To Benjamin Franklin from William Clapham, 7 September 1756
From William Clapham
LS: Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
Fort Augusta, 7th. Septr. 1756
Sir
The Bearer Michael McGuire inlisted as a private Soldier for the Term of three Months in the Service of the Province, he has not only during that time behav’d himself soberly and well as a Soldier but has also been particularly useful as an Overseer and Carpenter in the Building the Fort, the Term of his Inlistment expir’d a Month ago and as he is Capable of earning more in the Practice of his Business than his Pay amounts to, he is now come to offer his further Services to the Gentlemen Commissioners on reasonable Terms—if the Government designs to strengthen this Post by doubling the Fort with another Case of Logs and filling up the intermediate Space with Earth in order to render it Cannon Proof which I think ought to be done, such a Man will be particularly serviceable, at least I cou’d not refuse him this Certificate of his Merit10—and am Sir Your most Obedient humble Servant
Willm Clapham
Addressed: To / Benjamin Franklin Esqr. / Philadelphia.
Endorsed: Septr. 7. 1756 abt. Michael McGuire a Carpenter.
10. On Colonel Clapham, now commander at Fort Augusta, see above, p. 383 n. For the building of the fort and plans to strengthen it, see above, p. 444 n, and the document immediately below. The commissioners sufficiently approved the work of Michael McGuire, otherwise unidentified, to pay him £17 14s. 6d., Dec. 27, 1756, “for Carpenters Work at Shamokin [Fort Augusta].” Votes, 1755–56, p. 172.