1740

Book

Title: [Geography anatomiz'd; or, The geographical grammar. Inscribed by William Ellery].

Signed by William Ellery and dated as his property "1744/5." Also signed by George Wanton Ellery. The sixteenth edition, corrected and somewhat enlarged; and a set of new maps, by Mr. Senex. William Ellery graduated from Harvard College in 1747. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. George Wanton Ellery was the son of William Ellery.

GLC04229

1742

Watts, Isaac, fl. 1742

Book

Title: [Philosophical essays on various subjects; viz., space, substance, body, spirit. Inscribed by William Ellery].

Also signed by William Ellery and George Wanton Ellery. Title continues: "the operations of the soul in union with the body; the production and operations of plants and animals; with some remarks on Mr. Locke's Essay on the human understanding. To which is subjoined A brief scheme of ontology, or the science of being in general, with its affections." A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. George Wanton Ellery was the son of William Ellery.

GLC04230

28 March 1785

Walton, George, 1740-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal Document on confiscation of slaves]

Written by the Declaration of Independence signer George Walton. Was written while Walton was the Chief Justice of Georgia. Legal document in the case Hancock v. Jack. Document declares that three negroes had been delivered by the "Commissioners of Confiscated Estates to Henry Allison." Allison had received the slaves as compensation for military service and had sold them to the defendant. Goes on to say that the plaintiff recovered them "as not having ever been public property." Says that Allison must apply to the government to be reimbursed. Attached document signed by Thomas [Hancock]…

GLC04337

15 July 1777

Lee, Francis Lightfoot, 1734-1797

Letter

Title: to Mann Page

Written by Lee as Virginia delegate to Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence to Page also as a Virginia delegate to Congress. Reports the fall of Fort Ticonderoga. Mentions letters from General Arthur St. Clair updating the evacuation of the fort. Lee says he does not know the reason for St. Clair's withdraw, but it was because Burgoyne's army of 9,000 troops greatly outnumbered St. Clair's army of 2,500. Says Burgoyne is moving down to Albany and that "the whole country [is] in consternation." Claims that the commander of the Northern Department, General Philip…

GLC04368

12 September 1750

Clap, Thomas, fl. 1750

Document signed

Title: [Yale College Master of Liberal Arts diploma for William Ellery].

Also signed by Jared Eliot, Anthony Stoddard, Benjamin Lord, William Russel, Thomas Ruggles, Solomon Williams, and Elnathan Whitman as Fellows. Written in Latin on parchment with a fabric ribbon attached. Accompanied by English translation. William Ellery graduated from Harvard College in 1747. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Clap signs as President of Yale College.

GLC04655

February 26, 1775

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph note signed

Title: to David Hartley

Signed in text in the opening of the note and written in the third-person: "Dr. Franklin presents..." Sarcastically explains British methods for taxing the American colonies. Date from docket.

GLC04632

January 25, 1781

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lewis Morris

Written by Captain North as Inspector General in Virginia to Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a New York State Senator. References Morris's letter of 1 January 1781. Sends his opinions on Virginia at the beginning of the campaign in that state. Criticizes the leadership of Governor Thomas Jefferson saying "Our Situation since we are here has not been so happy as it might be ... if the Head is in trouble, the members can not enjoy themselves." Goes on to say that he might think North Carolina in trouble, but "This State has every thing in its power but does nothing."…

GLC04829

27 July 1779

Read, George, 1733-1798

Autograph letter

Title: to John Dunlap

Written by Read, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a member of the Delaware Assembly to Dunlap as editor and publisher of the "Pennsylvania Packet, or General Advertiser." Read was asking Dunlap to publish a letter. Read was responding to one of Dunlap's previous publications Saying it is "a matter of right after your publication of hte Proceedings in Committee of July ye 21st 1779 Signed William Henry Chairman." In the letter "To the Members of the Commitee of the City of Philadelphia," Read defends his character and conduct from the accusations previously published by Dunlap.…

GLC04836

1 November 1792

Ellery, William, 1727-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nancy Ellery

Comments on Nancy's recovery from a smallpox inoculation (variolation). Congratulates her and suggests that she will make a better wife after having smallpox because it must have filled her with patience and resolution, and made her immune. Reports that Nancy's friends in Newport were surprised to learn she had undergone variolation. Ellery has also been inoculated. Comments on his old age. A Member of the Continental Congress from 1776 until 1785, William Ellery was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Nancy was his daughter.

GLC04780

22 August 1775

Lynch, Thomas, 1749-1779

Document signed

Title: Receipt for 50 pounds

Partially printed. Provided by South Carolina as legal compensation for an executed slave belonging to Lynch's father, Thomas Sr.

GLC04815

1772

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Book

Title: [The Holy Bible; inscribed by Benjamin Rush].

Presented by him to his daughter, Ann Emily Rush.

GLC04998.01

circa 1802-1813

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter

Title: to Ann Emily Rush Cuthbert

Also written on by Cuthbert, Rush's eldest daughter. He writes, "permit me my dear child to remind you of the promises you made me the evening before we parted. I shall not be happy till I hear of your having fulfilled them. I send you herewith a copy of the ages of your brother's and sisters to be inserted in a blank leaf of the Bible I gave you. It will enable you to remember them with a good wish, or a blessing on their birth days." He includes the names and birthdays of twelve children and concludes with a personal salutation: "your popa & mama were married at Princeton Jany. 11.…

GLC04998.02

11 May 1784

Hall, Lyman, 1724-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Susa Street

Regrets he was not there for his mother's last illness and thanks Street for the care given to her. Is himself elderly and advises against his friends and relatives coming to Georgia, as "they may sicken soon & die." If he envies anyone, "it is him who content with a little, enjoys that little without anxiety, loves God, & has his delight in Jesus Christ, looks forward with pleasing expectation of the glory that shall scarcely shall be revealed; that lyes down to sleep, indifferent whether he awakes in this or in the other world." Sends his blessing to his relations. Hall was a…

GLC05243

20 May 1801

Carroll, Charles, 1737-1832

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Appears to discuss Mr. [Dawees] Jeffrey's behavior and character during his two year stay in Annapolis, Maryland. Describes Dawees as being industrious. Charles Carroll of Carrollton was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

GLC02437.07532

1772

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Object

Title: [Box for Benjamin Rush's Bible].

Bible presented by him to his daughter, Ann Emily Rush (see GLC04998.01 and GLC04998.02). Cloth that surrounded the bible is in the box.

GLC04998.03

1776/07/03

Danielson, Timothy, fl. 1776

Letter signed

Title: to John Hancock re: supporting a declaration of Independence

GLC02635

1788/02/16

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Transmits a copy of the proceedings of the Massachusetts ratifying convention for the Constitution. Notes that the Convention recommended amendments and alterations to the Constitution.

GLC04362

February 18, 1778

Penn, John, 1741-1788

Autograph letter

Title: to Theodorick Bland

Written by Penn as North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress and Declaration of Independence signer to Bland as a Colonel of Virginia Calvary. Says nothing has happened other than General Sir William Howe's agreement to exchange prisoners of war. Since General Howe did not purchase clothing for American prisoners of war in Philadelphia he says Congress has resolved not to purchase "any necessaries for his prisoners with us." Says British prisoners will get same treatment as American prisoners. Claims that Howe praised General Washington, but castigated Congress. Washington defended…

GLC04455

1770/05/07

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Document signed

Title: Admitting Ohio Co. as co-purchaser of land (c/s Wharton, Pownall & Walpole)

Signed by Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Wharton, Thomas Pownall and Thomas Walpole. The document admits the Ohio Company as additional co-purchaser for a tract of land "for a new province on the Ohio." The manuscript states how the land will be divided. (The land being purchased is now in the state of Indiana.) Accompanied by a manuscript sale announcement for several thousand acres "situated on the River Ohio, a little above the River Kentucke [sic]."

GLC05311

1787/10/01

Rush, Benjamin, 1746-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Ramsay re: new Constitution is a "masterpiece of human wisdom"

GLC04838

circa 1850

Currier, Nathaniel, 1813-1888

Print

Title: Lithograph titled The Declaration of Independence July 4th 1776

One print entitled The Declaration of Independence July 4th 1776 dated circa 1850. This image is a gathering of men and is considered to be depicting the signing or presentation of the Declaration of Independence. The original painting by Trumbull shows the drafting committee presenting their draft to the Continental Congress, which took place on June 28th, 1776 and not the signing which mostly took place on July 2. The print indicates the scene was from July 4th 1776.

GLC10045

circa 1930

Crossman, William H., fl. 1927

Engraving

Title: Engraving of George Wythe

One engraving of George Wythe dated circa 1930. Half portrait of Wythe based on the painting by William H. Crossman.

GLC08878.0999