Document Signed

Memorial on State of Refugee

Official document describing history of Thompson, a refugee from Canada and originally born in Boston, who supported and promoted the American cause in Canada during the American Revolution. Seeks relief as he is currently destitute.

Memorial on State of Refugee

After April 1798, when the Act cited was approved in Congress.

James McHenry

Benjamin Thompson

refugee

John Thompson

Levy Solomon

American army

John Hancock

General George Washington

British government

General Richard Montgomery

General David Wooster

wounded soldiers

nurses

General Benedict Arnold

Colonel Moses Hazen

General Thompson

Canada

provinces

Nova Scotia

Britain

Boston

Massachusetts

Montreal

Indian country

London

St. Johns

Quebec

St. Lawrence River

Fort Chambly

Fort Champbled

Ticonderoga

Act of Congress for the relief of Refugees from the British Provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia

apprenticeship

clerk

affairs

mercantile houses

adventure of the Indian Country

capital

scheme of trade

partnership

English goods

joint account

invasion of Canada

Indian trade

American cause

effort

martial law

necessities

supply

cash

clothing

sous

hard money

paper money

reimbursements

security

medicines

hospital

houses

beds

bedding

hospital clothes

resolution of the General Council

goods

bill of parcel

batteaux

debts

threats

loss of property

uncultivated land

compensation

relief

memorial

duty to his country

9999999941201

1

12

To the Honorable
James Mc.Henry Secretary at War
The following memorial and State of the subscribers case, in Conformity to the Act of Congress for the relief of Refugees from the British Provinces of Canada and Nova Scotia - is Respectfully Submitted -
The Subscriber is a native of the Town of Boston in the State of Massachusetts, and was left at the age of fourteen years, by his Father, in the Province of Canada - He served a regular apprenticeship of three years to a merchant in the Town of Montreal in the Province aforesaid, at the expiration of which He was employed in the several Counting Houses of Messieurs John Thompson and Levy Solomons, after a years employ as a Clerk to the latter gentelman, early in the year 1773, in Consideration of the extraordinary Services on the part of the Subscriber for the benefit of said Levy Solomons concerns, and further obligating himself to Superintend the whole of said Solomons commercials affairs, for three years then to ensue - the said Solomons gave the Subscriber one equal third part of an adventure to the Indian Country, the whole Capital of which amounted to Twelve hundred pounds lawfull money of the said Province, Dollars at Six Shillings, consequently the Subscribers share was four hundred pounds, equal to thirteen hundred & thirty three Dollars & one third of a Dollar, a return of which from the Indian Country is seldom made untill the third year - the ordinary profits of the trade to the indian Countries, at that period, was estimated at one hundred per cent - no return of this property has been received previous to the Subscribers departure from Montreal, which took place on the 5th. day of June 1776, although it was
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Known to be in Safety and then daily epected
Early in the year 1775, a Scheme of Trade was proposed to the subscriber by a Company of merchants of Montreal, which offered to secure to him the most flattering advantages - He submitted the proposition to Mr Solomons earnestly soliciting at the same time a release from his prior engagement to said Solomons - after afew days consideration of the Subject, said Solomons assured the subscriber, that if he would relinquish the offer aforesaid and attend faithfully to his, said Solomons whole interests and concerns, & those of his Partners, the Said Solomons would the ensuing autum, take the subscriber into Partenership in the Sum of Six thousand pounds starting - Said Solomons to furnish the Capital and allow the Subscriber one half the net profits thereon - the amount was to be employed in a general assortment of english goods proper to the consumption of the country generally and to the supply of Canadians employed in the Indian trade particularly - A list of the whole assortment was made out by the Subscriber, Signed by Said Solomons and forwarded to London by the fall ships in the month of October 1775. - In the month of February following, advice was received from said Solomons correspondents in London, that the goods were prepared and would be shipped in all march following - this copartenership was to continue for three years, and six thousand pounds startings worth of goods to be annually important on account thereof, the ordinary profits of this business in Montreal at that period was generally estimated at Twenty five per Cent, it will then appear that the subscribers annual half share of the profits would have been [pounds]750.. that Currency or 2250 Dollars, the whole amount for three years would consequently have been 6750 dollars - at the time the copartnership was concluded between Mr Levy Solomons and the Subscriber at Montreal, the latter, in addition to
other duties relative to Said Solomons concerns, specially obligated himself to proceed to London the autum ensuing the first importation on the joint account, which would have been in the year 1776, and there to procure afull and final settlement of all Said Levy Solomons commercial affairs & those of his former Parteners, with the different mercantile Houses, they had dealt with for several years preceeding - and also the superintend some very important alterations in the articles of Indian Trade
Thus from the foregoing facts it will appear that the Subscriber, eighteen months previous to the invasion of Canada by the american army, was actually possessed of property in the Indian trade to Michilimackinac and detroit, to the amount of four hundred pounds, or thirteen hundred thirty three & one third Dollars, on which, the medium advance or gain, was one hundred per cent, on the return, the third year - And also, that eight months previous to Said invasion, the Subscriber had entered into a very advantageous partnership with a wealthy merchant and one of the most extensive indian traders, at that time, in the Province of Canada - Such was the advantageous position and flattering prospects of the Subscriber, at the age of Twenty one years, fruits solely of his own industry and attention to business, for seven years previous to that period
The Subscriber was early impressed with the justice of the american cause, and from a strong sense of duty to his country, became one of the first to promote its interests in the Province of Canada, even at the risk of his life - - Early in the summer of 1775, He contributed to spread through different parts of the Country, addresses from the Coungress, signed by John Handcock President, and from General Washington - to the inhabitants of Canada, the purport of which and the assurances held out to those who should suffer in consequence of their espousal of the american cause, may be fully understood by reference thereto with many other persons, equally attached to the cause of the
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then Colonies, the subscriber, was induced in consequence of the promised protection and retribution, set forth in the addresses aforementioned, to expose himself to the vengence of the British government, by riding through the different Parishes in the District of Montreal and explaining to numbers of the most intelligent of the Canadians in those parts of the Country, the nature of the contest between the British Government and the Colonies, and to eschort them by every possible means to avoid arming against the latter - It was principally owing to the efforts of the persons thus employed that the great Bulk of the Canadians refused to take arms against the americans - At this period the whole Province of Canada was absolutely subject to martial Law, consequently the emminent danger attending such communication with the Canadians must be obvious to every person
In the month of November 1775, a few days after the reduction of the British Troops at the Port of St, Johns, General Montgomery landed with the american army on the island of Montreal about one mile above the Town - The Subscriber in common with the rest of Citizens, being compelled to do military duty, was then on guard, the people of the Town of Montreal had shut the gates and a large majority appeared disposed to oppose the entrance of the american troops - The subscriber therefore conceived it of considerable importance to convey information to General Montgomery, of the design of the leading party in the Town, to oppose him - for this purpose the Subscriber privately left his post, descended the wally early on the sunday morning and joined General Montgomery and the american army, at the moment of their landing at the Parish of St. Anns, about one mile above the Town of Montreal
This Conduct on His part gave great umbrage to the British adherents - The Citizens having received Satisfactory assurances of ample Security and protection, the american army took possession of the Town of Montreal the third day after landing on the island
At this period, it is well known, that the american army under General Montgomery
was destitute of every necessary - Mr. Levy Solomons the subscribers Partener, had ever manifested a friendly disposition to the american cause, and on seeing the distress of the american army in general, he signified a desire to afford them relief by some means or other, but owing to his extensive concerns in the country, he declined acting openly on the reasion[?] - The subscriber having prevailed on him to wait on General Montgomery, as may other citizens did, used all his influence to induce Said Solomons, to embrace that opportunity to submit some propositions to the General relative to the supply of the american army, which He consented to provided the thing could be done without committing himself with the Britsh Party - The Subscriber to remove his, Solomons, objections on that ground, then offered to take the whole executive part of the business on himself, provided He, Solomons, would furnish the Capital, after considerable persuasion on the part of the subscriber, said Solomons agreed as the first step to advance to the amount of [pounds]1500,, in cash and cloathing - and within a day or two, He advanced General Montgomery one hundred & fifty half [undecipherable[, equal to 1200 Dollars. The subscriber then took the necessary directions from the army ajents, and procured, the proper materials for several hundred suits of Cloaths, for officers and privates - This being done - it was soon found, that much larger supplies could be requisite. General Montgomery was then preparing to proceed to Quebec, with the major part of the army more hard money was necessary to facilitate the expedition, the season was far advanced, no time could be lost, Mr. Solomons was again called on for a further supply of money, He seemed much averse to embark further, the Subscriber aware of the evil of delay, urged the utter necessity of further aid, or all would be lost, Mr. Solomons complied and furnished more Cash, the exact Sum, not at this time recollected, more cloathing was at the same time called for, but the army ajents declared they possessed no other means of payment than Congress paper money, Mr. Solomons was already considerably
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in advance, and declined going further without some specific security of payment other than paper money, assurances from the Principal officers of the american army & ajents, that hard money was then on the way from Congress to Montreal, was all that could be pledged, the moment appeared Critical. The Subscriber again represented to Mr Solomons the importance of another effort on his part, and the advantage that would arrive[?] to him by a further advance at that particular juncture, as his merit on the ocasion would certainly command a preference when things should be come settled on a firm footing - with some reluctance he agreed to the supply, observing at the same time that should he suffer in consequence thereof He should lay the injury at my door, meaning the subscriber
General Montgomery proceeded with the american army to Quebec, but by no means in the compleat state, the service required may things remained to be procured & forwarded afterwards
The few Patriotic individuals of Montreal, who had hitherto, by extraordinary efforts, contributed largely towards furnishing immediate supplies, found themselves unable to afford any further aid, without some solid security of reimbursement - at this period, no other expedient offered, than giving circulation to the Congress paper currency; for this purpose it was necessary for the real friends to the american cause to set the example. Mr Levy Solomons being then considered one of the ablest of that class, acquiesced in the necessity of the measure and openly received the paper money when offered, for all such goods as he possessed, by this means a considerable number of Canadian & english traders were induced to receive payment in Congress paper to a considerable amount - Thus, a large additional supply of Cloathing and other articles were procured, untill the defeat and death of General Montgomery - that event materially changed the face of american affairs in Canada, and the paper money ceased to circulate - the friends to the Cause
however, still relied that Congress would never give up the Country and in that confidence continued to exert themselves for the support of the american army and interests
About the close of the year 1775, after the defeat at Quebec a number of troops at Montreal, then under the command of General Wooster, became sickly - they were mostly billeted amongst the poorer Class of Canadians, and were actually suffering for want of necessary care & attendance, a number of sick & wounded has also been sent from Quebec - The immediate safety of the army required that provision should be made for the reception of the sick & wounded - The commanding officer of the american army was without funds and destitute of every thing essential to an Hospital, except Physicians & some medecines - in this Delemma Mr Levy Solomon was once more applied to - He had already advanced considerably himself and had pledged himself to secure others, without any other surety of payment than verbal promises, He had received some small payments in Congress paper money, at this time of no value, the business of the Country was nearly at a Stand, no money Circulating, and none could be collected by which means and the advances he had already made, his own personal concerns became some what embarrassed - renewed assurances of Speedy succours from Congress, induced him to make one more effort for the relief of the sick, But as he had hitherto declined an open part, He positively refused to advance for the Hospital, unless the Subscriber would take the whole management of the business on himself - this he cheerfully consented to do, having already made up his mind, that the fate of the american army in Canada, must be his -
The business of an Hospital, being thus agreed on, the subscriber immediately procured two houses adjoined & threw them into one, above and below, set up close stoves, purchased fire wood & provisions sufficient for several weeks, together with Beds & Bedding, and every other utensil for the convenient and comfortable
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accommodation of the sick, including Hospital cloaths, nurses and other attendants, the whole establishment, was highly satisfactory to the army & allowed to be very compleat, in less than ten days after the houses were procured, nearly one hundred men were received, and in the months of February & march following, there was frequently upwards of two hundred sick on the Doctors Books - The whole charge of this establishment, lay on the subscriber from the 15th December 1775, to the 1st May 1776. during that period He was frequently employed on other objects for the use of the army, when scarcely any other person could be prevailed on to act, that could be entrusted with the business required to be done
I shall now close my claim to the Bounty of Congress, on the score of services to the american cause, with the following singular transaction - About the middle of may 1776, the american commissioners from Congress to Canada, together with the General Officers of the army, held a council at St. Johns, whereat, amongst other things, it was determined that cloathing for the american army, then suffering for want thereof, should if possible be procured at Montreal - General Arnold then commandant of the Town of Montreal, returned from the Council specially charged with the business - Mr, Levy Solomons, was immediately consulted on the means practicable to procure the supplies, He positively refused taking apart whatever in the matter, further than to contribute his proportion of such goods as he possessed himself, observing at the same time to the General, that he knew of no person in the Town better qualified than the Subscriber to furnish the information required, and as he had already determined to leave the Province, should he american army be compelled to retreat, the measure could no way injure him, the Subscriber was thereupon applied to, and strongly urged to comply with the generals request, the purport of which was, to furnish a list of the merchants & traders of the Town of Montreal, who then possessed the greatest quantities of the articles of cloathing proper for the use of the army, many of that class of people, had kept
their good secreted in Vaults, and denied they had any on hand
He accordingly furnished the list, to the number of thirty [??]
these persons were then invited by General Arnold to assemble at
his Head quarters, the next day at 10. o'Clock in the morning they
accordingly appeared, General Arnold then laid before them the
Resolution of the General Council aforementioned & his authority to
Cintract for the quality of goods required for the supply of the army
He infrome them of the mode of payment whereupon they all
immediately agreed to furnish each his proportion of the articles
required, as far as they severally possessed them, and take Bills
drawn by the General on the Congress in payment thereof - The
goods were to be delivered the next day - a few hours after the
merchants had returned from Head Quarters, General Arnold recied
positive information that they were secreting their goods, with
intention to made a Compliance with their engagement - The
General immediately ordered a guard to Parade & placed Centinels
in each merchants store in order to prevent a removal of the
goods, the subscriber was then again sent for & tolf by General
Arnold that as he ahd already done much , "He might as well
be hanged for an old sheep as a lamb", and that He, the General,
depended solely on the subscriber, to enable him effectually to
execute the order of Council, & that the subscriber must either
go forward immediately at the head of a guard & take the goods
from each individual as had been agreed, or a considerable
part of the army must inevitably suffer, as there was no other
person that he Could trust the business with Capable of the
execution. To the subscriber the task was peculiarly disagreeable,
as many of these persons had been his intimate acquaintance.
but He saw no alternative a sacrificed every other consideration
to the necessity of the Case. He therefore with a major & 150
armed men proceeded to the house of each individual who ha bound
himself as aforesaid, and took from each in the ratio as had
been agreed on, receiving a regular Bill of Parcel, therewith
signe by the proprietor - The whole amount thus taken is not
at this time
exactly recollected, but believe it might be upwards of fifteen
thousand pounds, Dollars at six Shillings, the particular accounts
of the whole, after the goods were packed up & marked, the subscriber
delivered to General Arnold Personally. He was then charged with
the embarkation of the goods in Batteaux in order to their being
sent across the river St. Laurence
In this period of the american Campaign in Canada, then
about the latter end of may, little hopes remained that the American
forces would be able to continue un the Country much longer, as
every appearance seemed to announce a speedy retreat.
The subscriber had previously adjusted Mr. Levy Solomons affairs
as far as things would then adr[?], and He wished for two or three
days to adjust some concerns of his own particularly to collect some
Small debts due to him. But He had Scarcely placed the good in
the Batteaux, when He received directions form General Arnold
to embark with the goods and proceed with all possible dispatch
and deliver the same to Colonel Moses Hazen, at the Fort of
Champbled. He accordingly obeyed the order, an when arrived
on the other sie of the river St. Laurence, on his way to the Fort
He received a letter express from a very Confidential friend at
Montreal, advising the subscriber by no means to return to
Town, as threats had been thrown out by Several persons of the
Tory Party, that they would Seize the first favorable Opportunity
that offere to destroy him - arrived at the Fort of ChampBled,
the subscriber delivered the Goods, agreeably to General Arnolds
directions - from thence he proceeded to the mouth of Sorrel
with intention tojoin General Thompsons expedition against
the British army then laying at the three rivers, arrived at
Sorrel, He found that General Thompson had Sailed the day
before, had failed in his object and himself taken prisoner, the
subscriber then received full assurance that the american army
woul very shortly retreat from Canada, He therefore returned
immediately
to St. Johns, and on the 14th day of June embarked from thence
for Tironderoga. He has since been several years employed in
the Services od the United States, in both military & civil capacities
no has he ever at any time since been in any British Dominion
nor in any manner whatever, had he ever been compensated or
benefited by the property & commerces he left in Canada, to the present
day.
The foregiving narrative of facts, the Subscriber trusts fully
and unequivocally shows, that from the earliest period of the Operations
of the american army in Canada. He devoted himseld to the american
Cause, that He contributed to render some essential Services
during the Continuance of said army in Canada. That in
Consequence of having taken so open and decided a part in favor
of the american Cause, He was compelled to fly therefrom at the
retreat of the army, and take refuge in the United States, that
He suffered a loss of property thereby exceeding eight thousand
Dollars, and forfeited every advantage and prospect of Fortune
that his position in Montral, had he took no part in the american
Contest, entitle him to keep up to.
It is presume the foregoing State of facts every part of
which can be attested by respectable testimony, will fully justify
the Commissioners to whom the matter is referred by Congress, in
reporting the Subsricbers a Special Case, and that the provisions
of the act of Congress passed for the relief of Refugees from Canada
and Nova Scotia, is insufficient to compensate his losses and
Servces, that one thousand acres of uncultivated land, in the
most advantageous Situation within the recent Territory
belonging to the United States, cannot at the currant value of
such lands, be reasonably deemed an equivalent to his just
Claim.
Benj. Thompson
[page is empty except for a note written in pencil]
H - I
Ben. Thompson