Wilton Historical Society Associate Curator Nick Foster sits down with John Reznikoff

“Wilton Historical Society Associate Curator Nick Foster sits down with John Reznikoff, owner of University Archives, in the latest episode of “History is Here, Episode 16: Rebels and Redcoats: The Aftermath of the Battle of Ridgefield” (see 2:20-6:53 for the interview).

Reznikoff, who is a resident of Wilton, Connecticut, routinely scours online auction catalogs for historical documents of local interest. He recently found one that “hit him right between the eyes”: a one-page handwritten letter signed by Patriot General David Wooster and addressed to fellow Patriot commander Gold Selleck Silliman in Fairfield, Connecticut on April 26, 1777. The letter is significant in two ways, as Reznikoff explains. Whereas most historical documents from this period have mundane content and were dated well after military engagements, this letter contains rich military content and was written on the eve of the Battle of Ridgefield. Second, General Wooster was mortally wounded at the Battle of Ridgefield, and he died of his injuries on May 2, 1777, making this letter the probable last document he ever signed.

The David Wooster letter is currently on display at the Wilton Historical Society. John will keep looking for more Revolutionary War documents related to western Connecticut!”