"In Consequence of a Letter from Col. Arnold..." Newburyport and the 1775 Quebec Expedition

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"In Consequence of a Letter from Col. Arnold..." Newburyport and the 1775 Quebec Expedition

This mezzotint portrait of Benedict Arnold was printed in 1776 by Thomas Hart. Courtesy of Brown University.

On September 16, 1775, with Benjamin Greenleaf, Esquire "in the chair", the Newburyport Committee of Safety, Correspondence, and Inspection noted the receipt of a letter from Colonel Arnold and considered his request.

"In consequence of a letter from Colonel Arnold requesting the loan of the town's barge, etc. to proceed to Kennebec", the committee formed a subcommittee to “treat with him and comply with his request, if he should still think it necessary… also to procure a whale boat and twelve men, to bring said boats back again”

Moses Hale was put in charge of the Newburyport town barge, and Enoch Lunt was put in command of the whaleboat. The Committee of Safety, understandably nervous about giving up any of their precious resources, gave both men specific orders to take no unnecessary risks. Hale was ordered to "use prudence & your best Discretion in the Management of the Barge; & not Unnecessarily Expose her", while Lunt was to "give all Needed assistance to the Barge, to get her with out Delay & with Safety home again."

The expedition to Kennebec was a daring, -or reckless-or-both, plan by Benedict Arnold, who had led a daring attack that captured Fort Ticonderoga in May. In August, Arnold approached George Washington, then encamped in Cambridge, and proposed that he lead a secret mission to invade British Quebec. The expedition would launch from Newburyport and travel through the Maine wilderness, over treacherous, largely unexplored territory. Arnold believed that the French-speaking Canadiens would be happy to join with a colonial force in the defeat of the British, who had recently taken Quebec from the French.

And so, on September 11, 1775, the troops who had volunteered for the expedition began marching toward Newburyport. Arnold himself arrived on horseback on September 15, and presumably delivered his letter to the Committee of Safety in person.

The Committee of Safety's next flurry of votes were intended, at Arnold's urging, to stem the liquid enthusiasm of the troops then quartered in the town. On September 18, as the expedition waited for fair sailing weather, the committee voted to "Act upon a Letter recev’d from Col Arnold Desiring them to prohibit the Taverns & Dram shops", along with innholders and retailers..."from Selling Spiritious Liquors to the Soldiers under his Company."

And then, on September 19, after several days of delays, the expedition got underway. According to Newburyport's Caleb Haskell, "about 9 o'clock weighed our anchors, and came to sail with a southwardly wind."

The Committee of Safety, eager to allow for the free flow of commerce in the town, "voted that as the Soldiers have Left the Town, the Innholders & Retailers be Notify’d...that they need no Longer Desist from Selling Spiritous Liquors to the Inhabitants and Others as Usual."

On September 21, the key role that Newburyport played in all communications during this critical early months of war was made clear as General Washington asked the Committee to provide his messenger to Arnold with a fresh horse as he galloped to and from the Kennebec River and Cambridge.

And then, there was one last, rather ominous note, received on October 9, sent down from the ill-fated expedition, then encamped at Fort Western, a formerly British outpost at the head of the Kennebec River at modern-day Augusta.

"Capt Moses Nowell produced a Letter he received from Col Benedict Arnold dated at Fort Western 27 Sept. 1775 Ordering him to Receive from Capt James Clerkston one James McCormick a Criminal condemned for the Murder of Reuben Bishop & him safely convey under a proper Guard to His Excellency Genl Washington at Head Quarters".

The original Committee of Safety records are held at the Newburyport Public Library Archival Center and were transcribed by Marge & Skip Motes.

The fate of the Quebec Expedition, Newburyport's soldiers, including Caleb Haskell, the condemned murderer McCormick, and, of course, Colonel Benedict Arnold, will be explored all of next weekend, from September 19-21, 2025, thanks, in part, to a grant from the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism. Check out Newburyport250.org for details.

Want to learn more?

Newburyport's Revolution: Through a Howling Wilderness: The 1775 March to Quebec will provide a fascinating overview of the entire expedition on Friday, September 19 at 7 p.m., while The 1775 Quebec Expedition from Newburyport: Following Their Footsteps on Sunday, September 21 at 3 p.m. will focus on the experience of local troops.

New Acquisitions for Old Newbury: 2025 Member Reception and Annual Meeting

by Bethany Groff Dorau

Top - Bethany Groff Dorau chats with members and friends Tracy and Ed Beattie

Bottom - Sierra Gitlin holds up some century-old hooch.

In case you missed it, the Museum of Old Newbury's Annual Meeting was held on Wednesday, September 10. Since business meetings can be a bit dry at times, the museum has long paired the formal meeting with a general interest program. For the last four years, the program has been what we lovingly refer to as "adult show-and-tell", where staff and volunteers share their favorite new acquisitions with the membership. The program is fun and informal - sometimes acquisitions are only just beginning to be researched and so there is still an air of mystery about them. Other items are long-cherished, and well-documented family treasures.



It is also a time to say thank you and best wishes to departing board members and welcome to new recruits or those stepping into new roles. The membership said a heartfelt thanks to Wanda Blanchard, Nancy Thurlow, and Les Ferlazzo, who are stepping down from board service, though they will continue to be involved in the museum in crucial ways.

The board also thanked co-President Sally Chandler (below), who is resuming service on the board as Rebecca Brodish assumed the mantle of co-President, along with Bill Quigley.

And, though we hate to let them go, it was also time to say farewell, for now, to the best group of interns in the world. This season has seen a remarkable growth in our intern program, and they have worked hard, had fun, and moved mountains. Annabelle and Lilly (below) accepted the thanks of all of us for the hard work of the whole crew. Annabelle has left us for graduate school in London, and Lilly is close behind, continuing her studies at Oxford.

We are very fortunate to have staunch supporters among our members. One of our favorites, Barb Cullen, even sponsored the event, which included fresh new headshots for board members, staff, and interns by the incomparable Amanda Ambrose Photography. Stay tuned for an updated website featuring her artistry!

Top - Supporter, member, and sponsor Barb Cullen with executive director Bethany Groff Dorau and a newly acquired portrait of Albert Currier.

Bottom - Amanda Ambrose works her magic with board co-President Bill Quigley. Photos are courtesy of our wonderful board member and volunteer Bob Watts.

Thank you, Barb, and thanks to all of you who support us in so many ways. This place is a vibrant hub of this community thanks to all of you. Huzzah!

Something Is Always Cooking...

Bethany's Blueberry Coffee Cake

This is a quick and easy coffee cake based on the second-prize-winning 1954 Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe for "Blueberry Boy Bait" submitted by Renny Powell, a 15-year-old girl from Chicago - hence the name. I tend to make more of the sugar topping and add a layer mid-batter. I also use frozen wild blueberries if fresh is not immediately available. It turns the batter blue-ish, but nobody seems to mind. This is also delicious with ice cream as a proper dessert.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

For the Topping

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

½ cup all-purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup and leveled-off

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 stick salted butter, cold, cut into ½-inch chunks

For the Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 stick (½ cup) butter, softened

¾ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

grate of nutmeg if desired

½ cup milk

2 cups frozen wild blueberries (do not defrost)

Directions:

Topping:

• Combine the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.
• Using your fingers, mix until no lumps of brown sugar remain.
• Rub in the butter with your fingertips until it reaches a crumbly state.
• Refrigerate until ready to use.

Cake:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Grease a 9-inch square pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl and beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla extract.
• Gradually add the flour mixture, alternating with the milk, beating on low speed to combine. Add the berries to the batter and fold gently with a spatula until evenly distributed. Do not over-mix.
• Transfer half the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle half the topping evenly over the batter. Add the remaining batter in large spoonfuls and top with the remaining topping.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden brown around the edges and a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a rack for about 20 minutes, then serve right from the pan.

Enjoy!

Puzzle Me This...

Click the image to do the puzzle

Edward F. Speck portrays Rev. Samuel Spring in A Moment of Resolve: Reenactment of the Dedication Service with Reverend Spring at the First Parish Church on September 20 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm.

Commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Quebec Expedition with a powerful reenactment of the 1775 dedication service for departing troops. Reverend Samuel Spring, portrayed by Edward Speck, delivers the historic sermon that inspired courage and faith, honoring the spiritual strength that sustained Newburyport’s patriots on their journey to liberty.

Visit Newburyport250.org for more information.