On December 1st, 1784, along a cold and wintry Fourth Street in Philadelphia, Major William Trent sputtered his last breath surrounded by friends and family and soon became forgotten in history.
The son of a Philadelphia shipping merchant and the namesake for the capital of New Jersey, Trent’s own legacy as a gentleman, throughout the latter half of the eighteenth century was always remembered for his controversial role at Fort Pitt in “gifting” smallpox blankets to the Indians that early summer of 1763. The truth is, however, over the course of his life Trent was always given an unfair depiction as a scapegoat and blamed for villainy that was not his own creation.
A seasoned veteran officer of three different conflicts, he was praised for his “frame of speech to the Indians, in their style”. He was also the factor for one of the most powerful land speculating companies in the world because of his notorious reputation of excellent penmanship and ledger keeping. By the eve of the American Revolution, Trent became the courageous face of westward expansion that began diligently alongside his friend and “king of the traders” George Croghan.
From the author of Pittsburgh’s Lost Outpost: Captain Trent’s Fort, comes a new definitive look through the eyes of a misunderstood backcountry merchant who not only overcame obstacles and suffered loss, but whose strong quill and rebellious interactions with future founding fathers Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington, ambitiously helped shape and form the future United States of America.
What Others Are Saying:
“Willam Trent was an omnipresent figure in America at its most critical times. As an agent of change operating in an imperial world, he travelled vast distances at home and abroad. The author traces his story with a master’s stroke, unlikely to be surpassed. Cherry’s biography of William Trent is superb.”—Brady J. Crytzer author of The Whiskey Rebellion: A Distilled History of an American Crisis
“Highlighting one of the most influential, but least known, personalities of the colonial Pennsylvania frontier, Cherry’s biography of William Trent illuminates the dangerously
intertwined worlds of trade, diplomacy, warfare, and land speculation that defined the 18th-century Ohio Country. A longtime business partner of trader George Croghan, commander of the first fort at the site of present-day Pittsburgh, and a key conspirator in the plot to spread smallpox to Lenape leaders in 1763, Trent’s complicated, and often contradictory, career is covered in minute detail. Students of the colonial fur trade, early Western Pennsylvania history, and American Indian diplomacy will want to consider this well researched work.”—Andrew E. Masich, PhD, President & CEO, Senator John Heinz History Center
"In William Trent: Factor of Ambition, Jason Cherry reconstructs the dramatic life of a Pennsylvanian fur trader and soldier who played a key role on colonial America's Appalachian frontier during an era of momentous conflict involving European powers and indigenous nations, especially the French and Indian War and the ensuing Pontiac Uprising. In unprecedented detail, and drawing upon meticulous research, author Jason Cherry offers valuable insights into an individual whose remarkable commercial and military career often intersected with pivotal events and personalities, witnessing, for example, the rise of the young George Washington. The informative core narrative, which covers Trent's lifespan from c.1722 to 1784, is enhanced by a deep knowledge of the landscape in which his exploits unfolded, and the material culture of the diverse societies he experienced.—Dr. Stephen Brumwell, author of George Washington: Gentleman Warrior
by Jason A. Cherry
Page Count: 474
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: February 29, 2024
Imprint: Sunbury Press
Genre: History
BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Adventurers & Explorers
HISTORY / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775)
HISTORY / US History / Mid-Atlantic
You might also like ...
-
$39.95-- or Once Upon a Time in the East -- MEET ME I...-- or Once Upon a Time in the East -- MEET ME IN MANHATTAN revives the legend of Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid, and Miss Etta Place, as in the early years of the 20th Century they flee the fast-f...
-
$29.95This new edition combines the first edition and...This new edition combines the first edition and Prince and the Paupers into one volume. Author and historian Guy Graybill presents the entertaining tale of one of America's most prolific moonshine...
-
$14.95Steve and Joan Troutman have collected the hist...Steve and Joan Troutman have collected the histories and photographs of the various one-room schoolhouse of the Mahantongo Valley, of Northumberland and Schuylkill Counties, Pennsylvania, including...
-
$16.95The indelible image lingers from every cemetery...The indelible image lingers from every cemetery and nostalgic detail consuming the human mind. It is a sumptuous palace swarming with bodies from the past. Cemeteries can be dynamically active or...
-
$22.95Sometimes losing your children is the only way ...Sometimes losing your children is the only way to save them. The year is 2039. Jean Bennett’s husband and sister have died from a mysterious illness. To save her children’s lives, she must leave t...
-
$16.95by Katherine Bowers Ever found yourself stuck o...by Katherine Bowers Ever found yourself stuck on the shoulder of life, afraid to veer out into traffic, petrified of being blind-sided by yet another reckless driver? I so want to be the brand of...
-
$19.95Anyone wishing to unlock the secrets behind Pen...Anyone wishing to unlock the secrets behind Pennsylvania’s treasure trove of old-time legends and folktales should read this book and its predecessors. Fascinating and unbelievable as some of these...
-
$16.95It was the time of rifle, tomahawk, and knife. ...It was the time of rifle, tomahawk, and knife. It was the time of plough, axe, and endurance. It was the time when blood flowed into the waters of the Susquehanna River—1750 to 1800—Colonial Susqu...
-
$19.95Henry Shoemaker compiled these legendary tales ...Henry Shoemaker compiled these legendary tales set in the Juniata Valley of central Pennsylvania. Shoemaker's tales recall the transition of the landscape from forest to industrial logging and the ...
-
$14.95by A. B. Zeitler – “I almost fell overboard on...by A. B. Zeitler – “I almost fell overboard on my way to America,” my father often said. This quote begins many immigrant adventures detailed in Leaving Germany: One Family’s Post-World War I Ame...
-
$19.95They say you can never go home again, but what ...They say you can never go home again, but what if home won’t let you leave? When Elbridge Corvallis’ mother dies, the barely minted professional hockey player abandons his first season to return t...
-
$24.95by Stephen Paul Sayers When the ride ends, the ...by Stephen Paul Sayers When the ride ends, the terror begins… The nightmares and visions are getting worse for crime writer Jack Rainne. He can’t shake the childhood memory of a haunting carousel r...
-
$12.95-- Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley -- A fictionalized...-- Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley -- A fictionalized account of Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley’s life story, the most plausible “Molly Pitcher” from the American Revolution, based on the historical record. b...
-
$24.95In Deals, Danger, Destiny—the first book in thi...In Deals, Danger, Destiny—the first book in this series—John LaCasse takes us through the glamour of wealth and his high-octane lifestyle. He opens the existential crises of fast and furious living...
-
$19.95Their Lives, Contributions, and Burial Sites Jo...Their Lives, Contributions, and Burial Sites Joe Farrell, Joe Farley, and Lawrence Knorr have traveled across the eastern USA to the graves of over 200 founding fathers (and mothers) responsible fo...
-
$12.95Unbelievably More Cartoons for the Somewhat Off...Unbelievably More Cartoons for the Somewhat Off-CenterIf you ever wondered what would happen if an author of graphically violent horror stories also drew cartoons? Not that many people would have t...
-
$19.95Volume Four of the Pennsylvania Fireside Tales ...Volume Four of the Pennsylvania Fireside Tales series contains more of the old-time Pennsylvania mountain legends and folktales collected by the author over the last fifty years. Just like in his ...
-
$12.95Thoughts from a Life of Ministry Several years...Thoughts from a Life of Ministry Several years after the pandemic (epidemic of an infectious disease), we still see the aftermath of the devastation created. The devastation is largely prevalent i...
-
$22.95A Novel of the Battle of Lexington and Concord ...A Novel of the Battle of Lexington and Concord In Colonial Massachusetts at the dawning of the American Revolution, an enslaved African American and a reluctant Patriot must battle the British regu...
-
$19.95by Bob Ford In Ford’s eighth collection of outd...by Bob Ford In Ford’s eighth collection of outdoor humor he continues to strike a chord with hunters and dog lovers as he makes observations about contemporary life, often through nostalgic narrati...
-
$19.95A Strong Cape Cod Connection From the start of ...A Strong Cape Cod Connection From the start of the Puritan era through the end of the Revolutionary War, Boston was the central hub of the slave trade. Slaves were brought onboard ships from the Af...
-
$22.95This book covers the entire 1960 Pittsburgh Pi...This book covers the entire 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates season from spring expectations through a season of destiny culminated by the wildest, most lopsided World Series ever—one which saw a team get ...
-
$24.95The Raven Naelo Saga - Book 1 Raven Naelo, a ha...The Raven Naelo Saga - Book 1 Raven Naelo, a half-elf rogue, dreams of following in her father’s footsteps and becoming a realm guardian. Her dreams move closer to reality when she proves herself a...
-
$16.95Before the US Constitution defined the role of ...Before the US Constitution defined the role of the President of the United States as the chief executive, fourteen men filled the role of President of the United States in Congress Assembled. Thoug...
-
$19.95by Rebecca Titchner Two sisters who never met. ...by Rebecca Titchner Two sisters who never met. Two decades of intimate journals. One tragic ending. A Ghost Comes Calling tells of one woman's journey to understand herself, her birth family, and ...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel lonely? Everyone...What should we do when we feel lonely? Everyone feels lonely sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable characte...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel jealous? Everyon...What should we do when we feel jealous? Everyone feels jealous sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable charac...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel angry? Everyone ...What should we do when we feel angry? Everyone feels angry sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likable characters ...
-
$19.95“We are vessels ... and sometimes we have to em...“We are vessels ... and sometimes we have to empty them.” For years, Jhana has traveled the country in search of the stories of people from all walks of life had to tell. Now, after more than a dec...
-
$11.95by Carol Vento War begets unlikely pairings. In...by Carol Vento War begets unlikely pairings. In the shadow of World War I, Carol Schultz Vento’s father, Arthur Dutch Schultz, was born to two military veterans. In the immediate aftermath of World...
-
$19.95The Forbidden Powers - Book 3 Seven years have ...The Forbidden Powers - Book 3 Seven years have passed since the destruction of the Cup of Power and the defeat of Darvor’s armies. Life has gone on for Jonny, but he has not freed himself of the pa...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel frustrated? Eve...What should we do when we feel frustrated? Everyone feels frustrated sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable...
-
$9.99What should we do when we feel sad? Everyone fe...What should we do when we feel sad? Everyone feels sad sometimes, and it can be difficult to navigate that feeling. The Emotion Monster series features the challenging, yet likeable characters fir...
-
$22.95In the railroad city of Altoona, Pennsylvania, ...In the railroad city of Altoona, Pennsylvania, 19-year-old Frank Davis straddles the cusp of manhood in the tumultuous year of 1966. His tranquil lower middle-class neighborhood, adorned with stree...
-
$22.95The Timothy House Chronicles: Book Two Through ...The Timothy House Chronicles: Book Two Through a Dark Valley, Book Two in The Timothy House Chronicles, continues the story of Abbie Richardson and Keith Haliday—two individuals who have suffered i...
-
$27.95From Pearl Harbor to Midway In November 1940, A...From Pearl Harbor to Midway In November 1940, Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, commander-in-chief of the Japanese Combined Fleet, told Prime Minister Prince Konoye, “If I am forced to wage war with the Un...
-
$16.95From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas M...From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas M. Malafarina comes the eighth short story collection in his Malaformed Realities series, appropriately entitled Malaformed Realities Volume 8. With th...
-
$16.95From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas ...From the twisted mind of horror master Thomas M. Malafarina comes the seventh short story collection in his Malaformed Realities series, appropriately entitled Malaformed Realities Volume 7. With...
-
$16.95Finding and Losing the Love of My Life in Six S...Finding and Losing the Love of My Life in Six Short Years What if you came home one day and found your husband dead in his favorite chair? This grief memoir explores the author’s experience of the ...
-
$19.95It is the author’s opinion that it is not an ex...It is the author’s opinion that it is not an exaggeration to say that if anyone wishes to experience one of those rare moments of true happiness that occurs in a lifetime, they should go to the mou...
-
$16.95by Carol Vento Carol Schultz Vento recounts the...by Carol Vento Carol Schultz Vento recounts the post-World War II years of her famous father "Dutch" Schultz. "Carol Schultz Vento's testimonial and others like it do not diminish the wartime gener...
-
$9.99What happens when the team goalie gets stuck in...What happens when the team goalie gets stuck in the net during the ice hockey championship game? In the book Stuck! the characters work towards a common goal- helping their goalie get unstuck from ...
-
$22.95- Four women, four stories, and a chance encoun...- Four women, four stories, and a chance encounter that changes everything. Still reeling from a recent breakup, Demi, a Greek-American banquet manager, joins her mother, aunt, and cousin on a trip...
-
$22.95~ The Accountant's Apprentice III ~ “One of the...~ The Accountant's Apprentice III ~ “One of the passengers waiting for a bus . . . said the area . . . was empty. She looked away for a few seconds. When she looked back, he was sitting there in h...
-
$11.95A Story of the West Among the Tribes The Young ...A Story of the West Among the Tribes The Young Frontiersman Book 4 Young Revolutionary War veteran Barnabas Locke makes winter camp in an isolated canyon in the Colorado wilderness, finding pictogr...
-
$11.95A Story of the Great Plains The Young Frontiers...A Story of the Great Plains The Young Frontiersman Book 3 In spring 1782, young Revolutionary War veteran Barnabas Locke and his Abenaki friend, the visionary Squando, reunite to cross the Mississi...
-
$19.95“Lagodzki’s prose is as powerful as his plot is...“Lagodzki’s prose is as powerful as his plot is gripping. A historically astute tale with deep emotional impact. (…) OUR VERDICT: GET IT.” Kirkus Reviews In 1982 Soviet-controlled Poland—a time and...
-
$19.95- The Newly Revealed T206 Baseball Card Collect...- The Newly Revealed T206 Baseball Card Collection of Thomas Edison's Youngest Son Thomas Edison was a long-time baseball fan. In his younger years, he once proclaimed, he could have named the play...
-
$19.95In offering a second volume of Pennsylvania mou...In offering a second volume of Pennsylvania mountain legends and folktales to the reading public, the author does so with a note of appreciation to all who found the first volume of legends of inte...
Recently Viewed Products
William Trent’s story, a stark departure from the typical narratives of wealthy elites during the Revolutionary Era, offers a unique perspective on this pivotal period in early American history. Unlike his contemporaries, Trent was a backcountry, not a port city merchant; he pursued commerce, not war with Native Nations, and endured many hardships, not a life of ease and luxury. Independent Historian Jason A. Cherry masterfully recounts a remarkable life spent developing business relationships on the western frontier with Native Americans and English settlers, shedding new light on the economic and social dynamics of the time.
Born into the most prominent family in Trenton, New Jersey, William started life with many financial and social advantages. While he followed his father into the merchant business, William conducted a trading business in the Ohio country, modern-day western Pennsylvania, and West Virginia rather than in the port cities of Philadelphia and Trenton. The Native Americans eagerly sought manufactured goods, including guns, ammunition, metal products, and clothing. In exchange, Trent received animal skins and furs, most of which were transported to Britain and Europe. It was a lucrative trade for both parties.
However, starting in the 1740s, three colonial wars damaged and later destroyed his businesses, accumulating large debts. Trent attempted to regain solvency by transitioning to large-scale land speculation and sales. He invested and participated in managing two large investor land consortiums, the Ohio Company and the Indiana Company. In 1769, Trent sailed to London to obtain Royal charters, securing the rights to vast tracts of land in the Ohio Valley. Doggedly, he pursued Crown approval in the British capital for six years, only giving up due to the outbreak of the American Revolution.
Returning to Trenton, William purchased a riverfront farm and Delaware River ferry and, after an uncertain period, signed a loyalty oath to the Patriot cause. However, William’s eyesight had deteriorated by this time, and other physical ailments had kept him from serving in the military. Wartime ravishing further deteriorated Trent’s farm and financial condition. He passed in 1784 with few assets and many debts. His commercial successes could not withstand the damages of four wars and the change in governments.
Cherry's narrative is not just about Trent; it's a tapestry of interactions between Trent and well-known founders, offering a fresh perspective on their lives and contributions. For instance, Trent once used George Washington as a courier, a testament to the close ties between these historical figures. He also co-invested with Benjamin Franklin, showcasing the diverse interests and entrepreneurial spirit of these early American leaders. Readers will find this unique perspective on commercial activities in the backcountry, aided by meticulous research and attractive photos, most of which the author provides, a valuable addition to their understanding of Revolutionary Era history.