Manuscript Group 233, Jabez Campfield (1737-1821), Military surgeon Journal and Orderly Book, 1779-1822

Archive Documents, Manuscripts, Maps, & Photographs

Manuscript Group 233

Jabez Campfield (1737-1821), Military surgeon
Journal and Orderly Book, 1779-1822, 1 volume
Call Number: MG 233

Summary
Biographical Note
Provenance Note
Scope and Content Note
Related Collections

Summary:

Journal kept as a surgeon in Colonel Oliver Spencer’s Additional Regiment during Major General John Sullivan’s expedition against the Indians, May 23-October 2, 1779; orderly book kept by William Campfield as commanding officer of the Morris County Squadron, New Jersey Cavalry, June 28, 1798-August 24, 1807. The volume also includes a list of banks in the United States in 1812, including capital assets, and records relating to Campfield’s farm in 1822. The journal is printed in NJHS Proceedings, Series 2, Vol. 3 (1873): 115-136; Frederick Cook, comp., Journals of the Military Expedition of Major General John Sullivan against the Six Nations of Indians in 1779… (Auburn, NY, 1887), pgs. 52-61.

Gift of Edmund D. Halsey, 1873.

Biographical Note:

Dr. Jabez Campfield (born in Newark), a graduate from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University, 1759), studied medicine with Newark doctor William Burnet, and entered the army as Senior Surgeon on Dr. Burnets staff. He married Sarah Ward, of Newark, and practiced medicine in Morristown where he owned Campfield Farm, until his death. He was Surrogate of Morris County from its beginnings (1784-1804) and founder of the Morris County Agricultural Society. His only child, William, also a Princeton graduate (1784) and member of the New Jersey Medical Society (1788), survived his father by only three years (died 1824).

Provenance Note:

This volume was the gift of Edmund D. Halsey, 1873.

Scope and Content Note:

Narrative journal kept by Dr. Jabez Campfield, a surgeon in Captain Oliver Spencers Regiment, when he accompanied Major General John Sullivans Expedition against the Indians into Western Pennsylvania and New York, May 23 – October 2, 1779. Journal entries begin when Dr. Campfield left Morristown May 23^rd and three days later joined the command consisting of the 2^nd New York Regiment and Spencers New Jersey Regiment at Tunkhanna. He returned to his house on Oct. 2^nd having travelled continually on the way every day since the 15^th September from Genessee.

Describes landscape, geography and weather, including reports of hardship from travel: several of our cattle & pack horses fell & were killed, fighting happens seldom, but fatigue, hunger, cold & heat are constantly varying his distress. There are several descriptions of Indian life – their houses, amounts of corn, their settlements. Also, accounts of army supplies, the wounded men, tactical approaches, and destruction of the Indians corn.

In the same volume is an Orderly Book (June 19, 1798 – August 24, 1807) kept by his son, Captain William Campfield, during his term as Commander of the Morris Squadron New Jersey Cavalry. Return of fines from the Captains heads each page with troop numbers and captains names listed with monetary amounts.

The volume includes a list of banks in the United States in 1812, including capital assets, as well as a record relating to Campfields farm in 1822. It lists the fruits and vegetables planted daily, pertinent weather conditions and names of field hands.

The journal is printed in NJHS Proceedings, ser. 2, 3 (1873): 115-36; Frederick Cook, comp., Journals of the Military Expedition of Major General John Sullivan against the Six Nations of Indians in 1779(Auburn, N.Y., 1887), pp. 52-61.

Related Collections:

Manuscript Group 482, Allen/Alling-Campfield Family (Newark, NJ) Papers

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