Notes: The Final Sale of the Relics of General Washington

The last book I received through ILL and the one I was most excited about was "The Final Sale of the Relics of General Washington." It's essentially a catalog listing all of the items that were available during in auction in 1891. I knew that there was reference to a Kissam in it but I didn't know which Kissam or why. I was sort of hoping their might be a letter or something similar from 1776 when General Washington stayed on Pearl Street in NYC. There is reference to Benjamin living on Pearl Street as well hence why I thought there might be a connection.

As it turns out, and after flipping through every page of the auction catalog, the only reference to Kissam is item number 548 on page 99 which is listed as:

GENERAL COMMITTEE. The following persons were mentioned in the committee of Observation, as proper to be elected for a General Commitee for the City and County of New York, in the present alarming exigency. Together with the "Names of Persons mentioned in the Committee of Observation, as Deputies for the City and County of New York, to meet Deptues of other Counties, in Provincial Congress, on Monday the 22d of May next, [1775].

With the further note from the auctioneer:

This rare Broadside containes the names of one hundred patriotic citizens of New York City during the Revolution. Amonth the names of historical and genealogical interest, are those of Isaac Low, Philip Livingston, James Duane, John Jay, Isaac Sears, Abraham Duryee, Comfort Sands, Robert Benson, Samuel Jones, John De Lancey, James Beekman, Issac Roosevelt, Peter Goelet, Lewis Pintard, Gerardus Duyckinck, Gerret Keteltas, Benj. Kissam, Abraham P. Lot, Lindley Murray, Alexander McDougall, Richard Yates, Samuel Verplanck, Henry Remsen, Jacobus Lefferts, etc.

It's interesting to note that the list contains two men who were law clerks for Benjamin (John Jay, Lindley Murray) and one man who would be the future father-in-law (Isaac Roosevelt) to his son, Benjamin.

I've found two broadsides printed at the time which are very similar to one another as well as similar to the item noted in the auction catalog. They're broadsides nominating people to be a part of the Committee of One Hundred which was to replace the Committee of Sixty on May 1, 1775. The vote must have happened sometime between April 28, 1775 when these were printed and May 1, 1775 when the new Committee took over.

The first (larger version) is the longer of the two and includes several paragraphs from Isaac Low who was the chair of the Committee of Sixty. The second (larger version) states that is is from the "Sons of Liberty." Benjamin is listed for the Committee of One Hundred on both but only nominated as a representative for the Provincial Congress on Isaac Low's broadside. Does this mean that Benjamin wasn't patriotic enough for the Sons of Liberty? Benjamin is number 66 on the Low broadside and number 56 on the Sons of Liberty broadside. I would love to know if the numbering meant anything.

Letter from John Jay to John Adams delivered by Unknown Kissam

When I first found the letter from John Jay to John Adams about a Kissam family member (original at Columbia University, text version below) I wishfully thought it was related to Dr. Benjamin Kissam, Benjamin Kissam's son, and my direct ancestor. After reviewing the timeline I doubt it is (though it could be!). Dr. Kissam was already in New York City with a practice in 1788 [pg. 28, Kissam Family in America]. The other four other candidates are:

• Peter Rutgers Kissam - at 32 I'm not sure he qualifies as a "young gentleman" so I think we can rule him out.
• Samuel Kissam - had a practice in Suriname in the Caribbean I realized this was wrong shortly after I posted but thanks to Toby for reminding me. so i guess he's a candidate
• Richard Sharpe Kissam - was in Edinburgh completing his medical degree
• and Adrian Kissam - the youngest

So for me, the leading candidate would be Adrian based on age and the possible interpretation of the letter. Benjamin is still possible though I find it odd he'd be referred to as "Mr." as opposed to "Dr." So some background to the letter...

In February 1788 John Adams found himself trying to come back home from England where he had been serving as both United States' Minister to the Netherlands and it's Minister to Great Britain. John Jay as United States Secretary for Foreign Affairs was working to provide him the proper letters of recall so he could return with the appropriate decorum. On Feb. 14 1788 we have a letter from Jay to Adams about the situation [cite]:

Dear Sir,—New York, 14 February, 1788.

As this letter will go by the way of Ireland, and may be exposed to accidents in the course of its route, I decline entering into particulars; but, as the long recess of congress, who are now again convened, makes it necessary that the inclosed letters of recall should be transmitted without delay, I think it best to send one set by this conveyance, and to forward duplicates by another vessel, which will sail about the last of the month for Bristol. Your letters by the packet are come to hand, and shall be particularly noticed in my next, which will go under cover to a friend, with directions to him what to do with it in case you should have left England before its arrival. Massachusetts has adopted the proposed constitution by a majority of nineteen.

I am, dear sir, &c.

John Jay.

I haven't found a text version of the letter John Jay sent to John Adams introducing this unknown Kissam online yet but here is my take. The first few lines of the letter are fairly straightforward but I had a tough time deciphering the last few lines.

Dear Sir,—New York 16 Feb. 1788

Permit me to introduce to you Mr. [???] Kissam who will have the honor of delivering this letter to you. He is the son of a late eminent Lawyer of this city, who I really think was one of the best men I have ever known as well as one of the best friends I have ever had. That and considerations interest me in whatever may concern the amiable family he has left and induce me to request your friendly attention to this young gentleman, whose good character and manners unite with my esteem and affection for his father in recommending him to my best wishes and success[?].

With great and sincere esteem and regard of I have the honor to be
John Jay
your ...

So was a Kissam the "friend" that acted as "cover" for John Jay when he sent another letter to John Adams? Or was it simply a benefactor introducing the young son of a much loved mentor to another American in London? The timing is interesting...

ILL Overload

A number of books arrived via inter-library loan yesterday. Unfortunately not all at the same time so I had to make several trips but it's nice to get my hands on some more research material. The following books arrived:

• Colonial Flushing : a brief history of the town of Flushing - fragile so it'll be the first one going back. A short history produced for a bank.


• John Jay, colonial lawyer - details of his early apprenticeship with Benjamin


• Denizations, naturalizations, and oaths of allegiance in colonial New York - haven't peeked at this one yet

Along with that I had a meeting at the Law School so I popped down to their library and picked up:

• Essays on New York Colonial Legal History - same author as the John Jay book with a short essay on John Jay but it provides more of a background into colonial law in NY (obviously)

Very interesting library.

What's probably the best parts of these books beyond family history info? The bibliographies! Tons of pointers to more information. Especially the two John Jay books. One of the more interesting notes in the books is that Benjamin's ledger was lost. Which, as we now know, is untrue. Can't wait to get to Charlottesville, VA. Probably in the summer.

Still waiting on two items from ILL:

• Lists of inhabitants of colonial New York : excerpted from the Documentary history of the State of New-York


• The final sale of the relics of General Washington owned by Lawrence Washington, esq., Bushrod C. Washington, esq., Thos. B. Washington, esq., and J.R.C. Lewis, esq., embracing the most important collection ever brought together, of letters, deeds, leases