SIR,

Joshua Wentworth to Henry Pelham

PORTSMO., April 7th, 1775.

Your favor of 14th March I rec'd 5th Inst. per post. Observe Mr. Copely's Bill for Mrs. Wentworth's portrait which, if compleat, shou'd with great pleasure discharge the demand, and as ready pay a like sum for mine. Mr. Copely, on my determination, of hav'g those portraits taken, Engag'd with me no other's shou'd impeed the excecution of them. After Mrs Wentworth had set many days, and myself one, he agreed and finish'd a Portrait for a Mrs Babcock, wch exceedingly disapointed my Intentions, and my business cal'g me hither, was oblig'd to leave Boston, without a finish of either Portrait. I cannot determine when Mrs Wentworth will [be] in Boston; her present Curcumstances will not admit her Visit'g it for some months.

I purpose to ride thither in May, if the hurry of Govement at home does not oblige the Inhabitants to abandon their Houses for a more agreeable retreat, from the Clamours of War.

I shall wait on you when I go to Boston, in the Interim am, Sir, Your mt. obt. Servt.

JOSH. WENTWORTH.1

1

DEAR SIR,

Henry Pelham to Charles Startin

BOSTON, May 3d, 1775.

My Friend Mr Nichols with his Family returning to Philadelphia] Induces me to trouble you with a Line, the

1 Joshua (1742-1809), son of Daniel and Elizabeth Wentworth, merchant, married Sally Peirce.

many

Principle Purport of which is to request you to add to the obligations I am already under by favouring me with Letters to some of your Friends in England. I feel a Regrett in being so troublesome, but know'g your willingness to Oblige I flatter myself I shall obtain you[r] Pardon.

The very Malencholly Event which has lately happend here forces me with the multitude to abandon my Nativ[e] Land, and seek that bread at a Distanc[e], which by the Vicicetudes of Fortune I am denied at Home. Mrs. Copley with the children I expect will sail in one of the first Vessels for London, Where I purpose following in a few Weeks, and where I flatter myself it will not be long before I have the pleasure of see❜g you and Mrs. Startin.

I must Refer you to Mr. Nichols for the Perticulars of the situation of this distress[ed] Town. It is impossable for me to describe the unhappy tran[s]actions of that fatal day and the consequent Misery to which it has reduced [the] Inhabitants [of] this once flourishing and happy Town. Consternation is pictured in every face, every Cheek grows Pale, every lip trembles at the Recital of the Horrid tale.2

Our very amiable Frie[n]d Miss Sally Bromfield and my self had a very providential Escape from being in the midst of the Battle. When I found[?] that there was a disturbance in the Country I took a Horse and Chaise determined to go to My Brothers at Newton and perswade them to come to Boston as a

1 Erased: "Mr Copley in some of his late Letters desires his Love and best Wishes might be perticularly present'd to his Philadelphia Friends. I beg to unite with him in proper Regards to yourself and Mrs. Startin and I Conclude with Wishing you all Health and Peace. I am, Dear Sir, your much Obliged and most Humble Sert.

2 The affair of Lexington and Concord.

"HENRY PELHAM."

A

place of Safety. I went to the ferry, where I was refused a passage, under pretence of the Winds being too high, tho a Chais[e] went over in the very boat befor[e]. anxious for my Frie[n]ds (as the Country was then in the utmost Confusion) I thought this a great Disapo[i]ntment, and was very angry with the Ferrymen, as I lost an hour, being obliged to go ove[r] the neck. This I so perticularly mention as it tu[r]nd out a very lucky Circumstanc[e]. Find'g my Brother unable to move, being confind with the gout, I directly turnd my attention to Miss Bromfield who was at Cambridg[e], where I immed[iat]ely went and took her into my Chaise. I went to Cambrid[g]e B[r]idg[e] and fou[n]d it taken up. deterrd by former unsuccess from attempting the ferry I went by the way of Water Town Bridge and safely reach'd Home. Mr. Harry Bromfield went the same afternoon to Cambridge to fetch his Sister Down. finding her just gone with me, he returned to the Ferry, when he fou[n]d the boats stopped by Order of the General, the Armies fast approach'g to Charl[e]stown, and that being a very unsafe place he but just escaped over Charlestow[n] Neck before the retreat'g Army enter'd it. He has Rem[aine]d 13 days in the Country unable to see his Frie[n]ds, or they him till to day, when he obtain'd a Pass from the Gen'l and retu[r]nd home. This I take a pleasure in Relating as a[m]ids[t] the Horrors of that of that dreadfull Day, I feel myself exceed❜g happy in rescue'g my lov[e]ly Frie[n]d from such a Scene of Distress and Danger, and have from the fortunate Disapo[i]ntment at the Ferry Tear[n]t much usefull Philosophy, not to make myself uneasy at what I cant avoid, and in all the gloomy Prospects of Life to think with Pope, Whatever is, is right

I am just begining a Minature Port[r]ait of Mr. Clarke which I shall send by the first Opertunity to Mrs. Startin.

I conclude with sincer[e]ly Wish'g that Health and Peace may ever attend you and Mr[s] Startin.

I am, Dear Sir, your much obliged and Very Hm St.

[Unsigned.]

Henry Pelham to Copley1

[May

- 1775.]

Th The People in the Country have made it a Rule for a long time Past to brand every one with the Name of Tory and consider them as Inimical to the Liberties of America who are not will'g to go every length with them in their Scheems however mad or who show the least doubt of the justice and Humanity of all their measures, or even entertain an Idea that they may not produce those salutary effects they profess to have in View. This conduct has rendered My Brother P————— very uneasy. they have long looked askew at him; his being a Churchman is considered as a suspicious Circumstanc[e]. in short he has for some time meditated a Retreat from his present place of abode and has depended upon me for Intellegenc[e] of any movement in this town which might effect a threatned attack upon the tories

My Sister Copley and myself proposed going to Newton the very day of the battle but in the Morn'g finding a disturbance in the Country we alterd our plan and with your horse and Chaise I went alone to alarm my Brother and perswade him and my Sister to come to town as a place of safety. I went to the ferry. The ferrymen refused to carry me over, the Wind being high tho there was then a Chais[e] passing over. This I consider❜d as a great disapo[i]ntment and scolded at the Ferrymen who I thot acting out of their line of Duty. I here lost an

1 Possibly another draft or a part of the letter on p. 322, infra.

hour, being obliged to Return thro the town and go over the Neck. This in the sequel will appear a very fortunate Circumstance, as it detered [me] from attempting to return the same way. I found my brother unable to move being confined with the Gout. Anxious for my Fri[e]nds, as the Country was now in the utmost Confusion, my attention was drawn to our Amiable Fri[e]nd Miss Sally Bromfield, who was then at Cambridge. I went and took her into my Chaise. The people hav❜g taken up Cambridge Bridge to stop the Troops in their Retreat, and fear❜g another disapo'ntment at Charlestown, I thot it most prudent to Return home by the Way of Watertown, tho it was 13 Miles, which I happyly effected by Sunsett, after hav'g Rid post a Circuit of 30 Miles. Had we Returnd thro Charleston we should have been in the midst of the Battle and have remain❜d a fortnight involuntary exiles from our Fri[e]nds who as it was were very uneasy for us. This is evident, Mr Harry B. having gone the same afternoon to fetch his Sister down but finding she had ju[s]t left her Uncles with me hastned immediatly back to the Ferry where he found the boats stopp'd by Order of the Gen❜l. The Armies fast approach'g and that being a very unsafe place he had but just time to escape over Charleston Neck before the retreat'g army entered it. He was forced to Rem[a]in 13 days in the Country unable to see his Fr[i]ends before he could obtain a pass to Return home. amidst the Horrors of that fatal Day, I feel myself peculiarly happy in being instrumental in rescuing my very lovely Fri[e]nd from such a Scene of Distress and Danger. The other Circumstance was this: finding I should have no busness here, my self and frie[n]ds thought it advisable for me to go to Philada. I had agreed for my Passage and was pack'g up my things expecting to sail the next Mon'g, when in the Night the Capt. fearʼg some