British Parliamentary Post and Early Colonial Period continued...

AN EXTRAORDINARY POSTAL ARTIFACT OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR, ADDRESSED TO CONRAD WEISER AS COLONEL IN CHARGE OF THE FIRST BATTALION OF PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENTS, FORMED IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE PENN'S CREEK MASSACRE TO PROTECT THE PENNSYLVANIA FRONTIER SETTLEMENTS BETWEEN THE DELAWARE AND SUSQUEHANNA RIVERS.

As British and French interests in North America collided, and soon after Braddock's defeat in the Battle of Monongahela in July 1755, Native American war parties attacked pioneer settlements along the Pennsylvania frontier. The "Penn's Creek Massacre" in October 1755 wiped out 25 families and completely destroyed the settlement. In response to attacks by the Delawares and Shawnees, the Pennsylvania Regiments were organized, and Conrad Weiser was appointed Lieutenant Colonel in command of the 1st Battalion on May 5, 1756. He resigned his commission in January 1758. This cover is addressed to Lt. Col. Weiser during his period of command. (Image)