1765 British Commanding General THOMAS GAGE, ALS to Colonel Bradstreet (later General Bradstreet).

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Dec 20, 2025

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  1765 Thomas Gage British Commanding General Autograhed Letter Signed to Colonel Bradstreet (later General Bradstreet) Regarding New York Soldiers' Pay
  THOMAS GAGE (1721-1787). British Commanding General and later also Colonial Governor of Massachusetts, Commander in Chief in North America, responsible for sending troops to seize military stores at Lexignton and Concord precipitating the American Revolutionary War started at the Battle of Lexington, and the Battle of Bunker Hill.
  October 21st, 1765-Dated French & Indian War Era, Autograph Letter Signed, "Thos. Gage" in this Military Pay finance related letter to "Colonel Bradstreet," New York, Choice Extremely Fine. This outstanding quality letter is boldly written in rich deep brown ink on clean, crisp quality laid period paper having a huge central British Crown watermark, all in the hand of Thomas Gage. This impressive vivid letter is 1 page, measuring 12.5" tall x 8" wide, having military finance related content Octr. 21st 1765 to "Colonel Bradstreet" (later to become General Bradstreet), regarding a dispute with the Dutch Church of Upstate New York. It reads, in full:
  "New York -- Octr. 21st 1765 --- I have received your letter of the 14th of October - Enclosing Papers which relate to your Dispute with the Dutch Church to which at present I have not time to give you an answer. -- You will receive herewith a copy of my Letter to the Lieutenant Governor concerning the men you enlisted, with his answer thereto. And it remains with you to satisfy his Objections and disprove the reasons given why the men - could not be paid by the Provincial Pay-Master, and the Chief things to prove are, that they were Mustered, constantly returned in the strength of the New-York Regiment, during the campaign, and enlisted for that Regiment upon the Provincial Pay. --- I also send herewith some Demands for work done at (Fort) Niagara certified by Colonel Vaughan which he has put into my hand, but they belong to your Department, and you will satisfy the same, if they are just. --- I am -- Sir, -- Your most Obedient, humble Servant, --- (Signed) Thos. Gage". --- (to Colonel Bradstreet.)
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  General Thomas Gage is best known for leading British troops during the early years of the American Revolution, but he also played a major role in shaping colonial North America prior to American independence.
  Gage was born to a father of the same name, the first Viscount Gage, and his wife, Benedicta Maria Theresa Hall, in 1719/1720, in Gloucestershire, England. Viscount Gage was born Catholic, but he and his wife converted to the Anglican Church prior to the birth of Thomas. At age eight, Gage was sent to Westminster School, where he stayed until 1736, and in 1741 he entered the British military by purchasing a lieutenancy.
  After the outbreak of the Seven Years' French and Indian War, Gage was sent to North America under the command of Major-General Edward Braddock, where he was involved in several disastrous battles, including the British defeat in the 1758 Battle of Ticonderoga.
  In 1763, after the outbreak of Pontiac's War, Gage took over as Commander-in-Chief for all of North America when Jeffrey Amherst, his predecessor, was recalled because of his abusive treatment of Native Americans. In this capacity, Gage began regulating settlers' relations with Native tribes, especially the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) confederacy, and regularly corresponded with the superintendents, including Sir William Johnson.
  In 1764 and 1765, several of Wheelock's correspondences indicate that missionaries needed to obtain permission from General Gage before proceeding into Indian country. Gage was also concerned with growing discontent among British colonists in the east, and increased the presence of British troops in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
  Following the Boston Tea Party in 1773, he was instrumental in shaping British policy toward the colonists, including closing the port of Boston and allowing British soldiers to quarter in the homes of colonists.
  From 1774 to 1775, Gage served as the military governor of Massachusetts, where he was responsible for sending British troops to Lexington and Concord and for the costly British victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Shortly thereafter, Gage was replaced by General Sir William Howe, and returned to England where he was eventually Commissioned as a full General in 1782. Gage died on April 2, 1787 in London.
  
  
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