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Home » Adopt a Piece of History » Conservation of the Thomas Gage papers (1754-1807), Vol. 47-49 (American Series), 1766 January 1 – March 20

Conservation of the Thomas Gage papers (1754-1807), Vol. 47-49 (American Series), 1766 January 1 – March 20

William Clements Library Adopt a Piece of History Bookplate

Conservation of the Thomas Gage papers (1754-1807), Vol. 47-49 (American Series), 1766 January 1 – March 20


Adopted by

John Bowden

A brief description of content in Volumes 47-49, dating between January and March of 1766:

  • Thomas Gage receives extensive expense reports for the British navy and forts in North America, as well as documentation about embezzlement by battoe men in Quebec, Nova Scotia, and Crown Point
  • John Stuart meets with the Cherokee and Creek Indians in Pensacola, Fort Prince George, and New Orleans
  • Philip Pittman describes the Illinois country
  • Ralph Walsh is arrested for treason in Florida during a power struggle in the region
  • John Stuart describes the Choctaw Nation and towns along trade routes in Florida
  • Gabriel Christie provides Thomas Gage with the State of Montreal
Special Notes About this Grouping

A list of “the presents Distributed by order of John Stuart Esq., Superintendent of Indian Affairs of the Southern District, to the Choctaw, Chickesaw, and other Small Nations of Indians Contiguous to West Florida from May 1st 1764 to May 1st 1765.”

This copied letter dated Dec. 8, 1765 from Fort Prince George (South Carolina) was enclosed in correspondence to Gage of Jan. 21, 1766. “About the 24th Ultimo the Warrior of Sugar Town’s Daughter was killed in the Hunting Grounds opposite to Ennoree & two Women were carried Captives away…”

A record of condolences and gifts offered to “several Chiefs of the Shawnesse” recognizing their “Deputies” killed in June of 1765 “on the way to the Illinois,” and the Native Americans’ reply.

“Children
His excellency General Gage, being greatly concerned for the misfortune… has ordered me to call you to this meeting to Console with you, and the Relations of the Deceased Chiefs, for their unfortunate Death, that you may be convinced your Fathers the English share a part of your grief in their Loss.”

Gifts of a “Belt of Wampum,” “20 black Shrouds” and “Cloathing” were presented.

“Their answer
Fathers
We return you a great many thanks, for the kindness you have shewn, in Consoling with us, for the loss of our Chiefs, & particularly for the Cloathing you have given to their Orphan Children, this will give all our Nation a great deal of satisfaction.”

We are seeking contributors to help offset the costs of unhinging and re-boxing approximately 23,000 manuscripts in 172 volumes from the Thomas Gage Papers. Conservator Julie Fremuth will remove each manuscript from the paper on which it is currently mounted and other staff will place the manuscripts into new archival boxes and folders. A donation of $500 supports the unhinging and re-housing of three volumes of the Thomas Gage Papers.

The Thomas Gage papers consist of the military and governmental correspondence and headquarter papers of General Thomas Gage, officer in the British Army in America (1754-1763) and commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America between 1763 and 1775. The papers include incoming correspondence and retained copies of letters written by Gage, together with a large quantity of documents related to military matters and manuscript maps. The collection is particularly strong in documenting British administration of North America after the French and Indian War, interactions with Native Americans, and the years preceding the American Revolution.

Conservation, Manuscripts