1778 dated Oliver Ellsworth, Jesse Root and John Cheneward signed Revolutionary War Pay Order - Connecticut Autograph Document

Oliver Ellsworth (April 29, 1745 – November 26, 1807) was a prominent Founding Father of the United States, recognized for his roles as an attorney, jurist, politician, and diplomat. He played a significant part in the drafting of the United States Constitution, served as a United States senator from Connecticut, and held the position of the third chief justice of the United States. In the 1796 presidential election, he garnered 11 electoral votes.

Ellsworth's contributions were instrumental in securing Connecticut's ratification of the Constitution, and he was elected as one of the first two senators from the state, serving from 1789 to 1796. He was the principal author of the Judiciary Act of 1789, which established the framework for the federal judiciary and affirmed the Supreme Court's authority to invalidate state supreme court rulings that conflicted with the United States Constitution. As a key ally of Alexander Hamilton in the Senate, Ellsworth was affiliated with the Federalist Party and played a pivotal role in the passage of Hamilton's initiatives, including the Funding Act of 1790 and the Bank Bill of 1791. He also supported the United States Bill of Rights and the Jay Treaty.

Jesse Root (December 28, 1736 – March 29, 1822) was a prominent American minister and attorney hailing from Coventry, Connecticut. Throughout the American Revolution, he played a significant role on the Connecticut Council of Safety and within the Connecticut militia. Initially appointed as a lieutenant colonel in Peekskill in 1777, he advanced to the position of Adjutant-General of the Connecticut Line. Root represented Connecticut as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1782 and served as the chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1796 to 1807, in addition to holding the position of a state court judge. He was an active member of the Connecticut House of Representatives and participated in the Connecticut Constitutional Convention. Furthermore, he was affiliated with the First Company, Governor's Foot Guard, where he held the role of commandant from May 1798 to October 1802. His lineage includes his grandson, Austin Cornelius Dunham.

John Chenevard (often spelled Cheneward) (July 29, 1733-April 7, 1805) was a prominent merchant and dedicated patriot from Hartford, Connecticut. He played a crucial role in the logistical success of the American Revolution. As a trusted member of the state’s Committee of Pay and the Committee of Safety, Chenevard was entrusted with the high-stakes task of managing military finances and procuring essential supplies. His expertise in commerce made him an invaluable asset to the Connecticut Council of Safety, where he collaborated closely with Governor Jonathan Trumbull. Their efforts ensured that the Continental Army remained well-fed, clothed, and armed during the most challenging years of the conflict.

Beyond his administrative responsibilities, Chenevard’s unwavering commitment to the cause was evident in his active participation in local governance and his willingness to risk his own fortune for the fledgling nation. He frequently oversaw the transportation of salt, gunpowder, and flour, often coordinating their movement through the Connecticut River valley to reach General Washington’s troops. By the war’s end, Chenevard had become a pillar of the Hartford community. His legacy endures as that of a diligent civil servant whose behind-the-scenes work laid the material foundation for American independence.

John Lawrence (1719–1802) was a prominent public official in colonial and post-revolutionary Connecticut. He is best known for his long tenure as the Treasurer of the Colony (and later State) of Connecticut. Born in Boston on June 11, 1719, he was the son of Captain John Lawrence and Maryane Lawrence. He eventually settled in Hartford, where he established himself as a respected “Esquire” and dedicated civil servant.

Lawrence’s career spanned several decades of significant political transformation. During the tumultuous years of the American Revolution, he managed the region’s finances. His personal life was centered in Hartford, where he married Margaret Lawrence and raised a large family with at least twelve children. Beyond his official duties as State Treasurer, which he held from 1769 to 1789, he was deeply involved in the civic life of Connecticut’s capital. Lawrence passed away in Hartford on December 25, 1802, at the age of 83, and was interred at the Ancient Burying Ground.