John Ewer Letters, 1772-1776
Ms. Coll. 957
27 items (3 Folders in 1 box)
Table of contents
Links to images
The following brings together all of the image links found throughout this finding aid.
Page 1 of ALS and invoice of merchandise (fabric) ordered by Biddle. Letter discusses order and hope for news of situation between England and Colonies, hoping for peaceful resolution. Page 2 | Page 3 (approximately 98K each).
Summary of collection
Letters of John Ewer to Owen Biddle (1737-1799), Philadelphia. Ewer was supplying Biddle, a Philadelphia merchant, with fabric of various kinds and patterns. Most of the letters deal with shipping this merchandise to Biddle and payment for same. There are references to the increasing difficulties between Great Britain and the Colonies in Ewer's letters of 1775-6.
Related collections
There are additional John Ewer letters to Owen Biddle in the Charles Roberts Collection, Ms. Coll. 800, miscellaneous manuscripts.
Arrangement and description of collection
Note: all letters are written by Ewer from London and addressed to Owen Biddle, Philadelphia. Many of the letters are marked "(copy)" but are in Ewer's handwriting and are referred to as being copies made by him and sent to Biddle via a different ship [to insure at least one gets to Biddle]
Contents of box follows:
Folder 1: 8 ALS 1772-1773
- Nov. 4, 1772
ALS
Topics:
- discusses order for fabric sent to Biddle ["...Blue Bengal Callicoes & Blue Bed Bindings, am sorry to find you complain of them as I printed them intirely [sic] for you."
- Nov. 4, 1772
"(copy)" written on letter [duplicate of above letter]- Feb. 15, 1773
ALS and invoice
Topics:
- invoice of merchandise (fabric) sent to Biddle
- ALS discusses Biddle's order for fabric and fabric patterns ["cockfighting pattern which is in great esteem here" and "purple Furniture which I got printed for your last order"]
- Feb. 15, 1773
"(copy)" written on invoice [essentially duplicate of invoice [#3] above]- Feb. 15, 1773
"(copy)" written on letter [duplicate of Feb. 15, 1773 [#3] letter above]- July 14, 1773
ALS and invoice of merchandise (fabric) sent to Biddle
Topics:
- ALS discusses Biddle's order for fabric and fabric pattern ["the Medley pattern would not print on such very low cloth"]
- July 14, 1773
"(copy)" written on invoice and ALS [duplicate of above ALS and invoice]- Nov. 3, 1773
ALS and "(copy)" ALS
Topics:
- acknowledges receipt of drafts to Biddle's credit
Folder 2: 10 ALS 1774
- Feb. 18, 1774
ALS
Topics:
- discusses Biddle's order for fabric
- Feb. 8, 1774
invoice of merchandise (fabric) ordered by Biddle- April 18, 1774
ALS and "(copy)" of ALS [of Feb. 18, 1774]
Topics:
- acknowledges receipt of draft to Biddle's credit
Feb. 18, 1774 copy is duplicate of [#1] ALS above
- June 11, 1774
ALS "(copy)"
Topics:
- acknowledges receipt of draft to Biddle's credit
also copy of April 18, 1774 letter [#3] above at top of page
- July 6, 1774
ALS and "(copy)" of ALS [of June 11, 1774]
Topics:
- acknowledges receipt of draft to Biddle's credit and regrets last order of "Prints" did not suit
June 11, 1774 copy is duplicate of [#4] ALS above
- July 22, 1774
ALS "(copy)"
Topics:
- discusses Biddle's order for fabric, prices of same
- Sept. 7, 1774
ALS
Topics:
- discusses Biddle's order for "low Irish" (none to be had at present)
- Sept. 7, 1774
ALS "(copy)" duplicate of [#7] above- Oct. 24, 1774
ALS and invoice of merchandise (fabric) ordered by Biddle
Topics:
- ALS discusses order and hope for news of situation between England and Colonies, hopes for peaceful resolution
- Oct. 24, 1774
ALS and invoice marked "(copy)" duplicate of invoice and ALS [#9] above. See image below:
Folder 3: 9 ALS 1775-1776
- Jan. 14, 1775
ALS and account
Topics:
- requests Biddle to send him money toward his account
- sorry that relationship between their countries has deteriorated but hopes matters can still be worked out
- doesn't know when "Non-importation" is to take effect
- acknowledges receipt of draft to Biddle's credit
- includes account of Biddle with John Ewer, 1772-1774, on back of letter
- Jan. 14, 1775
ALS and account marked "(copy)" duplicate of above ALS and account [#1]- Feb. 4, 1775
ALS
Topics:
- acknowledges receipt of draft to Biddle's credit but can not place it to his credit as "Mr. Whitmore refuses to accept it"
- regrets current state of relations between their two governments, refers to Parliament and hopes matter can still be resolved
- Feb. 4, 1775
ALS "(copy)" duplicate of above letter [#3]- Feb. 21, 1775
ALS
Topics:
- hasn't heard from Biddle
- reports that action in the House of Commons will result in the "Administration" suspending their proceeding against the Colonies which he hopes will lead to a reconciliation
- Feb. 21, 1775
ALS "(copy)" duplicate of above letter [#5]- June 20, 1775
ALS
Topics:
- concerned over the "unnatural Engagement between the King's Troops and the Provincials at Concord ... but as it at the same time proves the fatal consequence that will attend further opposition" feels that both parties will be able to settle their differences
- Nov. 22, 1775
ALS
Topics:
- acknowledges receipt of [draft?] to Biddle's credit
- concern over intention of Great Britain to stop all intercourse between it and the Colonies
- June 11, 1776
ALS and account
Topics:
- hasn't heard from Biddle since Ewer's letter of Nov. last
- sends account [on back of letter] of Biddle with Ewer and hopes Biddle will be able to find some way to get payment to him
- hopes for a peaceful settlement between Great Britain and Colonies with "the arrival of the Commissioners appointed to promote that much wished for event"
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Contact Diana Franzusoff Peterson (dfpeters@haverford.edu or 610-896-1284) for more information about this collection. Please include the manuscript collection number in your request.
