14 July 1774

Carleton, Guy, 1724-1808

Document signed

Title: [Document to supply clothing for troops]

Witnessed by Doubleday and another illegible signature. Carleton appoints Alexander Adair and Henry Bullock of Charing Cross as his attorneys to contract for the clothing provided for Carleton's 47th Regiment of Foot. Document sealed with Carleton's signet. Bears Carleton's red, wax official seal.

GLC01412.36

December 8, 1775

Ward, Henry, 1732-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sisters

Ward writes that he has begun taking garlic and honey for health. Also writes that some supplies had come in including gun powder, muskets, wine, brandy, and coffee. States that he is concerned by the lack of interest among the troops in Cambridge. However, Massachusetts and New Hampshire plan to send a combined total of 5,000 troops to march to Cambridge. Addresses letter on address leaf to Mrs. Isabel Marchant.

GLC01412.37

11 April 1777

Percy, Hugh, 1742-1817

Autograph document signed

Title: [Pass signed for Colonel Wightman]

Written by British Lieutenant General Percy as commander in Rhode Island. Pass allowing Colonel George Wightman "& such Persons as he shall take with him" to go to Narraganset Shore by the way of Connecticut, having obtained leave for that purpose. Marked simply as "Head Quarters," but Percy assumed command of Rhode Island after General Sir Henry Clinton went on leave to England, and Newport inferred as place written because it was the main base of British operations there. Percy returned to England in June 1777 after many disagreements with General Howe and eventually succeeded his…

GLC01412.38

July 18, 1780

Paine, Thomas, 1725-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Adams

Paine sympathizes with Dr. Adams' loss of his son and attempts to console his friend. Complains of a lack of support for the state from the people. Feels that a good militia will never exist while the people choose their officers. States that he is pleased with the constitution and agrees, with Adams, that there is no better group of framers. He invites Dr. and Mrs. Adams to spend a few days with him in Massachusetts.

GLC01412.39

13 May 1775

Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807

Autograph document signed

Title: [Order of payment to Israel Putnam]

Countersigned by Isreal Putnam, of Bunker Hill fame, on verso. Cosigned by William Pitkin, Thomas Seymour (who was mayor of Hartford from 1774-1812), and Oliver Ellsworth (when this was signed he was a member of the Connecticut legislature and later U.S. Senator and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), of the Pay-Table Committee in Connecticut. The committee was responsible for raising money for the colony during the Revolution. To the Treasurer of Connecticut, John Lawrence. Authorizes payment of 500 pounds to Colonel Putnam as paymaster of the First Company of the Third Regiment of troops…

GLC01412.40

April 17, 1777

Boudinot, Elias, 1740-1821

Letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Boudinot, as Commissary General of Prisoners, asks North Carolina Governor Caswell to send a return on expenses, disbursements, vouchers, and other statistics on prisoners in the state to balance accounts so that prisoner exchanges with General Sir William Howe can be facilitated.

GLC01412.41

29 May 1781

Stark, John, 1728-1822

Document signed

Title: [Charges to the confiscated estate of John Stinson, Jr.]

Countersigned by Jeremiah Page, Justice of the Peace of Dunbarton, New Hampshire, on verso. Bill written by Brigadier General Stark of New Hampshire. A conspicuous war hero, Stark served gallantly at Bunker Hill, Trenton, and Bennington and commanded the Northern Department twice during the Revolution. The bill was sent to the agents for the estate of Stark's Loyalist nephew, John Stinson, Jr., whose estate was confiscated by the Americans. Stark raised and educated Stinson and took him to Cambridge, Massachusetts at the beginning of the Revolution and when the fighting moved to New York,…

GLC01412.42

January 15, 1779

Lewis, Morgan, 1754-1844

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Goes

Lewis, an American officer, discusses with Major Goes the purchase of oars, poles, and paddles. He includes specific instructions on the amount to purchase and what types. He asks that Goes get at least half of the supplies ready by the first of April.

GLC01412.43

December 12, 1779

Van Cortlandt, Philip, 1749-1831

Document signed

Title: [Return muster roll for the New York brigade]

Return of the non-commissioned officers and privates of the New York Brigade of foot commanded by James Clinton. Includes terms of service of those engaged for the period 1780-1782.

GLC01412.44

27 July 1778

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808

Document signed

Title: [Appointment & bond of Tristram Jordan]

Co-signed by Rishworth Jordan, Thomas Cutts, and Tristram Jordan. Witnessed by Sullivan and Elisha Allen. States that Tristram Jordan, Cutts, and Rishworth Jordan are bound to Henry Gardner Esq. (treasurer of the state of Massachusetts) for the amount of five hundred pounds. However, the bond will be void if Tristram Jordan "well and truly executes the office of a naval officer for the District of Peperrelborough" to which he is appointed.

GLC01412.45

14 October 1783

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of capture]

Written by Jackson as Colonel of the 4th Massachusetts Regiment (he was breveted a Brigadier General on 30 September 1783). Countersigned by Thomas Ivers, Massachusetts State Treasurer on verso. Note on verso written by Major Moses Ashley on 12 January 1784. Jackson certifies the capture of Asa Whitney, William Powell, and Nathan Smith (alias Wait), deserters from the 4th Massachusetts Regiment, by Ashley. Says Ashley is entitled to the reward for their captured. Note on verso is a reminder to the government "to pay what I am entitled to." There are several dockets, one of which says the…

GLC01412.46

January 14, 1779

Grayson, William, 1736-1790

Document signed

Title: [Legal agreement for sale of land]

Co-signed with William Trent on verso. Witnessed by Francis Lee, Cornelius C. Roosevelt, and an illegible name. Legal agreement made for the transfer of ownership of Indian land. Made between Colonel William Grayson, a wealthy Virginia landowner and Revolutionary hero of the Battle of Monmouth (and a future Congressman) and Major William Trent of New Jersey in which Trent will sell "Nine Hundred Shares or three Votes and the Lands which the said Nine Hundred Shares or three votes entitles a Person to in the Retribution Grant made by the Six Nations to their Traders at Fort Stanwix" in 1768.…

GLC01412.47

May 1, 1778

Pecker, James, fl. 1768-1778

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his children

Pecker reports that he recently returned from the country, where he was confined for five weeks while sick, in addition to being sick for three weeks before that with small pox. He is now healthy again and sends love and good wishes to his family. Pecker was a surgeon serving in the 10th Massachusetts in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.

GLC01412.48

June 30, 1777

Pecker, James, fl. 1768-1778

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his children

Pecker remarks that he is in good health and never had small pox. Mentions he has sent his son, Billy, to safety at Mount Independence and describes the approach of the enemy to Fort Ticonderoga, expecting a bloody battle the next day. The enemy army made up of "Britains Canadeans, & Tories" is described as strong and Perker is preparing to care for the wounded. He believes that "the case will be decided at this place for this year." Perker was a surgeon serving in the 10th Massachusetts in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The 1777 Battle of Ticonderoga occurred on 5-6…

GLC01412.49

February 1, 1780

Ceary, Owen, ?-1780

Document signed

Title: [Oath of allegiance for enlisting Maryland soldier]

Partly printed document signed. Ceary enlists in the "7th Maryland Regiment, of Foot Commande by Col. John Gunby for three years. Also signs below in receipt of a $450 bounty. Printed part of document states that a $200 bounty should be paid, but this is crossed out, and $450 written over it. Printed document also says the bounty comes from Congress, but writing says it also comes from Maryland. Verso states that Ceary was paid and is signed by Benjamin Johnson, a lieutenant colonel. A pencil note indicates he was killed at the Battle of Camden.

GLC01412.50

2 November 1776

Sever, William, fl. 1766-1776

Document signed

Title: [Agreement and appointment of William Sever]

Cosigned by William Sever, John Avery, and Timothy Foster. Witnessed by Alexander Gray and Seth Loring. Agreement in which Sever, Avery, and Foster are bound to Henry Gardner (Treasurer of Massachusetts) in the amount of ten thousand pounds, unless Sever accepts appointment as agent of the Southern District (Massachusetts). As agent to the Southern District, Sever disposed of prizes taken from captured British vessels.

GLC01412.51

May 15, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Free frank

Title: to Thomas Johnson

The docket has been separated from the Free Frank (address leaf). Johnson was the governor of Maryland.

GLC01412.52

10 October 1772

Gage, Thomas, 1718-1787

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Commission of John Phillips as Fort Major at Castle William in Massachusetts]

Includes a square paper seal on top left corner. Castle William was a British garrison in the Boston Harbor.

GLC01412.53

30 October 1676

Winslow, Josiah, 1628-1680

Document signed

Title: [Estate inventory for William Foard, Sr]

Also signed by Marke Eames, Nathaniel Winslow, Samuel Sprague, and Secretary of the Colony Nathaniel Morton. Notes that Foard's widow, had appeared before him and testified that this is a true inventory, the lands and house where she dwells excepted. Signed as Governor of the New Plymouth Colony.

GLC01412.54

20 April 1775

Randell, Timothy, fl. 1765-1775

Autograph document signed

Title: to Ebenzer Williams

Randell asks for part of the town's supply of lead to make into bullets.

GLC01412.55

February 1778

Helme, R.J., fl. 1768-1778

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Authorization for John Reynolds]

Reynolds is given permission to withdraw 10,000 pounds from the General Treasury to purchase goods ordered by the General Assembly. Includes Reynold's signed docket and various received amounts on verso. Surname possibility spelt Helm.

GLC01412.56

September 22, 1779

Groves, William, fl. 1769-1779

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Groves reports the capture of the British schooner Revenge. The schooner, formerly commanded by Hugh Gorden, is expected to arrive at Beverly Port.

GLC01412.57

May 28, 1775

Jewett, D., fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son

A father writes to his son outside of Boston in the early stages of the siege. Relates that he just heard that "our Forces" march to Boston tomorrow. Was disposed to visit him in camp, but sends this letter instead. He sends his kindest regards and says his only daughter, Sally, is with him. Says she behaves well and is in good health. Says "She has not had one Turn of Hysterick-Disorder since she came." Includes some of her "broken Scrawls," but in a postscript says she tore it up to bits before he could include it. He will watch her as long as he remains at the front. He thanks God for his…

GLC01412.58

February 12, 1776

Langdon, Henry Sherburne, 1766-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Woodbury Langdon

Letter written by the ten-year-old son of Woodbury Langdon. Woodbury was elected to the New Hampshire assembly in 1774-1775, but then spent the next two years in England trying to recover a large sum he invested there. This letter was sent to England. Henry says that Doctor Brackett asked him to write and to ask for a watch, laced hat, sword, and pistol. He says he has been a good boy, attended school, minded his books, and been good to his mother, brothers, and sisters. He tells his father that he has a new little sister since he left, and says he is looking forward to seeing him. He signs…

GLC01412.59

December 20, 1776

DeBlois, Elizabeth, 1761-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Winslow Esq. and wife

DeBlois writes to her sister and brother in New York. She comments on her good health and hopes that she sees her family again soon. A postscript mentions rebels leaving Cumberland (Nova Scotia). Paper contains a loyalist watermark.

GLC01412.60