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Item 35: Letter from Zebulon Butler to Colonels Dyer and Root, 1783 October 4

 Item — Box: 10, Folder: 37

Dates

  • Created: 1783 October 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:

Poor. Vinegar smell. The paper is extremely tattered and fragile due to severe staining, age, and tears/folds in the paper. The ink is fading in the spot that is stained, and there is a tear which prevents the full legibility of one word.

Measurements:

13 ⅞ in. x 9 in.

Description:

Zebulon Butler is writing about being arrested and being held prisoner. It seems that his arrest has to do with the Yankee-Pennamite War as he references “claimers of land under Pennsylvania”.

Transcription:

Wyoming 4th Oct 1783 Gentlemen Yours of the 12th Sept I Recd yesterday I was a Prisoner pint to goals About 70 Miles when the Letter came I was taken on A writ for Treason against the state the Sheriff gave me A writing to Return or go where I chose only to come again to court Immediately on my Arrival at Home I was taken by an under Sheriff for the same thing and the Sheriff is now waiting to take me Away. The Matter respecting coxes Evidence & is Attended to and I Believe you will have them I shall be at the Assembly myself if Bail or any thing Use will Liberate me Excepting my Making [Illegible] escape which I will not do, the Inhabitants are in the most Distressed situation. Claimers of land under Pennsylvania Demanding & taking part of their Crops of Corn & the Inhabitants are almost Drove to Dispair [sic] god knows what will be the event the Bearrer [sic] will be able to give you the particular the Sheriffs waiting to take me to goal. I can only say I am Gentlemen your most Obd Humble Serv Zeb Butler Col Dyer & Root

Repository Details

Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository

Contact:
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