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| Field name | Value |
|---|---|
| Collection Reference Number | GLC03849.08 |
| From Archive Folder | Letters to Rufus Lincoln |
| Title | Incomplete letter from John Hewson to Rufus Lincoln with detailed descriptions of his life after escaping from a British PoW camp |
| Date | ca. 1820 |
| Author | Hewson, John (1744-1821) |
| Recipient | Lincoln, Rufus |
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Content Description | Undated, circa date inferred from other letters in the collection. Note in pencil in different hand says page 13 is the last, but it is missing here. Pages numbered 5-12 so beginning and end of letter are missing. After escaping to New Jersey, probably in October 1778, from a reference in another letter, they went back to pick up their fellow escapees who could not swim and paid their helpers with the canoe they stole. They were forced to keep moving and were helped by farmers who supported the Revolution. Says this took place in Monmouth County where "General How made so many wigs by his ill treatment, that they call'd him the wigg maker." Eventually made his way to Allentown, Pennsylvania. After locals couldn't help them because of their destitute state, they were taken in by a Tory family who felt ashamed to deny them help and put them to bed while they had a ball downstairs. Eventually makes it to Philadelphia, his hometown, and meets up with his family. Says his wife survived as a seamstress and that one of his 5 children had died. The local tailor gave him a suit of clothes to meet his wife in, and told him to pay whenever he could. Relates the stories of some of their acquaintances. Lincoln asked about a Mrs. Kendal in particular, and it seems that Hewson and Lincoln lodged in her home together at some point. Delves into religious topics and includes a discussion of his conversion experience in England at the age of 19. Tells of his first wife, his move to America, the death of his wife in childbirth, and his fidelity to the American cause. Says his military life hardened his heart with sin for six or seven years after his captivity. Describes his rejection of sin at this point in his life. |
| Subjects | Military History Global History and Civics Prisoner of War Soldier's Letter Revolutionary War Continental Army Finance Maritime Whigs Revolutionary War General Entertaining and Hospitality Loyalist Clothing and Accessories Women's History Charity and Philanthropy Death Children and Family Religion Landlord and Tenant Marriage Immigration and Migration Morality and Ethics |
| People | Lincoln, Rufus (1751-1838) Hewson, John (1744-1821) |
| Theme | The American Revolution; Children & Family; Women in American History; Merchants & Commerce; Health & Medicine; Religion |
| Sub-collection | The Gilder Lehrman Collection, 1493-1859 |
| Additional Information | Written by Hewson, a famous textile printer who was a prisoner of war during the Revolution to Lincoln as a former fellow prisoner. Lincoln was from Massachusetts. |
| Copyright | The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History |
| Module | Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859 |