ROBERT ROGERS:

An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society

Manuscripts Collection

Part or all of this collection is restricted.
For details, please see restrictions.

OVERVIEW


	Creator:	Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795, creator.
	Title:	Robert Rogers papers.
	Dates:	1760-1843.
	Language:	Materials in English.
	Abstract:	Photocopies and transcripts of letters, petitions, and traders' accounts related to Rogers' fur trade activities while he was a British military officer at posts in the Great Lakes area, to the fur trade at Michilimackinac and vicinity, and to Rogers' attempts to finance his search for a Northwest Passage and to engage the services of Jonathan Carver. A deed, petition, affidavits by veteran fur traders, and related items relate to attempts by one of Rogers' descendants to clear title to land along Lake Superior that Rogers had purchased from the Ojibwa Indians.
	Quantity:	0.4 cubic feet (1 box and 17 items in oversize folder).
	Location:	See Detailed Description for shelf locations.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

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.

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SCOPE AND CONTENTS

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.

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ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

Availability:

The collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions:

Literary rights are reserved.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Robert Rogers Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Location of Originals:

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 Information:

Accession number: 2237; 2319; 2370; 2533; 3159; 10,455; 12,090

Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 990017326900104294

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION


Location
P626	Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, undated and 1760-1762. Negative photocopies.
		Original documents held by the Colonial Office and the New York Public Library.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1763-1765. Negative photocopies and typewritten transcripts.
			Original documents held by the New York Public Library, the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, and the Public Records Office, London.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, January-May 1766. Negative photocopies and typewritten transcripts.
			Original documents held by the Public Record Office, London, and the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, June-September 1766. Negative photocopies and typewritten transcripts.
			Original documents held by the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal, and the Public Record Office, London.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1767-1769. Photocopies, negative photocopies and typewritten transcripts
			Original documents held by the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal and the Public Record Office, London.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1770. Negative photocopies and a handwritten transcript.
			Original documents held by the Public Record Office, London.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, 1771. Negative photocopies.
			Original documents held by the Public Record Office, London.


		Petitions and affidavits to Rogers' land, 1787-1788, 1839-1843. Negative photocopies.
			Original documents held by the National Archives, Washington, D.C.


		Correspondence and miscellaneous papers, estimates of fur trade, 1767. Photocopies.
			Original documents held by the American Philosophical Society Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


Location
+45	Indian grant to Robert Rogers, December 23, 1760. 1 item (2 pages); 4.5 x 57 cm. Negative photocopy.
		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.


		Instructions to Capt. James Tute, Esq., September 12, 1766. 1 item (4 pages). Negative photocopy.
			Rogers' instructions to Tute, who was commanding a party for the discovery of the Northwest passage.
			Original held by the Bibliothèque Saint-Sulpice, Montreal.


Traders' accounts:
	Goods purchased of Stephen Grosbeck and given to the Several Indian Nations in the district of Michilimakanac [sic] by order of Robert Rogers, Commandant of the Same, September 21, 1766-February, 1767, February 1, 1767. 1 item (2 pages). Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods given to the several Indian Nations in the district of Michilmacanac [sic] purchased of Stephen Grosbeck by order of Robert Rogers, Commandant of the Same, February 1-May 23, 1767, May 26, 1767. 1 item (2 pages). Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	An account of Rum delivered to the different Indian Nations in the district of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers, Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of John Farrell, July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item; 30 x 37 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods delivered the several Indian Nations in the district of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of Pierre Reheau, June 24-July 3, 1767 , July 6, 1767. 1 item (2 pages). Negative photocopies.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods delivered to the several Indian Nations in the district of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of George McDugall>, June 24-July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item; 32 x 40 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Indian corn given to the Several Indian Nations in the District of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of Gershon Levy, June 24-July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item; 30 x 38 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods given to the Several Indian Nations in the district of Michilimackanac [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of John Farrell and Company, May 24-June 23, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item; 30 x 37.5 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods delivered to the different Indian Nations in the district of Michilimackanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of William Bruce and Company, June 24-July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item (2 pages); 31 x 39 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods given to the several Indian Nations in the district of Michilimackanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of William Bruce and Company, June 24- July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item (2 pages). Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Tobacco given the Several Indian Nations in the District of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq., which he purchased of Pierre Barton, June 24-July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item; 30 x 38 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Bears Oyle [sic] and Flags delivered to the several Indian Nations in the District of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of Stephen Grosbeck, June 24-July 3, 1767] July 6, 1767. 1 item; 30.5 x 38 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.
	Goods delivered to the different Indian Nations in the district of Michilimacanack [sic] by Robert Rogers Esq. Commandant, which he purchased of J. Languinese, June 24-July 3, 1767, July 6, 1767. 1 item; 30.5 x 38 cm. Negative photocopy.
		Original at the Public Record Office, London.


		List of peltries sent from Michilimackinac to Montreal and Albany, July 1-August 19, 1767, October 1767. 1 item; 31.5 x 40 cm. Negative photocopy.
			Original at the Public Record Office, London.


		List of canoes wintering out of Michilimackinac, July 4-September 12, 1767, October [?], 1767. 1 item; 33 x 41.5 cm. Negative photocopy.
			Original at the Public Record Office, London.


		Rogers' petition to the British treasury, 1770. 1 item (3 pages). Negative photocopy.
			Original at the Public Record Office, London.

CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:: Carver Grant.; Fur trade -- Canada.; Fur trade -- Great Lakes Region.; Land grants -- Mississippi River Valley.; Ojibwa Indians -- Land tenure.

Persons:: Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797.; Ashmun, Samuel.; Bethume, Norman.; Burnham, Mark.; Cadotte, Jean Baptiste, 1761-1818.; Carver, Jonathan, 1710-1780.; Davenport, Ambrose.; Gage, Thomas, 1721-1787.; Henry, Alexander, 1739-1824.; Johnson, William, Sir, 1715-1774.; Murray, James, 1722-1794.; Tute, James.

Places:: Michipicoten Island (Ont.); Northwest Passage.; United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1755-1763.

Document Types:: Photocopies.

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