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Title
Letters and history 1778-ca. 1782
Creator
Willett, Marinus, 1740-1830
Date
1778-1782
Place
Fort Stanwix (Rome, N.Y.)
,
New York (State)
,
New York (State)--Rome
,
New York--Mohawk River Valley
Language
English
Subjects
Indians of North America
,
Iroquois Indians
,
New York (State)
,
Oneida Indians
,
United States
Description
Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
formerly known as Ayer MS 996-997.
formerly known as Ayer MS 998.
Summary
Letters written from Fort Schuyler during 1778 to Gov. Clinton, Gen. Schuyler, Judge Jay, and Hendrick Herkimer and the other justices of the peace along the Mohawk River, regarding military issues and Indian relations, together with Willett's history of his service in the Mohawk Valley, 1781-1782. In an Apr. 8, 1778, letter to Gov. Clinton, Willett discusses an Oneida proposal to build a road between Fort Schuyler and the Oneida Castle, his regiment's lack of clothing, and his willingness to serve wherever there might be enemy action. Drafts of three letters on one sheet (Apr. 29, 1778) to the governor, Gen. Schuyler, and Judge Jay contain Willett's suggestions to the Commissioners of Indian Affairs regarding the necessity of strengthening ties with the Six Nations. The May 28, 1778, letter upbraids Herkimer and other Mohawk Valley justices for the detention of a messenger sent from Fort Schuyler to Albany. Written sometime after 1782, Willett's history describes the 1781 actions at Sharon and Johnstown. A later explanatory note by Willett's son, William Marinus Willett, follows on p. [4]
Biographical/Historical Note
Revolutionary War officer. A captain in the 1st N.Y. Regiment from June, 1775, Willett was appointed lieutenant-colonel of the 3rd N.Y. in late 1776 and was later transferred to Fort Schuyler (Fort Stanwix) where he was second-in-command. In July of 1780 Willett was named commander of the 5th N.Y. and was soon promoted to colonel. He retired in Jan., 1781, when the N.Y. regiments were consolidated, but agreed to command N.Y. levies and militia in the Mohawk Valley, where he won important victories at Sharon and Johnstown.
Extent
4 items (4 folders) ; 32 cm or smaller
Format
Correspondence
,
Histories (Literary works)
,
Records and correspondence
,
Sources
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 995
BibID
148903
Size
2650px × 3898px 29.58 MB
IIIF Resource Type
Canvas
Filename
991489038805867_Ayer_MS_995_fol_001_00001.tif
Unique Identifier
NL11ICYI
Linked assets