| 2 | Gen. John Lamb |
| | Born: Jan. 1,1735 |
| | Married (1): Nov 13,1755 Catherine Jardine |
| | Married (2): Oct 26, 1763 Mary Van Winkle |
| | Died: May 31, 1800 |
| | John Lamb first worked in New York City
with his father in the trade of optician and mathematical instrument maker
but in 1760 entered the licquor trade. He was one of the "Sons of Liberty";
and active in all scenes in New York. He supported the resistance of the
colonies to the "Stamp Act". Subsequentially, he went to Philadelphia
to urge a firm stand against furthur oppression. He was commissioned
Captain of Artillery in 1775. He was authorized by Congress to remove
the canon fron the Battery in New York, which he did on Aug. 23, 1775. |
| | After the battle of Lexington, Lamb and his men
seized the military stores at Turtle Bay. |
| | At the siege of St. John’s, Canada, Gen. Richard Montgomery wrote,
Nov. 24, 1775 "Lamb was a restless genius and had a bad temper. He
has been used to haranging his fellow citizens in New York and can
not restrain his talents here. Brave, intelligent and active he was,
but very turbulent and troublesome" |
| | He was wounded and captured during the assault on Quebec, Dec 31,
1775. Lamb was released on parole a few months later. Congress appointed
him Major of Artillery in command of the Northern Department, Jan. 9, 1776.
On Nov. 29, 1776, Congress ordered Washington to include Lamb in the exchange
of prisoners. In Jan 1777 he was exchanged and appointed Colonel of the
2nd Continental Artillery. He was wounded at Compo Hill, Ct
in April 1777 while assisting Arnold in harassing the British retreat,
following the British attack on Danbury Ct. |
| | He commanded the Artillery at West Point in 1779 and 1780 and was
brevetted Brigadier General in 1773 by virtue of the act of promotion
passed by Congress at the close of the Revolution. |
| | In 1784, the New York Legislature of which he was a member, appointed him
Collector of the Customs for the Port of New York. |
| | He was Chairman of an association of Federal Republicans opposed to
ratification of the Federal Constitution. And corresponded with
anti-Federalist leaders, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee,
William Grayson and others. |
| | A Federalist mob took note of his activities by threatening his house
which he hastely fortified. The Constitution ratified, Washington promply
appointed Lamb as the Collector at New York. A few years later a large
shortage occurred and although it is supposed that Lamb’s deputy, a former
criminal, was guilty, Lamb was held responsible by the government. At that
time the head was responsible as there was no requirement to have insurance.
Lamb sold his lands to cover the lost funds, resigned his office 1797,
and died in poverty. |
| | Gen Lamb was Vice President of the Society of Cincinnatti. |