Beschreibung:

DONGAN, Thomas (1634-1715), Colonial Governor of New York. Letter signed ("Tho:Dongan"), as Governor, an apparent circular letter to the Sheriff of Ulster County, N.Y., Fort James, 7 May 1688. 1 page, small folio, a rectangular portion of left-hand margin cut away and patched, not affecting text, slightly spotted. NEW YORK'S GOVERNOR CALLS OUT THE IROQUOIS, 1688 Dongan, who became Governor in 1682, made efforts to conciliate the Iroquois as a buffer against the French. In 1687 though, it appeared the French might move against the English settlements, so "Dongan raised a force for the defense of Albany, superintending the arrangements in person" (DAB). Here, he sends instructions to the local magistrate: "These are to Command you fforthwith to call together all ye Indyan men within your County & cause such of them as are able to bear armes to cause to Repair with all convenient speed to his Maj'ties ffort at Albany there to Joyne W'th and assist the other Indyans of this Province in prosecuton of ye present Ware wherein they are Engaidged and of what you shall Do herein make Returne to ye secr'ys office..." On the verso is an endorsement of Henry Pawling, "High Sheriff of ye Countey Ulster": "Acording as this order directes I have gotten ye Inyanes [Indians] of the Country to gether and finde the young men willing to asist as the order directes and promise to march towardes ye forte of Albany ye next satterdaye..." In the end, the uneasy truce prevailed. Governor Dongan withdrew the Iroquois from Canada, and the French evacuated Niagara. Letters of Dongan are very rarely encountered on the market (none are recorded in ABPC since at least 1975).