Manuscripts

Luke Gridley diary, 1757 Mar. 29-1758 Aug. 23

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Description: The diary covers the period from Mar. 29 through Nov. 10 and includes accounts of the camp life, rumored attacks by Indians, martial punishments, and reports on the surrender of Fort William Henry. Also included is a record of a trip in Aug. 13-23, 1758, records entitled "An a Count of the men of each government" and "Small Pox," and a description of the route and mileage from Hartford to Fort Edward.
Type: Manuscripts(Opens in new tab)
Date: 1757, March 29-1758, August 23.
Call number: mssHM 59425
Creator: Gridley, Luke(Opens in new tab)
Provenance: Purchased at Sotheby's sale 7315, lot 161, May 21, 1999. From the collection of Dr. Frank Siebert who had purchased it from Cedric Robinson in 1964.

Joseph Nichols diary, 1758-1766

Manuscripts

Journal kept by Joseph Nichols during May -- Nov. 1758. Long, detailed daily entries describe the formation of the company and regiment, the march from Farmingham, Mass. to Ticonderoga, military operations, including the battle of Carrillon; the commanding officers -- Jonathan Bagley, James Abercromby, Robert Rogers, Rufus Putnam, and others; regimental news and camp life, courts martial and punishments meted out for various transgressions, sickness, etc. Also included is a roster of Taplin's company. The rest of the manuscript contains miscellaneous daily entries, accounts, promissory notes, and a recipe "How to Make Ink;" this portion covers the period from Mar. 22, 1759 to May 1766. There is also the following title (crossed out): "Fortunatus Nichols Aboard the Cutter September 23. I Begun a journal." Also included are 9 receipts, promissory notes, etc. by Joseph and Fortunatus Nichols.

mssHM 89

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1758 May 29-June 10

Manuscripts

Letters, reports, memorials, returns, etc., cover the 1758 campaign of the British army in North America during the Seven Years' War, specifically: the embargo on colonial shipping, the fall of Fort William Henry, the surrender of Louisburg, the expedition against Fort Ticonderoga, the conquest of Fort Frontenac (Cadaraqui), John Forbes's expedition against Fort Duquesne, British use of and relations with the Indians, the internal affairs of the British army, and the recall of Abercromby.

mssAB

Samuel Macclintock journal, 1760 May 26--Aug. 28

Manuscripts

The Journal covers the expedition under the command of John Goffe, including the march to Crown Point, naval operations on the Lake Champlain, and siege and capture of fort Isle-aux-Noix. Camp life, mutinies, desertions, accidents, small pox, rumored attacks by Indians, sermons, communications to Goffe from Haviland, Rogers, and Amherst, and news of operations at Montreal.

mssHM 59435

Obadiah Harris journal, 1758 May 22-October 23

Manuscripts

A regimental journal kept by Obadiah Harris. The journal covers James Abercromby’s 1758 campaign, including the Battle of Ticonderoga (July 6, 1758) and its aftermath. In addition, there is also information on Fort Edward and Fort George between 1758 May 22 and October 23.

mssHM 591

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George S. Mathews diary

Manuscripts

The diary, which covers two journeys taken by George S. Mathews, was written from notes he took along the way. The first journey is Mathews' trek from Waverly, Iowa, to Portland, Oregon, via the Oregon Trail in 1865, and the second is a voyage from Oregon to New York City via Panama in 1866. There is little personal detail in the overland portion of the diary; Mathews took note of facts such as weather conditions, number of people in the wagon train, campsites, mileage, and locations passed such as Fort Laramie and Fort Dalles. He also mentions several Indian tribes, such as the Winnebago, the Brule, and the Nez Perce, and their contact with the pioneers and the military (he briefly mentions the Battle of Horse Creek, June 1865). The voyage portion of the diary gives great detail regarding the conditions on the voyage and Mathews' experiences in San Francisco and Panama. After the voyage section, are more notes and mileage lists regarding Mathews' overland journey to Oregon. Also included is a cabinet card photograph of George S. Mathews

mssHM 63161-63162

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Luke Swatland note on skin

Manuscripts

Note written by Luke Swatland on cowhide, previously believed to be human skin. The note indicates it was written on the skin of a man scalped and killed by Indigenous peoples during a battle, and describes the death of other men and movement to Albany as a part of General John Sullivan's troops. The note is signed "Luke Swaatland of Wyoming. Sept. 13th 1779." Analysis performed by Dan Kirby Analytical Services in December 2015 concluded the note is written on cowhide.

mssHM 72607

Luke Gridley diary, 1757 Mar. 29-1758 Aug. 23

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Joseph Nichols diary, 1758-1766

1758 May 29-June 10

Samuel Macclintock journal, 1760 May 26--Aug. 28

Obadiah Harris journal, 1758 May 22-October 23

George S. Mathews diary

Luke Swatland note on skin