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.

Saben, Thomas (1739-1800) to Preserved Pierce

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.182 Author/Creator: Saben, Thomas (1739-1800) Place Written: Roxbury, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 July 1775 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 19.5 x 31.5 cm. Order a Copy

Describes a 8 July 1775 skirmish between American and British troops in Roxbury, Massachusetts during the American Revolution. A member of the "Providence Company of Artiliary," Saben describes firing at "browns house" from "Georges Tavern," setting Brown's house and barn on fire. He reports he has a "great Reason to think we killed Some of the [British] Regulars." Asks for his stockings.

Roxbury July 8th 1775
Freind Pierce I Take this Oportunity to Let you know I am well and hope These will find you and yours in the Same State. I have been drafted into the Com[text loss] of Artiliary allmost 2 weeks, we were down this Morning about 1 or 2 oClock with our Feiled pieces toyl, Georges Tavern and Fired about 12 Shot at browns house and there were about 2000 of our Brigade Came down to Garde our artiliary and fired with the Same arms, and 1 Company of the Brigade went and Set fire to Browns house and Barn and all the Gaurd house the Regulars had on the Side of their Breastwork and I have great Reason to think we killed Some of the Regulars for Some of out People got a gun and holbearts and 2 Bayonets as I See myself which were Considerable Bloody, I Shuld take it [2] as to favour if you would be So Good as to Send my Cotton Stockings down to Newport to Marcy So that She may Send them to me for I want them very much at Presant, you may direct to me in the Providence Company of Artiliary, att Roxbury So I must Conclude myself
yours to Serve Thos Saben
[address leaf]
To
Preserved Pierce
Living in
Swanzey
PS favour of
david
Liullian

Saben, Thomas, 1739-1800
Pierce, Preserved, 1736-1798

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources