Report35Pritchett1926 .pdf

THE THREE WILLS OF BARON VON STEUBEN

By MORGAN H. PRITCHETT

The Johns Hopkins University

and

EDITH VON ZEMENSZKY

Morgan State College

In his lifetime, Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben had three testaments

drawn up, all of which have been preserved for posterity. The first known

will of Steuben, which he had prepared sometime prior to his departure for

America in 1777, is in the Archives of the Hohenzollern family in Hechingen,

Germany. The exact date of this first will cannot be determined since these

Archives are not open to researchers.¹ His second testament dated May 28,

1781, a few months before the end of the war, is in the manuscript collec-

tion of the Oneida Historical Society.² The third and last one which belongs

to the New York Historical Society³ was prepared on February 12, 1794,

just nine months before his death.

Though Steuben's first testament is unavailable for examination, it

is possible to publish for the first time his second will with explanatory

notes. The third testament was published in 1911

without explanatory

notes; the researchers decided to republish it with notes and annotations.

A period of thirteen years had elapsed between the second and third testa-

ment: the war had come to a successful end, Steuben had changed his life

style and during this period—between the end of war and his death—

many of his expectations, dreams, and desires had ended in disappointments.

On the date of his second will and testament (May 28, 1781), Steuben

was 51 years old and was in the prime of life. Though he already had

prepared a will while in Europe, Steuben may have felt the necessity or a

desire to have an up-to-date document, or perhaps he was anticipating an

untimely death in battle similar to that of De Kalb; or perhaps he even

had a foreboding of a severe illness which did overtake him shortly after

his second will had been prepared. It was on July 23, 1781, not quite two

months after the date of his second will, that Steuben reported in a letter

to Richard Peters that he had been very sick and had been treated by Dr.

Thomas Walker for a severe case of skin eruption (possibly shingles or

hives) which forced him to go on leave from his military duties.

This

illness and the extremely hot weather had completely debilitated him.

Though the second testament bears the date, May 28, 1781, more than

likely it was executed sometime prior to this date. In his letter of May 26,

1781, to General von Bouvinghausen

in Stuttgart, Steuben mentions that

he has completed his will, and in another letter written on the same day to

General Nathaniel Greene,

Steuben reported that he had been at Albemarle

Court House since May 21, 1781, which indicates that this testament may

have been prepared at this place between May 21 and May 26, 1781. How-

ever, the question of the date is further complicated by the fact that David

Ross, who witnessed Steuben's will, wrote Jefferson from Point of Fork

on May 28th.

Was David Ross at Albemarle Court House and Point of

[ 19 ]

Fort on the same day? It would seem the will was either witnessed by

David Ross prior to May 28th or he signed it at a later date. The fact

that Steuben wrote General von Bouvinghausen on May 26th about a will

suggests that it was completed prior to May 28th and the latter date was

possibly added later. David Ross could have been at both Point of Fork

and Albemarle Court House on the same day since they are located about

15 miles from each other.

On May 28th

Steuben sent to Jefferson from Albemarle Court House

a situation report which plays an important role here. First of all, the

report substantiates the fact that Steuben was positively at the Court

House on the date of his will. Secondly, this report conveys very dramati-

cally how dangerous and untenable his position was in an attempt to

protect the meager supplies from the overwhelming number of English

troops which were poised for attack.

Steuben was 63 years old when his third testament was prepared on

February 12,1794, just 9 months before he died. Up to this date, Steuben's

financial difficulties had not been completely resolved when his testament

was written. Congreess had granted him a yearly pension of $2,500, and

he possessed large amounts of land in Virginia, Pennsylvania and New

York. At this time, his land holdings could not yet be utilized or profitably

sold to settle his debts. He had made several attempts to clear parts of

the 16,000 acres he owned in the fertile Mohawk Valley in New York State.

The attempts to induce settlers to settle the parts of these lands had not

proven successful. In addition to this, the times were a bit unsettled:

there were rumbles of war with England and rumours of an English invasion

of upper New York State. Because of the imminence of war with England,

Steuben was asked by the New York Legislature in the spring of 1794,

to prepare a system of defenses for the Northern and Western frontiers

of the State. In August, 1794, he retired to his farm near Utica, New York,

to draw up a plan of defense during the long winter months.

The object of spending the entire winter in his log house alone with

his secretary, John W. Mulligan, was to enable him to complete his defense

project and also to lay plans for the development of his land holdings.

However, Steuben was denied this opportunity, for on November 26, 1794,

he was taken ill and on Thursday, November 28, Steuben died of an

apparent stroke.

Second Testament May 28, 1781

I, Frederick William

Baron de Steuben, considering the un-

-certainty of human events do while in a

sound state of Mind make this last

Will and Testament in manner following

that is to say—

It is my desire that immediately

after my decease my body be buried in a

Military manner & in my Uniform if possible

in a Camp & not in a Church Yard—

The Will I made before my departure from

Europe I desire may remain in full

force subject only to this alteration

hereinafter specified—

Whereas since my residence in

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America I have by the generosity of

the good people of the Thirteen United States

of America become entitled to the

Following Tracts of Land—that is to

say

Twelve Thousand Acres—to be given me

as Major General by a Resolve of

Congress—

Twenty two thousand Acres given me by the

United Illinois & Oubache Companies

—being the

same quantity as was given at the same time

to Maj. General Sinclair

—and

Fifteen Thousand Acres voted me by the Honrble

House of Delegates of the State of Virginia

in the last Winter Session of that House

—

And notwithstanding the Land given as above

mentioned by the United Illinois & Oubache

Companies is in dispute between the States

of Pennsylvania & Virginia—I have reason to

believe that however the said dispute is settled

the State whose property the said Lands I had

is determined to be—will confirm the said—

grants in favor of me or my Heirs. This

I believe from the confidence I have in the

generosity of the good people of America.

I therefore give Desire & bequeath all & every

the said Tracts of Land together with all other

Lands & Tenaments whatsoever in America

that I may die Seized of interested in

or entitled to—to my Nephew Frederick

Guillaum de Canitz Baron de Steuben

an to Heirs forever—I give to Captain

Benjamin Walker

my Aid de Camp Two

Thousand Guineas.

I give to my Aid de Camp

Captain William North

One Thousand

Guineas—give to my Aid de Camp Lieut.

James Fairlie

One Thousand Guineas—

I give to Captain Peter Stephen Duponceau

Five hundred Guineas—I give to Captain

Depontiere

Five hundred Guineas

I give to M. De Beaumarchais

222

Five

hundred Guineas—I give to Baron de Hahn

Two hundred Guineas—I give to Mr. Franc

Consullar Intime du Prince de Hohenzollern

Four Hundred Guineas to be distributed

as I have directed amongst my old Servants

in Europe— —

The several desires & bequests herein

before and herein after given by me to

and infavor of my said Nephew Frederick

Guillaume de Canitz Baron de Steuben

shall be subject to the condition and

restriction hereinafter mentioned—that

is to say—that my said Nephew

[ 21 ]

Frederick William de Canitz Baron de

Steuben shall come himself to America

& become a good & worthy Citizen of

this

this Republick—shall renounce this Title

of Baron de Steuben & shall like a good

Republican take upon him no other Name

or Title but Frederick Steuben

—he shall

also renounce & make over to his younger

Brother Augustin de Canitz

—all his Rights

Priveleges & Possessions which he may by my

Will, make in Europe, or any other way

be entitled to or possessed of—and in case

of his refusal to comply with these conditions

I will that every thing bequeathed to him

by this testament be disposed of by my Ex-

ecutors in two years after my decease

in the most advantageous manner and

applyed to the use of the Invalid Officers

& Soldiers of the American Army

& will that before my said Nephew leaves

Europe to take possession of the Estate in America

herein bequeathed him—he shall have made

three Gold Snuff boxes

of the value of Sixty

Guineas each—with my picture in the lid

of each box—which boxes he will present

to my worthy & respectable Friends

His Excellency General Washington, John

Walker

& Everard Meade

Esq

as a small

token of the Friendship of esteem I had for

them—I do also will that my said

Nephew cause three other Snuff boxes to be

made of the value of Forty Guineas each

with the device FRIENDSHIP UNTILL DEATH on

the lid one of which he will give to each of

my Aid de Camps Cap Walker Cap North

& Lieut Fairlie—I give to the said

Captain Walker the best Horse I shall have

at the time of my Death together with

my gold watch—the two next best Horses

I give to Cap

. North & Lieut. Fairlie and

I also bequeath my Pistols to the said Capt.

North—All the rest of my Effects

I desire may be sold and after paying

the expence of my Interment, be distrubuted

amongst the Servants living with me at

the time of my death—If the Negro

Man Nathan is living with me at the

time of my Decease he shall be then

set at Liberty—My Dog called Azore

I desire may be delivered to M

Washington

And I do hereby constitute & appoint

my very worthy & respectable Friends

His Excellency Gen¹. Washington, John

[ 22 ]

Walker and Evard Meade Esq

Executors

of this my Will contained on Six Sides

or pages each of which is signed with

my hand—

In Witness whereof I have

hereunto set my hand

and Seal this twenty Eight

day of May 1781—

Sealed & delivered in the Steuben

presence of us

(Seal)

William Davies

Henry Young

David Ross

Codicil

Whereas no Provision is made in the above

will for the pecuniary Legacies therein be

queathed—Now I therefore will that so

soon as my Executors shall think fit

after my decease as much of the Lands

therein specified——shall be sold as

will raise a sum sufficient for

the payment thereof and the remainder

Third Testament February 12th, 1794

I Frederick William Baron de Steuben of

the City and State of New York do make this my

Last Will and Testament

Sufficient reasons having determined me to exclude

my relations

in Europe from any participation in

my estate in America and to adopt my Friends and

former Aid Des Camps Benjamin Walker and William

North as my Children and make them sole devisees

of all my Estates therein, except as hereinafterwards

is otherwise disposed of in consequence thereof—

I bequeath to the said Benjamin Walker the sum

of Three Thousand dollars and the Gold hilted Sword

given me by Congress.

To the said William North I bequeath my Silver

hilted Sword and the Gold box given me by the City

of New York—

To John I. Mulligan

I bequeath the whole of my

library Maps and Charts and the sum of Two

Thousand five hundred Dollars to complete it

And to each of my Servants living with me at the

time of my decease one years wages and besides

this to my Valet de Chambre all my wearing aparel

but I do hereby declare that those legacies to my

Servants are on the following conditions, that

that on my Decease they do not permit any person

to touche my Body, not even to change the Shirt in

which I shall die but that they wrap me up in my

old Military Cloak and in twenty four hours after my

[ 23 ]

Decease bury me in such spot as I have before my

Decease point out

to them and that they never

acquaint any person with the place where I shall

be buried

And lastly I do give devise and bequeath all the

Rest and Residue of my Estate Real and Personal

after the Payment of my Debts and the legacies

aforesaid to the said Benjamin Walker and William

North to hold to them their Heirs Executors and

Administrators share and share alike hereby

appointing the said Benjamin Walker & William

North Executors of this my last Will and Testament

and revoking all former Wills by me heretofore made

New York February 12th, 1794

Steuben

Signed Sealed, published and

declared as the last Will and

Testament of the above Testator

in the presence of & attested and

subscribed by us in his presence

Chal. Williams

Charles Adams

W. H. Robinson

Both authors have visited Hechingen on two separate occasions. Dr. von Zemenszky was told

in 1968 the papers of Steuben were not available for research. In the summer of 1971, Dr. Pritchett

was refused access to the Archives as well as the papers of Steuben.

Utica, New York.

New York, New York.

George H. Carter, ed., Proceedings Upon the Unveiling of the Statue of Baron van Steuben,

Major General in the Continental Army During the Revolutionary War, in Washington, D. C., December

7, 1910, and Upon the Presentation of the Replica to His Majesty the German Emperor and the German

Nation, in Potsdam, September 2, 1911. Erected by the Congress of the United States (Washington.

D. C.: GPO, 1912), 201-02.

MS Peters Papers, vol. IX p. 41 Rec. I/56-58 in Pennsylvania Historical Society, Philadelphia.

Also partially published in John M. Palmer, General von Steuben (1937; rpt. Port Washington, New

York; Kennikat, 1966), 286. Dr. Thomas Walker of Castle Hill in Albemarle County was a noted

physician, explorer and merchant. He served as Commissary for the Virginia troops in the French

and Indian War. From 1761-1772 he was a member of the House of Burgesses for Albemarle.

Palmer, p. 270.

MS No. 77 Nathaniel Greene Papers in the William L. Clements Library. University of

Michigan, Ann Arbor. See also Palmer, 270.

Julian P. Boyd, Mina R. Bryan and Elizabeth L. Hutter, ed., Papers of Thomas Jefferson, VI:

21 May 1781 to 1 March 1784 (Princeton: Princeton U. P., 1952), 27.

Boyd, Bryan and Hutter, 30.

As a soldier Steuben would prefer interment in an Army camp. Such a burial might suggest

that he was not religious, but Steuben was a religious man. After the war, he was a member of the

consistory of the German Reformed Church and, according to its records, he was chairman of its Board

of Trustees on June 20, 1786, when it was located in Nassau Street in New York City. See Edward T.

Corwin, J. H. Dubbs and J. T. Hamilton, A History of the Reformed Church, German, the Reformed

Church, Dutch, and the Moravian Church in the United States (New York; Christian Literature Co.,

1845), 314.

Walter S. Franklin, ed., Resolutions, Laws and Ordinances, Relating to the Pay, Half Pay,

Communtation of Half Pay, Bounty Lands, and Other Promises Made by Congress to the Officers and

Soldiers of the Revolution (Washington, D. C.: Thomas Allen, 1838), 20.

According to Resolutions which the Continental Congress passed on three occasions, Steuben would

not have received the number of acres as stated in his will, e. g. on September 16, 1776, a resolution

was passed granting 500 acres to any soldier who attained the rank of Colonel, but then on September

18, 1776, the Continental Congress passed another resolution that a soldier who served voluntarily until

the end of the War could only be eligible for a land grant. On August 12, 1780, a resolution was made

that soldiers with certain ranks would receive a specified amount of lands. For example, a Major

General (Steuben's rank) could receive at the end of the War only 1,100 acres. There is no evidence

any place that the Continental Congress had given him 12,000 acres. Even in his letter to General

von Bouvinghausen on May 26, 1781, Steuben mentions that he had been given 12,500 acres by the

Continental Congress.

This was a private company of land speculators among whom were such prominent men of

Pennsylvania as Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris. In his letter of May 26, 1781, to General von

Bouvinghausen (see note 6 above), Steuben claimed that it was the State of Pennsylvania which had

given him 22,000 acres; there is no mention, in this same letter, of an Illinois and Oubache Company.

Actually, the Pennsylvania Assembly granted him only 2,000 acres, according to William Henry Egle,

ed., Pennsylvania Archives Third Series (Harrisburg: Clarence M. Burch, 1894), III, 579, 728.

[24]

Sinclair is Arthur St. Clair (1787-1818) who was a Colonel at the beginning of the Revolution

in 1775. His rank is incorrectly given in the will; he did not attain the rank of Major General until

1791, ten years after this testament was written.

On October 5, 1780, Virginia resolved to grant Steuben 15,000 acres after the War. In this

case, Steuben's numbers agree here. See William Walter Hening, ed., The Statistics at Large, Being A.

Collection of All the Laws of Virginia From the First Session of the Legislature, in the Year 1619

(Richmond: George Cochran, 1822), X, 375.

Steuben's sister, Dorothea Maria Justina, had two sons: August Wilhelm Friedrich Julius von

Canitz, the older of the two, and Wilhelm Augustus Hans Karl von Canitz. In the notes to the third

and last will, the relationship of Steuben with his two nephews is explained.

(1753-1818) appointed Aide-de-Camp on September 3, 1778, and later became Washington's

Aide-de-Camp on January 25, 1782.

An English gold coin minted since 1670 and was worth 21 shillings at this tune.

(? -1836) Served in this capacity from May, 1779 to November, 1783. After the War, he rose

to the rank of Brigadier General and was appointed Adjutant-General of the United States Army on

July 19, 1798, by Washington.

(? -1830) At this time, he was on Steuben's staff but eventually was promoted to Major and

made Aide-de-Camp by General Orders dated May 15, 1780.

(1760-1844) Came with Steuben from France and was given the rank of Captain and was

appointed Aide-de-Camp to Steuben at once. In the fall of 1779, he had to take leave of absence

from his military duties because of a lung infection. After his recovery, he became an Adjutant to

General Nathaniel Greene; however, he suffered a relapse and was forced to retire from the service. In

1781, he became a citizen of Pennsylvania. Late in life Duponceau wrote down anecdotes and recollections

of Steuben, the title of which is given below in note 30.

His name is incorrectly given here. It should read Louis de Pontierre. He also accompanied

Steuben to America. According to Palmer, p. 99 (See note 5 above), Steuben had made him his

Adjutant. Later, Louis de Pontiere served in the Regiment of Pulaski until April, 1784.

Beaumarchais is a pseudonym. His complete name is Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

(1732-1799) who was a French dramatist and who was able to gain access to the French Royal Court

by teaching the daughters of Louis XIV how to play the harp. Through his worldly connections, he

handled the mercantile interests of the French Court and engaged in espionage activities for the French

King. During the French Revolution, Beaumarchais lost his wealth and died in poverty.

The title is fictitious; Hahn was a Brigadier in the French Army. He corresponded with Steuben

and sought to have him join the French Army. The correspondence between Hahn and Steuben is in the

Archive in Hechingen and is not available.

Daniel Marianus Frank was an intimate friend of Steuben. Frank was a Chancellor employed

by the Hohenzollern family to oversee the business affairs of the fmily. According to Steuben's letter

to General von Bouvinghausen, Frank was supposed to receive only 200 louis d'ors, and each of Frank's

two sons was also to receive 200 louis d'ors. Evidently Steuben forgot to include Frank's sons in the will.

In the May 26th letter to Bouvinghausen, Steuben insisted that his nephew had to assume the

double name Canitz-Steuben, in case he accepted his uncle's inheritance.

See note 15.

It was fashionable in the 18th Century to present friends with a gift of this type. Steuben may

have had in mind the type of snuff box which Frederick the Great presented in appreciation and

gratitude to Marshall Leopold von Anhalt-Dessau, the victor at Kesselsdorf. Such snuff boxes became

extremely fashionable and were made by the Dresden Court Jeweler, Johann Christian Neuber, who

practiced his craft quite scientifically. He gave a number to each precious stone he used in a snuff

box and on the inside cover of the box, the number and name of the precious stone were inscribed,

so that no one stone would be used a second time. Again, in his letter to Bouvinghausen Steuben wrote

about having four snuff boxes made costing 50 louis d'ors.

Major John Walker, son of Dr. Thomas Walker, who later treated Steuben for skin disorders

and at whose home Steuben recovered from the illness. Major Walker was assigned to Steuben by Thomas

Jefferson as liaison officer between the populace and Steuben.

A prominent citizen of Virginia who had the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. In the spring of 1781

he, together with Lieutenant John Taylor and the Brigadier Alexander Spotswood, were commissioned

to raise 600 foot soldiers and 100 calvrymen.

An Italian greyhound which Steuben had brought with him from Paris. See Peter S. Duponceau,

"Autobiographical Letters," Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XL (1916), 172.

On March 28, 1778, Washington appointed him Sub-Inspector, and then on February 12, 1781,

he was transferred to 1st Virginia Regiment in order to assist Steuben in the procurement of military

supplies as well as the recruitment of troops. Though Davies was among the officers who complained

about Steuben's strict orders, Steuben considered him a friend and a fine officer, which possibly accounts

for his signature as a witness.

A young officer with the rank of Captain attached to Steuben's staff.

On February 2, 1781, Jefferson appointed this prominent merchant as commercial agent for the

State of Virginia. In this capacity as Commissary Officer he was responsible for procuring all types

of supplies for the Army. His base of operation was Point of Fork, very close to Albemarle Court

House, and as a result, he had at this time much contact with Steuben. See Thomas S. Berry, "The

Rise of Flour Milling in Virginia," Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, LXXVIII (1970), 393.

This will is in the handwriting of William North, Aide-de-Camp to Steuben. Steuben's second

and third wills have been transcribed from the original manuscripts without any changes in punctuation

or spelling.

Steuben learned that his two nephews had grown up as depraved and vicious young men. In

1785, they borrowed money from Beaumarchais on Steuben's account and came uninvited to America.

During the year that they remained with their uncle, they were a source of irritation and caused him

to spend money on them which he did not have. See John M. Palmer, General von Steuben (1937;

rpt. Port Washington, New York: Kennikat, 1966), 272.

See also a letter in the Steuben MS of the Gratz Collection, Pennsylvania Historical Society,

Philadelphia, which Steuben wrote on July 27, 1790, to a Herr Obersten in Germany. Two excerpts

from this letter are given below:

. . . "Im november-86, wurde der Capt: des französische Paquets bey mir angemeldet, er intro-

ducirte mir diese Bursche unter dem titul meiner neveus, ich faste mich zusammen um meine

empfindungen nicht zu verrathen, nach deme die Geselschaft Auseinand gegang liesz ich die von

Canitz in mein Cabinet rufen, und ohne Jhene die geringste vorwürfe zu machen erheischte ich

von ihnen ein freymüthiges bekentnüsz jhrer biszherigen wandels, & was sehr natürlich das diese

Geschichte mit den vortheilhaftesten farben vorgestellet wurde dem ohngeachtet waren solche

züge darinen sichtbar, die eine Ehre Liebendes Hertz mit Schande anfüllen müszen. Eine unan-

[ 25 ]

ständige Heyrath ohne die einwilligung Seiner Verwanten eine Schändliche desertion, ein nichtswürdges

und Landstreicherisches Leben waren die Haubt-züge und dann jhen Reise durch Teuschland und

frankreich wo Sie Theils unter den namen meines neveus Bettelten, Theils Beträchtliche Schulden

machten, waren so viele Schwert Streiche in meiner Seele." ....

. . . . " Nein mein werthester Herr Obrister, ich habe keinen Neveu mehr, und sollten Die von

Canitz sich jemahls einfallen laszen einen Oncle in America zu suchen, so sind Sie in ihrer Erwartung

betrogen. Jn New-York ist der von mir protestierte Wechsel von 500 Luisd'or von dem Schifs

Capt: Waber, in den Hände eines juristen, Hier ist die anf orderung des Hern Megners, für die

entwendeten 800 Spanische Thaler, Hier ist ein gefangnüsz für betrügen und falsaris, Hier haben

die gesetze ihren Lauf, Hier kan kein Ahnen Register dem Betrüger beschirmen und hier würden

Die von Canitz beym Ersten—Anlanden in die Hände der Gerechtigkeit fallen, von denen ich der

letzte Mann in America sein wollte, der geneigt sein würde Sie zu befreyen." ....

See Worthington C. Ford and Gaillard Hunt, ed., Journals of the Continental Congress (Wash-

ington, D. C.: GPO, 1904-12), XXVI, 178. On April l, 1784, Congress passed a resolution that

..." a gold hilted sword be presented to him, as a mark of the high sense of his character and

services ..." The whereabouts of this Sword is unknown.

In 1911, Mrs. Francis B. Austin of Summit, New Jersey, great-grand-daughter of Colonel

William North, owned this Sword and gold box. See George H. Carter, ed., Proceedings Upon the

Unveiling of the Statue of Baron von Steuben, Major General in the Continental Army During the

Revolutionary War, in Washington, D. C., December 7, 1910, and Upon the Presentation of the Replica

to His Majesty and the German Emperor and the German Nation, in Potsdam, September 2, 1911,

Erected by the Congress of the United States (Washington, D. C.: GPO), 210-11. The whereabouts

of these items today is unknown.

Steuben became acquainted with Mulligan in 1791 and employed him as his secretary. In this

will, Mulligan's middle initial is I.; however, Palmer, p. 403, gives the letter W as the middle initial.

See Friedrich Kapp, Leben des Amerikanischen Generals Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben (Philadelphia:

Schäfer, 1858), 581-84 for an interesting conversation which Kapp had with Mulligan regarding Steuben.

There is no documentary evidence that Steuben really did " point out" the exact place where

he was to be buried.

1758-1808, Former British officer in the Revolution, land promoter and secret agent for the

English, Wililamson settled in New York after the Revolution. He became a close friend of Alexander

Hamilton, and while serving in the New York State Assembly from 1796-1800, he was an advisor to

various British Cabinet Officers regarding American Affairs. He also did much to colonize Western

New York.

(1770-1800). The second son of John Adams who was a graduate of Harvard College and became

a lawyer in New York City. See Andrew N. Adams, ed., A Genealogical History of Henry Adams of

Braintree, Massachusetts, and His Descendants of Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1632-1897 (Rutland,

Vermont: Tuttle Co., 1898), 408.

His full name is William H. Robinson. He is an unknown merchant who appeared before Peter

Ogilvie, Judge of Court Probates, on February 2, 1795, to swear that he saw Steuben sign this will on

February 12, 1794. This statement is among the Steuben Papers in the New York Historical Society,

New York City. The third will is in the handwriting of Baron Steuben.

[ 26 ]