9 April 1865

Broadside

Title: [Courant Extra! Glorious News! The End of the War]

Small newspaper broadside re-printing Grant's famous notice to Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War, about Lee's surrender at Appomattox. "Let the People Rejoice. Surrender of Lee and His Whole Army. Ring the Bells and Shout Loud Huzzas." With a manuscript note "Printed At Midnight Sunday April 9. /65."

GLC02916

1847

N. Currier (Firm)

Print

Title: General Scott's victorious entry into the City of Mexico Sept. 14th 1847

Colored lithograph depicting General Winfield Scott entering Mexico City in 1847. Scott is surrounded by other soldiers on horseback. There is an American flag flying in the background. Printed by N. Currier "in the Clerk's office of the District court of the Southern district of N.Y." at 154 Nassau Street. Small repaired tear alongside lower righthand side.

GLC02918.01

10 April 1786

Cornwallis, Charles Cornwallis, Marquis, 1738-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lord Sydney

Written by General Cornwallis, the leader of British forces at Yorktown, who had accepted the post of Governor General of India in February 1786 to Lord Sydney as Home Secretary in the Pitt government. Wants Lord Sydney to talk to King George about the specific powers of his new office. Wants to know if he has the power of granting commissions below the rank of colonel because he heard the king is disinclined to grant that power in peacetime. Says he does not expect any pay for the appointment. Sent from "Mansfield Street" in London.

GLC02921

27 November 1776

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Duane

Written by Major General Schuyler to Duane as a New York delegate to the Continental Congress. References Duane's letter that was delivered 26 November. Says he had to abandon the fortress on York Island because the enemy's strength was overwhelming. Defends his actions as the best he could have done in the situation confronting him. Compares himself favorably to Washington's defeat in New York in August 1776 saying "I wish Gen: Washington had adhered to his own opinion and rejected the Intemporate advice of people of more prowess than Wisdom. In such a situation of ours It is now Eligible…

GLC02544

7 March 1857

Daniel, Peter Vivian, 1784-1860

Autograph manuscript

Title: The opinion of Justice Peter V. Daniel of the United States Supreme Court in the famous Dred Scott case.

Daniel's original manuscript of his opinion on the Dred Scott case, bound into a book. Daniels, a passionate slavery advocate, argues that slavery had more protection under the Constitution than any other form of property. He supports the majority opinion of Justice Taney, but goes farther, asserting the unconstitutionality of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Contains pencil notes, and numerous insertions and deletions in Daniel's hand, including slips of paper. With a later title page in another hand. This copy was used by the printers for the official printing of Daniel's opinion.

GLC02546.01

3 September 1776

Nelson, Thomas Jr., 1738-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Page

Discusses the American defeat at the Battle of Long Island and their retreat. Thinks the British will quit New York City very shortly. Reports that Brigadier General Lord Sterling and General Sullivan have been taken prisoner along with other valuable field officers. Adds that the Americans' 2400 troops bravely and successfully forced their way through enemy lines and kept the enemy's 10,000 soldiers at bay. Feels that the Americans must give up their islands until they build a marine power strong enough to defend them.

GLC02540

4 July 1817

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Record of his family history and short biography]

Written by North for one of his grandchildren. Speaks of his family that came from Ireland in 1720 and settled in eastern Massachusetts at Yarmouth. Mentions that his mother sold the estate they had when he was 10 or 12 years old after his father died. The narration is not chronological and North tells a variety of stories from a variety of generations. The first four pages are connected and deal with family history and there is a separate fifth page that is the start of a biography, which is incomplete.

GLC02541.01

18 September 1823

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [An account of the execution of Major John Andre]

Details the execution of Major John Andre, accused of being a spy, and expresses his sympathetic feelings toward Andre's unfortunate fate. Describes how Baron Von Steuben could not comply with Andre's wish to suffer a soldier's death by being shot since the only suitable death for a spy is hanging.

GLC02541.02

1720-1839

Header Record

Title: Collection of 50 correspondence of the North Family [Decimalized .01-.32.29]

Includes materials relating to William and Joseph North, and William Van Duersen (Duerson), an ancestor.

GLC02542

23 April 1652

Stuyvesant, Peter, 1592-1672

Manuscript document signed

Title: [West India Company deed for Teunis Cornelisse] [in Dutch]

Countersigned by New Amsterdam Secretary Cornelis Van Tienhoven. Deed granting property to Teunis Cornelisse. Includes official seal. For English translation, see GLC02542.01.01.

GLC02542.01

28 March 1689

Schuyler, Peter, 1657-1724

Document signed

Title: [Land grant for Joseph Yetts].

Countersigned by Robert Livingston. Schuyler and Livingston had procured the charter for the city in 1686. Livingston was Schuyler's brother-in-law. Signed by Peter Schuyler as mayor of Albany. Features paper seal.

GLC02542.02

23 May 1692

White, Daniel, fl. 1692

Document signed

Title: [Deed of land indenture]

Sale of land in Hadley, Massachusetts. The agreement being made between the Whites, Daniel and his wife Sarah, and Thomas Meakins's executor Samuel Partrigg, Justice of the Peace. Witnessed by Stephen Belding, Samuel Hornblom, and John [illegible]. Sarah signed with an "X" as her mark. Two red wax seals still extent next to signatures.

GLC02542.03

21 January 1729

Ballantine, John, 1677-1735

Document signed

Title: [Order to attach goods or estate of two merchants]

Order written up by Ballantine as clerk to the sheriff of Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Order states that the sheriff is commanded to attach the goods or estate of Giles Dulake Tidmarsh and Samuell Appleton. Asks that Tidmarsh, if he is in Suffolk County, be apprehended and brought before the Court of Common Pleas. Tidmarsh and Appleton owe money to James Bowdoin of Boston, from a deal made 21 June 1728. They owed slightly over 838 pounds, which was not paid on demand. They have only paid slightly over 293 pounds in sundry goods to Bowdoin at this point, leaving a debt of slightly over 544…

GLC02542.04

17 July 1733

Belcher, Jonathan, 1682-1757

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of John North as Justice of the Peace in York County, Massachusetts]

Handwritten document signed by Belcher as the Governor of Massachusetts. Also signed by J. Willard Story. With contemporary genealogical notes in the margins.

GLC02542.05

22 June 1774-25 July 1774

Lott, Abraham, fl. 1785-1789

Manuscript

Title: [Journal of trip to Albany, New York]

Leather bound journal of North, who was working in a merchant's office in Boston. He worked there until the British closed the port at Boston in Fall 1774. Journal describes his journey from New York to Albany. Travelled by ship from Boston to the Hudson River. Mentions meeting Philip Schuyler and Philip Livingston, among other noteable New Yorkers. Tells of his business and social interactions with prominent people in Albany. In last entry says he leaves Albany. End of journal has a separate list of his travel expenses.

GLC02542.06

8 July 1779

Cushing, Charles, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph North

Written by Brigadier General Cushing to Colonel North. Reports that he received an express letter from General Lovell asking him to have his men ready to march immediately to Townsend, where they will rendevous with the fleet. Wants North to get his quota of men there as soon as possible. Says if he can engage the services of a doctor for the campaign to do it. Place written is included, but it is illegible.

GLC02542.07

10 November 1780-29 November 1780

Manuscript

Title: [Journal of voyage from New York City aboard the Raleigh]

The unsigned manuscript, apparently British in origin, was written while on the Frigate "Raleigh," commanded by Captain James Gambier. Gives list of passengers, who are all officers and says they are bound for the Chesapeake. On 12 November his destination changes to Cape Fear, North Carolina. Sees several ships of the line before leaving New York. Mentions a storm on 17 November. Says they captured several ships during their voyage southward. Heard the British fleet became separated on 17 November because of the "gale."

GLC02542.08

16 September 1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William North as captain of 9th Massachusetts]

Signed by Hanson as President of Congress and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as Secretary of War. Document is official notification of William North's appointment as captain in the 9th Massachusetts Regiment. Says he is accorded the rank from the 10 May 1777. Includes embossed paper seal at top corner.

GLC02542.09

15 April 1784

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Major William North as Inspector of Troops under General Knox]

Document written in a secretarial hand and signed by Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Based on Baron Friedrich Von Steuben's recommendation to Congress in a 19 March 1784 letter, Congress has resolved to approve and confirm Major William North as Inspector to the Troops under the command of General Henry Knox. Only dated "15 April" but note in an unknown hand at bottom says "It appears by the Barons appointment to the above office to W North that this was done in the year 1784."

GLC02542.10

16 November 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of William North as a Major in the United States Army]

Partially printed document signed by Massachusetts Governor James Bowdoin countersigned by Secretary John Avery. North among troops raised by order of Congress on 20 October 1786. Features paper seal.

GLC02542.11

18 September 1788

Von Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, 1730-1794

Letter signed

Title: to William North

Whimsical letter written by Von Steuben in retirement and in debt in New York to his former aide North, who was also in retirement at Duanesburg, New York. Refers to North as "my dear Bill." Looks back on the last year. Mentions that "you did cut your name & mine, in a Big tree" and that the Constitution was signed. Says ten years ago Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga. Says nothing is decided by Congress, in reference to an application for a pension still pending before that body. Says he is going to winter with Armstrong and that they are going to take the corner house at Nassau Street…

GLC02542.12

9 April 1796

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William North to New York militia]

Signed by Jay as Governor of New York, countersigned by Lewis A. Scott as Secretary. Document appoints North as a Major Commandant of a Battalion of Militia in the County of Albany, New York. Note on verso, dated 16 July 1796, and signed by "R. Lush" as "Clk. & one of the Commisr &c." Note says that North was qualified as a Major, agreeable to law. Embossed paper on recto.

GLC02542.13

23 March 1798

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Broadside

Title: [Presidential proclamation for a national day of prayer]

Proclamation declaring national "day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer," with Timothy Pickering's free frank on verso. Adams wants Americans to pray for the protection of their country. Proclamation states that America is in a "hazardous and afflictive situation" and therefore asks all citizens to "offer their devout Addresses to the Father of Mercies." Prayer is needed because "the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and the blessing of Almighty God...the national acknowledgement of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which…

GLC02542.14

19 March 1826

Physick, Phillip Syng, 1768-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Vaux

Written by Physick, the famous Philadelphian surgeon, to Vaux. Thanks Vaux for the interest he has taken in his affairs and for the information he has given David Ellis concerning them. Relates that Ellis says he has been entirely thorough in handling the estate. Closes with another expression of gratitude.

GLC02542.15

28 April 1826

Physick, Phillip Syng, 1768-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Vaux

Written by Physick, the Philadelphian surgeon, to Vaux. Says he was looking over the account Vaux was kind enough to furnish and observed that he has not charged the usual commissions. Asks Vaux to set up a time they can meet so he can make the settlement Vaux has requested.

GLC02542.16