Jeffery Amherst Collection
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Amherst College Archives and Special Collections Amherst, MA
Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Peter A. Nelson. 2010-02-16
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Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Creation of Jeffery Amherst Collection
Time of Creation of Jeffery Amherst Collection
3 flat oversize boxes, 1 archives box, 1 small media box
Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797
Biographical History for: Jeffery Amherst Collection
Biographical Note Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, was born at Riverhead, in the parish of Sevenoaks, Kent, England, on January 29, 1717. His career as a British soldier began in 1735 when, at the age of eighteen, he joined the First Regiment of Foot Guards as an ensign. While in Europe, Amherst fought in the War of Austrian Succession and, at the outbreak of the Seven Years' War in 1756 he confronted the French both in England and in Germany. In 1758, he was summoned back to England by Prime Minister William Pitt to take command of an army of over 11,000 men ordered to attack Louisburg, the great French stronghold in North America. As commander-in-chief of the British troops during the French and Indian War (1756-1763), Amherst led the conquest of Louisburg, Quebec City and Montréal. He also served as the nominal Governor of Virginia (1759-1768), and was the first British Governor General (1760-1763) in the territories that eventually became Canada. Jeffery Amherst left North America in 1763, and retreated to his property in Kent, Great Britain. In 1768, when King George III decided that all governors should reside in the Colonies, Amherst resigned as governor of Virginia, giving up his military commissions as well. Several months later he was given additional military commissions and 20,000 acres in New York and was appointed to the sinecure governorship of the island of Guernsey. He declined to command the British forces in New England during the American Revolution. In 1776 Amherst served as military adviser to the Cabinet and was made Baron Amherst of Holmesdale. After France entered the war in 1778, he was appointed commander of the military forces in England and was active in the suppression of the Gordon riots. At the beginning of 1793, in view of the approaching war with France in 1792, Amherst - though now 76 years of age - was recalled to active duty and appointed commander-in-chief with a seat in the cabinet. He retired again two years later. Promoted field marshal as of 30 July 1796, Amherst died on 3 Aug. 1797. He was married twice, but left no descendants. In 1788, though, the title Baron Amherst of Montreal was conferred with a special remainder allowing the title to pass to his nephew, William Pitt Amherst. (It is in honor of General Amherst that the Town of Amherst, Massachusetts was named when it was incorporated in 1759; Amherst College derives its name from the town.) [Sources used: "Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst." Encyclopedia Britannica Online, 2010. Web. 25 Jan. 2010 http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9035340; Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online. Web. 25 Jan. 2010 http://www.biographi.ca/009004-119.01-e.php?BioId=35854. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Web. 29 Jan 2010 http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC]
The Jeffery Amherst Collection (1757-1797) was assembled in 2010 from materials either purchased by or donated to the Amherst College Library by alumni since the 1930s. Some of the letters are accompanied by transcriptions provided by their respective donors.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Jeffery Amherst Collection (bulk 1757-1797) consists chiefly of handwritten letters exchanged between Jeffery Amherst and British army officials or government authorities. It also contains engraved portraits of General Amherst, bills signed by him, newspaper clippings and a set of eight medals commemorating British war victories in North America. This collection complements the Plimpton Collection of French and Indian War Items, especially Series 1 (Lord Jeffery Amherst). Correspondents include Thomas Hancock, Colonel John Bradstreet, Viscount William Barrington and Henry Dundas.
There is no restriction on access to the Jeffery Amherst Collection for research use. Particularly fragile items may be restricted for preservation purposes.
Requests for permission to publish material from Jeffery Amherst Collection should be directed to the Archives and Special Collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights.
Amherst Papers Plimpton Collection of French and Indian War Items, 1670-1934 (see especially Series 1, Lord Jeffery Amherst) Town of Amherst Collection, 1845-Non-Alumni Biographical Files - Amherst, Jeffery, Sir
Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797 -- Correspondence.
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Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797.
Bradstreet, John, 1711-1774.
Barrington, William Wildman Barrington, Viscount, 1717-1793.
Dundas, Henry, Viscount Melville, 1742-1811.
United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763.
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series
Series 1: Loose correspondence, 1757-1797
Correspondence exchanged between Jeffery Amherst and British army officials or government authorities, with the exception of two letters authored by William Amherst. This series also contains a few engraved portraits of Jeffery Amherst, autographs, bills issued by the Office of Ordinance regarding provisions for troops, and newspaper clippings.
Note in French with a reference to Jeffery Amherst 1757
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Headquarters of Bulveldt) to Mr. Da Costa 1757 Jun 5
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Bostehude) to Mr. Da Costa 1758 Jan 2
Three letters with transcriptions from William Amherst (St. James Place) to Mrs. Amherst (Jeffery's wife) 1758
Document signed by George Milton, attesting his position as a soldier of a regiment commanded by Jeffery Amherst 1759 May 24
Note from General James Wolfe to Jeffery Amherst (Duquesne) and three engravings of Wolfe's death 1759 Jun
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Thomas Hancock accompanied by a portrait of Amherst engraved for the Universal Magazine, London 1760 Feb 3
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Governor Hamilton 1760 Feb 21
Commission of John Christopher as Lieutenant of the Seventeenth Regiment of Foot signed by Jeffery Amherst (vellum document) - with transcription 1760 Sep 18
Order signed by Jeffery Amherst commanding 14 Canadians to return from Crown Point to St. John's. 1760 Oct 16
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Thomas Hancock 1760 Dec 5
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Captain Rutherford 1761 Feb 6
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Thomas Hancock (Boston) 1761 Mar 28
Order for payment of William Johnson, "his Majesty's Sole Agent and Superintendent for the Affairs of the Northern Indians", signed by Jeffery Amherst (Albany) 1761 June 11
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Albany) to Thomas Hancock 1761 Jul 1
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Staaten Island) to Colonel Bradstreet 1761 Oct 4
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Staaten Island) to Colonel Bradstreet, regarding requisition of horses and other matters 1761 Oct 25
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Colonel William Byrd - with transcription 1761 Dec 3
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to William Johnson regarding Indian lands and trading privileges at Niagara 1762 Feb 14
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island 1762 Apr 25
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Captain Graves (ship Antelope) 1762 Aug 30
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Jeremiah Dyson about complaints made by victualling contractors - with transcription 1763 Apr 12
Record of a Massachusetts Bay Colony's session containing the reproduction of two letters from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Governor James Hamilton regarding attacks from Native Americans (printed page 45-46) ca. 1763
Jeffery Amherst's signature and seal on envelope addressed to Eleazar Wheelock (Lebanon, N.H.) 1763 May 23
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Thomas Hancock (Boston) 1763 Jul 24
Photostatic copy of a letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to John Cruger, Mayor of the city of New York 1763 Aug 10
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury in regard to the regiment destined to Florida and Louisiana 1763 Aug 13
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Colonel Bradstreet (Albany) 1763 Sep 3
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to C. Jenkinson - with transcription 1763 Oct 13
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (New York) to Thomas Hancock 1763 Nov 13
Grant of land from the colony of New York to Jeffery Amherst 1774 Jan 8
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to Mr. Sharpe. 1775 Jan 28
Edition of The New England Chronicle; or, Essex Gazette, vol. 7, n. 361, folio, 4 pp (reference to Jeffery Amherst) 1775 Jun 29
Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to Sr. Grey Cooper 1775 Nov 23
Document from the office of Ordinance to Richard Veale, signed by Jeffery Amherst 1776 Oct 10
Order from the Office of Ordinance countersigned by Jeffery Amherst 1776 Nov 1
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to Viscount Barrington 1777 Jan 25
Photocopy of an engraving depicting "Montreal, the Seat of Lord Amherst," published in London 1777 May 1
Order from the Office of Ordinance countersigned by Jeffery Amherst 1777 May 22
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to Viscount Barrington 1777 Nov 28
Bill issued by the Office of Ordinance regarding provisions for troops. Signed by Jeffery Amherst. 1778 Jan 20
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to James Lowther, and portrait of Lord Amherst engraved by H. T. Hall from the original of Sir Joshua Reynolds, published in London (1837) - with transcription 1778 Sep 26
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to Mr. Doddington 1779 Nov 22
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Whitehall) to Lord Sandwich With transcription 1782 Jan 2
Caricature of Jeffery Amherst published by C. Bretherton 1782 Apr 6
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Montreal) to Henry Cowper 1787 Dec 23
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Lord George Sidney 1789 Jan 8
Commission of John Pritland Hollings, approved by the King and signed by Jeffery Amherst 1789 May 4
Letter from Jeffery Amherst to Colonel Kemble 1789 Jun 15
Document assigning supplies to troops in North America, including Jeffery Amherst's regiment, signed by George III-with transcription 1789 Jul 3
Three letters from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Sr. George Yonge 1790 Mar-Oct
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Sr. George Yonge 1791 Apr 1
Royal warrant of payment to Jeffery Amherst. Signed by King George III 1791 Jul 13
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Sir. George Yonge requesting a leave of absence for Ensign Pritchard 1792 Jan 12
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Sr. George Yonge - with transcription 1792 Feb 24
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (Montreal, Kent) to Henry Dundas 1792 Sep 13
7 engraved portraits of Jeffery Amherst 1792-1836
Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Sir George Yonge concerning the state of health of Ensign Clarke. 1793 Jan 15
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Lieutenant Eyre - with transcription 1793 Jul 6
Autograph manuscript from Jeffery Amherst to General Whyte 1793 Nov 9
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to 1794 Feb 22
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Henry Dundas 1794 May 17
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to Captain Colin Campbell - with transcription 1794 Oct 24
Letter from Jeffery Amherst (St. James Square) to General Small - with transcription 1796 Mar 16
William Amherst, 2nd Baron (Montreal) to John E. Van Alen (Kent, England) regarding an estate of 20,000 acres granted to his uncle Jeffery Amherst - with transcriptions 1797 Aug 30
Jeffery Amherst's signature n.d.
Jeffery Amherst's signature - "Adieu for the present. Most affectionately yours, Amherst" n.d.
Engraving entitled: "Montreal, Seat of Lord Amherst of Holmsdale" n.d.
Engraved portrait of Jeffery Amherst after the original picture in the National Portrait Gallery. Published in London 1874
Series 2: Letter books, 1742-1778
Three bound volumes of letters and battlefield orders written by Jeffery Amherst.
"Orders from the 28th of Oct 1742 1742-1743
"Orders from Feb. 2. 1742/3 N:I: at Ghent. To July 20th: 1743 1742/3. N:I: both Days Inclusive, At the Camp of Hanay. N. 2" 1742-1743
Letter book 1778
Series 3: Medals, 1758-1789
Eight bronze and silver medals commemorating the victories of the British Army in the wars in North America.
Bronze medal commemorating the successes of 1758 1758
Bronze medal commemorating the successes of 1759 1759
Silver medal commemorating the taking of Montreal in 1760 1760
Bronze medal commemorating the taking of Montreal in 1760 1760
Bronze medal commemorating victories in the West Indies and Newfoundland 1762
Bronze medal commemorating successes of 1759 1759
Bronze medal commemorating British-American victories 1758
Bronze medal 1789
Series 4: Portraits and Memorabilia, 1792-1967
Contains news clippings about Lord Jeffery Amherst's participation in the French and Indian Wars, as well as copies of artistic portraits done chiefly in the eighteenth century.
"Catalogue of Rare & Valuable Books and Manuscripts from the Famous Amherst Library" 1911
Earl Amherst's pictures 1921
News clippings about the honors given to Jeffery Amherst in New York 1924-1958
Lord Jeffery Amherst Song 1928-1936
Jeffery Amherst's armchair - correspondence and news Clippings 1930s
Newspaper review about "The Journal of Jeffrey Amherst," edited by J. Clarence Webster 1932
Lord Jeffery Inn 1933
Check Written by Earl Amherst (Jeffery John Archer, Viscount of Holmesdale) for the Alumni Gym 1935-36
News clippings about Earl Amherst, including his visit to Amherst College in 1959 1937-1967
Article from the Springfield Republican about the song "Yankee Doodle" 1938 Feb 15
Towns in Nova Scotia and Burma 1941-1962
Jeffery Amherst's horse 1953 Aug 4
Amherst family chapel and Sevenoaks Church, Kent, England 1953-1964
Articles about Jeffery Amherst in History Today 1955, 1959
Cover of the Amherst Alumni News - Bicentennial Exhibit 1960 Jan
Sermon by Dr. Heuss about General Richard Montgomery 1960-61
Lady of Amherst Pheasant 1962-67
Article in the Daily Hampshire Gazette citing Jeffery Amherst's refusal to fight in American Revolution 1963 Apr 19
Sr. Jeffery Amherst Crown Point Inn, Sevenoaks, Kent n.d.
Photograph of the Wellington Chapel, England, where there is a large tablet of Jeffery Amherst n.d.
Fort Louisburg's restoration n.d.
Newspaper articles about the French and Indian Wars n.d.
Jeffery Amherst silver tea caddy set n.d.
Transcriptions of journal articles about Jeffery Amherst n.d.
Amherstia Nobilis (flowering tree in Burma) n.d.
Advertisement of a biography of Jeffery Amherst by Lawrence Shaw Mayo n.d.
Amherst family genealogy n.d.
Photographs of Amherst's Montreal property at Sevenoaks, Kent, England n.d.
Emblems of the Order of Bath n.d.
Engraved portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by C. Warren 1792 May 7
Engraved portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by J. Chapman 1800
Portrait of William Pitt Amherst, Earl Amherst, painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence. Signed by Earl Amherst 1829
Menu of the Annual Dinner of the Amherst Association of New York featuring a sketch of Lord Jeffery Amherst by C. Bretherton (1782) on the cover 1909 Feb 19
News clippings 1909-1965
Menu of the Annual Dinner of the Amherst Association of New York featuring an engraved portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst on the cover 1911 Feb 10
Materials about the project of the Amherst College Alumni Association to erect an equestrian statue of Lord Jeffery Amherst on campus, including pictures of the plaster models made by sculptors Bela L. Pratt and Sidney Waugh 1913
The Spur magazine featuring the portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Joseph Blackburn on the cover 1923 Nov 15
The Amherst Lord Jeff 1924 Jun
Advertisement of "Lord Jeff '29," published in the Boot and Shoe Recorder 1928 Feb 11
Newspaper reviews of Jeffery Amherst's biography by C.J. Long 1933
News clippings about the portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Thomas Gainsborough (1785) presented to Amherst College by Ms. George Pratt 1940
Portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Thomas Gainsborough published in Vermont Life 1948
"The Amherst Family Portraits," booklet of an exhibition held at the Mead Art Museum, Amherst College 1967 Oct/Nov
Portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Walker n.d.
"The Cautious Commander," reproduction of a portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst and Ms. P_T (1778) by T. Walker n.d.
Portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst engraved for the Universal Magazine by Aliamet n.d.
Portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Miller n.d.
"Lord Amherst," excerpt from Town History n.d.
News clippings about the portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Joseph Blackburn (1758) presented to Amherst College by the Class of 1895 n.d.
Portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst by Sir Joshua Reynolds n.d.
Portrait of Lord Jeffery Amherst on horse, by Sir Joshua Reynolds n.d.
News clipping about the portrait of Jeffery Amherst, of Riverhead, Kent, grandfather of Lord Jeffery, by Guilliam de Ryck n.d.
Engraving: "Montreal, Seat of Lord Amherst of Holmsdale" n.d.