French and Indian Cruelty; Exemplified in the Life and Various
Item #78597
WILLIAMSON, Peter. French and Indian Cruelty; Exemplified in the Life and Various Vicissitudes of Fortune, of Peter Williamson, Containing, a Particular Account of the Manners, Customs, and Dress, of the Savages...A Summary of the Transactions of the Several Provinces of Pennsylvania, New-York, New-England...From the Commencement of the War in These Parts; Particularly, Those Relative to the Intended Attack on Crown Point and Niagara.... Glasgow: J. Bryce and D. Paterson, 1758. iv,112pp. Early calf-backed marbled boards, black morocco gilt label. Boards rubbed, corners bumped, spine ends worn. Two armorial bookplates on front pastedown (see below), annotations on front pastedown and front free endpaper. Small wormholes at gutter of top and bottom of textblock running the length of the volume (just touching one letter of the title, otherwise no text affected), and a small bit of worming to the outside margin of a few middle leaves (no text affected), internally quite clean. About very good. In blue morocco-backed slipcase and chemise, spine gilt. HOWES W-500, "b." Vail 526A. Sabin 104469. Ayer 317. The self-styled "third edition, with considerable improvements," issued the year after the superlatively rare first, of what Vail calls "the most popular of all Indian captivities." Peter Williamson was born in Scotland, but was kidnapped and sold into bondage in Pennsylvania when he was eight years old. His master proved kind and ultimately became his benefactor, leaving Williamson enough money to marry and establish himself on a farm near the forks of the Delaware. In 1754 he was captured by Indians, probably Delaware, held captive for three months, and submitted to various tortures and humiliations. Escaping in January 1755, he joined the army and was first sent to Boston, and then with the expedition to defend Oswego. When Oswego was captured by the French, he was wounded and taken prisoner. Ultimately he was paroled and sent to England, arriving in November 1756. An early owner of this copy, William Lee Antonie (1764-1815), was an active member of Whig society, and a reluctant Member of Parliament for Great Marlow in Buckinghamshire. He inherited estates at Totteridge Park and Colworth House, though lived chiefly at Colworth. This copy bears both Lee Antonie's bookplates and an inscription from the Totteridge Park library.
Price: $9,500.00