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Edward Antill's exchange was effected Nov 2, 1780. The four children that he mentions
in the letter to General Washington were: Isabella Graham Antill, born 4 May 1767 Mary Antill, born 18 January 1771 Julia Antill, born 28 March 1772 and John Antill, born 15 December 1779, died in Flatbush October 1781. Edward's wife Charlotte was pregnant with their fifth child, Henrietta, when he wrote his letter. Henrietta was born 12 September 1780.
While Edward was a prisoner, he apparently spent some of his time either writing, or copying, scientific papers, a collection of which belongs to The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. (Search the page for 'Antill') The papers, dated 1780, include "'The principles of geology and astronomy,' 'elements of chronology,' 'elements of all the syllables within the English language,' 'a table of the sun's declination from 1764 to 1795,' and a table showing the number of miles to each degree of longitude and latitude." |
Edward Antill to George Washington | 27 Mar 1780 |
Journals of the Continental Congress | 6 May 1780 |
George Washington to John Adams | 10 May 1780 |
George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799 Edward Antill to George Washington, March 27, 1780
May it please Your Excellency Flatt Bush March 27th [17]80 Assured this will be delivered you, by Mr. Bradford now exchanged: I could not in Justice to myself, & Family, forego so good an opportunity, to mention my situation to You Sir; particularly as it is to escape the prying Eye of Impertinent Curiosity. Once more, in Anxious Expectation, of a Change, in our unfortunate situation; we have waited the result of the Commissioners meeting at Amboy: The Breaking off, that Negotiation (as we are informed) without Effect has thrown a Damp upon our Spirits, and in a peculiar manner affects me. It is perhaps, unworthy a Soldier to complain, as he is to lay his Amount, in similar Difficulties, upon his becoming one: but, when He daily sees, an affectionate & delicate wife, and four small children, heretofore Tenderly brought up; driven from their native Home, and encountering every difficulty of Poverty, & Distress, on his Account; it calls up, in him, the feelings of an Humane Husband, and a Tender, & affectionate father. It would be unpolite, to detail Your Excellency, with a Detail of personal sufferings; But appealing to your well known Tender feelings, & Humanity, I must Earnestly Request you will endeavour my Exchange, on the Ground of my peculiar situations as I know of but one of my rank before me in Turn, and he a single Man. Or that you would be graciously pleased, to order a reasonable provision to be made, for my Wife & Family in our lines, where I would send them, (being unable any longer to support them Here) and then if we are to continue Prisoners, Let England, xx or Prison Ships, be our Doom I hope the same Love of my Country, that xx sword, will support me with a manly fortitude, thro Every Scene of Accumulated Distress.
With a wish for a line from Col. Harrison in Return to this by any officier coming in who could bring it. I have the Honor to be your
His Excellency General Washington
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Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 MONDAY, MAY 6, 1782 On a report from the Secretary at War, to whom was referred a petition of M. Dedevans: War Office May 3rd, 1782. Sir, I have attentively examined the papers which accompany the petition of Captain Desdevens, and find that he rests the justice of his petition on the following facts and observations.
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George Washington Papers at the Library of Congress, 1741-1799: Series 4. General Correspondence. 1697-1799 George Washington to John Adam, May 10, 1780 Head Quarters, May 10, 1780 Sir: From the distressed situation in which I am informed Lt Colo Antill is on Long Island, I desire that you will send him a Barrel of Beef and One of pork, and Two Barrels of flour. They ought to be good. If You cannot procure them yourself, You will apply to the Commissary who must furnish them. The sooner Colo Antill can receive this supply the better. I am &c.12(12) Note 12: The draft is in the writing of Robert Hanson Harrison. |
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