Jonathan Trumbull (October 12, 1710-August 17, 1785) was a jurist, clergyman, businessman and the British Governor of Connecticut, appointed by King George III. He was also the father of the Revolutionary artist of the same name, (1756-1843). He was a close friend of George Washington and a strong supporter of American Independence, contributing large amounts of arms, munitions, supplies, etc.
On October 12, 1770, a Proclamation was given from New Haven by the Honorable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governor of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England:
<Pray that God would graciously pour out His Spirit upon us and make the blessed Gospel in His hand effectual to a thorough reformation and general revival of the holy and peaceful religion of Jesus Christ.> 1710JT001
Another Proclamation by His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State of Connecticut, stated:
<And I do hereby call upon the people....[to] offer to our Almighty and all-gracious God, through our Great Mediator, our sincere and solemn prayers for His Divine assistance and the influences of His Holy Spirit.> 1710JT002
In 1773, Jonathan Trumbull stated:
<It is hard to break connections with our mother country, but when she strives to enslave us, the strictest union must be dissolved...."The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitudes of isles be glad thereof"-the accomplishment of such noble prophecies is at hand.> 1710JT003
In the early 1770's, the tension was mounting in the Colonies prior to the Revolution. The attitude toward the governors appointed by King George III was recorded in debates of the British Parliament:
<Sir Richard Sutton read a copy of a letter relative to the government of America from a governor in America to the Board of Trade showing that....If you ask an American, who is his master? He will tell you he has none, nor any governor but Jesus Christ.> 1710JT004
On April 19, 1775, in a Proclamation of a Day of Fasting and Prayer for the Connecticut Colony, Governor Jonathan Trumbull beseeched that:
<God would graciously pour out His Holy Spirit on us to bring us to a thorough Repentance and effectual Reformation that our iniquities may not be our ruin; that He would restore, preserve and secure the Liberties of this and all the other British American colonies, and make the Land a mountain of Holiness, and Habitation of Righteousness forever.> 1710JT005
On July 13, 1775, Governor Jonathan Trumbull wrote from Lebanon, Connecticut, to the General who had recently been placed in command of the Continental Army, George Washington:
<The Honorable Congress have proclaimed a Fast to be observed by the inhabitants of all the English Colonies on this continent, to stand before the Lord in one day, with public humiliation, fasting, and prayer, to deplore our many sins, to offer up our joint supplications to God, for forgiveness, and for his merciful interposition for us in this day of unnatural darkness and distress.
They have, with one united voice, appointed you to the high station you possess. The Supreme Director of all events hath caused a wonderful union of hearts and counsels to subsist among us. Now therefore, be strong and very courageous.
May the God of the armies of Israel shower down the blessings of his Divine Providence on you, give you wisdom and fortitude, cover your head in the day of battle and danger, add success, convince our enemies of their mistaken measures, and that all their attempts to deprive these Colonies of their inestimable constitutional rights and liberties are injurious and vain.> 1710JT006
In August of 1776, General Washington gave a desperate plea for reinforcements. Governor Jonathan Trumbull sent out an appeal, calling for nine more regiments of volunteers:
<In this day of calamity, to trust altogether to the justice of our cause, without our utmost exertion, would be tempting Providence....March on!-This shall be your warrant: Play the man for God, and for the cities of our God. May the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, be your Captain, your Leader, your Conductor, and Saviour.> 1710JT007
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1710JT001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, October 12, 1770, A Proclamation given from New Haven by the Honorable Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governor of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New England. David Barton, Original Intent (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1996), p. 138.
1710JT002. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, A Proclamation by His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the State of Connecticut (Hudson and Goodwin, 1807).
1710JT003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, 1773. Charles E. Kistler, This Nation Under God (Boston: Richard G. Badger, The Gorham Press, 1924), p. 56. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart'N Home, Inc., 1991), 2.16.
1710JT004. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, Hezekiah Niles, Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America (Baltimore: William Ogden Niles, 1822), p. 198. Cushing Stout, The New Heavens and New Earth (NY: Harper and Row, 1974), p. 59. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart'N Home, Inc., 1991), 2.17.
1710JT005. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, April 19, 1775, as Governor of the Connecticut Colony proclaiming a day of fasting and prayer. Verna M. Hall, The Christian History of the American Revolution (San Francisco: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1976), p. 407. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart'N Home, Inc., 1991), 3.22. Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson, The American Covenant-The Untold Story (Roseburg, OR: Foundation for Christian Self-Government, 1981; Thousand Oaks, CA: The Mayflower Institute, 1983, 1992), p. 120.
1710JT006. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, July 13, 1775, in a letter to General Washington. Verna M. Hall and Rosalie J. Slater, The Christian History of the American Revolution-Consider and Ponder (San Francisco, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education, 1976), p. 511. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Glory of America (Bloomington, MN: Garborg's Heart'N Home, Inc., 1991), 7.13. Jared Sparks, ed., Correspondence of the American Revolution-Being Letters of Eminent Men to George Washington from the time of his Taking Command of the Army to the End of his Presidency, 4 vols. (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1853), Vol. I, pp. 2-3. Douglas Southall Freeman, George Washington, 6 vols. (NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948-1954), Vol. III, pp. 503-504.
1710JT007. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Jonathan Trumbull, August 1776, appeal sent out in response to General Washington's plea for reinforcements. Isaac W. Stuart, Life. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 1987; Mantle Ministries, 228 Still Ridge, Bulverde, Texas), p. 467. George Bancroft, Bancroft's History of the United States vols. I-X (Boston: Charles C. Little & James Brown, 3rd edition, 1838), Vol. IX, p. 79. Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory (Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1977), p. 312.