James DeLancey Letter to William Kempe, 1759

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

James DeLancey Letter to William Kempe, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
0.01 Linear Foot
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

James DeLancey Letter to William Kempe, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

Letter from James DeLancey, acting Governor Of New York, to William Kempe, the royally commissioned provincial Attorney General of New York, concerning a potential mutiny by sailors on the Hudson River. The following is a transcript of the letter provided by the seller:

New York 27th March 1759

Sir

I was yesterday at the Generals shown a letter from you to Captain Pettigrew threatning to sue him in behalf of some of his sailors, the General [Amherst?] has desired me to acquaint you, that his vessel is taken into his Majesty's Service as a transport, which may be obstructed if the Sailors should quit the vessel. Colonel Robertson has promised me that the men shall be paid their wages due as soon as the vessel goes into Hudsons River, and shall while in the transport service be allowed the same wages as other mariners shall have in it. His being reasonable, I do suppose the men will have no objection to it & there will be no further trouble on that account. I am your most humble servant

James Delancey

The letter was purchased on behalf of the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Inc.

Biographical / historical:

James DeLancey was born in New York, the son of French Hugenot emigrant Etienne (Stephen) DeLancey, and was educated in England, graduating from Cambridge and studying law at the Inss of Court. He returned to New York in 1725 and began his career in politics. DeLancey married Anne Heathcote, daughter of the Manor Lord of Scarsdale and Mayor of New York, Caleb Heathcote. He drafted a new charter for the city of New York and became its acting governor twice, from 1753-1755 and 1758-1760. During his tenure as Chief Justice of New York, DeLancey presided over the case of John Peter Zenger on charges of sedition and libel against Governor William Cosby.

Acquisition information:
Mss Acc. 2013.220 was received by Special Collections in August 2013 and was purchased on behalf of the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Inc.
Processing information:

Accessioned and minimally processed by Steven Bookman, University Archives Specialist, in September 2013.

Physical description:
15 cm x 18 cm, 4 pages on 2 leafs
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard