Autograph Letter Signed

Maria Butler speaks of the death of General Butler to Washington

Letter, discusses death of Butler; discusses pioneeers and frontier life; discusses militia and protection of the frontier.

Ltr, dis militia & frontier protection.

1791

12

22

Pittsburgh

George Washington

Mrs Butler

Maria Butler

Mary Butler

General Butler

Richard Butler

relick

widow

children

regular troops

guards

Governor

militia

brother

husband

father

Pittsburgh

wilderness

Westmoreland County

Washington County

Fayet County

Allegheny County

frontier

anxiety

garrison

public property

strength

land

blood

they cannot give the people confidence to sit still

examples of one or two families

ardent desire to be protected on the land that was so dear to my friend and to live in the country that his blood has been shed for

father to the people and to me

succession of melancholy events

great anxiety I feel

his body lies in the wilderness

address you with diffidence if I did not know from your great philanthropy that you can enter into the feelings of individuals

1791122290101

1

To The President
of the united states’

Pittsrbur

Washington
from Mrs Butler

Pitts Burgh Decr 22

Sir

I should address you with diffidence if I did not know from our great Philanthropy, that you own can enter into the feelings of Individuals

I am the unhappy <ins>Relict</ins> of Gen^l Butler (official Accounts will have informd you of the particulars)[indecipherable] only believe I am Almost worn out by a succession of Melancoly Events - I am beleagured now for sorrow With the [undecipherable] I can make and the great Anxiety I feel, for mine and my Childrens situation as [undecipherable] not one Whit. [undecipherable] between my house and the spot where his Body lies in the Wilderness. I am compeld by my Miserable feelings, to request you if it is not Inconsistent with the Policy of the United States, to have [undecipherable] Regular Troops

garrison at this place, as the Inhabitants can witness how much Publick property has been [indecipherable] from time to time for want of guards.

A Committee from the four Countys Westmorland Fayet Washington and Allegany has met in this place - Praying some immediate relief from the Governor and legislature of this state - as I feel confident they will not send - the consequences I suffer will be the Militia orderd out in the Frontier - which if anything can be [undecipherable] then nothing they are - they cannot give the People confidence to [undecipherable] - And at present the Inhabitants only wants the example of one or two families to [undecipherable] from [undecipherable] to drain the [undecipherable strengths - it is my ardent desire be protected on the land that was so dear to [undecipherable] and to live in the Country that his blood has been shed for - I hope you [undecipherable] to this [undecipherable] the unhappy and Miserable state of

Mary Butler


May the supreme orator long spare you to be A Father to the People and to Me who has lost in one year father husband and brother