The book , "MISSING LINKS TO THE CULPER SPY RING? " by Bernadine Fawcett

is  a historical footnote of the Revolutionary War journal;.  The journal writer Reverend Andrew Eliot’s wife is a cousin to Aaron Burr. One can Time Travel via the 1777-1778 Reverend Andrew Eliot, Jr.’s correspondence to his father Reverend Andrew Eliot Sr. about pertinent events of the Revolutionary War with aside comments on women, children, slaves, and epidemics. Recopied, in the 1800’s and then again by another family member (author), so that today’s public may experience history as it developed.  

Below is a sample of the Family Correspondence (unedited from originals):  

War Comments:

 “Gen. Washington has positive Orders to hang men, woman or child who attempts to carry the least quantity of provisions into them.” “The Cabal.... Their scheme to get  of the Army. ““The Army...incensed... Many.. will shoot the man who ... appear to take Gen. Washington’s place. ”The truth is People are in some measure tired of the War... They want to Love peace and expect... that Gen. Washington ... adjust the affairs of the mightily republic over a good warm fire and a pipe of Tobacco.” 

Slavery Injustice Comments: “You have need of... your prayers every day “give our Senators wisdom”. ..of freeing Negro's when they have such a Business on hand-such a War to Conduct. I mourn your moral state...Our assembly went some time ago on a plan for enlisting the Negro men into the army & when their time was out, to let them go free. The Congress heard of it & the New England Delegates were informed by the Gentleman from the South ward, that if that was their scheme, they should retire from Congress & leave them to the consequences, securing themselves, on the best terms they could-which put an entire stop to our plan.”

Women’s Place Comments: “I expect these girls will go through Count D’Estaing's Fleet before they are done. Let them stay at home and prepare to qualify themselves for good wives...The reason that they are not courted is, that they are dancing perpetually about the town. “

 Disciplining Children-Comments:

“She  {infant- 2 years of age.} climbs the highest wood piles-runs away to a great distance, is often whipt and tied to the chair as her Uncle Josiah and Hugar Woddlelling used to be”

Epidemics-Comments: “The Small Pox ..lost... Mr. Jonathan Silliman... “ “Mrs. Ross of Pequanock ... death... distemper.... measles... prevail ...”  ...”whooping cough”   

American Citizens’ deserve this peek into life as it was at a time when we were wrenching freedom from Britain.