11 May 1805

Sevier, John, 1745-1815

Manuscript document

Title: [Affidavit of innocence]

Affidavit prepared for Tennessee Governor John Sevier as defendant in a case against Jenkin Whiteside. Co-signed by James Sevier as clerk that the contents of the affidavit were "sworn in Open Court." The case Jenkin Whiteside v. John Sevier revolved around money lost in a card game. This legal document states that Sevier was intoxicated at the time when he signed a promissory note. Says that Matthew Atkinson, a subscribing witness, can attest to the situation. Claims he never got any "Consideration" for the said bill and that the transaction was fraudulent. Says that after an investigation…

GLC02606

16 August 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Knox, Secretary of War, instructs Quartermaster General Hodgdon to send food, including chocolate, port wine, sherry, and coffee, to the hospital department in Pittsburgh.

GLC02621

16 July 1778

Lee, Richard Henry, 1732-1794

Document signed

Title: A list of provisions to be furnished by the commisary for the use of the French squadron under the command of Vice Admiral d'Estaing

List of provisions to be provided by the "Marine Committee" to the "French Squadron" commanded by Admiral d'Estaing. Lists amount needed. Items include bread, salt pork, hog heads & feet, salt fish, cheese, peas, beans, rice, beer, and vinegar. States one third of these provisions must be received immediately, and the rest whenever d'Estaing desires. If any particular articles cannot be obtained, they should be replaced by equal amounts of similar articles, except vinegar which "is indispensable." If the French find they need some items more than others, they can change the…

GLC02471.26

20 November 1834

Hall, Henry B., 1808-1884

Document signed

Title: Declaration

Includes the printed endorsements of James Madison, Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams and signed endorsement of Hiland Hall. Published in the December "Temperance Recorder," the statement urges all Americans, but especially young men, to stop the use of liquor. Also includes a short printed note at the bottom of the page written by Edward Delavan, "should you approve of the opinion in the above declaration, will you please give it the sanction of your signature..."

GLC08652

28 July 1864

Cobb, Thomas, fl. 1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to dear Friends

Cobb was a captain in the Union Army and participated in the Battle of Atlanta. Describes the military activities occurring from 22-28 July 1864. Writes that there is more and more fighting everyday but that his division has not yet been closely engaged. Informs that the Army of the Tennessee, the 15th, 16th, and 17th artillery, have done the most fighting and fought on 22 July. The Army of the Cumberland fought the battle of the 20th. Writes that Union General Oliver O. Howard has taken command from General James B. McPherson who was killed on 22 July. Believes that Confederate…

GLC08683

February 11, 1793

Coxe, Tench, 1755-1824

Document signed

Title: [Circular letter regarding fees payable to United States revenue officers]

A circular letter from the treasury department, signed by Tench Coxe, regarding fees payable to United States revenue officers handling foreign "distilled spirits, wine, and tea."

GLC08569

1830

Bowen, Henry, 1794-1874

Broadside

Title: A mirror for the intemperate

Temperance broadside with poems and extracts such as "Ode to Rum" and "Set Down that Glass." Also includes some illustrations. Printed on cloth for Nathaniel Boynton by Henry Bowen's Chemical Print. Mounted on cloth covered board; dimensions include mounting.

GLC08600

circa 1789

Chase, Samuel, 1741-1811

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: [Petition of John Schunk to Governor of Maryland John Eager Howard].

Chase endorsed the verso and recommends the petition, as have Thomas Russell and Ly de Goodwin. Requests remission of fine for selling spiritous liquors without a license.

GLC00132

June 15, 1798

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Letter signed

Title: to Gorham Parsons

Pickering, Secretary of State, writes to Parsons, a Boston merchant who requested that the United States restore his ship, the Eliza, with her cargo of brandy. Cites the details of the Eliza's case, stating that the vessel was sailing for Gibraltar in 1795 and "was captured by a corsair of Tunis and carried into that place." Refers to a truce between the Dey of Algiers (Baba Hussein) the Bey of Tunis, (Hammuda ibn Ali) and United States Consul to Tunis and Tripoli, Joseph Donaldson, Jr. States that to redeem the vessel, Joel Barlow, United States consul to Algiers, paid 11,885 Spanish…

GLC00143

January 20, 1812

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Channing

In the letter, William Ellery thanks his grandson for his letter and for the wine he sent. He apologizes for the delay in responding due to outfitting a revenue cutter to cruise against violators of the Non-Intercourse Act. He reports that he has received a letter from R.H. Dana of Provincetown. In the letter, he praises education, and includes local news intended for Channing's mother and mentions a letter of recommendation for R.H. Dana. He asks that the letter be forwarded to M.R. Dana. A poetic note is written on the envelope leaf.

GLC00108.01

July 18, 1814

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George G. Channing

William Ellery writes to his grandson discussing his daily routine. He hopes Channing will have enough business so he can marry soon. He declines the offer to add to his stock of wine because he wants to reserve his money during the uncertain times of the War of 1812. In the letter: he comments on several orations, discusses the British blockade, and President Madison's call to raise troops.

GLC00108.08

15 November 1771

Hewes, Joseph, 1730-1779

Autograph document signed

Title: Receipt for 6 pounds 10s from Thomas Hodgson

[Title continued] on account of Robert Howe. Docket on verso details various charges (e.g. 3 and a half gallons wine, 1 frying pan, etc) totalling 8 pounds 6 shillings 6 pence.

GLC00184.18

April 16, 1772

Livingston, Philip

Letter signed

Title: to Jillis Fonda

Acknowledgement of order of rum and sugar from West Indies. Notes that Fonda mentioned wanting Loaf Sugar and Livingston supposes he forgot to order it, therefore it was also sent. With one-line closing in Livingston's hand.

GLC00184.28

March 1, 1788

Telfair, Edward, 1735-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clay

Business letter that mentions procuring rice, the loss of a crop from "pink root," a lawsuit, and getting some Tenerife wine. This is an uncommon autograph.

GLC00489

May 5, 1794

Madison, William, 1762-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Writes to his brother, then a Virginia congressman, about advocating for Madison's resolutions (in favor of a policy of commercial retaliation against European powers) in an election. The comment that the resolutions, which Madison submitted to Congress in December 1793, were "attached to the British nation" alludes to Madison's position that President Washington's 1793 proclamation of neutrality in the conflict between Britain and France unwisely showed indifference to the French movement toward republicanism. Also discusses the growing unpopularity of the excise tax and urges its repeal.…

GLC00496.267

December 30, 1828

Butler, Benjamin F. (Benjamin Franklin), 1818-1893

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Gales and William Winston Seaton

Letter to the editors of the Intelligencer in Washington, D.C. Informs them that the "wine gallon" has been omitted from federal law. Noticed this when he was compiling "The Revised Statutes of the State of New York." Calls their attention to two articles on the subject by Professor James Renwick of Columbia College, one of which appeared in the Albany Daily Advertiser. Butler (1795–1858) was Attorney General of the United States from 1833 to 1838, and in that role wrote President Jackson's protest against the Senate's censure of him for removing federal funds from the Bank of the United…

GLC00496.136.01

15 August 1805

McKean, Thomas, 1734-1817

Document signed

Title: [Grant of Liquor license for George Giess of Salisbury]

Countersigned by State Secretary M. Thompson. Partially printed document grants Giess a liquor license and permission to keep a house of entertainment in Salisbury, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Signed by McKean as governor. Docketed by treasurer on verso, dated 1 November, 1805.

GLC00501

May 12, 1818

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Tudor

Adams, in retirement, writes to Tudor, who was clerk of Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts. Says he wants to make Tudor laugh. Sends Tudor a copy of Jemmibullero's (probably Samuel Waterhouse) "The Song of the Drunkard," which is not included here. He compares the work to James Otis's Latin and Greek prosody. This is part of a series of letters Tudor and Adams sent back and forth between 1816 and 1819.

GLC00693.04

June 1, 1857

Cummings, A. B., fl. 1857-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Reports that two crewmen, Charles Moore and John Duggin, were caught drunk and fighting, and that Duggin was also insubordinate. Letter written on board the U.S.S. "Dale," off of Funchal on the island of Madeira. Cummings was a lieutenant aboard the "Dale."

GLC00722.10

November 11, 1857

Kennard, Joel S., 1819-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Sending a gift of liquor in hopes of good fortune. Kennard is setting off for the United States in command of the "W.G. Servis." For his own "better preservation" on the trip he sends McBlair a gift of several "cases of liquor." Letter written on board the barque "W.G. Servis," at the mouth of the "Kongo River."

GLC00722.20

25 November 1935

Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945

Document signed

Title: Pardon of Miguel Lujan (c/s Homer S. Cummings [AG])

Pardon restoring civil rights. Pleaded guilty to importing sotol; pardoned since he was unable to pay the fine.

GLC00743

March 15, 1859

Hasker, Charles H., fl. 1824-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Report against Clement Brooke for drunken behavior. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off Goree Island, Senegal.

GLC00722.49

21 March 1859

Speiden, Robert, fl. 1857-1859

Document signed

Title: to William McBlair

Letter to McBlair listing the provisions on board the U.S.S. "Dale." The letter is a "Statement of provisions required for 116 person for sixty days and the quantity now on hand." Notes how many pounds of bread, beef, coffee, whiskey and other items are required for the vessel, and how many are, in fact, on board. (Quantities of some items on board are less than the required amount. ) Speiden also notes that "The greater part of the Flour is not good." Written on board the "Dale" off Porto Praya, Cape Verde.

GLC00722.51

July 9, 1826

Harrison, William Henry, 1773-1841

Autograph letter signed

Title: to B. Tappin

William Henry Harrison asks Tappin to send more lime for use in the construction of an aqueduct for Harrison's distillery.

GLC00655.08

July 2, 1813

Wood, B.G., fl. 1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Wood

He writes to his sister about his activities in Canada at Fort George and elsewhere in the northern campaign during the War of 1812. Also discusses the heroism of their brother, Eleazor D. Wood, at Fort Meigs, as recounted by General William Henry Harrison. Notes that congress will be putting a heavy duty on all spirits, and mentions the naval fight on Lake Champlain.

GLC01043.02