Collection Search

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.

Broadside with printed date of 3 April 1776. Signed by Jay as President of the Continental Congress (indicating that the signature and printed date do not coincide). Contains eleven articles created by Congress authorizing private American ships to...

GLC00038.03

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.

Broadside with printed date of 3 April 1776. Signed by Huntington as President of the Continental Congress (indicating that the signature and printed date do not coincide). Contains eleven articles created by Congress authorizing private American...

GLC00038.04

Privateer's commission for the sloop Union during the War of 1812

Signed by Madison as president and countersigned by James Monroe as secretary of state. Partly printed document commissioning the privateer, under the command of Captain Oliver Hicks and Lieutenant William Rust, to "seize and take any armed or...

GLC00053

[Pardon of Michael Bright and eight others for obstructing justice].

Countersigned by Secretary of State Robert Smith. Pardoned by Madison because their crimes arose from a sense of duty, not disobediance. The recipients of the pardon were Michael Bright, James Atkinson, William Cole, Charles Westfall, Samuel...

GLC00045.01

[Authority to affix the seal to letter of marque to R. B. Forbes]

Authorization signed by President Lincoln for the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to a letter of marque granted to the propeller "Pembroke," owned by R.B. Forbes. Document was previously framed and discoloration has occured...

GLC01484