Want to dive deeper into the text of the incredible historic documents on display in Dey Mansion as part of our Revolutionary Objects exhibit? Here are some transliterations that will make it easier. You can also read the text from the other side of these documents here!
The details of each of the documents are below. They are listed here in the order they are displayed in the case, from left to right.
Headquarters Totoway 2 of November 1780 N.J.
      The Commander in Chief has the happiness to inform the army, The Honorable Congress have been pleased by their acts of the 3rd and 21 of October to pass the following resolution. He is intimily persuaded that which provision now made will give universal satisfaction, is it evinces the justice and generosity of Congress will prove a new motive to the zeal and intentions of the officers.
That much of the sixteen additional Regiments as have not an-nexed to the line of some particular state of all the several Right corpo of the army, both of Horse and Feet.( Col Hazen’s Rys,Col Armonds , Major Lee’s Corps expected) and also the German Battalion. Battalion will be reduced on the 1st of January next. Not the non commissioned officer and privates in those several corps incorporated with troops of their respective states: and that much of them as do not belong to any particular State be amassed to such corps as the Commander in Chief shall direct.
That the regular army of the United States here and after the 1st of January next consists of four regiments of Mounted and dismounted Dragoons or legendary Corps, Regiments of Artillery; Forty nine Regiments of Infantry, exclusive of Col Hazen Reys, Col Armands Pathigon Corps & Major Lee_________, one of the Regs of
Lee consist of the troops mounted and three of dismounted fifty each to be officers And by commander in chief. by the appropriation of Congress, & the Commander in Chief be authorized to direct the mode for completing the Mammoth supply vaid carpo.
That each or legionary corps consist of four troops of mounted Dragoons,and two dismounted a troops,each consisting of thirty privates,when the same number of Commis’d (?) and non commis’d officers as at present. That the Partizan (?) Corps commanded by Armand & Major Lee
That each Regiments of artillery consists of Ten companies and that each company consists of Sixty Five non commissioned officers and Matropes when commissioned officers as of present.
That each Regiments of the infantry requested from the overall states shall consists of 1 col, 1 lt col,1 major; where the full colonels are continued; or one Lt Col commandant & Two Majors,
Where the Cole Colonels are not continued, a captain, 22 subalterns , 1 surgeon, 1 surgeon’s mate, 1 sergeant major, 12 MaT sergeants, 45 sergeants, 1 Drum Major, 1 Fife Major, 10 Drummers,10 fifers & 612 Rank & Rifle.
That there would be one captain and two subalterns to each company and that the Four supplementary subalterns which each have Rank of Lieutenant . One of which is to reside in the states _____to which he belong to insist and from reunites (?). One Drum maj_________________ & officers to the attend the recurtinting officers the other supplementary officers to do the duty of pay master,______ master of _______ in their respective Regiments and that the Regiments of A______, Units of eight company. German Company consists of sixty non commissioned officer and privates .
That the whole of the troops be enlisted During the war and join the respective capes by the 1st of January
That the several states furnish the following quotas: Virgina, New Hampshire Two Regiments of the infantry, Massachusetts Bay Two Regt of an infantry. and one of artillery.—–Rhode Island One Regiment of infantry. Connecticut one of Landry.New York Two Infantry. Y______ Military. New Jersies Regiments of the infantry.Pennsylvania two? Regiments of the infantry, one of artillery same as_____. Delaware One Regiments of the infantry. Maryland Five Regiments of the infantry.Virginia eight Regt of Infantry ________of Cavalry. North Carolina Four Regiments of Infantry. South Carolina two Regiments of Infantry. Georgia One Regiment.
      That the___________ ______________ of Cavalry, artillery of a___________as they now stand ,he consided as belonging to the states ____________ ______________ to which they are? May? Be de ______which states shall be compled ____________them to the co____________supply them with n________and in every_________________that them as if originally raised and other States as now have non commissioned officers and privates in any regiments___________________be ________________in their quotas for each man according to their____________________________________from time to time; For which purpose, the commander in chief is highly s______________to specify such on commissioned officers and privates and the state to which has hall________________________ _______________________ the states;__________________a____________________ return to Congress
The Commander in Chief and Commanding Officer in the Southern Department,direct the ___ffense of each State meet again when the officers for the regiments to be ________by their respective states that___________________________ t__________________ who incline to continue in service & where it can not be done by as _______________ to be determined by seniority & make turn of those who are to remain which is to _________transmitted to long____________________ together with the names of the officers reduced who are to be allowed half pay for life.
      That the officers who shall continue in service until the end of the war shall be entitled to half pay during life to commence from the time of their induction
      That the officers at the camps be improved to use many resident _____________________ ,and improved every favor and opportunity to what for the continuance of the war, such of the much men belonging to their respective states, as are not engaged for that period.
That two dollars ___________granted to the reserve. Every officers for every able bodied soldier he shall _____________ enlist for the war.who shall the army & a sum not exceeding fifty dollars be allowed to every such recruit.
That the clothing be furnished and regularly carried out to the troops as it becomes due, and that full compensation shall be made for any __________ of clothing.
The general directs that officers of the several lines, will meet accordingly and again when as arrangement as _________ as maybe of the officers who remain in service. Of the those who where,____________________________ there some(?) to headquarters— _______________to be understood that none can w____________________ with benefit of the provision have made ,_________________ such as
      That the regiment commanded by Col Hazen be continued on its present establishment and That all non commissioned officers and privates being foreigners belonging to any reduced Regiments of Cape,being incorporated forthwith, and all volunteers from foreign states who are now in service or may_______ join the american army be________ to the_____________regiment as exceeds that which is required in the establishment of the regiments.The general officers of the Repertive will he ___________to adjutant in the arrangement.—-
You want necessary writing as I had call off a number of Time
      Yours
M______
That the regiment commanded by Col Hazen be continued on its present establishment and That all non commissioned officers and privates being foreigners belonging to any reduced Regiments of Cape,being incorporated forthwith, and all volunteers from foreign states who are now in service or may_______ join the american army be________ to the_____________regiment as exceeds that which is required in the establishment of the regiments.The general officers of the Repertive will he ___________to adjutant in the arrangement.—-
You want necessary writing as I had call off a number of Time
      Yours
M______
Generals Orders for the New Arrangements of the Army. Nov 1,1780
(James H,Averell)
CEO
2-5-44″
This document is a 20-page manuscript called “The Godwin Chronicle.” It’s a handwritten account by by David Godwin. In this account, David Godwin recounts his family’s history and settlement in New Jersey. He describes the challenges faced during the Revolutionary War, including interactions with Native Americans and British forces. Godwin was born on March 5, 1766, and would have been 14 years old when Washington was at Dey Mansion in 1780.
Godwin emphasizes the sacrifices made by soldiers and the need for recognition and
support for veterans. This manuscript reflects on the community’s development and
the impact of the war on families and local life.
David Godwin died in 1852, and is buried in Rhinebeck, New York.
On Loan to the County of Passaic from Elizabeth Glass.
This document is a letter from General George Washington to Brig. Gen. Henry Knox, written on November 22, 1780. The letter concerns a planned attack on British posts in Manhattan, written in the hand of aide-de-camp Tench Tilghman, and signed at the conclusion by General George Washington. In full:
“By twelve o’clock on Friday you will have ready all such pieces of your park as are most proper to annoy shipping and cover a body of troops across a River—A relief of Horses to accompany them will be desirable if they are to be had. Your usual punctuality assures me of the same in this instance.”
A draft of this letter is printed in The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799 (Volume 20, September 6, 1780-December 20, 1780, p. 386, edited by John C. Fitzpatrick). While at his headquarters in Passaic, New Jersey, General George Washington hoped to make a final attack on British forces before his army’s retirement to their winter encampment in New Windsor, New York. Realizing that a direct assault on their military headquarters in New York City would be disastrous, he instead made plans for a series of surprise attacks on British posts at Kingsbridge (the Bronx) and northern parts of Manhattan.
Brigadier General Henry Knox, along with General Anthony Wayne, Colonel Timothy Pickering, and others, were to lead a multi-pronged attack the night of Friday, November 24, crossing the Hudson River by boat under dark with a large regiment of troops mustered from the surrounding area, including West Point. Although the plan was set into motion, boats requisitioned, and troops summoned to their attack points, according to Colonel David Humphreys, who participated in the operation, it was aborted at the last minute due to, ‘the accidental intervention of some (British) vessels’ who unexpectedly sailed up the Hudson. By midday on the 24th Washington issued directions to the several commanders calling back their troops, and in the following days made his final arrangements for the Army’s winter encampment.
On Loan to the County of Passaic from Philip Wingard.