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Item 37: Letter from Zebulon Butler to Daniel Montgomery, 1784 January 6

 Item — Box: 10, Folder: 39

Dates

  • Created: 1784 January 6

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:

Good. Lightly tattered edges, some very minor folds, and browning of the paper present.

Measurements:

12 ⅞ in. x 8 in.

Description:

This letter written by Zebulon Butler is addressed to Daniel Montgomery, who at this time was a Northumberland County Elected Censor, and is surrounding the poor health condition of Mrs. Butler, likely his wife, the housing of over twenty people in his house, as well as a bloody event which occurred between the Pennsylvania and Connecticut settlers, landing over one hundred Wyoming settlers in jail. The event in question may be the destruction of fort Wyoming, though it is unclear.

Transcription:

Wyoming 6 Jan 1784 Dear sir, By this you’ll be informed that I saw your Letter to Co Denison I am much obliged to you for thinking of me I observe you say I have to him the Esq as an inmate without your approbation as to my approbation it was on no other terms only to save Life. Mrs. Butler was extremely sick and I had 20 soldiers 2 women & 2 children force into my House to Quarter Intreaties [sic] and tears would have no effect there she must Dye with their noise and tumult if I had not taken this step I was inform’d that the Esq had said that I could not have them moved on any other terms then to have him to come in on them terms I confer Ted and the soldiers went out and he moved in Mrs Butler soon recovered and is now well I am not of my guard about A Crokindill I am sir with Esteem your most obd humbel [sic] servt Zebulon Butler Mr. D Montgomery

{Page 2} Col Z Butler and I think over 100 of the setlers [sic] was taken with a fort at Wyoming and brought down to Sunbury Jail my Father and other baild them all out Col Butler was at our house two weeks and became an intimate friend of my Fathers. It appears my Father had wrote to him to because of certain men which the Col’s kind feelings led him to be unsuspicious of him and his answer as within Aug 6 1833 William Montgomery Col Butler By the Pennemites The contest between the Con settlers and the Pennsy troops can after bloody Daniel Montgomery Northumberland

Repository Details

Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository

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