Scope and Contents
The Joseph Wheaton Papers, 1797-1839, consist of correspondence and documents that passed between Major Wheaton, members of his family, and various government officials. The materials relate to attempts by Wheaton and his family to obtain reimbursement for debts incurred while he was serving as Deputy Quarter Master General during the War of 1812. Some of the later correspondence involves James Monroe Burke (1801-1859), a son-in-law of Joseph Wheaton, who was an official in the Treasury Department.
Joseph Wheaton was born in New York in 1755 of English parents. At the age of twenty he enlisted in the Second Rhode Island Line. In August of 1779 he became a lieutenant in the First Rhode Island Line, retained in Olney's Rhode Island Battalion. On the recommendation of General Washington, he then went to the State Continental Battalion where he served from January, 1781 to December, 1783. After this his activities are somewhat difficult to document, but it is obvious from the papers in this collection that he was serving in the office of the Quarter Master General during the War of 1812. Joseph Wheaton died November 23, 1828, probably in Washington, D. C.
Dates
- 1797-1839
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased in 1966.
Arrangement
The papers are arranged alphabetically by the name of the correspondent with a group of documents and miscellany falling at the end of the arrangement.
Extent
0.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
Correspondence and documents between Major Joseph Wheaton, members of his family, and various government officials concerning attempts to secure reimbursement from the government for debts incurred while Wheaton was serving as Deputy Quarter Master General during the War of 1812. Correspondents of note include Joseph Bloomfield, William Eustis, Charles Gratiot, George Hay, Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette, Return Jonathan Meigs, James Monroe, Amos Stoddard, and Martin Van Buren.
Biographical / Historical
Joseph Wheaton: in 1775 enlisted in Second Rhode Island Line; in 1779 became a lieutenant in Olney's Rhode Island Brigade; served in the State Continental Battalion, 1781-1783; served in office of the Quarter Master General during the War of 1812; attained the rank of Major.
- Armed Forces
- Bloomfield, Joseph, 1753-1823
- Burke family
- Burke, James Monroe, 1801-1859
- Crawford, William Harris, 1772-1834
- Eustis, William, 1753-1825
- Gratiot, Charles, 1786-1855
- Hay, George, 1765-1830
- Meigs, Return Jonathan, 1764-1825
- Monroe, James, 1758-1831
- Soldiers
- Stoddard, Amos, 1762-1813
- United States -- History -- War of 1812
- Van Buren, John, 1810-1866
- Van Buren, Martin, 1782-1862
- Wheaton, Joseph, 1755-1828
- Title
- Guide to the Joseph Wheaton Papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- compiled by Steven Hensen
- Date
- March 1972
- Description rules
- Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)
beinecke.library@yale.edu
Location
Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511