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Nicholas Fish papers, 1775-1844

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Summary

Creator:
William L. Clements Library
Abstract:
The Nicholas Fish papers (97 items) consist of letters and documents that span Fish's career as a Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician. The collection is made up of 87 letters and 10 documents and financial records.
Extent:
97 items
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Philip Heslip, May 2010

Background

Scope and Content:

The Nicholas Fish papers (97 items) consist of letters and documents that span Fish's career as a Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician. The collection is made up of 87 letters and 10 documents and financial records.

The Correspondence series (87 items) is comprised of 14 letters written by Fish, 70 letters addressed to Fish, 2 letters to his son Hamilton Fish (1833 and 1844), and one item to the Committee of Defense of New York (August 4, 1815).

The series contains 52 items from Fish's military activities in the Revolutionary war (1776-1786). Forty-one of these letters are addressed to Fish as adjutant general of New York, 1785, regarding the raising and provisioning of troops to aid the first United States Army, commanded by Josiah Harmar on the frontier of the Northwest Territory. Discussed are transporting supplies, maintaining troop levels, defending the settlers of the region from Indians, taking prisoners of war, and punishing deserters. Fish received communications from the War Offices at Fort Schuyler; the Bronx; Albany; Philadelphia; and West Point. Many letters, notably, were from prominent American army officers, such as Secretary of War General Henry Knox, John Morin Scott (his former mentor), Major John Doughty, and Commissary of Military Stores Samuel Hodgdon. Of particular interest is a letter from Captain John Francis Hamtramck, who described catching and punishing 7 troops for desertion from Fort McIntosh in Western Pennsylvania (December 4, 1785), and another letter from Hamtramck, in which he discussed the poor treatment of the Six Nations hostages by the Americans in contrast to the civility shown Indian war prisoners held by the British (June 13, 1785).

A group of 36 letters relate to Fish's activities in New York politics between 1791 and 1830. These provide details of Fish's career as well as New York and American politics in general, including military affairs, the War of 1812, and presidential politics. On February 12, 1791, Fish wrote to President George Washington requesting an appointment as inspector for the district of New York. In his letter from March 10, 1794, fish discussed a dispute between Henry Dearborn and Theodore Sedgwick (March 10, 1794). In a letter to Fish, Jacob Radcliff expressed his support for Fish as New York alderman (November 8, 1810). Among letters written during the War of 1812, William Watson examined the role of Pennsylvania Germans in the Presidential campaign of 1812 (September 16, 1812); Fish wrote to James Madison concerning the punishment of Lieutenant William S. Cox for his part in the Chesapeake incident (after June 1, 1813); and Commodore J. Lewis, Chief Engineer Joseph G. Swift, and General George Izard all wrote letters regarding the defense of New York Harbor (May 8 and October 10, 1813, and August 4, 1815). (For a complete list of contributors, see the controlled access terms section.)

The Documents and Financial Records series (10 items) is comprised of military, personal, and official items.

Included are:
  • Two officer lists of the New York militia: one for the 1st Regiment (1775), and the other for the militia under Colonel John Lasher (September 25, 1776).
  • Fish's bank deposit book with the U.S. Bank from April 1792-June 1793 (8 pages).
  • Seven receipts for duties from the Supervisor's Office, District of New York, all signed by Fish (April 1795-February 1798).

Biographical / Historical:

Revolutionary War officer and New York City politician, Nicholas Fish (1758-1833), was born into a wealthy New York City family. He studied law at age 17 before becoming a soldier in the Revolution. As a law clerk, Fish formed a lifelong friendship with Alexander Hamilton, and was later executor of his will. In 1776, Fish enlisted as a second lieutenant in Colonel John Lasher's First Battalion of New York Independents, beginning his military career that would last the war. In August 1776, he became General John Morin Scott's brigade major, and saw action at Long Island. In 1778 Fish was appointed division inspector under Steuben and commanded an infantry unit at the battle of Monmouth. He joined John Sullivan's expedition against the Indians in 1779, fought with Lafayette from 1780 to 1781, and served as Colonel Hamilton's second in command at Yorktown.

After the war, Fish was appointed supervisor of the revenue for New York (1793). He became deeply involved in New York City and state politics, first as an alderman (1806-1817), then as an unsuccessful Federalist candidate for lieutenant governor in 1810. He also served as president of the New York chapter of the Society of the Cincinnati, as chairman of the Board of Trustees of Columbia College, and in many other charitable societies. Fish married Elizabeth Stuyvesant in 1803. He died in New York City in 1833.

Acquisition Information:
1969-2017. M-1471, M-1517, M-1518, M-1520, M-1524, M-1526, M-1527, M-1538, M-1539, M-1547, M-1570, M-1586, M-1649, M-1752, M-1997, M-2130, M-6064 .
Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the "We the People" project.

Arrangement:

This collection is organized into two series:
  • Series I: Correspondence
  • Series II: Documents and Financial Records
  • Each series is ordered chronologically.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:
Chesapeake (Frigate)
Federal Party (U.S.)--New York (State) .
Germans--Pennsylvania.
New York (N.Y.)--Politics and government.
New York (State)--Politics and government.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Desertions.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Equipment and supplies.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Prisoners and prisons.
United States--History--War of 1812.
United States Military Philosophical Society.
Formats:
Accounts
Bankbooks
Financial records
Letters (correspondence)
Receipts (financial records)
Names:
United States. Continental Army. New York Regiment, First.
United States. War Office.
Cox, William S. (William Sitgreaves), 1790-1874.
Dearborn, Henry, 1751-1829.
Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828.
Fish, Hamilton, 1808-1893.
Madison, James, 1751-1836.
Sedgwick, Theodore, 1746-1813.
Washington, George, 1732-1799.
Bailey, Theodorus, 1758-1828.
Bogardus, Robert, 1771-1841.
Cambreleng, Churchill Caldom, 1786-1862.
Doughty, John, 1754-1826.
Fessenden, Thomas Green, 1771-1837.
Hamtramck, John Francis, 1756-1803.
Hewitt, Abram S. (Abram Stevens), 1822-1903.
Hodgdon, Samuel, 1745-1824.
Izard, George, 1777-1828.
Jacquemont, Victor, 1801-1832.
Knox, George, 1765-1827.
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806.
Lane, Derick, 1755-1831.
Morris, Lewis Richard, 1760-1825.
Radcliff, Jacob, 1764-1844.
Scott, John Morin, 1730-1784.
Swift, J. G. (Joseph Gardner), 1783-1865.
Troup, Robert, 1757-1832.
Van Cortlandt, Philip, 1749-1831.
Varick, Richard, 1753-1831.
Walker, Benjamin, 1753-1818.
Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815.
Wolcott, Oliver, 1760-1833.
Places:
Albany (N.Y.)
Bedford (Pa.)
Boston (Mass.)
Fishkill (N.Y.)
Fort Stanwix (Rome, N.Y.)
Lancaster (Pa.)
Lebanon Springs (N.Y.)
Morristown (N.J.)
Newburgh (N.Y.)
New Brunswick (N.J.)
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Pompton (N.J.)
Port-au-Prince (Haiti)
Poughkeepsie (N.Y.)
Rochester (N.Y.)
West Point (N.Y.)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown

PREFERRED CITATION:

Nicholas Fish Papers, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

Nicholas Fish papers, 1775-1844
Total components 4
Last indexed 2024-10-17