Press Release

Letter Referencing Boston Tea Party Discovered In County Archives

Jelles Fonda's Letter Uncovered Just Prior To 242nd Anniversary of Boston Tea Party

FONDA - On Monday, Montgomery County Department of History & Archives Director Kelly Yacobucci Farquhar announced the discovery of an important historical document in the county's archives. A letter, written by Patriot leader Jelles Fonda, describing his political break with Walter Butler and the heirs of Sir William Johnson, details the Johnsons attempts to suppress free speech and the rebellious citizens in Tryon County, in August of 1774. Fonda goes on to describe the accusations directed at him and the repercussions even the people of Boston would soon feel for destroying the tea there. The Boston Tea Party took place on Dec. 16, 1773, 242 years from this Wednesday. The letter in part states:

"they Preached to the people that it was unlawful[l] to Call meetings: and said "It whould [would] Be hard to Pay for all the Tea that Boston had destroyed and if they Began to Pay that then Perhaps they should Still find[e] more and more to Pay"

Fort Plain Museum researcher Norm Bollen transcribed the letter which Ms. Farquhar had discovered by accident, when she was reorganizing a file of Jelles Fonda's personal correspondence. "I was placing the letters in chronological order," said Farquhar, "when I noticed the words Boston and tea on one of the pages."

Bollen took a scan of the letter and transcribed it on his home computer. "Reading and understanding 18th century handwriting can be challenging," said Bollen adding that it was a really neat piece of our local history tied to an important national event. The letter will be part of a new exhibit Farquhar and Bollen are working on for the department showcasing the history of Tryon County at the beginning of the American Revolution. It is expected to debut sometime next summer.