Adams Papers

To John Adams from Abraham Clark, 23 August 1776

From Abraham Clark

Eliza. Town Augst. 23d. 1776

Dear Sir

Colo. Dayton,1 who with his battalion is Stationed at Fort Stanwix, informs me no Regimental Paymaster hath been appointed to his battalion, and Genl Schuyler does not conceive himself Authorized to appoint one. Jonathan Dayton, a son of the Colo, is Recommended as a proper person for that Station, his father offers to become Security for his faithful discharge of the Office.2 Mr. Caldwell the Chaplain of that battalion3 is come down and informs me Genl. Schuyler would have Appointed Dayton had he been Authorized, and Offers to Recommend him to Congress if Necessary. The young mans Qualification can be known from Dr. Witherspoon. If no just objection appears Against him, I wish a Commission may be sent to me for him.

I remain in a Weak infirm State. We are daily Alarmed with News of an Attack on this Town but have hitherto escaped it. We hear the British Troops are busily employed hanging the Refractory among them: may their business increse. I am Dear Sir, Your Sincere Friend & Humle. Servt.

Abra. Clark4

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “To The Honourable John Adams Esqr. in Congress. Philadelpa.”; docketed: “Mr Clark Aut 23. 1776.”

1. Elias Dayton, colonel of the 3d New Jersey Regiment (Heitman, Register Continental Army description begins Francis B. Heitman, comp., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, new edn., Washington, 1914. description ends , p. 190).

2. Young Dayton was named regimental paymaster on 26 Aug. (JCC description begins Worthington C. Ford and others, eds., Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774–1789, Washington, 1904–1937; 34 vols. description ends , 5:701).

3. James Caldwell (Heitman description begins Francis B. Heitman, comp., Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army during the War of the Revolution, new edn., Washington, 1914. description ends , p. 139).

4. Clark was a delegate to the congress from New Jersey (Burnett, ed., Letters of Members description begins Edmund C. Burnett, ed., Letters of Members of the Continental Congress, Washington, 1921–1936; 8 vols. description ends , 2:liv).

Index Entries

    You Are Looking At

    Source Project
    Adams Papers
    Title
    To John Adams from Abraham Clark, 23 August 1776
    Author
    Clark, Abraham
    Recipient
    Adams, John
    Date
    23 August 1776

    Reference

    Cite as
    “To John Adams from Abraham Clark, 23 August 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Adams/06-04-02-0227. [Original source: The Adams Papers, Papers of John Adams, vol. 4, February–August 1776, ed. Robert J. Taylor. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1979, p. 487.]