Griffin Greene, Paymaster

  A look at some behind-the-scenes roles that were crucial to the war effort

By Rachael Pei

Money is a powerful motivator. For the soldiers at Valley Forge, even though pay was sporadic due to inflation/money shortages [1], it played a part in encouraging them to enlist and dampening mutinies or desertions. Paymasters—the people in charge of paying troops their wages—were therefore vital in sustaining the Continental army. One such officer at the encampment was Griffin Greene, cousin of the famed Major General Nathanael Greene.

Griffin was born on February 16, 1749, in Warwick, Rhode Island [2]. He married Sarah Greene and they had four children [3]. In 1775 he enlisted as a commissary to Rhode Island troops [3, 4]. Commissaries’ main duties were obtaining and distributing food and supplies to soldiers. In 1777 he became the paymaster of the 1^st Rhode Island regiment (commanded by his brother-in-law, Colonel Christopher Greene) and held this role while the army was at Valley Forge [3].

When Nathanael Greene was appointed to Quartermaster General in 1778, Griffin became one of his deputies [3]. Griffin and Nathanael were quite close: “Among the earliest attachments of the general’s life, was one formed with a cousin of the name of Griffin Greene. And to the close of their lives, the affectionate regard in which they held each other, was nearly proverbial” [5]. During the war, they frequently wrote to each other about occurrences or struggles they experienced [6].  Quartermasters were responsible for distributing provisions to troops, so the pair occasionally discussed prices of goods or purchasing strategies in their letters as well [6].

After he was discharged in 1783 [4], Griffin became one of the first settlers of Marietta, Ohio. He served in various governmental roles there, including justice of the peace, revenue collector, judge, and postmaster [3]. Griffin was later chosen as a director of the Ohio Company of Associates after the death of James Mitchell Varnum in 1789 [3]. As an additional note of interest, Meriwether Lewis (best known for his leadership in the Lewis and Clark Expedition) met with Griffin while in Marietta before he started his westward trek [3].

Griffin died in June 1804 while serving as Marietta’s postmaster and was buried in Mound Cemetery [3, 4, 7]. Described as “a man of intelligent aspect, quick apprehension, and a ready, vigorous application of his mind to any subject before him” [3], Griffin Greene reminds us of people in lesser-known roles that were just as important to the war effort as those involved in battlefield maneuvers.

Sources:

1. allthingsliberty.com/2021/05/the-predicament-we-are-in-how-paperwork-saved-the-continental-army/
2. services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search_adb/?action=full&p_id=A046940
3. military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Griffin_Greene
4. www.fold3.com/image/615878684?xid=1022&_ga=2.138142512.1601066315.1633727132-1850433631.1619110538
5. Johnson, W.: Sketches of the Life and Correspondence of Nathanael Greene, Vol. I, A. E. Miller, Charleston, South Carolina (1822), pg. 128
6. finding-aids.lib.unc.edu/00290/#folder_1#1
7. founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-10-02-0243

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/GriffinGreene.jpg/180px-GriffinGreene.jpg

Polly Cooper

A woman whose story embodies the kindness, courage, and indomitable spirit of the Oneidas

By Rachael Pei

Native American allies played an important role in America’s victory in the Revolutionary War. A notable example was the Oneida Nation, which was part of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (also known as the Iroquois Confederacy). They fought alongside American troops, as well as providing scouts, spies, and couriers in the war effort. One of the most prominent Oneida figures was Polly Cooper, who is most well-known for her contributions at the Valley Forge encampment.

In April 1778, when American soldiers were dealing with harsh conditions at Valley Forge, Oneida Chief Skenandoah (or Oskanondonha) sent Polly Cooper and 40-50 warriors to help the troops. After walking over 400 miles from central New York, the delegation arrived at the encampment in May, bringing with them hundreds of baskets of white corn. Unlike the sweet corn sold at grocery stores today, white corn needs to be dehulled and roasted before it can be consumed safely. The soldiers were so starved that they tried to eat the corn raw, but Polly stopped them and taught them how to properly prepare it.

When other members of the Oneida delegation began to leave Valley Forge, Polly stayed behind to care for sick soldiers, teaching people at the encampment about various nutritious/medicinal foods, including a soup made from hulled white corn. During her time at Valley Forge, Polly refused to accept pay for her help, though she did receive a black shawl from Martha Washington and other soldiers’ wives as a gesture of appreciation. The shawl has become an important historical relic, passed down and cared for by her descendants.

After Valley Forge, Polly continued to support the war effort by helping soldiers. In unpublished papers owned by the Oneida Indian Nation, Oneida Chief William Rockwell provides more detailed insight into her character: “When I was a boy, I used to hear my people talk about Polly Cooper’s bravery, about how she cooked and carried water to the soldiers…. Polly Cooper gave water to the enemy soldiers as well as to the men in the colonial army because she believed the war was not over water or food… Polly knew the war was about freedom in thought, to develop principles for the good of all living and the coming generations.”

In 2005, the Oneida County Historical Society inducted Polly into its Hall of Fame to recognize her honorable contributions. The Oneida Indian Nation has also commemorated Polly’s efforts through a statue that depicts her standing beside Chief Skenandoah and General George Washington. The memorial was gifted to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian and serves as a reminder of the Oneida’s generosity and friendship during the US’s fight for freedom.

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/valleyforgewomen.htm

https://www.nps.gov/fost/learn/historyculture/the-oneida-nation-in-the-american-revolution.htm

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/polly-cooper

https://womenhistoryblog.com/2012/04/polly-cooper.html

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/polly-cooper-oneida-heroine/

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/the-polly-cooper-shawl-testimony-to-a-pact-of-the-revolutionary-war/

https://civileats.com/2018/04/20/an-indigenous-corn-makes-a-comeback/

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/allies-in-war-partners-in-peace/

Pictures of the statue featuring Polly Cooper, Chief Skenandoah, and General George Washington. It can be viewed in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

Here is also a picture of her shawl.

Links to the pictures (in order):

https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/polly-cooper

https://www.womenhistoryblog.com/2012/04/polly-cooper.html

https://www.kophistory.org/oneidas-and-polly-cooper/

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/the-polly-cooper-shawl-testimony-to-a-pact-of-the-revolutionary-war/

Brevet Major John Van Dyk

Brevet Major John Van Dyk: A Portrait of Uncommon Patriotism and Resilience

By Jeff Wilford

While serving at Valley Forge, Brevet Major John Van Dyk (also spelled Dyke and Dyck) was in the middle of a military career that would place him at some of the Revolutionary War’s most significant events and in the company of the luminaries of the war.  A descendant of one of the original Dutch families to settle northern New Jersey, Van Dyk was born in New York City, but grew up along the banks of the Raritan River. He served in the American Revolution as an artilleryman from May 16, 1775, to its close, beginning his service as a member of the New Jersey Militia and the NYC Militia. Most of his time, however, he was attached to Colonel Thomas Proctor’s 4^th Regiment of the Continental Artillery Regiment and, later, the 2^nd Regiment of the Continental Corps of Artillery under Colonel John Lamb.  While at Valley Forge, these regiments were part of Brigadier General Henry Knox’s Brigade, which encamped in the Artillery Park area.

Serving in the northern theater, Van Dyk participated in some of its most notable events. In August of 1775, he assisted Alexander Hamilton with the removal of cannons from the Battery in New York City, while being fired upon by the HMS Asia. He was involved in twelve battles, including Long Island, Harlem Heights, White Plains, Trenton, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. He was also at both of the Morristown Winter Encampments as well as Valley Forge, where he served as a lieutenant and acting adjutant.

While Van Dyk was serving at West Point, Benedict Arnold betrayed General Washington, resulting in the capture of Arnold’s accomplice, British Major John Andre. Van Dyk remained in Tappan, NY, during Andre’s trial and was one of the four Continental officers to accompany him to the gallows. Later, after receiving a furlough from General Washington to go to sea to recover from an undisclosed illness, he served as a lieutenant of marines on the brig General Reed. The ship, however, was captured by the British, and he was confined on the notorious British prison ship Jersey, eventually being released as part of a prisoner exchange. Van Dyk recorded his recollections of both accounts for posterity.

As the war ended, he was present when the British evacuated New York Harbor and was an original member of George Washington’s Society of the Cincinnati. Perhaps his final act as a soldier was in New York City as one of the eight Lafayette Guards, all friends of the Marquis and surviving original Society of Cincinnati members, as they paid tribute on horseback in a procession to honor their former general at his passing in 1834. It is said that the only favor the Marquis de Lafayette ever asked of the new American government was to install John Van Dyk as an officer in the New York City Customs House, where he served with his former colonel, John Lamb.

References: https://valleyforgemusterroll.org/references-john-van-dyk/

by Henry Pei

Pictures:

https://images.findagrave.com/photos250/photos/2008/194/7404016_121596042576.jpg

Pictured: Jonathan Clark’s home, “Trough Spring”, which still stands today.

https://www.hmdb.org/Photos5/555/Photo555944.jpg?1292020101600PM

Hannah Till

By Rachael Pei

Hannah (Archer) Till

Hannah Till (originally named “Long Point” by her father) was born into slavery in Kent County, Delaware to an Oneida father and African American mother. Her birth is estimated to have occurred around 1721.

By 1776, she was owned by Reverend John Mason of the Associate Reformed Church in New York, who leased her to George Washington as his personal cook. Her husband, Isaac (who was also a slave) was leased by Captain John Johnson of Bergen County, New Jersey to cook for Washington as well.

The couple had at least three children when they started working for Washington. While staying at the Valley Forge Encampment, Hannah gave birth to another son named Isaac Worley Till.

Both Hannah and Isaac had an agreement with their owners and with Washington that they could purchase their freedom, and they achieved this on October 30, 1778. After gaining her freedom, Hannah continued working for Washington as a pastry cook. She eventually also worked for Major General Marquis de Lafayette for half a year.

After the revolutionary war, the couple cooked for families in Philadelphia to earn a living. They raised at least seven children together and became members of the First African Presbyterian Church.

In March 1824 (when she was around 102 years old), John Fanning Watson interviewed her. In his book Annals of Philadelphia, he describes her as “a pious woman, possessing a sound mind and memory” (page 552). His sister, who knew Hannah and occasionally visited her, also reported that General Lafayette came to see Hannah in 1824. At the time, Hannah was in arrears for her mortgage. However, after the General’s visit, she learned that he had kindly paid off the debts for her.

At 105 years old, Hannah died of old age on December 13, 1826. She was buried at the First African Presbyterian Church, then later reinterred at Eden Cemetery in Collingdale, PA. On October 3, 2015, the Pennsylvania Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Pennsylvania Brigade of the Descendants of Washington’s Army organized a ceremony honoring her and placed a marker at the cemetery in her memory.

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/vafo/learn/historyculture/valleyforgewomen.htm

https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/7/78/Unknown-504267-2.jpg

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149489893/hannah-till

https://blog.dar.org/it%E2%80%99s-rising-sun-%E2%80%93-saluting-old-and-new-line

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Annals_of_Philadelphia/51YQ0TzReWMC?q=%22Hannah+Till%22&gbpv=1&bsq=hannah%20till#f=false

Colonel Walter Stewart

By Rachael Pei

Colonel Walter Stewart of the 13th Pennsylvania Regiment

Walter Stewart was born in Ireland in 1756 and later settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

He entered the war on January 6, 1776, when he was appointed captain of Company F in the 3^rd Pennsylvania battalion. In May of that year, he was promoted to major and became an aide-de-camp to General Horatio Gates. Under General Gates’s command, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On June 17, 1777, Stewart was appointed commander of the Pennsylvania State Regiment (which was renamed to the 13^th Pennsylvania Regiment that November). He fought valiantly in the Philadelphia campaign at Brandywine and Germantown, then stayed with his regiment at the Valley Forge Encampment from December 1777 until June 1778.

Stewart was known for his handsome appearance (he was nicknamed “the Irish Beauty”), as well as for paying careful attention to his soldiers’ needs. In Private Yankee Doodle, a narrative of the Revolutionary War, soldier Joseph Plumb Martin describes, “This Colonel Stewart was an excellent officer much beloved and respected by the troops of the Line he belonged to” (pg 219).

After leaving the Valley Forge encampment, he was wounded at the Battle of Monmouth on June 28, 1778. A few days afterward, the 13^th Pennsylvania Regiment was merged with the 2^nd (since enlistments of many soldiers in the 13^th expired), and Stewart was given command of this new regiment.

Later, in 1781, he married Deborah McClenahan and fought under General Anthony Wayne in the Yorktown campaign. He retired from the army on January 1, 1783, but George Washington asked him to stay as Inspector General of Northern Department. After holding the position for several months, he retired with the brevet rank of brigadier general. He went on to become a major general in the Pennsylvania militia, as well as a successful merchant.

Stewart died in June 1796 during the yellow fever epidemic and was buried in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (in Philadelphia).

Sources:

https://www.nps.gov/york/learn/historyculture/stewartbio.htm
https://pasocietyofthecincinnati.org/Names/WalterStewart.html
https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/stewart-walter
https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Walter_Stewart_(general)
https://www.243regiment.com/WalterStewartHistory.html
https://archive.org/details/privateyankeedoo00mart/page/186/mode/2up?q=stewart

References for Lt. John Van Dyk’s Article

I. John Van Dyk as part of Marquis de Lafayette’s Funeral Procession:

Hone, Philip. “June 25.” The Diary of Philip Hone, 1828-1851, by Hone, edited by

     Bayard Tuckerman, vol. 1, New York City, Dodd, Mead and Company, 1889, p.

     108. 2 vols.

“Particulars of the Funeral Honours to the Memory of General La Fayette, with

     the Eulogium Delivered by General James Tallmadge, June 26, 1834.”

     Documents of the Board of Aldermen, of the City of New-York, from No. 1

     to No. 61 inclusive – from May 19, 1834, to May 4, 1835., vol. 1, New York

     City, 1835, pp. 97-98.

II. John Van Dyk and his role in the Execution of Andre:

Abbatt, William. The Crisis of the Revolution: Being the Story of Arnold and

     André. New York City, Empire State Society, Sons of the American

     Revolution, 1899.

Peixotto, Ernest. A Revolutionary Pilgrimage Being an Account of a Series of

     Visits to Battlegrounds and Other Places Made Memorable by the War of the

     Revolution. Illustrated by Ernest Peixotto, New York City, Charles

     Scribner’s Sons, 1917.  

          – Ernest Peixotto mentions that Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown

            possesses a letter from John Van Dyk regarding the execution of Major Andre

            (page 140).

Van Dyk, John. “Major André, Letter of Col. Van Dyk to John Pintard, August 27,

     1821.” Historical Magazine, vol. VIL, no. 8, Aug. 1863, pp. 250-52.  

          – John Van Dyk’s recollection of the trial and execution of Major John

            André for his involvement in the Benedict Arnold treason conspiracy.

            Van Dyk was one of the four Continental officers to accompany André

            on the march from the area of his confinement (today’s 76 House) to

            the gallows on October 2, 1780.

III. John Van Dyk and his confinement as a prisoner on the British Prison Ship Jersey:

Van Dyk, John. “Narrative of Confinement in the Jersey Prison Ship.” Historical Magazine,

     vol. VII, no. 5, May 1863, pp. 147-51.  

         –  John Van Dyk’s personal account of his time as a prisoner of the

            British aboard the notorious prison ship Jersey in Wallabout Bay,

            Brooklyn, NY. Van Dyk’s illness that led to his capture was probably

            malaria or Yellow Fever based on the description of his symptoms of

            fever, body aches, jaundice and lethargy.

IV. Selected Articles:

Two of the above articles—one describing Major Andre’s Execution (pp. 250-252) and the other Van Dyk’s confinement on the British prison ship (pp. 147-151) –can be found here:

https://books.google.com/books?id=wmcKAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA252&lpg=PA252&dq=Van+Dyk+%22Historical+Magazine%22&source=bl&ots=SH0VfDgvlU&sig=ACfU3U1Lo8yvIhLZ5IXHJ9lH7T9455c0gA&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ah

UKEwi59pz25K_1AhXnlYkEHUpCCpoQ6AF6BAgMEAM#v=onepage&q=Van%20Dyk%20%22Historical%20Magazine%22&f=false