Ethan Allen's Supplies to Establish Town Signed by His Brother Ebenezar Allen Great Vermont History

Fine content Autograph Document Signed "Ebenezar Allen," 4pp., 11.5" x 7", Stratford, April 17, 1789. Signed twice additionally in text. Allen provides a copy of his accounts with Captain Stowe and Litchfield County, Connecticut merchant, Truman Hinman dating between April 18, 1771 and December 17, 1772. An account which dates only days after he, together with Thomas Ashley, an in-law of the Allen family, made camp on the bank of the Poultney River establishing the town on April 15, 1771.

The account includes four major orders of supplies from Truman Hinman (1731 - 1793) beginning with very basic supplies ordered only days after Allen and Ashley built their shanties and included "iron, 1 Bundle of Linnen [sic], 1 Ream paper, 4 half Faggots Steel, 2 Small… Nails, 1 Small bag Indigo", and most importantly, a "Cross Cut Saw”. By June 14, Allen was anticipating the arrival of more settlers, and ordered what appears to be, not only supplies for himself but for resale including a "box of pipes, 1 Bundle of Saws, nails, 3 Empty Cases, pepper, 6 Iron Shovells, Large Trunk Goods, 6 Tea Kettles, 2 Bundles of Scythes, 2 bags of paint, 16 Shear molds, 4 Bags Shott, 1 Bag Coffee, 6 pewter Tankards". The next day, Allen ordered even more of what he had ordered the previous day as well as “3 Bundles Books, 1 Bundle Hour Glasses, a parcell [sic] Stone Ware.” That cache lasted the summer and Allen did not make another order until October. This time, besides the basics including spices, dry goods, nails and iron, he sent for wine, “1 Bundle German Steel, 1 Very Large Bocks [sic] of Dry Goods”.

Hindman was a dry goods merchant in Woodbury, Connecticut and for some time, Hindman was a partner with Shadrach Osborn (1747 - 1838) of Southbury, Connecticut. Osborn would later work in the commissary department during the American Revolution. An account between Allen and that partnership appears on the fourth page dating between August 7, and March 4, 1773, for nails, “6 puter [sic] platters” The supplies had to be carted via New York, and Allen paid mostly in cash or by the exchange of wheat. One of Allen’s customers was Captain Stowe, who purchased a variety of goods from Allen. It is not certain whether Stowe was an early settler of Poultney or not. Most of the original proprietors of Poultney (the grant was made in 1761) were from Litchfield County, Connecticut as were Hindman and Osborn.

In the rush of land speculation following the French and Indian War, Ethan Allen managed to procure about a third of the available land by 1770 and helped defend the grants from competing claims by New York. The Litchfield County proprietors, in their final meeting in 1772, elected Ethan Allen as Proprietor’s Clerk. During the American Revolution, many Poultney men including Ebenezar Allen and Thomas Ashley would participate in the 1775 capture on Fort Ticonderoga that was led by Ethan Allen. Ebenezar Allen would receive an appointment in captain in Col. Herrick’s battalion of rangers in July 1777, and served with distinction at the Battle of Bennington and in September of the same year, led the assault on Mt. Defiance. This account appears to have been composed by in Allen in 1789 due to some dispute over payment. Allen certified on the final page "..that the foregoing Account from Apr. 18th 1771 to Octr. 17th, 1771 is as it stands on my Shipping Book & the same was paid to me by Capt. Stowe July 2, 1772..." Ever the wanderer, he did not stay in Poultney for long. In 1779, Ebenezar became one of the original grantees of, South Hero, Vermont on Grand Isle in Lake Champlain and moved his family there soon afterward. Always the speculator, he toured Ohio, Michigan, and Upper Canada in 1792 and in 1795 he became a partner in an effort to purchase the entire lower Michigan peninsula from the U.S. government. The attempt to purchase the area for $500,000 fell apart after it was revealed that two of Allen’s partners had attempted to bribe several congressmen for their support of the purchase. In 1800, Allen left South Hero to live in Burlington, where he operated a tavern until his death in 1805.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!