Diaries held at the American Philosophical Society

New Search  |  Browse by Location  |  Browse by Subject  |  Browse all entries  |  Map
Results:  1 Item 
Locations
•Annapolis (1)
•Baltimore (1)
•Bath (1)
•Boston (1)
•Cabin Point (1)
•Charleston (1)
•Elizabethtown (1)
•Exeter (1)
•Falmouth (1)
•Fredericksburg (1)
more
Subject
•American Philosophical Society. (1)
•Constitutional conventions--United States. (1)
•Diaries. (1)
•Diplomacy. (1)
•Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. (1)
more
1.Title:  Robert Woodruff Journal (1785-1788)
 Dates:  1785 - 1788 
 Extent:  1 volume  
 Locations:  Annapolis | Baltimore | Bath | Boston | Cabin Point | Charleston | Elizabethtown | Exeter | Falmouth | Fredericksburg | Georgetown | Halifax | London | Middleton | Murrells Inlet | New Brunswick | New York | Newbern | Newport | Newtown | Norfolk | Petersburg | Philadelphia | Princeton | Providence | Richmond | Savannah | Tarboro | Trenton | Williamsburg | Wilmington | Wilmington, North Carolina 
 Abstract:  As secretary to John Anstey, Loyalists' Claims Commissioner, Robert Woodruff offers a detailed record of the U.S. in the early national period from the unique vantage of an English loyalist. His journal (1785-1788) documents his trip through the Northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and Southeastern states (as far south as Georgia). In his travels, Woodruff references many colonial leaders, including George Washington (10/27/1986), Samuel Vaughan (11/2/1786), and Benjamin Franklin (11/4/1786). Notably, Woodruff dines in house where "Lord Cornwallis in December 1776 held a council of war whether he should cross the Delaware to attack General Washington" (10/30/1786), witnesses Franklin's reelection as President of the Pennsylvania state house (11/4/1786), and mentions the American Philosophical Society (5/8/1787). 
    
 
    
As secretary to John Anstey, Loyalists' Claims Commissioner, Robert Woodruff offers a detailed record of the U.S. in the early national period from the unique vantage of an English loyalist. His journal (1785-1788) documents his trip through the Northeastern, mid-Atlantic, and Southeastern states (as far south as Georgia). In his travels, Woodruff references many colonial leaders, including George Washington (10/27/1986), Samuel Vaughan (11/2/1786), and Benjamin Franklin (11/4/1786). Notably, Woodruff dines in house where "Lord Cornwallis in December 1776 held a council of war whether he should cross the Delaware to attack General Washington" (10/30/1786), witnesses Franklin's reelection as President of the Pennsylvania state house (11/4/1786), and mentions the American Philosophical Society (5/8/1787).
 
View Full Description in New Window		 
 
  Selected Quotations
  • "Went to the State house to see the Election of President, Vice President of the State—this is performed at a joint meeting of the two Branches of the Legislature—and the Mode of Election is by Ballot—At this time the president Dr. Franklin was unanimously re-elected, there being but one dissentient Ballot, which was put in by himself in Favor of a Mr. Biddle, who was candidate for the Office of Vice President, and elected by a small Majority—his competitions was a general Muhlenberg" (11/4/1786)

  • "[T]he College in this Town [Princeton] is a handsome stone Edifice regularly built with a large square in Front…There are about 100 Students in the College—it was Vacation time—the Constitution of the College is different from those of Eton or Westminster, or of the two universities—not being perfectly a school or perfectly a College" (10/27/1786)

  • "The State of Georgia is the most Southern of the United States…Georgia is increasing daily, owing to the prodigious Number of Emigrants since the Peace—I am credibly informed, that in Wilks County at the Commencement of the War there were not twelve Families, but that last year the Returns made to the General Assembly it appeared there were in that County—12537 Whites & 4723 Blacks" (2/6/1788)
 
 Subjects:  American Philosophical Society. | Constitutional conventions--United States. | Diaries. | Diplomacy. | Harvard University. | Indians of North America. | Native America | Travel. | Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. | Muhlenberg, Henry, 1753-1815. | Loyalist | Philadelphia history | Princeton University. | Seafaring life. | United States--Civilization--1783-1865. | United States--Politics and government--1783-1809. | Urban planning and environment | Washington, George, 1732-1799. | Weather. 
 Collection:  Robert Woodruff journal. December 17, 1785 - May 1, 1788  (Mss.917.4.W852)  
  Go to the collection
 
APS Home Library Home
© 2018 American Philosophical Society