Sunday, December 29, 2013

*Petition Finding Aid - Josiah Harmer Papers


[draft... Fair use... Write library re: date and for copy of petition...]

Manuscripts Division
William L. Clements Library
University of Michigan
Josiah Harmar Papers, 1681-1937

[Finding aid created by Shannon Wait, April 2011]

"...After the failure of his campaign, Harmar continued to receive letters concerning news of the frontier and requests for help from settlers. Among these are a petition from the inhabitants of Clarksville, Ohio, reporting problems with Native Americans and asking for protection (December 3, 1790), and a notification that the inhabitants of Dunlap's Station planned to abandon the settlement because of an attack on their livestock and grain by natives (January 17, 1790) [sic?]. In another letter, the denizens of Bethany, Ohio, requested army protection and reported the recent killing of Abel Cook by Native Americans (February 28, 1791). Other letters concern Harmar's culpability in Harmar's Defeat; one item from John Armstrong notes, "You are censured for making detachments and the loss of some men improperly attributed to this cause" (March 1, 1791). Another from Major William Ferguson states, "Some have reported that you was intoxicated the greater part of the time, and others that misconduct had marked the whole of your expedition" (March 28, 1791). Also included is the March 18, 1791, appointment of Arthur St. Clair to succeed Harmar..."


http://quod.lib.umich.edu/c/clementsmss/umich-wcl-M-306har?view=text