21 March 1880

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Brinton McClellan

Mentions an article re the Battle of Antietam advertised in the 'North American Review.' Hunt discusses his conspiracy theory involving Stanton, McClellan and the Emancipation Proclamation. "…if you had lost Antietam you would have been shot [a hury?] - if a court could be packed for the purpose, and after a defeat such a court could have been got - After a victory, they were able to remove you and pack a court almost sufficient to shoot [a hurry?] Porter, and the spirit that prescripted it, is as then proceeding, in the Senate …as malignant an virulent as ever. You ran a terrible risk in…

GLC02382.068

30 July 1864

Smith, Austin, fl. 1864

Manuscript

Title: [Copy of report to William P. Fessenden about the first Federal income tax Florida]

Reports the results of his inquiry into the "practices & procedures & acts of the Tax Commissioners of the Insurrectionary Districts..." Informs that the Florida Direct Tax Commissioners were appointed in October 1862, and that since then, they have made two land sales, at Fernandina and St. Augustine, both of which have been alleged to be illegal. He states that if this is the case, "the Tax Commission has so far proved an entire failure...the salaries of the Commissioners & other expenses have more than consumed the amount of money received." Blames Commissioner S. D.…

GLC02414.003

31 August 1864

Pratt, William M., fl. 1864

Printed document signed

Title: [General orders no. 59 regarding the purchase of African Americans to serve in place of drafted persons]

Signed by Pratt, Aide-de-Camp (possibly to Brigadier General Innes Newton Palmer). Relates the story of John H. Irish, a recruiting agent, who attempted to bribe officers to allow him to cite previously enlisted men in order to satisfy recruiting quotas for Yates County, New York. States that Irish furthermore intended to sell the names to a recruiting agent in New Jersey, committing a double instance of fraud. Irish is portrayed as "a fair sample of a good portion of the Recruiting Agents who are now sent out from the Northern States, to purchase colored men to do the fighting for them to…

GLC02224.01

10 February 1862

Andrew, John A. (John Albion), 1818-1867

Broadside

Title: [Broadside warning against recruitment fraud]

Issued by Andrew as Governor of Massachusetts. Warns citizens against enticement into other state militias. Says "they can expect no aid from the authorities of Massachusetts in any embarrassments in which they may find themselves." Mentions some Massachusetts units that need replacements. Below the warning is a reprint of correspondence between Governor Andrew and the Baltimore headquarters of Major General John A. Dix, who was trying to deal with the problem of fraudulent enlistments. Image of the state seal of Massachusetts at the top of document.

GLC02251

29 April 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Writes about Captain Wilson, noting that he was an honest man who became involved in dishonest dealings regarding expenditures, etc. Cites his attempts to organize Wilson's ill-managed accounts "in the interest of those who have in good faith trusted Uncle Sam through him." Discusses the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson, mentioning Charles Sumner, an impeachment advocate. "I have not doubted a conviction, law or no law, evidence or no evidence and Mr Sumners [proposal?] just received here, to limit the 'findings' to the facts set forth , and not to pronounce on the charge 'high crimes…

GLC02382.042

21 October 1868

Hunt, Henry Jackson, 1819-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox Craig

Hopes Craig will consider spending future summers in Eastport, if he (Hunt) remains stationed there. Discusses the upcoming presidential election (won by Ulysses S. Grant). "So the October Elections are over and we are beaten on all the fields - This settles the November Election beyond doubt; they may cry fraud as much as they please and I have no doubt that the states all three were carried by fraud - but the result will be to send a host of those who worship success - the great Wobble party in a Mass into the radical ranks. We are only demonstrating the truth of an old American theory. '…

GLC02382.044

5 December 1792

Brett, Piercy, fl. 1788-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Provides an extensive description of "French affairs" in relation to the French Revolution which he states is occupying all of Europe. "That their Republic seems so firmly established, they bid defiance to all the neighbouring powers to shake it. Since the retreat of the Prussians and Austrians, their successes continue in the most uninterrupted series. Nothing stops their victorious career ... Wherever their victorious Generals go, they are sure to succeed; they offer the people liberty, and invite them to shake off the yoke of despotism, and form a constitution agreeable to their own…

GLC02437.05724

12 December 1797

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph note

Title: to Jeremy Belknap

Informs Dr. Belknap that the document he is asking about is probably a forgery.

GLC02437.07066

18 May 1779

Clement, Thomas, fl. 1778-1779

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for payment from William Knox]

Signed by Clement stating he received £200 from William Knox. The money was "sound & free from all Blemishes whatever."

GLC02437.08487

June 22, 1779

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barnabas Deane

Writing to his brother in reference to accusations of fraud against him in relation to foreign procurement of supplies, Deane finds "our Situation,...without a Parallel either in Ancient or Modern Story." Also describes the plight of American money, her people and her army.

GLC01759

August 1, 1801

Madison, James, 1751-1836

Printed letter signed

Title: to Consuls and Commercial Agents of the United States

Circular letter instructing the recipients to issue only the enclosed sample Sea-letter (not included) to vessels so that ships owned by American citizens could be identified (and property protected) and fraud from forged seals and sea-letters could be prevented. Also discusses issuing certificates of health to avoid unnecessary quarantines and the consuls' duties relating to the relief of seamen. Letter signed as Secretary of State.

GLC01470

circa 27 September 1783

Arrickson, Samuel, fl. 1783

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimony of Samuel Arrickson]

Samuel Arrickson's [also spelled Arrixson] testimony for the trial of Lieutenant Wheaton. Relates an incident where Wheaton had ordered boots and shoes to be made and refused to pay for them. See GLC02437.02597. Noted as "Taken & Sealed -/On the Charges Against Lt. Wheaton/To be open'd by the Judge Advocate/Before the Court" and "I [Arrickson] Personally apeared Before ... Benjamin Carpenter one of the People's Justice of the Peac[e] for said County the Within Named Samuel Arrixson the 27 day of September 1783 and was favor to the Within Deposition." Signed by Bejamin Carpenter as a…

GLC02437.02598

5 November 1862

Winder, John H., 1800-1865

Letter signed

Title: to Captain J. H. Pearce

General Winder, commander of the Department of Henrico, Richmond, Virginia, writes to Captain Pearce (possibly James H. Pearce). Discusses a pass "signed by McCuffins chief of Police in the possession of a man named McMullin." Reports that McCuffin's name was misspelled, and that after investigation, "the pass turned to be a yank forgery." One bust engraving of Winder included as collateral.

GLC02456.33

16 March 1779

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel B. Webb

Writes to Colonel Webb, his stepson, to tell him to be careful in all his affairs. Also indicates that Congress may soon settle his own affairs. Deane had been accused of fraud in foreign procurement of military supplies while on a diplomatic mission in France.

GLC02505.15

11 May 1863

Vance, Zebulon B., 1830-1894

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel [Mores?]

Vance, Governor of North Carolina, asks Mores: "Why do you detain Smith's salt? If it is going to any point in N.C, we have no right to seize it." Inquires if General Daniel Harvey Hill, commander of the District of North Carolina, needs the salt for the army. Writes, "If so I have nothing to say, except he must seize it for himself if he wants it. Of course my officers have no right to stop anything unless it is going out contrary to the proclamation" (possibly referring to Vance's refusal to allow supplies smuggled into North Carolina by blockade runners to be given to other states until…

GLC02469.29

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

August 9, 1974

Nixon, Richard M., 1913-1994

Typed letter signed

Title: Pardon-related: Resignation letter to Henry Kissinger (souvenir copy)

Typed letter signed by Nixon (genuine), with a Kissinger endorsement which is probably forged, per Charles Hamilton. On White House stationery.

GLC00154.10

November 10, 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: Forged AES on John Nichols ALS (deserter) re: pardon

With Lincoln note and forged endorsement on verso, (forged signature, per Seth Kaller). Discusses a pardon.

GLC00154.09

28 March 1859

Buchanan, James, 1791-1868

Document signed

Title: Pardon of the Steamboat "Terror" for violations of steamboat inspection laws [fraud].

Convicted of being in violation of steamboat inspection laws [fraud]. Pardoned because the crime was unintentional. The steamboat had been rented only as accommodation to a charitable, religious society for a trip down the Penobscot River at no cost. (c/s Lewis Cass)

GLC00173.06

July 20, 1804

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: Report of a committee of the Bank of the United States that was formed to investigate an alleged counterfeiting ring in North Carolina

Also signed by George Fox, both as members of the committee. They confirm the existence the ring, saying of it that it is a "very extensive Combination, and of a very formidable nature, to counterfeit & pass Notes purporting to be of the Bank of the United States." It includes men of property and influence. They suggest remedies, saying that they are supported in these by Pennsylvania Congressman Joseph Clay. In June 1804, Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin and Governor of Virginia John Page had requested that a committee of the Bank of the United States be formed to investigate…

GLC00496.012

January 6, 1794

Note

Title: [Forged George Washington note and facsimile]

Marked as a forgery of a note from President Washington to the cashier of the office of discount and deposit in Baltimore, Maryland. Instructs the cashier to pay [N. S.] Ridgely $230.50. Includes a facsimile of a different note mounted on the same backing measuring 6.1 x 14.2 cm. The facsimiled note was written in Mount Vernon, Virginia, and instructs the cashier to pay William Robb $75. Entire backing including both notes measures 14.5 x 16.6 cm.

GLC00496.264

June 5, 1820

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Possibly written to President Monroe's lawyer. Involves a financial claim Mr. Coffin held against Monroe, who disparagingly refers to Coffin as a "adventurer, without talents, & therefore an impostor." Monroe paid Coffin $35 for four busts, but Coffin claims to be owed more. Because Monroe is president, he feels it best to settle with Coffin, and calls going before a magistrate a "last course." Monroe sends a check for the amount of the claim, giving his correspondent authority to settle the matter, and asks that it be done without altercation.

GLC00496.071

1857

Manuscript document

Title: Extracts from the "Private Instructions" of the Navy Department to the Commander in chief of the U.S. Naval Forces on the West Coast of Africa

Includes extracts from GLC00722.01, noting that the U.S. flag "loses its true character, when it is worn by those who have no right to wear it...such a pretension would subject the flag to degradation and dishonor." Also includes a description of how slave traders disguise their illegal activities, and tips to spot them. Says this service will require the "greatest prudence, and the soundest discretion." Closing paragraph gives instructions for drawing funds from Baring Brothers and Co. in London. In part: "The cunning of the slave trader is constantly forming new disguises to elude…

GLC00722.04

December 18, 1782

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Testimonial in defense of Silas Deane]

Franklin, as Ambassador to France, asserts that the accusations of fraud against Deane are false. British newspapers had accused Deane of making fraudulent purchases of munitions in France.

GLC00782.02

December 10, 1880

Johnston, Joseph Egleston, 1807-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Winfield S. Hancock

Letter discusses politics and election fraud in New York State. Docketed. With engraved portrait of Johnston.

GLC00907