William S. Pennington papers, 1780-1781.

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William S. Pennington papers, 1780-1781.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53085555

The papers consist of a commission and the diary of William S. Pennington (1757-1826) from the American Revolution. The commission is signed by Samuel Huntington, President of the Congress of the United States in 1780 and retroactively promotes Pennington to the rank of 2nd lieutenant in the Second Regiment of Artillery in the United States Army as of September 12, 1778. Pennington's diary was written from May 4, 1780 to March 23, 1781 during his time as a 2nd lieutenant in the army. He describes the daily life of a soldier, writing about marches, dining with friends, letters received, visits home, and news and hearsay from the front. The entries track Pennington's movements during this period but also give insight into the movements of the larger army and major figures in the War, including General George Washington who Pennington dines with.

0.02 linear feet (2 folders)

New Jersey Historical Society Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 7664416

New Jersey Historical Society Library

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Pennington, Samuel Hayes, Dr,

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rk1w4f (person)

United States. Continental Army

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66m6x5k (corporateBody)

In response to the expansion of the Continental Army the number of staff was increased and reorganized in 1776. Changes included the creation of a new unit to supplement George Washington's personal staff. This special unit, the Commander in Chief's Guard, was formed on March 12, 1776 with Captain Caleb Gibbs (formerly adjutant of the 14th Continental Regiment and appointed Aid to Major General Greene) as commander. The unit protected Washington, the army's cash, and official papers. ...

Whitehead, A. Pennington

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pv6nn9 (person)

Pennington, William S. (William Sandford), 1757-1826

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c82wqx (person)

William Sanford Pennington, the sixth of the nine children of Mary Sanford (1725-1805) and Samuel Pennington (1725-1791), was born in 1757 in Newark, New Jersey. He was probably trained as a hatter, but at the outbreak of the Revolution joined the Continental Army and became in 1777 a sergeant in the 2nd Regiment of Artillery under Colonel John Lamb and Major General Henry Knox. He advanced to the rank of 2nd lieutenant in 1780, and at the end of the war was brevetted Captain by a s...