Note 2 — Historical Notes and Papers.
Reading edition
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia was founded in 1771. George Washington, adopted a member December 17, 1781, dined with the Society on St. Patrick’s Day, 1782, and characterized it as “a society distinguished for the firm adherence of its members to the glorious cause in which we are embarked.” Other members were Generals Moylan, Shee, Wayne, Knox, Butler, Irvine, Hand; Commodore Barry, John Mease, who crossed the Delaware with General Washington on the memorable night of December 25, 1776, and surprised the Hessians; and his brother, Matthew, who commanded the quarter deck guns under Paul Jones in the Bonhomme Richard’s fight with the Serapis.
On June 17, 1780, twenty-seven of its members subscribed 103,500 pounds sterling to furnish provisions for the army, Robert Morris and Blair McClenachan each subscribing 10,000 pounds. William Constable, another member, an aid of Lafayette and partner of Robert Morris, was one of the founders of the New York Society.—Hood’s Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, 43–49 (Phila., 1844); Crimmins’ Early Celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day, 215 (N. Y., 1902).