See S. Caunce, Oral History (1994); V. R. Yow, Recording Oral History (1994), R. Perks and A. Thomson, The Oral History Reader (repr. 1998).
Oral history is an account of something passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another. Oral history is considered by some historians to be an unreliable source for the study of history. However, oral history is a valid means for preserving and transmitting history. Experience within literate cultures indicates that each time anyone reconstructs a memory, there are changes in the memory, but the core of the story is usually retained. Over time, however, minor changes can accumulate until the story becomes unrecognizable.
The information passed on has occasionally shown a surprising accuracy over long periods of time. For example, the Iliad, an epic poem of Homer describing the conquest of Troy, was passed down as oral history from perhaps the 8th century BC, until being recorded in writing by Pisistratos. Nonetheless, factual elements of the Iliad were at least partially validated by the discovery of ruins discovered by Heinrich Schliemann in 1870, thought to be those of the city described in the poem.
The most popular examples of oral history are the works of several authors that have, over the span of many hundred years BC, collected folklore which ultimately resulted in these works being included in a collective book known as the Old Testament. The New Testament was created by four different original authors whose slightly differing versions of many biblical events were combined. The Bible was therefore ‘nearly’ entirely created using oral history.
Oral historians attempt to record the memories of many different people when researching a given event. Since any given individual may misremember events or distort their account for personal reasons, the historical documentation is considered to reside in the points of agreement of many different sources, rather than the account of any one person.
28 Soldier and Servant Series: “Mrs. Alexander Hamilton Witness that George Washington Was A Communicant of the Church” (Hartford: Church Missions Publishing Company, February, 1932), p. 2.
29 This whole account is preserved in “Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Witness That Washington Was A Communicant Of The Church.”
30 Meade, Old Churches, II, p. 244.
31 Ibid.
32 Johnson, Washington the Christian, p. 58.
33 Meade, Old Churches, II. 495.
34 Sparks, The Writings of George Washington, XII, pp. 405ff.
35 Ibid., p. 409.
36 WGW, vol. 37, 9-14-1799.
37 Ibid., 12-10-1799.
38 Interview with Mary Thompson for Coral Ridge Ministries.
39 Ibid.
40 “Almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting, and power infinite; Have mercy upon the whole Church, and so rule the heart of thy chosen servant GEORGE our King and Governor, that he (knowing whose Minister he is) may above all things seek thy honour and glory; and that we and all his subjects (duly considering whose authority he hath) may faithfully serve honour and humbly obey him, in thee, and for thee, according to thy blessed word and ordinance, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee, and the Holy Ghost, liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen.” [online] http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1662/HC.pdf p. 3.
41 “We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Governors; and especially thy servant GEORGE our King, that under him we may be godly and quietly governed: and grant unto his whole council, and to all that are put in authority under him, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true Religion and Virtue. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments: And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and especially to this Congregation here present....” [online] http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1662/HC.pdf p. 6.
42 “O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of Lords, the only ruler of princes, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious Sovereign Lord King GEORGE, and so replenish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that he may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts, grant him in health and wealth long to live, strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and finally after this life, he may attain everlasting joy and felicity, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” [online] http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/1662/mp.pdf p. 8.
43 In Johnson, Washington the Christian, p. 75.
44 WGW, vol. 11, 3-1-1778.
45 Lane, Washington Collection, Boston Athenaeum, pp. 30-31.
46 Ibid, p. 31.
47 “The Duty of Standing Fast in Our Spiritual and Temporal Liberties,” A Sermon Preached in Christ Church July 7th 1775 To his Excellency George Washington, Esquire, General and Commander In Chief of all the forces of the Untied English Colonies in North America, this sermon, as a small tribute of respect for many amiable virtues as well in private as in public life, is most humbly and affectionately inscribed by the author.
48 Duché reasoned, Perhaps it may be said, that it is ‘better to die than be Slaves.’ This indeed is a splendid maxim in theory: And perhaps in some instances may be found experimentally true. But where there is the least Probability of an happy Accommodation, surely Wisdom and Humanity call for some Sacrifices to be made, to prevent inevitable Destruction. You, well know, that there is but one invincible Bar to such an Accommodation. Could this be removed, other obstacles might readily be overcome. ‘Tis to you, and you alone your bleeding Country looks, and calls aloud for this Sacrifice. Your Arm alone has Strength sufficient to remove this Bar. May Heaven inspire you with the glorious Resolution of exerting this Strength at so interesting a Crisis, and thus immortalizing Yourself as Friend and Guardian of Your Country! Your penetrating Eye needs no more explicit Language to discern my meaning.
Speaking of his sermon, “The Duty of Standing Fast”, Duche writes: I was pressed to publish this sermon, and reluctantly consented. – From a personal attachment of near twenty years standing, and a high respect for your character, in private, as well as in public life, I took the liberty of dedicating this sermon to you. I had your affectionate thanks for my performance, in a letter, wherein was expressed in the most delicate and obliging terms, your regard for me, and your wishes for a continuance of my friendship and approbation of your conduct. Farther than this I intended not to proceed. My sermon speaks for itself, and wholly disclaims the idea of independency....A very few days after the fatal declaration of independency, I received a letter from Mr. Hancock, sent by express to Germantown, where my family were for the summer season, acquainting me I was appointed Chaplain of the Congress, and desired my attendance next morning at 9 o’clock. Surprised and distressed, as I was, by an event I was not prepared to expect; obliged to give an immediate attendance, without the opportunity of consulting my friends, I easily accepted the appointment. I could have but one motive for accepting this step. I thought the churches in danger ....I then looked upon independency as an expedient and hazardous, or, indeed, thrown out in terrorem, in order to procure some favorable terms....My sudden change of conduct will clearly evince this to have been my idea of the matter. ...independency was the idol they had long wished to set up, and that, rather than sacrifice this, they would deluge their country with blood. From this moment I determined upon my resignation, and, in the beginning of October 1776, sent it in form to Mr. Hancock, after having officiated only two months and three weeks; and from that time, as far as safety would permit, I have been opposed to all their measures. This circumstantial account of my conduct, I think due to the friendship you were obliging as to express for me, and I hope will be sufficient to justify my seeming inconsistencies in the part I have acted....If the arguments made use of in this letter should have so much influence as to engage you in the glorious work, which I have warmly recommended, I shall ever deem my success the highest temporal favour that Providence could grant me. Your interposition and advice, I am confident, would meet with a favourable reception from the authority under which you act. If it should not, you have an infallible recourse still left, negotiate for your country at the head of your army. After all it may appear presumption as an individual to address himself to you on a subject of such magnitude, or to say what measures would best secure the interest and welfare of a whole continent. The friendly and favourable opinion you have always expressed for me, emboldens me to undertake it, and which has greatly added to the weight of this motive; I have been strongly impressed with a sense of duty upon the occasion, which left my conscience uneasy, and my heart afflicted till I fully discharged it. I am no enthusiast; the cause is new and singular to me, but I could not enjoy one moment’s peace till this letter was written, with the most ardent prayers for your spiritual, as well as temporal welfare.
I am your most obedient, And humble Friend and Servant, Jacob Duché
49 Weems, Life of Washington, pp. 187-189, relates the story of a fight that the youthful Washington had with a Mr. Payne, that resulted in his own apology, and need to be forgiven.
“... the benevolence which he so carefully cultivated through life. A singular instance of which we meet with in 1754, and the 22d year of his age.
“He was stationed at Alexandria with his regiment, the only one in the colony, and of which he was colonel. There happened at this time to be an election in Alexandria for members of assembly, and the contest ran high between colonel George Fairfax, and Mr. Elzey. Washington was the warm friend of Fairfax, and a Mr. Payne headed the friends of Elzey. A dispute happening to take place in the courthouse-yard, Washington, a thing very uncommon, said something that offended Payne; whereupon the little gentleman who, though but a cub in size, was the old lion in heart, raised his sturdy hickory, and, at a single blow, brought our hero to the ground. Several of Washington’s officers being present, whipped out this cold irons in an instant, and it was believed that there would have been murder offhand. To make bad worse, his regiment, hearing how he had been treated, bolted out from their barracks, with every man his weapon in his hand, threatening dreadful vengeance on those who had dared to knock down their beloved colonel. Happily for Mr. Payne and his party, Washington recovered, time enough to go out and meet his enraged soldiers; and, after thanking them for this expression of their love, and assuring them that he was not hurt in the least, he begged them, as they loved him or their duty, to return peaceably to their barracks. As for himself, he went to his room, generously chastising his imprudence, which had this struck up a spark, that had like to have thrown the whole town into a flame. Finding on mature reflection, that he had been the aggressor, he resolved to make Mr. Payne honourable reparation, by asking his pardon on the morrow! No sooner had he made this noble resolution, than recovering that delicious gaiety which accompanies good purposes in a virtuous mind, he went to a ball that night, and behaved as pleasantly as though nothing had happened! Glorious proof that great souls, like great ships, are not affected by those little puffs which would overset feeble minds with passion, or sink them with spleen!
The next day he went to a tavern, and wrote a polite note to Mr. Payne, whom he requested to meet him. Mr. Payne took it for a challenge, and repaired to the tavern not without expecting to see a pair of pistols produced. But what was his surprise on entering the chamber, to see a decanter of wine and glasses on the table! Washington arose, and in a very friendly manner met him, and gave him his hand. “Mr. Payne,” said he “to err is nature; to rectify error is glory; I find I was wrong yesterday, but wish to be right to-day. You have had some satisfaction; and if you think that sufficient here’s my hand, let us be friends.”
Lest we think that this was an easy matter for Washington, we need to understand that his soul struggled with the intense emotions that this civil war inevitably produced. Consider his poignant letter to Major Gen. Robert Howe written from West Point on November 20, 1779,
I do not know which rises highest, my indignation or contempt for the Sentiments which pervade the Ministerial writings of this day; these hireling scribblers labour to describe and prove the ingratitude of America in not breaking faith with France, and returning to her Allegiance to the Crown of Great Britain after its having offered such advantageous terms of accommodation. Such Sentiments as these are insulting to common sense and affrontive to every principle of sound policy and common honesty. Why has She offered these terms? because after a bloody contest, carried on with unrelenting and savage fury on her part the issue (which was somewhat doubtful while we stood alone) is now become certain by the aid we derive from our Alliance; notwithstanding the manifest advantages of which, and the blood and treasure which has been spent to resist a tyranny which was unremitted as long as there remained a hope of subjugation we are told with an effrontery altogether unparalleled that every cause of complaint is now done away by the generous offers of a tender parent; that it is ungrateful in us not to accept the proffered terms; and impolitic not to abandon a power (dangerous I confess to her but) which held out a Saving hand to us in the hour of our distress. What epithet does such Sentiments merit? How much should a people possessed of them be despised? From my Soul I abhor them! A Manly struggle, had it been conducted upon liberal ground; an honest confession that they were unequal to conquest, and wished for our friendship, would have had its proper weight; but their cruelties, exercised upon those who have fallen within their power; the wanton depredations committed by themselves and their faithful Allies the Indians; their low and dirty practices of Counterfeiting our money, forging letters, and condescending to adopt such arts as the meanest villain in private life would blush at being charged with has made me their fixed enemy. (WGW, vol. 17, 11-20-1779.)
50 WGW, vol. 26, 6-8-1783.
51 Ibid., vol. 36, Circular to the States.
52 WGW, vol. 34, 12-24-1795.
CHAPTER 21
1 WGW, vol. 29, 2-16-1787. To Thomas Stone.
2 Boller, George Washington & Religion, pp. 22-23. “What, then, are we to say about Washington’s actual religious faith and practices? It is clear that the popular legends about Washington—the valley Forge and the Morristown stories and the innumerable tales of Washington at prayer—must be dismissed as totally lacking in any kind of evidence that would hold up in a court of law.”
