Details
DANFORTH, THOMAS, President of the Province of Maine. Autograph document signed ("Tho Danforth Presidt.") as President of the Province of Maine, to "Major Charles Frost in Kittery," "Province of Mayne," 17 February 1689. 1 page, folio, 305 x 194mm. (12 1/8 x 7 5/8 in.), integral address leaf, neatly repaired from verso (with sections of a contemporary letter), lightly browned, three holes (affecting a few words in concluding two lines of text), address leaf with two sections cut away and covered with account records (probably by Frost). RARE.
ORDERS TO "KILL AND DESTROY" NATIVE AMERICANS "WITHOUT LIMITATION"
A remarkable 17th century letter authorizing strong military action against Maine's Native Americans to the commander of the garrison at Kittery: "...You are with all care and speed to [go to] Ralston[?] [for] the gathering of your soldiers together...& appoint all those officers as you shall have occasion. You shall in all places & by all ways & means to your power take, kill, & destroy ye enemy [Native Americans] without limitation of place or time as you shall have opportunity...You shall carefully inspect all the Garisons in your province, & reduce those to such a number...as shall in yr wisdom most conduce to the preservation of the people..." In a post-script written across the left hand margin, he adds, "I have pervailed with Lt Andross to come back, esteeming him a fitt man for your Lt..."
Thomas Danforth (1623-1699) emigrated to Massachusetts in 1634. He served as Treasurer and later steward of Harvard College, and held various civil and legislative posts in the colony, including Deputy Governor, before becoming President of Maine in 1680. In the 1675 Indian war, he had joined with John Eliot in defending the "Praying Indians."
ORDERS TO "KILL AND DESTROY" NATIVE AMERICANS "WITHOUT LIMITATION"
A remarkable 17th century letter authorizing strong military action against Maine's Native Americans to the commander of the garrison at Kittery: "...You are with all care and speed to [go to] Ralston[?] [for] the gathering of your soldiers together...& appoint all those officers as you shall have occasion. You shall in all places & by all ways & means to your power take, kill, & destroy ye enemy [Native Americans] without limitation of place or time as you shall have opportunity...You shall carefully inspect all the Garisons in your province, & reduce those to such a number...as shall in yr wisdom most conduce to the preservation of the people..." In a post-script written across the left hand margin, he adds, "I have pervailed with Lt Andross to come back, esteeming him a fitt man for your Lt..."
Thomas Danforth (1623-1699) emigrated to Massachusetts in 1634. He served as Treasurer and later steward of Harvard College, and held various civil and legislative posts in the colony, including Deputy Governor, before becoming President of Maine in 1680. In the 1675 Indian war, he had joined with John Eliot in defending the "Praying Indians."