Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790) to George Clinton
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02521 Author/Creator: Franklin, Benjamin (1706-1790) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 7 October 1787 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23 x 19 cm. Order a Copy
Franklin, writing as president of the executive council of Pennsylvania, asks New York's Governor Clinton to aid in gathering evidence against conspirators in the Yankee-Pennamite war. The Pennamite Wars were organized (but not state-sponsored) battles between settlers from Pennsylvania and Connecticut who claimed land in the Wyoming Valley in northeast Pennsylvania. The day this letter was written, John Franklin, one of the Yankee leaders was sentenced by the Council of Pennsylvania to be kept in irons. The letter's verso and integral leaf show evidence that this is the original used in Franklin's letterpress to make a copy.
Signer of the U.S. Constitution.
Sir, Philada. Oct. 7. 1787.
In Council.
The Bearer Mr Reddick is a Member of this Board, and goes to New York on a Business of Importance to both our States. The Council earnestly request of your Excellency to take the Information he may communicate into immediate Consideration, and afford this State the Aid that you will percieve [sic] to be necessary for securing the Person & Papers in question, in order to compleat [sic] the Evidence against the Conspirators, so that they may be brought to condign Punishment, & their Schemes of Mischief defeated. With great & sincere Respect I have the honour to be Sir, Your Excellency's most obedient & most humble Servant
B Franklin
His Excelly. Govr Clinton.
[2][docket]: 7th Octobr. 1787/Letter from Govr Franklin
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