From Diary of the American Revolution, Vol II. Compiled by Frank Moore and published in 1859.
July 4.—The ladies of Trenton, in New Jersey, emulating the noble example of their patriotic sisters of Pennsylvania,1 and being desirous of manifesting their zeal in the glorious cause of American liberty, having assembled this day for the purpose of promoting a subscription for the relief and encouragement of those brave men in the Continental army, who, stimulated by example, and regardless of danger, have so repeatedly suffered, fought, and bled in the cause of virtue and their oppressed country; and taking into consideration the scattered situation of the well disposed through the State, who would wish to contribute to so laudable an undertaking, have, for the convenience of such, and the more effectually to carry their scheme into execution, unanimously appointed Mrs. Cox, Mrs. Dickinson, Mrs. Fur-man, and Miss Cadwallader a committee, whose duty it shall be immediately to open subscriptions, and to correspond with the ladies hereafter named, of the different counties throughout the State, requesting their aid and influence in the several districts. And in order the more expeditiously to carry their scheme into execution, the ladies now met have taken the liberty to solicit the interest of the following ladies, in promoting the said subscriptions, viz.: For the County of Hunterdon, Mrs. (Vice-President) Stevens, Mrs. (Judge) Smith, Mrs. (Charles) Coxe, Mrs. R. Stevens, Mrs. Hanna, Mrs. T. Lowrey, Mrs. J. Sexton, Mrs. B. Van Cleve, Mrs. (Colonel) Berry, Mrs. (Doctor) Burnet; County of Sussex, Mrs. (Counsellor) Ogden, Mrs. (Colonel) Thomson, Mrs. (Major) Hoops, Mrs. T. Anderson; County of Bergen, Mrs. (Colonel) Dey, Mrs. Fell, Mrs. Kuyper, Mrs. Erskine, Mrs. (Major) Dey; County of Morris, Mrs. (Counsellor) Condict, Mrs. (Parson) Jones, Mrs. (Colonel) Remsen, Mrs. Vanzant, Mrs. Carmichael, Mrs. (Colonel) Cook, Mrs. Faesch; County of Essex, Mrs. (Governor) Livingston, Mrs. C. Camp, Mrs. (Doctor) Burnet, Mrs. (Elisha) Boudinot, Mrs. Hornblower; County of Middlesex, Mrs. Neilson, Mrs. (Counsellor) Deare, Mrs. (George) Morgan, Mrs. (Colonel) Neilson, Mrs. Neilson, Mrs. (Daniel) Marsh; County of Monmouth, Mrs. (General) Forman, Mrs. (Colonel) Scudder, Mrs. Newell; Mrs. (Peter) Foreman, Mrs. (Jacob) Wickoff, Mrs. (Peter) Covenhoven; County of Burlington, Mrs. (Colonel) Cox, Mrs. (Counsellor) Tallman, Mrs. (Colonel) Borden, Mrs. (Secretary) Reed, Mrs. (Captain) Reed; County of Somerset, Lady Stirling, Mrs. (General) Morris, Mrs. (Colonel) Martin, Mrs. (Attorney-General) Pattison, Mrs. R. Stockton; County of Gloucester, Mrs. (Colonel) Clark, Mrs. (Colonel) Wescott, Mrs. (Colonel) Ellis, Mrs. (Colonel) Hugg, Mrs. Bloomfield; County of Salem, Mrs. (Colonel) Dick, Mrs. Mayhew, Mrs. Taggart; County of Cumberland, Mrs. (Counsellor) Buck, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Elmer, Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Fitman; County of Cape May, Mrs. (Counsellor) Hand, Mrs. Whilden, Mrs. Townsend, Mrs. Hildreth, whose well-known patriotism leaves no room to doubt of their best exertions in the promotion of an undertaking so humane and praiseworthy; and that they will be happy in forwarding the amount of their several collections, either with or without the names of the donors, which will be immediately transmitted by Mrs. (Moore) Furman, who is hereby appointed Treasuress, to be disposed of by the commander-in-chief, agreeable to the general plan.
As the ladies here would wish to expedite the good work as much as possible, they have appointed Miss Dagworthy of Trenton, their Secretary, who will receive and answer all letters that the ladies of the different counties may think proper to favor her with on the occasion, and to furnish them proper subscription papers as soon as possible.2
1 An officer, in a letter from the American camp, dated June 29, says:—”The patriotism of the women of Philadelphia is a subject of conversation with the army. Had I poetic genius, I would sit down and write an ode in praise of it. Burgoyne, who, on his first appointment to America, boasted that he would dance with the ladies and coax the men into submission, must now have a better understanding of the good sense and public spirit of our females, as he has already had of the fortitude and inflexible temper of our heroes. We do not suppose that these contributions can be any stable support to the campaign for any length of time; but, as it is a mark of respect to the army, it has given particular satisfaction, and it may be a great temporary service. Nothing has been more discouraging for some time past, than to believe that we were neglected, or almost lost from the remembrance of our fellow-citizens.”—Pennsylvania Packet, July 8.
2 Pennsylvania Packet, July 8.