Lot 165
Amherst, Jeffrey -- Letter Signed Regarding Transport of Deserters Delivered by Members of Gorham's Rangers. (1717-1797) British general,1st Baron Amherst. Commander-in-chief of the British army in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War. After he captured Montreal on Sept. 8, 1760, ending French rule in North America, he was named Governor General of British North America. His conduct of operations during Pontiac's Rebellion was criticized and he returned to England in November 1763.
Letter signed "Jeff: Amherst" as Governor General of British North America, one page, 12½ x 7¾", New York, July 13, 1763. Five months after the Treaty of Paris was signed (Feb. 10, 1763), ending the French and Indian War, Amherst writes to Thomas Hancock (1703-64), uncle of Signer of the Declaration of Independence John Hancock and a wealthy merchant who made a fortune providing provisions to the British during King George's War and the French and Indian War, regarding transport of deserters from New York to Halifax. In part: "This will be Delivered to you by Capt: Watson of Gorham's Corps, who has the Care of a Serjeant & three men of the Royal…now returning to Halifax with two Deserters: Capt: Watson is to put the whole under the Care of Lieut: Dixon of Gorham's, who is now at Boston…." Amherst says there are 42 days of provisions and asks Hancock to procure passage for the men and to put it on his account with the Crown, adding "Lieut. Dixon is to take a Serjeant and one man of Gorham's with him." Both Watson and Dixon can be found in the muster rolls of Gorham's Rangers. Two areas of paper replacement in left margin affects two letters of text, else fine. Estimate Value $800 - UP
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