To Benjamin Franklin from Robert Rogers, 29 September 1775
From Robert Rogers9
ALS: Historical Society of Pennsylvania
New York 29th. Sepr 1775.
Much respected Sir,
Between Burdin Town1 and West Amboy in my Way to this City Unfortunately lost my Pockett Book which I cannot as yet recover tho’ have taken every the most expedient means; Amongst other papers of Consequence to myself only, Was the Copy of my Parole with the Committees permission for my going to New Hampshire or where else I had Occasion. I have acquainted the Committee of Safety in this City with the Accident and am by them desired to remain here till I can procure another from Your Committee, and as the uncertainty of recovering my Pockett Book is great and my Finances low must request Your kind favour in presenting the Matter to the Committee and remitting me a Copy of that permission by the most imediate Opportunity under Cover to the Committee of safety here for till then I cannot go forward, trusting to your Consideration of my present situation for this imediate favour remain Sir Your most humble Servant
Robert Rogers
Addressed: Doctor Franklin, / Chairman of the Committee of Safety / at / Philadelpa.
Endorsed: from Major Rt. Rogers New York 29h. Septr 1775 rec’d Octr 3. 1775.
9. When Rogers last appeared in this series, he was seeking BF’s support for his scheme to find the Northwest Passage; see above, XIX, 80. All that his solicitation brought him was a sop: in the spring of 1775 he was given a major’s half-pay and funds to return to America. He landed in Maryland and started north in search of a land grant. As he was passing through Philadelphia on Sept. 22 he was arrested; his case came before Congress, which released him on parole not to take up arms against the Americans. The Pa. committee of safety permitted him to go on toward New York, and the present letter secured him a copy of the parole that he had lost. He continued his travels and, wherever he went, found himself regarded with deep suspicion. John R. Cuneo, Robert Rogers of the Rangers (New York, 1959), pp. 255–60; Pa. Col. Recs., X, 342–3, 354; JCC, III, 259.
1. Bordentown.