Paper Trails

This is a wonderful, original letter dated 1759, Albany, New York, where William Gamble has written to Barrent Roseboom, assistant agent to the victualers, regarding the proper way vouchers were to be handled.....signed Wm. Gamble.

Verso is addressed to Rosenboom at Fort Herkimer. Letter is 8x10, folds, minor aging, else a scarce item regarding Fort Herkimer.

Gamble, William, British Army Commissary, Freemason, Merchant of Albany.

William GAMBLE, upon his arrival in Boston, went to work on the ferry from Charleston to Boston. Here he remained two years. During the Indian War of 1745, he joined several "scouts," and upon the commencement of the "Old French War," in 1755, having lost his wife, he enlisted in the regular service, and was in most of the war, being under WOLFE on the "Plains of Abraham."

The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry was first brought to the New World from France in the year 1763. Bro.Stephen Morin of Bordeaux established the 25 Masonic Degrees of the "Rite of Perfection" in the British West Indies.

In 1767 Stephen Morin's close associate Henry Francken transported this new Masonic Rite to Albany, New York, where he formed the first Ineffable Grand Lodge of Perfection in North America, with civil engineer Bro. William Gamble serving as its first master.

Bro. William Gamble, the first Master of Ineffable Lodge of Perfection, was a Civil Engineer by profession and a draftsman of ability. It was he who, probably, executed the "Constitution and Patent" of Ineffable Lodge and he also prepared tracing boards for many of the Degrees.

Fort Herkimer was a fort located on the southern side of the Mohawk River, opposite West Canada Creek, in central New York, United States.

The fort was first built in 1740, around the homestead of the Herscheimer (Herkimer) family. In 1757 during the Seven Years War, young Captain Nicholas Herkimer (later to be a heroic general in the Revolutionary War) had his first military command here when the French attacked German Flatts in 1757 and 1758. It has originally known as Fort Kaouri (Fort Bear).

Price $795    Photo    Photo2      Purchase

This is an original document, dated 1758, where William Pepperell has written and signed orders to Captain John Hill, regarding orders from the Governor of Massachusetts that needs to be completed....signed William Pepperell.

Document is 4x6, splits, irregular edges, partially addressed on other side, overall good condition.

Sir William Pepperrell, 1st Baronet (27 June 1696 – 6 July 1759) was an American merchant and soldier in Colonial Massachusetts. He is widely remembered for organizing, financing, and leading the 1745 expedition that captured the French garrison at Fortress Louisbourg during King George's War. During his day Pepperrell was called "the hero of Louisburg," .

Item CW #82843  Price $325   Photo   Photo2   Purchase