Antedating "Jonathan[s]" to 1781 -- & a different sense in 1756?

[Joel S. Berson]

The OED has "Jonathan" = "1. A generic name for the people of the
United States, and also for a representative United States citizen," from 1816.

(1)  1781, definitely the Yankees.

1781 April 30.  New-York Gazette, and Weekly Mercury; Issue: 1541;
Page: [2], col. 2.  [Courtesy EAN, where it is the 4th page of 6 due
to the presence of a "Supplement".]

NEW-YORK, April 25. On Saturday evening last, Capt. Cornelious
Hetfield, with some of his Refugees, and a detachment of General
Skinner's corps under his command, made an excursion to Elizabeth
Town.---Just before they entered the town, the advanced party fell in
with a rebel patrole, which fled in such haste as not to be
overtaken.---Capt. Hetfield immediately proceeded to the town, but
the Jonathans previously alarmed of the danger, had as usual taken to
their heels.

(2)  1756, from England, with another sense -- as a generic reference
to a man, like "John"?

The Critical review, or, Annals of literature, Volume 2, by Tobias
George Smollett [according to GB; according to its title page, "by a
Society of Gentlemen"].  London: Printed for R. Baldwin, 1756.  Page
426.  In "Art. IV. Meditations upon various important subjects ...,
with a preface by the Rev. Mr. Hervey. In two vols. By Benjamin
Jenks. ... The Second Edition.  8vo. Pr. 8 s. Rivington" (page
424)..  [Courtesy Google Books]

For a tempting description of the joys of heaven, our author in his
XLVIIth Meditation, presents us with this picture: ...'And whether or
no, there may be any peculiar leagues and friendships there, upon
some peculiar suitableness and likeness, between some particular
persons; (where the gifts and accomplishments are so various:)
whether there will be the _Jonathans_ and the _Johns_, especial
favourites and darlings; and some confederations and
correspondencies  more than ordinary: it is enough for us to know,
that no combinations or intimacies there shall be carried on by any,
to the prejudice or distaste of the rest: but friendship there shall
be in its highest acme, and very utmost perfection: having all the
benefits and pleasures, without any the blemishes or inconveniencies,
that here do attend it.'

[The ESTC dates this edition of Jenks as 1757.  There are two other
works by Jenks with "Meditations" in their titles, dated 1701 and
1704, but they are "no preview" in Google Books.]

[For those interested in popular culture, one article in this issue
of the Critical Review is identified in its table of contents as
"Postlethwayt (Malachy) Esq; his Great Britain's True System."  An
ancestor of The Penguin?]

[Searching either EAN or Google Books among the numerous singular
"Jonathan"s, or even "a/the Jonathan", seems unproductive.]

Joel

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