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deerfeaild Augist 5
1706

Honnored Father Sheldin
after duty presented these are
to let you now that of reseved
your letter; which we desiour to
bles you for it pray give my Love
with my wifes to sister mary
and to all ye rest of ye captive
I thought yt I wod com to boston
but I think not to com-- I pray
you to by for me a pare of
curtings and a Father beaid and
a graine Coverlid--and a neck
lace of amber--I shall
sende down 10 poun in mony
by unkel Beniahman Stabi
ns [Benjamin Stebbins] and if you do wont more
mony you shall have ye rest
win you do com hom and so
I Subscribe my Self your
dutifull Son John Sheldin

(c) Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, Deerfield MA. All rights reserved.
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There is currently no available "Beginner" label. The following is the default level label: John Sheldon, Junior had been sleeping in his father's house with his wife, Hannah Chapin, that night in 1704 when the Deerfield Raid occured. They scrambled out their bedroom window as Indians hacked on the door, but in the process Hannah fell and injured her ankle. She urged her husband to go on without her, and although Sheldon stopped to bind her ankle he left her behind and ran to the nearest settlement for help. His wife along with three of his siblings were taken captive. She remained captive until 1705. Her return was negotiated by her father-in-law, John Sheldon who, travelled to Canada and then back to Boston and Deerfield a number of times in the years after 1704. The negotiations usually involved the exchange of expensive "gifts" for the captives like the items mentioned in this letter. This particular exchange was probably instrumental in the return of Sheldon's brothers Ebenezer and Rememberance and his sister Mary, all of whom were back to Deerfield by 1706.

 

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Letter to John Sheldon

author   John Sheldon, Jr. (1681-1713)
date   Aug 5, 1706
location   Deerfield, Massachusetts
height   6.0"
width   4.0"
process/materials   manuscript, paper, ink
item type   Personal Documents/Letter
accession #   #L01.113


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See Also...

Letter to John Sheldon

John Sheldon (1658-1733) Snowshoes

"Old Indian House"


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