This is the first and only comprehensive analysis of Washington's travels in New England abstracted from six volumes of his diaries and 39 volumes of his writings, plus his expense accounts in the Library of Congress and information obtained by the author in writing to over sixty local libraries and historical societies, published in one small booklet. It is hoped this will be a valuable research paper and of interest to tourists who wish to visit those places where "Washington slept here."

Gene Claghorn Cocoa Beach, Florida

Connecticut - 1756

On Feb. 4th Colonel George Washington left Alexandria, Virginia for Boston to confer with General William Shirley, Colonial governor of Massachusetts, regarding Washington's rank in the Virginia militia compared with the regular army. With Washington were his aides, Captains George Mercer and Robert Stewart, and two servants. They traveled through Horseneck (now Greenwich), Stamford, Fairfield, Bridgeport, and Stratford and reached New Haven on February 23rd.

The men passed though Westbrook, Saybrook, and Old Lyme and reached New London about February 25th, where Washington called on his old friend, Joseph Chew, then boarded a packet (vessel) for Newport, Rhode Island and Boston.

According to his log, on his return trip to Virginia on June 28, 1756, Washington had dinner in Bulkley's Inn in Fairfield. The Bulkley House was built about 1686 and operated as an inn by Peter Bulkley until his death about 1752, then by his widow, Abigail, who was Washington's hostess.

Rhode Island -1756

About Feb. 25th Colonel Washington boarded a packet for Newport and Boston, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts - 1756

On Feb. 27th, Washington and his party arrived in Boston by packet. They stayed at the Sign of Oliver Cromwell Tavern, also called Cromwell's Head Tavern, located on the north side of School Street. The tavern at that time was owned by Anthony Bracket, whose wife Elizabeth Maglen Bracket, was Washington's hostess.

While in Boston, Washington conferred with Shirley and the matter was settled to Washington's satisfaction. Washington and his party left Boston on March 2nd or 3rd.

Connecticut - 1775

On June 23rd General Washington left Philadelphia for Cambridge, Massachusetts to assume command of the Continental Army. With Washington were his aides, Generals Charles Lee and Philip Schuyler, and their aides. They traveled along King's Highway (now the Boston Post Road U.S. #1), where on June 27th they had dinner in the tavern of John Nichols, near the old Stratford Training Ground.

Connecticut - 1775

On June 28th General Washington, accompanied by Schuyler, Lee, Major Thomas Mifflin, and Samuel Griffin, arrived in New Haven and lodged at the tavern of Jemima Rowell Beers, widow of Isaac Beers, at the corner of College and Chapel Streets (later the site of the Hotel Taft). While here Washington reviewed a company of students at Yale College (now Yale University). On June 29th, the general dined with the clergy.

Washington lodged the night of June 29-30 in the home of Silas Deane and his second wife, Elizabeth Saltonstall Deane, in Wethersfield, then passed through Durham, Middletown, and New Britain.

On June 30th, Washington arrived at Hartford, where he conferred briefly with General James Wadsworth, then proceeded to Windsor and Suffield, where he and his party had lunch at the Austin Tavern, managed by Seth Austin and his wife, Mary Seymour Austin. They had fourteen children.

On Dec. 5-6, Martha Washington spent the night in the Beers Tavern on her way to Cambridge to be with her husband. With her were Mrs. Horatio Gates, Mr. and Mrs. John Parke Custis (her son and daughter-in-law), and Mr. and Mrs. Warren Lewis. They were being escorted by Lt. Col. George Baylor.

Massachusetts - 1775

On June 30th General Washington and his party passed through Springfield and stopped at Warren for refreshments, where he was given a glass of water by a Mr. Keyes.

On the evening of July 1-2, Washington lodged at a tavern built in 1676 in Marlborough (now Marlboro) on which in 1677 Lt. Abraham Williams placed a sign: "Williams Tavern." The sign hung for 150 years. The tavern was operated by a grandson, Colonel Abraham Williams, at the time of Washington's visit. Abraham and his third wife, Elizabeth, had fourteen children--nine sons and five daughters.

Washington arrived at Watertown on July 2nd and had a meal in the tavern of Dorothy Whitney Coolidge, widow of Nathaniel Coolidge, who died in 1770. They had three sons and three daughters. Her son, Daniel Coolidge, Sr., had nine children and her grandson, Daniel Coolidge, Jr., had nine children. Her grandson, Nathaniel, had one son and thirteen daughters!

At the time of her husband's death, a portrait of King George III was displayed. On the day of the Battle of Lexington on April 19, 1775, Dorothy Coolidge took down the portrait of King George III and later placed one of George Washington on the wall. The tavern was torn down in 1918.

Massachusetts - 1775

On July 3rd General Washington arrived at Cambridge and stayed at the Wadsworth House, lodgings of the president of Harvard College (now Harvard University), Samuel Langdon.

While here, Washington dined with Horatio Gates and John Adams at the headquarters of Major Thomas Mifflin and his wife, Sarah Morris Mifflin. On July 13th Washington visited the camp and troops in Roxbury.

About July 15th, Washington moved his headquarters to the house of John Vassal, a Tory, whose home had been confiscated by the U.S. In 1792, Dr. Andrew Craigie, apothecary general of the Northern Department, purchased the Vassal House. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the poet, resided in the Craigie House from 1837-41. It is still standing and open to the public with its beautiful antiques.

Massachusetts - 1776

On Jan. 18th Colonel Henry Knox arrived in Cambridge with forty-three British cannons and sixteen mortars which had been captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga. The cannons and mortars had been transported through the wilderness from upstate New York to Massachusetts, a remarkable feat for those days.

On March 4-5, the Americans, under Colonel John Thomas, captured Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston Harbor. The Americans placed their cannons and mortars on the heights, giving a superior position to shell the British. This action was a stunning blow for General William Howe, who ordered the British forces to evacuate Boston for Halifax.

On March 18th Washington dined with James and Elizabeth Erving Bowdoin in the home of John and Abigail Phillips Erving. They had one son and a daughter, Elizabeth, who married John Temple, who later inherited a barony. James Bowdoin served as governor of Massachusetts 1785-87.

On March 28th Washington had dinner at the Bunch of Grapes Tavern owned by John Marston, who operated the tavern 1775-79. He had served in the expedition to Louisburg, Nova Scotia in 1745.

While stationed in Cambridge, Washington often dined with General Israel Putnam and his wife, Deborah (Lothrop) Gardiner, who resided in the Ralph Inman house in Boston. On April 4, 1776, Washington left the Vassal (Craigie) House in Cambridge and most of the American army followed on April 13th, headed for New York.

Massachusetts - 1776

After he left Cambridge, on April 4th Washington had dinner in Dedham at Ames Place, operated by Deborah Fisher Ames, widow of Nathaniel Ames, Sr. They had three sons and two daughters. Sometime after her husband's death, Deborah married Richard Woodward.

General Washington lodged in the Dexter House in Dedham, built by Samuel Dexter, Sr. and, in 1776, occupied by Joshua Henshaw, an attorney, who was married but had no children.

On April 5th, Washington stopped at Wrentham for refreshments at the tavern of Mary Man, widow of Lieutenant Peletiah Man, who had died in 1765. Washington then rode into Rhode Island.

Rhode Island - 1776

On April 5th, accompanied by General Horatio Gates and Jacky and Nelly Custis, General Washington was escorted into Providence to his lodgings in the home of Stephen Hopkins, former governor of Rhode Island and a Signer of the Declaration of Independence.

That evening Washington and his party dined in the home of Governor Nicholas Cooke of Rhode Island. On April 6th Washington and Gates had dinner at Hacker's Hall. On April 7th Washington and his suite (party) left Providence.

Massachusetts - 1776

Upon his arrival in Warren on April 7th, Washington and his party were entertained for dinner in the home of Major Elisha Kent and his third wife, Sibbil Dwight Kent, daughter of Colonel Simeon Dwight. The Suffield, Connecticut Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named in her honor. This chapter restored the old cemetery in Suffield and marked the graves of Revolutionary War soldiers.

General Washington spent the night of April 7-8 in the tavern of Colonel Dwight located on what is now the corner of Burbank and Main Streets in Warren. In 1891 the house was carefully dismantled and taken to Guilford, Connecticut where it was restored and now serves as a private residence. Washington left Warren on April 8th.

Connecticut - 1776

On April 8th Washington had dinner with Governor Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut and Colonel Jebediah Huntington in the tavern of Azariah Lothrop in Norwich. That evening Washington lodged in the home of Colonel Jabez Huntington, whose first wife, Elizabeth Tracy Backus Huntington, was the mother of Jebediah Huntington mentioned above.

Connecticut - 1776

At the time of his visit, Washington's hostess was Hannah Williams Huntington, daughter of the Reverend Ebenezer Williams of Pomfret.

On April 9th General Washington had dinner in Douglas Tavern in New London. While there, Washington viewed the fortifications being built there and in Groton. Washington lodged that night in the home of Captain Nathaniel Shaw, Jr. and conferred with another guest, Commodore Esek Hopkins of Rhode Island, who had been commissioned as commander-in-chief of the Continental Navy on December 22, 1775.

Captain Shaw's wife, Lucretia Harris Shaw, entertained frequently and among her distinguished guests were General Nathaniel Greene, Nathan Hale, and Governor Jonathan Trumbull.

Mrs. Shaw turned her home into a hospital for wounded and sick soldiers and nursed them herself. Unfortunately, she fell ill of the goal fever (typhoid) herself and died in 1781. The New London chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is named in her honor. Her house is now the headquarters of the New London Historical Society.

General Washington spent the night of April 10-11 in the home of John McCurdy and his wife, Anne Lord McCurdy, in Old Lyme. On April 11th, Washington had breakfast in Westbrook at Jonathan Lay's Tavern. Mary Spence Lay was Washington's hostess. They had one son. According to local tradition, the general stopped for refreshments at a tavern in Clinton.

General Washington, on April 11th, had his noontime dinner in the tavern of Gilbert Dudley, which was located in that part of Guilford (now Madison). The towns were separated in 1826. Dudley's second wife, Sarah Bartlett Dudley, was Washington's hostess. They had two sons and two daughters. The house is now a private residence. The table where Washington dined has been preserved by the descendants of Gilbert Dudley. Generals Washington and Gates stopped by New Haven and then for refreshments at the tavern of Joseph Gorham in Stratford. He had two sons by his first wife, four sons by his second wife, and four sons and three daughters by his third wife, Barbara Barlow Gorham, who was Washington's hostess.

Washington and Gates spent the night of April 11-12 at the tavern of Samuel Penfield in Fairfield. Washington's hostess, Elizabeth Lewis Penfield, had eight children but three died young.

Connecticut - 1776

On April 12th, Washington and Gates had a noontime dinner at the tavern of Israel Knapp on the Boston Port Road in what is now Greenwich. The tavern is still standing and is called Putnam Cottage in honor of General Israel Putnam, who for a time had his headquarters there. The cottage is open to the public. Washington then crossed the border into New York State.

Connecticut - 1780

On Sept. 18th, General Washington left Peekskill, New York and had dinner in the tavern of Ensign Samuel Keeler III in Ridgefield. His wife, Abiah Benedict Keeler, was Washington's hostess. With Washington was the marquis de Lafayette and General Henry Knox. They left on the 19th.

On the 19th, Washington, Knox, and Lafayette dined at the home of Joseph Hopkins in Waterbury. Joseph and Hepsibath Clark Hopkins had five sons and four daughters. The party stopped for refreshments on Sept. 20th at the tavern of Jonathan Root in Southington. His second wife, Esther Wadsworth Root, was Washington's hostess. The Root house is still standing at Hill and Main Streets and is privately owned.

On the night of Sept. 20-21, Washington and his suite lodged at the home of Thomas Lewis in Farmington. Thomas and his wife, Sarah Garapy Lewis, had one son. The house was burned down in the great fire in the summer of 1864.

On Sept. 21, Washington and his suite arrived at Hartford and conferred with comte de Rochambeau, Admiral de Terney, comte de Fersen, and others. Washington lodged at the home of Colonel Jeremiah and Methitable Russell Wadsworth. Their home is now the site of the Wadsworth Athenaeum. Washington left there on the 23rd.

On the 23rd, Washington and his suite stopped for refreshments at the house of Abijah and Hannah Cook Catlin, a granddaughter of Captain Joseph Wadsworth, who hid the Connecticut Charter in an oak tree in 1687. The Catlins had four sons and three daughters. The Catlin house is located at Catlin Corners on the northwest corner of Burlington and Harmony Hill roads in Harwinton.

Washington had dinner in the home of General Oliver and Laura Collins Wolcott in Litchfield. He was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. They had five children. Washington spent the night of September 23-24 in the village.

Connecticut - 1780

On Sept. 24th General Washington had dinner in the tavern of William and Anna Whittlesey Cogswell on the main road in New Preston (now Washington). Then Washington rode to Fishkill, New York and arrived there on the 24th.

Connecticut - 1781

General Washington left Fishkill on March 3rd for Providence to confer with General Rochambeau, obtained a horse at Bull's Falls and had a meal in Litchfield, reportedly at the tavern of Captain William Stanton. He then lodged the night of March 3-4 at the tavern of Thomas Lewis in Farmington. With Washington were his aide, Colonel Tench Tilghman, and General Robert Howe.

On March 4th, Washington dined at the home of Reverend George Colton in Bolton. Colton was married but had no children. The house was taken down in the early 1830s. Washington spent the night of March 4-5 in Lebanon at the home of Colonel Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. and his wife, Eunice Backus Trumbull.

While here, Washington visited Governor Trumbull's War Office, which stands on Lebanon Hill. Here Washington, John Adams, John Hancock, Israel Putnam, Nathaniel Greene, and Rochambeau conferred with the governor. About 1891 the War Office was deeded to the Connecticut Society Sons of the American Revolution.

On March 5th Washington and his suite had breakfast in Norwich at the home of Dr. Elisha Tracy. His first wife, Lucy Hunt Tracy, bore him five daughters, and his second wife, Elizabeth Dorr Tracy, Washington's hostess, bore the good doctor nine more children. While here, Washington's junior officers had their meal in Azariah Lothrop's Tavern.

Washington had his noontime dinner in Preston at the home of Colonel Samuel Mott, Jr., who was married three times. In 1778 he was in charge of building defenses for New London, Groton, and Stonington. The Present Public Library now stands on the site of his home.

Rhode Island - 1781

On March 5th, General Washington and his party crossed the border from Connecticut and stopped at the tavern of Mr. Kenyon in Kingston for dinner. Washington spent the night of March 5-6 in the tavern of Lieutenant Ichabod Potter, Jr. in South Kingston. On the 6th the general took the French admiral's barge from Jamestown to Newport.

On March 6th, Generals Washington and Rochambeau landed at Barney's Ferry at the corner of Long Wharf and Washington Streets in Newport and Washington was taken to the home of William Vernon, a merchant who financed American privateers during the Revolutionary War.

On March 7th, Washington attended a ball at Mrs. Cowley's Assembly Room and danced with Margaret Champlin, one of Newport's most beautiful belles (later the wife of Dr. Benjamin Mason).

Washington left the Vernon House on March 13th. The house is still standing and open to the public. On March 13-15, Washington lodged at the home of Colonel Jabez Brown in Providence.

Connecticut - 1781

After he left Providence, Washington lodged the night of March 15-16 in Eaton's Tavern in Plainfield. On the 16th, Washington had lunch in the home of Samuel and Anne Tully Dorrance (or Dorrence) in that part of Voluntown which is now Sterling.

On March 16-18, Washington lodged at Mr. Platt's house in Hartford and while here dined with Governor Trumbull. Washington spent the night of March 18-19 in Farmington, then lodged the night of March 19-20 at the home of the widow Strong in Litchfield. On the 20th the general left for New Windsor, New York.

On May 18, Generals Washington and Henry Knox and the French engineer, Louis le Begue du Portail, left New Windsor for Wethersfield to confer with General Rochambeau and lodged the night of May 18-19 in the tavern of Gideon Morgan in New Preston (now Washington). Patience Cogswell Morgan was Washington's hostess.

Washington and his generals had breakfast on the 19th in the tavern of Samuel Sheldon in Litchfield. On this day Washington stopped by the house of Hannah Cook Catlin in Harwinton, where he had been in 1780.

On May 19th Washington established his headquarters in the home of Joseph Webb, Jr. in Wethersfield. Abigail Chester Webb was Washington's hostess. The Webb house is next door to the Deane house where Washington had lodged in 1775. Silas Deane's first wife Methitable Webb was the widow of Joseph Webb, Sr.

On May 20th Washington attended services in the Congregational Church in Wethersfield.

Connecticut - 1781

On May 21st Generals Jeane Baptiste and de Rochambeau and Francois Jean de Chastellux arrived. On May 22nd Washington held a Council of War with Knox, Rochambeau, and Chastellux and called for a joint American-French attack on New York City, aided by the fleet of Admiral de Grasse stationed in the West Indies. (On July 9th Washington received Lafayette's letter stating Lord Cornwallis and his troops were at Yorktown, Virginia and could be trapped there by the Americans and the French fleet, so Washington changed his plans.)\

On the evening of the 22nd, Washington dined with Governor Trumbull and the generals at Stillman's Tavern in Wethersfield and on the 23rd at the tavern of William and Abigail Collier in Hartford. The Colliers had four sons and three daughters.

On May 23-24 Washington lodged at Farmington and on May 24-25 at the tavern of Samuel Sheldon in Litchfield. On the 25th Washington had breakfast at the tavern of William Cogswell in New Preston (now Washington) and reached New Windsor, New York on May 25, 1781.

Connecticut - 1789

On Oct. 15th, President Washington left New York City on his presidential tour of the New England states, passed through Greenwich and then fed his horses at Norwalk. On the 16th he had dinner at the home of Thaddeus and Eunice Burr in Fairfield, then spent the evening of October 16-17 there at the Rising Sun Tavern operated by Samuel and Hannah Penfield.

After breakfast at the home of Samuel and Anne Beach Johnson in Stratford, Washington arrived at New Haven on the 17th and had tea in the home of the mayor, Roger Sherman, who was a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. He had seven children by his first wife and eight children by Rebekah Prescott Sherman, his second wife and Washington's hostess.

On the evenings of Oct. 17-19, Washington lodged at the tavern of Jacob Brown. On the 18th, Washington attended services at Trinity Episcopal Church on Church Street. On October 19th Washington had breakfast at Wallingford in the tavern of Jeremiah Carrington, later called the Washington Hotel. Washington's hostess was Mindwell Cook Carrington. They had two sons and several grandchildren.

The president had a noontime dinner at Middletown in the Bigelow Tavern, operated by Elizabeth Clark Bigelow, widow of Timothy Bigelow. They had six children but only two were later married. The tavern was torn down in 1826. While in Middletown the president called on General Comfort Sage and his wife, Sarah Hamlin Sage. They had seven children. Their daughter Hannah married Gurdon Saltonstall.

Connecticut - 1789

Washington was escorted by Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth and the Hartford Light Horse to Hartford, where the president lodged at the tavern of Frederick Bull, previously known as the Collier Tavern.

On Oct. 21st, Washington called on Oliver and Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth at Windsor, then rode to Suffield, where he stopped for refreshments before he crossed the border into Massachusetts.

Massachusetts - 1789

On his tour of the New England states (except for Rhode Island, which had not ratified the U.S. Constitution), President Washington, accompanied by his secretaries, Major William Jackson and Tobias Lear, and six servants, crossed the border on October 21st and lodged at the tavern of Zenas Parsons on Elm Street in Springfield. Mrs. Washington did not go on the tour.

Colonel John Worthington, William Dennison (adjutant-general of Massachusetts), General William Shepherd, and William Lewis (later a U.S. senator) spent the evening with the president. Washington left Springfield on the 22nd.

On Oct. 22nd, Washington had breakfast at the tavern of William Scott in Palmer, Hampshire County, fed his horses at Brookfield, and had dinner at the Hitchcock Tavern (now Ye Old Inn) in West Brookfield.

On Oct. 22-23, Washington and his party lodged at the tavern of Isaac Jenks in Spencer. After leaving Spencer the president passed through Leicester and arrived at Worcester about 10:00 AM, where a company of militia artillery in uniform greeted the president with a thirteen-gun salute. Washington had his breakfast at the U.S. Arms Tavern.

Major Joseph Hall of the Middlesex Militia escorted the president to Boston. After leaving Worcester the party was joined by a troop of light horse under Captain Rice, who escorted the president to Marlboro and the tavern of Captain George and Mary McPherson Williams. They had two daughters. The table at which President Washington dined and also the Masonic bowl, pitcher, and mug used at the tavern were in the possession of the family in 1910.

After the president had a midday dinner in Marlboro, his party passed through Shrewsbury and Sudbury to Weston, where they lodged the night of October 23-24. After leaving Weston at 8:00 AM the president arrived at Cambridge at 10:00 AM, where General John Brooks and Lt. Governor Samuel Adams escorted the president into the town.

Massachusetts - 1789

At one o'clock the president's arrival in Boston was announced by a federal discharge of cannon and a "royal salute from the Ships of his most Christian Majesty's Squadron and the ringing of bells" (Massachusetts Magazine, October). Vice President John Adams, Lt. Governor Samuel Adams, and the Council escorted the president to his lodgings in the home of the widow Elizabeth Ingersoll.

Governor John Hancock made the first call on the president. Washington dined at his lodgings with Vice President Adams. Elizabeth Davenport Ingersoll, the widow of Joseph Ingersoll, was the daughter of Sarah Franklin and James Davenport, who was a baker and innkeeper. They had 22 children. Mrs. Davenport was a niece of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. Mr. Ingersoll died just two months before Washington's visit.

Oct. 27th Washington attended a dinner at Fanuiel Hall and on the 28th visited the Boston Sailcloth Manufactory. After a trip on a barge, the president dined at the home of James and Elizabeth Erving Bowdoin, then attended a ball.

On the 29th, college president Joseph Willard took Washington on a tour of Harvard College (now Harvard University). Washington left Boston on October 29th. On the 29th, a party of horse under General Jonathan Titcomb escorted the president through Marblehead, a fishing town. The president wrote in his diary: "The Houses are old--the streets dirty--and the common people not very clean."

Washington had a cold collation at the home of Martha Sweet Lee, the wife of Colonel Jeremiah Lee, on Washington Street. The president then proceeded to Salem. While outside Salem on the 29th, the president was met by a brigade of militia, who conducted the president to the courthouse, where an ode in honor of the president was sung. Washington was then escorted to the home of Joshua and Sarah Lander Ward on Court Street (now Washington Street). They had two sons and three daughters.

Upon his arrival at Beverly on October 30th, the president toured the Beverly Cotton Manufactory owned by George and Andrew Cabot and managed by John Cabot and Joshua Fisher.

After he left Beverly on the 30th, Washington was escorted by horse to Ipswich. As he entered the town, the president was welcomed by the selectmen and a regiment of militia. Washington was served a cold collation by the widow Susanna How Homan in her tavern. Increase How maintained a tavern in Ipswich for many years, which passed on to his daughter. Susanna had three husbands, and after Captain Richard Homan died she continued operating the tavern herself.

President Washington continued his tour to Newburyport, where he was received with a parade. The president lodged the night of October 30-31 at the Nathaniel Tracy House, at the time occupied by Joseph Prince.

While at the Tracey House in Newburyport that evening, President Washington was greeted with rockets and other fireworks.

After Washington had breakfast on October 31st at the farm of Tristram Dalton five miles from town, he crossed the Merrimack River to Salisbury, where he took leave of General Jonathan Titcomb. The president then crossed the border into New Hampshire.

New Hampshire - 1789

On Oct. 31st Washington was greeted at Seabrook by General John Sullivan and others and escorted to Portsmouth. The president stopped at Wells Tavern in Hampton Falls for refreshments, then proceeded to Greenland, where he was saluted by thirteen cannon.

On Oct. 31-November 4 at Portsmouth, the president lodged at the tavern of William Brewster, then had tea at the home of Senator John Langdon. On November 1st Washington attended services at Queens Chapel, St. John's Episcopal Church in the morning and then at the North Congregational Church in the afternoon.

Maine - 1789

With John Sullivan, John Langdon, and Tobias Lear, on Nov. 2nd Washington boarded a boat at Portsmouth for Kittery. They went past Fort William and Mary, later called Fort Constitution, on Newcastle Island, where they were saluted by thirteen cannon. According to the Lear family, when Washington stopped at Kittery Point the president called upon the Reverend Benjamin Stevens of the First Congregational Church in Kittery, whose daughter Sally Stevens was the wife of the Reverend Buckminster, at whose church Washington had attended services on November 1st in Portsmouth.

New Hampshire - 1789

On their return from Kittery on Nov. 2nd, the men stopped at the mansion of Martha Wentworth, widow of Benning Wentworth, the late Royal Governor. Her second husband was Michael Wentworth, a relative of her first husband.

Upon returning to Portsmouth, the president dined at the home of Senator Langdon. On the 3rd, the president sat for four hours for his portrait by Christian Gulager, a Danish artist. He then had refreshments at the William Pitt Hotel on Pitt Street kept by John Stavers. Washington called on Mary Stilson Lear, widow of Captain Tobias Lear, Sr., on Junking Street in Portsmouth.

On the evening of Nov. 3rd, President Washington dined with General Sullivan at the Assembly Room in Portsmouth.

After he left Portsmouth on Nov. 4th, the president had breakfast in the tavern of Colonel Samuel Folsom on Front Street in Exeter. The Society of the Cincinnati in New Hampshire owns the Ladd-Gilman House and Folsom Tavern, which they moved to its present location on Spring Street.

The Ladd-Gilman House was built in 1721 by Nathaniel Ladd, Jr. and purchased by Colonel Daniel Gilman in 1747. His son, John Taylor Gilman, was governor of New Hampshire 1794-1805 and 1813-1816. Another son, Nicholas Gilman, and John Langdon were Signers of the U.S. Constitution.

A broadside of the Declaration of independence was discovered in the Ladd-Gilman House several years ago, and also Nicholas Gilman's personal copy of a draft of the U.S. Constitution. After he left Exeter, the president passed through Kingston on his way to Haverhill, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts - 1789

On Nov. 4-5, President Washington arrived at Haverhill and lodged at the Free Masons Arms, also called Harrod's Tavern. The residents of Haverhill first heard a trumpet and then the cry: "Washington's coming, Washington's coming."

The president called on John White, who had offered his residence for quarters, but Washington declined and preferred the Free Masons Arms. The president observed that he was "an old soldier and used to hard fare and a hard bed."

The inn was operated by Joseph and Anna Trott Harrod (also spelled Harwood). They had three sons and two daughters. Their daughter Anna in 1805 married Thomas Boyleston Adams, son of John Adams, president of the U.S. Thomas was an alcoholic, much to the dismay of his brother, John Quincy Adams, president of the U.S.

While in Haverhill the president visited the Sailcloth Manufactory of Samuel Blodgett on Kent Street.

After he left Haverhill on Nov. 5th, Washington had breakfast at the tavern of Isaac and Phebe Chandler Abbot in Andover. They had two sons and two daughters. While at the tavern, Washington met Samuel Phillips, president of the Massachusetts Senate, who accompanied Washington through Billerica to Lexington.

After President Washington and Samuel Phillips left Andover on November 5th, they dined at the tavern of William Munroe in Lexington. Munroe, who was a sergeant under Captain Parker at the Battle of Lexington, opened his tavern in 1771 and was proprietor until his death in 1827. During the Revolutionary War he rose in rank to colonel of militia. When the Hiram Lodge of Free Masons was founded in 1797, Colonel Munroe was first Master of the lodge. Munroe had three sons and three daughters by his first wife. Polly Rogers, his second wife, was Washington's hostess.

While in Lexington the president viewed the spot where the fist blood of the American Revolution was shed on April 19, 1775.

Washington spent the night of Nov. 5-6 in the Coolidge Tavern in Watertown. President Coolidge was not descended from Dorothy Whitney Coolidge. The president was descended from private John Coolidge of Bolton, Massachusetts. He fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill and was discharged in 1778.

After leaving Watertown, President Washington and his party on November 6th passed through Needham and had breakfast at Sherborn, at the tavern of Captain Samuel Sanger. By his first and second wives he had one son and three daughters. His third wife, the widow Sarah Clark Wheelock of Medford, had four sons and two daughters by her first husband. At the time of Washington's visit, Sarah had been a bride for only eleven days. Sanger's house was torn down in the 19th century.

The president lodged at Uxbridge the night of Nov. 6-7 at the home of Samuel Taft. Mr. Taft's two daughters, Patty and Polly, waited on the president. On November 7th the president left Taft's place before sunrise and crossed the border into Connecticut.

Connecticut - 1789

Washington arrived at Thompson on Saturday, Nov. 7th and had breakfast in the tavern of Jacob and Sarah Plank Jacob. They had seven children. After he left Thompson, the president fed his horses at the farm of Colonel Thomas Grosvenor in Pomfret.

Washington arrived at Ashford on the 7th, stating in his journal that he lodged at Perkins' place and spent all day Sunday in the town in obedience to Connecticut law, dating back to the Pilgrims, prohibiting travel on Sundays.

A tavern owned by Benjamin Clark existed in Ashford in 1789 and was apparently operated by Isaac Perkins (or Perkin). After he left Ashford the president on November 9th had breakfast in the tavern of Gershom and Sarah Allen Bingham in Coventry. The house is still standing and is a private residence.

On the 9th the president stopped at Woodbridge's Tavern in Manchester. Their daughter, Electa, gave the president a glass of water. Years later she married George Cheney and bore eight sons and a daughter. Son John Cheney was a noted engraver, and son Seth Wells Cheney attained prominence with his crayon portraitures. Several of the other brothers founded the Cheney Brothers silk empire which was, in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the largest and most famous silk producer in the world.

The president lodged the night of Nov. 9-10 in Hartford, then had breakfast on the 10th at 7:00 AM in the tavern of Ephraim Fuller in Berlin, constructed in 1769 and standing at 1055 Worthington Ridge Road.

President Washington lodged Nov. 10-11 in New Haven, where he met Elbridge Gerry, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Gerry gave the president the first certain account of the health of Mrs. Washington.

The president had breakfast on Nov. 11th at the tavern of Andrew Clark in Milford at 46 West River Street. Washington fed his horses in Fairfield and dined at the tavern of Major Ozias and Sarah Lockwood Marvin on the Westport-Norwalk Road at the intersection of King's Highway. They had four sons and four daughters. The table and bowl used by Washington have been preserved by descendants of Major Marvin. Washington lodged at Marvin's Tavern in Westport and had breakfast on November 12th at Webb's Tavern in Stamford. The building was razed in 1808. He then rode into New York.

Rhode Island - 1790

After Rhode Island ratified the U.S. Constitution on 29 May 1790 and Congress adjourned on August 12th, President Washington, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Governor George Clinton of New York, Senator Theodore Foster of Rhode Island, Congressman Nicholas Gilman of New Hampshire, and others on August 15th boarded the packet JOHN HANCOCK bound for Newport, where they arrived on August 17th. Washington and his party were entertained at an "excellent dinner" at the Town Hall, then lodged at Newport, leaving for Providence the next morning.

Washington and his party arrived at Providence on August 18th about 4:00 PM. The president was escorted to his lodgings in the house of Mr. Daggett. The next day Washington sat down to a dinner at the Court House with about three hundred people in attendance. Thirteen toasts were made, followed by the discharge of cannon after each toast. The president then returned to his packet (vessel) on August 19th for his return to New York City.

This was Washington's last visit to New England.

SOURCES

Donald Jackson, editor: The Diary of George Washington, 6 volumes. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, University of Virginia, 1970s.
John C. Fitzpatrick, editor: The Writings of George Washington, 39 volumes. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1930s.
Washington's Expense Accounts, in the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Local libraries and historical societies in New England.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gene Claghorn served as President of the Brevard Chapter, Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution in 1985 and is currently serving as Chapter Historian. Gene served as Historian of the following societies: Society of the Cincinnati in Connecticut 1952-62.
Florida Society Sons of the American Revolution 1988-94.
Florida Order of Founders and Patriots of America 1994-96.
Florida Society Sons of the Revolution 1993-97.