Author: James Edward Mitchell
David was born in Lebanon, Connecticut (CT) on 5 Feb 1751, to Jonathan and Faith Robinson Trumbull. His father, Jonathan was (1769-1784) the colonial Governor of Connecticut.

A signed Pension Office, WDC, statement handwritten in ink by David Trumbull’s son, Joseph dated on 2 Jul 1847 at Hartford, CT stating that his grandfather, Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., was the colonial governor during 1775. His father’s family was descended from early New England Puritans. Governor Jonathan Trumbull and wife, Faith Robinson had four (4) sons – Joseph, Jonathan, David and John.

Joseph’s father, David died 17 Jan 1822 at Lebanon, CT. Joseph’s mother was Sarah Backus Trumbull, who married her husband on 6 Dec 1778. After David’s death, Sarah, successfully petitioned for a claim W.14052 to the Pension Office at WDC for her husband’s (Civil) service in the Revolutionary War before she died on 2 Jun 1840. She was a daughter of Ebenezer Backus and his wife, Sarah of Norwich, CT. Joseph wrote that his mother was born on 7 Feb 1760.

He wrote also, that his father’s older brother, Joseph Trumbull was appointed by the Congress as the first Commissary Gen’l., and supplied the American army at Cambridge but died on 17 Jul 1778. Jonathan, above, was appointed to administer his estate and to settle his brother’s affairs with the government. Following the closing of his brother’s estate, Jonathan Trumbull was appointed the private secretary of Gen’l. George Washington and acted as his aide-de-camp.
David Trumbull was made a purchasing Commissary under his brother Joseph, above, until his death. Afterward, David continued in his (Civil) appointment under Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth as Commissary Gen’l. until the end of the Revolutionary War. David’s younger brother John Trumbull the artist, was an officer in the Continental army; and, acted as Adjutant Gen’l. under Gen’l. (Horatio) Gates and for a time was aide-de-camp to Gen’l. Washington.

Within this signed statement by David Trumbull’s son –Joseph, wrote the Pension Office, WDC that the family had searched the papers of David’s father, (Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.) the first Governor (Trumbull) for the purpose of determining a Continental army commission. None was found. The archived records in possession of the Massachusetts Historical Society and David Trumbull’s records kept by the Connecticut Historical Society were searched unsuccessfully, for a military commission under which David, his father, acted.

[It was noted by the writer, that David’s wife, Sarah had received annual payments based upon the Pension claim (W.14052) based at a rate for civil service, only. If a military commission was determined for David however, the annual rate of payment would have been set at a Major’s rate of pay….]

Joseph Trumbull concluded in a statement written during 1847 to the Pension Office, WDC, that “We meet with no difficulty in ascertaining the (publick’ and/or civil) services rendered by the said David as Commissary during the whole War, ” including Col. Wadsworth, Joseph Trumbull’s (1778) successor as Commissary Gen’l. and we cannot doubt his (David’s) having been employed upon only the most favorable terms.

David Trumbull, age 71, died on 17 Jan 1822 and was buried at Old Cemetery on Exeter Road at Lebanon, New London County, CT. His upright private family headstone appears featured as Find A Grave Memorial # 46180275; however, no National Society SAR bronze lug appears set within the photograph at the final resting place of this Revolutionary War patriot at Latitude: 41.64369, Longitude:
-72.20342