The following was posted on the Lancaster County PA RootsWeb Mailing List Server. The poster has has been transcribing journals from 1776 previously published. Material posted for earlier in the year of 1776 can be found at - http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl Enter PALANCAS as the Name of the List Now read on and consider the meaning of Christmas over the years to some of our Kimmel ancestors. Jay Kimmel - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - -- - - - - -- Subject: [PALANCAS-L] Dec 25 and 26 Lanc. Diary Entry Resent-Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 05:08:24 -0800 (PST) Resent-From: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com Date: Wed, 22 Dec 1999 05:08:22 -0800 (PST) From: S Hafner <shaf41@yahoo.com> To: PALANCAS-L@rootsweb.com I keep forgetting to ask also: At one time, someone was talking about not including all of the message when replying as some people have to pay depending on the amount or size of their emails??? Is this correct or did I imagine this? I can if enough of you would prefer, post all of the diary entries on my page rather than email them??? Just let me know what the most of you would prefer. This way too, they'd be there if you ever want to go back to them. Whatever way is best for all of you is okay with me. Sue December 26th entry really tore at my heart! Such a sad and terrible thing for anyone to go through! December 25, Wednesday (1776) Christmas Day. Henry Bennet and Elizabeth Thomson married today at St. James Church in Lancaster. (49) Peter Vetter, son of Gottleib Vetter died today. According to the Burial Book of the Moravian Church, he was born May 16, 1771. (50) See also Appendix. Appendix for December 25, 1776 GENERAL WASHINGTON TO ROBERT MORRIS. Head-Quarters, 25th December, 1776. DEAR SIR: I have your obliging favours of the 21st and 23d. The blankets are come to hand; but I would not have any of the other goods sent on till you hear again from me. I agree with you that it is in vain to ruminate upon, or even reflect upon, the authors or causes of our present misfortunes. We should rather exert ourselves, and look forward with hopes, that some lucky chance may yet turn up in our favour. Bad as our prospects are, I should not have the least doubt of success in the end did not the late treachery and defection of those who stood foremost in the Opposition while fortune smiled upon us make me fearful that many more will follow their example, who, by using their influence with some and working upon the fears of others, may extend the circle so as to take in whole Towns, Counties, nay Provinces. Of this, we have a recent instance in Jersey; and I wish many parts of Pennsylvania may not be ready to receive the yoke. The security of the Continental ships-of-war in Delaware is certainly a capital object, and yet to draft the many hands necessary to fit them out, from the Militia, might be dangerous just now. Perhaps, in a little time hence, their places may be supplied with country Militia, and then, if the exigency of affairs requires it, they certainly ought to be spared. I will just hint to you a proposition that was made, or rather talked of, a few days ago, by the officers of two New-England regiments, whose time of service will expire on the 1st January. They are, most of them, watermen, and they said their men would willingly go on board the frigates and navigate them round to any of the ports of New-England, if it was thought they would be safer there than in Delaware. You may think of this, and let me hear from you on the subject if the proposition pleases you. Lieutenant Boger, of the Navy, is already gone in; and I have made a demand of Lieutenant Josiah in exchange, but I have not heard whether Lord Howe accedes to it. I will procure the release of Doctor Hodge as soon as it can be done without injuring others by giving him the preference, as I have always made it a rule to demand those first who have been longest in captivity. I will take the same steps in regard to Mr. Jones, commander of the sloop taken by the Andrew Doria. I shall take the earliest opportunity of sending in your letter to General Lee, with the bill drawn upon Major Small. >From an intercepted letter from a person in the secrets of the enemy, I find their intentions are to cross the Delaware as soon as the ice is sufficiently strong. I mention this that you may take the necessary steps for the security of such publick and private property as ought not to fall into their hands should they make themselves master of Philadelphia, of which they do not seem to entertain the least doubt. I hope the next Christmas will prove happier than the present to you, and to, dear sir, your sincere friend and humble servant, Go.Washington P.S. I would just ask whether you think Christeen a safe place for our stores? Do you not think they would be safer at Lancaster, or somewhere more inland? Robert Morris, Esq. 1420 Series 5, Vol. 3 2nd December 25 Appendix GENERAL WASHINGTON TO GENERAL PUTNAM Camp, above Trenton-Falls, December 25th, 1776. DEAR SIR: I am glad to hear by your son that you are getting better again. If I had not been well convinced before of the enemy's intention of possessing themselves of Philadelphia so soon as the frost will form ice hard enough to transport them and their artillery across the Delaware, I have an intercepted letter which puts the matter beyond a doubt. If, therefore, the citizens of Philadelphia have any regard for the town, not a moment's time is to be lost in putting it in the best posture of defence possible; but lest this should not be done, I would have the publick stores of every kind that can be, removed, except such as may be necessary for immediate use, and except provisions. I think the stores should go towards Lancaster instead of Christeen bridge, unless they can be water borne (at this time to the bridge) and readily transported from thence into the country. Should not this be the case, may they not easily be seized at Christeen? I think they may; but this matter should be inquired into. I am sorry Colonel Griffin has left the Jerseys. Some active officer of influence ought, in my opinion, to repair there, to inspirit the people and keep the Militia from disbanding, and, if possible, to encourage them to assemble. Let me know the exact state and strength of the Militia with you, that I may know how to govern myself; also of the expectation you have of more coming in. I am, dear Sir, yours, &c., GO. WASHINGTON. December 26, Thursday The Battle of Trenton was fought today. Thomas Davis and Mary Haggan were married at St. James Church. (51) Rev. Cuthbertson wrote: "Rode 5 miles home by John Maeben's- Great Snow. . ." (52) Colonel James Crawford's Fifth Battalion was ordered back to Lancaster today. Christopher Marshall wrote to Peter Miller at Ephrata: "Philadelphia, December 26th, 1776. To Peter Miller at Ephrata pr favor of Adam Kimmel-Respected Friend, Thou may think of the old proverb, 'out of sight, out of mind,' but this has not been my case of which I think thou will be convinced when I have informed thee of the painful Exercises I am and have been engaged in from the 5th inst. that is at the request of the Council of Safety, I accepted to call on some of my fellow citizens as many as I thought convenient to assist me in taking care of the distressed and sick soldiers as they come into town, provide for them such necessaries as could be procured & convenient for them in their unhappy grevious condition of which no idea thou can form will come up to their Distresses and was occasioned wholly through the Cruel and most barbarous severity inflicted on them whilst Prisoners under General Howe . . . of which some Hundreds are already dead & other's dying daily . . . They say that for the first 4 days no subsistance of any kind was allowed them, shut up in Nasty filthy places and yet in such numbers yet it was a wonder that any escaped an affection, when supplyed it was with short allowance of extremely bad bread and, raw picketed pork-this from their appearance is not exaggerated . . . skins covered with filth and lice covering a parcel of bones- with scarcely raggs sufficient to hid their nakedness . . . we are daily employed in order . . . to mitigate their sufferings . . . by the help of good nourishment and Physick properly applyed . . . give my kind respects unto all inquiring friends, I remain thy ready friend to serve when capable. (signed) Christopher Marshall. (53) Source: Lancaster Diary 1776 Compiled by Walter F. Ayars III for the Greater Lancaster Chapter Of The Lancaster Bicentennial Committe, 1976 This diary is made up of Excerpts from diaries, day books, journals, newspapers, and court records of the daily life in Lancaster County in the year 1776.