Founders as Fathers: The Private Lives and Politics of the American Revolutionaries

343 Pages·2014·1.7 MB·English

by  Lorri Glover

Founders as Fathers
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Founders as Fathers
The Private Lives and Politics
of the American Revolutionaries
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LO R R I G LOV E R
NEW HAVEN AND LONDON
Published with assistance from the Louis Stern Memorial Fund.
Copyright © 2014 by Lorri Glover.
All rights reserved.
This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, including illustrations, in any form
(beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the US Copyright Law and
except by reviewers for the public press), without written permission from the publishers.
Yale University Press books may be purchased in quantity for educational, business,
or promotional use. For information, please e-mail
Contents
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Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
one: The Last Colonial Patriarchs 6
two: Independence 36
three: Sacrifce 69
four: Liberty and Power 103
five: A “Natural Aristocracy” 132
six: “All Other Persons” 164
seven: “Ourselves and Our Posterity” 192
eight: Reputation 219
Epilogue: Going Home 248
List of Abbreviations 261
Notes 263
Index 309
Illustrations follow page 134
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Acknowledgments
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riting this book, like any other, was at once a grueling
ordeal and a wonderful adventure, made bearable on the
Wone hand and fulflling on the other by what eighteenth-
century folks called “friends”: people who looked out for me, smoothed
my path, and generously shared their expertise, connections, and sup-
port. I was also lucky enough to draw on the kindnesses of friends in the
twenty-frst-century meaning of the word, and more often than not my
benefactors became my buddies and vice versa. The academic and the
personal, the public and the private blurred in my life, too, then.
Matt Schoenbachler and Craig Friend have been friends in both
senses for twenty years now. Matt, always my most valued critic, read
the entire manuscript and, as ever, gave me the best advice about im-
proving it and the clearest perspective on it. Craig read the early chap-
ters with his trademark rigor and thoughtfulness. This project benefted
enormously from our editorial partnerships and from his inspirational
example. Bruce Wheeler started out as a mentor, became a friend, and is
now a writing partner. He took time from his many projects to read
mine with his remarkable blend of capaciousness and precision. Ami
Pfugrad-Jackisch and I can never remember exactly how we met, only
that we became fast friends at some gathering at a Southern Historical
Association conference. I tried out some of the early ideas for this book
at a talk I gave at Ami’s invitation, and she later provided me excellent
counsel on revising the manuscript. In between, we enjoyed many fun
vii
viii Acknowledgments
breaks from academic conferences and as many scholarly conversations
over dinner. Jef Norrell frst told me I should and could write this book,
and, since he’d always been right down to that point, I decided to believe
him. He remained an inspiration through the whole process. And I
would never have written anything without the encouragement and in-
fuence of Larry Nelson, whose imprint words cannot describe.
Jon Kukla’s writing is a model for our craft, and so I was exceed-
ingly happy when he made time to read the manuscript and share his
deep understanding of Virginia history. And Thomas Foster graciously
swapped manuscripts with me, which meant I both got an advance read-
ing of his newest (wonderful) book and the beneft of his deft reading of
mine. Jen Popiel and Kathy Marty also read the whole manuscript—and
the much longer, earlier draft—and helped me sharpen my ideas and
prose.
The archivists and docents and curators I met while researching
this project were, to a one, encouraging and helpful. I must, however,
single out Karen Gorman and Edith Poindexter at Red Hill and Mark
Whatford and Susan Anthone at Gunston Hall, for going above and
beyond. Karen Gorman made sure I was able to attend an eighteenth-
century-style lunch on the grounds of Patrick Henry’s last estate during
my visit, and Edith Poindexter gave—impromptu—probably the single
best tour I’ve ever been on. Anyone writing about the founding era and
certainly about the founders must thank the heavens for the digitization
projects that have made the editorial projects of men like Thomas Jef-
ferson, George Washington, and James Madison, immediately accessi-
ble and, now, free. To echo one of the revolutionaries, we live in an age of
wonders.
Saint Louis University has been an exciting academic home. Since
joining the faculty in 2009, I’ve had the great good fortune to work for
two deans, frst the late Don Brennan and currently Michael Barber,
both deeply committed to the scholarly mission of SLU and unfailingly
encouraging of all my endeavors. I am profoundly grateful for the gen-
erous support of the College of Arts and Sciences, which gave me the
time, fnancial resources, and academic environment to write this book.
The History Department at SLU has had two fne leaders in the past
fve years, both of whom are exemplary scholars and honorable people.
Acknowledgments ix
Michal Rozbicki warmly welcomed me to the department and inspired
me by the example of his work. Phil Gavitt is boundlessly encouraging
and supportive. In addition to Phil and Michal, I have the privilege of
working alongside other historians at the top of their game who chal-
lenge me to be my best, including Flannery Burke, Torrie Hester, Hal
Parker, Silvana Siddali, and Katrina Thompson. Silvana, Flannery, and
Katrina read the book proposal and gave me sage advice and heartening
encouragement when I needed it most. Katrina, Torrie, and I were
making the same writing journey at the same time; sharing work with
them kept me motivated, and I’m happily indebted to them, as writers
and friends. Financial support from SLU included graduate research
assistants, and I relied on Joshua Mather, Christopher Schnell, and Ivy
McIntyre for more research aid, fact-checking, and editing than I really
want to admit. Josh also compiled elaborate genealogies of these com-
plex families that I turned to countless times. I’m sure I managed to
sneak back in some of the errors Chris and Ivy corrected, despite their
best eforts. Ivy, Josh, and Chris were also part of a terrifc graduate stu-
dent cohort that included Kristi Roberts, Luke Ritter, Scott McDermott,
Stephen Kissel, Ian McPherson, and Jef Dorr. They all enriched my
experiences at SLU and this book. And Chris Pudlowski holds us all
together, working hardest of all. I’m thankful for her presence in the de-
partment and all the guidance she’s given me since my frst day at SLU.
I consider it a minor miracle that I somehow landed in the same job
as Stefan Bradley and Jen Popiel, much less that I get to call them
friends. I admire them both very much, academically and personally, and
I am thankful for all the things they have taught me, in word and deed.
The Women’s and Gender Studies Program at SLU is the most intel-
lectually vibrant community I’ve ever been a part of, and I am grateful
for the example set by and the friendship of leaders in the program, es-
pecially Penny Weiss, Georgia Johnston, and Elisabeth Perry.
My parents were uplifting and patient when I begged of family
visits to keep writing. Dick Kreckler kept me fed at my favorite breakfast
spot ever, Macklind Deli. Rowena McClinton, Nancy Schurr, and Christy
Fry ofered compassion, distractions, empathy, and perspective—and
always exactly when I needed it.
Warm thanks must go to my agent, Geri Thoma, who believed in