What’s the story?
“I arrived in Congress / tho Detained by Thunder and Rain / time Enough to give my Voice in the matter of Independence”In the late hours of July 1, 1776, Caesar Rodney began his ride from Dover, Delaware to Philadelphia, PA. He journeyed 18 hours and 80 miles, by carriage and on horseback, to cast the tie-breaking vote amongst the three Delaware delegates to the Second Continental Congress. The affirmative Delaware vote declared the colony’s independence from Britain, resulting in a majority vote from the colonies in favor of autonomy.
In this draft order, Rodney makes a request for funds in the sum of 126 pounds, eight shillings and eight pence from the General Loan Office of the County of Kent, to later be repaid by the Delaware House of Assembly. When this pay order was submitted, the financial climate in the colonies was varied and volatile. There was much fluctuation to the worth of the pound, each colony had its own currency, and each used existing coins in circulation from other countries. As a result, understanding the worth of the draft and the purpose of the funds is a challenge.
Given the lack of a central federal government at the time, each of the thirteen colonies paid its delegates a per diem rate to cover food, lodging and expenses. The draft could be reimbursement for his ride or perhaps this document represents a request for military funding. While working as a delegate, Rodney also served as a brigadier general in the Delaware Militia. In this role he was heavily involved in organizing and equipping its members, who were funded by Delaware House of Assembly.
Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach made a practice of collecting documents from the American Revolution. In particular, he sought to collect items which included a signature of one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Though not part of the “Signers Set” now held by the Rosenbach Museum & Library, it is only one of a small selection of documents in the collections containing the signature of Caesar Rodney. Conceivably, the pay order’s significance is that it captures Rodney’s subscription.
Overall, a lack of itemized expenses or a stated reason for requesting the funds keeps the document’s purpose a mystery. Perhaps it is important merely because it contains a signature of a signer of the Declaration. Regardless, since the conception of the draft remains so near to the declaration of independence from Britain, it offers a window into the financial inner workings of the late 18th century and the finances undergirding the patriot cause.
This interpretation was written by Sandra Schmidt Komenda, as part of Rosenbach Museum & Library’s spring 2026 course “The Curator’s Toolkit.”
More details
theme: Power of Placesubjects: Revolution, 1775-1783; War, Cost of; Declaration of Independence, Signers
contributing repository: Rosenbach Museum & Library
submitted by: Sandra Schmidt Komenda
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