Guide to the William Gould (fl. 1794), Militia Officer Diary 1794 MG 343

Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. June 2006. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English.


Descriptive Summary
	Creator:	Gould, William, fl. 1794.
	Title:	William Gould (fl. 1794), Militia Officer Diary
	Dates:	1794
	Abstract:	Concerns military expedition into western Pennsylvania to suppress the Whiskey Rebellion. Gould served from September 3 to December 24, 1794 as Major, 1st Battalion, Capt. Isaiah Wool’s Company of Infantry, 2nd Regiment, New Jersey Detached Militia.
	Quantity:	.05 linear feet
	Collection Number:	MG 343

Biographical Note

During the Whiskey Rebellion, William Gould (fl. 1794) was a major in the First Battalion, Second Regiment of the New Jersey ‘Detached’ Militia. He served from September 3, 1794 until he was discharged on December 24, 1794.

The seeds of the Pennsylvania Insurrection, or the Whiskey Rebellion, were planted with the passing of laws in 1791 placing excise taxes on the distilled liquor. The taxes angered the inhabitants of western Pennsylvania and led them to harass Deputy Inspectors of the United States and other federal officials in that region. In May of 1794, Congress called for militias to be raised to deal with the insurrection and asked for 4,318 New Jerseyans. The militias were to be raised from existing militias and when needed from the conscription of able-bodied men as young as 18 years of age. The militia men served three month long tours of duty and were paid the same as United States Army regulars. Militia units from four states including New Jersey and Pennsylvania were sent to western Pennsylvania and quelled the rebellion in the fall of 1794.

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Scope and Content Note

This diary kept by William Gould in 1794, measures 0.05 linear feet. In the initial pages of the diary Gould transcribed the words of a song about the Jersey Blues; the master roll of the Second Regiment of the New Jersey Infantry on October 20, 1794; and orders from General Anthony White. In his daily entries Gould describes the terrain, the towns, the attitudes of the people, and the number of miles marched. On Friday, October 3, 1794, Gould notes that he, Major Isaac Kipp (fl. 1794), and Colonel Jonathan Forman (fl. 1794) were invited to dine with President George Washington in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff.

Use Restrictions

This collection contains many fragile documents, please handle with care.

Researchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission.

The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials.

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Access Points
	The entries below represent persons, organizations, topics, forms, and occupations documented in this collection.
	Subject Names:
		Forman, Jonathan, 1755-1809.
		Gould, William, fl. 1794.
		Kipp, Isaac, Major (fl. 1794)
		White, Anthony Walton, 1750-1803.
	Subject Organizations:
		New Jersey. Militia. Regiment, 2nd.
		United States. Continental Army. New Jersey Regiment, First (1777-1783)
	Subject Topics:
		Armed Forces–Officers.
		Military music.
		Soldiers–New Jersey.
		Whiskey Rebellion, Pa., 1794
	Subject Places:
		New York (N.Y.)
		Pennsylvania
	Document Types:
		Diaries.