Millions of Dollars Owed to Family by U.S. Government

CLAREMONT, Calif. - Nov. 9, 2020 - PRLog -- More than 200 years ago, a wealthy Pennsylvania merchant named Jacob DeHaven lent over $400,000 to the Continental Congress to rescue George Washington's troops during the winter at Valley Forge. That loan was apparently never repaid and would be worth over $806 billion in today's dollars.  Wanda DeHaven Pyle of Claremont, California, a DeHaven on her father's side, documents her connection to the DeHaven family through genealogy records dating back to 1772.  Mrs. Pyle and the many other descendants across the country keep the legend alive through membership in the DeHaven Club, organized May 30, 1895 to pursue payment of the loan and recognition for the contributions of their ancestor.

"Periodically, the descendants make attempts to get the loan repaid with interest, or, at a minimum, erect a statue in his honor at Valley Forge.  I've chosen to use my family's legend as inspiration for my latest historical fiction novel."  The Dutchman imagines that Mr. DeHaven fathered an illegitimate child that no one knew about, who inherited the promissory note from George Washington. The note was passed through several generations until his great-grandson receives the note almost 100 years later and attempts to use it to stake his claim in the New World. "I have not used the DeHaven name in my story to avoid confusion with the actual legend," Pyle said. "I have also taken some liberties with the legend to enhance the plot."

The Dutchman is available in hard copy and ebook on Amazon.com.

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About Jacob DeHaven

According to the story published in the New York Times on May 27, 1990, Jacob DeHaven provided George Washington with cash and supplies while the army was encamped at Valley Forge. The Continental Army survived the winter at Valley Forge, and when the war was over, Mr. DeHaven apparently tried several times to collect what was owed to him. Mr. DeHaven was offered Continental money for his loan certificate, but he refused and held out for gold. The Continental dollars were notoriously worthless, leading to the expression at the time that something was "not worth a Continental."

Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the Revolution, any record of the loan was lost amid the chaos of the Continental Congress and the framing of a new nation.   Mr. DeHaven died penniless in 1812 and is believed to be buried in Swedeland, Pennsylvania in a family cemetery. He had no children; had he possessed anything tangible to bequeath, his siblings and their children would have been his legal heirs.

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