Kingston, Robert M. (d. 1794) [Cypher]
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 #: GLC04764.01 Author/Creator: Kingston, Robert M. (d. 1794) Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript document Date: circa 1777-1779 Pagination: 1 p. ; 32.5 x 20 cm. Order a Copy
Appears to be Kingston's cypher to communicate with his superiors while a prisoner of war after the Battle of Saratoga. On verso are the names of the people who seem to be in on the coded messages: General Sir William Howe, General Robert Pigot, General William Phillips, and General Henry Clinton. Altogether there are 14 areas cut out, each one numbered, when placed over a coded letter of the same size will convey the true message.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.