Minot, James

2 1/2 pages (12 x 7 1/4 in.; 305 x 184 mm), Albany, 1 December 1755, to Josiah Willard, docketed on verso; formerly folded, clean fold-tears mostly mended, mounted on a guard and bound in half red morocco with: William Alexander. Autograph fair copy of minutes, signed ("Wm Alexander Sec[retar]y"), 1 1/2 pages (12 x 7 3/8 in.; 305 x 186 mm), Albany, 20 November 1755; similarly guarded and with repaired fold separations.

Joseph Grafton Minot, Boston (armorial bookplate)

Published in Society of Colonial Wars in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Publication — No. 8 (1906), pp. 202–06

2 1/2 pages (12 x 7 1/4 in.; 305 x 184 mm), Albany, 1 December 1755, to Josiah Willard, docketed on verso; formerly folded, clean fold-tears mostly mended, mounted on a guard and bound in half red morocco with: William Alexander. Autograph fair copy of minutes, signed ("Wm Alexander Sec[retar]y"), 1 1/2 pages (12 x 7 3/8 in.; 305 x 186 mm), Albany, 20 November 1755; similarly guarded and with repaired fold separations.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

James Minot was one of the Commissioners from Massachusetts Bay, who, together with representatives from New York and Connecticut, directed Major General William Johnson's campaign against the French. He here writes to Josiah Willard about the difficulties in garrisoning forts Edward and William Henry. "We … recd. a Letter by express from General Johnson informing that unless we got to the Lake that night the Connecticut forces would withdraw, soon after the receipt of this Letter we met a large number of men returning home, about 1000 mostly Connecticut Troops with a considerable number of Invalids. …" A council of field officers determined that the number of troops allocated by the Commissioners to garrison the two forts was insufficient, and Minot relates  that "it was finally Agreed that 750 viz 430 at the upper & 320 at the lower Fort, including officers to be paid & Subsisted by their respective Governments." After further debate and controversy, these troops were considered to a regiment attached to the command of Colonel Jonathan Bagley. Recalcitrant troops from New Hampshire were persuaded to remain on duty by the Commissioners' pledge "that Capt. [Robert] Rogers whould have liberty to Inlist at Large & that such Inlistments should be Amounted as part of their Quota. …"