Dublin Core
Title
1776.09.30 - Sezor (Cesar) Phelps to Charles Phelps, Sept. 30, 1776
Description
Caesar (Sezor) Phelps writes to Charles Phelps, informing him of his recent decisions in his role in the Continental Army. He then goes on to complain that he is not receiving wages for his service, asking Charles to send him a letter demanding his wages. He inquires about those in Hadley and worries about the possibility of being sold while in the service, requesting that if he is sold that he will be allowed to keep his possessions.
Creator
Sezor (Cesar) Phelps
Source
Porter-Phelps-Huntington Family Papers (Box 4 Folder 12)
UMass Special Collections and University Archives
UMass Special Collections and University Archives
Date
Sept. 30, 1776
Rights
Public Domain
Type
Letter
Scripto
Transcription
Camp At Ticonderoga[1] Sept the 30 ye 1776
Sir I take this opportunity to Enform you that I don’t Entend to Live with Capt Crantston if I Can helpit and I Would be glad if you Would send me a letter that I may git my Wagers for I have not got any of my Wagers and I Want to know how all the Folks Do at home and I desire your Prayers for me while in the Sarves and if you Determin to Sel me I Want you Shud Send me my Stock and Buckel.[2] So no more at Present But I Remain your Ever Faithful Slave
Sezor Phelps [3]
1. Fort Ticonderoga, on the banks of Lake Champlain in New York state, was the site of several crucial battles in the 18th century North East, including a British defeat during the Seven Years War in 1758 (Lart 1921). Phelps is writing about a year and four months after the Continental Army captured the fort in May of 1775 under the leadership of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold (Randall 2008; DeSantis 2017). McCulloch (2008) includes a map of the fortifications in 1758. Caesar was sent to serve in the Continental Army in place of Charles Phelps, what Hudson-Erdman describes as a common practice of the time (2018).
2. A stock and buckle refers to an article of clothing consisting of a cloth that is worn around the neck (Philbrick 2016, 337; Hudson-Erdman 2018).
3. Sezor (Caesar) Phelps was one of several slaves of the Phelps family, purchased at 18 years old by Charles Phelps from William Williams in 1770
Sir I take this opportunity to Enform you that I don’t Entend to Live with Capt Crantston if I Can helpit and I Would be glad if you Would send me a letter that I may git my Wagers for I have not got any of my Wagers and I Want to know how all the Folks Do at home and I desire your Prayers for me while in the Sarves and if you Determin to Sel me I Want you Shud Send me my Stock and Buckel.[2] So no more at Present But I Remain your Ever Faithful Slave
Sezor Phelps [3]
1. Fort Ticonderoga, on the banks of Lake Champlain in New York state, was the site of several crucial battles in the 18th century North East, including a British defeat during the Seven Years War in 1758 (Lart 1921). Phelps is writing about a year and four months after the Continental Army captured the fort in May of 1775 under the leadership of Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold (Randall 2008; DeSantis 2017). McCulloch (2008) includes a map of the fortifications in 1758. Caesar was sent to serve in the Continental Army in place of Charles Phelps, what Hudson-Erdman describes as a common practice of the time (2018).
2. A stock and buckle refers to an article of clothing consisting of a cloth that is worn around the neck (Philbrick 2016, 337; Hudson-Erdman 2018).
3. Sezor (Caesar) Phelps was one of several slaves of the Phelps family, purchased at 18 years old by Charles Phelps from William Williams in 1770