DACS

turnerphilip Inventory of the Philip Turner Papers, 1751-1858, 1881 and undated Processed by: Willeke Sandler; machine-readable finding aid created by: Willeke Sandler David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, N.C., USA

Aleph Number: 005199878

Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: December 2011Processed by Willeke Sandler, December 2011; finding aid encoded by Willeke Sandler, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, December 2011 Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS and local Style Guide Inventory of the Philip Turner Papers, 1751-1858, 1881 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library Duke University Durham, North Carolina 27708-0185 USA

Descriptive Summary David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University Turner, Philip. Philip Turner Papers, 1751-1858, 1881 and undated Material in English 6.0 Linear Feet 675 Items For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog. Philip Turner (1740-1815) was a noted surgeon from Norwich, Connecticut and New York, New York. The Philip Turner Papers Collection spans from 1751 to 1858 and contains correspondence, military hospital returns, printed material, and ledgers documenting Philip Turner's career as a surgeon in private practice in Norwich, Connecticut and New York, New York, in the Continental Army, and in the United States Army. Items include correspondence with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, William Eustis, Henry Dearborn, John Morgan, William Shippen, and other prominent Americans. Also includes materials on Turner's family. Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University. Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this form before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Philip Turner Papers, History of Medicine Collections, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Provenance

The Philip Turner Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2011.

Processing Information

Processed by Willeke Sandler, December 2011

Encoded by Willeke Sandler, December 2011

Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 2011-0206

Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

Historical Note

Philip Turner (1740-1815) was a noted surgeon from Norwich, Connecticut, where he trained under his foster father, Dr. Elisha Tracy. He served with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, holding the position of Surgeon General of the Eastern Department. After the Revolutionary War, Turner returned to private practice in Norwich, and moved to New York in 1800. He also served as an army surgeon during the French and Indian War (1754-1763) and the War of 1812, when he was stationed at Fort Columbus on Governor's Island, New York. Turner died in 1815.

Philip and Lucy Turner had seven children, two of whom appear as authors of material in the collection. John Turner (1764-1837) was also a doctor in Norwich, Connecticut. Nancy Turner married Marvin Wait in 1810, and had a son, John Turner Wait (1811-1899), who served as a U.S. Representative from Connecticut and also authored material in the collection.

Chronology List Feb. 25, 1740 Philip Turner born in Norwich, Connecticut to Captain Philip Turner and Anne Huntington Adgate. 1758 Turner began his military service as a surgeon during the French and Indian War (1754-1763). April 7, 1763 Turner married Lucy Tracy, daughter of Dr. Elisha Tracy. 1775-1783 Revolutionary War June 17, 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill. Turner was present as a military surgeon. July 6, 1775 Turner was commissioned surgeon to the 8th Regiment Connecticut troops. Dec. 16, 1775 Turner was discharged from the army. April 1777 Turner received the appointment of Surgeon General of the Hospital, Eastern Department. 1781 Turner retired from military service and returned to Norwich, Connecticut to open a private practice. 1800 Turner moved to New York, New York. 1802 Turner re-entered military service as a surgeon's mate. Nov. 1809 Turner was transferred to Fort Columbus on Governor’s Island. 1812-1815 War of 1812 April 20, 1815 Turner died at the age of seventy-five. Collection Overview

The Philip Turner Papers Collection spans from 1751 to 1858 and contains correspondence, military hospital returns, printed material, and ledgers documenting Philip Turner's career as a surgeon in private practice in Norwich, Connecticut and New York, New York, in the Continental Army, and in the United States Army. Turner served in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, during which he was stationed at Fort Columbus, New York. Included are an extensive collection of military hospital returns from the Eastern Department of the Continental Army describing the state of the Army's sick and wounded and spanning the years 1777 to 1780. Also included is correspondence with George Washington, Tench Coxe, and William Eustis about the procurement of medical supplies and the organization of the Army's medical department during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. After the Revolutionary War, Turner felt that he had not received due compensation for his service, and the collection contains extensive correspondence relating to the decades-long effort of Turner and his heirs to receive this compensation from Congress. This correspondence includes letters to and from Thomas Jefferson, Henry Dearborn, John Morgan, William Shippen, and other prominent Americans. Additional correspondence, especially with Daniel Parker, Chief Clerk of the War Department, documents Turner's efforts to secure a commission during the War of 1812.

Also included in the collection are correspondence, financial and legal papers, and poetry relating to Turner's family. The majority of this series is addressed to or stems from John Turner and Nancy Turner, two of Philip Turner's children. Correspondents represented include Judith Sargent Murray, American essayist and advocate for women's rights, and her husband, John Murray. Some of the material is related to the efforts of John Turner and John Turner Wait (Philip Turner's grandson) to receive compensation for Turner's Revolutionary War service. The collection also includes a small hide-covered trunk bearing the initials A.T., possibly belonging to Turner's mother Ann.

Acquired as part of the History of Medicine Collections at Duke University.

Collection Arrangement

The collection is arranged in eight series: Artifacts; Correspondence; Financial and Legal Papers; Journals; Peace Service in New York; Revolutionary War; Turner Family Papers; and War of 1812.

Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.

Armstrong, John, 1758-1843. Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824. Dearborn, Henry, 1751-1829. Eustis, William, 1753-1825. Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Morgan, John, 1735-1789. Murray, Judith Sargent, 1751-1820. Parker, Daniel. Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Shippen, William, 1712-1801. Simmons, William. Stoddard, Amos, 1762-1813. Tucker, Thomas Tudor, 1745-1828. Turner, John, 1764-1837. Turner, Philip, 1740-1815. Wait, John Turner, 1811-1899. Washington, George, 1732-1799. Turner family. History of Medicine Collections (Duke University) United States. Army. United States. Continental Army. Eastern Dept. Medicine, Military. Military hospitals--United States. Military pensions. Physicians--United States--Correspondence. Surgeons--United States--Correspondence. United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Medical care. United States--History--War of 1812--Medical care. Fort Columbus (N.Y.) New York, New York. Norwich, Connecticut. Broadsides (notices) Correspondence. Diaries. Ledgers (account books) Contents of Collection Artifact, probably 18th c. (1 box)

Small hide-covered trunk decorated with round nailheads that form the initials A.T. The trunk could have belonged to Turner's mother, whose maiden name was Anne Huntington Adgate.

1Trunk, probably 18th c. Correspondence Series, 1780-1813 (3 folders)

Contains personal and professional correspondence chiefly relating to Turner's private practice. Topics include a trip Turner took to Charleston, South Carolina in 1792, requests for Turner's medical services and advice, and two letters asking Turner to cover a debt owed to his son-in-law. Significant correspondents are many, including Revolutionary War period military officials and physicians; there is also an exchange of two letters between Turner and George Washington on the topic of Turner's plan to reorganize the medical department of the Continental Army (the plan is not included), and eight letters from Turner to Thomas Jefferson (1805-1807) regarding Turner's claim for proper compensation for his military service and Turner's views of Jefferson's political situation. Also included is a letter from Judith Sargent Murray to Turner's wife, Lucy, concerning Turner's daughter Elizabeth's visit to Sargent Murray. Many other pieces of correspondence are also located in the Peace Service in New York, Revolutionary War, Turner Family Papers, and War of 1812 Series. Arranged in chronological order.

General Correspondence, 1789-1813 (1 folder) 2Letter, Nov., 1789, from Hannah Abell, Norwich, Conn., to Philip Turner 2Letter, 30 Nov., 1790, from Judith Sargent Murray, Gloucester, Mass., to Lucy Turner 2Letter, 7 Sept., 1792, from Philip Turner, Norwich, Conn., to Dr. David Olyphant, Newport 2Letter, 12 Sept., 1792, from Philip Turner, Norwich, Conn., to Dr. David Olyphant 2Memorandum, 18 Sept., 1792, from Philip Turner 2Certificate, 3 Nov., 1800, from Robert Benson, New York 2Letter, 24 July, 1803, from Malachi Foot, Benjamin Prince, Daniel D. Walters, and Philip D. Keteltas, New York, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 5 Aug., 1803, from Edward Livingston to Philip Turner 2Letter, 14 Nov., 1803, from unknown to Philip Turner 2Letter, 14 Nov., 1803, from W. Leffingwell, New Haven, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 7 Jan., 1804, from John Franks to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 19 Jan., 1804, from Colonel Graham to Philip Turner 2Letter, 11 Feb., 1804, from John Franks, Southhold, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 16 Jan., 1805, from Perez Jones, New York, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 4 Feb., 1806, from Cornelius Cooper, New York, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 31 Mar., 1806, from Dr. Sage, Sag Harbor, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 28 Aug., 1808, from Clarissa Turner, Lancaster, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 20 Nov., 1808, from Mr. Weston, New York, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 17 Mar., 1809, from J.E.A. Masters, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 17 Mar., 1809, from Charles Carew, New London, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 8 May, 1809, from R. Chandernette, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 12 May, 1809, from Commanding Officer, Ellis Island, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 15 Feb., 1810, from S. Williams, New York, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 28 May, 1812, from Philip Turner, New York, to Joel Austin Wallingford 2Letter, 12 Sept., 1812, from W. Sheldon, New York, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 29 Mar., 1813, from J. Thomas, Worcester, to Philip Turner 2Memorandum, 1813, The Case of Mrs. Vanderventer and the Cause of her Death, from Philip Turner George Washington, 1780 (1 folder) 2Letter, 3 Feb., 1780, from Philip Turner, Danbury, to George Washington, Morristown 2Letter, 24 Feb., 1780, from George Washington, Morristown, to Philip Turner Thomas Jefferson, 1805-1807 (1 folder) 2Letter, 10 Oct., 1805, from Philip Turner, New York, to Thomas Jefferson 2Letter, 18 Oct., 1805, from Thomas Jefferson, Washington, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 18 Nov., 1805, from Philip Turner, New York, to Thomas Jefferson 2Letter, 28 Dec., 1805, from Philip Turner, New York, to Thomas Jefferson 2Letter, 28 Jan., 1806, from Philip Turner, New York, to Thomas Jefferson 2Letter, 28 Feb., 1806, from Philip Turner, to Thomas Jefferson 2Letter, 16 June, 1806, from Philip Turner, New York, to Thomas Jefferson 2Letter, 21 July, 1807, from Philip Turner, to Thomas Jefferson Financial and Legal Papers Series, 1751-1815 and undated (2 folders and 2 boxes)

Drafts and receipts made out to Philip Turner, the majority for his medical care in Norwich, Connecticut and New York, New York. Also included are a draft made out to Capt. Philip Turner (Turner's father) by Benedict Arnold Sr. (father of the notable son of the same name), the Norwich land deed made out to Turner's father, an account ledger for John Morgan kept during the Revolutionary War, and two financial ledgers documenting Turner's private practice.

2Drafts, deeds, and receipts, 1751-1810 (2 folders) Ledgers, 1784-1815 and undated (1 folder, 2 boxes) 2Ledgers, undated 6Financial ledger: private practice, 1784-1801 7Financial ledger: private practice, 1811-1815 Journals Series, 1774-1803 (1 box)

Two volumes: "Philip Turner's Day-Book, March 19, 1803" and "Philip Turner's Medical Collections and Experimental Observations" (circa 1774-1801). Originally used to record information on Turner's patients, more than half the pages in the daybook have been pasted over with later newspaper clippings (circa 1830s), presumably by Turner's grandson, John Turner Wait, whose name appears on the inside cover of the volume.

7"Philip Turner's Medical Collections and Experimental Observations" (circa 1774-1801) Peace Service in New York Series, 1809-1811 and undated (1 folder)

Chiefly correspondence relating to Turner's assignment as surgeon's mate at Fort Columbus on Governor's Island, New York. Correspondents include William Eustis (then Secretary of War), Henry Dearborn, Thomas Tudor Tucker (Treasurer of the United States), William Simmons (accountant of the War Department), and Tench Coxe (purveyor of public supplies). The majority of the correspondence deals with the ordering and delivery of medical supplies for Fort Columbus, in particular the absence of supplies and complaints about the problems associated with their delivery. Also included are correspondence and several documents detailing Turner's pay for his service.

2Letter, 7 Feb., 1809, from Henry Dearborn, to Philip Turner 2Ms.,Subsistence Account of Philip Turner, post surgeon's Mate at Ellis's and Bedlows Islands in New York Bay,Apr. 7, 1809 2Letter, 27 Apr., 1809, from William Eustis, Washington, to Philip Turner 2Ms., P. Turner's Account for medical services, subsistence and storage from the 7th of Feb. to the 7th of May 1809 2Letter, 6 June, 1809, from William Eustis, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 6 July, 1809, from William Simmons, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 8 July, 1809, from Tench Coxe, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 16 July, 1809, from Philip Turner, New York, to Callender Irvine 2Letter, 19 July, 1809, from Callender Irvine, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 9 Sept., 1809, from Charles Gardner, Fort Columbus, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 28 Sept., 1809, from William Eustis, Boston, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 30 Sept., 1809, from William Simmons, to Philip Turner 2Ms., P. Turner's Account from the 1st of July to the 30th of Sept., 1809 2Letter, 4 Nov., 1809, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Eustis 2Letter, 20 Dec., 1809, from William Eustis, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 2 Jan., 1810, from William Simmons, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 17 Feb., 1810, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Eustis 2Letter, 7 May, 1810, from Philip Turner, New York, to Tench Coxe 2Letter, 18 May, 1810, from Philip Turner, New York, to Richard Reece, London, England 2Letter, 19 May, 1810, from Tench Coxe, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 28 May, 1810, from Callender Irvine, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 3 Oct., 1810, from Thomas Tudor Tucker, Washington, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 12 Nov., 1810, from William Eustis, to Philip Turner, New York 2Letter, 29 Nov., 1810, from William Simmons, to Philip Turner 2Letter, Nov., 1810, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Simmons 2Letter, 3 June, 1811, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, New York, to Tench Coxe, Philadelphia 2Letter, 6 June, 1811, from Tench Coxe, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, New York 2Letter, 10 June, 1811, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, New York, to Tench Coxe, Philadelphia 2Letter, 11 June, 1811, from Tench Coxe, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, New York 2Letter, 26 July, 1811, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Simmons 2Letter, 29 Sept., 1811, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Eustis 2Letter, 29 Sept., 1811, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Simmons 2Letter, 12 Oct., 1811, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, to William Simmons 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to Tench Coxe Revolutionary War Series, 1776-1858 and undated (13 folders)

Arranged into four subseries documenting Philip Turner's service as a surgeon during the Revolutionary War. The Correspondence Subseries includes letters to and from John Morgan, William Shippen, Roger Sherman, and Samuel Huntington. Topics in the correspondence include Turner's military orders from John Morgan, as well as orders issued by Turner and others, regulations from William Eustis for the military hospital in Danbury, Connecticut, and discussions about the procurement of supplies.

The Military Hospital Returns Subseries documents the medical state of the Continental Army's sick and wounded in the Eastern Department (including New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut) during the Revolutionary War. The subseries consists of weekly reports sent to Turner from military hospitals in towns in the Eastern Department listing the number of patients admitted and discharged, and the number of patients with a variety of illnesses, including dysentery, fever, and rheumatism, as well as those wounded in battle. These hospital return forms are for the most part standardized and handwritten, with several using printed forms.

The Printed Materials Subseries contains Congressional resolutions concerning the establishment and running of military hospitals.

The Revolutionary War Claims Subseries contains correspondence relating to the efforts of Turner and his heirs from 1779 to 1858 to receive from Congress what Turner considered proper compensation for his military service. The discrepancies resulted from a disagreement as to Turner's exact rank and to the resulting difference in pay. In an effort to receive compensation, Turner wrote numerous letters to Secretary of War Henry Dearborn, and corresponded with a number of prominent individuals, including General Huntington, William Eustis, and Joseph B. Varnum. Turner also submitted petitions to Congress and to the Connecticut General Assembly. Other correspondence with Thomas Jefferson relating to Turner's Revolutionary War claims can be found in the Correspondence Series.

2Correspondence, 1776-1781 and undated (2 folders) 2Letter, 4 Nov., 1776, from John Morgan, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 10 Nov., 1776, from John Morgan, camp near White Plains, to unknown 2Letter, Nov., 1776, from John Morgan, to the Regimental Surgeons 2Letter, 9 May, 1777, from John Morgan, Boston, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 18 Apr., 1778, from John Morgan, New Haven, to Philip Turner, Danbury 2Letter, 30 Apr., 1778, from Philip Turner, to Isaac Foster 2Letter, 17 Apr., 1778, from Edwin Bulkley, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 18 Aug., 1778, from Edwin Bulkley, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 17 Sept., 1778, from Philip Turner, Danbury, to Lieutenant Mack 2Letter, 16 Nov., 1778, from Philip Turner, Danbury, to Doctor Hosmer 2Letter, 19 Dec., 1778, Some regulations necessary to be adopted with respect to the General Hospital in Danbury in order to make the patients comfortable and to do them that justice to which they are entitled and which Congress expects they receive,from William Eustis, Danbury, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 16 Mar., 1779, from Philip Turner, Danbury, to William Shippen 2Letter, 20 Apr., 1779, from William Shippen, Somerset, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 1 June, 1779, from Thomas Fanning, Norwich, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 9 June, 1779, from Abiel Hyde, Norwich, to John Baryan, Danbury 2Letter, 4 July, 1779, from Philip Turner, Danbury, to unknown 2Letter, 4 Aug., 1779, from John Tyler, New London, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 19 Aug., 1779, from John Tyler, New London, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 4 Sept., 1779, from John Tyler, New London, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 2 Nov., 1779, from Roger Sherman, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 1779, from Philip Turner, to William Eustis 2Letter, 4 Feb., 1780, from Philip Turner, Danbury, to Samuel Huntington 2Letter, 8 Feb., 1780, from Roger Sherman, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 16 Apr., 1780, from Philip Turner, Providence, to Doctor Adams 2Ms., Resolve of Congress, May 1780 2Letter, 21 June, 1780, from George Bright, New London, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 5 Aug., 1780, from John De La Mater, Boston, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 2 Sept., 1780, from Roger Sherman, Philadelphia, to Philip Turner, Danbury 2Letter, 24 Nov., 1780, Account sent to Congress from Philip Turner 2Letter, 19 Dec., 1780, from William Ledyard, New London, to Philip Turner, Norwich 2Letter, 15 Jan., 1781, from William Ledyard, New London, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 28 June, 1781, from John De La Mater, Danbury, to Philip Turner 2Letter, 30 June, 1781, from John Cochran, New London, to Philip Turner, Norwich 2Letter, 1781, from Philip Turner, to Roger Sherman 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to John Trumbull 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to Harry Burton 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, On Dr. Tilton's errand to the Army, to unknown 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, Directions for Doctor Shippen 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to Mr. Thompson, Hartford 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to William Shippen 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to Doctors Adams and Custin 2Ms., Account of the Money Paid for the use of the Hospital in North [illegible], Paid by Colonel Prentice, undated 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to the Senior Officer of the Military Hospital at Providence 2Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to the Senior Officer of the Military Hospitals, Eastern District Military Hospital Returns, 1777-1780 and undated (5 folders) 2Military Hospital Returns, 1777 (1 folder) 3Military Hospital Returns, 1778 (4 folders) 1Oversize Military Hospital Returns, 1778 (1 folder) 3Military Hospital Returns, 1779 (2 folders) 4Miltiary Hospital Returns, 1780 and undated (2 folders) Printed Material, 1777-1780 (1 folder) 4In Congress Resolved...,April 7, 1777 4Philip Turner, Rules and Directions for the Better Regulating the Military Hospital of the United States, Feb. 6, 1778 4Plan for Conducting the Hospital Department of the United States, Sept. 30, 1780 5Revolutionary War Claims, 1779-1858 and undated (5 folders)

Arranged in original order, possibly in groups originally bundled together.

Turner Family Papers Series, 1776-1840, 1881 and undated (3 folders)

Contains correspondence, financial and legal papers, and poetry. The majority of the series is addressed to or stems from John Turner and Nancy Turner, two of Philip Turner's children. Some of the material is related to the efforts of John Turner and John Turner Wait (Philip Turner's grandson) to receive compensation for Turner's Revolutionary War service. Judith Sargent Murray, American essayist and advocate for women's rights, and her husband, John Murray, were friends of the Turners and wrote mainly of family matters as well as one letter from Sargent Murray about the forthcoming publication of her book The Gleaner. The Financial and Legal Papers Subseries includes material from the Department of the Interior Pension Office arranged in original order, as well as the 1812 will for Mehitabel Waterman, of which John Turner is one of the executors. The Writings Subseries includes undated and unsigned poetry and eulogies.

Correspondence, 1786-1840, 1881 and undated (1 folder) 5Letter, 8 Sept., 1786, from J. Sargent Murray, Gloucester, Mass., to Mrs. (Lucy) Turner 5Letter, 22 Aug., 1792, from Julia Maria, to Anna Maria Sargent 5Letter, 3 Nov., 1797, from J. Sargent Murray, Boston, to Nancy Turner, Norwich 5Letter, 31 July, 1803, from Eliza A. Pinckney, Charleston, to Nancy Turner, New York 5Letter, 31 June, 1810, from Geo. Turner to John Turner, Norwich 5Letter, 31 Mar., 1825, from John Turner, Norwich, to Alexander Richards, Waddington, NY 5Letter, 18 Sept., 1825, from Mary to Abby Maria Lathrop, New York 5Letter, 22 Feb., 1826, from John Turner to Alexander Richards, Waddington, NY 5Ms., 1 May, 1839, Company Orders, 7th Company, 18th Regiment Connecticut Milita 5Ms., 29, Aug., 1840, Company Orders, 7th Company, 18th Regiment Infantry 5Letter, 1881, from William McCrady, Cobb, Wis., to John Wait 5Letter, undated, from John Murray, Boston, to Nancy Turner, Gloucester, Mass. 5Letter, undated, from Robert Leckie, to Philip Turner 5Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to Mrs. King 5Blank letterhead, Sayles & Welles Cotton Brokers, Norwich, Conn. 5Financial and legal papers, 1776-1838 and undated (1 folder) 5Writings, undated (1 folder) War of 1812 Series, 1812-1815 and undated (2 folders)

Chiefly consists of correspondence relating to Turner's work at Ft. Columbus, in particular the acquisition of supplies and matters relating to Turner's pay. During this period, Turner also attempted to secure a commission. Turner was informed of his appointment as surgeon to the 1st Regiment of Artillery in February 1813, but, as the material in this series shows, an administrative error concerning his first name held up the issuing of his commission. In an effort to correct this mistake, Turner corresponded with Amos Stoddard (Major of the Artillery Corps at Fort Columbus), Henry Dearborn, William Simmons, John Armstrong Jr. (Secretary of War, 1813-1814), Daniel Parker (Chief Clerk of the War Department), and Joseph B. Varnum. Turner also wrote six letters to James Madison and two to James Monroe (then Secretary of War) on the issue of his commission. Turner's commission did not arrive before his death in 1815.

5Letter, 31 Mar., 1812, from Philip Turner, to Amos Stoddard, Fort Columbus 5Letter, 17 Apr., 1812, from Philip Turner, New York, to Henry Dearborn 5Letter, 24 June, 1812, from Amos Stoddard, Washington, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 27 June, 1812, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, New York, to Amos Stoddard 5Letter, 9 July, 1812, from Amos Stoddard, Washington, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 14 July, 1812, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, New York, to Amos Stoddard 5Letter, 29 Sept., 1812, from William Simmons, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 31 Dec., 1812, from General Armstrong, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 4 Jan., 1813, from Philip Turner, to John Armstrong 5Letter, 5 Jan., 1813, from Charles Gardner, New York (on behalf of John Armstrong), to Philip Turner 5Letter, 10 Jan., 1813, from William Eustis, New York, to James Monroe 5Letter, 11 Jan., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 5 Feb., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to John Armstrong 5Letter, 12 Feb., 1813, from Daniel Parker, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 11 Mar., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 24 Mar., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to William Simmons 5Letter, 26 Mar., 1813, from Philip Turner, to John Armstrong 5Letter, Apr., 1813, from unknown, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 1 Apr., 1813, from Thomas Chrystie, New York, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 3 Apr., 1813, from Philip Turner, to William Simmons 5Letter, 3 Apr., 1813, from Philip Turner, to George Izard 5Letter, 5 Apr., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to Francis Le Baron 5Letter, 7 Apr., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to Francis Le Baron 5Letter, 10 Apr., 1813, from Thomas Tudor Tucker, Washington, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 18 Apr., 1813, from Philip Turner, to John Armstrong 5Letter, 18 Apr., 1813, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 29 May, 1813, from Samuel Ackerly to unknown 5Letter, 4 June, 1813, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 14 June, 1813, from Philip Turner, to George Izard 5Letter, 10 June, 1813, from Philip Turner, to George Izard 5Letter, 24 July, 1813, from Philip Turner, to George Izard 5Letter, 28 July, 1813, from Philip Turner, Fort Columbus, to James Madison 5Letter, 5 Aug., 1813, from Samuel Ackerly, New York, to Philip Turner, Fort Columbus 5Letter, 7 Aug., 1813, from Philip Turner, to Captain Hanham 5Letter, 11 Aug., 1813, from Philip Turner, to Samuel Ackerly 5Letter, 13 Aug., 1813, from Philip Turner, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 13 Aug., 1813, from Samuel Ackerly, New York, to Philip Turner, Fort Columbus 5Letter, 20 Aug., 1813, from Philip Turner, to Samuel Ackerly 5Letter, 26 Aug., 1813, from Samuel Ackerly, New York, to Philip Turner, Fort Columbus 5Letter, 29 Aug., 1813, from Philip Turner, to Samuel Ackerly 5Ms.,Medicine & Store as per the Class Book of Mr. Cutts 5Letter, 30 Aug., 1813, from Philip Turner, to Richard Cutts 5Letter, 11 Sept., 1813, from unknown, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 13 Sept., 1813, from Thomas Chrystie, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 24 Sept., 1813, from John R. Fenwick, New York, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 1 Oct., 1813, from Colonel House, Fort Columbus, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 27 Dec., 1813, from Philip Turner, New York, to Joseph B. Varnum 5Letter, 1 Jan., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to Mr. Bledsoe 5Letter, 18 Jan., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Madison 5Letter, 31 Jan., 1814, from Philip Turner, to John Armstrong 5Letter, 1 Feb., 1814, from Philip Turner, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 5 Feb., 1814, from Philip Turner, to Joseph B. Varnum 5Letter, 2 Mar., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to John Armstrong 5Letter, 3 Mar., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Madison 5Letter, 10 Apr., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to John Armstrong 5Letter, 27 June, 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Madison 5Letter, 27 June, 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Madison 5Letter, 2 July, 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, 20 July, 1814, from Philip Turner, to the editor of the National Advocate 5Letter, 29 July, 1814, from Philip Turner, to Francis Le Baron 5Ms., Copies of the Orders drawn by Doctor Le Baron, apothecary to Mr. Leefe, druggist, Messrs. Talman and Torry and Major Baron, assistant Quarter-master, 29 July 1814 5Letter, 18 Aug., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Madison 5Letter, 24 Aug., 1814, from Francis Le Baron, New York, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 5 Sept., 1814, from unknown, to Philip Turner 5Letter, 18 Oct., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Monroe 5Letter, 21 Oct., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to James Monroe 5Letter, 18 Nov., 1814, from Philip Turner, New York, to George M. Troup 5Letter, 2 Feb., 1815, from Philip Turner, New York, to Daniel Parker 5Letter, undated, from unknown, to Joseph B. Varnum 5Letter, undated, from Philip Turner, to John Armstrong