Bouquet: Correspondence of Col. Henry Bouquet, 1758-1765, 1930

Call Number: MG-626

1 folder

Repository: LancasterHistory.org (Lancaster, Pa.)

Shelving Location: Archives South, Side 13

Description: This collection contains transcribed copies and carbon copies of the letters to and from Col. Henry Bouquet from 1758-1765. All of these letters are dated in Lancaster as mentioned in the 1930 letter from Lucien Brault of Ottawa, CAN, to C. H. Martin, Esq. of Lancaster, also included in this collection. The letters mainly detail wants and needs of the troops and Bouquet, including the need for supplies, troops, ammunition and in the case of Bouquet’s personal needs, a new pair of trousers. These are recurrent in the letters as are the continuous requests for discharges and promotions.

Creator: Martin, C. H.

Conditions for Access: No restrictions.

Conditions Governing Reproductions: Collection may not be photocopied. Please contact Research Staff or Archives Staff with questions.

Language: English

Source of Acquisition: Source unknown.

Administrative History: Processed and finding aid prepared by EH, February 2015.

 

Folder 1

Insert 1 1930.1 item. A letter from Lucien Brault, Ottawa, Canada, to C. H. Martin, Esq in the office of the Deputy Collector in Lancaster, PA. The letter states that Lucien is enclosing 6 documents from Bouquet dated at Lancaster and the cost for the papers and copies.

Insert 2 1758. 2 items, 4 pieces. Both are copies of the same letter from Bouquet dated Lancaster, 20^th May, 1758, sent to Mr. Allen. Mr. Allen appears to be a chief justice that Bouquet is requesting a few favors from after leaving some place in a hurry. His foremost concern was a pair of trousers that a Miss Plumstead was making for him due his becoming ragged. He needed this man to retrieve the trousers so that he may once again be decent in public. His second request to the justice, was a prisoner named McLean that Bouquet wanted extricated as he did not believe his punishment was fair or just when he could be serving his country. Bouquet goes on to talk about how the “gentleman of the land” such as this gentleman he is writing to, are viewed as strange and his opinion on the court system and compared to the Roman Catholic church. He ends with the acceptance of ladies and his plans to set out for Carlisle and signs “your most obedient humble servant.”

Insert 3 1759. 2 items, 6 pieces. Copy and carbon copy. Bouquet writes to General Stanwix regarding his (Stanwix) advertisement for wagons and horses from the people of Lancaster. Bouquet explains that these people need to be compensated in order for them to willingly give up their belongings and leave their homes. He also goes on to explain that he does not have any money to pay bills and requests that money be sent quickly. There are a few propositions posed as alternate ways of gaining wagons and horses at the end of the letter and he asks for the general’s continued faith and support of his efforts.

Insert 4 1764. 2 items, 4 pieces. Copy and carbon copy. A letter from Captain Prevost is informing Bouquet that he has taken leave of the battalion in order to tend to other matters in Philadelphia and New York after taking care of all matters where he has left. He also mentions other men have come forward to claim their discharge and asks Bouquet to grant them their leave as well.

Insert 5 1765. 2 items, 6 pieces. Copy and carbon copy. Captain Schlosser writes to Bouquet that they could easily enlist young men if they had money to enlist them. He also writes that he is sad that Bouquet is stepping down from his position expresses his hope that the replacement is an honest man. Schlosser tells of a reprimand that he has received from Prevost about allowing men to leave prior to their enlistment end and goes on to say that he thinks that Prevost had altered the duty end date for these men.

Insert 6 1765. 2 items, 6 pieces. Copy and carbon copy. Captain Schlosser writes about multiple men that they have enlisted that are strong workers who were promised sergeant positions when they open. He sees a dilemma in having one recruit, John Rose, become a sergeant before two other men, John Wright and John Cuthbert, as they have been either performing the duties of sergeant already or performing their current job so well that they should be promoted immediately. Schlosser goes on to talk about the companies and the lack of officers, the need for ammunition, and recruitment. He ends with a PS about a servant that deserted his captain while on the road.

Insert 7 1765. 2 items, 4 pieces. Copy and carbon copy. Captain Schlosser opens with a discussion about holding information from Bouquets successor since there is nothing of importance to tell and transitions into not having any discharges to give out. Since Schlosser, does not have discharges to give, he is sending them directly to Bouquet to receive their discharge from him. He ends with saying that he hopes Bouquet is not displeased with the soldiers and that he has not heard word from the Northern party.