacre. He was
elected to the 1st Congress from Pennsylvania and served from 1789
until his death. ALS, 1p, 10”x8”, Yorke Town, Pa 1799 Sept. 30. Very good. Some
marginal defects with minor archival paper repairs on verso. He sends bank note
for his account. Scarce. $275.00
108092.
Hartley, Thomas (1748-1800). ALS, 1p, 13”x8”, Yorke Town. PA, 1786 Dec.
13. He writes to Jasper Yeates concerning a bond of Philip Smith payable to both
of them. The integral address leaf, without postal marks, shows that it was
hand-carried by Capt. McClelland. Yeates was chairman of the Lancaster Committee
of Correspondence in 1776, a delegate to the Pennsylvania convention to ratify
the Federal Constitution and was an associate justice of the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court. In 1794 George Washington appointed him as an arbitrator to
settle the Whiskey Insurrection in Pennsylvania. Scarce. $275.00
Sir James Jay, physician to George Washington, writes of soliciting Congress for payment on an old debt due him.
105119.
Jay, Sir James
(1732-1815). Physician and inventor. He was the fourth child of
Peter Jay and Mary Van Cortlandt and 13 years older than his brother, Signer
John Jay. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh. He
was knighted in 1762 for soliciting contributions for King's College (now
Columbia University) in England. He married Anne Erwin without the benefit of
any formal civil or religious ceremony. Anne was a strong believer in women's
rights and the philosophy of Mary Wollstonecraft. These unorthodox beliefs and
practices created severe strains with the rest of the family, causing them to be
treated as outcasts. James and Mary were grandparents of Mary Helena Okill who
married Dennis Hart Mahan, Dean of the Military Academy at West Point and were
great grandparents of Admiral Alfred T. Mahan, noted naval historian. After
returning home and after the British occupation of New York, Sir James was
imprisoned. In 1782 Sir Guy Carleton freed him. In 1780, as a physician, he
supplied medicines for George Washington when the general was encamped in
Morristown, New Jersey. At the same time, being a man of ingenuity and of an
inventive nature, he convinced Washington to allow him the use of a laboratory
at West Point for the purpose of experimenting on gunpowder. He also invented
invisible ink that was used by Washington, Jefferson, his brother John Jay and
others. They used it to transmit secret messages to Europe on otherwise personal
letters. Jay used it while he was Minister to Spain. In 1782, through the
intervention of his brother and Benjamin Franklin, Sir James attempted to sell a
naval invention to the French. He was a man of many schemes and talent and was
constantly intruding himself into many situations of importance. ALS to an
unidentified general, 12½"x8", 1p, Washington, 1808 Jan. 9. Fine. Minor wear.
He writes,
"The critical state of
national affairs will no doubt occasion some embarrassment among mercantile
gentlemen; let their fortunes be what they may. My son in law, Mr. Okill, is a
prudent young fellow, and I presume has adapted his measures to the Times. Yet
to let him see that I am not insensible to the State of things, nor unmindful
himself, I send him, by this Post my note for $200 . . . I am soliciting an old
Debt, and not a small one, from Congress; and there is great reason to think I
shall not solicit in vain.”
Seaport Autographs acquired
this letter from the estate of Admiral Alfred T. Mahan. $450.00
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10467.
Palmer, Jonathan, Jr. (1747-1819). From Stonington, Connecticut, he was in the
local militia, attaining the rank of colonel. In 1776 he served in the battle of
New York as a lieutenant in the 5th Company, 4th Battalion in General
Wadsworth’s brigade. After the war he was appointed by President Washington
Collector of Customs at Stonington (1791) and by Timothy Pickering as the first
postmaster of Stonington (1793). He also served in the state legislature in
1789, the first year of the Federal government. Partly printed DS, 1p, 3”x7”,
New Haven, 1789 October. Very fine. It is his receipt “in full of my
Debenture, for attending the General Assembly . . .” Plus Colonel
Jonathan Palmer’s War Diary, 33pp, Seaport Autographs, Stonington, CT, 1985.
His wartime diary is illustrated and annotated, featuring the British naval
attack on Stonington. 2 pieces. $70.00
10477.
Warren, James
(1726-1808). An ardent patriot during the American Revolution. His home in
Plymouth, Massachusetts was a center of political activity. His wife Mercy Otis
Warren was a noted author, activist, and the sister of James Otis; she and
Abigail Adams were intimate friends. Warren was in the Provincial Assembly of
Massachusetts and succeeded Jospeh Warren as president when the latter was shot
and killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. James Warren played a prominent role in
the formation of committees of correspondence. He also served on the War Board.
Title page of a book from his library, signed, “The Modern Part of an
Universal History…”, London, Volume XVI, 1760. We have four pages including
those form Volumes XXXVI (1762), XXXVII (1762) and XXXVIII (1763). All are in
fine condition. The price of each: $165.00
Payment for a soldier’s lost arms and clothing in 1777
107057.
Church, James.
Member of the Pay Table Committee of Connecticut. ADS, 1p, 7”x8”, Hartford, 1777
June 25. Fine. It is an order to the state treasurer to,
“Pay to Mr.
Abner Burroughs three Pounds fourteen Shillings L. Money being for Arms &
Cloathing lost on the Lake Septt by Stephen Burroughs a Soldier in
Capt Robinson’s Co & charge the State . . .”
It is also
signed by other Pay Table members, Oliver Ellsworth
(see above) and John Chenevard.
Stephen Burroughs was a private in Hezekiah Parsons 10th
Company, Col. Benjamin Hinman’s Rgt of 1775 and later a private in Captain
Simon’s Company, with Connecticut State troops in Boston, Dec. 1775 – Feb. 1776.
Abner Burroughs signs a receipt on verso. $200.00
óóóóóó
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