French and Indian War veteran writes about militia duty in Revolutionary War
Author
Recipient
Date Written
May 11, 1773
Wait Hotchkiss was 39 years old when this was written.
Wait Hotchkiss died 26 years, 5 months, 4 days after writing it.
It was written 250 years, 4 months, 24 days ago.
It was a Tuesday.
Waterbury
May the 10 day, year 1773
Onered father and mother. We would remember our duty to you and our love to brothers and sisters and all enquiring frinds & hope these lins will find you well as thay leave us and all your frinds hear well. I have a surprising death to tell you of which hapend amungst us on Munday last, it being training day early in (the) morning. A man was axedentily shot into his bowels so that his bowels came out and he died befor sun set. The gun was loden. A warning to all that hear of it to poot no wads upon their powder upon training day. No mor pesant so I remain your loving son.
*Some punctuation added to facilitate reading.
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