Faith Robinson Trumbull

The Governor’s wife was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts in 1718 to Reverend John and Hannah (Wiswall) Robinson. She married Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., in Lebanon, Connecticut, in 1735. Faith fully supported her husband and sons in the matter of winning independence as indicated in the following story:

       “During the War—after divine service on a Sunday, or on a Thanksgiving Day—contributions were often taken in church for the benefit of the Continental Army. Cash, finger-rings, ear-rings, and other jewelry—coats, jackets, breeches, shirts, stockings, hats, shoes, every article in fact of male attire —besides groceries in great variety—were frequently thus collected—in New England particularly, in large quantities.* Upon one such occasion in Lebanon Meeting House, Connecticut, after notice given that a collection would be taken for the soldiers—Madam Faith Trumbull rose from her seat near her husband —threw off from her shoulders a magnificent scarlet cloak—a present to her, we hear on good authority, from the Commander-in-chief of the  French Allied Army, Count Rochambeau himself—and, advancing near the pulpit, laid it on the altar as her offering to those who, in the midst of every want and suffering, were fighting gallantly the great Battle for Freedom. It was afterwards taken, cut into narrow strips, and employed, as red trimming, to stripe the dress of American soldiers."

From  Life of Jonathan Trumbull, Sen., Governor of Connecticut. By Isaac William Stuart. Pages 513, 514.