Letter to Mary Boltwood

Letter to Mary Boltwood from her husband on the day before he says he is to set sail with a large contingent of soldiers, from Lake George to Ticonderoga.

Fort Ticonderoga controlled the route between the Hudson River Valley and Canada in the wars of the eighteenth century. In 1755, Ticonderoga (Fort Carillon to the French) was built by the French on a military road on an Indian portage between the two lakes. The area then became an active place of fighting between the Indians, French, British, and Americans. General Jeffery Amherst captured the fort in late July, 1759, several weeks after this letter was written.

Letter is incomplete. In this letter the word "battos" means "bateaux" -- a long, tapering, flat-bottomed river boat.

Lake George, July the 5th 1758

Loving wife after my love to you and the children I would inform you that I am well through the goodness of God as I pray thes lines may find you and all the family. I would inform you that our battos are loded and that our orders are to set sail to morrow morning by daylite for Ticondoroga. There is 15 thousand to go in battos and I expct no opertunity to wright to you anymore til the batel is over. But being ingrate hast can't in large on anything. give my love to all enquireing frinds. Give my duty to Mr. Parsons and I desire on interest? in the prayrs of old friends at the throne of grace for me that I may be prepared from deth when? ------- and that I may be kept from sin and all ear......

1758-07-05

Correspondence

"Letter to Mary Boltwood," in Digital Amherst, Item #720, http://www.digitalamherst.org/items/show/720 (accessed February 7, 2012).

This digital file may be used for educational uses, as long as it is not altered in any way. Prior written permission is required for any other use of the digital files from the Jones Library.

Document

United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763

image/jpg

Jones Library Special Collections

eng

Folder: Boltwood, Mary -- Letter