1776-1786

Header Record

Title: Three documents related to the military service of Gideon Stebbins [Decimalized]

GLC01412.10

12 May 1756

Hopkins, Stephen, 1707-1785

Document signed

Title: [Proclamation creating a day of fasting and rest in the province of Rhode Island]

Countersigned by Thomas Ward as Secretary. Signed by Hopkins as colonial Governor of Rhode Island. Extols religious reform and repentence of sins. Notes the calamities of the French and Indian War. Proclaims that Thursday, 20 May 1756 will be a day of fasting and prayer throughout the colony. Directs that no labor will be done and the people should pray at places of public worship. This same document was probably later printed. "God Save the King" is written at the bottom of the page.

GLC01412.11

18 February 1769

Maxwell, John, fl. 1768-1769

Document signed

Title: [Major Robert Roger's Account with John Ferguson]

Also signed by John Ferguson and Lieutenant Colonel Elias Jones. Receipt and account for Major Roger's board and lodging from 5 July to 8 November 1768 while on trial for treason against England. Signed by Maxwell that 43 pounds, five shillings and four pense sterling was paid 18 February 1769.

GLC01412.12

May 25, 1779

Nicholson, John, 1757-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Lawrence

No free frank. Encloses a Congressional resolution (not included) to advance $150,000 to Lawrence's state of Connecticut.

GLC01412.15

August 14, 1778

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Gibson

Biddle mentions leaving Valley Forge and indicates that he has sent payment for a (unspecified) debt.

GLC01412.16

25 July 1775

Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797

Document signed

Title: [Ordinance for William Redston]

Countersigned by two unidentifiable names. Dismisses Redston from responsibilty of unsold stores in Plymouth. Stores are listed in the ordinance. With "Pro Patria" (Britannia and lion) watermark.

GLC01412.17

18 April 1777

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Autograph document signed

Title: [Resolution of Congress]

Extract of Congress, signed by Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Gives Major General Arthur St. Clair two weeks leave of absence to visit his family.

GLC01412.18

November 19, 1780

Spotswood, Alexander, 1746-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathanael Greene

Letter written by Colonel Spotswood to Major General Greene as commander of the Southern Department. Greene was only given the command of the South a month earlier. Introduces Colonel Senf, an engineer from the South who is "much esteemed." He sends regrets for not being able to accompany Greene south, but the Governor ordered him to take command of the militia. He invites Mrs. Greene to visit his wife. Postscript asks Greene to send his compliments to "Barron Stubend" - Baron von Steuben - who he hears is with him. Address is on a separate piece of paper (7.1 x 16 cm.). Letter written along…

GLC01412.19

14 September 1775

Manuscript document

Title: [Clerical document]

Documents the impressment of the Captain Edward Southwick's Sloop Warren by Captain James Wallace of the Rose, a man of war. Includes a list of unreturned materials, exceeding 50 pounds in value.

GLC01412.20

July 22, 1776

Davis, Aaron, 1709-1777

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Medcalf

Letter discusses appointment of William Draper of Roxbury as captain of a company being raised for Canada. Also inquires about the amount and type of camp baggage available for the company. Letter written when the American forces were in retreat from Canada. American troops were forced to leave their siege of Quebec in May 1776 after the spring weather allowed British ships to bring reinforcements. They eventually fell back to Fort Ticonderoga.

GLC01412.22

1776

United States Lottery

Printed document signed

Title: [Revolutionary War era United States Continental lottery ticket]

Third class lottery ticket, numbered D5m276, signed by John Mease. Indicates the lottery authorized by a congressional resolution on 18 November 1776. The lottery was established to fund the Revolutionary War. Accompanied by letter about the lottery (see GLC01412.23.02).

GLC01412.23.01

September 23, 1778

Delany, Sharp, 1736-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Letter cosigned by George Campbell as Sitting Manager of the United States Lottery. He assigns care of Rhode Island State lottery tickets to Clark.

GLC01412.24

September 1, 1778

Powell, Jeremiah, 1714-1789

Letter signed

Title: to Selectmen of Newburyport

Letter written by Powell as President of the Massachusetts Bay Council, which was the upper house of the legislature when the General Court was in session to the selectmen of Newburyport, a northern coastal town. The president of the council was always the most senior member of the legislature. He warns of a British fleet sighted near Boston, said to consist of 15 capital ships and seven frigates, and wants to give notice to neighboring towns so they can prepare.

GLC01412.25

August 20, 1780

Phillips, Samuel, 1752-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Phillips Savage

Phillips discusses the amount of saltpeter he has left in the refining house, mill, and other buildings. States that the amount of gun powder he can produce weekly is uncertain because it depends on weather and other circumstances.

GLC01412.26

28 August 1782

Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of continental service for Peter Mix]

Certifies that Mix served in the "4th Connt Regt" during 1781. Written at "Camp."

GLC01412.27

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

May 29, 1775

Green, Robert, fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his brother

Letter cosigned by Mary Green. Says he has been in bad health for the past five weeks. He hopes to get better by the grace of God. Says their sister has a new daughter three months old. References a letter that came from several brothers and sisters. He hopes he will remember him to them all. Goes into his belief in faith and God. Says the country "Is In a uproar" and that "the peapel" have been taken "the kings forts" of Crown Point and Ticonderoga. Says the Revolutionaries have taken the shipping in the "Lake" - probably Champlain. Says they had a small fight with the regulars. The…

GLC01412.31

15 September 1780

Penhallow, John, 1692-1735

Document signed

Title: [Privateer document for outfitting ship]

Cosigned by Joshua Wentworth, John Langston, Jacob Treadwell, Nathan Sherburne, Woodbury Langdon, and W. Gardner. Describes the privateers' prize division between parties.

GLC01412.32

30 June 1775

Wentworth, John, 1737-1820

Document signed

Title: [Marriage certificate for officer and wife]

Partially printed marriage certificate signed by Wentworth as "Captain-General, Governor and Commander in Chief" over the Colony of New Hampshire. For the marriage of Colonel Jonathan Titcomb and Sarah Stedman. Numbered 335. The docket says they were married on 13 July 1775.

GLC01412.33

November 7, 1781

Alexander, William, 1726-1783

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to all concerned

Signs as Major General. Requests that commissaries in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts supply provisions to Major Scott and his recruits while on recruiting service.

GLC01412.34

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

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