Item 74: A Copy by Unknown, [no date], of a Letter from William Nicolson to Jo[el] Dunbar Blanchard, 1793 August 8

Item — Box: 12, Folder: 114

Staff Only

A Copy by Unknown, [no date], of a Letter from William Nicolson to Jo[el] Dunbar Blanchard, 1793 August 8

Dates

Created: 1793 August 8

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

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Fair. Paper shows signs of age and ink has faded severely.

Measurements:

8 ¼ in. x 6 ¾ in.

Description:

The following depicts a letter by William Nicholson to Joel Dunbar Blanchard, dated August 8, 1793. In the letter, Nicolson opens the letter by mentioning he has recently had a letter from the recipient's estranged wife. He hopes that the two have reconnected, sharing that he would have reached out sooner through her but did not have the time. He follows up with information concerning recent land and title disputes between the Connecticut and Pennsylvania settlers, mentioning that the recipient should focus on his own deeds and responsibilities and not worry himself with Nicolson’s land. He concludes with advice to invest in the land surrounding the coal mines, as he believes it and the French settlement will be lucrative in the area. The conflicts mentioned pertain to 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. The French Azilum was an asylum settlement that consisted of French royalists, established in Bradford County during the fall of 1793 and the spring of 1794, when Pennsylvania residents sought a way to bolster the economy while aiding French refugees. The purpose of the settlement was to house and support those fleeing the French Revolution primarily, as well as the enslaved rebellions occurring within the French colony of Saint-Domingue, Haiti.A marker of the settlement, as well as further information resources can be found at the Historical Marker Project. An article examining the inciting incidents and early history of the colony can be found in JSTOR’s digitized collection.

Transcription:

Dear Brother I have now before me your Letter by your Runway (sic) [runaway] wife you hav(e) En[lose]d this I hope received her back in safety to your arms I did not write you by her because I had not time I have lately purchased some Land on Falls Crick. Which lies on the West Side of the River near to Nescopeck but Below it I wish you would Enquire wheather (sic) [whether] Settelled (sic) [settled] by Connec[ticu]t. Claments (sic) [claimants]. You need not mention my Property I wish you to keep your Eye around you. and make suer (sic) [sure] of what Property you can in that County. the Coal mines are A Cappitel (sic) [Capital] object. you must Persue (sic) [pursue] it very gaurdely (sic) [guardedly] and Privately Let none know your Mind the French settlement about to be made will give an Increased vallue (sic) [value] in that Quarter. I am &c [etcetera] W[illia]m Nicolson Mr [Jo. Dunbar Blanchard] Aug 8. 1793 Wilkes Barre

Back:

Coppy (sic) Letter coal miners