Autographs
1796 William Ellery ALS Rhode Island Declaration Signer, Regarding Whale Oil For The New London Ct. Lighthouse!
WILLIAM ELLERY (1727-1820). Signer of the Declatation of Independence from Rhode Island.
April 28, 1796-Dated, Autograph Letter Signed, “Wm Ellery” as Collector of Customs for the District of Newport, measuring 6.75” x 8”, 2 pages, Custom House, at Port of Newport (Rhode Island), Choice Extremely Fine. This Letter is written to (General) Jedediah Huntington, the Superintendent of the Custom House at New London, Connecticut. Jedediah Huntington (1743-1818) (also known as Jedidiah Huntington), was an American General in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1778 he was a member of the court-martial that tried General Charles Lee, and in 1780 of the one that condemned Major André. After the war, he was Collector of Customs at New London, Connecticut. This excellent, period Letter is beautifully penned by Ellery in rich deep brown upon very clean laid paper. His signature is sharp and attractive, measuring 1.5” long at the conclusion. Overall, an impressive quality Letter that is excellent for display.

Ellery had been appointed Collector of Customs for the district of Newport by President George Washington in 1790, which post he held for 30 years until his death. Here, William Ellery pens a letter regarding supplying (Whale) Oil from the whaling port of New Bedford (MA.), to the Lighthouse at New London. His excellent content Letter reads, in full:

"Sir --- Yesterday I recd a letter from the Commr of the Revenue directing me out of the best of the Oil purchased or to be purchased by me to send to the Connecticut Light house a full supply to April 15th 1797 after deducting from the estimated quantity for a year the number of gallons on hand.

You will be pleased therefore immediately to inform me what quantify will be necessary for a full supply to that period, after making the deduction mentioned. This Oil will be shipped from New Bedford, and by agreement the Oil strained from head matter purchased there is to be shipped in the course of the next month.

Please to inform me what number of Lamps are used in your Light house, the capacity of each and what quantity of Oil upon an average is consumed every night. I am, With respect, Sir, Yr. obedt. Servant Wm Ellery Supt. L. House ---

P. S. In your certificate of goods exported by Augustin Ricardio which were imported in the Diet of Newport in the nuestro senora del carmen is a small mistake. -- The whole amt of duties is 229,,56 -- The deduct. of 1 pr. cent - 2,29 leaves - 227,27 - not 226,27 as in the Certificate." On the verso is written, ostensibly by Jedidiah Huntington:

"May 6, 1796 --- Sir, --- I have your letter of April. I shall want 600 Gall oil for supply to the L. House until 15 April.

There are 3 Lamps in our L. House holding about one gallon - we calculate that a little more than 2 Gall. oil are consumed every night on average. --- I am (initialed) JH (?)".
ELLERY, WILLIAM (1727-1820) was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence; American political leader; Member of the Continental Congress (1776- 81 and 1783-85). Born in Newport, Rhode Island. He was drawn into Colonial politics, and became a leading member of the Rhode Island “Sons of Liberty,” which protested the hated Stamp Acts (1765) by burning effigies of local Royal Stamp Vendors at the Newport Courthouse.

Ellery clearly regarded his participation in the Congress of 1776, when the Independence resolution was adopted, as the high-point of his public career. After the Revolutionary War, Ellery was elected Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Rhode Island (1785), but he never took his seat so that he could remain in Congress. After retiring from Congress, he was appointed as the Commissioner of the Continental Loan Office for Rhode Island (1786-90). Later he was appointed Collector of the Customs for the District of Newport (1790-1820) by President George Washington, being retained by President Thomas Jefferson and his successors.

It was recorded by a descendant that, when the engrossed Declaration of Independence was formally signed, Ellery "... placed himself by the side of Charles Thomson, the Secretary of the Continental Congress and observed the expression and manner of each member, as be came up to sign the Declaration. He used to describe this scene with great spirit ... " Observing the expressions on the faces of the delegates as they affixed their signatures, Ellery reported that all displayed only "undaunted resolution".

Jedediah Huntington was born in Norwich, Connecticut, and was the son of Jabez Huntington. He graduated at Harvard in 1763. He was engaged in commercial pursuits with his father, was an active Son of Liberty, and a member of the Committee of Correspondence that was established at a Norwich town meeting on 6 June 1774.

He raised a regiment in which he was made captain, joined the Continental Army at Cambridge, Massachusetts, on 26 April 1775. He aided in repulsing the British at Danbury, Connecticut, in April 1776. He "... fought courageously during the Battle of Bunker Hill, from which he emerged a Colonel."

Having been appointed Brigadier General on 12 May 1777, he joined the main army near Philadelphia in September of that year, and in May 1778, was ordered to Hudson River.

In 1778 he was a member of the court-martial that tried Gen. Charles Lee and in 1780 of the one that condemned Major André. He entertained many distinguished officers in his house, among whom were Lafayette, Steuben, and Pulaski. When Lauzun's Legion was stationed at Lebanon during the winter of 1780/1, he invited that commander and his officers to a banquet.

He was one of the first board of foreign missions, and a zealous supporter of charitable institutions. His first wife, Faith, was a daughter of Governor Trumbull, and his second wife was the sister of Bishop Moore of Virginia. He was one of the organizers of the Society of the Cincinnati. He became Collector of the Port of New London in 1789 and held the office 26 years.

The General Jedidiah Huntington House in Norwichtown, Connecticut, survives and was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1970.

(From Wikipedia)