12 May 1773

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Describes a discussion he had about his brother (the recipient) settling down, the need for assistance from "friends," and the good chances of his success.

GLC02549.02

1774

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Thanks his brother for a gift. Discusses paying part of a debt. Writing about his mother, he states: "My Mother generally speaks her mind too freely, tho she commonly means well."

GLC02549.03

5 April 1777

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Complains about his profession as a doctor and compares it to being a "galley slave." Describes a man abroad named William Roberts as unambitious. Mentions, and discounts, the prospect of war in India and comments on related political and military matters, discussing a man named Mr. Erskine and the "Directors & Proprietors" of the East India Company. A Mr. Floger is mentioned in connection to a position in "the Government of Bombay." Discusses the disagreement between Lord Pigot, the governor and commander-in-chief of Madras, and his council (concerning the restoration of the Rajah of…

GLC02549.04

21 May 1777

Dundas, Isabella, 1747-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Chastises James for not writing. Gives him information about her son to be passed on to her mother-in-law. Describing the acerbic early part of the letter, she notes that she "commenced this Epistle with all the inveteray [sic] of a Paper War." Notes that her husband David has already "sent you all the News about Our dear Willm," referring to the birth of their son.

GLC02549.05

19 May 1778

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses their correspondence, James's last visit, which lacked in amusements because of David's "disagreeable employment," and his son. Notes receiving a letter from William Robertson in Madras, India, and discusses the death of Lord Pigot in captivity in 1777 and the trial of those responsible for his arrest.

GLC02549.06

14 October 1778

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Manuscript document

Title: [Unattached address leaf of a letter from David Dundas to his brother Ralph Dundas]

GLC02549.07

29 July 1779

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Indicates that he was sorry to hear about his brother's "disagreables" and offers a travelling metaphor for the difficulties of life. Regrets that they have not seen each other recently.

GLC02549.08

18 December 1779

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas [fragment]

Describes a trip to Portsmouth. Also discusses visiting the House of Commons, where he heard a debate in which Charles Fox and Lord North spoke. North closed his speech by hoping "that the Eyes of Europe would soon be opened, & see the necessity of supporting that Ballance of power in defence of which G. Britain has spilt so much blood & spent so much treasure." Fox criticised the "Ministry & their measures - & such a torrent of oratory I had no conception of..." Notes that the evening laid the "foundation of Mr Adams Duel."

GLC02549.09

January 24, 1780

Dundas, David, Sir, Bart, 1749-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Dundas

Discusses his wife Isabella, whose "proper sense of Religion joined to a firm mind" has helped her adjust to "her misfortunes." Comments on the suffering of their mother, which James had informed him of, and asks James to give their father his best wishes.

GLC02549.10

27 June 1780

Walker, John, 1744-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Hears that Weedon has been called back into service. Feels the war is going well and expects a favorable outcome. "Let it not be said that Virginia was exceeded by any" other state. The British burned Springfield, then retreated to Elizabethtown. Expects them to attack West Point next, but thinks America will soon "be prepared for them at all points." Wonders "where in the name of Heaven are the Monsieurs (the French) all this time."

GLC06500.01

11 July 1780

Walker, John, 1744-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Hears that new French ships have arrived in the West Indies, and hopes they can help defeat the British fleet. The fleet opposing the British now numbers almost "50 sail of the line with 30,000 troops." Thinks such a force capable of quickly taking all the British islands in the Caribbean. "This being done the Continental business will not be difficult. On the other hand, should they come immediately here we should be found so thoroughly unprepared to cooperate with them that I fear it will serve only to reflect disgrace on us." The British "remain quiet in and about N York. They have…

GLC06500.02

15 August 1780

Walker, John, 1744-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

The French are still stuck in New York, but 20,000 American militia have arisen there. Says he is ashamed of his own state of Virgina and "almost determined to renounce it," since it lacks this sort of patriotism. Says Pickering will be the next Quarter Master General, now that Shippen has resigned and the finances are in disaray. Mentions the ship "Packet." Says "Our scheme is to take New York with the fleet and army there before winter sets in."

GLC06500.04

May 2, 1871

Paca, William, 1740-1799

Document signed

Title: [Subscription for the barge experiment]

Also signed by [?] Baker, J. [Gibbon?], Matthew Tilghman, Edward Lloyd, Robert Goldsborough, William Hindman, James Hindman, and several others whose signatures are illegible. Document claims the British have fitted a number of small vessels that have been raiding and plundering the coast of Maryland. Says that the state treasury is overburdened and that the 11 signers will support and maintain a barge and a ship to protect their shores between Kent Point and Tilghman's Island for two months. Want ships manned by 20 men exclusive of officers. Will pay the charges and expenses in proportion…

GLC00218.01

02 May 1781

Tilghman, William, 1756-1827

Document signed

Title: [Subscription for the barge experiment]

Also signed by Thomas Ray, Robert Pickering, W. Dawson, James Benson, Richard Parrott, Joseph Hartley, W. Gibson, [?] Gibson, B. Skinner, Hugh Rice, and William Tilghman. Document claims the British have fitted a number of small vessels that have been raiding and plundering the coast of Maryland. Says that the state treasury is overburdened and that the 11 signers will support and maintain a barge and a ship to protect their shores between Kent Point and Tilghman's Island for two months. Want ships manned by 20 men exclusive of officers. Will pay the charges and expenses in proportion to the…

GLC00218.02

August 25, 1780

Bayard, John, 1751-1804

Letter

Title: to George Dawson

Bayard authorizes George Dawson to raise a company of men in Halifax to serve under Lieutenant Colonel Commandant Bayard. Indicates that the troops are needed to serve the Crown during the American Revolution. Informs Dawson that after he successfully recruits the men, he will be appointed captain. Marked a copy. Docket notes that the original document dates to May 20, 1780.

GLC01450.610.02

10 July 1781

Van Cortlandt, Augustus, 1728-1823

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Authorizing Thomas MacDonogh of London with power of attorney for the executors of Roper Dawson's estate]

Van Cortland, and his fellow executors, Rachel Dawson and George Barnes, authorize Thomas MacDonogh to take legal action against John Thorton, a London merchant, to recover Roper Dawson's property. WItnessed by Van Cortland and certified (but not signed) by David Matthews, the mayor of New York City. Docketed the same day as the letter states.

GLC01450.610.03

29 August 1782

Carleton, Guy, 1724-1808

Printed document signed

Title: to George Dawson Esqr.

Countersigned by Maurice Morgann. Partially printed document in which General Carleton appoints Dawson a captain of a company in the British Legion under the command of Banestre Tarleton. Accompanied by paper seal.

GLC01450.610.04

4 April 1778

Hill, Jonathan, fl. 1777-1782

Document signed

Title: Document listing wounded officer in 9th Regiment of Foot

Signed by Lieutenant Colonel Hill. Lists Ensign Alexander Salans as wounded in the left arm. Mentions that he paid for part of his "cure" and that he was given a certificate with the monthly returns of 1 April 1778. Mentions three widows and two orphans whose husbands and fathers were killed and who are to have their passage back to Great Britain paid by the regiment. That the passage would be paid is from the General Order dated 9 May 1777 in Quebec.

GLC04764.74

24 July 1778

Macomb, John, fl. 1778

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by Macomb, a Royalist in Burgoyne's army during the Saratoga campaign, to Burgoyne in London. Writes that he wants to affirm his character with Burgoyne after General Haldiman believes he deserted the army with 1500 pounds after the defeat at Saratoga. Says Brigadier General Fraser, who died at Saratoga, said he would have a 50 pound-a-year salary, which he has not received. Says he only left the army before the Convention because he dreaded what the "Rebels" would do to him for helping his son-in-law raise a battalion for Burgoyne. Hopes Burgoyne will recommend establishing his…

GLC04764.75

September 1778

Phillips, William, 1731-1781

Autograph document

Title: to Charles Jenkinson, 1st Earl of Liverpool

Memorial written by Major General Phillips, as commander fo the captured British Convention Army (he took control when John Burgoyne returned to Britain in April 1778) to Jenkinson as Secretary of War in Lord North's ministry in London. States that by a resolution of Congress in August 1778, it appears the Convention Army will not be returning to Britain in the next coming months. Worries about the promotion of the officers in the Convention Army, who are deprived of field service. Hopes the captured troops can count on the protection of the King. Says the troops under him have continued to…

GLC04764.76

29 May 1779

Kingston, Robert M., ?-1794

Autograph document

Title: to Captain Ross

Written by Kingston as a staff officer to General John Burgoyne. Kingston wrote this somewhere in Britain, where he returned with Burgoyne in April 1778. Requests action on his "particular exchange" as a prisoner of war. Mentions that he could be exchanged for Lieutenant Colonel Bellinger or Colonel Hale. Kingston was only formally a prisoner. He returned to Britain and promised not to fight until exchanged.

GLC04764.77

29 June 1776

Hunt, J., fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Hunt is writing to an unknown recipient. Sends it to "My Dearest Friend." The index prepared for this collection suggests it could be to General John Burgoyne. It could also have been sent to Robert Kingston. It is impossible to tell. Year inferred from the "Sat. Even: June 29th." The only year in the 1770s to have a June 29th on a Saturday is 1776. Says he saw his sister and had hoped to see him. Tells him that his mother became ill and died. Hopes circumstances have permitted him to leave before this arrives. Says he will help out in whatever way he can.

GLC04764.78

1763-1783

Autograph document

Title: [Fragment of check]

Fragment of a check from what appears to be activity related to the Saratoga Campaign. Mentions "Please to Pay to" and then cuts off. Also mentions "Genl. Burgoyne" as well as somebody or something in Colonel Aldens Regiment. Partial tear down the middle, which appears to have been repaired previously.

GLC04764.79

1763-1783

Powell, Henry, 1733-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Fragment of a letter written by Brigadier General Henry Watson Powell to General Burgoyne. Watson served under Burgoyne as commander of the 2nd Brigade during the Saratoga Campaign. This fragment is simply the closing of the letter. Says: "Carpenters, Masons;, Smiths, Oxen, Corvee Canadians[,]Carts & Horses with Harness compleat[.] Therefore The Ballance & Carts being destroyed will be of no great consequence." Signed by Powell.

GLC04764.80

December 12, 1777

Burgoyne, John, 1722-1792

Autograph note

Title: [Note on a missionary]

Index says the note is in General Burgoyne's hand. Initialed "JB" at the top. Says: "To be attended to: Joshua Wingate Weeks of Marblehead Missionary from the Society for propagat[ing] the gospel -" Weeks was a Royalist Anglican minister kicked out of Marblehead, Massachusetts for continuing to preach in the Anglican Church there. Date of creation inferred from the date of Weeks's ejection from Marblehead.

GLC04764.81