Description:

Payment for Company of British Army in Newfoundland During French and Indian War

In this brief letter, Captain Walter Ross of the 40th Regiment of Foot informs the regiment's agent in London that he had drawn on local landowner Samuel Jutsham for £121 for supporting his company for two months in 1759. The company was garrisoning Fort William in St. John's, Newfoundland, during the global Seven Years' War between Great Britain and France, known in North America as the French and Indian War.

[FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.] Walter Ross, Autograph Letter Signed, to William Adair, August 24, 1759, St. John's, Newfoundland. 1 p., 7.375" x 9". General toning; reinforcement on verso to bottom half; edge tears affecting a few words.

Complete Transcript
St John's Newfoundland 24th Augt 1759
Sir
I have drawn on you, of this date, in favour of Mr Samuel Jutsham for one hundred twenty one pounds two shillings and two pence [sterg?] being for the Subsistence of my Company from the 25th June 1759 to the 24th August following, which I make no doubt you will duly Honour. I am
Sir / your most hume Servt
Walter Ross
To William Adair Esqr or The Agent of the late Major General Hopson's Regiment of Foot for the time being
London

Historical Background
During the Seven Years' War, France lost most of its overseas possessions to Great Britain. Among the contested areas were the immense fisheries off the shores of Newfoundland. When peace negotiations broke down in the fall of 1761 over continued access to the fisheries, the French chose to make an assault to recapture the fisheries of Newfoundland, which provided a nursery for seamen, who could crew French ships in any future conflict.

To capture or at least disrupt British fisheries in the North Atlantic, the French sent a small fleet in 1762 to Newfoundland to capture St. John's as a base for future operations against British-occupied colonies along the St. Lawrence River in 1763. A successful operation would also give the French additional leverage when peace negotiations resumed.

The French landed at Bays Bull, Newfoundland, and began the eight-mile march to St. John's. Meanwhile, local merchants petitioned Captain Walter Ross, who commanded the garrison at Fort William, to surrender to avoid damage to civilian property. Complying with the citizens but outraging some of his officers, Ross surrendered the fort.

In September, a British relief expedition captured Signal Hill outside St. John's and prepared to bombard the town and fort. The French ships slipped out of the harbor, and three days later, the French surrendered the fort.

When peace negotiations resumed, the French war minister reiterated demands for fishing rights, and the British agreed to cede St. Pierre and Miquelon to King Louis XV and guarantee the use of drying beaches along the southern coast, retaining a French presence, though much smaller, in Newfoundland.

Walter Ross was commissioned an ensign in the British Army in 1739 and rose to the rank of lieutenant in 1745. In March 1758, he was promoted to the rank of captain, and his company was detached from the main body of the regiment and stationed at St. John's, Newfoundland. In June 1762, a French fleet of four warships captured the town of St. John's, Newfoundland, and made Ross and his company of sixty soldiers prisoners of war. Three months later, a British force captured the strategic Signal Hill and prepared to bombard the French in Fort William. Three days later, the French garrison of seven hundred surrendered in the last major battle of the French and Indian War in North America.

William Adair was the agent in London for the British 40th Regiment of Foot in North America.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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