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Domestic News
March 29, 1777
The Freeman's Journal, Or, New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
In March 1777, letters revealing potential treasonous correspondence with British loyalists were discovered hidden by John Moore of Peterborough, NH, who died of smallpox in Wallingford, CT. The letters, from figures like ex-Governor John Wentworth and John Cochran, prompted the arrest and examination of Robert Moore and Col. Stephen Holland by New Hampshire authorities; Moore was bonded, Holland acquitted.
Merged-components note: These two components form a single continuous news story about treasonous correspondence and related actions, split likely due to column boundaries on the same page with sequential reading order.
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EXETER. March 25. 1777.
Extract of a Letter from the Hon. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esq; Governor of Connecticut,
dated March 3d, 1777: sent to the Committee
of Safety for the State of New-Hampshire, viz.
ABOUT the middle of Jan. ult. one John
Moore of Peterborough, in the State of
New-Hampshire, obtained from me a Permit
to carry out of this State, Flax to said Town,
and likewise his Brother had another, both
went to Wallingford: one of them tarried.
the other left the Place, and was absent some
Time: on his Return was soon sick, which
proved to be the Small-Pox, of which he died: had on his Return a considerable Sum of
Dollar Bills, which were left with an honest
Man when he was removed to the Pest-House.
After his Death, one Dollar, eight Johannes,
and one Guinea were found in some safe
Place in his Clothes—at the House where he
returned in Wallingford, a Boy at the Barn
looking Hen's Eggs, putting his Hand into a
likely Place near the Manger, where this Man
put out his Horse, he felt a flat Stone, which
he removed, and under it found the Bundle of
Letters, which I have enclosed for your Observation and Use; they have been sufficiently
cleansed, as I am informed.
The Substance of several of the Letters
above refer'd to, are as follows, viz.
Extract of a Letter from John Wentworth,
late Governor of New-Hampshire, to his Sister
Ann Fisher in Portsmouth, dated at Flatbush,
Long-Island, eight Miles from New York,-
January 17, 1777.
Prevailed with a Man bound on a trading
Journey to forward this Letter—Mr.
Butler is well and in good Employ, where he
saves Money, &c.--- Pray remember me
kindly to all my Loyal steadfast Friends—The
Time of their Rejoicing is at hand—I will
not leave America until Peace is restored-
Those that love me, and that I love, will be
good to Prisoners and Captives--- I would
sell my All for their Comfort—Be ye steadfast,
be faithful: even to death—I know and re-
joice it is written on many good Souls, who me-
rit my best Love—o—I love you all.—and will
be with you either in Peace or WAR. as the
Provinces chuse—. I send you five Letters.
directed to Mr. Russell, they are for you, and
you must open them."
An exact Copy of a Letter, sign'd Wm. Stronge,"
(supposed to be the infamous William Starke,
who was lately indicted for altering and coun-
terfeiting Paper Bills of Credit, and passing
the same: and to avoid the Punishment due for
those Flagitious Crimes, he fled from Justice, to
the British Troops, as being thereby properly
qualified for an Officer in that Department)
directed to "Col. Stephen Ash in Nutfield."
dated Wallaburgh, January 20th, 1777.
DEAR BROTHER,
Send this line to inform you that we are
all in Good health allow under Ennock-
lation—your Good friend G-- thinks trans-
that o few friends Appear he Relays might-
fly on your Vengeance in ending he wishes
to shew that it is in his Powel to ave may
lives it they will trut himt as he looks upon
it his Hounor how money of his own People
he Could Cure—A word to the wise is enough
from your B. & friend Wm. Stronge.
Copy of a small Note, sign'd F. G. supposed to be
wrote by John Cochran, and directed to said
Stephen Ash.
"My dear Sir, I think best if possible for
you to come here, and bring a long with you
as many respectable inhabitants from your
place as possible, it may be the means of sav-
ing many poor lives and preventing Blood-
shed unless such Measures is adopted of that
kind I Dread the Consequences.
I am Sir yours, &c.
J. C.
A Copy of a Letter from said Cochran to his Wife.
"My Dear,
Would willingly Advise but Knows not
how or what to Advise you too at this
distance. I shall leave it intirely to your Ju-
dgement what you think best to be done in
these unhappy days, for I am so puzzled about
giving my Advice what to do that I am al-
most Crazy, however I think upon the whole
it would be best to remove farther off in the
Country as I am afraid you will suffer where
you are before it will be in my power to pro-
tect you, as there will be nothing but dis-
struction of Property, without any reserve, in
that Case would have you send off the most
valuable Effects you have left to some safe
place, if you know of any—I shall either
hope to find you at the Isle Shoals or up at
Londonderry—if you intend to Tarry where
you are I pray for Gods sake that there be no
CLERGYMAN. in the House, if there is:
your Life is not worth a Farthing as the whole
Race of that Tribe. will be spilt—if you see
any prospect of the affairs being Given up
without Bloodshed I had rather find you at
Hampton, than any where Else, &c.
John Cochran."
The Letters whereof the above are Extracts
having been transmitted to the Committee
of Safety as mentioned in Governor. Trum-
bull's Letter—and there being a violent pre-
sumption that one Robert Moore, of London-
derry, a brother of the said John Moore, de-
ceased, as mentioned by Governor Trumbull
in his Letter above referred to, was aiding, as-
sisting, and privy to a treasonable Correspon-
dence between persons in the British Army.
and sundry inhabitants of this State, inimical
to the Cause of America—and a strong sus-
picion also arising that the Letter signed W.
Strong addressed to Col. Stephen Ash. of Nut-
field, was in act written by the aforesaid W.
Starke. & design'd for Col. Stephen Holland
at Londonderry [Nutfield being the original
name of said Town] and also for other Corro-
borating. Circumstances—e—The said Com-
mittee. Ordered, That the said Robert
Moore and Col. Holland be apprehended &
brought before the General Assembly which
was done. & upon a due Examination, &c. it
was ordered, that the said Moore enter into
Bond with two sufficient Sureties. to appear
and answer to such Matters as might be. ob-
jected against him, on behalf of this, or any
of the United States of America. and not to
depart this State till further Orders. and in
the mean time to be of good behaviour. and
be a peaceable Subject of these States &c.
and that the said Col. Holland be fully ac-
quitted.
N. B. The Bundle aforementioned con-
tained also a Number of other Letters, which
were upon domestic Matters and not worthy
public Notice.
Extract of a Letter from the Hon. JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esq; Governor of Connecticut,
dated March 3d, 1777: sent to the Committee
of Safety for the State of New-Hampshire, viz.
ABOUT the middle of Jan. ult. one John
Moore of Peterborough, in the State of
New-Hampshire, obtained from me a Permit
to carry out of this State, Flax to said Town,
and likewise his Brother had another, both
went to Wallingford: one of them tarried.
the other left the Place, and was absent some
Time: on his Return was soon sick, which
proved to be the Small-Pox, of which he died: had on his Return a considerable Sum of
Dollar Bills, which were left with an honest
Man when he was removed to the Pest-House.
After his Death, one Dollar, eight Johannes,
and one Guinea were found in some safe
Place in his Clothes—at the House where he
returned in Wallingford, a Boy at the Barn
looking Hen's Eggs, putting his Hand into a
likely Place near the Manger, where this Man
put out his Horse, he felt a flat Stone, which
he removed, and under it found the Bundle of
Letters, which I have enclosed for your Observation and Use; they have been sufficiently
cleansed, as I am informed.
The Substance of several of the Letters
above refer'd to, are as follows, viz.
Extract of a Letter from John Wentworth,
late Governor of New-Hampshire, to his Sister
Ann Fisher in Portsmouth, dated at Flatbush,
Long-Island, eight Miles from New York,-
January 17, 1777.
Prevailed with a Man bound on a trading
Journey to forward this Letter—Mr.
Butler is well and in good Employ, where he
saves Money, &c.--- Pray remember me
kindly to all my Loyal steadfast Friends—The
Time of their Rejoicing is at hand—I will
not leave America until Peace is restored-
Those that love me, and that I love, will be
good to Prisoners and Captives--- I would
sell my All for their Comfort—Be ye steadfast,
be faithful: even to death—I know and re-
joice it is written on many good Souls, who me-
rit my best Love—o—I love you all.—and will
be with you either in Peace or WAR. as the
Provinces chuse—. I send you five Letters.
directed to Mr. Russell, they are for you, and
you must open them."
An exact Copy of a Letter, sign'd Wm. Stronge,"
(supposed to be the infamous William Starke,
who was lately indicted for altering and coun-
terfeiting Paper Bills of Credit, and passing
the same: and to avoid the Punishment due for
those Flagitious Crimes, he fled from Justice, to
the British Troops, as being thereby properly
qualified for an Officer in that Department)
directed to "Col. Stephen Ash in Nutfield."
dated Wallaburgh, January 20th, 1777.
DEAR BROTHER,
Send this line to inform you that we are
all in Good health allow under Ennock-
lation—your Good friend G-- thinks trans-
that o few friends Appear he Relays might-
fly on your Vengeance in ending he wishes
to shew that it is in his Powel to ave may
lives it they will trut himt as he looks upon
it his Hounor how money of his own People
he Could Cure—A word to the wise is enough
from your B. & friend Wm. Stronge.
Copy of a small Note, sign'd F. G. supposed to be
wrote by John Cochran, and directed to said
Stephen Ash.
"My dear Sir, I think best if possible for
you to come here, and bring a long with you
as many respectable inhabitants from your
place as possible, it may be the means of sav-
ing many poor lives and preventing Blood-
shed unless such Measures is adopted of that
kind I Dread the Consequences.
I am Sir yours, &c.
J. C.
A Copy of a Letter from said Cochran to his Wife.
"My Dear,
Would willingly Advise but Knows not
how or what to Advise you too at this
distance. I shall leave it intirely to your Ju-
dgement what you think best to be done in
these unhappy days, for I am so puzzled about
giving my Advice what to do that I am al-
most Crazy, however I think upon the whole
it would be best to remove farther off in the
Country as I am afraid you will suffer where
you are before it will be in my power to pro-
tect you, as there will be nothing but dis-
struction of Property, without any reserve, in
that Case would have you send off the most
valuable Effects you have left to some safe
place, if you know of any—I shall either
hope to find you at the Isle Shoals or up at
Londonderry—if you intend to Tarry where
you are I pray for Gods sake that there be no
CLERGYMAN. in the House, if there is:
your Life is not worth a Farthing as the whole
Race of that Tribe. will be spilt—if you see
any prospect of the affairs being Given up
without Bloodshed I had rather find you at
Hampton, than any where Else, &c.
John Cochran."
The Letters whereof the above are Extracts
having been transmitted to the Committee
of Safety as mentioned in Governor. Trum-
bull's Letter—and there being a violent pre-
sumption that one Robert Moore, of London-
derry, a brother of the said John Moore, de-
ceased, as mentioned by Governor Trumbull
in his Letter above referred to, was aiding, as-
sisting, and privy to a treasonable Correspon-
dence between persons in the British Army.
and sundry inhabitants of this State, inimical
to the Cause of America—and a strong sus-
picion also arising that the Letter signed W.
Strong addressed to Col. Stephen Ash. of Nut-
field, was in act written by the aforesaid W.
Starke. & design'd for Col. Stephen Holland
at Londonderry [Nutfield being the original
name of said Town] and also for other Corro-
borating. Circumstances—e—The said Com-
mittee. Ordered, That the said Robert
Moore and Col. Holland be apprehended &
brought before the General Assembly which
was done. & upon a due Examination, &c. it
was ordered, that the said Moore enter into
Bond with two sufficient Sureties. to appear
and answer to such Matters as might be. ob-
jected against him, on behalf of this, or any
of the United States of America. and not to
depart this State till further Orders. and in
the mean time to be of good behaviour. and
be a peaceable Subject of these States &c.
and that the said Col. Holland be fully ac-
quitted.
N. B. The Bundle aforementioned con-
tained also a Number of other Letters, which
were upon domestic Matters and not worthy
public Notice.
What sub-type of article is it?
Politics
Crime
Legal Or Court
What keywords are associated?
Treasonable Correspondence
Smallpox Death
Loyalist Letters
British Army
Counterfeiting
Apprehension
Committee Of Safety
Revolutionary War
What entities or persons were involved?
Jonathan Trumbull
John Moore
Robert Moore
John Wentworth
Ann Fisher
William Starke
Stephen Ash
Stephen Holland
John Cochran
Where did it happen?
New Hampshire
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
New Hampshire
Event Date
March 25, 1777
Key Persons
Jonathan Trumbull
John Moore
Robert Moore
John Wentworth
Ann Fisher
William Starke
Stephen Ash
Stephen Holland
John Cochran
Outcome
john moore died of smallpox; robert moore entered into bond to appear and be of good behavior; col. stephen holland fully acquitted.
Event Details
John Moore of Peterborough, NH, obtained a permit to carry flax to Wallingford, CT, where he died of smallpox after hiding a bundle of letters. The letters included treasonable correspondence from John Wentworth, William Starke, and John Cochran, revealing loyalist sentiments and warnings. The letters were forwarded to the Committee of Safety, leading to the apprehension and examination of Robert Moore and Col. Stephen Holland.