The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-04
GEN. GREENE's NEW BIRTHDAY
Continued from Eighth Page.

27th day Of the fifth month, we naturally
think that the month was May. for that
IS the fifth month, reckoning January as
the first month. But when we consider
March as the first month, as was doubt
less the custom at that time, the fifth
month was July So that the true date
of Nathaniel Greene's birth is July o.
1912, instead of May q, 17l2, which is gen
orally given in biographical works.
This date, thus corrected and trans
formed, is stH in Old Style, and Il har-
monies perfectly with the day Of the
week given In the record. for July q, 1Ii2
occurred on Tuesday, which is the third
day of the week"
The fact that the assumption here
made, that March was considered the
first month of the year. harmonizes per
fectly with all the other entries made in
this record Except the last. which is ex-
pressly made in new style, and that no
other assumption will thus harmonic
these dates, seems 20 be conclusive evil
dence in favor of the truth of this as
sumption. If this be true, and there seems
TO be no oscar ping from it, then the date
commonly given for the birth of Gen. Ma
thanael Greene Is in error by two months
July q, 1872 old style, corresponds TO Aug
7, l742, new style.
An illustration of the relation between
new style and old style is given in the
birthday of Gen Washington, which oc-
CURED in old style on Feb. II. This cor
responds to Feb. p, new style, and this
is the day we celebrate.
The date. June s. l12. given by one of
the authorities for Gen Greene's BIRTH
was probably suggested by note on page
; of the Life of Mai Cen Nathaniel
Greene, by G. ". Greene. in which the
author makes an error in Transforming
the date, May p, O. S, 10 the correspond
ing date, N. S. June 7 would be the cor
responding date instead of June g. but it
has been shown above that May q is in
correct, and hence the corresponding date,
June or I, is also wrong.
The error here pointed out is s'gnifl
cant in interpreting and Transforming into
our present style Of reckoning all dates
recorded in the Quaker style of numerical
reckoning, in which the number Of the
month is given instea d of the name of the
month. The point is of special interest to
those concerned in Quaker history, for
without understanding it much confusion
would result"
1T is little curious, as it Is fortunate,
that the quaint custom of the Quakers Of
mentioning the day of the week by num-
Der in their records affords a certain clew
10 the true dates of their records, whereas
the omission of this seemingly insignifi-
cant point would often leave all in doubt"
The reading of Mr.. Ashmore's ingenious
and instructive paper was listened to by
his colleagues of the society with atten-
tive interest His arguments seemed con-
vincing to them. Judge Falligant appear
ed to voice the sentiment of all when ne
said We'll, Mr.. Ashmore, l believe you
have proved your case"
The paper seems to clear UP a disputed
and interesting question in the history of
a distinguished man, and the solution of
the question is as novel as it is satisfac-
tory. 1t is probable that copies of the
paper viii be sent to the historical soce-
ties of Rhode Island and Philadelphia, TO
the former because of its interest in all
that pertains to the life of Gen. Greene,
and to the latter because of the research s
it has made and the information 1t has
collected regarding the history and pecu-
liarites of the Ouakers