Beschreibung:

Deerfield Massacre - Williams Family Correspondence An extensive collection of 32 letters and documents of various members of this family, who played a central role in the Deerfield (Massachusetts) Massacre, immortalized as a part of the early American frontier story, principally due to the account of one of its captives, the Reverend John Williams Correspondents include Reverend John Williams (1664-1729), his three sons also taken in capitivity Eleazar, Stephen, and Warham Williams, William Williams (1731-1811, signer from Connecticut), Stephen West Williams, Otho H. Williams (1749-1794), Ephraim Williams (1714-1755), Israel Williams, and Elijah Williams and others, in fine condition with the usual seal tears and folds, 1709-1851, plus 5 engraved portraits. The contents of the collection is as follows: John Williams 9 autograph letters signed (mostly “John Williams”), 9 pages (small 4to and 8vo), Deerfield, MA, 23 January 1709/10 – 26 February 1724, to his son eldest son Stephen, on various topics: his son’s education at “Cambridge College”, religious matters, crops, illness, Indian attacks and other news: (23 January 1709/10) “… To get grace & learning should be your highest ambition. Endeavour that none may reach you in character. Look well to your company … Always attend your exercises …” (4 August 1712, news of Indian raids) “… On Tuesday the enemy took a young man captive in skirmish … & as I returned at night a post from Deer[field] advised that … the enemy fired upon our Scout who went to the North River about 2 mile above the Country farm & that two had escaped … we sent out 24 men to the west to get before the enemy & ambush them but without success …” (23 November 1713 from Albany, bound to Canada to ransom his daughter Eunice who married a Mohawk and assimilated) “The week before we came thither a trading cannoe of Canada Indians went from Albany … No news here only that several English captives at Canada think the War very long & wonder that no one has arrived [to ransom them] would gladly have come away with Col. Sc[h]uyler …”. Eleazar Williams (son of the above). 2 autograph letters signed (“Eleazar Williams”), 2 pages (small 4to), Mansfield (MA), 16 November 1726 and 17 February 1738, to his brother Stephen, family news. Stephen Williams (brother of Eleazar). Autograph letter signed (“Stephn Williams”), 1 page (small 4to), L[ong] M[eadow] (MA), 8 February 1748/9, to Reverend Joseph Noyes, on mutual business with Mr. Jones. Warham Williams (brother of Stephen). 2 autograph letters signed (“War: Williams”), 4 ½ pages (small 4to), Waltham (MA), 16 April 17[40?] and 4 September 1738, to his brother Stephen, lamenting the “hooting, howling and agonizing” of a revival meeting, the other regrets not attending a commencement at Yale. William Williams (signer). Autograph letter signed, autograph document signed, and autograph endorsement signed, 1780-1781, 5 pages (folio and oblong 4to), the letter to Polly, a document relating to enlistment bounties in the Revolutionary War and a note regarding an estate. Plus 13 additional letters and documents written or signed by family members including William Williams (1771 & 1772), Eleazar Williams (“The Dauphin, 1851), William Williams of Weston (1714, 1725, 1755), William Williams (1763, 1772), Stephen West Williams, Otho H. Williams (1749-1794), Ephraim Williams (1714-1755), Israel Williams, Elijah Williams (1742).