Interesting article about destruction of Revolutionary War records

[stratasfan]

Found this interesting little notice about Revolutionary War records being lost in an 1800 Philadelphia fire. Thought this might be of interest, as that must have been a pretty sad day for historical researchers of the future (that means us -grin-)!

 

 

 

A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE

 

On Saturday evening the citizens of Washington and George-Town were alarmed by the cry of fire, it broke out in a handsome three story building, the property of Mr Joseph Hodgson occupied by the war Department.

 

The fire caught in a room on the second floor and raged with such violence as to render it impracticable to extinguish it. The papers in the lower story only were saved.

 

The loss to the War Office is, in some respects, irreparable. Most of the papers of the Accountant's Office were saved. Mr Hodgson's loss is more than 4000 Dollars.

 

(The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 14 Nov 1800, p2)