Collection Search

to New Jersey Convention

The letter announces the Declaration of Independence. Stamps on verso: "Sold by Merchantile Library" [red stamp] "Tomlinson Collection" [purple stamp]. With docket on page 2.

GLC00154.01

Commission of John Harper, Quartermaster of 4th Battallion, Penna.

Partially printed document, cosigned by Charles Thomson.

GLC00184.15

[Appointment of Norton Quincy as Justice of the Peace].

Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Hancock, appointed Justice of the Peace, Norton Quincy, for the County of Suffolk. The order gives a general sketch of the duties of Quincy's new office. Partially printed. Accompanied by frilled...

GLC00210

[Partially printed document authorizing the forcible capture of British vessels]

This document serves as a form by which Continental Congress authorizes the seizure of British ships and crew members in a warlike manner. Originally signed by Hancock during his term as President of the Congress (24 May 1775- 31 October 1777)....

GLC00231

to unknown

Written by Wendell, a wealthy, well-connected merchant in New Hampshire to an unknown recipient. References a previous letter he wrote that mentioned political sentiments. Does not go into detail. Mentions a report of the broken American siege of...

GLC00252

Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes.

Printed as a broadside. Signed by Hancock as President of the Second Continental Congress. Contains eleven articles created by Congress authorizing private American ships to capture British vessels. Instructs American captains to bring captured...

GLC00038.01

[Journal of William Ellery's journey from Dighton, Massachusetts, to Yorktown, Pennsylvania]

Discusses British General John Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga and meetings with Generals Oliver Wolcott and Israel Putnam, and with Members of the Continental Congress Francis Dana, John Hancock, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Includes allusions to...

GLC00107.02

to John Sullivan

Transmits a copy of the proceedings of the Massachusetts ratifying convention for the Constitution. Notes that the Convention recommended amendments and alterations to the Constitution.

GLC04362

Draft of address to Mass. Legislature after ratification of the Constitution

Discusses the new form of government and reminds legislators of their desire for a Bill of Rights.

GLC01559

[Teamsters agreement for a military expedition up the St. River Lawrence]

Written by Hancock while working for his uncle's mercantile company during the French and Indian War. Makes an agreement for provisioning the troops for the Battle of Quebec. Records a contract between "teamster, on the one part, & Thomas Hancock...

GLC07697

to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to send a copy of John Hancock's Massacre Day Oration from March 1774 under a blank paper cover, because Rivington has an immediate use for the speech commemorating the Boston Massacre. Also regquests a single copy of any well-written...

GLC02437.00182

to Henry Knox

Sends Knox pamphlets which he believes Knox does not have and will be of interest to his customers. Mentions that he has printed a letter to John Hancock in Rivington's New-York Gazetteer and would provide the opportunity for any of Hancock's...

GLC02437.00138

to Henry Knox

Discusses a variety of issues related to his presenting a petition to the Massachusetts State Legislature. Has attempted to meet with Governor [John] Hancock, who has promised to notify them when a meeting would be convenient. Describes the...

GLC02437.01629

Proclamation of amnesty in Boston to all but Samuel Adams and John Hancock

Authorship attributed to John Burgoyne. With woodcut royal seal of George III at top. Gage writes: "In this exigency of complicated calamities, I avail myself of the last effort within the bounds of my duty, to spare the effusion; to offer, and I...

GLC04781

to Robert Morris

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Morris as a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania. Reports to Morris that Congress will return to Philadelphia, and suggests that its return may relieve some of the burden of Morris...

GLC04431

[Resolution of Massachusetts Legislature]

Signed approved by Hancock. Also signed by Theodore Sedgwick, Speaker of the House, and Samuel Phillips, President. Certified as a true copy by John Avery as Secretary. Concerns levying taxes on the polls and estates in Worcester County...

GLC04432

Rules and articles for the better government of the troops raised, or to be raised and kept in pay by and at the expence of the United States of America.

Created by the Continental Congress and printed by John Dunlap. Signed by Colonel Goose Van Schaick in 1777. Contains uniform regulations for commissioned and noncommissioned officers, relates penalties and reasons for the issue of Court Martials....

GLC04050

[Delay of execution for Edward Johnson for two weeks].

Signed by Governor of Massachusetts Hancock and countersigned by Secretary of the State John Avery. Johnson was to be hanged for burglary but "humbly supplicated for further time to prepare for death." Suspension of his sentence was granted for two...

GLC03792

[Sentence of four prisoners for attempting to escape confinement].

Countersigned by Judge William Perkins. Sentence of Thomas Port, John Carny, John Payn and Peter Rodgers to lashings for attempted escape. Each of the prisoners plead guilty and received "thirty nine stripes on their naked backs."

GLC03793

to John Hancock and Robert Morris

Possibly written at Philadelphia. Hopkinson, John Nixon, and John Wharton submit a Continental Navy Board report to Congress. The Board designates a sum paid to "officers and Men on Board every Fire Ship in the River Delaware & Co the officers and...

GLC03939

to Daniel Perkins

Hancock writes to Reverend Perkins, his step-father. Hancock has not yet received communication from Perkins, and writes to let his family know that he is well. Hancock discusses the death of King George II and the impending coronation of George III.

GLC04908

[Instructing Paul Farmer to admit an indigent man to a Boston poorhouse].

Signed by Hancock and Jonathan Mason as Selectmen of Boston. Consented to by W. Greenleaf as Overseer of the Poor. Farmer is described as a stranger and "not an Inhabitant of any Town in this Province."

GLC04724

to Thomas Hancock

Hancock writes to his uncle. He mentions people he has met in London, as well as the death of Admiral Edward Boscawen before they had a chance to meet. He asks to be allowed to stay to see the coronation of George III. Hancock reports a rumor that...

GLC03637

to John Barry

Hancock, Thomas McKean, Richard Henry Lee, John Alsop, Joseph Hewes, Robert Morris, and Edward Rutledge sign as members of the Marine Committee (all but Alsop went on to sign the Declaration of Independence). Hancock et al. inform Captain Barry that...

GLC03714

to John Barry

Signed by members Hancock, Robert Morris, John Alsop, Richard Henry Lee, Joseph Hewes, George Read, William Whipple, and Stephen Hopkins as members of the Congressional Marine Committee (all but Alsop went on to sign the Declaration of Independence)...

GLC03715

to William Smallwood

Communicates to General Smallwood a resolution by the Continental Congress in response to a petition from citizens in Somerset and Worcester counties in Maryland. The resolution orders Smallwood to help "suppress the Tories in the counties of...

GLC06502

to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, discusses various military and business matters with Langdon, a agent for the Continental Navy. Mentions Miss Wharton. Discusses money submitted to Langdon by the Marine...

GLC06520

[Certification of John Wheelwright's appointment to Second Lieutenant of the Continental Frigate Raleigh at New Hampshire].

Issued by President of the Continental Congress John Hancock.

GLC06525

[Blank form created for Marine Committee appointments]

Contains blank spaces reserved for the name, office, and vessel to which the appointee is assigned. Date previously inferred.

GLC06526

[Privateer commission for the schooner "Adventure" of Exeter, New Hampshire].

President of the First Continental Congress John Hancock signed this privateer commission authorizing Commander of the Adventure James Johnson to capture British vessels and cargo.

GLC05659

Instructions from Boston to its Representatives in State Legislature

This document is a printed sheet with a manuscript note at top containing information and instructions about a meeting of those who represent the Town of Boston. The note concerns State Legislators and mentions John Hancock, Samuel Allyn Otis, Caleb...

GLC05666.01

to David Wooster

Directing Brigadier General Wooster's troops to build batteries on the highlands of Hudson (North) River as per General Schuyler's commands.

GLC06404

[Captain's commission for William North]

Partly printed document signed by Hancock as President of Continental Congress and co-signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. This commission gives William North the rank of captain. A later note at the top of the document, by North's...

GLC02524

[Resolve of Congress on General Gates's call for militia]

Written in the hand of William Churchill Houston as deputy secretary of the Continental Congress. Signed by Continental Congress President Hancock. It is noted that this is a copy from the Journals of Congress. Resolve issued in the aftermath of the...

GLC02525

[Letters to John Hancock and Joseph Martin]

A set of copied letters to John Hancock and Joseph Martin regarding treaties with the Indians. The first is addressed to Charles Thomson and signed by both Hawkins and Andrew Pickens. The second is addressed to Hancock, dated 4 January 1786 and...

GLC02437.08213

[Note]

Note of exchange for Henry Knox for the amount of £100 sterling.

GLC02437.08272

[Resolution to equalize pay of troops]

Resolution of Congress to equalize pay of the troops in the Middle Department with that of those in the Eastern Department. Passed by the Continental Congress in response to George Washington's 8 June 1776 letter stating that Congress had intended...

GLC00782.07

Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River [Decimalized .01-.02]

Entirely in Hancock's hand except for clerical date. includes mezzo tint of Hancock.

GLC00372

[Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River]

Orders to blockade and defend Mount Washington from the enemy without regard to expense. Allows Washington's appointment of a Deputy Commissary of Stores for the Army at New York. Docket not in Hancock's hand.

GLC00372.01

[Resolution of the Continental Congress advising New York to make provisions for detecting, restraining and punishing Tories].

Issued by Hancock less than three weeks before the Declaration of Independence, this resolution calls for the suppression of contact with the British among Tories in the colony of New York. It also claims that General George Washington will aid in...

GLC03716

to the Selectmen of Medway, Massachusetts

Along with Hancock, Joseph Jackson, John Ruddock, John Rowe and Samuel Pemberton signed as the selectmen of Boston. Recounts Parliament's impositions on the Americans via the Intolerable Acts and the alarm caused by the announcement by Sir Francis...

GLC03110

[Military pass for Timothy Hopkins]

Lieutenant Jonathan Smith authorizes Hopkins "to have a Pass of the Island to the Major gen[illegible] of the Day." On verso, a separate note permits the bearer to cross by ferry by order of Major General Hancock (possibly John Hancock). M. Bremmer...

GLC01450.444.02.09

[Receipt book with forged signatures]

Includes forged signatures of John Adams and John Hancock pasted onto the inside of the front board. Some receipts included are written to Treat & Pico, others to Joshua Pico. Items/services bought and sold include oil, rent of property, schooling...

GLC01450.725

[Massachusetts state pardon for Scripture Frost for counterfeiting coin]

Frost was sentenced to stand in pillory for 1 hour and to 2 years hard labor. Conditionally pardoned excepting that Frost pay a 25 Pound ($40) fine. Signed and sealed by John Hancock as governor. Written by Secretary to the Governor John Avery, Jr....

GLC01988

to John Hancock

Knox, Secretary of War, discusses President George Washington's orders regarding captured naval prizes. Requests that Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts, restore any naval prizes brought into the harbors and ports of Massachusetts to the master or...

GLC04109

Lithograph titled The Declaration of Independence July 4th 1776

One print entitled The Declaration of Independence July 4th 1776 dated circa 1850. This image is a gathering of men and is considered to be depicting the signing or presentation of the Declaration of Independence. The original painting by Trumbull...

GLC10045

Resolutions re: relieving Major General St. Clair and Schuyler of command

Resolutions of Congress, signed as President, countersigned by William Houston. Also calls for more soldiers. Was written in Congress.

GLC07477

to "The Gentlemen of the House of Representatives"

Hancock argues that the bill making Sunday a day of Sabbath in Congress was improperly passed. The Constitution provided a set amount of time to rebuke a bill's passing, and others in Congress accused Hancock of sending his letter of rebuttal too...

GLC07917

To: "Gentlemen of the House of Representatives."

John Hancock responds to an inquiry from the "Gentlemen of the House of Representatives" about the status of an import tax bill. He says that he feels the bill was illegitimately passed and that he does not consider it legitimate.

GLC07918

to Henry Knox

Writes on several topics. Mentions that [Samuel] Shaw will leave soon for New York and that Jackson has delivered to Shaw all of Henry Knox's brother William's luggage. Mentions that Governor [John] Hancock, his wife and family, and several others...

GLC02437.03226