September 26, 2018 O'Connor's Americana Collection
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/26/2018
DAVENPORT, Josiah Franklin, to Pennsylvania Indian Commissioners "former & present / Philada.", dated Fort Pitt, 15 April 1764. ALS, 2 1/2 pp., bifolium; sheet separated and center fold, chipping at bottom of first page but no loss of text, one small marginal hole and traces of mounting tape on recto/cover.
Davenport was agent for the Pennsylvania Commissioners for Indian Affairs, where he had charge of the Indian trading store at Pittsburgh for the province. He noted that "This Day is 12 months since I left Philad[elphi]a. in which Time I have had but five Letters" from the Commissioners. Davenport further complains that "I did not fail to acquaint you in most of my Letters the Situation I was in--Want of Paper & Quills to finish the Inventory begun in May [1763]--that I had a Corner of the Apothecary's Shop to Live in--my Papers & Acco[un]ts. put into the Trunks with the Goods in the Alarm ...was so Harrassed with the Fort Duty, I did not get above four Hours Sleep out of Eight & forty for Months Together &c &c." Davenport, Benjamin Franklin's nephew, makes reference above to the June-July 1763 encirclement and siege of Fort Pitt by native American forces, which was relieved following the battle of Bushy Run.
Item Dimensions: 13" x 9".