General Daniel Roberdeau, Jonathan Swift's father-in-law. The source of the legend?
Pennsylvania is home to many well-known battlefields, encampments, and forts like Valley Forge, the Gettysburg Battlefield, and Washington's Crossing. However, there are also many military history sites that are known to only a few. Fort
uncoveringpa.com
"In1775, when he was 48 years old, Roberdeau was elected to the
Pennsylvania Committee of Safety, made up of prominent men of
the colony like Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris. When the
Revolution started, the committee served as the state's wartime
government plus handled tasks such as the defense of Philadelphia.
Roberdeau is often referred to in the minutes of the Committee
of Safety as Colonel because of his rank in a local militia,the Sec-
ond Battalion of the Associators of Philadelphia. Due to his dual
role, Colonel Roberdeau facilitated communications and cooper-
ation between the committee and the Associators. Roberdeau
helped secure ordnance for the Associators, 3 and in 1776, he was
appointed to oversee the construction of three fortifications. 4
Roberdeau also contributed to the American war effort at sea.
His business ledger contains numerous entries concerning the
privateers Congress and Chance. Privateers were privately-owned
ships allowed to attack enemy vessels, both to incapacitate them
and to seize their cargoes. The first ledger entry, from April2, 1776,
indicates Roberdeau paid £100 for a one-eighth share in the ships. 5
The next entry two months later indicates Roberdeau also was
paying expenses for the ships. An account from the June 21, 1776,
Virginia Gazette reported that one trip yielded some $23,000 cash
and a variety of goods such as sugar, rum, cocoa, and hides. 6
The following month, the two privateers captured more than
£6,000 plus five bags of silver coin and plate from British ships.
Roberdeau saw a handsome return, but just as importantly, the
interdiction of British shipping by these privateers helped the
American war effort by depriving the enemy of money and sup-
plies. Most tellingly, Roberdeau and the other investors donated
the captured silver to Congress.
Less notable and celebrated than the Congress and Chance was
Roberdeau's investment in the brig General Mifflin.This 12-gun
sailing ship prowled British waters where it took several valuable
vessels, one of them being a ship with a large cargo of wine.7 This
victory is significant because most of the day's privateering
was done in the far-less-dangerous waters just off of the North
American coast."
-privateering not pirate, bags of silver coin and plate ...I think we are on to something here.
