Guide to the James Abeel (1733-1825), Deputy Quarter master General Papers 1761-1819

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Descriptive Summary
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Arrangement
Restrictions
Access Points
Related Material
Administrative Information

Series Descriptions and Container List

Series 1: Correspondence, 1777-1782, n. d.
Series 2: Business Records, 1776-1781.
Series 3: Personal finances, 1761-1819.

Guide to the James Abeel (1733-1825), Deputy Quartermaster General Papers
1761-1819
MG 110
The New Jersey Historical Society
52 Park Place
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Contact: NJHS Library
Phone: (973) 596-8500 x249
Email: library@jerseyhistory.org
URL: https://www.jerseyhistory.org
©2008 All rights reserved.
The New Jersey Historical Society, Publisher
Inventory prepared by Kim Charlton as part of the “Farm to City” project funded by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. December 2005. 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: Abeel, James, 1733-1825.
Title: James Abeel (1733-1825), Deputy Quartermaster General

Papers Records

Dates: 1761-1819
Abstract: Correspondence and records of James Abeel, primarily concerning his service as Deputy Quartermaster General, New Jersey Continental Line. Prior to being assigned to his post, Abeel was an officer in the First Battalion, New York City Militia.
Quantity: 0.5 linear feet
Collection Number: MG 110

Biographical Note

 

James Abeel (1733-1825) was born and raised in New York City where he pursued a commercial career as a young man. During the American Revolution, he served in the First Battalion of the New York City Militia, the Continental Army, and by 1777, as deputy quartermaster general at Morristown, New Jersey. He dealt with the Continental Army’s provisions during their two Morristown encampments, the Middlebrook and Pluckemin encampments, and Valley Forge.

 

After the war, Abeel and his wife, Gertrude, secured profits from Revolutionary War certificates and acquired land in Washington County, New York.

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Scope and Content Note

 

This collection consists of 0.5 linear feet of correspondence, quartermaster records, and personal financial documents dating from 1761-1819. The collection documents the process by which the Continental Army was provisioned in and from New Jersey, especially during the years 1777-1781. It records the kind and quantity of supplies needed, their price, suppliers, and mode of delivery. The post-war material provides information concerning the financial history of New York during the 1780s and 1790s, especially through the exchange of war certificates and investment in real estate.

 

Includes correspondence of:
William Alexander, Lord Stirling; Nathanael Greene;
William Barber; William Maxwell;
J. Burnet; John Mitchell;
Richard Claiborne; Robert Morris (1734-1806);
Solomon Myers Cohen; John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg;
John Cox; Samuel Ogden; Philemon Dickerson; George Olney;
John Jacob Faesch; Charles Pettit;
Robert Forsyth; Jacob Weiss;
and Mordecai Gist.

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Arrangement

The papers are organized into three series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1777-1782, n. d.
Series 2: Business records, 1776-1778.
Series 3: Personal finances, 1761-1819.

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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

 

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:
Abeel, James, 1733-1825.
Alexander, William, 1726-1783.
Gist, Mordecai, 1742-1792.
Greene, Nathaniel, 1789-1841.
Morris, Robert, 1734-1806.
Muhlenberg, John Peter Gabriel, 1746-1807.
Washington, Martha, 1731-1802.
Subject Organizations.
United States. Continental Army.
United States. Continental Army–Equipment.
Subject Topics:
Acquisition of property–New York.
Armed forces–Officers.
Armies–Supplies.
Military camps–New Jersey.
Military supplies.
Quartermasters.
Subject Places:
Morristown (N.J.)
New York (N.Y.)
United States–History–Revolution, 1775-1783–Equipment and supplies.
Document Types:
Financial accounts.
Invoices.
Letters (Correspondence).
Receipts.

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Related Material

 

James Abeel’s Letterbook, Call Number: E N 171 (Ely Collection)

 

Manuscript Group 163, Hugh Hughes (fl. 1782), Deputy Quartermaster of New York, Daybook

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Administrative Information

 

Preferred Citation

 

This collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 110, James Abeel (1733-1825), Deputy Quartermaster General

Papers, The New Jersey Historical Society.

 

Acquisition Information

 

The source of this collection is unknown.

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Series Descriptions and Container List

 


Series 1: Correspondence, 1777-1782, n. d.

 

 

Scope and Content:

 

This series consists of 14 folders of letters received by James Abeel during the years 1777-1782. The letters concern such issues as supplies, the cost of various items, and the needs of the troops (tents, horses, camp kettles, and so forth), as well as private reports on such events as the British evacuation of Rhode Island, and a visit to Martha Washington.

 

Box Folder Title Date
1 1 James Abeel. Letters received 1777
1 2 James Abeel. Letters received 1778
1 3 James Abeel. Letters received 1778
1 4 James Abeel. Letters received 1779
1 5 James Abeel. Letters received 1779
1 6 James Abeel. Letters received 1779
1 7 James Abeel. Letters received 1779
1 8 James Abeel. Letters received 1779
1 9 James Abeel. Letters received 1780
1 10 James Abeel. Letters received 1780
1 11 James Abeel. Letters received 1780
1 12 James Abeel. Letters received 1780
1 13 James Abeel. Letters received 1781-1782
1 14 James Abeel. Letters received n.d.

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Series 2: Business Records, 1776-1781.

 

 

Scope and Content:

 

This series consists of 7 folders of quartermaster records from the years 1776-1778. These items include receipts, accounts, and invoices for various services and supplies.

 

Box Folder Title Date
1 15 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1776
1 16 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1777
1 17 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1778
1 18 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1779
1 19 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1780
1 20 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1780
1 21 James Abeel. Quartermaster’s records 1781

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Series 3: Personal finances, 1761-1819.

 

 

Scope and Content:

 

This series consists of 3 folders of documents that represent the financial activities of James Abeel as a private individual. These items include deeds, releases, and receipts; the sale of military rights, 1791; an account of payment for quit rents on the Cathoun patent, 1817; accounts of taxes paid by Abeel in various years; land surveys; and affidavits.

 

Box Folder Title Date
1 22 James Abeel. Personal finances 1761-1787
1 23 James Abeel. Personal finances 1787-1797
1 24 James Abeel. Personal finances n.d.-1819

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