Newberry Library - By His Excellency William Shirley Esqr. captain general and governour in cheif sic in and over His Majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay in New...

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User-Contributed Transcription By His Excellency William Shirley Esq.Captain General and Governour in Cheif in andOver his Majesty's Province of the MassachusettsBay in New England.A Declaration of War against the Cape Sables &St John's Indians. Whereas the Indians inhabiting his Majesty's Province of Nova Scotia commonly called the Cape Sables~Indians, who have submitted themselves to his Majesty's Government by solemn Treaty with the Governour of Commanderin Cheif of his Majesty's said Province of Nova Scotia,did sometime in the Winter last past, in the Port of Jedoure, ina Treacherous & cruel manner, murder divers of his Majesty'sEnglish Subjects, belonging to a fishing Vessel owned & fittedout by his Majesty's subjects of this Province, & did Seize the said Vessel, with the Goods & Effects belonging thereto:And whereas the said Cape Sable Indians, with the Indiansof the St John's Tribe, who have likewise submitted themselvesto his majesty's Government, by solemn Treaty with the Commander in Cheif of this Province, have in a hostilemanner joined with the French King's Subjects, his Majesty's declared Enemies, in Assaulting his Majesty'sFort at Annapolis Royal, & the Garrison posted there,divers of whom they have slain; & have likewise killed a Masterof a Sloop belonging to this Province, while he was assisting that Garrison in providing Fenel? for them; and the said Indianshave also for divers Months past, ,in an hostile manner,~block'd up the said Fort, & kept the Garrison upon continualAlarms; By all which the said Indians have openly declared their Rebellion against his Majesty, & their Hostilityagainst this Majesty's good Subjects. I do therefore with the Advice of his Majesty'sCouncil

Open book By His Excellency William Shirley Esqr. captain general and governour in cheif sic in and over His Majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay in New...

Title By His Excellency William Shirley Esqr. captain general and governour in cheif sic in and over His Majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bay in New...

Creator Massachusetts. Governor (1741-1757 : Shirley)

Date 1744

Place Great Britain, Maine, Maritime Provinces, Massachusetts--Boston, Nova Scotia--Annapolis Royal

Language English

Subjects Indians of North America, Indigenous peoples, Massachusetts, Micmac Indians

Description Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
Caption title.
Text on p. [1]-[3]; endorsement on p. [4]
Signed: W. Shirley.
Also signed: J Willard Secry.
For more information, consult the Special Collections Info. File.

Summary Declaration of war against the Cape Sable (Micmac) and St. John's (Malecite) Indians of Nova Scotia and what is now New Brunswick, issued by Gov. William Shirley of Massachusetts Bay with "the advice of Council" in Boston, Oct. 19, 1744. As justification for the declaration, Shirley cites the Cape Sable Indians' capture of a Massachusetts-based fishing vessel and murder of its crew, and the St John's and Cape Sable Indians' assault (with the French) on the fort at Annapolis Royal. Shirley also warns the friendly Indians to the west of St. John not to harbor the hostile tribes or move into their territory, and requires them to join in the war effort.

Extent 1 item (1 folded sheet (4 p.)) ; 31 cm

Format Declarations, Manuscripts, Records

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 578

BibID 143989

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2184px × 3582px 22.41 MB

Filename 991439898805867_Ayer_MS_578_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11IC7U