Description:

War-Dated ALS from Cousin of T. Hutchinson with Bonus Boston Letter

A Revolutionary War-dated autograph letter signed by Shrimpton Hutchinson, cousin of Thomas Hutchinson, the last Royal Governor of Massachusetts. 1p, measuring 7.25" x 11.75", Boston, dated July 21, 1777. Signed "Shrimpton Hutchinson" and addressed to his brother-in-law, Godfrey Malbore, Esq. Written two years into the American Revolution, Hutchinson shares family news and laments at difficulties with the postal system. Accompanying the letter is a later, Boston letter sharing local Boston gossip. 2pp of a bifolium, measuring 7.25" x 11.75", Edgware Road, dated February 15, 1798. From "Valentine Cook" (seemingly a servant) to a Miss Sarah Cradock of Boston. Both letters have flattened folds with some separations and paper loss. Toning to both, with soiling and foxing throughout. Very good overall.

Highlights from the letter include:
July 21, 1777: "I recd your letter of the 23d May by Lr. Lee & that month [day] your cask of sundrys came to hand. I suppose the enclosed letter from Mr. Nat: Brinley will mention it more particularly I recd a letter two weeks ago from my son Godrey to Mr. Shaw it came to hand just after the post for N:London went out to meeting wth Peter Mumford he undertook to deliver it to the post at Providence or forward it by some other hand he tells me he sent it to your house and I am afraid was an unfortunate circumstance as I know your difficulty of forwarding letters however I hope you found means to send it by yr newspaper man or some other way it was of great importance to Godfrey that it shou'd get to hand soon'Godfrey is in a very thriving way & has his health perfectly well'I got the sight of a long letter to his Brother Billy wherein he urges him in the most earnest manner to come to me directly to Martiniq:'"

February 15, 1798: "'perhaps you think I have forgot you but ther[e] is but few days gone that I have not thought on you who has all ways been a great friend to me and I am very sorry to hear you are very ill'Since you left us we had Mrs. Eliot her[e] and after that we had Captain and Mrs. Breynton two children and Fanny for six weeks. Eliza left us in July and went to Comador [sic] Blancket and is last week turnd out the house and lost her character'Mr. Cofield died in August last he was taken ill in the morning my 8 o'clock and was dead by 12 o'clock'Miss Cradock I have great charge from my Mrs I have papert a great trunk and my Mrs desires me if anything should happen to her I am to pack all her cloase [sic] up in the trunk and to direct and sent it to you to Boston which I have faithfully promist to fulfill but I hope to see you soon again and wish my Master and Mrs and you to live many years longer'"

Thomas Hutchinson (1711-1780) was a merchant, politician, and colonial administrator who served as governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay in the lead up to the American Revolution. He was active in Massachusetts politics for many years and came to be an adversary of John and Samuel Adam, who viewed him as a supporter of unpopular British taxes. Hutchinson would later be blamed by British Prime Minister Lord North for being a significant contributor to the tensions that led to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

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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