Cook, P. (fl. 1787) to Benjamin Lincoln
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03435 Author/Creator: Cook, P. (fl. 1787) Place Written: Granby, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript letter Date: 31 January 1787 Pagination: 2 p. : 31.3 x 19.7 cm. Order a Copy
Written from Granby, likely in southern Massachusetts, near Springfield. Writes on behalf of the town of Granby that the prospect of war is causing severe anxiety among the townspeople, despite the fact that they have a lot of faith and confidence in the ability of General Lincoln. They held a large public meeting and voted to ask that the "Commander will use every possible way & means in his power as a man & as an Officer consistent with ye dignity of government and his own honour to prevent ye awful destruction of mankind- and shedding ye blood of our own Countrymen- and conquer by his wisdom and not by his arms- and bring our deluded friends to a due sense of their error, & subject them to their duty without ye further effusion of blood, if by any means practicable." This is likely one of the enclosures (and thus a copy of the original) mentioned by Lincoln in his February 5, 1787 letter to Knox (GLC02437.03444). It evidently accompanied GLC02437.03439, a copy of Lincoln's reply to the citizens of Granby, which bears a docket in Knox's hand citing both documents.
[draft]
To Major General Lincoln Commander of the Malitia now assembled in arms for the support of the Constitutional Government of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts -
Sir
The alarming prospect which now presents itself to us of our being dayly or hourly involved in all the horrors of a civil war, we conceive to be a sufficient appology for applying to the Commander in chief - And although we have every sentiment of Respect for your person & the fullest & most [entire] Confidence in your abilities as a man - & an experienced Military Commander Yet sir permit men full of the most painfull anxiety on account of the present Distressing [complixion] of the Times, to lay before you thier fervent desires. The Inhabitants of the Town of Granby being sensibly affected with the situation we are now in & the publick in general did on the [28]th [inserted: of this] Instant, did Assemble & vote (being a very full meeting) that inasmuch as application [has according] to good information been made & is dayly making from a number of Towns in this Commonwealth to the Commander of the Militia in Arms in favor of Government That the said Commander will use every possible way & means in his power as a man & or an Officer consistent with ye dignity of government and his own honour to prevent ye awful destruction of mankind - and shedding ye blood of our own Countrymen - and conquer by his wisdom [2] and not by his arms - and bring our deluded friends to a due sense of their error, & subject them to their duty without ye further effusion of blood, if by any means practicable. -
Therefore Voted that we heartily concur with every such prayer, and every such application, and do join with those who pray and apply as aforesaid -
Attest P. Cook Moderator -
Granby Jan. 31st 1787 -
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