Fringe Meetings at the U.S. Consitutional Convention

Resource Collections

Fringe Meetings at the U.S. Consitutional Convention

Details of unofficial meetings, discussions and social events held by delegates to the Convention.

Cite as: Kieran Hazzard, Fringe Meetings at the U.S. Consitutional Convention, Quill Project at Pembroke College (Oxford, accessed 2024)

Details

Records from notes and dairies of delegates detailing their activities and discussions outside of official discussions.

Collection associations (4)

The Convention
Committee of the Whole House
U.S. Constitutional Convention 1787 (2019 Edition)
U.S. Constitutional Convention 1787 (2021 Edition)

Resources (34)

Bill for an Evening of Entertainment for George Washington - 14 September 1787 - (text)

On the evening of 14 September the Light Horse of the City of Philadelphia gave a farewell entertainment for George Washington. The night was evidently quite lively, consisting of music and drinking, in which several items of glassware were broken....

Diary Entry Recording Meeting of Maryland Delegation - 7 August 1787 - (text)

McHenry records a second meeting of the Maryland delegation to discuss the Committee of Detail's report and the tactics for how they might proceed in the Convention.

Diary Record of an Informal Meeting - 13 July 1787 - (text)

Diary entry taken from Manasseh Cutler's, Life, Journals and Correspondence of Manasseh Cutler, I, 253-271. Cutler suggests that some of the delegates taking supper together was a regular occurrence, which is not surprising. More so, is the recorded...

George Washington's Dairy - 6 June 1787 - (text)

Washington was present at the dinner at Franklin's along with Johnson.

George Washington's Dairy - 22 July 1787 - (text)

Hutson provides the details of a Sunday excursion for a number of delegates. Alongside Washington's diary, he includes the account below from Peter Legaux, diary, (American Philosophical Society). 'This day Gen. Washington, Gen. Mifflin and four...

George Washington's Diary - 1 June 1787 - (text)

Washington's diary records a large party given in Philadelphia. Bush Hill was a large mansion owned in 1787 by William Hamilton, a wealthy lawyer and politician. The house had been built by Andrew Hamilton (c1676 – 1741), who had helped to finance and...

George Washington's Diary - 2 July 1787 - (text)

The dinner at the Indian Queen evidently included Washington as one of the guests.

George Washington's Diary - 3 July 1787 - (text)

Washington's diary contains a snippet of a meeting taking place on Tuesday 3 July 1787. Though no official business took place this day, the coming festivities for Independence Day and the significance of their meeting meant a number of social events...

George Washington's Diary - 4 July 1787 - (text)

Washington's diary contains a snippet of a meeting taking place on Wednesday 4 July 1787. Though no official business took place this day, the festivities for Independence Day and the significance of their meeting meant a number of social events were...

George Washington's Diary - 4 June 1787 - (text)

Washington recorded a troop review and dinner with Thomas Mifflin.

George Washington's Diary - 6 July 1787 - (text)

It seems that one of the other taverns hosting Convention delegates was the City Tavern. John Adams reputedly described it as the 'most genteel tavern in America.' Washington had stayed here while on campaign in early August 1777.

George Washington's Diary - 7 June 1787 - (text)

The Indian Queen was a regular meeting place for delegates, particularly as there were several members staying there during the Convention.

George Washington's Diary - 8 August 1787 - (text)

Washington records a long evening spent in the City Tavern. Several of the delegates had rooms in the tavern and it is likely that Washington dined with them and shared an evening of socialising.

George Washington's Diary - 14 September 1787 - (text)

Washington recorded his attendance at and evening of music held in his honour at the City Tavern.

George Washington's Diary - 17 September 1787 - (text)

Washington recorded that after the close of the Convention all the delegates dined together at the City Tavern before finally parting. He then met Jackson to received the Journal and other papers before reflecting on the work of the Convention.

George Washington's Diary - 19 June 1787 - (text)

Washington's dairy records many visits to dine with Robert Morris and his family. The large gathering afterwards no doubt contained other members of the Convention.

Invitation to Dine at the Indian Queen - 2 July 1787 - (text)

The delegates staying at the Indian Queen held a celebratory dinner on, 2 July, two days before Independence Day. The number of guests is uncertain, though Franklin was not the only prominent guest.

Letter Recording Informal Meetings of Virginians - 20 May 1787 - (text)

Mason records that the Virginian delegation had begun meeting prior to the formal start of the Convention to establish their position and consider a plan. This he suggests was separate to their attendance at the State House to meet any newly arrived...

Letter Recording Visit to a Steamboat Trial - 22 August 1787 - (text)

On 22nd August Johnson records that the delegates to the Convention attended the first successful trial run of John Fitch's steamboat 'Perseverance' on the Delaware river.

Letter on a Dinner Held at Franklin's House - 16 May 1787 - (text)

Farrand writes that 'Jameson (Studies, 93) cites another letter of Franklin’s to his sister, to the effect that his new dining-room would enable him to have a dinner-party of only twenty-four, which would be about the number of delegates in attendance...

Record of a Meeting of Delegates from Maryland - 31 August 1787 - (text)

McHenry records a meeting of the Maryland delegation to discuss the Committee on Commercial Discrimination's report and the tactics for how they might proceed in the Convention.

Record of an Unofficial Meeting - 17 July 1787 - (text)

After the end of the session on 16 July, Madison notes down a unofficial meeting which took place on the morning of 17 July 1787, before the start of that day's session.

Record of an Unofficial Meeting - 22 May 1787 - (text)

Madison records on 28 May 1787 that prior to the arrival of enough states for the Convention to be considered quorate and commence its business (25 May) a discussion took place between those delegates present from the larger states.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 6 July 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 6 July he records that he dined with Washington. On 2 June he records that he had taken a room at the City Tavern, so was evidently one of the hosts that day.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 6 June 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 6 June he records that he dined with Benjamin Franklin.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 7 June 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 7 June he records that he dined with George Clymer.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 8 September 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 8 September he records that he dined with Thomas Mifflin.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 11 August 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 11 August he records that he dined with Charles Pinckney.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 11 June 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 11 June he records that he dined with Robert Morris.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 12 September 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 12 September he records that he dined with the Secretary, William Jackson. 'Do' is Johnson's way of marking ditto, which in this case referred to 'very hot' weather and sitting in the...

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 13 June 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 13 June he records that he dined with Jared Ingersoll.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 18 June 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 18 June he suggests that he met and possibly dined with Alexander Hamilton.

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 18 September 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 18 September he records that he took the stagecoach with several members of the Convention including William Livingstone, William Few, Abraham Baldwin and William Jackson. Most were members...

William Samuel Johnson's Diary - 25 August 1787 - (text)

William Samuel Johnson's dairy contains only snippets, but on 25 August he records that he dined with Elbridge Gerry.