"Forgotten patriot". (Letters to the Editor).Thank you for printing Thomas Eddlem's excellent, factual article "Financier of Freedom" (November 18th issue) about my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather, Robert Morris. He has been called the "forgotten patriot" by one historian. There is one interesting fact I thought I should mention. Robert Morris is the only American ever allowed to print his own paper money. The Revolutionary Army was destitute des·ti·tute adj. 1. Utterly lacking; devoid: Young recruits destitute of any experience. 2. Lacking resources or the means of subsistence; completely impoverished. See Synonyms at poor. and colonists were melting their lead clock weights and house spouts to make ammunition This article is largely based on the article in the out-of-copyright 11th edition of the Encyclopdia Britannica, which was produced in 1911. It should be brought up to date to reflect subsequent history or scholarship (including the references, if any). . In 1780, Robert Morris proposed a bank to provision the army. He printed and issued his own bonds, called "Morris Notes," paying six percent interest, to finance the American Revolution American Revolution, 1775–83, struggle by which the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic seaboard of North America won independence from Great Britain and became the United States. It is also called the American War of Independence. . Morris pledged gold to back his notes, so many colonists bought Morris Notes instead of any paper currency a practically bankrupt BANKRUPT. A person who has done, or suffered some act to be done, which is by law declared an act of bankruptcy; in such case he may be declared a bankrupt. 2. It is proper to notice that there is much difference between a bankrupt and an insolvent. Congress might issue. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, one of my relatives sold her Morris Notes for $13,000 to the U.S. government to settle all debts arising from them. Although the family did not consider the settlement fair, she had many children and needed the money. The Smithsonian Institute has some Morris Notes in its collection. BERNADETTE A. McNULTY Apple Valley, California Apple Valley is a town located in the Victor Valley of San Bernardino County, California, incorporated on November 14, 1988. As of 2006 the population was estimated to be 67,507. |
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