(CONGRESS) Holten Samuel Accounts of Expenses while Attendin

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(CONGRESS.) Holten, Samuel. "Accounts of Expenses while Attending Congress"--including a dinner with General Washington. Autograph Document Signed "S Holten." [6] manuscript pages. 8vo, 7 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches, in original plain wrappers with his original explanatory note on front; 5 leaves excised but the expense journal complete, otherwise minimal wear. Vp, 31 January 1783 to 12 March 1784

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Samuel Holten (1738-1816) was a physician from Danvers, MA who served several terms in the Continental Congress between 1778 and 1787, where he was a signer of the Articles of Confederation; he later served in the United States Congress from 1793 to 1795. He made this summary of his expenses during his stint in third Congress of the Confederation from 31 January to 6 November 1783 in Philadelphia and Princeton, and then for his travels back to Massachusetts through 25 November. The final entry dated 12 March 1784 was for his reimbursement by the Massachusetts General Court.
The most noteworthy event during this session of Congress was the 15 April 1783 approval of what became the Treaty of Paris, which would formally end the war with England. Two months later, on 19 June, the congressmen were threatened by 400 mutinous Pennsylvania soldiers demanding payment; this prompted the hasty relocation of Congress to Princeton, NJ. These weighty events are not noted in Holten's expense log, though he does mention "Expenses to Princeton" on 27 June. More typical expenses are the shoeing of his horses, room and board paid to Francis Lee (former delegate Lightfoot Lee?), payments to his barber and "my servant Jerry," and for a new crupper and girth for his horse ("stole or lost"). The most dramatic entry is undoubtedly for 15 shillings and 6 pence on 5 September "for sundries in the country & when Genl. Washington dined with us."