Mail Delivery in the 18th Century
When Post Masters received letters, they listed the names in the newspapers of those to whom the letters were addressed. If the letters were not picked up by a specified date, they went to the Dead Letter Office.
Fife Major Richard Stack of the 7th Battalion of the Pennsylvania Foot
On the evening of December 11, 1777, Carlisle tailor George Wright, gunsmith Abraham Morrow, shoemaker Edmund Kean, John Gibson, John O’Neal, Fife Major Richard Stack and several others were at the dwelling house and unlicensed tavern of barber Joseph Sabolle of Carlisle. The men were drinking and singing, and inflammatory accusations and damnations were made. The incident was reported, and the next day depositions were taken from Fife Major Richard Stack and several of the men who had been there.1
Richard Stack served as Fife Major in the 7th Pennsylvania Regiment commanded by Carlisle’s Col. William Irvine. He was one of almost 2000 soldiers wounded in the Battle of Paoli which took place on the night of September 20, 1777 when British troops conducted a surprise attack on the Continental soldiers near present day Malvern, Pennsylvania, 27 miles from Philadelphia. Known casualties included Fife Major Richard Stack who was recorded as a prisoner with 13 wounds.2
Fife Major Richard Stack was one of the prisoners “from different regiments in General Wayne’s division who were sent to Carlisle to be enrolled in my company to be kept from straggling and to do duty over the public stores. Signed by Major John A. Wilson” Stack was enrolled December 8, 1777.3
In his deposition, Major Stack said “He was in company with Edmund Kean and others at the dwelling house of Joseph Sabolle on the evening of the 11th of this Inst. December. That said, Kean then and there told this deponent that he was a treator [traitor] for fighting against the King with the coat that this deponent had then on his back (which was a red coat).”
According to the deposition of Carlisle gunsmith Abraham Morrow, “Richard Stack desired Edmund Kean to give him satisfaction for a public affront he had given him in front of the Justice and others by saying that he had broken his oath by deserting from the English. Edmund said to Richard "God Damn you and all British deserters that would join our army." They then went into the street when Edmund said to Richard "God Damn you and all British deserters that would join our army and from our army to the British."
Joseph Sabolle stated that “Richard Stack and John O’Neal were in his house on the 11th inst. and that they sung a song in which General Washington was several times mentioned, that John Gibson was then present also…[and] did say ‘God Damn General Washington,’ which he repeated two or three times.”4
A month later, at the January 1778 term of Court, Joseph Sabolle was indicted for keeping a tippling house (an unlicensed tavern),5 and Edmund Kean and John Gibson were indicted for Inimical Speech.6
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References (Sources Available at CCHS in bold)
[1] Depositions of Abraham Morrow, George Wright, Joseph Sabolle and Richard Stack, Folder 32-17 Cumberland County Historical Society.
[2] Known Casualties, Listed by Regiment – Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund Inc. (pbpfinc.org).
[3] “Copy of the original which was settled and paid in York Town [PA] Febr. 2, 1778. Treasury Office.” U. S. Revolutionary War Rolls, Pennsylvania 10th Regiment (Folder 37), Various Organizations (Folder 93), ancestry.com.
[4] *A Sgt. John O’Neil was also in the 7th Regiment as was Richard Stack and was also wounded at the Battle of Paoli. [5] Clerk of Courts. 1778 January Term #10. Joseph Sabolle for keeping a tippling house. John O’Neal and Thomas Huggins agreed to give evidence.
[6] Clerk of Courts 1778 January Term #11 John Gibson for Inimical Speech and 1778 January Term #12 Edmund Kean for Inimical Speech.