1777-1790

Header Record

Title: John Ely collection of miscellaneous documents mostly receipts [Decimalized.01-.22]

Collection of various papers from John Ely, Revolutionary war colonel. Mostly receipts. Some documents mention prisoners.

GLC01450.143

18 July 1776

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Document signed

Title: [Massachusetts Bay treasury document]

Partly printed document. Signed by Secretary Jonathan Avery and sent to Treasurer Henry Gardner. Also signed by members of the Council Chamber. The more prominent officials on the list include: future Massachusetts Governor James Bowdoin, Continental Congressman and future Massachusetts Acting Governor Thomas Cushing, and future Massachusetts Representative and Senator Benjamin Austin. There are 11 other signatures, including Caleb Cushing, Henry Gardner, Samuel Holten and Moses Gill. Document states that Gardner is directed to pay Beriah Norton, commissary, 500 pounds to provision the…

GLC01450.147

29 November 1776

Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800

Document signed

Title: [Massachusetts Bay treausury document]

Partly printed document. Signed by Secretary John Avery to Treasurer Henry Gardner. Also signed by 15 members of the Council Chamber. Directs the treasurer to pay 50 pounds to Edward Cutt, commissary, for provisions for the troops stationed at Kittery Point.

GLC01450.148

November 22, 1778

Putnam, Israel, 1718-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Ezra Badlam

Letter written by Major General Putnam as commanded Continental forces near Redding, Connecticut to Lieutenant Colonel Badlam as commander of the 2nd Massachusetts Regiment. Orders Badlam to take his regiment to New Hartford, Connecticut or wherever General Enoch Poor is, to relieve him from oversight of the Convention troops. Those troops were British prisoners of war from the Saratoga Campaign of 1777. Wants Badlam to take the Convention troops to Fish Kill Landing. Recommends taking only provisions and no baggage. Says Poor will provide further directions. Struck out on a blank page is…

GLC01450.157

1775-1781

Document

Title: [List of New Hampshire military expenses]

The state of New Hampshire pays residents of Cornish "for public services done in the late War for which they have received no pay." Lists the names of colonels, captains, privates, and others. Also cites the reason for various expenses, such as for victuals, billeting, and raising men.

GLC01450.166

December 12, 1780

Day, Elijah, 1754-1799

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for nine hundred dollars]

Certifies that by order of Mr Leonard he took cattle from Mr. Oliver Phelps, and recieved nine hundred continental dollars from Mr. Leonard for the cattle.

GLC01450.188.03

March 25, 1779

Seymour, Moses, 1742-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Rogers

Seymour asks Rodgers to forward him "about three or four hundred" barrels of flour, for which he "shall be handsomely rewarded." A note on the bottom requests that he hurry since "the public are in great distress for want of the flour." Letter signed twice by Seymour.

GLC01450.189

April 17, 1781

Langdon, Woodbury, 1739-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Langdon thanks Gerry for his concern over his recent misfortune, and says he will make the best of it. Encloses a copy of his orders to Captain Nanning of the ship "Hector" and a memorandum of provisions he can collect so he can remain at sea until June 1, 1781 if necessary (the orders and memorandum are not included here). Langdon says he has not heard of or from Nanning since he sailed on January 25, 1781 with 97 men. Gerry was a Declaration of Independence signer and a member of the Continental Congress.

GLC01450.193

May 5, 1779

Oliver, Robert, 1738-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Commissary Stiles

Oliver desires to know if Stiles will be supplying him with provisions. Specifically needs four pounds candles. Letter addressed to "Comsy Stiles or his Assistant."

GLC01450.225

October 9, 1755

Unknown

Manuscript letter

Title: to unknown

Answering part of the recipient's letter to Governor Robert Morris, and following the instruction of the Committee for Purchasing Provisions, informs the recipient that a ship will soon sail "with 780 barrels of Bread for your Forces."

GLC01450.284

29 May 1746

Wilors, John, fl. 1746

Document signed

Title: to Israel Clark

Requests that Clark, a member of a company of militia in Topsfield, Massachusetts, inspect the arms and ammunition of the men listed.

GLC01450.297

July 3, 1755

Porter, Peter, fl. 1755

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elijah Leonard

Describes the bad weather and encounters with Indians on his march from Massachusetts to Albany, New York. Sends news of recent victories against the French and their Indian allies and says a man brought good news of the fighting in Canada. Asks to be remembered to his family and friends and says "a solider Life is hard[,] hard Lodging and harty victuals."

GLC01450.298

31 May 1781

Morgan, Ephraim, fl. 1776-1783

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for 1410 pounds of flour]

Morgan, the Quartermaster for the Connecticut line during the American Revolution, notes his receipt of the flour "for the use of the Connt Division."

GLC01450.412.03

9 November 1784

Mitchell, Thomas, fl. 1781

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for corn and rye for Nathan Barber, a wagoner]

Mitchell, an assistant deputy quarter master, asks Jacob Benson for five bushels of corn and three of rye for the New Hampshire line. Nathan Barber, the wagoner, signed as "Waginer" noting his receipt of the items from Benson on the verso.

GLC01450.412.04

26 April 1775

Blaney, Aaron, 1745-1824

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt for 120 pounds of bread and 140 pounds of pork]

Deputy Commissary Blaney indicates that the food was received from Captain Jabez Ellis "for the use of the Provincial Troops Station'd in Roxbury."

GLC01450.436.01

April 22, 1775

Stanley, Daniel, fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jabez Ellis

Stanley says he has sent food gathered from the townspeople to support Ellis' troops. "Don't give up the cause but go on and the Lord be with you," he prays for the troops.

GLC01450.436.02

21 June 1781

Clarke, Joseph, 1719-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order to collect twenty eight pounds from the treasurer of Middletown, Rhode Island]

Explains that the money is owed the state treasury for the costs of procuring beef to provision Revolutionary War soldiers. Orders the sheriff of Newport to collect the money from Thomas Peckham, the Middletown treasurer, and if he does not supply it, to take him into custody. SIgned as the General Treasurer of Rhode Island. Two notes on the verso indicate the monies were paid.

GLC01450.447.01

September 17, 1777

Franks, Jonathan, fl. 1777-1782

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Currier

Franks requests sugar, pepper, and rum for Colonel Livingston, and two pounds chocolate, one pound pepper and two gallons both wine and rum for himself. Letter addressed to Currier on board the sloop Mohawk, a supply ship

GLC01450.515.01

1780

Little, William, fl. 1780-1786

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Little's account of refreshments delivered]

Records refreshments delivered to Lamb's (possibly Colonel John Lamb's) regiment of artillery, Colonel Jeduthan Baldwin's regiment of artificers, Livingston (possibly James Livingston's) regiment of infantry, a corps of sappers and miners, and General George Washington's guard. Lists the names of soldiers in different companies, and the amount of victuals delivered to each. Provisions listed include sugar, coffee, and other items.

GLC01450.806

May 24, 1775

Lawton, Robert, fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Lawton informs his father that he attempted to send the barrel of flour he previously requested, but that ship masters refused to transport the flour because "Capt. Wallace stops the least Trifle of Provision that is sent up the River." Writes that he received the offer of a treasury note from Captain [Werner's] wife, and "should be glad to know Whether their is money to Reedeem it at this Time as she wants About Twenty Dollars in Goods and will Expect the Remainder in Cash." Relates that the note is dated February 23. Letter addressed to Joseph Clarke.

GLC01450.561

1782-1783

Massachusetts Bay Council

Broadsheet

Title: Printed circular unsigned re: collecting taxes, mentions Robert Morris

Headed "(Circular Letter.)" Discusses the need to provide state financial support to Congress for provisioning for the army. Comments on the problems with their currency created after the Revolution began. Describes the moment and obligation as "one of those great occasions which calls on the good people of the Commonwealth to give proof of the sincerity of past engagements--a proof far more substantial and decisive than any verbal declarations whatever." Indicates that the "notes of the National Bank and the Official Notes of the honorable Robert Morris, Esq; will be received as money…

GLC01450.606

1779-1781

Leavitt, Jacob, 1740-1826

Manuscript signed

Title: [Receipt book]

Leavitt records transactions for mugs of drink, tea, rum, wine, meal sugar, chocolate, milk, eggs, and other goods. Leavitt calls this manuscript a day book.

GLC01450.611

March 3, 1777

Samuel Barrett & Co., (manufacturers), fl. 1777

Letter

Title: to unknown

Discusses the firm's acquirement of barrels of wines and spirits and the fluctuating price of such goods. Mentions Mr. Hopkins. Reports that in the south ward, these goods "would fetch double the Money as soon as the restraining Bill is repeald (which will be done immediately)." Discusses the importation of rice and flour, and the removal of these goods to the recipient's storehouses (which he calls magazines). In case of an enemy attack on Boston, intends to store goods in ports which may still be free, such as Sherburne, Sudbury, Worcester, or Springfield, Massachusetts. Awaits the…

GLC01450.617

1764-1777

Pico, Joshua, fl. 1760-1790

Manuscript

Title: [Receipt book with forged signatures]

Includes forged signatures of John Adams and John Hancock pasted onto the inside of the front board. Some receipts included are written to Treat & Pico, others to Joshua Pico. Items/services bought and sold include oil, rent of property, schooling of children, molasses, codfish, and hog staves, among various others. Most receipts are written in Boston. Contains various signatures of persons conducting business with Pico.

GLC01450.725

14 October 1796

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Peirce

Addressed to "Joseph Peirce & Son." Asks Peirce to inquire after a gardener Knox is supposed to be hiring from England. Also asks Peirce to forward a variety of articles, including crackers, hinges, nails, and a kettle.

GLC02437.06840