Edward Coles

Most of us know about the Aaron Burr trial in Virginia, and that the judge was Justice John Marshall. But there were two earlier trials, these taking place in Kentucky, about a year earlier. In these trials Burr's attorney was Henry Clay. All three trials had to do with Burr's supposed conspiracy to conquer Spanish Territory and set up his own government. One of the players In Burr's conspiracy was the governor of the Louisiana Territory, James Wilkinson. Wilkinson was not only a traitor to his country, but also became a traitor to his fellow traitor, Aaron Burr. Wilkinson became a paid agent of the Spanish crown. It is said that the Spanish government gave Wilkinson hundreds of thousands of dollars to put an end to Burr's threats, which he did. Wilkinson sent a decoded cipher letter, that had been sent to him by Burr, to Thomas Jefferson, selling out his partner in the conspiracy. It was determined at trial that Wilkinson had changed the letter to reflect favorably on himself. Chief Justice Marshall didn't find Burr innocent, but also didn't find him guilty of conspiracy, due to the fact that Burr had not committed an act of war. Tied to this story are the names Henry Clay, and Chief Justice Marshall.

James Wilkinson is said to have been given $300,000 for his putting down Burr's threat to the Spanish Government. He was to be paid $120,000 down, and the remainder of $180,000 was to be sent to him by a wagon train. The story goes that this wagon train was intercepted by robbers, and the money hidden. In addition to this payment, Wilkinson was given a $7,000.00 pension. This hidden money is known to have been searched for in the early 1900s. Now we have a hidden treasure, and connections, though indirectly, to the names C.J. Marshall and CLAY.

In 1813, James Wilkinson was Brigadier General. President James Madison recommended him to secretary of State, Edward Coles, for a promotion to Major General. Wilkinson was appointed Major General. Another connection. All of these connections have one name in common. James Wilkinson. And there's more.
 

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In the above mentioned decoded conspiracy letter, sent by James Wilkinson to Thomas Jefferson, there was a certain man named. This man was associated with the Navy, and his name was Truxton.
Thomas Truxton, Commodore (USN), was either the father-in-law, or grandfather of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, and either grandfather, or great grandfather of Truxton Beale (born 1856). Family connection?
Could it have even been an earlier Truxton Beale?
 

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And while we're at it, James Wilkinson served as an aide to General Nathaniel Green. Also associated with General Green was a man named William Witcher. Witcher was Captain, Justice of the peace, and a Major in the continental army.
 

Jackson and Aaron Burr

In 1805-07, Jackson became innocently caught up in the schemes of Aaron Burr, which would have involved gathering an independent army to seize Spanish land, and perhaps bringing some of the Western states into the political entity. By the end of the affair, Jackson had gotten on the wrong side of some important people, jeopardizing his military ambitions.
Aaron Burr was in the west, looking for allies in his scheme, and Jackson entertained Burr, and listened to some of his plans. Though he clearly believed nothing traitorous was afoot, he willingly gave Burr assistance in getting boats and good officers.
Some time later, a young man, assuming for the moment that Jackson was thoroughly in on the conspiracy, gave away the fact that they were planning to seize New Orleans, a recently acquired part of the United States, and vital port city.
One key player in this was General James Wilkinson, who had gotten the Louisiana governorship Jackson wanted, and whom Jackson had already disliked.
Jackson was cautious about accusing anyone directly, but wrote a carefully worded letter to President Jefferson offering the services of his militia in case of "insult of aggression made ... FROM ANY QUARTER". It appears to have only puzzled Jefferson.
When the conspiracy was revealed, Jackson defended Burr in court, but condemned Wilkinson, whom he blamed for the illicit aspects of the scheme.
The defense of Burr cost him dearly with Madison (the political heir of Jefferson). This and the condemnation of Wilkinson caused great trouble in the War of 1812. Wilkinson was not convicted, and Jackson had to operate in Wilkinson's military sphere. And President Madison, of the party of Burr's enemy Jefferson, came to distrust Jackson.

Start of the War of 1812

During the Napoleonic Wars, the U.S. tried, at first, to remain neutral. This meant the U.S. was trying to carry on trade with some nations in the French sphere, and since England very much dominated the seas, it was mainly England with whom the U.S. ran afoul in the area of trade. England forcibly stopped and boarded many American ships. They also forced American sailors to serve on British ships, which was called impressment.
In addition to having these grievances against Britain, many factions in the U.S. were eager to expand and capture parts of Canada, and perhaps also encroach on the territory of Spain, an ally of Britain at the time. Henry Clay and John Calhoun, in congress were loudly in favor of war. James Madison asked congress to declare war, which they did on June 18, 1812.
The administration was very slow to call on Andrew Jackson for reasons noted above. But in October 1812, Jackson's ally, Governor Blount, got a call for 1,500 volunteers to support Wilkinson in the defense of New Orleans. The administration indicated a preference not to have Jackson commanding those troops, but Blount sent him nonetheless. Jackson performed masterfully in moving his men 1,000 miles in brutal winter conditions Then he received an order to dismiss the troops and return home. The men were far from home in dangerous Indian territory, and had Jackson simply dismissed the troops as he was told, they must have sought for safety by going to Wilkinson, who was nearby. It seemed like an underhanded way to get Jackson's men without getting Jackson. This is how Jackson took it, so he was determined instead to march the troops the several hundred miles home. It was during this expedition that Jackson got his nickname "Old Hickory".

http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/biographi...of-jacksons-career-as-general-(1805-1813).php
 

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Rebel - KGC said:
Does the death of M. Lewis (of Lewis & Clark Expedition) "figure" into this...?
Click to expand...

Yes wasn't he poisoned or rumored to have died at Paschal Buford's Tavern and buried there, later to be buried else where?
 

Rebel - KGC said:
Does the death of M. Lewis (of Lewis & Clark Expedition) "figure" into this...?
Click to expand...

Maybe. Both Wilkinson (1805) and Lewis (1807) were governor of the Louisiana Territory, so it's almost certain they would have known each other. Lewis was governor when he died. Did Wilkinson have a hand in the death of Lewis, maybe because Lewis had been appointed governor by Jefferson?
 

Consequently when Lewis appeared healthy enough to resume his journey, he needed others to accompany him. Captain Russell himself desired to be the governor's escort, but his request was turned down by Brigadier General James Wilkinson, a known co-conspirator with Aaron Burr. Then out of the blue arrived a newly appointed Chickasaw Indian agent in the employ of Wilkinson, James Neelly. He immediately volunteered to provide the escort with his own servant. Four men were better than two, and the group departed Fort Pickering on September 29. Lewis himself was well protected with a rifle, brace of pistols, tomahawk, and a dirk. On the morning of October 10, the men rose to find some of the horses missing. Instead of remaining together, they decided to split with Lewis riding ahead and Neelly agreeing to meet him at the next inn or "stand."

Accounts vary considerably as to what transpired next.

Lewis left Neelly to search for horses. (In one story, the servants accompanied Lewis. In another, they followed some time later.) That afternoon Governor Lewis came to a pair of roughly hewn log cabins with a passageway between. He rode up and inquired of the mistress if it was a public house. She affirmed this and he asked for lodging which she provided in the cabin across from hers. Mrs. Grinder was there alone with her children because her husband was away (depending on which version of the story, at another farm of theirs or hunting). She cooked dinner for the governor who ate with her and her family (and, according to one account, the servants were there too). Mrs. Grinder later commented that his behavior was odd for he would pace and then sit and talk "like a lawyer." He asked for liquor but drank little. Pernier and Neelly's servant appeared sometime (or were already there) and bedded down (in the stable or in Lewis's cabin).

Later that night shots rang out (two, or was it three?). A short time later Mrs. Grinder heard a noise outside as though someone were crawling. Then Lewis's voice cried begging for water. Fearful that danger lurked in the dark, Mrs. Grinder refused his request and kept the door closed. She did, though, peer between the chinks in her door and witness the Governor of Upper Louisiana pitifully scraping the empty water bucket then painfully dragging himself back to his cabin.

Once day broke Mrs. Grinder said she went to visit him (presumably finally to give him some water) and found him wounded in the head and chest. The servants (one or both of whom may or may not have been present in the cabin or asleep in the barn) claimed he had said, "I have done the business." He complained that because he was so strong it took him so long to die. Lewis breathed his last early that morning.


Neelly himself was suspected of robbery by members of Lewis's family. Moreover, conspiracy theorists jump at his name since Neelly worked for the notorious General Wilkinson. Was this a political assassination? Had Lewis gained knowledge which could prove fatal to Wilkinson's already checkered career? Prior to Lewis's departure from St. Louis, the governor learned that someone (most likely Wilkinson) was spreading rumors. Just as earlier during the Burr affair, Wilkinson was again the subject of inquiry, and some historians have posited that he may have decided to escape suspicion by claiming Governor Lewis was intent on creating an insurrection, using St. Louis as his base. In his final letter to Secretary of War Eustis, Lewis defensively wrote, "my Country can never make 'A Burr' of me."

History News Network | The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis
 

Old Silver said:
In the above mentioned decoded conspiracy letter, sent by James Wilkinson to Thomas Jefferson, there was a certain man named. This man was associated with the Navy, and his name was Truxton.
Thomas Truxton, Commodore (USN), was either the father-in-law, or grandfather of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, and either grandfather, or great grandfather of Truxton Beale (born 1856). Family connection?
Could it have even been an earlier Truxton Beale?
Click to expand...

It looks like Thomas Truxton was the grandfather of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, and great grandfather of Truxton Beale (1856).

Emily Truxton Beale (1798 - 1885) - Find A Grave Memorial
 

Old Silver said:
Maybe. Both Wilkinson (1805) and Lewis (1807) were governor of the Louisiana Territory, so it's almost certain they would have known each other. Lewis was governor when he died. Did Wilkinson have a hand in the death of Lewis, maybe because Lewis had been appointed governor by Jefferson?
Click to expand...

We're these governors working through the 1812's?
 

Old Silver said:
Jackson and Aaron Burr

In 1805-07, Jackson became innocently caught up in the schemes of Aaron Burr, which would have involved gathering an independent army to seize Spanish land, and perhaps bringing some of the Western states into the political entity. By the end of the affair, Jackson had gotten on the wrong side of some important people, jeopardizing his military ambitions.
Aaron Burr was in the west, looking for allies in his scheme, and Jackson entertained Burr, and listened to some of his plans. Though he clearly believed nothing traitorous was afoot, he willingly gave Burr assistance in getting boats and good officers.
Some time later, a young man, assuming for the moment that Jackson was thoroughly in on the conspiracy, gave away the fact that they were planning to seize New Orleans, a recently acquired part of the United States, and vital port city.
One key player in this was General James Wilkinson, who had gotten the Louisiana governorship Jackson wanted, and whom Jackson had already disliked.
Jackson was cautious about accusing anyone directly, but wrote a carefully worded letter to President Jefferson offering the services of his militia in case of "insult of aggression made ... FROM ANY QUARTER". It appears to have only puzzled Jefferson.
When the conspiracy was revealed, Jackson defended Burr in court, but condemned Wilkinson, whom he blamed for the illicit aspects of the scheme.
The defense of Burr cost him dearly with Madison (the political heir of Jefferson). This and the condemnation of Wilkinson caused great trouble in the War of 1812. Wilkinson was not convicted, and Jackson had to operate in Wilkinson's military sphere. And President Madison, of the party of Burr's enemy Jefferson, came to distrust Jackson.

Start of the War of 1812

During the Napoleonic Wars, the U.S. tried, at first, to remain neutral. This meant the U.S. was trying to carry on trade with some nations in the French sphere, and since England very much dominated the seas, it was mainly England with whom the U.S. ran afoul in the area of trade. England forcibly stopped and boarded many American ships. They also forced American sailors to serve on British ships, which was called impressment.
In addition to having these grievances against Britain, many factions in the U.S. were eager to expand and capture parts of Canada, and perhaps also encroach on the territory of Spain, an ally of Britain at the time. Henry Clay and John Calhoun, in congress were loudly in favor of war. James Madison asked congress to declare war, which they did on June 18, 1812.
The administration was very slow to call on Andrew Jackson for reasons noted above. But in October 1812, Jackson's ally, Governor Blount, got a call for 1,500 volunteers to support Wilkinson in the defense of New Orleans. The administration indicated a preference not to have Jackson commanding those troops, but Blount sent him nonetheless. Jackson performed masterfully in moving his men 1,000 miles in brutal winter conditions Then he received an order to dismiss the troops and return home. The men were far from home in dangerous Indian territory, and had Jackson simply dismissed the troops as he was told, they must have sought for safety by going to Wilkinson, who was nearby. It seemed like an underhanded way to get Jackson's men without getting Jackson. This is how Jackson took it, so he was determined instead to march the troops the several hundred miles home. It was during this expedition that Jackson got his nickname "Old Hickory".

Beginnings of Jackson's Career as General (1805-1813) < Andrew Jackson 1767-1845 A brief biography < Biographies < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and beyond
Click to expand...

Did not one of the posters here say Thomas Beale was a cousin to President Madison?
 

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