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King Philip’s War: John Sharpe

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:25,000.00 - 30,000.00 USD
King Philip’s War: John Sharpe

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Auction Date:2018 Jul 11 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Excessively rare firsthand primary account of King Philip's War by one of its participants: an ALS signed "John Sharpe," one page, 7.5 x 12.25, January 8, 1676, written on a handmade sheet of rag content paper with a column and grape leaves style watermark. Letter to his former employer, mill-owner Thomas Meekins. In part (spelling and grammar retained): "my saving remembrance unto you and my dame hopeing you are weell as I am at the riting heareof blessed be god for it: my wiff desiars to be remembered unto you and my dame and wee are yet in our habitations thro gods marsi but we are in expectation of the enimi everi day if god be not the more marsifull unto us I have been out 7 weeks my self and if provision had not grown short we had folood the enimi into your borders and then I would have given you a visit if it had been posibel for I went out a volintere under Ca wardsworth of milton but he is caled hom to scout about there oune toun and so I left off the desine at present-there is many of oure frends are taken from us Ca. Jonson of roxberi was slaine at naragansit and will lincorn died before his wound was cured: and filap Curtis was slaine at a wigwame above mendham but we have lost but one man with us these wares my mother vose is ded and my sister swift I pray remember my lov to John elis and his wiff and the rest of oure frinds and however it is like to fare with us god knows and wee…Comit all oure afairs into his hands so having nothing els desiaring youre praiars for us." Addressed on the reverse of the second integral leaf, "This for loving Master Thomas Meekins living at hatfield." In very good condition, with small areas of paper loss along edges and fragile folds, and light staining to parts of text and edges (not affecting readability). First published in The New England Historical and Genealogical Journal, January 1856.

The bloodiest conflict to take place in 17th-century America, King Philip's War placed a coalition of Native Americans led by Metacomet, who had taken the English name King Philip, against the settlers of New England. Sharpe, who had taken leave, had been fighting under the command of Captain Samuel Wadsworth and provides a summary of the action that had taken place. Notably, he points out the death of Captain Isaac Johnson, killed at the Great Swamp Fight against the Narragansett tribe despite it being a brutal, lopsided colonial victory. Sharpe soon returned to action under Captain Wadsworth and in April the troops marched to Sudbury to relieve the town from Metacomet's siege. While reconnoitering nearby the men were ambushed by Wampanoag warriors and both Sharpe and Wadsworth were killed. Primary manuscript material from King Philip's War is virtually unobtainable, with this example boasting excellent content from an early date.