29 April 1778

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Writes to his brother, asking why William has not recently written. Mentions a recovered debt and an unspecified petition to be presented to Continental Congress. Inquires as to the fitting out of The General Arnold, a ship, and mentions the loss of The Hero. Expresses disappointment that his friend Harry, possibly Colonel Henry Jackson, has not arrived at Valley Forge. Regarding Jackson, remarks, "...I suppose his fat sides are so sore that he is unable to travel with any rapidity." Writes, "Our army is improving discipline and increasing in numbers every day, but this ought by no means…

GLC02437.00698

January 20, 1775

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. & Mrs. Northcote

She has news from Boston that Bostonians have appointed their own governor. She expresses regret for the declining state of England. To Mrs. Nortcorte she describes her health and writes about her daughter.

GLC01794.38

22 June 1789

Freeman, J., fl. 1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Thatcher

To George Thatcher, Massachusetts delegate to the Continental Congress, re news from House of Representatives in Boston, titles being discussed for George Washington: "Brother Davis … followed my advice in appearing very modest the first session. John Gardiner has harangued several times with great effect. I fear that, by talking too much and too vehemently, he will soon lose his influence… I am happy to find that your sentiments on title are the same as my own. The zeal which some manifest for them is truly ridiculous. The people in this town, and especially the women, think that no style…

GLC09374

1774

Seabury, Samuel, 1729-1796

Pamphlet

Title: Free Thoughts, on the proceedings of the Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia Sept. 5, 1774

One pamphlet written by Samuel Seabury and published in 1774. The full title of the pamphlet is "Free Thoughts, on the proceedings of the Continental Congress, held at Philadelphia Sept. 5, 1774: Wherin Their Errors are exhibited, Their Reasonings Confuted, And The fatal Tendency of their Non-Importation, Non-Exportation, and Non-Consumtion Measures, are open to the plainest understandings; And The Only Means pointed out for Preserving and Securing Our present Happy Constitution: in a Letter to The Farmers, and other Inhabitants of North America In General and to those of the Province of New-…

GLC09666

24 April 1795

Mifflin, Thomas, 1744-1800

Document signed

Title: [Land grant for Benjamin Rush in Mifflin Co., Pa.]

Land Transaction involving Dr. Benjamin Rush and Jesse Brook. Rush purchases an area of land in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania called "Upland"; document includes a handwritten description of the boundaries of the property. Witnessed by Thomas Mifflin as Governor of Pennsylvania and by Deputy Secretary James Shimble. Features large star shaped paper seal and engraved stamp printed by F. Bailey. On verso, docket dated April 30, 1795 signed [Wash. Irvin], features 2 diamond shaped paper seals.

GLC04842.31.01

24 April 1795

Wellmore, Edward, fl. 1834-1867

Engraving Signed

Title: Thomas Mifflin

Portrait engraving of Thomas Mifflin, shown from the waist up in formal military dress. Text beneath the image reads "Engraved by E. Wellmore from a painting by G. Smart in possesion of G. M. Dallas Esq'r." Includes Thomas Mifflin's signature beneath the title.

GLC04842.31.02

10 July 1779

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Printed document signed

Title: [Promotion for John Moseley to Second Lieutenant]

Partially printed. Congress promotes Mosely to Second Lieutenant in Colonel Harrison's regiment of artillery. Countersigned by P. Scull, Secretary of the Board of War. Vellum with a covered seal.

GLC02437.00776

5 August 1779

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: Commissions received from the Board of War

Unsigned retained copy in Samuel Shaw's hand. A note states that the creator encloses a commission for Lieutenant Porter by order of Henry Knox. Relates that a Mr. Savage declined his commission, and will continue in the regiment to which he already belongs. Lists six commissions received from the Board of War 5 August 1779, and four from 11 August 1779, including that of John Mosely (possibly John Moseley, refer to GLC02437.0776).

GLC02437.00779

18 September 1779

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Letter

Title: [Knox's retained copy of a letter from John Jay to Lieutenant Colonel Silas Talbot]

Jay, President of Congress, writes "The Bravery & Spirit of enterprize you have on frequent occasions displayed in the service of your Country justly entitle you to the honour done you by the enclosed Act of Congress of the 17th Inst."

GLC02437.00782

December 11, 1779

Nichols, Noah, fl. 1779

Autograph note signed

Title: [Certificate of John Tharp's enlistment]

Nichols, Captain of Artillery Artificers, certifies that John Tharp, an artificer in his company, enlisted 27 November 1776, and "has never receved [sic] any gratuities from any state, nor bounties, excepting the Continental Bounty of Twenty Dollars, and the Hundred Dollars Bounty alowed by Congress to those Inlisted [sic] During the war."

GLC02437.00790

4 January 1780

Sherman, Jonathan, fl. 1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Sherman writes, "By the arrangement which Colo [John] Crane has or will transmit to the Board of War I feel myself most essentially and peculiarly injured, he has deranged me without even consulting me on the Occasion, which I conceive an assumption or rather an usurpation of Power- an adversion to the Resolve of Congress respecting the Most of the Reduction of the Army. must at once dictate to him, the Impropriety and absurdity of his Conduct- The only Method of having his capital grievance redressed, is I presume, by a Representation to you, which I most seriously do, in full…

GLC02437.00794

1779

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: Statement of the troops furnished by the following States, taken from actual returns of the army for the year 1779.

Includes two charts. The first indicates, "MArch 9th 1779 Congress resolved that the Infantry of these States for the next campaign, be composed of 80 battalions." Lists states and corresponding quotas and required troops for 1779. Lists numbers of men furnished, separated by Continental troops and militia. Includes total number of Continental troops and militia. Second chart contains an estimate of militia employed in addition to those cited in the first chart. Part of Knox's May 10, 1790 report to Congress. See also GLC02437.10586, .10466, .10468 and .10010.

GLC02437.10475

1781

Autograph manuscript

Title: [10th Massachusetts regiment orderly book]

Details daily orders for the troops and assigns field officers and major of the brigades for each day. Many entries deal with supplying and ordering clothing for the soldiers. Reports the results of many court martials, most trying soldiers for desertion and sentencing them to death or 100 lashes. 20 April 1781 entry reports on the prevention of smallpox among the soldiers. Entry for 4 May 1781 discusses sending ranks to join the light infantry under General Marquis de Lafayette. Entry for 6 May 1781 mentions the problem of venereal diseases in the camp and orders the removal of all…

GLC01450.016.01

January 22, 1779

Hall, Joseph, Jr., fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Lovell

Recipient inferred from content and because the collection is described as letters to or from Lovell. States that his father received the earlier letter from Lovell and thanks him. Speaks of two emissions (of bank notes or money) on May 20, 1777 and April 11, 1778 and says that some think they were a bad idea, while others see them as a method of raising the credit of paper currency. Mentions that some thought Congress did not intend to immediately put the money out of circulation but others are propagating that opinion for their own profit. Reports that a considerable quantity of the money…

GLC01450.020.01

October 17, 1780

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Lovell states he received Holten's letter yesterday. Mentions he is sorry to hear about the poor health of someone named Sheldon (possibly Jeremiah Shelden). Mentions that Mr. Partridge lent him a scale of depreciation but that he cannot say if it is as acceptable as the continental one. Expects to soon see a printed account of Holten's elections on the new Constitution. Postscript states that General Ward (possibly Artemas Ward) gave Lovell the enclosed and sends his regards.

GLC01450.020.07

December 5, 1780

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Recipient inferred from content (also, handwriting on the docket matches that on other letters). Signed with initials. Lovell states that he received his letter. Remarks that he will not send him all the bad news that has come to him since the recipient suffers in mind and body. He prompts him to read the Epistle of Bush to Shippen because the writer criticizes Lovell in it. States that Mr. Adams (John Adams) has defended the resolution of March 18 against the opinions of the Count de Vergennes (Charles Gravier) of France. On March 18, 1780 the Continental Congress had passed a resolution…

GLC01450.020.08

January 23, 1781

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Discusses the dire economic state of the colonies, inflation, and the depreciation rate of currency. States that according to John Adams, the British will continue the war. Mentions that Maryland has limited the time beyond which the old money will not be accepted. Reports that the other states might not put the resolution of March 18 into place but that Congress is determined it will succeed. Indicates that the debt situation is dire, stating "We, mighty men, totally dependent upon 13 Legislatures, different in views for support in our smallest endeavors to carry on the war."

GLC01450.020.10

January 25, 1781

Powell, Jeremiah, 1714-1789

Autograph document signed

Title: [Resolution of the Court allowing delegates to draw money]

Signed and approved by John Hancock as a true copy by John Avery. Appropriating 3000 pounds out of the new emission of money for the Treasurer of Massachusetts for use by the delegates of the state at Congress. Imposes a limit of 600 pounds for any individual delegate. The resolution went to the House of Representatives 26 January 1781 and was signed by Caleb Davis, Speaker. Powell was Council President.

GLC01450.020.11

March 27, 1781

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Recipient is inferred from content and from other items in the 1450.020 collection. The handwriting on the docket matches the others addressed to Holton. States he has received letters from Holten and James Carmichael, but not from John Jay. Remarks that he is glad the spirit of the state (Massachusetts) is so high. Reports that Nathaniel Greene has lost a battle. Discusses the action of the French fleet off the Cape of Virginia. Says Holten will have his wish as per Bermuda and mentions the repeal of a former resolve involving imports and exports from the island. Indicates that the dire…

GLC01450.020.13

May 9, 1781

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Letter signed with initials. Discusses a letter sent to Elbridge Gerry concerning money. States that Congress cannot move forward with the creation of a new system during this wartime without money from the states. Writes "Congress without their money presses, depending on the punctual supplies of the states are, at this critical period of the Campaign, as a set of Clockmakers from whom an Orrery or Microcosm is expected tho their Hands are evidently struck with the dead palsy."

GLC01450.020.15

May 29, 1781

Lovell, James, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Letter signed with initials. Recipient inferred from context and by comparing the docket to others in the 1450.020 collection. Wants to relay intelligence from Europe but he is concerned about doing so because of an obligation to secrecy. Remarks that the burden will fall on the inattentive and negligent states that are not in the middle of the war effort instead of on the discouraged states actively involved: "The Execrations of portenty will fall more justly perhaps on the Inattention and Negligence of the States distant from the immediate Carnage of the War than upon the Despondency and…

GLC01450.020.16

October 24, 1782

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Holten

Avery informs Holten that Holten was elected as a delegate to represent Massachusetts in Congress and that his term will begin the first Monday of next November.

GLC01450.020.19

March 7, 1779

Montgomery, John, fl. 1778-1795

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Newton, Gordon, and Johnston

Letter signed as Montgomery, Sealy, and Co. Discusses their business accounts dealing with wine and brandy shipments to and from Portugal in the first part of the letter. States that they will only send letters by packet boat as other ships are not safe. He describes what has occurred in the Revolutionary War recently, and informs that the British under Admiral Samuel Barrington and General James Grant have captured the island of St. Lucia (December 12-28, 1778), which French Admiral Valerie d'Estaing failed to counteract. The French troops suffered heavy losses. He states that there is great…

GLC01450.022.04

April 23, 1776

Dougherty, H., fl. 1776

Letter signed

Title: to Andrew Caldwell

Petition cosigned by John Hamilton, James Montgomery, James Davison, Alex Henderson, Hugh Montgomery, Thomas Houston, and Richard Eyres. Signers inform Caldwell that promotions of men from lieutenant to captain are being given by order of seniority. The signers are worried that a William Allen, who is a senior Lieutenant, will be appointed to a command post in the fleet. They do not wish to serve under him and will give reasons why if necessary. Numbered list on p. 2 possibly documenting concepts or people they feel loyalty toward. Starts with Congress, then George Washington and the army,…

GLC01450.011.04

August 28, 1778

Gibson, John, 1729-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Letter signed John Gibson, Esq., Auditor General. Reports that he has received Clarke's letter from August 14, 1778 with the account of the loan office of Rhode Island. States that the Board of the Treasury expects that Rhode Island will receive payment of $100,000 for the Continental Certificates taken out. Comments that he is surprised Clarke has not been receiving letters sent by the Treasury Board requesting monthly returns. Mentions that all the other loan commissioners have received theirs. Writes out in full a resolve of Congress passed on October 3, 1776 stating that the loan offices…

GLC01450.008.07