AN GAODHAL.
643
you" continues Mr. Hazard's correspondent "how
pleased Mr. Peters was with the result of the ap¬
plication. The provisions were sent in time and
the army was saved. Mr. Nesbitt was a faithful
coadjutor of Robert Morris, during the war, in the
supply of money and necessaries for the army and
in the support of public credit, when Mr. Morris
acted as financier."
Mr. Nesbitt was the second president of the so¬
ciety of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, succeed¬
ing General Moylan in 1773, and served that time
one year. He was re-elected president of the so¬
ciety in June, 1782, and continued to be re-elected
annually until his resignation in March, 1796,
having been president of the society, altogether for
nearly fifteen years. He was one of the founders
of the Hibernian Society.
Gen. John Shce was a native of Ireland and a mer¬
chant in Philadelphia, in partnership with Richard
Bache (one of the honorary members, the son-in-law
of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. He served a campaign
in 1776, and resigned his commission. He was
taken prisoner at Fort Washington, York Island
after the battle of Long Island.
Mr. Jefferson appointed him collector of the por
of Piladelphia. He was afterward a general in the
militia, colonel of volunteers, and treasure of the
city.
Mr. Shee was a man of excellent manners and good
acquirements. He married an heiress, the beauti¬
ful and accomplished daughter of Mr. Lawrence,
one of the principal merchants in Philadelphia.
He subscribed to supply the army in 1780.
Thomas Barclay was a native of Ireland and a
man of great influence an respectability. He was
president of the society from June 17 1779, to June
17 1781. Some years afterward he was appointed
Consul-General from the United States to the Bar¬
bary powers, but died at Libson, on his way to the
north of Africa. He subscribed £5.000 for supply¬
ing the army in 1780. He was a man of elegant man¬
ners. The family is connected with that of the
late Mr. Shiel, M. P., the great Irish orator.
Colonel John Nixon was a native of West Ches¬
ter, Pa., and a merchant of Philadelphia. His
father, Richard Nixon, was born in Wexford, Ire¬
land. Col. Nixon was an ardent, active and most
efficient friend of America in the revolutionary
struggle. He was with his regiment at the battle
of Long Island, and wintered at Valley Forge. He
was for some time alderman of Philadelphia, and
had the honor of first reading the Declaration of
Independence on the 12th July, 1776, to the peo¬
ple assembled in Independence Square. This he
did from the central window of the State House
fronting the square, during the tolling of the bell
on which had been engraved, twenty-three years be¬
fore, these prophetic words; "Proclaim liberty
throughout all the land, unto all the inhabitants
thereof." LEV XXV. 10.
The country seat of Colonel Nixon was burned
by the British troops. He served as the first of the
two directors of the famous Bank of Pennsylvania,
established in 1780 for supplying the army of the
United States with provisions and subscribed £5000
for that purpose. In his person Col. Nixon is de¬
scribed as a remarkably fine, portly man. His
talents, patriotism, integrity, and many virtues won
for him the respect and confidence of his fellow-
citizens. He died about January 1st 1809. Sever¬
al of his desendant still live in Philadelphia.
John Boyle was a native of Ireland, and one of
the original members of the First City Troop. cel¬
ebrated for his social and convivial qualities.
George Fullerton, a native of Ireland, served in
the First City Troop in the army of the Revolution
He died from a wound received by the accidental
discharge of his pistol at review near Trenton, in
1776, and lies buried in the ground of the First
Presbyterian Church in Bank Street, Philadelphia,
near the spot which contained the remains of his
gallant countryman "Haslet" who fell in the bat¬
tle of Princeton.
George Davis was a native of Ireland settled in
Philadelphia, and afterward removed to Trenton
N. J., a private gentlemen, a man of amiable man¬
ners, and highly esteemed by all the inhabitants of
Trenton. He died a bachelor.
Samuel Caldwell as a native of the north of Ire¬
land. an eminent shipping merchant and partner of
James Mease, constituting with him the firm of
Mease & Caldwell. He was one of the founders of
the First Troop, and one of the subscribers, in 1780
to the bank formed to supply the army of the United
States with provisions. He was appointed by Judge
Francis Hopkinson, cerk of the District Court of
the United States at Philadelphia, at the first open¬
ing of that court, on the 6th of October 1789. He
continued in the office until his death, in 1794. Mr.
Caldwell was a man of great respectability, and
highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was
for many years secretary and treasurer of the
society.
Benjamin Fuller a native of Ireland, was treas¬
surer and secretary of the society, and president
from June 1776 to June 1779.
He was the most eminent shipbroker of his time
in Philadelphia, remarkable for his correctness in
business transactions. His accounts and minutes
of the society are a pattern of neatness and precis¬
ion. He accumulated a handsome fortune, and died
a bachelor.
Like many other gentlemen of that day he ab¬
horred physic and the visits of medical gentlemen
in their official capacity. At one time, while lying
dangerously ill on his snug bed in his bachelor
chamber, over his counting-house, a consultation
of physicians was held in his room. The doctors
conversed together in an audible voice, and just as
