July 7, 1777

Parsons, Samuel Holden, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Major General Parsons to Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. Says recent events are moving so fast that it they are the product of "a more prolific Brain than I find myself possesd of." Says while the nation is full of news he has little of it to share. Says it is not news that the British have left New Jersey and are concentrating at Staten Island and that it is anyone's guess what their destination will be. But he will conjecture that since no news has arrived of the enemy moving from Crown Point that the operations between Fort Ticonderoga and Skenesborough are a feint.…

GLC00496.075.01

August 26, 1777

Mumford, Giles, 1759-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Giles Mumford as a soldier under Lieutenant Colonel Meigs to his father Thomas Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. References his father's letters from August 11, 1777 and August 13, 1777. Says he has not received his powder puff, nor his cups, but that if they are returned he does not need them since there is a barber where he is. Says Colonel Samuel Webb has given him the liberty to keep a horse, as long as it is outside of camp. Says that in his last letter he informed his father that General Parsons and Colonel Webb went on a secret expedition to Long Island with 600 men…

GLC00496.075.02

October 23, 1777

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by General Parsons to Mumford as a merchant in Groton, Connecticut. Says he has doubtlessly heard of the Convention between General Gates and General Burgoyne. The Convention delineated the terms of surrender for General Burgoyne. Mentions the action at the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. Explains that due to fog, the battle with General William Howe ended prematurely. Says the Americans were close to victory before the fog settled on the field. Mentions casualties of generals. Says General Clinton embarked before he could attack. Says his numbers are few and now fears an…

GLC00496.075.04

October 23, 1779

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by General Parsons to Mumford, a Groton, Connecticut merchant. Thanks him for his letter on October 17, 1779. Thanks him for procuring a place for his son, but is against him going on the ship "Trumbull" with Captain Nicholson. Would rather him go on a privateer or a merchant ship with Captain Henman. Says British have abandoned their posts at Verplank's and Stony Point for New York. Says Newport, Rhode Island is not evacuated, but that he hopes that will happen soon. Says if it happens they will have a formidable force to reduce New York. Conjectures on what British might do.…

GLC00496.075.06

April 14, 1780

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Parsons as a Major General in the Continental Army to Thomas Mumford, a merchant from Groton, Connecticut. Mumford was also the brother-in-law of Parsons's staff officer Silas Deane. Tells Mumford that he asked Mr. Lawrence (possibly John Lawrence, Treasurer of Connecticut) to go to the British lines to inquire about his captured son. Because of Lawrence's efforts, Joseph Chew, a loyalist from New London, Connecticut, will bring Parsons's son on a ship he is taking from New York to New London, where he will be exchanged for a British prisoner. Asks Mumford if he can give an…

GLC00496.075.07

April 25, 1780

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford

Written by Parsons as a Major General in Continental Army to Thomas Mumford, a merchant from Groton, Connecticut. Mumford was also the brother-in-law of Parsons's staff officer Silas Deane. Tells Mumford his son was waiting at home after having escaped from a prison ship in New York Harbor. Mentions that he was grossly abused and "closely confined" on board. After 14 days of confinement he was liberated to the city by a Mr. Walter and just as he was about to board Joseph Chew's ship, which was to take him to New London, Connecticut, for a prisoner exchange, he was taken away and carried to…

GLC00496.075.08

June 20, 1799

Nelson, Horatio Nelson, 1758-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Perkins Magra

Introduces Captain Don de Pinto, sent from the Marquis de Niza. Magra was Consul General at Tunis. Marquis de Niza headed a Portuguese squadron in the blockading of Valetta, Malta, 1798-1800.

GLC00496.077

27 March 1666

Rhode Island General Assembly

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Acts and orders of the General Assembly sitting at Newport]

Signed by the clerk, Joseph [illegible].

GLC00496.078

10 March 1658

Sanford, John, fl. 1658

Autograph document

Title: [Acts and orders made at the General Court of Commissioners held for this Colony at Portsmouth, March the tenth 1658]

Written by Chief Magistrate of the Colony at Portsmouth Sanford. Report of a meeting moderated by Benedict Arnold. Written at Colony of Portsmouth

GLC00496.079

10 July 1776

Rutherford, Griffith, 1721-1805

Autograph document signed

Title: to The Honorable Council of Safety of North Carolina

Describes Indian unrest in the frontier. Hopes to negotiate a treaty. Awaits instructions from the Council. Rutherford served as a general in the Revolution and in 1776 was successful in subduing the Cherokee Nation in North Carolina.

GLC00496.081

circa 1820

Scott, Walter, Sir, 1771-1832

Autograph manuscript

Title: The fortunes of Nigel [incomplete]

Single page only with revisions. Sellers note on verso reveals source and location of remaining sheets.

GLC00496.083.01

September 27, 1843

Semmes, Raphael, 1809-1877

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Henshaw

Requests permission from Secretary of the Navy Henshaw to appoint Charles F. Cady a master's mate. Written on board the USS Poinsett.

GLC00496.084

1900-1929

Scrapbook

Title: [Scrapbook related to George Bernard Shaw]

Contains clippings, letters, and other documents related to the writer George Bernard Shaw. Includes a typed description of one letter contained within the scrapbook; the description states that Shaw wrote the letter for a graphologist. In the letter (written 29 November 1927 at Ayot St. Lawrence, England) Shaw attempts to emulate his handwriting style from youth, cites biographical information, and signs four times. Contains a postcard addressed to A. Marcy Erb, Jr. (in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). In the postcard, Shaw discusses the graphologist's analysis. Contains various newspaper…

GLC00496.085

September 17, 1790

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by von Steuben as a retired Revolution officer to William North as a gentleman farmer in upstate New York. North was von Steuben's aide-de-camp during the Revolution. Translation is in the collateral file. Apologizes for tardy response. Discusses his memoirs that he presented to Congress. Says his friends think they will be very popular, but he is skeptical because of the misfortune that has befallen him since the Revolution. Recipient noted in letter. Note in collateral file says the letter is from 1790.

GLC00496.086

circa October 16, 1790

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William North

Written by von Steuben in retirement after the Revolution to William North as a gentleman farmer in upstate New York. North was von Steuben's aide-de-camp from 1779-1783. Von Steuben invites North to live in New York City for the winter while his house is being built. Says Hamilton is leaving for Philadelphia in three days and that North would be a perfect to take Hamilton's place in his circle of friends. Says the English and Spanish Navies do not know if they are at war or peace. Says "To the devil with Politics of Europe and America," and to sow his seed and then come to New York and share…

GLC00496.087

August 4, 1824

Taylor, Zachary, 1784-1850

Autograph letter signed

Title: to C.J. Nourse

The letter is regarding movement of soldiers and plans to cease recruiting. Taylor was a Colonel in the 1st Regimental Infantry. Nourse was a major in the Army.

GLC00496.089

25 September 1776

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: Certified extract of the minutes of Congress re: committee to buy blankets

Appointing a committee to buy blankets &c for troops. Names of members at end

GLC00496.090

October 25, 1834

Tyler, John, 1790-1862

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McGill

In the letter, declines invitation to speak about public affairs. Docket has the name Thomas D. McGill.

GLC00496.092

December 17, 1880

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, 1819-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ronald

A letter of condolence. Written on Windsor Castle black-bordered stationery.

GLC00496.093

December 21, 1880

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, 1819-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ronald

Regarding proposed memorial and funeral. Written on Osborne black-bordered stationery.

GLC00496.094

December 26, 1880

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, 1819-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ronald

The letter is regarding funeral service and burial. Reminisces about deceased daughter and husband. Eulogizes Constance, recipient's mother. Written on black-bordered stationery

GLC00496.095

July 10, 1884

Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom, 1819-1901

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ronald

Reply to letter of condolence for Prince Leopold, Duke of Albany. Expresses self-pity and adds an inspirational poem page 2. Sees this as a pilgrimage to inner strength. Written on Windsor Castle black-bordered stationery. Leopold, Queen Victoria's youngest son, died of hemophilia at the age of 30.

GLC00496.096

circa July 1838

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Speech fragment on the proposed annexation of Texas]

Report of Adams to his constituents on events in the 25th Congress, intended for newspaper publication. Adams mentions the speech of Vermont Congressman William Slade, which so offended southerners that they walked out. Discusses annexation of Texas, abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, duplicity of administration and Southern slave states as well as the suspension of the rules of the House of Representatives for debate. Beginning on 16 June 1838, Adams filibustered Congress for three weeks, giving up the floor only when Congress adjourned for the summer recess. He spoke…

GLC00567

10 September 1840

Poinsett, Joel Roberts, 1779-1851

Printed document signed

Title: [Circular letter announcing the establishment of Smithsonian Institution]

Sends a copy of the constitution and by-laws of the National Institution for the Promotion of Science (the Smithsonian). Requests information on geography, natural history, and ethnology from the unknown recipient's area of the United States. Specifically requests information on Native Americans in the area.

GLC00573

May 1865 ca.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Photograph

Title: Embossed patriotic portrait of Abraham & Mary Lincoln by Alden [carte de visite]

Probably post-assassination portrait of the Lincolns, trimmed to ovals and enclosed in embossed frames surmounted by two flags and an eagle, and the great seal of the U.S. underneath. Photograph and art work by A. E. Alden.

GLC00559.15