January 2, 1781

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Stevens

Heath acknowledges his reception of the Quarter Master's receipt for Colonel Hazen's regiment. Letter written from "Garrison West Point."

GLC01412.64.10

1777

Chapin, Ephraim, 1745-1812

Document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Ephraim Chapin's Company]

Also signed by William Pynchon, who attests to the validity of this pay roll. Includes names, dates of engagement and discharge, rank, and amount of pay per soldier.

GLC01412.64.11

May 6, 1782

Taylor, John, fl. 1744-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Livingston

Letter written by Colonel Taylor, commander of the 4th Hunterdon militia, to New Jersey Governor Livingston. He tells Livingston that the citizens of Brunswick have mounted a piece of artillery and have procured everything necessary for it. Says a company has also been formed and officers elected to command it. Says they ask the governor to grant a commission to Henry Lupp and if it is thought necessary to Peter Nessis. The company consists of 20 privates. Says "Give me leave to congratulate you Sir upon the present favourable appearance of our public affairs - the prospect begins to brighten…

GLC01412.64.12.01

5 September 1780

Blake, Increase, fl. 1780

Autograph document signed

Title: Prisoners in Worcester Goal

List of five prisoners in the Worcester, Massachusetts, jail. Also mentions reasons for imprisonment: two for not paying ministerial taxes, one for desertion, one as a prisoner of war, and one for threatening the life of another person in Worcester.

GLC01412.64.14

May 11, 1776

Lee, Charles, 1732-1782

Letter signed

Title: to Edmund Pendleton

Letter discusses the differences in pay for Continental and state soldiers. Comments on the activities of "Mr. Agnew who was lately tryed by the Committee" and other Tories as they related to the British assault on Hog Island. Letter written to Pendleton as President of the Virginia Convention.

GLC01421

July 9, 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Francis Barber

Letter addressed to Barber in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where he was recovering from a wound received at the Battle of Monmouth. Washington instructs Barber to obtain intelligence on the British movements across the Hudson river in New York while in New Jersey. He informs that any expenses will be repaid. Washington expresses relief that Barber's wound is healing. He states that, "Tho I wish for your services, I would not have you to rejoin the Army before your condition will admit of it, with the most perfect safety." Text of the letter and the address are written in the hand of Washington'…

GLC01201

March 12, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Orders to submit a regimental return]

A working draft of a clerical copy of a circular letter from George Washington. These, or comparable, orders were given by George Washington on 12 March 1777 to various colonels of the Continental Army. (See Fitzpatrick and the GW Papers at the Library of Congress for numerous examples, which demonstrate slightly varied wording.) Instructs recipient to "march all the Recruits you have to Philadelphia, where they will be inoculated and receive farther Orders from the Commanding officers of that City ... Every Commanding officer should know where his inferior officers, and these where their…

GLC01205.04

1835

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Book signed

Title: Oration on the Life and Character of Gilbert Motier De Lafayette

Title page continues: "Delivered at the request of both Houses of the Congress of the United States, before them, in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 31st December, 1834." Published by Gales and Seaton. Signed by Adams and inscribed to Gayton P. Osgood. Cover is contemporary ribbed red morocco.

GLC01238

October 28, 1775

Warren, Mercy Otis, 1728-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ellen Lothrop

Letter written by Warren, the well known Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary writer, to her friend Lothrop. Says she will leave politics for others to discuss and that she only has warm feelings for the circle of friends in Fairfield (where Lothrop is). Fears she will spend a very lonely winter, but would not want her husband back if would hurt the American cause. Year inferred from contents. Mrs. Warren is confident she will avoid bloodshed in her area and expects Providential intervention "to save the injured distressed Americans." Says the bearer of this letter will relate the news that…

GLC01189.01

February 1, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Hancock sends resolutions by the Continental Congress (not included) relating to measures to suppress a Tory insurrection in Somerset and Worcester counties in Maryland. He orders General Smallwood to stand ready to execute the forthcoming orders. Letter signed by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress.

GLC01205.01

February 25, 1777

Peters, Richard, 1744-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Letter written by Peters as secretary to the Continental Board of War to Brigadier General Smallwood. Says that he is sending a circular letter written by the Board with an enclosed resolve from Congress (the resolve is not included, but the circular letter is on verso). He requests his assistance as the matter is pressing. Says letters have been sent to Colonels Gist and Richardson as a matter of course and are not meant to countermand any orders he may have given them in regard to the Tory expedition. Congress wants to keep its previous promise to assist Maryland with the insurgents, but…

GLC01205.03

1763-1783

Manuscript

Title: [Description of General William Smallwood's family and education]

Appears to be a fragment of a biographical sketch of General Smallwood of Maryland. Previous entry in Past Perfect claimed the sketch appears to be from the early 19th century, before 1840, but there is no evidence to back up that assertion. Mentions that he comes from a "highly respectable family." Says his father Bayne Smallwood was a merchant and planter on a large scale who was also a justice of the peace and a member of the House of Burgesses for many years. He married Priscilla Heaherd of Virginia, "a lady of family and fortune." Smallwood was sent to England at a young age and first…

GLC01205.05

March 25, 1774

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Letter written by Adams, who later signed the Declaration of Independence, as a member and clerk of the colonial assembly in Massachusetts to Gerry, also a future signer of the Declaration, as a member of the assembly. References a letter from Gerry that explained the violence in Marblehead, known as the Smallpox War or the Marblehead Riots, and asked for military intervention. Gerry was one of the leading citizens of the town who wanted to build a hospital to inoculate the populace against smallpox. Once it was built, the populace, fearful that inoculations spread the disease further,…

GLC01213

July 16, 1772

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Letter written by Adams, a future signer of the Declaration of Independence, as member of the Massachusetts legislature to Warren, also a member of the Massachusetts legislature. Says the session is over and the resolves, including one asking the King to rescind Governor Hutchinson's salary, have passed. Says he will send him a copy of the resolves if he promises not to publish them. Expresses his friendship with Warren, who he says was with him when the Tories cursed him at a commencement speech at Cambridge and at another occasion when "Confusion to me & my Adherents was given as a…

GLC01215

February 12, 1783

Armstrong, John, Jr. 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Armstrong writes to Searle, a fellow Pennsylvania politician, to relate personal news. He complains about political infighting and expresses his hopes for treaty negotiations in Europe and the possibility of peace. Address leaf separated.

GLC01221.01

April 1, 1796

Smith, Thomas, 1745-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Smith

Thomas Smith writes in detail about accounts to be collected (while he is on the judicial circuit) interspersed with family news. He comments on Revolutionary War certificates: "I think I can make more by buying Certificates while they continue so low at present...for I am buying only to sell again." There are some notes on page 2.

GLC01221.06

1775

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies Of North America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms.

Secretly printed pamphlet co-authored with John Dickinson. 8vo. Signed in type by Hancock and Charles Thompson. Printed in Philidelphia. For the London printing see GLC00156.

GLC01240

February 13, 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford, Groton

Docketed. Containing the comment that gunpowder "will be of the utmost service to the cause of Liberty & America." Free franked "On the service of the United Colonies" (probably not George Washington's hand), but not signed.

GLC01117

January 21, 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull

Written by Washington as commander of the American army around Boston to Trumbull as Governor of Connecticut. Trumbull was the only colonial governor to join the patriot cause. References his hasty dispatch of January 19, 1776. Says he forgot to inform Trumbull that he will give troops heading north to Canada a month's pay in advance, on behalf of Congress. Trumbull had previously offered to send a regiment of Connecticut troops to Canada and Washington suggests they also be advanced a month's pay, to help them make the arduous journey, provide for families being left behind, and to avoid…

GLC01138

February 7, 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Wooster

Written by Heath as Major General in the Continental Army to Major General Wooster. He orders a grand forage for the next morning. Mentions complaints about vandalism of local houses by soldiers and asks Wooster to look into it. Requests that soldiers be prohibited from traveling to New York City without the consent of the Committee of Convention. Adds that the Detachment of Artillery will soon be inactive and he would like General Treadwell and the other detachments to come to Kingstreet so that they may all be together. Heath was soon to be censured by Washington and would be given commands…

GLC01139

May 27, 1782

Hazen, Moses, 1733-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Hazen as commander of prisoners at Lancaster, Pennsylvania during the Huddy-Asgill Affair to Lincoln as Secretary of War. References letters of General Washington from May 4 and 18, 1782, which he received on May 25, 1782. Writes that lots were drawn and Captain Charles Asgill was chosen to be executed in retaliation for the hanging of Captain Joshua Huddy. Asgill was a seventeen-year old youth, "a most amiable character, an extensive fortune and great interest in the British Court and Army." Says the British officers are enraged at Sir Henry Clinton's conduct and that they want…

GLC01147

April 19, 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel and Robert Purviance

Morris, chairman of a Congressional secret committee, acknowledges receipt of correspondence from the Purviance brothers, merchants in Baltimore, Maryland. Transmits inventories (not included) of two prize vessels, discusses a recent purchase of flour (possibly for military use) conducted by the Purviances, and relates that the committee will not purchase the prize vessels. Refers the Purviances' previous request regarding military clothing to James Mease, appointed in 1776 as clothier general. Referring to Captain James Nicholson, in command of the ship Virginia, states "It would give us…

GLC01135

22 July 1776

Williams, William, 1731-1811

Autograph document signed

Title: [Gun receipt for the Pay Table Committee of Connecticut]

Informs the Committee of the receipt from Captain William Huntington of twelve guns manufactured for Connecticut. A docket on the verso in Ellsworth's hand is signed by Huntington in Stamford and dated 13 November 1776; it confirms his receipt of payment.

GLC01136

January 17, 1779

Howe, Robert, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Howe as a Major General to Major General Lincoln as commander of the Southern Department. Lincoln had replaced Howe as department commander in September 1778. Says he is desirous of beginning a correspondence. He hopes any information he sends along is important enough to merit Lincoln's attention. Says he saw Brigadier General John Ashe and that he marches tomorrow. Says he strove to assist him and he hopes he has succeeded. Says Ashe has 1500 men and that he [Howe] has struggled to obtain 1000 "stand" (possibly guns), although they are not in possession of all of them yet. Says…

GLC01140

15 June 1779

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Broadside

Title: House resolutions for framing a new state constitution

Resolving that towns have elections and that elect representatives to a convention.

GLC01142