12 July 1755 - 15 September 1755

Moses, Robert, fl. 1755

Diary

Title: [Diary of Robert Moses kept during the French and Indian War]

Moses served in a New Hampshire regiment under the command of Colonel Joseph Blanchard. He describes, sometimes in graphic detail, accounts of fighting Indians and the French in New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire during the early stages of the Seven Years' War. Emphasizes the Indians "very barbarous manner." Contains an extensive description of General William Johnson's victory at the Battle of Lake George on 9 September 1755. In the course of the diary he mentions visits to Fort Dummer, Fort Bellows, Charlemont Fort, Fort Massachusetts, Fort Albany, Lake George,…

GLC04944

1860/06/15

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863

Broadside

Title: Election Proclamation by the Governor! [elections before the Civil War]

Setting Texas elections just before the Civil War.

GLC04945

1720 ca.

Law, John, fl. 1720

Broadside

Title: Missisippi of 'T Wydbefaamde goudland [Dutch] [Wonderful Land of Mississippi]

With engraved scene depicting Europeans trading gold with the Indians on the banks of the Mississippi. Publicizing settling in America. Written in Dutch. (The translation in the title here comes from the first line: "Dit 's 't wond're Missisippi Land / Besaamd door zynen Actiehandel, ....") The Mississippi "bubble" began in 1717 with the Company of the West, whose stock was driven up by speculators expecting gold and other wealth in Louisiana. The Company's collapse in 1720 involved French investors in difficulties similar to the British South Sea Bubble. From "Het Groot Verhaal".…

GLC04946

1755/09/09

Trumbull, Jonathan, Sr., 1710-1785

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order for fifteen men to join the expedition against the French at Crown Point]

Written to Captain John Wattle of Lebanon, Connecticut, during the French and Indian War. Indicates that three impressed men should come from five different companies, given bounties, and sent to join "Captain Leaches company for the said service." A postscript orders the "several Captains of the Proprietive Company of Foot abovenamed" to render assistance to Wattle in making the impressments and keeping the peace. Trumbull wrote, and signed twice, as colonel of the 12th Regiment.

GLC04949

1835 ca.

Pierce, Franklin, 1804-1869

Painting

Title: Miniature attributed to Moses B. Russell

Shows young man in a black formal coat. Three-quarters sinister, waist-length, with blue background. Housed in gilt-metal frames set in a fitted leather case with blind rules and stamps. Case: 11 x 8.5 x 1.5 cm (image: 9 x 7 cm.) The miniatures come from the Aiken Family; Mary Aiken was Jane Pierce's sister.

GLC04950.01

1835 ca.

Pierce, Jane M., 1806-1863

Painting

Title: Miniature attributed to Moses B. Russell

Shows young woman in blue dress, white fichu set with a brooch. She has brown curly hair. Three-quarters sinister, waist-length, with blue background. Housed in gilt-metal frames set in a fitted leather case with blind rules and stamps. Case: 10.7 x 8.9 x 1.2 cm (Image: 9.3 x 7.2 cm) The miniatures come from the Aiken Family; Mary Aiken was Jane Pierce's sister.

GLC04950.02

1776

Watson, James, fl. 1974

Print

Title: Sir Jeffery Amherst [mezzotint by James Watson, after Joshua Reynolds]

Sold by Ryland and Bryer at the Kings Arms, in Cornhill. Printed by J. Watson. Sir Jeffery Amherst (Smith IV, 1488.2). Mezzotint based on a painting by Joshua Reynolds. "Knight of the Most Honorable Order of Bath, Governor of Virginia, Colonel of His Majesty's 15th & 60th Regiments of Foot, Lieutenant General & Commander in Chief Of His Majesty's Forces in North America from 1758 to 1764." He is posing with a map entitled "Plan of the Island of Montreal & its Environs." The background is largely dominated by dark clouds, although a river crowded with large boats is visible in the…

GLC04951

9 May 1794

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert R. Livingston

Monroe, Senator from Virginia, urges Livingston, Chancellor of New York, to accept Washington's offer to succeed Gouverneur Morris as Minister Plenipotentiary to France. Tells Livingston it will be good for the party if he accepts. Says "the effect of you're. declining cannot be perceived." Ultimately, Livingston declined the honor because he did not want the Chancery Court to go to someone of differing political beliefs and because he did not think he could work well with the Washington Administration. Monroe himself was eventually selected to go to France.

GLC04822

November 26, 1818

Header Record

Title: [Patent for Jacob Bromwell's improvement of the wheat fan, or winnowing machine and J.Q. Adams and Engraving of James Monroe and James Monroe]

Document signed by John Quincy Adams and James Monroe, 1 engraving of John Quincy Adams, and 3 engravings of James Monroe.

GLC04823

2 December 1823

James C., Dunn & Co, fl. 1823

Broadside

Title: President's Message

Same-day printing of the Monroe Doctrine in an extra for the Washington Republican and congressional examiner. One of the most important lines includes: "the American continents, by the free and independent condition which they have assumed and maintained, are henceforth not to be considered as subjects for further colonization by any European powers." Text in five columns with ink stains that create small amounts of text loss. Writing and calculations on verso. Signature on verso is hard to read, but might be "Bernard V. Stewart."

GLC04824

22 June 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Captain Daniel Morgan]

Partially printed document signed by Continental Congress President John Hancock and co-signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary to Congress. The writing in the document's body was done by General George Washington. Document appoints Daniel Morgan as "Captain of a Company of Riflemen."

GLC04825

6 January 1816

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John McHenry

Encloses a collection of sermons by Rev. Richard Price that shaped Pickering's faith. Over forty years ago Pickering renounced the "Calvanistic scheme" in which he had been educated as "utterly incompatible with the perfections of the Deity." Price's sermons gave Pickering the concept of the Trinity which he now embraces.

GLC04835

1797/11/14

Jackson, William, 1759-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sharp Delany re: returning equipment used in surveying

Written from the Surveyor's Office. Jackson signed the Constitution as Secretary of the Convention. In one of his last acts as President, Washington appointed Jackson surveyor of customs at Philadelphia.

GLC04842.25

May 1, 1787

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [George Washington] re: explaining his absence from the Convention

Misdated May. McHenry writes the Convention's president, Washington, that he was unable to attend the opening sessions because his brother lay ill. He did attend in August and kept a private record of proceedings.

GLC04842.29

January 17, 1797

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Document signed

Title: Land grant transferring land from Capt. Gallohill Minnis to Richard Means

Signed by George Washington as President and countersigned by Timothy Pickering as Secretary of State. Includes handwritten description of the boundaries of the property. Docket on verso signed by James McHenry as Secretary of War on January 16, 1797. Also docketed and signed by the Chief Clerk at the Department of State. Features paper and wax seal.

GLC04842.39

1867/02/21

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin M. Stanton re: (support for Stanton over President Johnson) "Stick!"

A one word letter dated Senate Chamber, meant to encourage Stanton to remain as Secretary of War in spite of President Johnson's opposition.

GLC04846

1781/03/09

United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Nathaniel Greene re: victory at Cowpens, SC

Written as Secretary of Congress.

GLC04848

22 August 1775

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Palmer

Washington discusses supply and armament of the Army, strategic locations for placing artillery, how best to prosecute the war, and his public image. Asks Palmer for his advice on strategy for defending Boston and the surrounding area, and has solicited the advice of other men on this topic.

GLC04858

1 August 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Anthony Walton White

Washington writes that the recipient should scrutinize the characters of his men and immediately dismount any suspicious ones since "the loss of a worthless soldier will occasion less regret when it is not accompanied with that of a Horse and Accoutrements." Written in response to the disappearance of a horse from White's unit.

GLC04859

18 March 1789

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Mercer

Written one month before taking his oath of office as the first United States President, Washington attempts to collect a debt owed by the estate of James' father John Mercer. States that he was formerly promised repayment by James' brother, Colonel John Francis Mercer, but John did not deliver the sum in full. Informs James "I am thus explicit, for the purpose of evincing to you, that necessity alone prompts me to make this plain and unequivocal declaration" regarding reimbursement. Reveals willingness to receive land titles as repayment. Expresses his wish to secure titles for two lots…

GLC04860

February 1, 1796

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver Wolcott

Responds to a previous letter from Wolcott announcing the death of Samuel Huntington, Governor of Connecticut. Informs Wolcott that "At the same time that I regret the loss of so worthy a character, I cannot but feel consoled; that the Administration of the Government of that State has fallen into such good hands as yours." Refers to attacks made upon his Presidential Administration, declaring that "If the enlightened, and virtuous part of the Community will make allowances for my involuntary errors, I will promise they shall have no cause to accuse me of wilful ones." Confirms the…

GLC04861

1795/01/01

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Broadside

Title: Proclamation for day of Thanksgiving and prayer

Setting aside the nineteenth of February as a day of "Public Thanksgiving and Prayer." Compare to other Thanksgiving broadsides: Adams, GLC00270 and GLC01947.

GLC04862

25 August 1778

McIntosh, Lachlan, 1725-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley County, Virginia

Conveying instructions of Virginia Governor Patrick Henry to contribute militia for McIntosh's expedition into Indian Territory. Asks for three hundred fully armed men and requests that they be enlisted for the longest possible duration because the distance and obstacles are uncertain. Written from Fort Pitt.

GLC04818

3 August 1791

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Rodney

In the summer of 1791 enemies of the Rodneys in Delaware were alleging that Caesar Rodney, Thomas Rodney's brother, had misappropriated funds authorized by Congress for an attack on Canada during the American Revolution. Caesar had died in 1784. McKean expresses his belief that Caesar's behavior with the funds was honorable, and Caesar's papers may reveal a contemporary letter from McKean to Caesar in which McKean spoke about the complex details of the transactions. If Thomas finds this letter, it will clear his brother: "With a view to afford some consolation to you in your present…

GLC04819

15 September 1775

Middleton, Arthur, 1742-1787

Autograph letter

Title: to William Henry Drayton

Discusses South Carolina's military preparations for the revolution. Informs that transports and frigates will be at Charleston soon and that Fort Johnson is reinforced and garrisoned. Reports on armed schooners ready for defense and batteries that are being formed. Letter is not signed but Middleton is noted as the author on the docket.

GLC04820