The Pennsylvania Gazette, (Philadelphia, May 7, 1761, March 16, 1769, March 19, 1772).

“Michael Witman, Loyalist,” in Lancaster County Historical Society, vol. 14, pp. 181-185.

“Peter Miller—Michael Witman,” in Lancaster County Historical Society, vol. 6, pp. 46-49.

Joseph Henry Dubbs, “The Founding of the German Churches of Pennsylvania” in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. XVII, 1893, No. 3, pp. 241-262.

“John Penn’s Journal of a Visit to Reading, Harrisburg, Carlisle, and Lancaster, in 1788,” in The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, (1877-1906), 1879, pp. 284-95.

“A Protestant Convent,” in Hours at Home: A Popular Monthly of Instruction and Recreation (1865-1870); Mar. 1867, pp. 458-464.

Christian Endress, “An Account of the Settlement of the Dunkers, at Ephrata,” in The Register of Pennsylvania (1828-1831); May 22, 1830, pp. 331-334.

“Religious Denominations in Pennsylvania,” in Christian Disciple (1812-1818); April 1818, pp. 100-103.

E. Gordon Alderfer, The Ephrata Commune: An Early American Counterculture, (University of Pittsburgh Press, 1985).

S. G. Zerfass, Souvenir Book of the Ephrata Cloister, Complete History from Its Settlement in 1728 to the Present Time. Included is the Organization of Ephrata Borough and Other Information of Ephrata Connected With the Cloister (New York: AMS Press, Inc, 1975).

Samuel W. Pennypacker, Valley Forge. An Address, (Philadelphia, June 18, 1898).

John B. B. Trussell, Jr. Birthplace of an Army: A Study of the Valley Forge Encampment, (Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Historical And Museum Commission, 1990).

Stephen R. Taaffe, The Philadelphia Campaign, 1777-1778 (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 2003).

13   WGW, vol. 11, 3-28-1778 and vol. 29, 5-2-1788.

14   Stoudt, Ordeal at Valley Forge, p. 61.

15   Ibid. p. 97.

16   Ibid. p. 125.

17   Ibid. p. 139.

18   Ibid. p. 123.

19   Ibid. p. 190.

20   Ibid. p. 62.

21   Ibid. p. 137.

22   Ibid. p. 134.

23   Ibid. p. 97.

24   WGW, vol. 28, 3-8-1785; WGW, vol. 1, 3-31-1754, Journal of March toward the Ohio.

25   Ibid., vol. 23, 10-17-1781. To Philip Schuyler. “Dear Sir: I do myself the pleasure to acknowledge your favr. of the 26th. of Septemr. which I received a few Days since Had Colo Hamilton given me Time, before his Departure, I should have answered it by him. Mrs Fisher may be consoled respecting the Fate of her Son; the sentence of Death against him will not be confirmed, and he will be released from Confinement. [Note: Myndert Fisher, of Detroit, accused of corresponding with the British. John Dodge had interceded for his pardon or a stay of execution in July, 1781. (See Washington’s letter to Brig. Gen. William Irvine, Nov. 1, 1781, post.) ]WGW, vol. 25, 12-3-1782. To Brig. Gen. David Forman. “You must have the Resolve of Congress by which Capt. Asgill was released. All things considered, I question whether the determination of Congress upon the proceedings of Lippencots Court Martial would have been different from what it has been, had not the Court of France interceded warmly in Captain Asgill’s favor: but after a request made by the prime Ministers, in which he expresses the wishes of their Majesties, that Capt. Asgill’s life might be spared, there was scarcely a possibility of refusing,...”

CHAPTER 33

1     WGW, vol. 26, 3-22-1783.

2     Steiner “The Religious Beliefs Of Our Presidents” (1936).

3     Hughes, George Washington: The Human Being & The Hero, vol. 1, p. 555.

4     WGW: Reverend Charles Green, 5-28-1755 (to John Augustine Washington); 11-13-1757; (to Sally Cary Fairfax) 11-15-1757; 3-26-1761; 8-26-1761; Reverend Lee Massey, 7-10-1784; Reverend Thomas Davis, 4-7-1793 (to Samuel Hanson); 11-19-1794 (to Lund Washington); 1-17-1796 (to William Pearce); Diaries, 2-22-1799.

5     There are some 30 letters in the WGW from Washington to Reverend Jonathan Boucher, tutor of Jack Custis, Washington’s stepson, 5-30-1768; 9-4-1768; 2-3-1771; 2-20-1771; 4-20-1771; 6-5-1771; 9-4-1768; 1-26-1769; 10-14-1769; 2-3-1770; 5-13-1770; 6-2-1770; 7-30-1770; 12-16-1770; 1-2-1771; 2-3-1771; 2-20-1771; 4-20-1771; 6-5-1771; 7-9-1771; 2-21-1772; 5-4-1772; 5-21-1772; 8-18-1772; 12-18-1772; 1-7-1773; 8-2-1773; 8-5-1773; 10-6-1773 (to Robert Cary & Co.); 2-15-1774; 8-15-1798. Other Washington family Tutors who were ordained clergyman at the time were Reverend Samuel Stanhope Smith, 5-24-1797; 10-9-1797; Reverend Myles Cooper, 5-31-1773 (to Robert Cary & Co.); 12-15-1773; 4-15-1774; 9-24-1782; Reverend Stephen Bloomer Balch, 10-30-1784; 6-26-1785; 11-22-1785; Reverend David Griffith, 8-29-1784; Reverend William McWhir, 12-25-1787; 10-12-1789; 2-17-1793; Reverend Jacob Van Vleck, 12-7-1796; 6-14-1797; Rev Dr. Smith Provost, 12-5-1790 (to George Steptoe Washington). Two other Washington family tutors, Walter McGowan, 10-12-1761 (to Robert Cary & Co.), 5-30-1768 (to Reverend Jonathan Boucher); 7-20-1784 and Zechariah Lewis (7-17-1797; 8-14-1797; 9-28-1798) would later become clergyman as well.

6     There are more than 20 letters either to or that mention Reverend Bryan Fairfax. These letters touch deaths in the family (3-6-1793; 4-9-1793); the conveyance of letters (5-18-1798); news from America while Fairfax was abroad (1-20-1799); surveying questions (5-17-1795; 11-26-1799; 11-30-1799); legal matters of an estate (2-19-1789; 4-6-1789); introduction of Fairfax to friends of Washington’s in England (5-15-1798). Several of them are in regard to an estate problem of Mrs. Charles Green, the widow of Washington’s childhood pastor, Reverend Chares Green. (See note #12.)

7     Reverend Dr. William Smith provided his home for a meeting of Washington’s officers, 8-6-1777, General Orders. Reverend Lebrecht Herman provided President Washington a study in Germantown, during the yellow fever epidemic for several weeks in 1793. Reverend Joseph Eckley was asked to assist in canceling a newspaper (5-10-1786). Reverend Mr. Bracken was given a case of pictures to care for that were to be shipped to Washington (2-27-1785.) Washington declined the offer for help in Europe on any matters before Reverend John Gabriel Gebhard came to America, who was also interested in a possible job in the new government, 5-26-1789.

8     Washington introduced young Bryan Fairfax, traveling to New York to catch a ship, to the Reverend Richard Peters of Philadelphia in1757. Twenty-five year old Washington had clearly become acquainted with the Philadelphia clergyman at some earlier point, perhaps when he had been traveling through Philadelphia to address his issue of the relative authority of rank of an officer with a colonial commission versus a royal commission. Washington wrote, “Permit me to recommend Colo. Fairfax, the bearer of this to your Friendly notice, while he stays in Philadelphia. He is Son of our late President [Col. George William Fairfax] ... and being a stranger in your City wanted Introduction; to whom then can I better introduce him than the agreeable Mr. Peters. I hope in doing this I make use of no unwelcome liberty; if I do, your genteel treatment of myself made me assume it and must plead my excuse.” WGW, vol. 2, 9-30-1757 to Reverend Richard Peters.

9     Reverend H. Addison was assisted in traveling through military controlled areas, 11-29-1780. Reverend William Smith was assisted in securing a reimbursement, 2-18-1784 (to James Milligan). Reverend David Griffith was assisted in securing a loan for a building, 4-5-1786; Reverend Francis Adrian Vanderkemp, a Mennonite minister from Holland who had Unitarian inclinations, was welcomed to visit Mount Vernon as a religious refugee, having been referred to Washington’s good graces by Marquis de Lafayette, 5-28-1788 (also see Washington’s Diaries.) Reverend Belknap was assisted with securing information for his American Biography, 6-17-1798; Reverend Walter Magowan was given a pastoral recommendation in an application for a parish ministry, 7-20-1784; Reverend William West and family were served as Washington acted as an executor of a family estate on their behalf, 2-28-1789. Reverend John Witherspoon had been attempting to assist Reverend James Wilson, a Scotch Presbyterian minister, to find a pulpit and had written to Washington. He responded on 8-23-1786, “You have been misinformed respecting the congregation of Pohick. It is of the Episcopal Church and at this time has an incumbent; of which I give you the earliest notice for the information of Mr. Wilson. A Church above this, formerly under the same Ministry, is, I believe, unprovided; but of what Religion the people thereabout now are, I am unable to say. Most probably a medley as they have had Methodist, and Baptist preachers of all kinds among them.”

10   WGW, vol. 21, 2-13-1781, To Mrs. Susan Blair (wife of Reverend Samuel Blair) et al,.

11   Ibid., vol. 28, 2-17-1785 to George William Fairfax, Mrs. Morton, wife of Reverend Andrew Morton.

12   Mrs. Charles Green, the widow of Washington’s childhood pastor, Reverend Chares Green, married Dr. William Savage, which turned out to be a troubled marriage and left a troubled estate. Washington described the problems of the estate as “an affair which originated in an evil hour, by an injudicious and unhappy marriage, and will end, it is to be feared, in vexation and loss to all those who have had any concern in the affairs of the unfortunate Mrs. Savage.” (to Peter Trenor, 9-6-1794.) To follow Washington’s role in this affair, see 4-25-1767 (to Dr. William Savage); 5-27-1767 (to Dr. William Savage); 8-28-1774 (to Mrs. Sarah Bomford); 10-11-1783 (to Francis Moore); 11-15-1786 (to Mrs. Anne Ennis); 1-6-1790 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 3-18-1792 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 3-19-1792 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 12-25-1792 (to Thomas Newton, Jr.); 3-6-1793 (to Reverend Bryan Fairfax); 9-6-1794 (to Peter Trenor); 9-8-1794 (to Reverend Bryan, Lord Fairfax); 1-3-1796 (to Reverend Bryan, Lord Fairfax); 8-20-1797 (to Reverend Newburgh Burroughs); 4-22-1798 (to George Deneale). The wrangling over the estate of Mrs. Savage prompted Washington to write to Reverend Bryan Fairfax on 3-6-1793, who was also responsible for helping the widow’s estate. “Before I conclude, permit me to ask if anything is done, or likely to be done in the case of Savage. I am extremely anxious to see all matters in which I have had any agency, brought to a close, altho’ the issue therof should be unfavorable, before I quit the stage of life.” Washington’s final word on the matter on 4-22-1798 to George Deneale declared, “...Doctr. Savage while living, and his followers since, have had recourse to all the chicane and subterfuge which could be practiced, to wrong the above Lady and defraud her creditors; of whom I am one for money lent her.” It is perhaps this experience that prompted Washington to say. as he wrote to Burgess Ball. who was helping Washington with the estate of his deceased mother: “I hope you have got through your difficulties on account of your surety-ship for Major Willis, and without loss. When you engaged in this business you neglected the advice of the Wise man, than which no better I believe is to be found in his whole book, or among all his sayings, ‘Beware of surety-ship’” WGW, vol. 30, 1-18-1790.

13   General Washington was favorable to Reverend John Rodgers’ proposal to give to the American Army copies of the newly published and congressionally sanctioned American Bible, 6-11-1783. See the following for examples of Washington’s various charitable gifts: Reverend William Smith, 8-18-1782; 8-25-1784; Reverend John Henry Livingston, 12-24-1789; Reverend Mr. Muir, 2-24-1794; 1-22-1798; 2-24-1794; Reverend Hezekiah Balch, see WGW note on 12-16-1795; Reverend John Rodgers, 11-28-1789; 8-39-1790; Reverend Auley Macauley, 11-14-1791; Reverend William White, 12-31-1793; 1-1-1794;1-2-1794.

14   See note #5 on the Washington family’s tutors above.

15   The word “chaplain” occurs in Washington’s writings well over 100 times. Reverend Mr. Doyles, 8-5-1775 (General Orders). In the chapter on “Washington and Prayer,” we discussed Washington’s appreciation for Chaplain Abiel Leonard, 12-15-1775 (to Gov. Jonathan Trumbull.) Reverend Timothy Dwight, Jr. was a chaplain of Parson’s brigade, 3-18-1778 (to Brig. Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons). Dwight would later become President of Yale College. Revd. Doctr. Israel Evans, chaplain of the New York Brigade proposed erecting of a public building, which the General approved. Some chaplains required more attention than others: 2-7-1781 (to Maj. Gen. William Heath, “Inclosed is a letter which is one of many I have received upon the same subject from the Revd. Mr. Allen. I refer the matter to you, and if you find that he has the least shadow of right to his claim, pray pay him his demand, or he will write me, and travel himself to death.” Reverend David Jones was involved in a Court Martial wherein he complained that Maj. Murnam took “possession of his quarters”, a complaint which the clergyman lost (to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan, 5-15-1779; 9-21-1780). The General Orders of 2-18-1781 record a Court Martial against a Maj. Reid that included “unofficer and ungentlemanlike conduct” because of the content of a letter he had written about his superior officer to the Reverend Mr. Powers. Reverend William Rogers, 12-13-1778.was written to by Washington about his request for service as a Chaplain, which was referred to Congress. Washington wrote to Congress concerning the Reverend Mr. Tetard, who had “suffered in the extreme,” to present his claim “to a generous notice”, 9-4-1778 (to the President of Congress). Washington addressed questions of the status of chaplains as prisoners of war, the lack of pay of soldiers, the need for horses and land grants for men who served in the military to Reverend John Hurt, Chaplain to the Virginia Brigade, 9-25-1782; 8-28-1789. He wrote on 3-23-1781 to Reverend Jacob Johnson of his inability to appoint him as a chaplain to the Garrison at Wyoming. since he lacked congressional provision, even though he was “disposed to give every species of countenance and encouragement to the cultivation of Virtue, Morality and Religion.” The note of WGW on April 18, 1783 says, “At noon the proclamation of Congress for a cessation of hostilities was proclaimed at the door of the New building, followed by three huzzas; after which a prayer was made by the Reverend Mr. Ganno, and an anthem (Independence, from Billings,) was performed by vocal and instrumental music.”—Heath’s Memories.”

16   Reverend Bishop Samuel Provoost was chaplain in the U.S. Senate; Reverend William Linn was chaplain in the House of Representatives; Reverend. Bishop William White served as Chaplain to the Continental Congress and then again as chaplain to Congress, when the new government convened in Philadelphia. Washington knew each of these men. See Fitzpatrick, Diaries.

17   The best known revolutionary clergyman, who also served as an active military officer, was General Peter Muhlenberg, who we discussed in the chapter on “Washington the Soldier.” An unsung hero in this category was Reverend James Caldwell, chaplain of the Third New Jersey Regiment, but who was also an active military officer serving as Assistant Quartermaster. Reverend Caldwell was killed by a sentinel in November 1781. Caldwell first appears in Washington’s letters on 12-6-1776 with his humorous quote of Reverend Caldwell, written to the President of Congress: “By a letter of the 4th Inst. from a Mr. Caldwell, a Clergyman and a staunch friend to the Cause, and who has fled from Elizabeth Town and taken refuge in the Mountains about Ten Miles from thence, I am informed, that Genl. or Lord Howe was expected in that Town, to publish pardon and peace. His words are, ‘I have not seen his proclamation, but only can say, he gives 60 days of Grace and Pardons from the Congress down to the Committee. No one man in the Continent is to be denied his Mercy.’ In the language of this Good Man, the Lord deliver us from his Mercy.” Writing to Maj. Gen. Israel Putnam on 2-3-1777, Washington said about the need to secure forage, “On the success of this business, very much depends; let me therefore, call your utmost attention to it. Doctr. Caldwell will be the best person you can apply to, he will give you every possible Assistance.” Other references to Reverend Caldwell are: 5-13-1778 (to Maj. Benjamin Tallmadge); 8-8-1778 (to Brig. Gen. William Maxwell); 8-22-1778 (to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan); 10-29-1778 (to Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene); 10-31-1779 (to Maj. Gen. John Sullivan); 6-13-1778; 8-8-1778; 1-10-1780; 1-21-1780; 2-1-1780; 2-7-1781.

18   Reverend Samuel Kirkland, 9-28-1775 (to the Massachusetts Legislature); 2-26-1779 (to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler); 1-29-1778 (to the Committee of Congress with the Army); Reverend John Carroll, 5-15-1776 (to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler); 4-10-1792; Reverend John Ettwein, 3-28-1778; 5-2-1788; Reverend Mr. De La Motte, 12-17-1779 (to the President of Congress); Reverend John C. Kunze, 1-12-1790.

19   Reverend Alexander McWhorter, Chaplain of the Artillery brigade, 10-12-1778.

20   Reverend Charles Green, 11-13-1757.

21   Reverend Dr. John Wheelock, President of Dartmouth College, 12-18-1775 (to Maj. Gen. Philip Schuyler); 6-9-1781; Reverend Mr. Madison, 8-8-1776 (to the President of Congress); Reverend Dirck Romeyn, 11-3-1780.

22   Reverend Thornton Fleming, 1-30-1793; Reverend James Madison, 9-23-1793.

23   Reverend William Smith, 11-15-1780, was thanked as secretary of the American Philosophical Society for Washington’s election to membership in the society. Reverend David Zeisberger, Moravian missionary, provided Washington with a list of Indian words for Marquis de Lafayette, 1-10-1788 (to Marquis de Lafayette). Reverend Jedidiah Morse’s American Geography was discussed, 6-19-1788 (to Richard Henderson). Reverend Morse was also thanked for gifts of his works, 7-17-1793; 6-20-1797. Reverend George Skene Keith’s work on weights, measures, and coins was received with thanks and with the declaration that his “Book is of high importance to society in general, and particularly to the Commercial World”, 6-22-1792. Reverend John Lathrop’s publications of the Humane Society were read with “singular satisfaction”, 6-22-1788; 2-22-1788. He thanked Reverend Joseph Willard for his election as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 3-22-1781. He acknowledged the good work in educating the Indians done by Reverend John Wheelock, President of Dartmouth College. He thanked Reverend Jeremy Belknap for his history of New Hampshire, 1-5-1785. He also thanked Reverend Belknap for his American Biography and promised him that he would assist in the effort to secure additional subscribers, 5-9-1794; 7-12-1798. He thanked and commended Reverend Jonathan Edwards for providing scholarly information on Indian languages, 8-28-1788. Reverend William Maunsell was congratulated for a publication that detailed a new method of cultivating potatoes, 2-20-1795. Reverend Samuel Knox was congratulated on his study on a “Uniform System of Education, adapted to the United States,” 10-14-1798.