[FRENCH INDIAN WAR] [AMERICANA] PERSONAL COPY OF GARRISONING OF FORT EDWARD AND FORT WILLIAM HENRY

This volume is a 12 ¼” x 8 ½” x ¼” red half leather bound photostat copy of two documents drafted at the end of 1755 by leaders of the provinces of New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts Bay. It is inscribed, “Merry Christmas from one descendant to another. 1932”. The documents discuss the evolving military situation in what came to be known as the French and Indian War (1754-1763), an extension of the 7-Years War in Europe between England and France. ~~The first is from Albany on Nov. 20, 1755, describing the agreement between Maj. Gen. William Shirley and Sir Charles Hardy Knight, the Governors of Massachusetts Bay and New York, and other commissioners. They discussed the garrisoning of Fort Edward and Fort William Henry. It declares the number of troops drafted to support the forts and the circumstances of their enlistments. Fort Edward was established prior to the war at “The Great Carrying Place” along the Hudson, mentioned here; Fort William Henry had been recently established along Lake George. ~~The second document is a December 1, 1755 follow up written to Josiah Willard, the “Good Secretary” of Massachusetts, updating him on changes to the November 20 plans based upon military developments. It describes that after the Nov. 20 meeting, the party traveled directly to Fort Edward, then to Fort William Henry, but encountered withdrawing Connecticut troops containing “a considerable number of invalids”. Plans to fortify Forts Edward and William Henry were changed in response to this loss but in anticipation of increased threat from the French.