54. Hamilton The Musical & Newenham - "Not throwing away my shot" & "Washington on your side"

Hamilton The Musical & Newenham
"Not throwing away my shot" & "Washington on your side"

A recent visit to see the hit musical "Hamilton", has re-invigorated a lot of thoughts, with historical documents via relative Sir Edward Newenham & some of the stories that relate to the Found Fathers of America.

It's not so much about Hamilton himself that set it off, but it's the way the songs were written & portrayed in the Musical. I got lost in a few songs, because my historical research with my somewhat "politically controversial" relative - Sir Edward Newenham, he had a lot of similarities of the time, to that of Alexander Hamilton's story.

The lyrics of the songs, opened up a plethora of feelings, thoughts & most of all "visions", on how to perceive the events unfolding in the newly Independent America. Comparing Hamilton's story, to that of Newenham, gives a good insight, into how the inner sanctum of politics & war worked with the Leaders of America, is. Even though you could say - "Hamilton" is not 100% accurate to base off, it still did carry the story the narrative of my thoughts. Certain things in the musical didn't fit with how the songs were to be played out, so some slight lyric adjustments were made to fit with the vibe of the story.

But, it also keyed a thought that I had never entertained - Did Hamilton ever communicate with or by chance know of Newenham?

  

In the short, there hasn't been any documentation found to date, to suggest that Hamilton & Newenham had any form of communication between them.

However, with the circles of communication & including the people in "the room where it happens", there is every chance that Hamilton may have come across the name or character of Newenham, but most possibly by verbal form only.

My reason is that there is so much communication between Franklin, Washington, Adams & Lafayette, including others, who all knew of Newenham, and would have discussed Irish affairs at some point in their meetings, with the context of how hard the Irish Nation had suffered under England's tight grip. In particular, in the scenarios that are played out in the "Founders Online" Archive, many letters written by the circle of Founding Fathers did not mention Newenham directly in regards to Hamilton.
But he is mentioned or referenced in footnotes, concerning that particular article (the footnote usually references a letter between Newenham & Washington or Franklin, to give concept to that article).

Not knowing much of Hamilton, my initial introduction to Hamilton, was a couple of years ago, when I listened to a podcast called "Presidencies of The United States" by Jerry Landry. He draws on his own interpretation of Hamilton and how he fits in with the narrative. Part of his podcasts went over the "Reynolds Affair", where for me, it got interesting.

In particular to the extortion part & how Hamilton procured funds to pay off James Reynolds is just too intriguing. It opened a plethora of thoughts, about how he got into that mess or more so, how he tried to get out of it.

And because of this part, I was so intrigued by how a Musical, could portray this scene. Would it be very factual, somewhat factual, or just be a very loose dramatisation of the events. I was happy with the way it was portrayed, as it helped visualise, Jerry Landry's depiction of the events. And from what I know, Newenham didn't have a "Reynolds" story either.

  

About 1-2 weeks after seeing the musical, I could not get some of the songs out of my head. They were very catchy tunes. So catchy, they sit in your head for days, even weeks. 

For me, what sold it, was in the 3 songs from George III (The Mad King).

The lyrics in "You'll Be Back", show that George III is telling the Founding Fathers, that you may not come back now, but eventually you will come back to me - because "You belong to me".

And if you don’t - "I will send a fully armed Battalion, to remind you of my love" & "I will kill your Friends & Family, to remind you of my love".

It highlights, pure quintessential childish "madness" - where a person doesn't get their way, they will hurt or kill everyone.

Information within James Kelly's book on Newenham, shows that Newenham was subjected to a similar circumstance.

It is noted that Duke of Rutland, had suspicions of Newenham's "extensive foreign correspondence" with the newly separated American "Founding Fathers". Rutland briefed William Pitt (Prime Minister). Pitt, then discussed it with George III, that Newenham was entangled with a plan, to get Ireland to follow suit of America, with becoming Independent from the Monarchy. That sent George into a tizzy, where he placed Newenham on a "Watch List". But it seems as time went on, the evidence against Newenham, became less & less, and Ministers realised it wasn't really what they thought it was. They realised Newenham wasn't of importance anymore, so they dropped him off the list.
But needless to say, this "Watch List", I wonder what the outcome would have been for Newenham if George III or Pitt took it any further?

 

Newenham was a true "fanboi" of Washington. And Washington was very fond of his Irish friend.
Washington even made the friendly implication to Newenham "Hey buddy, you can stay at my house & we can play".
If fate had its way, my 4th Great Grandfather should have been an American, under this letter's ideals.
Another Hamilton song lyric sits exactly here "It must be nice..It must be nice...to have Washington on your side". Never a truer word said here, that indeed, Washington was on his side - for many years.

Newenham was so besotted with the idea of becoming independent from England & his greatest idol - Washington, actually managed to get the job done. It became almost like a Painting on Steroids for Newenham. Picasso or a Warhol maybe?

But for some reason, Newenham followed this dream alone. His Party seemed to have held back from Newenham's commentary. From what I can make of it, Newenham didn't have the backing from others, with his ideals of separating Ireland from England. But as Lafayette colloquially put it to Washington, Newenham's voice was just "Parliamentary Barking". John Adams had a taste of Newenham's words too, but I found it confusing to interpret in which manner he meant it. Adams noted it as "Foundations of another Revolution".

I don't know if Adams, was supporting Newenham's notion for it or critiquing the comment, to say that Newenham is stirring things up so much, that it's quite dangerous for 1 person to pursue?

Like Hamilton, Newenham had 3 documented "quarrel ending" Duels. But it is unsure if there were any more.

2nd Jan 1774 saw the first duel with Benjamin Geale - ironically held near church grounds in Dublin. James Napper Tandy was Newenham's "second".

Just 6 weeks later, Newenham still steaming after Geale's encounter, seemed very irate at Sheriff John Tucker & went a pistoling again. Pistols fired & the shots missed (unknown if intentional or not), Newenham was still so pissed, that he drew his sword, but no one was injured from this fracas. 

1778 saw the 3rd Duel, with John Beresford (Beresford challenged Newenham). Shots were fired & Newenham came away alive, but with a grazed leg.

Did Newenham “throw away his shot”. Hard to interpret the details, but I think from the 2nd & 3rd encounter, I think the aim was much "tighter" than the first.

With all these Duels happening, it was well after my lineage was born, so if Newenham was mortally wounded in the same circumstance as Hamilton, we would have still survived.

Newenham even lamented his Dueling days with Washington, by saying "Public Meetings & Private Duels have much injured my bones & frame". At the time he was writing this letter, it seems he was a little bit drunk. He was drinking Claret & toasting to Washington & became very sentimental, about the fact that he wished to visit Mount Vernon, for him to be in pure happiness.

Mount Vernon seemed to soothe Newenham's pain, from life. His eternal nirvana I think.

I think there is still more to discover with the communication between Newenham & the Founding Fathers, that this blog is just a "taster", to what still lies undiscovered. And this blog may be updated at a later date, where extra details exist.