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The Ladies of Trenton Assemble,
1780
Courtesy,
New Jersey Historical Society
William Nelson, ed., Documents
Relating to the Revolutionary History of the State of New Jersey, Volume
IV (Trenton: State Gazette Publishing Co., 1914),pp 4865-488.
During the Revolutionary War,
well-to-do women in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland organized to
raise money to help the poorly-financed Continental Army. In this
announcement from a newspaper of July 1780, women in Trenton announced a
state-wide organization for raising funds to go to George Washington, the
Commander in Chief, "for the relief and encouragement of those brave
Men...who...so repeatedly suffered, fought and bled in the cause of virtue
and their oppressed county." The Trenton women were inspired by women
in Philadelphia who raised a considerable sum earlier in the Spring by
going door to door to solicit contributions.
Prominent women in 13 counties contacted other patriotic women and sent
the money they collected to the appointed treasurer. The women succeeded
in raising $15,488 that was transferred directly to Washington who then
purchased 380 pairs of stockings for New Jersey soldiers.
| Trenton, July 4, 1780
The Ladies of Trenton, in
New-Jersey, emulating the noble example of their Patriotic Sisters
of Pennsylvania, and being desirous of manifesting their zeal in
the glorious cause of American Liberty, having this day assembled
for the purpose of promoting a subscription for the relief and
encouragement of those brave Men in the Continental Army, who,
stimulated by example, and regardless of danger, have so
repeatedly suffered, fought and bled in the cause of virtue and
their oppressed county: And taking into consideration the
scattered situation of the well-disposed thro’ the state, who
would wish to contribute to so laudable an undertaking, have, for
the convenience of such, and the more effectually to carry their
scheme into execution, unanimously appointed Mrs. Cox, Mrs.
Dickenson, Mrs. Furman and Miss Cadwallader, a Committee, whose
duty it shall be immediately to open subscriptions and to
correspond with the Ladies hereafter named, of the different
counties throughout the state, request their aid and influence in
the several districts; and in order the more expeditiously to
carry their scheme into execution, the Ladies now met have taken
the liberty to solicit the interest of the following Ladies in
promotion said subscriptions ...; whose well known patriotism
leaves no room to doubt of their best exertions in the promotion
of an undertaking so humane and praiseworthy, and that they will
be happy in forwarding the amount of their several collections,
either with or without the names of the donors, which will be
immediately transmitted by Mrs. (Moore) Furman, who is hereby
appointed Treasurer, to be disposed of by the Commander in Chief,
agreeable to the General Plan.
As the Ladies here would wish to
expedite the good work as much as possible, they have appointed
Miss Dagworthy of Trenton, their Secretary, who will receive and
answer all letters that the Ladies of the different counties may
think proper to favour her with on the occasion, and to furnish
them with proper subscription papers as soon as possible.
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