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land and the settling of those lands will make the half that belongs to our own state very valuable to what they another ways will ever be - I shall take all those lands good and bad together as they lay Sir if I can be permitted to make this purchase I think I can help my Country and my self and this has always been my wish -

perhaps your Excellency will think that I have done aught to serve the latter - but permit me to state a few facts in relation to my self - I entered the service of my Country in June 1775 at Winter Hill I was then scarce thirteen years of age - I helped drive the British out of Boston harbor in 76 and after that went to Canady [sic?] was on the lakes with General Arnold when defended by the English in the summer of 1776 - I was three days and nights in the month of November of that year the snowdrifts logs [?] deep without one mouthfull to eat and nothing but lake water to drink -

in 1777 I was in the retreat when Benjamin and his Indians and Toreys [sic] were killing and scalping all they could take - I was in both the batels [sic] with Gates and General Arnold [sic? three inserted above] against Benjamin after this in 1778 I was up the Mohawk River fighting the Indians and Toreys - In November our Regiment was cut up at Cherry valley by the Indians and Toreys our Colonel Lieutenant [one crossed out] killed and our Lieutenant Colonel taken

in 1779 I was with General Robinson up through the Indian Country destroying the five nations of Indians here we were 37 days in the woods fighting Indians and Toreys and for most of the time we had but 3 ounses [sic] of dried beef [one illegible] and all for days to live on except what we got out of the Indians fields - after this we returned froze and naked to West Point and there lay in cold tents till the 27 day of February 1778 and 17 days without one ounce of Bread and carried all our wood on our backs and hauled it from one to two miles -

I have received two wounds in my Countrys service - and I lost the benefit of a College Education by serving my Country and now Sir what have I ever asked for or got from my Country - I have lived as I mean to die Independent I never have asked favor of Man or Mortil [sic?] and you Sir are the first I have ever received a favor from and it was only from you I would have [one inserted above] received it for which I tender you my sincere respects and hope you will not think I have lived only for my self -

Dear Sir be pleased to accept this scrawl from your sincere friend and humble servant

Wm Vance