Newberry Library - Letter Mansf. Mansfield, Conn., Dear Brother Stephen Williams, 1734 Feb. 7

Title Letter Mansf. Mansfield, Conn., Dear Brother Stephen Williams, 1734 Feb. 7

Date 1734

Subjects Indian captivities, Mohawk Indians

Description Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
Formerly known as Ayer MS 998a.
For more information, consult the Special Collections Info. File.
Letter folded to form envelope giving Stephen Williams's address along with his brother's seal.

Summary Letter written by Eleazar Williams to his brother Stephen Williams living in Longmeadow, Mass. on Feb. 7, 1734 concerning recent information about the possible discovery of their missing sister Eunice. Williams writes that he has learned about a woman in Newport, R.I. whose background in some respects resembles their sister. Although Williams fears that this woman is not Eunice, he still urges his brother to come to Mansfield to further discuss the matter. On the verso are notes in Stephen's hand apparently drafting a message to be sent to another brother. Two weeks later Stephen arrived in Newport only to discover that this woman was a fraud.

Biographical/Historical Note The Deerfield Massacre occurred on Feb. 29, 1704 when a French and Indian war party from Canada attacked the Massachusetts village killing about fifty inhabitants and taking over one hundred prisoners. The entire family of the Rev. John Williams, except Eleazar, were taken prisoner at Deerfield and carried into Canada. Enroute Mrs. Williams and her two young sons were killed. Most of the family remained in captivity for periods of one to two and a half years and were gradually redeemed and allowed to return to Massachusetts. Only one sister, Eunice (1696-1786), was not redeemed and subsequently was adopted by a Mohawk family. The Williams family spent the ensuing decades attempting to secure her return. Eventually they discovered that she was not being held against her will, but had chosen to marry a Mohawk man. Although she was finally reunited with her family in 1740 in Albany, she continued to live among the Indians until her death.

Extent 1 item (1 leaf) ; 20 x 31 cm

Format Correspondence, Manuscripts, American

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

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.

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 3205

BibID 133416

Size 3737px × 2343px 25.08 MB

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

File Created 11/14/2013

Filename 991334168805867_Ayer_MS_3205_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11I09M