To George Washington from Matthew Graves, 5 February 1776
From Matthew Graves
Chatham [Conn.]
Feby 5th 1776
May it please your Excellency
Upon a friendly Notice, sent by Express in October last, that the Men of War intended soon to destroy our Seaport towns, I remov’d my Family & Effects from New London to Chatham, a Part of my Mission, wch I have occasionally attended for several Years.
After three Months Residence here, I am threatned to be driven out of my Parish, & a day is appointed to transmit me from Constable to Constable to New London, where, as Missionary to the Religious Society, I have officiated near thirty Years.
They dont pretend to accuse me of any Crime, or as inimical to the Constitution or Interests of the Colonies. The Soldier, my Neighbor, not Hear, knows me: he brings this Letter to Coll Parsons.
Believe me I solemnly declare, in the Presence of GOD & Your Excellency, I have never wrote one Line either to the Society, or any one in Europe, or any Person upon this Land about the Affairs of America: neither have I ever preach’d about them. I have strictly observ’d every Proclamation both from the Continental Congress & our Governor. As I am no Politician I cautiously avoid talking about Politics, especially in the House of Prayer, esteeming it my bounden Duty to preach Jesus Christ & Him only—“Our Weapons are not carnal, but spiritual—My Kingdom is not of this world.[”]
For these reasons (& perhaps lest my small Flock shou’d encrease too much) my gray Hairs are going to be hastned down wth Sorrow to the grave.
To remove my Family & Goods now is impracticable, & to force me away at this Season wou’d be almost Murder.
Behold an aged Clergyman of the Church of England, almost worn out in my divine Master’s Service, lying at yr Excellency’s Feet, imploring yr Assistance, begging that he may not be treated, as a Vagabond, & expos’d to Cruelties, Miseries & Hardships, wch his decayed Strength cannot endure. For God’s Sake consider my truly pitiable Case & relieve me, & that soon; or else ’twill be too late.
Coll Parsons, Capt. Coit & Capt. Eeely will inform You about my Character, to some of whom I have been well known above twenty Years.1
Had Genl Lee, formerly my Pupil in England, been at the Camp, he wou’d have deliver’d this, & pleaded the Cause of his old Master.
That divine Wisdom may direct You in all yr Affairs—provide & Mediate to interpose & bring about a true, permanent & honorable Peace, is & shall be the ceaseless Prayer at the Throne of Grace, of Sir, Yr Excellency’s most obedient & very humle Servt
Matt. Graves
ALS, CtHi: American Revolution Collection. The addressed cover is endorsed in part “recd 2d March ⅌. Bennet.” Elijah Bennet was an express rider. Chatham is present-day East Hampton, Connecticut.
Matthew Graves (d. 1780), an Anglican clergyman, was sent from England to New London by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel about 1747. Graves apparently resumed his duties in New London sometime after writing this letter, but in 1778 he was driven from his church for refusing to omit the traditional prayer for the king from the worship service. He died in New York in 1780.
1. Samuel Holden Parsons, colonel of the 10th Continental Regiment, and William Coit, former captain of the armed schooner Harrison, were lawyers in New London before the war. John Ely (1737–1800), a physician in Saybrook, Conn., served as a captain in the 6th Connecticut Regiment during 1775. Ely became colonel of a Connecticut state regiment in May 1777 and was captured during an attempted raid on Long Island in December of that year. He was exchanged in December 1780.