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Revolutionary War-dated manuscript appeal for protection from Native American attacks by the citizens of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 8.25 x 13.25, June 20, 1780. The handwritten petition, which is signed at the conclusion by 31 residents of Northumberland County, was sent to the Supreme Executive Council of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to request aid against Indian attacks. It reads, in part: “That the incursion of the Savages have been prosecuted with such unrelenting Fury, and the Force appointed for our support so small and ineffectual that early as the Year is, our settlements are wasted, and our Frontier drove in, to within Ten or Twelve miles of the Towns – and even in this small space no Industry or labour can be prosecuted – every day lessens our numbers, many tired out with Calamity and Alarms, and despairing of further Support, abandon the County. The German Regiment as far as we know consists of about one hundred men…It is alleged that being thus posted there are too few to leave the Garrison to which they belong, on any alarm…Our Fellow Citizens…have been almost constantly under arms since the snow went away…
The loss of this County may perhaps appear of small consequence; We beg to call the attention of Council to the probable result of such an Event; Berks, Lancaster and Cumberland County must be involved in the calamity which we present suffer; nor is this all; this would be new Niagara to the enemy, hither their friends would flock and hence their predatory War will be prosecuted…[We] hope that our misery and deplorable Calamitys will meet with the most serious attention of Council; and that such a Support will be obtained for us, as will enable us not to repel any sudden attack, but drive these Ravagers from our Borders and carry destruction to their own Towns.” In very good to fine condition, with repairable splitting along the delicate folds. An unprecedented Revolutionary War petition that emphasizes how the western frontier functioned as a buffer zone for more civilized counties.
This manuscript was formerly part of the ‘Rebels with a Vision’ exhibit, a privately held United States founding collection of 76 historical letters, manuscripts, rare books, and documents. The collection publicly premiered on July 3, 1999, at the Carnegie Institute and Library of Pittsburgh, and its 1999-2000 tour schedule included stops at the Clarion Historical Society, Westmoreland Museum, Stroudsburg Historical Society, American Philatelic Museum, and the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, amongst others.
