6 May 1778

Morrison, James, fl. 1778

Document signed

Title: to the Sheriff of the County of Bristol

Says that the Sheriff is required to apprehend and bring Preserved Pierce before him to answer for all the charges against him (from GLC01450.133, that charge is mutiny). Morrison states that there is enough evidence to say that Pierce is "Enemical to the United States of America and therefore ought to be Examined." Says if he won't take an oath he is to be sent to the "Common Goal." Is initialed "J.M."

GLC01450.134

February 10, 1777

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Meschech Weare

Letter written by Sullivan as a Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts and a member of the Massachusetts legislature to Weare as Chief Justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire and a member of the Council, the upper house of the legislature. Sullivan writes to smooth over problems he foresees with a new Massachusetts law. Says he was the chairman of the committee that proposed the law to prohibit the export of certain articles therein mentioned. Says it was not passed to anger neighboring states, but to clothe the troops. Says the Southern states have not regulated the articles…

GLC01450.145

1776-1778

Header Record

Title: Marching orders and military fine reciepts for Asa and Charles Hamant [Decimalized .01-.03]

GLC01450.162

31 August 1786

Oliver, Joseph, fl. 1786

Document signed

Title: to Thomas Bowlby

Witnessed and co-signed by attorneys William Truelove and A. Vikers, saying proper stamps were provided for the document. This Legal document gives Oliver's power of attorney to Bowlby, an attorney in Philadelphia. Oliver was previously in an artillery unit in Pennsylvania and had left North America and joined an artillery unit based out of Nottingham, England. Oliver was giving Bowlby the complete power to transact his business in America, including the distribution of certain lands for service in North America during the Revolution. Also demands that Bowlby recover debts from a William Rows…

GLC01450.167

August 24, 1703

Dudley, Joseph, 1647-1720

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Governor of Massachusetts Dudley states that he has complaints from Captain Thomas Coram against John Crosman for demolishing a house owned by Coram and taking the boards from it for military use. Dudley authorizes the apprehension of Crosman.

GLC01450.171

16 May 1737

Quincy, John, 1689-1767

Document signed

Title: [Power of attorney to Samuel Leonard from Zechariah Thayer of Brantrey]

Signed by Zechariah Thayer. Signed as witnesses by Jeremiah Thayer and Eleazer Thayer. Empowers his friend Samuel Leonard of Raynham to act for him in meetings of the owners of the "old ironworks (so called) in Raynham" during Thayer's lifetime. Quincy attests the document and signs as justice of the peace.

GLC01450.173.01

December 13, 1757

Choat, John, fl. 1757

Document signed

Title: [Colman v. Smith]

Witnessed by John Choat. The sheriff of Essex is ordered to seize the goods or estate of Nathaniel Smith and, if Smith can be found, to arrest and bind him over for trial on the last Tuesday in December. Smith is charged with nonpayment of two debts incurred by him with William Colman of Ipswich. The sheriff is not named. Verso contains an unsigned note in another hand (also dated 13 December) that neither Smith, nor any property belonging to him, could be found. Docket contains the name of Attorney at Law John Hart. Partially printed document. Signed as Clerk of Court.

GLC01450.178

February 17, 1740

Clarke, J., fl. 1740

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses plans to list Cobus Clement in Clarke's company, in an attempt to shield him from prison for an unspecified offense. Notes that it is not a sure thing and worries about the possibility of the being identified as complicit in the scheme.

GLC01450.180

November 26, 1776

Pratt, Seth, fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Dean

Informing him that he has been appointed by the town of Easton "to Be a Soldier." This means "to Be Ready at a minets warning to march agreabell to alate act of this state: to any place wither this or the neighboring states of America to which you shall be ordered By the general Court of this State for the Defence there of." Pratt and Haywad both sign as witnesses, and list their company's and ranks as lieutenants.

GLC01450.195.04

3 June 1783

Hiller, Joseph, 1748-1814

Document signed

Title: [Customs authorization for John Jacobs and his sloop, the Sally]

Partly printed. Hiller, Collector of Customs for Salem, authorizes Jacobs to take ballast and stores on board. Indicates that the Sally is bound for Saco (present-day Maine).

GLC01450.197.02

April 7, 1781

Pope, Edward, 1740-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Williams

Upon being informed that Nantucket residents were trading with the British on one of the Elizabeth islands Captain Claghorn investigated and took two prisoners. One man, John Walter Fletcher, is being sent to Newport, the other, Job Halsey, was sent to the County Committee for a further investigation. Since Williams is on this committee, explains to him the details of the first examination of the prisoner. Halsey says he lived in Long Island, but left once the British took command there, since he favored independence. Moved to Connecticut and joined the army. Says that while returning home…

GLC01450.198

7 April 1748

Hathaway, Ebenezer, 1718-1791

Autograph document signed

Title: [Notice to John Godfrey, a Justice of the Peace for Bristol County, Massachusetts]

Also signed by two witnesses, Joseph Read and James Winslow. Notice of a complaint of Captain Ebenezer Hathaway in regard to two soldiers impressed into his company, Thomas Davis and James Chase, who did not show up for their appointed duty.

GLC01450.199.02

22 June 1702

Leonard, Thomas, fl. 1702

Autograph document signed

Title: Moorey v. Jonah Simon

Justice of the Peace Leonard orders the sheriff of Bristol to attach the goods and person of Jonah Simon. Simon had failed to reimburse Nicholas Moorey 35 shillings for care he rendered to Simon when Simon was sick. Written in the margin of the court order: "Jonah Simon Indian being called three times after eleven of the clock and not appearing, judgment was entered up against him upon default [illegible] payment of 35 s. money & cost of court." Written in Bristol- Massachusetts Bay

GLC01450.204.03

June 16, 1776

Freeman, Samuel, 1743-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

On Gerry's advice, Freeman and his regiment "have applied to Court to consider our losses at Falmouth," in the hopes the court would petition Congress. The court refuses, and feels it might seem "selfish" to do such a thing. Discusses trouble obtaining copies of records of Congress.

GLC01450.235

April 13, 1777

Elderklin, Vine, fl. 1776-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Selectmen of Coventry

Letter written by Elderkin as Captain in 7th Connecticut Regiment to the Selectmen of Coventry, Connecticut. Requests the selectmen furnish John Bill and Samuel Bardain, two soldiers in his company, with guns, bayonets, cartridge boxes, and blankets. Wants them to be equipped according to the Act of the Governor and Council of Safety. On the second page, two identical notes written in the same hand in Coventry on April 15, 1777 state that they were supplied. Bardain and Bill each signed one of the notes. Various figures are added up on the page as well. Elderkin resigned his commission on…

GLC01450.240

24 June 1757

Patten, John, fl. 1757-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Deposition of John Patten relating to the theft of silver in Boston]

Also signed by Judge Abiel Walley. Patten, a Boston constable, attests to the discovery of silver stolen from Thomas Richardson, the treasurer of Rhode Island. Suggests prosecution of William Smith and indicates that the silver was returned to Richardson.

GLC01450.263

23 July 1746

Martin, James, fl. 1746

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Order to pay Martin Howard nine pounds and seventeen shillings]

Payment due for Howard's appearance in court for the Samuel Bannister case "and for impressing Men in the Expedition against Cape Breton" during the British conflict with French and Indian forces during King George's War. Sent from Rhode Island Secretary Martin to General Treasurer John Gardener.

GLC01450.278

November 9, 1779

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Discusses "A new Constitution of Government now forming by the Convention at Camebridge," referring to the debate over the Articles of Confederation. "The people seem convinced of the necessity of a new form of Government," but progress is slow. Fears what may happen if this convention adjourns. Says Adams and Dana will sail soon and that three ships are ready for Comte d'Estaing or General Washington.

GLC01450.528

18 August 1750

Ellery, William, 1702-1764

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Handley Chipman to Justice of the Peace for Newport, Rhode Island].

Signed as the Deputy Governor of the colony of Rhode Island. Marked as the 23rd year of the reign of George II.

GLC01450.320

6 January 1758

Pownall, Thomas, 1722-1805

Signature

Title: [Clipped signature of Royal Governor Pownall]

Possibly created in Boston. States "In Council Jan. 4 1758 Read & Conceiv'd Thos. Clarke... Consenteet to Pownall." On verso, contains a partial petition from the town of Boxford, Massachusetts, to the Governor of Massachusetts.

GLC01450.327

3 November 1731

Scott, Silvanus, fl. 1731

Document signed

Title: [Bond between Silvanus Scott and Jonathan Sprague, Junior, and the Colony of Rhode Island]

Also signed by Jonathan Sprague, Junior. Signed as witnesses by John Wickof and Daniel Abott. Scott and Sprague agree to bond themselves unto General Treasurer of the Colony of Rhode Island Abraham Borden, and to his successors in office, the sum of "three thousand pounds currant money of New England." The condition of the bond is that Scott and Sprague will pay all expenses that arise to the colony in association with the "controversy between the Colony of Rhode Island and the Province of the Massachusetts Bay relating to a gord of land."

GLC01450.409.01

21 August 1777

Rhode Island Assembly

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Rhode Island resolution ordering the purchase of land near a gun powder mill]

Signed twice by J. Lyndon (clerk of the lower house), R.J. Holme (deputy secretary of the Upper House), and certified a true copy Henry Ward. Authorizes Jacob Goffe to purchase land near the mill and build a house, all at the state's expense. The resolution by the Lower House was agreed to by the Upper House the next day, with the caveat that Caleb Harris "be added to superintend the Business." A signed note by Harris on the verso indicates he received the contents from Joseph Clarke, the state treasurer.

GLC01450.410.03

March 4, 1779

Thompson, Ebenezer, 1737-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George King

"Agreeable to your request" he is sending King papers relating to the cases of "Champney vs Boyd & Dennis vs. Boyd." Hopes the papers are returned, and tells King to bill Champney.

GLC01450.412.09

1 March 1782

Massachusetts House of Representatives

Broadside

Title: [Printed resolution of recruitment schedule]

1,500 men are needed for the "Massachusetts Line." Lists quota required from each town. Also resolves that a tax will be imposed if these quotas are not met. A few handwritten calculations in the margins. [Pages 1-4 are present, but the document is incomplete, as indicated by the catch phrase at the bottom of fourth page. The Massachusetts Historical Society catalog indicates that their copy of this broadsheet is 5 pages long.]

GLC01450.430

January 1780

Greenleaf, Moses, 1755-1812

Manuscript signed

Title: [Records of court martial of Samuel Shattuck]

Record of the court martial trial of Sergeant Samuel Shattuck. Lists other men set to stand trial, and gives details of Shattucks case. Includes tesstimony of two witnesses who testified that Shattuck knowingly left the service before his time was up. Also states that he was convicted of mutiny and desertion, and punished with a reduction in rank and lashes. States that Captain Moses Greenleaf was the "Judge and Advocate" in the case, and that Major Moses Knap was the President. Verso signed by Greenleaf. Marked "triplicate." Dated January 9, 1780 - January 11, 1780.

GLC01450.438