The first letter, copied with the second written on the bottom of the copy, was written by Gov. Thomas Pownall asking William Pepperrell to list soldiers who were missing after the Siege of Fort William Henry, August 3-9, 1757, between the British, French and Indians in New York state.

The second letter refers to the first and asks Col. John Storer to compile the list of missing. The names of the soldiers in question appear on the document.