Mary Callender to Charity Rotch, Newport, 10th of 5th mo 1776

Mary Callender describes the occupation of Newport during the three year occupation of that city by the British during the Revolutionary War. Charity, a girl of ten, and her family fled inland to Springfield, Rhode Island(settled by Quakers in 1731) to avoid persecution. Friends who chose not to leave Newport suffered property destruction and frequent harassment by British troops. Callender describes "the harsh disagreeable sounds of drums and fifes". Charity notes on the reverse of this letter, "The first and I fear the last from my friend M Callender in the year 1776" (7.1/4 " x 9") (18cm x 22.5 cm