Defiant Brides (32 page)

Phillip Seitz, Curator of History and Fermentation at Cliveden, a historic mansion in Philadelphia owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, graciously cleared his calendar to talk with me and suggested key background materials on eighteenth-century Philadelphia and its residents. Thanks are also due to the staff at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, especially Cary Majewicz and Dana Dorman, for help with the Shippen Family Papers and online access to early editions of the
Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography
. Amanda Fulcher, archivist at the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, provided invaluable information about the Henry Knox Papers and the reminiscences of his daughter Lucy Knox Thatcher.

Several Canadian researchers enhanced research on Benedict Arnold’s years in Saint John, New Brunswick, among them Amber McAlpine of the New Brunswick Museum Archives and Research Library for her guidance on the Arnold collections in Canada, and her colleague Jennifer Longon for permission to reprint letters from the Benedict Arnold Fonds. My thanks also to Francesca Holyoke, head of the Archives and Special Collections at the University of New Brunswick Archives Library for her conscientious efforts to send me to the Benedict Arnold-Munson Hayt Fonds. Margaret Conrad, professor emerita of history at the University of New Brunswick, graciously read a draft of the manuscript, made several important suggestions, and alerted me to the historical distortions often associated with Arnold’s life in Saint John.

Marla Miller, director of the Public History Program at the University of Massachusetts, took time from her busy schedule to read a draft of the manuscript and provided a thoughtful comment. In London’s St. Mary’s Church in Battersea, the burial place of Benedict and Peggy Shippen Arnold, Sunny Walker-Kier gave me a tour of the parish church, followed by a discussion with the reverends Peter Wintgren and Adam Boulter about the Arnolds and other prominent individuals buried there. I am especially grateful to the Battersea Parish Church’s archivist, Sven Tester, for help with the history of the Arnold tomb, the Benedict Arnold stained-glass window, his comments on a draft of the manuscript, and his outreach to a historical scholar on behalf of this book.

For public opinions on Arnold in England, the British Library’s Newspaper Archive at Colindale, North London, provided a wealth of historical articles. With my appreciation also to Dr. Tony Trowles, head of the Abbey Collections and librarian at Westminster Abbey, for access to a photograph of the John André tomb. While researching Peggy Shippen Arnold in England, I also found information at the Bath and North East Somerset Record Office on the lifestyles of affluent eighteenth-century visitors.

Research librarians Lauren Robinson and Colleen Hayes of the Sandwich, Massachusetts, Public Library, cheerfully and tirelessly accessed two centuries of books, articles, and monographs on the Knoxes, the Arnolds, and the American Revolution that were indispensable to this work. Often, Ms. Robinson and Ms. Hayes ensured extensions for those books beyond their renewal dates so that I could complete the research.

With my appreciation to Jude Pfister, chief of cultural resources at the Morristown National Historical Park for information about their archives, and to Moor Park ranger and historian Eric Olsen for references to the “hard winter” of 1779–80. Robin Ray, recreation director of the Township of Bedminster, New Jersey, and Marie Crenshaw at the Clarence Dillon Library provided little-known important information on the Pluckemin Artillery Cantonment. I also thank Dr. Herbert Bischoff, director of historical studies at the Hermitage Museum in Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey, for his insightful comments on Theodosia Prevost and Peggy Shippen Arnold. Author Clare S. Brandt also offered information on her earlier research efforts on Benedict Arnold in England.

Susan Lintelmann, manuscript coordinator at the library of the West Point Military Academy, answered questions and provided suggestions for original Arnold materials. Elaine McConnell, rare books coordinator of that library, provided for references to the West Point birthday celebration for the French dauphin. Thanks also to Richard Hoch of the White Plains Historical Society for background materials on the famous battle and the army camp at White Plains. Nor can I forget a fascinating conversation with Gary Petagine and Sean Grady, impersonators of Benedict Arnold, and their suggestions for additional source materials on Joshua Hett Smith, West Point, and the Hudson.

This list would not be complete without expressing appreciation to the board members of the Women Writing Women’s Lives Seminar of the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, who invited me to speak about the challenges of writing a double biography at that university’s Leon Levy Biography Center in April 2011. Wallace Exman, former Manhattan editor and vice president of the Cape Cod Writers Center, generously agreed to read a draft of the book and offered a number of important suggestions for the early chapters.

From the book’s inception through the research and writing process, Beacon Press executive editor Gayatri Patnaik has been a consistent source of inspiration, encouragement, and support, for which I am deeply grateful. Praise is also due to her assistant, Rachael Marks, for her attention to myriad details and enthusiasm for this work. I also want to thank Beacon Press managing editor Susan Lumenello, who conscientiously copyedited the book and did so with verve and patience.

Writing can be a lonely and isolating process, but that was greatly ameliorated by the forbearance of my dear husband, Bill, the first reader of these pages, whose astute analysis and suggestions helped improve the manuscript. For that and a thousand other kindnesses, I am indebted.

Archives

Individuals

1
. LK to HK, August 23, 1777, HKP.

2
. Walker, “Life of Margaret Shippen,” 25: 461.

“The Handsomest Woman in America”

1
. Engle,
Women in the American Revolution
, 156.

2
. Hatch,
Major John André
, 90.

3
.
Adams Family Correspondence
, 2: 169–70.

4
. Walker, “Life of Margaret Shippen,” 24: 414.

5
.
Bland Papers
, “From a Lady in Philadelphia to Mrs. Theodorick Bland, Jr.,” 92.

6
. Trevelyan,
American Revolution
, 280.

7
. Franks, “A Letter,” 216.

8
. Faris,
Romance of Old Philadelphia
, 116–17.

9
.
Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker
, 48.

10
.
Letters of John Adams
, 1: 194.

11
. Duane,
Extracts from the Diary of Christopher Marshall
, 107.

12
. Wainwright, “A Diary of Trifling Occurrences,” 450.

13
. Hatch,
Major John André
, 82.

14
. Silverman,
Cultural History
, 336.

15
. “From a Late Philadelphia Paper,”
Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser
, July 30, 1778.

16
. Wainwright, “A Diary of Trifling Occurrences,” 462.

17
. Hatch,
Major John André
, 93.

18
. André, “Particulars of the Mischianza,” 353.

19
. Ibid., 354–55.

20
. Ibid., 356.

21
. Ibid., 354.

22
. Walker, “Life of Margaret Shippen,” 24: 414.

23
. Ibid.

24
. Lewis,
Memoir of Edward Shippen
, 16.

25
. Walker, “Life of Margaret Shippen,” 24: 414.

26
. Ibid.

27
. Lewis,
Memoir of Edward Shippen
, 16.

28
. Smith,
Authentic Narrative
, 45.

29
. Callahan,
Peggy
, 25.

30
. Todd,
Real Benedict Arnold
, 171.

31
.
Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker
, 103.

32
. Stedman,
History of the Origin
, 385.

33
. André, “Particulars of the Mischianza,” 356.

34
.
Pennsylvania Packet
, May 13, 1778.

35
.
Extracts from the Journal of Elizabeth Drinker
, 102.

36
.
Sally Wister’s Journal
, 180.

37
. Armes,
Nancy Shippen
, 64–65.

38
. Clinton,
American Rebellion
, 86.

39
. Boylan,
Benedict Arnold
, 147–48.

40
.
Papers of Nathanael Greene
, 2: 444.

“The Best and Tenderest of Friends”

1
. Drake,
Life and Correspondence
, 15.

2
.
Diary and Autobiography of John Adams
, 3: 445–46.

3
. Chastellux,
Travels in North-America
, 112.

4
. HK to LF, March 1774, HKP.

5
. Drake,
Life and Correspondence
, 16.

6
. Thatcher, “Reminiscences,” 3, NSDAR.

7
. Ibid.

8
. John Murray to HK, August 11, 1774, HKP.

9
. Griffiths,
Major General Henry Knox
, 44.

10
. Ibid.

11
. Thacher,
Military Journal
, 484.

12
. LK to HK, April 1776, HKP.

13
. HK to LK, January 2, 1776, HKP.

14
. HK to LK, July 6, 1775, HKP.

15
. HK to LK, July 9, 1775, HKP.

16
. Callahan,
Henry Knox
, 39.

17
. John Adams to James Warren, July 23, 1775,
Warren-Adams Letters
, 1: 87.

18
. Lea,
Hero and a Spy
, 44.

19
. HK to LK, November 16, 1775, HKP.

20
. HK to LK, November 27, 1775, HKP.

21
. HK to LK, January 5, 1777, HKP.

22
.
Diary and Autobiography of John Adams
, 2: 227.

23
. GW to LK and HK, February 1, 1776, HKP.

24
. HK to William Burbeck, February 25, 1776, HKP.

25
. Fleming,
1776
, 181.

26
. Goldsmith,
She Stoops to Conquer
, 8.

27
. LK to HK, April 1776, HKP.

28
. Ibid.

29
. HK to LK, May 20, 1776, HKP.

30
. HK to WK, July 11, 1776, HKP.

31
. Ibid.

32
. HK to LK, July 8, 1776, HKP.

33
. LK to HK, July 1776, HKP.

34
. Ibid.

35
. HK to LK, July 11, 1776, HKP.

36
. LK to HK, July 18, 1776, HKP.

37
. WK to LK, July 11, 1776, HKP.

38
. LK to HK, July 18, 1776, HKP.

39
. LK to HK, July 13, 1776, HKP.

40
. HK, to LK, August 1, 1776, HKP.

41
. HK to LK, November 1, 1776, HKP.

42
. LK to HK, November 6, 1776, HKP.

43
. Ibid.

44
. Washington,
Writings
, 282.

45
. Brooks,
Henry Knox
, 79.

46
. HK to LK, January 2, 1777, HKP.

47
. Brooks,
Henry Knox
, 60.

48
. BA to LK, March 4, 1777, HKP.

49
. LK to HK, April 3, 1777, HKP.

50
.
Writings of George Washington
, 7: 352–53.

51
. HK to LK, April 1, 1777, HKP.

52
. David Franks to LK, December 17, 1777, HKP.

53
. LK to HK, April 3, 1777, HKP.

54
. HK to LK, April 26, 1777, HKP.

55
. LK to HK, April 31, 1777, HKP.

56
. HK to LK, April 26, 1777, HKP.

57
. LK to HK, May 8, 1777, HKP.

58
. HK to LK, May 17, 1777, HKP.

59
. LK to HK, May 26, 1777, HKP.

60
. LK to HK, July 17, 1777, HKP.

61
. Martin,
Narrative of a Revolutionary Soldier
, 170.

62
. HK to LK, December 2, 1777, HKP.