Records and Papers of the New London County Historical Society, 1895-1904, Vol. 2 (Classic Reprint)
(Excerpt from Records and Papers of the New London County ...)
Excerpt from Records and Papers of the New London County Historical Society, 1895-1904, Vol. 2
In 1718 whales were pursued on the ocean in small sloops and schooners of from 30 to 50 tons. The blubber was brought home and tried or boiled in try-houses. A few years later vessels of larger burthen were employed, and the oil was boiled out in try-works at sea.
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Joseph Trumbull was a commissary-general of the Continental Army.
Background
Joseph Trumbull was born on March 11, 1737 at Lebanon, Connecticut.
He was the eldest son of Jonathan Trumbull and his wife, Faith Robinson; the younger Jonathan and the painter John Trumbull were his brothers.
Education
He graduated from Harvard in 1756.
Career
After graduating, he was engaged for eleven years in his father's firm, making two trips to England in behalf of its interests.
In 1767 he was elected to the General Assembly of Connecticut and served therein almost continuously for six years.
In May 1773 he was chosen a member of the state committee of correspondence, and in August 1774 was selected to represent Connecticut in the Continental Congress as alternate to Roger Sherman.
He had in the meantime joined to his knowledge of business affairs some acquaintance with military matters by serving as captain of a trainband. Hence in April 1775 he was appointed by the Assembly commissary-general of the Connecticut troops, concentrated near Boston. His efficiency in provisioning them so favorably impressed Washington that on July 10, 1775, he urged Congress to entrust Trumbull with the task of victualing all the patriot forces, and on July 19 Congress appointed him commissary-general of the army with the rank and pay of colonel.
His problem was to produce order out of the chaos which characterized the business of feeding the army. It was a task fraught with numerous difficulties. Transportation was slow and laborious. Purchasing was hampered by currency depreciation, lack of funds, and state embargoes.
Both Congress and the states appointed numerous commissaries who disputed his authority. Such disputes were often intensified by personal and sectional animosities. A court of inquiry appointed by Washington in December 1775 to examine complaints against him found fault with the prices fixed by him for provisions but acquitted him of any fraudulent intent.
In 1776 he was drawn into controversy with General Schuyler regarding the right of the commissary-general to exercise plenary control over the provisioning of the northern army. While Trumbull's conduct in the matter was not without blemish, his claim of authority was sustained by both Washington and Congress).
In the spring of 1777 Congress voted to reorganize the commissary department by creating two commissary-generals, one of purchases and the other of issues. Trumbull was offered the former post, but declined it on the ground that the new scheme was unworkable since the deputy commissaries were to be appointed by and made responsible to Congress. Subsequent events seemed to justify his contention, for in the following year Congress reëstablished the previous system.
In the meantime Trumbull had been elected to membership on the board of war, but after brief service (November 1777 - April 1778) was compelled to resign by reason of poor health.
Retiring to Lebanon, he succumbed to illness induced by his exhausting labors as commissary-general. While his services to the Continental Army were undramatic, they were indispensable.