These documents represent some of those in Major Bray's collection pertaining to the French and Indian War. You may enlarge them in your browser to better see them.

This document (left image) made out at Fort Williams (present day Rome, NY) on June 24, 1756, authorized payment of "Eight pounds, Eight Shillings 6d" (pence) to John Showman for assisting in transporting military supplies at the Oneida Carrying Place signed by the famous Lieutenant Colonel John Bradstreet. He was then in command of the British Bateau Service during this period. He was about to make his final supply run to the three forts at Oswego before they were attacked and destroyed by the Marquis de Montcalm. The other side of the document (right image) shows Showman's acknowledgement of payment from Hendrick Frey, who lived on the Mohawk River in his fortified home called Fort Frey (present day Palatine Bridge, NY).

The London Chronicle for January 25-27, 1759, carried the lead article of Lieutenant Colonel Bradstreet's attack on Fort Frontenac (present day Kingston, Ontario, Canada). This was Bradstreet's most famous action, and came immediately upon the heels of his attack against the French at Fort Ticonderoga which was a miserable failure. This victory was one of the very few the British could claim since 1755 with the victory at the Battle of Lake George on September 8th. Fort Frontenac was destroyed by Bradstreet on August 27, 1758.

Humphrey Bland's A Treatise of Military Discipline was the officer's guide book for much of the 18th century. It explains everything from the motions for the manual of arms, setting up a camp in the field, the posting of guards, etc. This is the title page from the 5th edition (1743) published in Dublin, Ireland. This edition was owned by Lt. Samuel Rutherford who was an officer in Major General Jeffery Amherst's 15th Regiment of Foot. Rutherford was with Wolfe on the Quebec expedition in 1759, was wounded in a skirmish, and sent home to England to recover from his wounds after the fateful battle of September 13th. My good friend, and orderly, Lei Zimmerman was able to locate and obtain this fine work for me.

The American Magazine, the first published in the fall of 1757, only lasted for twelve issues and a supplement. This is the ninth one published in June, 1758. It is believed that the woodcut was possibly in part composed by the famous painter Benjamin West. It shows a Native American warrior leaning on his musket, while he is approached by an English officer on the left with a book, and a French officer on the right with a tomahawk.