James DeLancey Letter to William Kempe

Collection

Identifier: SC 00637

Staff Only
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Letter, James DeLancey, New York, N.Y. to William Kempe, Greenwich, New York

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Scope and Contents

Letter from James DeLancey, acting Governor Of New York, to William Kempe, the royally commissioned provincial Attorney General of New York, concerning a potential mutiny by sailors on the Hudson River. The following is a transcript of the letter provided by the seller:

New York 27th March 1759

Sir

I was yesterday at the Generals shown a letter from you to Captain Pettigrew threatning to sue him in behalf of some of his sailors, the General [Amherst?] has desired me to acquaint you, that his vessel is taken into his Majesty's Service as a transport, which may be obstructed if the Sailors should quit the vessel. Colonel Robertson has promised me that the men shall be paid their wages due as soon as the vessel goes into Hudsons River, and shall while in the transport service be allowed the same wages as other mariners shall have in it. His being reasonable, I do suppose the men will have no objection to it & there will be no further trouble on that account. I am your most humble servant

James Delancey

The letter was purchased on behalf of the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Inc.

Dates

Creation: 1759 March 27

Language of Materials

English

Conditions Governing Access:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. Â§ 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia Â§ 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Conditions Governing Use:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Biographical Information:

James DeLancey was born in New York, the son of French Hugenot emigrant Etienne (Stephen) DeLancey, and was educated in England, graduating from Cambridge and studying law at the Inss of Court. He returned to New York in 1725 and began his career in politics. DeLancey married Anne Heathcote, daughter of the Manor Lord of Scarsdale and Mayor of New York, Caleb Heathcote. He drafted a new charter for the city of New York and became its acting governor twice, from 1753-1755 and 1758-1760. During his tenure as Chief Justice of New York, DeLancey presided over the case of John Peter Zenger on charges of sedition and libel against Governor William Cosby.

Extent

0.01 Linear Foot

Additional Description

Acquisition Information:

Mss Acc. 2013.220 was received by Special Collections in August 2013 and was purchased on behalf of the National Society Daughters of Colonial Wars, Inc.