Manuscripts Collection
Robert Rogers was born on November 7, 1731, in Metheun, Massachusetts, the son of James and Mary Rogers. The family moved to Rumford (now Concord), New Hampshire, when Rogers was a small boy.
Rogers' career was devoted to the military. From 1755 to 1760, he was engaged in many military expeditions connected with the French and Indian War. He was made a captain and later a major of an independent company (Rogers' Rangers) which conducted scouting expeditions for the English against the French. He was also sent to receive the surrender of the various French forts in the Mississippi Valley region following the defeat of the French in the war.
From 1761 to 1768 he commanded various posts in the Indian country, particularly the one at Michilimackinac. Due to charges of illegal trading practices and financial transactions, Rogers was relieved of this post. Following his removal, Rogers went to England in 1765 where he published his journals and a play. He returned to America soon afterward, but was forced by allegations of treasons to return to England in 1780. He died in London on May 28, 1795.
Rogers married Elizabeth Browne on June 30, 1761. They were divorced in 1778. One child was born of this marriage.
Photographic and typewritten copies, made from the originals in the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, Canada; New York Public Library, New York City; Public Record Office, London, England; National Archives, Washington, D. C.; and the American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The collection includes letters, petitions, traders' accounts, and similar papers documenting a phase of Rogers' career from 1760 to 1772. The rest of the collection, 1787-1788, 1839-1843, relates to a controversy over land once owned by Rogers.
Included in the papers dated from 1760 to 1772 are letters from Lord Jeffrey Amherst, Sir William Johnson, Thomas Gage, James Murray (governor of Canada), petitions from fur traders, and letters from Robert Rogers to various British officials. Most of the material relates to the operation of the garrison at Michilimackinac, the problems of reopening the fur trade following the defeat of the French, the necessity of opening the trade because of the economic conditions of the Indians and traders, and protests against trade restrictions imposed by the British government. Also included is information on Rogers' interests in finding the Northwest Passage to the Pacific and his interest in obtaining the services of Jonathan Carver. The papers for 1770-1772 give information on Rogers' debts.
The rest of the collection consists of items relating to a petition sent to Congress by Mark Burnham who was interested in land which was once owned by Rogers. It is not clear whether Burnham was acting for a member of Rogers family or in some other capacity. The land in question, deeded to Rogers by the Chippewa Indians on December 23, 1760, was said to be located on the south side of Lake Superior. In addition to the petition, there are affidavits signed by various Indian chiefs attesting to the sale of the property to Rogers.
Oversize photographic copies of varying sizes of deeds, petitions, traders' accounts, and other papers relating to Robert Rogers, made from the originals at the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, at the Public Record Office, London; and the National Archives, Washington, D. C.
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the
Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related
topics should
Literary rights are reserved.
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers; Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers; New York Public Library; New York, NY.
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers; Public Record Office; London, England.
Correspondence and miscellaneous papers; American Philosophical Society Library; Philadelphia, PA .
Petitions and affidavits to Rogers’ land; National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.
Accession number: 2237; 2319; 2370; 2533; 3159; 10,455; 12,090
Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project
grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Catalog ID number: 001732690
Original documents held by the Colonial Office and the New York Public Library.
Original documents held by the New York Public Library, the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, and the Public Records Office, London.
Original documents held by the Public Record Office, London, and the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal.
Original documents held by the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, and the Public Record Office, London.
Original documents held by the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal and the Public Record Office, London.
Original documents held by the Public Record Office, London.
Original documents held by the Public Record Office, London.
Original documents held by the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Original documents held by the American Philosophical Society Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
This deed, to a tract of land on the south side of Lake Superior, signed by Chippewa chiefs assembled at Detroit and witnessed by A. Henry and Cadot, and was sealed with a wampum belt.
Original at the National Archives, Washington, D.C.
Rogers' instructions to Tute, who was commanding a party for the discovery of the Northwest passage.
Original held by the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.
Original at the Public Record Office, London.