Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Fairfield, John, fl. 1747 [John Fairfield's declaration regarding a settlement near Witchcassett]

Order a pdf of this item here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10408 Author/Creator: Fairfield, John, fl. 1747 Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript document Date: 27 February 1747 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; Height: 37.5 cm, Width: 22.9 cm Order a Copy

John Fairfield offers an affidavit regarding Witchcassett, "four miles from Sheepscott and thirty four miles from St. George River, in the County of York" (present-day Maine). Attests that he moved to Witchcassett in 1738, commenting that at the time, forty families and householders lived in the settlement. Remarks on additional settlers in later years and sawmills located in the area. Recounts that in 1744, settlers felt vulnerable after hearing of the war that broke out in Europe between Britain and France, and many moved away from the settlement. In 1745, some settlers moved when Native Americans broke a peace agreement, and others joined an expedition to Canada. Attests, "... by the number of the Inhabitants being lessen'd & forced into Garrison as aforesaid the Settlements in Generall lye waste, and the few remaining Inhabitants are not able to make Improvements unless under Cover of the Garrisons aforementioned, that they are reduced to great straits & Difficulties & under great Discouragements." [Cornelius] Waldo, Justice of the Peace, signs a note dated 27 February 1746/7 in Boston, attesting to the veracity of Fairfield's declaration. James Grant, captain of a militia company in Witchcassett, signs a separate note attesting to the truth of Fairfield's statement. Another note signed by Cornelius Waldo on the same date confirms the veracity of Grant's claim.

Fairfield, John, fl. 1747
Waldo, Cornelius, fl. 1747
Grant, James, fl. 1747
Waldo, Samuel, 1695-1759

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources