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Item 33: Letter from Noah Allen to Zebulon Butler, 1783 February 4

 Item — Box: 10, Folder: 35

Dates

  • Created: 1783 February 4

Creator

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Type of Material:

Letter.

Condition Note:

Okay. Vinegar smell. The paper is lightly browning, contains lightly tattered edges, some fading ink, some minor folds, tears, and staining, and one rather large obtrusive tear which prevents the legibility of a few words.

Measurements:

13 ¼ in. x 8 ¼ in.

Description:

A letter sent to Zebulon Butler which requests that a soldier named Ambrose Gaylord should be allowed to return home due to poor health and distress caused by the death of his brother. The person writing the letter is doing so on the account of Ambrose’s parents, which the author states are “frantick with grief”.

Transcription:

Dear Col I have been Requested by gentleman of Mr. Justus gaylord acquaintance to Write to you. sir the letter acquaintance I have had With you Embolned [sic] me to write. I am very sensible that you have fealling [sic] of humanity as well as that of a soldier- the gentleman Request is That Ambros gaylord might have a Furlough and come Home as he is in a low state of health and not able to do service in camp- it may be the young man is under some Embrasment [sic] that soldiers in general are not. By Reason of his Desertion I am inform’d that he inlested [sic] for three years only and Capt Ransom Returned him for During war which would greatly aggravate the mind of any person, but I acknowledge the method he look to relieve himself was wrong and no ways justifiable in his deserting. But there seems to be someing [sic] that plead for him consediring [sic] the Awful misfortune of his brother death and the distracted circumstances of his parants [sic] almost frantik with greif [sic] although mr [Illegible due to damage] through a complicated distress of his mind has let fall some undesired words I think his destressed [sic] circumstances Plead for mercy that darling attribute of god, the supreme being take as much satisfaction in mercy as he dos in justice and should god mark our iniquities against us who could stand. I now plead for the the young man upon account of his Parants [sic] I no them well and they are good morral folks and he has been very zealous for liberty and his Relations has done much in the aragent war. Now if it may be consistant [sic] with the good of service for him to come home I shall be Exceeding happy and if not I submit the matter to your better judgement. New Marlborough Feb 4th 1783 Dear Col I am with Esteem your most obed servant Col Butler Noah Allen

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May’r Allen 4th Feb 1782

Col Zebulon Butler On Camp

Repository Details

Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository

Contact:
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Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
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