American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Bettes, William & Olive. Autograph letter signed ("Wm & Olive Bettes") to Dr. John Bettis ("Dear Brother") of Chelmsford, Massachusetts. Westmore Land, [Oneida County], [New York]. 28 June 1812. 2pp, folio, integral address leaf.

Written just ten days after President James Madison signed a declaration of war against Great Britain, William Bettes (spelling of name varies in records from Bettis, Bettes, Betty, Bettys, Bettyes) writes to his brother, Dr. John Bettis, with news of his family and the outbreak of hostilities. "We hear almost every week of the Indens killing of our brethering of the frontears but I expect you have the noose in your papers our peopel have taken one British Brig of twelve eighteen pounders & two other brigs with smuggled goods...& these brigs ware taken on Lake Onteryo & brought into Saketes Harbor about 80 miles from this. We have a grate many such tory like fellows no better than the Torys of old but I hope justis will overtake these as it did them." William then continues relaying that families are moving in from Canada "for fear of war" bringing news that the British have "got 15 thousand indens & furnished them with a quipment redy for battel but we do not fear their hosts for we have got a good army of true Amaricans to fight them...."

Dr. John Bettis (1757-1827) was the younger brother of William Bettes (1749-?), both of whom were born to a large family in Chelmsford, MA. William married Olive Cory (1758-?) in Chelmsford, ca 1785, though the date they removed to New York is unclear. The naval engagement described by William may have happened on 5 June 1812 when the USS Oneida, which operated from Sacket's Harbor, captured the British schooner Lord Nelson. As during the American Revolution, Britain and the United States would involve Native Americans in their conflict. Most tribes, particularly those in the Great Lakes region, chose to ally with the British in hopes that a British victory would help them safeguard their tribal lands and halt westward expansion by American settlers.