4 July 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Asks forgiveness for not replying to his last letter as he was ill. But says his health is as good and his morals as upright when they were on "the Island" (New York ) together (from a reference in another letter, it appears he escaped in October 1778). Relates what happened to him after they escaped. At 10 p.m. he went to the mouth of a creek which led to the sea. They had prepared a large boat, but not everyone in his party had arrived yet and they took a small canoe instead. There were five in the canoe and they stopped and ballasted it with sand before heading to the ocean. Says they made…

GLC03849.02

23 November 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Saw Lincoln's daughter, who brought a letter from Lincoln in response to Hewson's of 4 July 1815. Glad that Lincoln enjoyed his last letter. Expresses joy that Lincoln might come to visit. Tells him his wife died on 30 September 1815 after a nine year battle with disease at the age of 64. Says he is relying on God to see him through this trial. Says she was his second wife, "a good & kind Mother to my five Motherless Children I had when we came together." They were married 41 years and says as she grew more infirm he grew to love her more. Says death did not "approach her as a King of…

GLC03849.03

8 July 1817

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter

Title: to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]

Says Lincoln's daughter reports his health is as good as can be expected. Hewson says his health has been poor since last winter and that he was confined to the house for eight or nine weeks. Says God wanted him to live in order to help his youngest son, who ruined his family through drinking, move westward to Ohio and work as a carpenter. He has bound him out to a master carpenter for two or three years to complete his training. Says his other son James was in the Hospital for one year at 4 dollars a week and he is to move west as well. A son-in-law has also gotten into debt and ran away and…

GLC03849.04

30 March 1819

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Tells of his six month confinement to his room. Had two colds in that time, despite sitting four feet from a fire the entire time. Relates their harshness. Did not send for a doctor, but was bled twice. When his daughter saw how bad he was, she sent for a doctor, who prescribed some medicine. He took it once, but it made him feel worse and he stopped. Says his faith in God kept him from complaining and that he never expected to live this long. Says he has not seen Lincoln in 40 years and six months, which is probably when they escaped from New York around October 1778. Says Lincoln's daughter…

GLC03849.05

20 November 1819

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

References Lincoln's letter of 6 June 1819. Says he is sorry that Lincoln's hearing is so bad and goes on to explain his temporary problems with hearing. Says he put drops of oil in his ear and took a piece of smooth wood and used that to clean out the wax from his ears. Claims he pulled out two or three pea-sized balls of wax from his ear and that he repeats this every few years. Says he is writing this small script without the aid of glasses, which are in his wig. Claims he read a newspaper article about putting drops of spring water in your eyes daily and that has preserved his eyesight.…

GLC03849.06

1 November 1820

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Claims to be suffering from severe influenza and that he might die soon. Hopes they can meet in heaven.

GLC03849.07

circa 1820

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter

Title: to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]

Undated, circa date inferred from other letters in the collection. Note in pencil in different hand says page 13 is the last, but it is missing here. Pages numbered 5-12 so beginning and end of letter are missing. After escaping to New Jersey, probably in October 1778, from a reference in another letter, they went back to pick up their fellow escapees who could not swim and paid their helpers with the canoe they stole. They were forced to keep moving and were helped by farmers who supported the Revolution. Says this took place in Monmouth County where "General How made so many wigs by his ill…

GLC03849.08

22 December 1860

Gibson, William P., fl. 1862-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to his sister Sarah Gibson Humphreys]

Apologizes for not being able to return home for the holidays. Writes that his familiy's financial circumstances prevent them from travelling. In favor of secession he writes, "political excitement was never so high--every body is rampant in favor of disunion. We had an election on this question one day before yesterday [December 20th] and it is predicted by the knowing ones that the State will go 30,000 votes majority for the secession ticket. I say hurrah for the biggest party."

GLC04501.092

12 April 1864

Gibson, John McKinley, fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Tobias Gibson]

He discusses a recent letter from home and the Currency Bill passed by the Confederate Congress which discounts notes at approximately 83 %. He also writes his views on slavery, "There is no such thing as satisfying a negro without slavery. They do not know their own wants and unless there is some one to teach them, they are but as little children I hope they may in some way be made to feel that they are not the superiors of the whites." Reports that his brother Hart is in a prison camp in Ohio. Written near Dalton, Georgia. In part: "Have you seen the "Currency Bill" passed by the C[…

GLC04501.094

14 April 1864

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: [to Loula Gibson]

The recipient is inferred from the content of the letter. Gibson completed an "unpleasant affair" (settled a contract) with the hands who will work on the plantation. He bitterly complains of being under the rule of the Provost Marshall and Federal occupation, "American ideas of liberty have totally changed since this Negro War began & education for them is soon to be the order of the Day by Regular Military order. Whilst as far as I know the white [2] Children are to grow up in ignorance or mix in the same cabin with the Negro with the same Yankee Marm for the teacher! How much…

GLC04501.095

3 August 1864

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

He writes that "The blacks are getting worse every day & at the end of this year I think they will be intolerable on account of bad work and the condition of the crops. I told them they must work on Saturday evening last - but they would not do it, and a dozen of the best men, Wesley at the head, went off to Thibodeux (wouldn't go to Capt Lee) and last night got back with a paper from Genl Cameron requiring them [2] to go to work till the Provost Marshall had investigated the matter..." He believes that he will lose half his cotton crop. He notes that Southern feelings will become…

GLC04501.097

28 March 1864

Bond, L. Montgomery, fl. 1864

Printed document

Title: [Printed circular number one from the Office of the Committee on Labor, Income, and Revenue of the Great Central Fair, a benefit for the United States Sanitary Commission]

The Committee for a Day's Labor requests a donation of one day's earnings from all classes of the community for benefit of the Great Central Fair. Printed on Office of the Committee on Labor, Income, and Revenue stationery. Lists members of the Committee for a Day's Labor, including Bond (Chairman), John W. Claghorn (Treasurer), Reverend E. W. Hutter (Corresponding Secretary), and McGregor J. Mitcheson (Secretary). Lists the names of honorary Committee members, including Andrew Gregg Curtin (Pennsylvania Governor), Joel Parker (New Jersey Governor), William Cannon (Delaware Governor),…

GLC04643.01

22 April 1864

Shoemaker, Robert, fl. 1864

Printed document

Title: [Printed circular from the Office of the Committee on Labor, Income, and Revenue]

Distributed by the Committee on Drugs, Chemicals, Dry Salteries, and Paints, a division of the Office of the Committee on Labor, Income, and Revenue. The Committee on Drugs requests that druggists, chemists, dry salters, and paint manufacturers donate one day's labor, income, or revenue for benefit of the Great Central Fair. Created by Shoemaker as Chairman of the Committee on Drugs, and by H. B. Rosengarten as Secretary. Lists other committee members. Accompanied by an illustrated Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission envelope addressed to A. J. Everhart. Possibly transmitted…

GLC04643.02

6 June 1864

White, James William, 1826-1891

Letter signed

Title: to John B. Bachman

Acting as Chairman of the Committee on Orations and Lectures of the Great Central Fair, White (possibly the noted Philadelphia dentist and doctor) expresses gratitude to John B. Bachman, of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, for his contribution. Written on Committee on Orations and Lectures stationery. Contains a printed list of other committee members. Accompanied by an illustrated Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission envelope addressed to Bachman. Possibly transmitted in the same envelope as GLC04644.02

GLC04644.01

6 June 1864

White, James William, 1826-1891

Printed document signed

Title: [Receipt for a donation made to Great Central Fair]

Acting as Chairman of the Committee on Orations and Lectures of the Great Central Fair, White (possibly the noted Philadelphia dentist and doctor) acknowledges receipt of John B. Bachman's contribution of $760.70. Accompanied by an illustrated Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission envelope addressed to Bachman. Possibly transmitted in the same envelope as GLC04644.01.

GLC04644.02

circa 1777-1779

Kingston, Robert M., ?-1794

Manuscript document

Title: [Cypher]

Appears to be Kingston's cypher to communicate with his superiors while a prisoner of war after the Battle of Saratoga. On verso are the names of the people who seem to be in on the coded messages: General Sir William Howe, General Robert Pigot, General William Phillips, and General Henry Clinton. Altogether there are 14 areas cut out, each one numbered, when placed over a coded letter of the same size will convey the true message.

GLC04764.01

circa 1777-1779

Kingston, Robert M., ?-1794

Manuscript document

Title: [Cypher]

Cypher for coded messages probably made by Kingston as a prisoner of war after the Battle of Saratoga. Has four long rectangles cut out. When placed over a letter of the same size the cut outs allow the true message to be conveyed. The name "L. Vallaniez" is written on one side. On the opposite side of the cypher the word "Bottom" is written at the bottom, as a direction of how to place the cypher over the letter. Also has the initials "G.V." written on the same side as the the word "Bottom."

GLC04764.03

20 March 1777

Musgrave, Thomas, 1738-1812

Autograph document signed

Title: Return of the Number of Drafts received by the 40th Regiment from the Several Regiments serving in Canada &c & Amboy 20th March 1777

Written by Musgrave as a Lieutenant Colonel in the 40th Regiment, before the loss at the Battle of Saratoga. Document records the number of troops sent over from the 8th, 9th, 47th, and 62nd Regiments. The total number of troops sent to the 40th Regiment was 45. Signed by Musgrave and countersigned by Captain Edward Foy, the Adjunct General in Canada as "A true Copy."

GLC04764.04

circa September 1777

Carter, Jonathan, fl. 1777

Document signed

Title: Return of Officers of the detachment of the Royal Regt of Artillery that come under the discription of the Kings order given out by Sir Guy Carlton the 9th of May 1777

Signed by Carter as a Captain in the Royal Artillery sometime after the Battle of Freeman's Farm in the Saratoga campaign. Lists the death of Captain Thomas Jones who died in action on 19 September 1777. Says he is survived by a wife.

GLC04764.05

10 June 1777

Bouthillier, P., fl. 1777

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for cloth]

Written by Bouthillier, apparently as an officer in the British Army in Canada to Robert Kingston, an officer on General John Burgoyne's staff. The receipt is for cloth Kingston was having delivered to Bouthillier. Bouthillier wrote up the receipt and signed it. It was eventually initialed by Kingston.

GLC04764.06

12 June 1777

Grout, Elijah, fl. 1777

Autograph document signed

Title: Account of Money Expended by Elijah Grout & Robt Perry On an Expedition to Connecticut River - by His Excellency General Burgoyne's Orders

Lists cash expenditures for his expedition south from Montreal, Canada. Mentions cash payments to get his expedition to St. Johns, the Connecticut River, Ticonderoga, and opposite Crown Point. Paid a Mr. Hubbard to distribute Burgoyne's declarations among local inhabitants. Other cash expenditures were for provisions. Total cost is slightly over 8 pounds, he received over 2 pounds, and is asking for a reimbursement of over 6 pounds. Countersigned by a John Peters on verso, stating Burgoyne said he should be paid.

GLC04764.07

15 June 1777

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Brigadier General Alan Maclean]

42 pound, 10 shilling reciept written by Burgoyne to Jacob Jordan, paymaster at Montreal, for Briadier General Allan Maclean. On verso is Maclean's signature. Part of Burgoyne's signature is lost due to a repair

GLC04764.08

23 June 1777

Sherwood, Justus, 1747-1798

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Elijah Grout and Robert Perry]

Related to GLC04764.07. Record of Captain Justus Sherwood for the payment of four guineas to Elijah Grout and Robert Perry for their expedition to the Connecticut River and four guineas to Jeptha Hawley for his party to go to Albany. Sherwood says he received the order to pay the money from Major Robert Kingston. Note at the bottom says the eight guineas were paid. Note on verso shows that this was money given before their respective expeditions. The note provides directions from Kingston (he initialed the end of the note) on how to "make a smoke" if they come across other British troops on…

GLC04764.09

12 July 1777

Jones, Jonas, fl. 1777

Autograph document signed

Title: [Request for advance on pay]

Jones has written Skeensbury as the place he was writing from, but it was properly known as Skenesboro, New York at the time. It is now Whitehall, New York. Says he has received his ensign pay up to 24 June 1777 and asks for two months advance on his pay. At the bottom is a note by Robert Kingston that says Jones was advanced six guineas on 14 July 1777 and another six on 30 August 1777.

GLC04764.10

14 July 1777

Maclean, Allan, 1725-1797

Autograph document signed

Title: to Jacob Jordan

Cosigned with Loiseau, who appears to be a French Canadian officer. Countersigned by General John Burgoyne on verso. Document is partially in French. Loiseau submitted an account of his expenses to Brigadier General Maclean who passed it along to Jacob Jordan, the Paymaster General in Montreal. Maclean orders Jacobs to pay the account of 92 pounds and charge it to Burgoyne. Signature on verso is Burgoyne's approval of the payment.

GLC04764.11