February 1, 1865

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph note signed

Title: [Pardon of William Peacock]

Pardoning William Peacock, a Union army deserter, with the condition that he serve in the army for two years. With General John A. Dix note on verso dated 6 February 1865 stating that Brigadier General [Lewis Cass] Hunt in New York will execute the president's order. Written on a card. Tipped to a large sheet of paper.

GLC05278

3 September 1782

Corne, Peter, fl. 1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Writes, "I am much oblig'd to you for the agreeable lines you sent communicating the good intentions of the Commander in Chief I thank him & shall [bean?] respect I shall strictly obey the order of staying in my quarters & joyfully wait the happy Period of Liberation."

GLC02437.01567

August 7, 1805

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Dated 20 Thermidor in the French Republican calendar. Says this letter of introduction will be delivered by David Parish. Says that Knox probably knows the family name. Lafayette goes on to recommend him highly and says "I have found in them, during and after our Captivity, the Most zealous and Generous friends." He hopes Knox will make Parish's tour of America as agreeable as possible.

GLC02437.07961

June 27, 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox references Henry's letter from April 6. Says he has sent 13 letters to him, the last from Dublin on June 13 or 20. Says his last letter informed Henry of his "motives for coming here namely to negociate some funds by which I might be kept from sinking in Dublin." He is sorry that Thomas Randall "cannot find it convenient to wait agreable to my proposition to him, from a perfect knowledge that the amount will bear hard upon you..." Offers to refund him when he is successful. Says Gouverneur Morris is here but has not made a great sale of land. Reports that William Temple Franklin…

GLC02437.05035

18 July 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References the letter he sent Henry on 27 June. Updates Henry on his endeavors in London. Says he is still trying to sell Henry's lands even though Gouverneur Morris has been empowered by Mr. [Alexander] McComb to sell the lands. Will proceed as if Morris was not given this power until he hears otherwise from Henry. Has advertised in the Times and the Morning Herald. Will wait another fortnight to see if things develop. Declares that he is concerned about mounting debts and believes the United States government should support its consuls better. Notes Nathaniel Barrett, consul at Rouen…

GLC02437.05071

3 August 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References his letters of 27 June and 19 July that he sent to Henry. Has not received any letters from Henry since the one marked 6 April. States he has not met with any success in selling Henry's lands, not even a single serious offer. Says his feelers in Paris have not met with any more success, noting "The Scioto business has left unfavorable impressions at Paris relative to purchases of land in America." Wants to go to Ireland next week, but needs to secure a loan to settle his debts there first. Claims his prospects are bleak. Reports "I cannot tell what will be my fate," unless…

GLC02437.05099

1 May 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Henry's letter of 27 April. Also delivered the enclosed letter to [Royal] Flint in prison. Agrees with Henry that his best recourse is to move to Maine. Hopes to be able to do so in a few days. Says his mind has been "depressed" lately due to a debt he cannot discharge. If it is paid he can move without any troubles. In reference to what seems like mental illness says "Bailey prescribed a fixed time to my remedies in order to be certain of embracing even the worst circumstances, which time has nearly elapsed, without my experiencing any of those evils which presented themselves to…

GLC02437.05884

August 14, 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox discusses a financial matter involving [William] Duer, [possibly John] Peirce, [Richard] Platt, and Henry Jackson. Encloses a letter (not present) from the Marquis de Lafayette to St. John (possibly Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur). The letter was passed to St. John by George Washington and was accompanied by other papers discussing affairs of the Society of the Cincinnati (William does not include the other papers mentioned). Discusses financial transactions he apparently conducted on Knox's behalf, including payment of a reward for capturing a deserter from Lieutenant Kersey's…

GLC02437.03961

4 August 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Knox's brother, William, writes, "You will undoubtedly be surprised to hear that this day Seven States in Congress were decided upon Baltimore in Maryland as the place of the future residence of the Government of the United States, it has surprised every body out of doors and even the Members themselves..." Discusses the opinions of Colonel [Alexander] Hamilton, Mr. [William] Bingham, and Colonel [Edward] Carrington on the location of Congress. Reports that General [William] Irvine and Colonel Reid request that Mr. [John] Stagg remain in town until they receive tomorrow's post. They…

GLC02437.03955

12 August 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports on military matters regarding troop movements in Pennsylvania and at West Point. Describes an incident regarding a deserter from Lieutenant Kersey's troops, and payment of a reward for capturing and imprisoning the deserter. Relates that shoes and shirts were sent to West Point. Also mentions the formation of a congressional committee.

GLC02437.03960

22 August 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William, managing the office of Secretary of War in Henry's absence, discusses the people in Boston and their opinion of him and Henry. Mentions the flourishing state of trade in [Boston]. Plans to take a restful two day vacation to the country. Received reports from Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, and General Josiah Harmar. They arrested six Chippewas suspected of murder. Refers to Mr. Martin's appointment by Congress as an agent to the Chickasaw and Cherokee Indians.

GLC02437.03973

1 August 1801

Joy, Benjamin, 1758-1830

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses business transactions involving timber and lime. Appears to complain about a shipment of timber being short and the long pieces being cut. Threatens to prosecute the shipper who delivered the timber unless the shipper can replace the missing timber. Requests more timber and two long pieces. Also mentions other items he would like Knox to ship to him. Expresses his sympathies in the troubles Knox is having with the squatters (likely in Maine).

GLC02437.07577

13 September 1801

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Jones

Expresses his sympathy in hearing about Jones's barn being burnt down by the insurgents. Assures Jones the government will reimburse him for his loss provided the "villains" cannot be found and are unable to pay for the damages. Requests Jones makes out an estimation of his damages. Provides further instruction on what Jones needs to do to be reimbursed by the government. Also instructs Benjamin Bartlett to do the same for his losses.

GLC02437.07613

11 November 1859

Raymond, Henry J. (Henry Jarvis), 1820-1869

Newspaper

Title: New York times [Vol. IX, no. 2541 (11 November 1859)]

News regarding John Brown's raid. Reports on conviction of Brown's fellow raiders, Gerrit Smith going insane, Brown's time in Kansas, his charitable deeds. Also an article urging reconciliation between North and South, and urging Brown be pardoned in an attempt to quell sectionalism. Despite urging a pardon, the paper strongly opposes Brown and his actions.

GLC08771

6 December 1823

Fry, William, 1777-1855

Newspaper

Title: National gazette. [Vol. IV, no. 434 (December 6, 1823)]

Part of a signature cut off at masthead appears to be "J. M. Sanders." The entire front page and part of the second page is taken up with the President James Monroe's message to Congress that announced the Monroe Doctrine, which was designed to keep European powers from interfering in the Western Hemisphere. The Gazette included a positive editorial on the speech as well. An article says the two houses of Congress ordered a combined total of 9,000 copies of Monroe's speech printed. An article reports on the condition of prisons in Philadelphia. Other articles include: a report on problems of…

GLC08794

15 May 1865

Childs, George William, 1829-1894

Newspaper

Title: Public ledger. [Vol. 59, no. 44 (May 15, 1865)]

One newspaper issue of Public ledger, dated May 15, 1865. Reports the capture of Jefferson Davis on 10 May 1865 in Georgia. Also contains an article on the Abraham Lincoln assassination trial, local news, financial news, and stories from New York and Europe, as well as many advertisements and announcements.

GLC08831

1855

Williamson, Passmore, 1822-?

Pamphlet

Title: Narrative of facts in the case of Passmore Williamson

Relates the story of Passmore Williamson, an abolitionist who was imprisoned for helping a slave named Jane escape her master while in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Because Jane was already in the North, Williamson informed her she was free and enabled her to slip away from her master. He spent three months in jail for his actions, and his case became a highly publicized one. Pamphlet is side-stitched, published by the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society in response to debates about the Fugitive Slave Law.

GLC08854

May 7, 1778

McArthur, Alexander, fl. 1778

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elias Boudinot

Letter addressed to Boudinot as Commissary General of Prisoners. Requests to be exchanged as a prisoner of war because he was wounded at Fort Montgomery and is not well. He asks to be paroled or exchanged to go to Dutchess County so he may heal. He informs Boudinot that his rank is Second Lieutenant in Captain James Stewart's company, Colonel Lewis DuBois's Regiment, fifth regiment of the state of New York.

GLC01450.088

June 13, 1779

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Letter written by Major General Gates as commander of the Eastern Department to Colonel Jackson as commander of one of the "16 Additional Continental Regiments" raised at large after December 1776. Each regiment was named for its Colonel, with Jackson's being renamed the 16th Massachusetts in January 1781. Warns of British embarkation in Newport. Approves of Jackson's apprehension of "The Conventioner." Says he is secured and will be treated "as he Deserves." References receiving letter of news of enemy movement off Point Judith. Large tears repaired.

GLC01412.29

22 November 1776

Weare, Meshech, 1713-1786

Document signed

Title: to the keeper of the goal in the county of Hillsborough

Weare signs as Chairman of the New Hampshire Committee of Safety. Prisoner transfer document to the keeper of the jail in Hillsborough County. Includes names of Tory prisoners from New York who were "violently disaffected with the Measures pursuing by the American States" that are being moved to New Hampshire. Also includes instructions to the keeper on what to do with the prisoners.

GLC01412.30

18 November 1780

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Document signed

Title: [Order of arrest for Benjamin Stevens]

General McDougall orders the arrest of Stevens for his refusal to deliver provisions to the hospital waggoner. He is also ordered to be arrested because his previous receipts for the hospital were for indefinite quantities. Docketed "arrested by a madman."

GLC01412.35

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 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

1868

Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872

Book signed

Title: Major General Meade's report on the Ashburn murder

Inscribed by Meade to Spencer Miller on a blue bound-in title page: "Spencer Miller Esq compliments of Gen. Meade." Contains an errata slip opposite the title page. Report on the murder of George W. Ashburn, a prominent white supporter of reconstruction and African-American rights, in Columbus, Georgia. Report outlines the attack on Ashburn by a group of "thirty to fifty" men who were "disguised in masks, and with blackened faces;" based on their style of dress, "there is no doubt that the party...belong to the better class of citizens." The report opens with a statement written to…

GLC01113

July 10, 1777

Livingston, William, 1723-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hayes

Livingston, writing as the president of the New Jersey council of safety, sends Hayes a "List of disaffected Persons to be apprehended by Maj. Hay[e]s & his party, & to be sent to Morris Gaol [a jail]." The list appears on a separate page and contains the names of forty eight Tories.

GLC01150