6 March 1801

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Document signed

Title: [Papers granting the ship "Hunter" voyage permission in four languages]

Countersigned by Secretary of State John Marshall, New York Port Collector Joshua Sands, and Notary Public John Wilkes. Partly printed document in four languages (French, Spanish, English, and Dutch). Papers give permission to Captain William Van Duerson, the commander of the ship "Hunter," to carry non-contraband goods to Demerara in British Guiana (present day Guyana). Written before Adams left the presidency on 4 March 1801, but countersigned in New York on 6 March 1804. Sands added a note that the new president, Thomas Jefferson, had approved the papers and allowed them to continue in…

GLC02517.02

1814/01-02/23

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Richard Rush.

Written to the son of his close friend Dr. Benjamin Rush in January 1814 and finished February 23. An early portion of the letter is in a Sternian style (stream of consciousness) concerning dreams while ill. Adams concludes, slightly tongue-in-cheek by mentioning a 3 vol. work on him by a Mr. Taylor.

GLC02518

16 April 1857

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Ann Brown

Has "been more prospered within a very few days than I had before been," thanks to a $7,000 loan from George L. Stearns to be used towards a free Kansas. Hears "that one of 'Uncle Sam's Hounds was at Cleavland on my track;' and I have been hiding a little so as to let my track get cold." However has "no great fear of being caught" and says "I trust that God will send me back with Irons in rather than uppon my hands." Hopes to return home soon. Brown hid for a week in Boston to avoid the rumored United States Marshall.

GLC02519

7 October 1787

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Franklin, writing as president of the executive council of Pennsylvania, asks New York's Governor Clinton to aid in gathering evidence against conspirators in the Yankee-Pennamite war. The Pennamite Wars were organized (but not state-sponsored) battles between settlers from Pennsylvania and Connecticut who claimed land in the Wyoming Valley in northeast Pennsylvania. The day this letter was written, John Franklin, one of the Yankee leaders was sentenced by the Council of Pennsylvania to be kept in irons. The letter's verso and integral leaf show evidence that this is the original used in…

GLC02521

1 July 1863

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Manuscript document

Title: [Standing orders for the first day of the Battle of Gettysburg]

Clerical copy of the circular order for the Army of the Potomac for Gettysburg. Written before the battle took shape while Meade thought the major engagement would be fought at Harrisburg; orders a defensive stance. Explains the details this defensive position would take and provides specific orders for the movements of troops commanded by General Henry W. Slocum and General John F. Reynolds. Reprinted in Official Records Series I v. 27 pt. 3:458.

GLC02522

2 April 1799

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by General Hamilton as commander of the Provisional Army to Brigadier General North. Says he has enclosed a letter from the Secretary of War that explains itself (the letter is not included here). Says he wishes to see North as soon he arrives in New York. Says if any measure is necessary for his temporary accommodation, in terms of a substitute, he will work with him. Says there is an immense need for someone to perform the duties of Adjutant General.

GLC02523

10 May 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Captain's commission for William North]

Partly printed document signed by Hancock as President of Continental Congress and co-signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. This commission gives William North the rank of captain. A later note at the top of the document, by North's son, says "This Commission went with my father in his bosom through the War of the Revolution." The condition of the document attests to this note. It's been folded many times and has been repaired. The docket on verso is faded and hard to read.

GLC02524

6 August 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolve of Congress on General Gates's call for militia]

Written in the hand of William Churchill Houston as deputy secretary of the Continental Congress. Signed by Continental Congress President Hancock. It is noted that this is a copy from the Journals of Congress. Resolve issued in the aftermath of the fall of Fort Ticonderoga to the British. On 2 August 1777 Gates was given the permission of Congress to requisition from each state's militia the number of men he felt was necessary to defend against General John Burgoyne's advance. This resolve was sent to help Gates in his recruitment saying it is "impossible, in the present Circumstances of…

GLC02525

1830/10/18

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Header Record

Title: Letter by Andrew Jackson and engraving of him [Decimalized .01-.02]

A letter by President Andrew Jackson to Hardy M. Cryer, and an engraving of Jackson by A. B. Walter.

GLC02526

4 May 1798

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by Jay as Governor of New York, offering a U.S. Senate seat to North. He was being offered the seat vacated by Judge John S. Hobart who had accepted a judgeship for the District of New York. Is very pleased to be able to offer this honor to North saying it is "a proper Mark of Respect to the opinion of the many members of both Houses, whose Votes would have assigned that place to you last winter, had not Judge Hobart been a Candidate." Would like an answer with the return of the express.

GLC02528.01

25 June 1798

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Arrived in New York on 23 June 1798 and received North's letter of 22 June 1798. Written by Jay as Governor of New York to North as Senator from New York. North wrote soliciting advice on foreign affairs from Jay. Says the French alliance of 1777 should be considered void, but advises that a declaration of war should be avoided. Says war must seem unavoidable and necessary before the general public will give its approval of such drastic measures. Regrets the drastic measures of the Jacobins in France. Believes Elbridge Gerry's decision to remain in France after the XYZ Affair, while done out…

GLC02528.02

13 October 1803

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by Jay in retirement to North, a former brigadier general and U.S. Senator working on his farm. Says he received North's letter of 22 September 1803 which stated Mr. Verplank would not authorize North to pay the creditors of Mr. DuBois's estate from the sale of his land. North had requested Jay's advice on how to proceed. Jay says he cannot form a proper judgment having not seen the papers concerning the trust. Says he should submit the matter to "two of our most eminent Counsellors at Law, and steadily and strictly follow their advice."

GLC02528.03

1786/05/04

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Page re: insights on England after visit: "that nation hates us"

Written while serving as U.S. Minister to France. Jefferson encloses a pamphlet (apparently Notes on the State of Virginia; not included), thanks Page for a steady stream of political news from America and records his observations upon returning from a visit to England. Jefferson comments that Notes on the State of Virginia "were written in haste & for his [i.e., Francois Barbe-Marbois] private inspection." based on his visit to England, Jefferson makes general observations on English farming, gardening, architecture and manufacture. Jefferson finds most disturbing the hatred of…

GLC02529

18 March 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Platt

Discusses the preliminary drawings of an artillery building at West Point which will include an ordnance store and a crane projecting from the building's pediment. Knox requests another building to serve as a laboratory.

GLC02531

24 November 1778

Laurens, Henry, 1724-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Alexander

Laurens, as president of congress, writes to the Earl of Stirling about the distribution of "the Treaties of Amity & Commerce & of Alliance" with France and trade relations with the United Provinces. He also bemoans the loss of virtue and unity which America had in 1775, decrying avarice and profiteering.

GLC02532

December 1857

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph manuscript

Title: "House divided" speech fragment re: slavery, Dred Scott, Kansas

A single page beginning "Why Kansas is neither the whole, nor a tithe of the real question." Written before the debates with Stephen A. Douglas, apparently in response to that Senator's Dec. 9, 1857 speech in opposition to Buchanan's State of the Union address (as suggested by Don Fehrenbacher, "House Divided," 89 ff.). Nicolay and Hay date the metaphor from Oct. 1858 while Basler assigns it to May 1858. Unpublished and unrecorded. Current dating is based upon Don E. Fehrenbacher's hypothesis that this speech responds to Stephen A. Douglas's speech in the Senate of 1857 Dec. 9 (Prelude to…

GLC02533

1858/07/03

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Newspaper

Title: New-York weekly tribune. [Vol. 17, no. 877 (July 3, 1858)]

Lincoln speech at Republican State Convention, printed in the New-York Herald Tribune, vol. XVII no. 877. Speech appears on page 3 under the section "Republican Principles", titled "Speech of Hon. Abraham Lincoln, of Illinois, at the Republican State Convention, June 16, 1858." This early printing shows the national attention Lincoln received for the speech of June 16, despite his loss to Douglas. Greeley endorses the speech in an editorial on page 4.

GLC02534

15 December 1778

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son [possibly his son-in-law, James Duane]

Discusses a snow storm that may work to the American troops' advantage as the roads are impassable. Mentions a food shortage and the rising costs of provisions. Assures the recipient that his family, under Livingston's care, is healthy. Asks about the developments in Congress and whether any news has arrived from France, England, or Spain. Wonders whether the British will allow the war to continue for another year. Encloses a letter for recipient's brother Robert (not included) and wishes him a happy holiday.

GLC02537.01

18 April 1779

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Writes to his son-in-law about the state and activities of his iron works, where they were producing pig iron for Colonel Hay, Colonel Lewis, and General Schuyler. Mentions an upcoming meeting with the Governor of New York, in which he will let him know that "in case of no assistance no blame shall fall on me this is doing all what in reason can be Expected of me by my Country, at this critical moment." Also mentions inflation and the price of foodstuffs.

GLC02537.02

13 April 1781

Livingston, Robert, 1708-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Writes to his son-in-law with family news. Discusses being "greatly pestered with a band of robbers." Requests news from the southern front in the American Revolution, specifically if Nathanael Greene was successful against Lord Cornwallis and accounts of Benedict Arnold's activities. Mentions his hopes for aid from the Dutch and that "English pride may be curbed and brought to reason."

GLC02537.03

3 September 1776

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Page

Discusses the American defeat at the Battle of Long Island and their retreat. Thinks the British will quit New York City very shortly. Reports that Brigadier General Lord Sterling and General Sullivan have been taken prisoner along with other valuable field officers. Adds that the Americans' 2400 troops bravely and successfully forced their way through enemy lines and kept the enemy's 10,000 soldiers at bay. Feels that the Americans must give up their islands until they build a marine power strong enough to defend them.

GLC02540

4 July 1817

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Record of his family history and short biography]

Written by North for one of his grandchildren. Speaks of his family that came from Ireland in 1720 and settled in eastern Massachusetts at Yarmouth. Mentions that his mother sold the estate they had when he was 10 or 12 years old after his father died. The narration is not chronological and North tells a variety of stories from a variety of generations. The first four pages are connected and deal with family history and there is a separate fifth page that is the start of a biography, which is incomplete.

GLC02541.01

18 September 1823

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [An account of the execution of Major John Andre]

Details the execution of Major John Andre, accused of being a spy, and expresses his sympathetic feelings toward Andre's unfortunate fate. Describes how Baron Von Steuben could not comply with Andre's wish to suffer a soldier's death by being shot since the only suitable death for a spy is hanging.

GLC02541.02

1720-1839

Header Record

Title: Collection of 50 correspondence of the North Family [Decimalized .01-.32.29]

Includes materials relating to William and Joseph North, and William Van Duersen (Duerson), an ancestor.

GLC02542

23 April 1652

Stuyvesant, Peter, 1592-1672

Manuscript document signed

Title: [West India Company deed for Teunis Cornelisse] [in Dutch]

Countersigned by New Amsterdam Secretary Cornelis Van Tienhoven. Deed granting property to Teunis Cornelisse. Includes official seal. For English translation, see GLC02542.01.01.

GLC02542.01