October 11, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to John Page, Williamsburg

Describes the attack at Germantown and the loss of victory due to a retreat caused by fog. He closes by mentioning that the troops were in good spirits. The letter mentions the Battle of Germantown and the various maneuvers. John Page is from Williamsburg.

GLC00496.097

December 16, 1793

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Carroll

Written to Carroll as Commissioner for the City of Washington. The letter discusses the "free stone" on Washington's property, a plan of Mr. Greenleaf to sell lots and buildings (George Washington directs him to the Commissioners), and Greenleaf's proposal to build a city hospital. The letter mentions quarries and marble for building the Capitol. Washington's signature is repaired. Docketed on page 4.

GLC00496.098

December 27, 1862

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: to Major John J. Key

A short note that reads, "The within, as appears, was written some time ago. On full consideration, I can not find sufficient ground to change the conclusion therein arrived at./A. Lincoln/Dec. 27. 1862.” Probably written in the Executive Mansion. This note was written on a partial sheet as one edge of the paper is rough.

GLC00496.045.02

January 7, 1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ward H. Lamon

Abraham Lincoln refuses Lamon's request for him to take on a new case at Bloomington, because he is "so pressed" in Springfield at the time.

GLC00496.048

October 7, 1860

Davis, David, 1815-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caleb Smith

Confirms Smith's much anticipated speaking engagement at Bloomington, Illinois. Davis, a judge of the eighth judicial circuit of Illinois and later a senator, was a close political and personal friend of Lincoln.

GLC00496.050

April 9, 1803

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Letter signed

Title: to James Leander Cathcart

The letter discusses that peace had just been made with Algiers. Also, mentions commission as consul to Tunis.

GLC00496.051

February 23, 1787

Mason, George, Sr., 1725-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Fitzhugh

Discusses Fitzhugh's disagreement with his neighbor, Mr. Steptoe, over land boundaries and property lines. Suggests drawing up a plat map to prevent future disagreements.

GLC00496.059

November 7, 1794

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses a meeting with French diplomats regarding Treaty of Amity and adoption of a national free market. Reports on Mr. Paine's and Mme. Lafayette's imprisonment. Transcribed duplicate letter signed with a closing note.

GLC00496.060

May 19, 1803

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Minister of Foreign Affairs

Regarding Mr. Marbois' help in negotiating Spanish territory east of the Mississippi River. Maurice Talleyrand-Périgord was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, intermittently, from 1797-1815.

GLC00496.061

1825-1829

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph note

Title: Mr. Monroe's claims

Written by Monroe in retirement after his presidency. Starting in 1825, in order to pull himself out of $75,000 of debt and save his Oak Hill estate, he requested reimbursement of back salary and expenses from his diplomatic missions and governmental work in the 1790s and the first two decades of the 19th century. He also attempted to sell other property he owned, but when that failed he put his full force behind getting reimbursed from the government. In order to prove his claims he had to submit many documents from his time abroad and this undated draft is part of the paperwork he would…

GLC00496.062

circa 1830

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph note

Title: Major Mountflorence

Note to himself about Mountflorence's information-gathering. Mountflorence was a prize agent and former secretary under Minister to France Robert Livingston.

GLC00496.063

October 12, 1826

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter

Title: Copy of a letter from Col. James Lewis to Col. James Monroe

Lewis, Monroe's attorney, describes the circumstances under which he sold Monroe's land above Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1806; the land on which the University of Virginia was later established. A need to settle Monroe's debts compelled the sale. Per Monroe's request, Lewis also comments on the differences between the original price of the land and the present prices. A postscript offers to verify the letters content, since Lewis based the information on memory. Lewis attended to Monroe's financial affairs while Monroe served as a diplomat in Europe between 1803 and 1807. Handwritten copy…

GLC00496.064

22 August 1794

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph document

Title: The Commissary of Foreign Affairs to the Minister Planipotentiary of the United States of America

Transcribed letter, with response, declining government-subsidized housing as it contradicts the Constitution. Philibert Buchot was Commissary of Foreign Affairs for the French Republic in 1794. Monroe was Minister to France from 1794-1796. Serves as supplementary material to GLC00496.065.02.

GLC00496.065.02

May 19, 1814

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph note

Title: to Joseph Gales

Written by Monroe as Secretary of State. Recipient inferred from docket. "Mr. Gales" is Joseph Gales, the editor of the National Intelligencer newspaper. This is an advertisement titled "Letters miscarried," that was eventually printed in the May 21, 1814 issue. Advertisement says he sent two letters under his frank on May 5, 1814 to his brother Andrew Monroe in Aldie, Virginia, that were lost. In one letter there were seven notes for $50 each along with land papers and other accounts of value. Says there will be a $50 reward for their return.

GLC00496.066

20 April 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph document

Title: [Commendation for service]

Describes a soldier's courage under fire and bravery in the face of the enemy. According to the Monroe Papers, these are remarks made by Monroe during the presentation of a sword to Richard M. Johnson for service during the War of 1812.

GLC00496.069

June 5, 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Possibly written to President Monroe's lawyer. Involves a financial claim Mr. Coffin held against Monroe, who disparagingly refers to Coffin as a "adventurer, without talents, & therefore an impostor." Monroe paid Coffin $35 for four busts, but Coffin claims to be owed more. Because Monroe is president, he feels it best to settle with Coffin, and calls going before a magistrate a "last course." Monroe sends a check for the amount of the claim, giving his correspondent authority to settle the matter, and asks that it be done without altercation.

GLC00496.071

5 March 1830

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Document signed

Title: [Land Indenture between Burr Powell, William Noland and Lewis Berkley].

William Nolan and his wife deeded a tract of land in Loudoun County Virginia on May 17, 1822 to Burr Powell and Thomas R. Mott. In order to satisfy a debt owed to Lewis Berkeley, Nolan "has resolved to release all equity of redemption in the lands" and requests that Powell convey the land to Berkeley, who had also paid Noland and Powell. Thomas R. Mott had died and was not involved in this indenture. Notes by Justice of the Peace James Monroe and Abner Gibson, representing the Trustees of the Peace for Loudon County verify the transaction.

GLC00496.074

1777-1780

Header Record

Title: [Collection of 8 items concerning Revolutionary War in NY] [Decimalized]

GLC00496.075

July 7, 1777

Parsons, Samuel Holden, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Major General Parsons to Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. Says recent events are moving so fast that it they are the product of "a more prolific Brain than I find myself possesd of." Says while the nation is full of news he has little of it to share. Says it is not news that the British have left New Jersey and are concentrating at Staten Island and that it is anyone's guess what their destination will be. But he will conjecture that since no news has arrived of the enemy moving from Crown Point that the operations between Fort Ticonderoga and Skenesborough are a feint.…

GLC00496.075.01

August 26, 1777

Mumford, Giles, 1759-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Giles Mumford as a soldier under Lieutenant Colonel Meigs to his father Thomas Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. References his father's letters from August 11, 1777 and August 13, 1777. Says he has not received his powder puff, nor his cups, but that if they are returned he does not need them since there is a barber where he is. Says Colonel Samuel Webb has given him the liberty to keep a horse, as long as it is outside of camp. Says that in his last letter he informed his father that General Parsons and Colonel Webb went on a secret expedition to Long Island with 600 men…

GLC00496.075.02

October 23, 1777

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by General Parsons to Mumford as a merchant in Groton, Connecticut. Says he has doubtlessly heard of the Convention between General Gates and General Burgoyne. The Convention delineated the terms of surrender for General Burgoyne. Mentions the action at the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. Explains that due to fog, the battle with General William Howe ended prematurely. Says the Americans were close to victory before the fog settled on the field. Mentions casualties of generals. Says General Clinton embarked before he could attack. Says his numbers are few and now fears an…

GLC00496.075.04

October 23, 1779

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by General Parsons to Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. Thanks him for his letter on October 17, 1779. Thanks him for procuring a place for his son, but is against him going on the ship "Trumbull" with Captain Nicholson. Would rather him go on a privateer or a merchant ship with Captain Henman. Says British have abandoned their posts at Verplank's and Stony Point for New York. Says Newport, Rhode Island is not evacuated, but that he hopes that will happen soon. Says if it happens they will have a formidable force to reduce New York. Conjectures on what British might do.…

GLC00496.075.06

April 14, 1780

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Parsons as a Major General in the Continental Army to Thomas Mumford, a merchant from Groton, Connecticut. Mumford was also the brother-in-law of Parsons's staff officer Silas Deane. Tells Mumford that he asked Mr. Lawrence (possibly John Lawrence, Treasurer of Connecticut) to go to the British lines to inquire about his captured son. Because of Lawrence's efforts, Joseph Chew, a loyalist from New London, Connecticut, will bring Parsons's son on a ship he is taking from New York to New London, where he will be exchanged for a British prisoner. Asks Mumford if he can give an…

GLC00496.075.07

April 25, 1780

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Parsons as a Major General in Continental Army to Thomas Mumford, a merchant from Groton, Connecticut. Mumford was also the brother-in-law of Parsons's staff officer Silas Deane. Tells Mumford his son was waiting at home after having escaped from a prison ship in New York Harbor. Mentions that he was grossly abused and "closely confined" on board. After 14 days of confinement he was liberated to the city by a Mr. Walter and just as he was about to board Joseph Chew's ship, which was to take him to New London, Connecticut, for a prisoner exchange, he was taken away and carried to…

GLC00496.075.08

June 20, 1799

Nelson, Horatio Nelson, 1758-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Perkins Magra

Introduces Captain Don de Pinto, sent from the Marquis de Niza. Magra was Consul General at Tunis. Marquis de Niza headed a Portuguese squadron in the blockading of Valetta, Malta, 1798-1800.

GLC00496.077