Item 55: Letter from Mary Ro[se] to Zebulon Butler, 1785 September 27
Item — Box: 12, Folder: 95
Dates
- Created: 1785 September 27
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:
Fair.
Measurements:
8 ⅞ in. x 7 ⅜ in.
Description:
The following item depicts a letter written by Mary Rose, widower, to Zebulon Butler, dated Septemver 27, 1785. In the letter, Rose writes about a recent news she has heard of the Governor of New York’s intention to reinstate Connecticut settlers who had previously been forcibly removed on a tract of land in what is most likely Tigoa, though Rose writes Teoba hesitantly. This would have been George Clinton, whose governorship was between 1777-1795. Rose is writing to Butler due to her inability to make it before the committee hearing these requests in Susquehanna due to her distance and health. She writes to petition a favor of Butler, requesting him to go in her stead to put forth her petition for lands previously owned. She writes that she is not entirely sure to the acreage, but believes it to have been one right, which would have allocated 500 acres. She shares that she is writing to Butler after the kind sentiments they share din Susquehanna, and the honor she believes him to possess. She mentions that she has also written to an Isaac Underwood with the same request, but fears that it might not reach him.
In the end of her letter, Rose also mentions that she had owned a number of swine before fleeing the valley. She had not had the chance to figure out what became of them, but suggests that they might have been given to the public store as no owner appeared. She asks after a report that would have possibly recorded the funds she is due after the sale of her property.
Rose’s fleeing the valley pertains to the conflicts taking place during the Yankee Pennamite Wars, particularly the Third Yankee Pennamite War in 1784. The Yankee Pennamite Wars were a three part war between Connecticut and Pennsylvania, as they attempted to resolve a dispute over the land in the upper regions of what is now Pennsylvania. King Charles II granted the land twice, once to Connecticut in 1662, and again to William Penn as he founded Pennsylvania in 1681. The Third Yankee Pennamite War was a military conflict following the Decree of Trenton decision to grant Pennsylvania ownership to the lands after decades of conflict between Connecticut and Pennsylvania. While the Decree of Trenton gave Pennsylvania the right to soil, it did not however give them the right to title. Yet, under the command of the Pennsylvania Assembly and Patterson, Pennsylvania would forcibly removed “one-hundred and fifty” Connecticut families from their homes. They forced the families to “find their way through the wilderness of the Lackawaxen to the Delaware Valley, a distance of about eighty miles,” without supplies or clothing to sustain them (Gnichtel, The Trenton Decree of 1782). The violence and brutality levied by Patterson’s troops was so severe that it drew attention from neighboring states, and condemnation on the governing bodies of Pennsylvania. That critique ultimately led the Pennsylvania Assembly to remove Patterson from his position within the valley around July 1784, replacing him with colonel John Armstrong.
[*] In the letter, Rose has begun to write administrator, as the title of administrator to an estate, but has crossed out the “tor” ending to write “trix,” an older feminized term for a female estate administrator.
The creator of the piece, Mary Rose, has been estimated as possibly Mary Wheeler Rose, born in 1748 and married to Timothy Rose, a private who fought and died during the Battle of Wyoming. She has been assumed as the Mary Rose creator due to the widowhood attributed to Mary Rose in the letter, and her mentioning having left the valley on her own. Her husband would have fallen during one of the pivotal battles connected to the Connecticut settlers being forcibly removed from the valley prior to 1785, when the letter was authored.
Location:
Woodsbury
Transcription:
Honored Sir,
The intimate acquaintance I have had with your honour in times past, while I resided at Susquehannah (sic) [Susquehanna], puts confidence in me to implore your Assistance. You are undoubtedly, too well acquainted with my circumstances, to hear them repeated (or was when I left Susquehannah, & perhaps not much alteration has taken place, since.) I understand sir by information, the Governor of New York has; or is a bout (sic) [about] to Grant a certain Tract of Land lying up the River in a Town if I mistake not, is call,d [called] Teoba [Pos. Tioga]; which Tract of Land, is to be given to the poor Distressed people that were driven from their Possessions, in Susquehannah, (whose circumstances I suppose are similar to my own,) as a compensation for their Troubles & Sufferings. Which land if Granted, (as I could wish it may be) undoubtedly I shall be call’d upon, to officiate as an Administra tor trix. [Administratrix] [*] but considering ^my Pensive State, & the Distance I am from Susquehannah, renders it very difficult, my acting Personally at present. I have therefore thought proper by advice to Address some proper Person to assist me in the very important Affair, & being acquainted with your Liberality, while I resided at Susquehannah, makes Page 2: makes me confident, you will not Treat my petitions, with neglect. This is therefore to beseech your Honour, to Act, or appoint, Some proper person that you think fit to Act for, & with me, till I shall be Able to arrive at Susquehannah in person, which I hope many be in the turn of ^a year or less, (provided the above s[ai]’d land should be Granted Otherwise I suppose my petition will be needless) As to the Numbers of Acres, to Each person, I suppose you are better acquainted with ^than I am, though I understand it to be a Right, containing 500 Acres, but be it more or less, if your Honour would be so pleased to Assist me as I petition[e]’d, I should look upon it a mark of honour & distinction, & receive it as a favour, & should take great pleasure in making you ample satisfaction, the first opportunity I may have. I have wrote a letter before this to Mr. Isaac Underwood, much similar to this: but for fear by some Accident it should not arrive there, I would enlarge a little more at present on that account. I wrote concerning my Other lands, which I have now in possession, respecting the ma^nner [manner] & form, that people now practice, in seting (sic) [settling] of their lands, likewise with regard to Taxes, as I suppose there is, which ought to be paid, but I cannot at present get certain intelligence as to the particulars.
Page 3:
When I retreated from Susquehannah, I had, or was the ower of some swine, & things being in such confusion, that I knew not what becom(e) (sic) [became] of them, but I suppose were put in to the publick (sic) [public] store, as I understood it was ^the custom when they were found straying away & no owners Appeared so I conclude that mine, were made use of for the good of the public, & if true(?) I supposed the an account was, intending that I might be justified. If Rates are called for, I could wish the account if any, might in some measure answer the Fund. I am very anxious to hear from Susquehannah (sic), & would intreat your honour to favour me with an answer to this petition the first Opportunity you may have, & beg you would give me the particulars, concerning the times, manner & custom that people now practice, together with your advice, which undoubtedly may have great influence. Thus much may I hope, be sufficient for the present. Sir your favours will be greatly acknowledged, by your Humble Serv[an]t Mary Roas. Woodbury, Septem[be]r. 27th. AD 1785.
Back:
Widdow (sic) [Widow] Rose Letter
to Zebulon Butler Wilkesbarre Wyoming
The intimate acquaintance I have had with your honour in times past, while I resided at Susquehannah (sic) [Susquehanna], puts confidence in me to implore your Assistance. You are undoubtedly, too well acquainted with my circumstances, to hear them repeated (or was when I left Susquehannah, & perhaps not much alteration has taken place, since.) I understand sir by information, the Governor of New York has; or is a bout (sic) [about] to Grant a certain Tract of Land lying up the River in a Town if I mistake not, is call,d [called] Teoba [Pos. Tioga]; which Tract of Land, is to be given to the poor Distressed people that were driven from their Possessions, in Susquehannah, (whose circumstances I suppose are similar to my own,) as a compensation for their Troubles & Sufferings. Which land if Granted, (as I could wish it may be) undoubtedly I shall be call’d upon, to officiate as an Administra tor trix. [Administratrix] [*] but considering ^my Pensive State, & the Distance I am from Susquehannah, renders it very difficult, my acting Personally at present. I have therefore thought proper by advice to Address some proper Person to assist me in the very important Affair, & being acquainted with your Liberality, while I resided at Susquehannah, makes Page 2: makes me confident, you will not Treat my petitions, with neglect. This is therefore to beseech your Honour, to Act, or appoint, Some proper person that you think fit to Act for, & with me, till I shall be Able to arrive at Susquehannah in person, which I hope many be in the turn of ^a year or less, (provided the above s[ai]’d land should be Granted Otherwise I suppose my petition will be needless) As to the Numbers of Acres, to Each person, I suppose you are better acquainted with ^than I am, though I understand it to be a Right, containing 500 Acres, but be it more or less, if your Honour would be so pleased to Assist me as I petition[e]’d, I should look upon it a mark of honour & distinction, & receive it as a favour, & should take great pleasure in making you ample satisfaction, the first opportunity I may have. I have wrote a letter before this to Mr. Isaac Underwood, much similar to this: but for fear by some Accident it should not arrive there, I would enlarge a little more at present on that account. I wrote concerning my Other lands, which I have now in possession, respecting the ma^nner [manner] & form, that people now practice, in seting (sic) [settling] of their lands, likewise with regard to Taxes, as I suppose there is, which ought to be paid, but I cannot at present get certain intelligence as to the particulars.
Page 3:
When I retreated from Susquehannah, I had, or was the ower of some swine, & things being in such confusion, that I knew not what becom(e) (sic) [became] of them, but I suppose were put in to the publick (sic) [public] store, as I understood it was ^the custom when they were found straying away & no owners Appeared so I conclude that mine, were made use of for the good of the public, & if true(?) I supposed the an account was, intending that I might be justified. If Rates are called for, I could wish the account if any, might in some measure answer the Fund. I am very anxious to hear from Susquehannah (sic), & would intreat your honour to favour me with an answer to this petition the first Opportunity you may have, & beg you would give me the particulars, concerning the times, manner & custom that people now practice, together with your advice, which undoubtedly may have great influence. Thus much may I hope, be sufficient for the present. Sir your favours will be greatly acknowledged, by your Humble Serv[an]t Mary Roas. Woodbury, Septem[be]r. 27th. AD 1785.
Back:
Widdow (sic) [Widow] Rose Letter
to Zebulon Butler Wilkesbarre Wyoming
Creator
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu