WILLIAM PEPPERRELL (1696-1759). American merchant, politician and military officer. Born in Kittery, Maine (then part of Massachusetts), he is best remembered for organizing, financing and leading the 1745 expedition that captured the French fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island during King George's War. He was made a Baronet for his exploits, the first and only American to hold the title. Major General during the French and Indian War. A wealthy New England merchant, owning several ships which traded in the Caribbean and Europe.


November 14, 1726-Dated, early Colonial Era, Autograph Letter Signed, "Wm. Pepperrell," and signed again following a postscript, measures 7.75 x 11.2 inches, one page, dated at Pascataqua in New England, to the merchant Thomas Harper, to whom Pepperrell regularly consigned cargoes for sale, Very Fine.

The letter was written from the mercantile house of Messrs. William Pepperrell of Kittery, one of colonial New England's largest shipping firms, and signed simply "William Pepperrell" as was customary whether penned by the firm's founder (1646/7-1734) or his son and partner, the future Sir William Pepperrell (1696-1759) who that same year was elected to the Massachusetts General Court and named colonel of the Maine militia, on his way to commanding the 1745 capture of Louisbourg and becoming the first American-born baronet. In it, Pepperrell forwards papers for goods shipped to Harper aboard the brig William, urging a quick sale to take place ahead of the vessel's next run to Tortuga for salt, used to cure New England's codfish. He gives instructions for a second vessel to return loaded with rum, cotton, molasses, and sugar, and requests fifty pounds in Spanish Silver Coin in a postscript, reflecting the era's chronic shortage of hard currency.

Business letters from this early circa 1726, purely commercial period of the Pepperrell firm are far scarcer on the market than later material tied to Sir William's military and political career. This letter has been professionally conserved, archivally silked on the reverse; its text clear, sharp, and fully legible. The signature "Wm. Pepperrell," measures a huge 3.25” long at the conclusion. and the Postscript has a second signature “Wm Pepp”.
This Letter reads, transcribed in Full:

"Inclosed you have an Invoice & bill of lading for sundries ship'd on board our Brig Wm. which we pray you to receive & dispose of to our best advantage, for I do think that the first market with you will be the best, because in a short time they will be coming to you in order to go to Salturtdos [Salt Tortugas]. Therefore I desire that the cargo may be sold as soon as possible, for in keeping things as this cargo is, there is a great loss. We have made a miserable hand of ye Oyle sent you by Jordan in our Sloop Eagle.

After Capt. Jordan hath delivered you this cargo, we desire you to direct him to get his vessel ready to sail for Turtudos (Tortugas) with ye first vessel that goes there; we have ordered our Sloop Mary, John Young Master, from Maryland to you, & from thence to Salturtudos if he is in Barbados in time to go with any vessel of force. But if should not we desire you to ship ye produce of ye Wm. & his cargo & what else you have in your hands of ours on board said sloop in good Rum, Cotton, Molasses, Sugar in barrels, but mostly in rum & dispatch her directly home here. But if ye sloop should arrive with you in time to go with any vessel of force that goeth to Salturtudos, you dispatch her there & keep what we may have in your hands until you have farther [hear] from us....

Your most humble Servts

Wm. Pepperrell

P.S. if you could procure us 50 [Pounds] in Spanish Silver money to come with ye first vessel which we have that comes directly here from you it would be a great kindness to us.

Wm. Pepp'll