circa 1784

Merlet, H., fl. 1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [List]

Lists of Canadian refugees at [Newbery] who are using provisions. Listed by name and rank.

GLC02437.09965

18 October 1861

Giddings, Joshua Reed, 1795-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edwin D. Morgan

Giddings, U.S. consul general to the British North American Provinces, writes to Morgan, Governor of New York. Encloses a note (not included) from Elliot & Co., a Montreal-based importer of Enfield rifles. There are no Enfield rifles for sale in Montreal, and Giddings advises that arms should be purchased through Elliot & Co. Written on United States Consulate General, British N. A. Provinces stationery. Docket notes, "50,000 Enfield Rifles offered to be furnished at the rate of 3000 per month- Price not to exceed $18.50 delivered in New York City."

GLC02505.20

2 August 1896

Reed, Thomas Brackett, 1839-1902

Autograph letter signed

Title: to G. Mercer Adam

Reed, a United States Representative from Maine, replies to a letter from [G.?] Mercer Adam (possibly Graeme Mercer Adam, a Canadian writer and publisher). Writes "...in regard to an article on silver for 'Self Culture' you do not state the amt of the honorarium' I think it probable that I could furnish you such an article..." Notes that a limit on the amount of words might make writing the article more difficult.

GLC02467.21

1934

International Boundary Commission

Book signed

Title: Joint report upon the survey and demarcation of the boundary between the United States and Canada from the source of the St. Croix River to the Atlantic Ocean

Contains treaties between the United States and Canada regarding the demarcation of geographic boundaries. Describes the types of committees used and the methods of surveying the boundary from the source of the St. Croix River to the Atlantic Ocean. Features maps, descriptions of land formations and latitude and longitude tables. Includes a letter with the original signatures of the U.S. commissioner, James H. Van Wagenen, and the British commissioner (for Canada), Noel J. Ogilvie. Printed by the United States Government Printing Office.

GLC02619

21 August 1865

Clay, Clement Claiborne, 1816-1882

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Virginia Clay-Clopton

Clay, a former U.S. and Confederate Senator, writes to his wife while imprisoned at Fort Monroe. Informs her that, "The hardest part of my trial here has been my solicitude about you, my parents and other kindred, who, I feared, would be tortured by newspaper accounts of my condition, or bold assertations of my guilt, or possibly, reports of evidence establishing it." States that he is relieved to hear that she gives little faith to newspaper accounts. Comments on his health, which is fair. He has not had to use any of the medicinal remedies that frighten his wife, such as "prussic acid,…

GLC02590

21 March 1780

Dunlap, John, 1747-1812

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania packet or the general advertiser. [March 21, 1780]

Contains dispatches of General George Washington and Congress. Includes reports on various ships, and war news from Georgia. Contains a report from the House of Commons pertaining to a bill for the encouragement of Irish trade. Includes a report on Continental troops taking a British officer (Captain Ogden) hostage near Tarrytown, New York. Refers to an investigation conducted by General Philip Schuyler related to events in Canada. Contains an extract of minutes of the General Assembly, authorized by Assembly Clerk Thomas Paine, related to "An Act for striking the sum of One hundred…

GLC08748.05

11 May 1796

Yundt, Leonard, 1756-1825

Newspaper

Title: Federal gazette & Baltimore daily advertiser. [Vol. IV, no. 785 (May 11, 1790)]

Printed and sold by Leonard Yundt and Matthew Brown at 3 Calvert Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Includes 2 page supplement. Front page consists entirely of advertisements. They are mostly ads for various goods and services, real estate sales, and announcements of sailing vessels. Second page relates news from U.S. House of Representatives "On the motion for making provision for carrying into effect the treaty with Great-Britain." Page 3 and part of page 4 (the supplement sheet) are a continuation of news from Congress. This supplement sheet has a tear at the top corner. Rest of page 4 is ads,…

GLC08720.04

14 December 1775

Towne, Benjamin, ?-1793

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania evening post. [Vol. 1, no. 14 (December 14, 1775)]

Includes several letters from mid-October 1775 by Brook Watson in Montreal. As a British officer who owned land in Nova Scotia, Watson pretended to support the American cause in 1774. Intercepted letters to General Thomas Gage proved he was a spy. The letters in this issue were published at the request of Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. The letters contain several embarrassing comments, including his prediction that Gage will have to leave Boston soon and that "the kingdom of Great-Britain cannot much longer be governed by such weak councils and feeble efforts." Watson…

GLC08748.06

11 November 1864

Bryant, William Cullen, 1794-1878

Newspaper

Title: The Evening Post. [Vol. 55, no. 91 (November 11, 1864)]

Announces the re-election of President Abraham Lincoln and lists election returns by state. Also describes plots of Confederate agents in Canada to sink the steamer Michigan and release the prisoners on Johnson's island. Reprints excerpts from General Winfield Scott's biography. Describes the capture of the pirate ship Florida by the Wachusett. Also includes an article on how the poor live in England. Other articles detail Civil War news, local and international news.

GLC08765

December 18, 1773

Easson, John, 1715-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Easson

Discusses various business matters and give instructions to his son in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia. Provides a brief account of the Boston Tea Party and advises David to take good care of any remaining tea he has, since there will be no more forthcoming. Written from the commonsense perspective of a man in commerce worried about losses from rowdy Bostonians. Easson was a Boston merchant.

GLC00191

May 27, 1776

Wendell, John, 1731-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Wendell, a wealthy, well-connected merchant in New Hampshire to an unknown recipient. References a previous letter he wrote that mentioned political sentiments. Does not go into detail. Mentions a report of the broken American siege of Quebec. General Guy Carleton had defeated the Americans under General John Thomas on May 6, 1776. Says Canada must be won or the cause will fail. Claims the British now have "very interesting Advantages" and fears they will press them. Says if they receive the support of the Canadian interests then it will be beyond the power of the Americans to…

GLC00252

February 16, 1847

Missouri, Legislature

Printed document

Title: Memorial of the general assembly of Missouri, requesting that efforts be made by negotiation with the British government, to procure the restoration of fugitive slaves.

29th Congress, 2d session. Senate document no. 150. Missouri requests a measure for negotiations with England to prevent slaves escaping to Canada. Printed by Ritchie & Heiss, printers.

GLC00267.137

June 4, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress. Begins by saying "Our affairs are hastening fast to a Crisis; and the approaching Campaign will in all Probability, determine for ever the Fate of America." Says the King and Parliament has left no measure unemployed to accomplish their destruction. Says they are blockading the coast and about to pour in foreign troops. Says the affairs in Canada have "a melancholy Aspect" to them. Says it is likely the colonies will have to deal with Canada and the northern Indians as well as Great Britain. Sends resolves of Congress (not included…

GLC00639.12

February 19, 1867

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alfred H. Terry

William T. Sherman writes to Major General Terry about military and Indian matters on the Great Plains. He discusses the establishment of military posts in Montana, the distribution of military forces, the regulation of travel across the plains, and tactics used by and to be used against the Sioux, voicing his opinion that should the "Enemies of the Civilized races of man" attempt to escape across the Canadian border, "they may be pursued a reasonable distance." On the matter of crossing the border, he writes: "Still internation[inserted: al] country might be offended...If the Indians learn…

GLC00668

November 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Enclosing a letter from James Searle regarding possible attack by British fleet. On November 13, 1776 Searle spotted about one hundred British ships off the point of Sandy Hook at Long Branch, New Jersey. He immediately wrote to Thomas Wharton Jr., chairman of the Pennsylvania Council for Safety and warned him that the ships seemed to be heading southward. The letter caused great worry in Congress. Hancock sent letters to assemblies in all of the Southern states, and enclosed a copy of Searle's letter as well. However, the British fleet Searle saw was heading for Britain. Letter also notes…

GLC00779

05 March 1864

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Document signed

Title: [Authorization to affix United States seal to a treaty]

President Lincoln authorizes Secretary of State William H. Seward to affix the United States Seal to a treaty between the United States and Britain. States the Treaty, signed 1 July 1863, settles the claims of the Hudson's Bay and Puget's Sound Agricultural Companies.

GLC00750

March 27, 1828

Clay, Henry, 1777-1852

Letter signed

Title: to Daniel Hugunin, Jr.

Marked "private and inofficial" at the top of the page. Referring to trade between the United States and Great Britain, Secretary of State Clay informs Hugunin, a Representative from New York, that "sound policy requires that there should be the freest and most unshackled competition between the vessels of the two countries in any trade that may be tolerated on the Lakes ..." Discusses an Act passed on 1 March 1, 1823 concerning colonial ports and trade between Britain and America. Refers to a resolution recently moved by New York Representative Daniel Dewey Barnard concerning trade between…

GLC00754

February 12, 1761

Peters, Richard, 1704-1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Johnson

Richard Peters writes to the British commissioner about Northern Indian Affairs in upper New York. He discusses Indian tribes and Connecticut's attempt to get a new grant from the King. He concludes: "I most heartily congratulate You in the Surrender of Canada and on the most favourable Solution of all our Affairs." Richard Peters, Provincial Secretary, superintended Indian affairs and attended the Albany Congress, 1754.

GLC00766

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

circa August 1776

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Manuscript document

Title: A Journal of a Scout from Crown Point to St. John's Chamblee by Lieut Benjamin Whitcomb and four men

Clerical copy of a report of Whitcomb's spying mission in Canada 14-27 July 1776. Details their progress, the weather, attempts to get prisoners, and sightings of British troops moving supplies, etc. Notes that Whitcomb fired on a British officer [Brigadier General Patrick Gordon], whom he ended up killing though he was not aware of Gordon's identity at the time. Includes a three-line autograph note signed by Continental Major General Horatio Gates to Richard Varick, who was serving as military secretary to General Philip Schuyler, advising that the report be forwarded to Schuyler.

GLC01072

August 16, 1814

Wood, Eleazor D., 1783-1814

Letter

Title: to unknown

Draft of a detailed report of the attack on Fort Erie that had been repelled on August 14, 1814. Wood commanded forces in the battle. Letter written at Fort Erie to a superior officer.

GLC01043.04

July 24, 1839

Dresser, Amos, 1812-1904

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hiram Wilson

Dresser writes to Reverend Wilson who is expecting two enslaved people seeking emancipation in Canada through the underground railroad. He writes, "I rejoice in the privilege of handing over to you two more Daughters of affliction who can tell you their own tale of suffering. They are in pursuit of a home which I trust they will find in Queen Victoria's Dominions. The young girl is very quick... in almost any kind of business & with the right kind of training I hope may be brot to Christ & made useful in the world Perhaps you will want her in your family." He asks for the names of…

GLC00867

1775-1776

Massey, Eyre, 1719-1804

Document signed

Title: General Contingent Accompt of Garrison and Incidental Expences at Halfax, during the Command of Brigadier Genl Eyre Massey from 25th December 1775 to the 31st March 1776

Document signed by Major General Massey as commander of British forces on Nova Scotia. List of two vouchers for expenses of troops in Halifax; one for the "Contingent Accompt of the Garrison of Halifax," which could possibly mean the cost of extra troops sent to Halifax, and the other for "Incidental Expenses at Halifax." The entire bill is slightly over 181 pounds of Halifax currency. Place written inferred from the location of Massey's headquarters at the time. One edge repaired with tape on verso. On 1 April 1776, General Sir William Howe's troops arrived at Halifax after being forced out…

GLC01450.151

circa 1778

Document

Title: [Payment and orders for a Massachusetts regiment]

States that each person enlisted will get two pounds per month. They will march to the heights of Dorchester, Massachusetts to be formed into regiments, and will serve until 1 December 1778 unless discharged sooner. On the reverse is a note stating that the total amount of money to hire men to serve in the army bound for Canada is $287.

GLC01450.129

June 12, 1776

Wendell, John, 1731-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Wendell asks Gerry to use his political influence to help place him in a number of governmental positions. Says that he is confident he can attain the position of "Vendue Master" if Gerry can get him a favorable letter from the President. Also mentions his own powerful friends. He views Canada as integral to American success, though hears events are going poorly there. Letter is tipped onto a border.

GLC01450.234