A Guide To Manuscripts Relating To American History In British Depositories

"A guide to manuscripts relating to American history in British depositories reproduced for the Division of manuscripts of the Library of Congress"

...the Library of Congress entered upon a consistent and continuous program of procuring reproductions of manuscripts in European archives which relate to American history.

Vol. 17. Same. 1763-1764. Selections: Six letters of John Stuart, agent for Indian affairs in the southern district, to the Board of Trade. Charles Town. Dec. 1, 1763, Jan. 16, Feb. 23, [ca. Feb. 23], Mar. 9, 1764. Savannah. Mar. 23, 1764. Photostats. 

Vol. 18. Same. 1764-1766. Selections: Four letters of John Stuart, superintendent of Indian affairs in the southern district, to the Board of Trade. Savannah, Mar. 23, 1764. Charles Town, May 5 and 18, 1764. Saint Augustine, July 21, 1764. Photostats. 

Vol. 51. South Carolina. 1787-1788. Selections: Documents presented by Mrs. Sarah Stuart, widow of Colonel John Stuart, superintendent for Indian affairs in the southern district of North America. [1787?]. Photostats. 

Morvern, Scotland

Source

Emigration from Scotland: Emigrants' Correspondence
Year: 1813
Reference: Fassiefern Papers, Acc. 11910/32 
Description: Letter of Norman MacLeod, Minister of Morven, to Ewen Cameron of Fassiefern with details from the parish register of the family of Captain Donald Cameron, now living in Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Met A Mr. Pat Ragland

Below is an excerpt from Miss Priscilla Larkin: The Civil War Diary of a Southern Belle:

"Frazier family and myself stayed at Bill's tonight-- there met a Mr. Pat Ragland, who is quite a curiosity to sit and listen to him talk about ornamenting "pipes" and Wednesday-- ."


There was a Patrick Ragland of Jackson County, Alabama, found in the Confederate Applications for Presidential Pardons, 1865-1867, papers (at Ancestry.com):

Included in Mr. Ragland's file was a Surgeon's Certificate of Incapacity for the Army of the Confederate States, completed in Huntsville, Alabama, on February 28, 1863.  It stated that Mr. Ragland, a lawyer, was born in Virginia, age 32, 5'10", with black hair and grey eyes.  A problem with his left joint was indicated.

Advanced Across St. Mary's River

"...when a regular siege was planned in Georgia...".  "...the then Rebels having advanced across St. Mary's river, were beat back, and frustrated in their designs, chiefly by the spirited exertions of the Militia embodied by Governour Tonyn, for the defence of East-Florida, and paid by Government, under the conduct and command of that active and enterprising officer Lieutenant Colonel Brown."

St. Mary's, Georgia

"At another period, when it became necessary for his Majesty's service, and the defence of the Province, to encamp the Regular Troops, which was done by Lieutenant-Colonel Glazier, the Inhabitants, as a Militia, without pay, rations, or arms, from Government, chearfully mounted the guards, patroled, and did all the town duty; as indeed they did on other occasions, when deemed necessary." [Source]

Remainder Of Justus Sherwood's Company Of Tories

At any rate, *[Colonel John] Peters tells Haldimand that in September he mustered 317 men at Saratoga; doubtless that number included the contingent brought in there by Gershom French, which was incorporated with Peter's corps. It probably also included whatever remained of Captain Justus Sherwood's company of Tories, for Sherwood, who had entered Canada in 1776, had raised a company and served under Peters throughout the campaign, returning to Canada immediately after the Convention. [Source]

*"A...corps that accompanied Burgoyne was that of John Peters, a colonel of militia and judge of the court of common pleas from Gloucester County, New York. As early as August, 1774, Peters had been 'mobbed and kept from his house'... .  In consequence he fled to Canada... .  On June 24, he received formal enlisting orders from General Carleton for his batallion, which was to be called the Queen's Loyal Rangers, and...was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the new corps." [Source]

See Problems With Justus Sherwood's Petition and Justus Sherwood, Thomas Sherwood And Gersham French at my In Deeds blog.

Source

Spanish Intrigue (Part 2)

Also See Spanish Intrigue (Part 1)

 It was a hundred years before historians dug the incriminating documents out, and by that time even the Judge Advocate General himself could not reach this slightly mercenary brigadier [General James Wilkinson]. The curious may go to the Archiva Historico-Nacional in Spain. And there, in Estado Legajo No. 3898 B*, they will find the whole treasonable scheme writ large. [Source: Daniel Boone by John Bakeless (1939)]


*Papers Bearing on James Wilkinson's Relations with Spain, 1787-1816

Beuregard's Grand Marche

From Miss Priscilla Larkin: The Civil War Diary of a Southern Belle:

Received a piece of music this morning-- "Beauregard's Grand Marche"  How much more can I apreciate it-- knowing it comes from a member of the memorable "Fourth Ala Reg"--

Source

Michigan Timber

Timber by Harold Titus.

An explanation of the impact of the novel "Timber," was found in the Traverse City Record-Eagle newspaper in an article published July 21, 2009, by Loraine Anderson:

"Sometimes it takes a gripping novel to change things."

"For Michigan's environmental ruin following the lumber era, that book was "Timber," written by Traverse City native son Harold Titus."

An account of my lumberman ancestor:

Duncan Cameron - Lumberjack

From the Saginaw [Mich] Evening News published October 26, 1887:

Lumber News -- October 26, 1887, Page 2
Deep River [Arenac Co.] - Oct. 26
Duncan Cameron, the old and well-known jobber of Roscommon, will lumber south of that place this winter, banking 3,000,000 feet of logs on the Michigan Central for the Ducey Lumber Company.

The Sudden Revolution Of Indian Affairs At Detroit

1812 Era Map

From the Report of the Public Archives, by Public Archives of Canada:


June 30 Fort Pitt [1761]  Bouquet to [Lt.-Gen. Robert] Monkton    The sudden revolution of Indian affairs at Detroit. The measures taken to prevent surprise; the inhabitants armed, guards along the rivers; temporary defences to the fort. Messages sent by the Detroit to the other Indians. A vessel on Lake Erie would be useful in supporting the advanced posts. Ammunition will not be sent to Detroit unless it can be delivered safely. The killing of the Indian is unlucky at present, but cannot be made a pretext for the conspiracy; the chiefs in the neighbourhood agreed at a conference that the Indian deserved his fate. An old Indian trader, a Pennsylvanian and batman to Captain Little was carried off by two Indians, a Delaware and a Mohican, but released by the latter whilst the other was absent hunting.

Bateaux In Michigan

Recovered Shipwreck From Lake Huron On Display At Sturgeon Point Lighthouse

April 6 Philadelphia [1761] It will be necessary to build more bateaux at Detroit; the ship carpenters are to be ordered there. [Source]

Alexander Harrow's Journal

Present Day Port Huron (Between Detroit and Mackinac) Looking Towards Canada

Alexander Harrow's Journal, 1791 - 1800 (links added):


"Abstract [Lehigh University online site]: Born in Scotland, Harrow emigrated to Canada...and worked as an officer in the British Navy. In 1779 he was commissioned Lieutenant and Commander in the Naval Armament of the Lakes and was given command of the sloop Wellcome overseeing the shipping of government supplies and the movements of civilian passengers between Detroit and Mackinac the route of the lucrative fur trade. In his journal, Harrow keeps copies of his correspondence as well as his orders of barrels of salt, rum, and pork. A portion of the journal was kept on board the Chippewa a ship he remained on until 1796."