June 1781

Mortimer, Charles, fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Weedon

Dr. Mortimer discusses the medical issues at his location, particularly the neglect of the department and the reasons why he can no longer assist with the sick. Explains that there is a lack of medicine and no experienced surgeon. He also notes that he has never practiced surgery. Indicates having supply problems.

GLC06501

February 1, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Communicates to General Smallwood a resolution by the Continental Congress in response to a petition from citizens in Somerset and Worcester counties in Maryland. The resolution orders Smallwood to help "suppress the Tories in the counties of Somerset and Worcester, and to seize and secure the persons mentioned in a list to be transmitted." The loyalists would then be required to submit to a loyalty oath and some would be put on trial. Signed as President of Congress. Written "In Congress."

GLC06502

February 13, 1782

Jenifer, Daniel of St. Thomas, 1723-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Discusses the supply of iron, a congressional resolution rearranging the hospital department, the pregnancies of unmarried Roman Catholic women, and an act of the assembly regarding fornication.

GLC06503

23 October 1780

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Written by Brigadier General Knox, the Continental Army's chief of artillery, to Major General Smallwood of Maryland. Letter sent through General Nathanael Greene. Asks how he is sustaining the fatigues and hardships of war in a southern climate. Says it must be "agreeable in some degree, as it has produced you such a harvest of Glory." Mentions gallantry of the Maryland Line at the Battle of Camden. Asks to "prospect my love" to General Nathaniel Gist and other friends. Smallwood's brigade was actually swept to the rear by a flood of fugitives at Camden, but he still earned the "thanks of…

GLC06504

13 November 1780

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Written by Major General Gates to Major General Smallwood. This was written after Gates's defeat at the Battle of Camden and after Congress voted to call a court of inquiry into Gates's conduct at the battle in October 1780. Smallwood commanded the troops of the Maryland Line and was also at Camden. Seems to have written the letter over several days. Says he arrived in Salisbury after an agreeable march from Hillsborough. Encloses a letter from Governor Thomas Jefferson and a list of units under the command of General Alexander Leslie (not included). Fears that General Henry Clinton will…

GLC06505

19 February 1782

Smallwood, William, 1732-1792

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Letters to recruiting officers and reports on recruitment]

Written by Major General Smallwood while on a mission to raise troops and assemble supplies in Maryland. General Nathanael Greene had sent Smallwood on this mission to end a conflict of command between Smallwood and Baron Friedrich von Steuben. This is a booklet of recruitment information that appears to have been bound inside a cover, which is now removed. Includes two letters to recruiters, one dated 19 February 1782, and the other 7 April 1782. Gives guidelines on who not to recruit: British deserters, men under five feet four inches tall, men who do not have well proportioned limbs, and…

GLC06507

1777-1782

Header Record

Title: to General Smallwood re: 9 ALSs from various soldiers [Decimalized .01- .09]

GLC06508

9 December 1782

Smallwood, William, 1732-1792

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of financial transfers used for recruiting of soldiers in Maryland under Major General William Smallwood]

Six leaves of notebook paper (four pages blank) listing various officers, the number of men they recruited, and the amount of money they received. Date from docket. Document signed by Smallwood several times in the text.

GLC06509

1840-1841

Thacher, James, fl. 1840-1841

Header Record

Title: Two letters to James Mease, a fellow physician [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC06513

1 September 1810

Livingston, Robert L., 1746-1813

Letter signed

Title: to James Mease

Comments on reading Mease's two volume, "Archive of useful knowledge" promoting manufactures, agriculture, and economy. States that they are, "the foundations upon which a lone we can safly build our independence, as well as public and private happiness." Corrects some errors Mease made in relation to Livingston's flock of sheep and rams. Discusses the flock and the fleece it produces at length. Written from Clermont, the Livingston estate in the Hudson Valley of New York State.

GLC06514

8 May 1775

Warren, Joseph, 1741-1775

Letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Written by and co-signed by Samuel Freeman, Secretary of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts. Signed by Warren as president pro tempore of the Provincial Congress to Whipple, who would later sign the Declaration of Independence, as Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence in New Hampshire. Says the Congress received Whipple's letter by express. Says he is surprised someone in New Hampshire would complain of someone from Massachusetts with such severity. Says they will investigate. "We shall be studious to maintain that character for humanity which we would wish may ever be the…

GLC06516

14 June 1776

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter

Title: to John Langdon & Meshech Weare

Written by Whipple, who would later signed the Declaration of Independence, as a New Hampshire Congressman to Langdon and Weare as prominent politicians in New Hampshire (Landgon resigned from his seat in Congress on 25 June 1776 to become agent for Continental prizes in New Hampshire). This document is actually two drafts of letters on different sides of one sheet of paper. The letters are unsigned. Langdon draft: Says this accompanies the 10,000 dollars for the naval service mentioned in a former letter. Says he has put it in a box with other money sent to Colonel Weare. Mentions that…

GLC06517

February 1, 1777

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, discusses various military and business matters with Langdon, a agent for the Continental Navy. Mentions Miss Wharton. Discusses money submitted to Langdon by the Marine Committee, including a sum transmitted to Langdon by Colonel Bartlett (possibly Continental Congressman Josiah Bartlett). Refers to Mr. Henderson and Mr. [Betten?], who delivered money from Whipple to Langdon. Mentions a ship Langdon was fitting as a result of Mr. Livingston's orders (possibly referring to Continental Congressman Robert Livingston…

GLC06520

29 August 1778

Jackson, Hall, 1739-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Hall, an army physician to Colonel Langdon as a commander of militia. Says day before yesterday the British fleet arrived with reinforcements for Newport. A retreat was ordered to their first encampment at midnight last night and was carried out in good order. Reports on a general action outside Newport after the retreat. Says "Our Army fought like Trojans! ... tomorrow morning will give the bloody dogs their Quietus." Claims American losses were less than 100 killed and 200 wounded. Mentions that his brother Woodbury Langdon survived unscathed. Says his friend Samuel…

GLC06523

12 July 1778

Corney, John, fl. 1778

Letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Written by Corney as a prisoner of war on the prison ship "Prince of Wales" to John Langdon as military officer in New Hampshire militia and speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. Says he was captured three days after leaving Portsmouth on 12 June 1778. He was captured by the "Experiment," a 50-gun ship commanded by Sir James Wallace. Says he and Captain Palmer are being kept prisoner with no prospect of relief. Claims Langdon's "Powers of doing us Service, is not Circumscribed by the narrow bounds of one who acts only in a Private Capacity, & for the Service of an…

GLC06524

22 July 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certification of John Wheelwright's appointment to Second Lieutenant of the Continental Frigate Raleigh at New Hampshire].

Issued by President of the Continental Congress John Hancock.

GLC06525

July 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Blank form created for Marine Committee appointments]

Contains blank spaces reserved for the name, office, and vessel to which the appointee is assigned. Date previously inferred.

GLC06526

12 September 1782

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Tries to convince Langdon not to resign as the superintendent of construction for several ships of war. Urges him not to "despond" or "abandon the business when so near to a completion." Explains that he has not been supplied with more money because there is so little. Claims that "When you compare the trifling sums I have received with the extent and magnitude of the services to be performed by them, you will pity a situation the distresses of which cannot be conceived by those who have not witnessed them." Assures him he has no enemies who "attribute your conduct to mercenary…

GLC06527

19 February 1782

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Discusses bank notes and their utility, and his efforts to widen their circulation and the public's confidence in them by applying his personal credit. Also indicates that he will get flour and iron to Langdon as soon as he can secure a vessel and the ice clears. Written from the Office of Finance.

GLC06528

21 June 1778

Pickman, William, 1748-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Pickman, a Salem shipping merchant, states "A most mortifying accident has occurred which will be extremely Injurious to me unless removed Immediately- the Ship Black Prince is now fit for a cruise with every Article Compleat but by some unaccountable delay of Our Court no Commission can now be obtained." Requests that Langdon, a Continental navy agent, furnish him with the necessary commission. States "should Our Ship be detained we may lose every Man." Relates that Captains Smith and Orne (possibly referring to Captain Josiah Orne) "will wait on you with this any Obligation they enter…

GLC06529

6 July 1777

Whipple, William, 1730-1785

Autograph letter

Title: to John Langdon

Whipple, chairman of the Marine Committee in the Continental Congress, informs Langdon that despite the efforts of Captain Dudley Saltonstall, the ship Trumbull remains grounded in a Connecticut river. Discusses the cost of moving the ship versus building new vessels. States that while in New London, Connecticut, he saw the vessel intended for Captain Chew (possibly Samuel Chew). Relates information pertaining to Mr. Shaw (possibly Nathaniel Shaw, a Connecticut shipowner, merchant, and Continental agent). Reports that the vessels Warren, Providence, and Camden are in the Providence River…

GLC06531

5 August 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Whipple

Morris, a Continental Congressman, discusses naval affairs with Whipple, chairman of the Congressional Marine Committee. Refers to a recent motion in Congress authorizing the Marine Committee to halt the construction of several ships of war. Since the motion was carried, relates that a stop will be put on the construction of a ship in the Connecticut River. Refers to Mr. Shaw (possibly Nathaniel Shaw, a Connecticut shipowner, merchant, and Continental agent) and Captain Chew (possibly Samuel Chew). Mentions the ships Alfred, Ranger (Captained by John Paul Jones), and Raleigh (Captained by…

GLC06532

15 April 1805

Stickney, B. F., fl. 1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Refers to a constitutional amendment and states that Mr. Crownershield said it was not well managed in New Hampshire. Remarks on American jurisprudence and the problem of relying on British precedents to decide cases, " ... ransacking the huge piles of musty volumes to find monarchical precedents to decide cases in a republican government." Asks Langdon if he believes it would be advantageous to attempt to affect a reform in the legislation of New Hampshire.

GLC06536

23 July 1783

Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Lee as a Continental Congressman from Virginia to an unknown recipient, possibly William Whipple. Shows Lee's distrustful, suspicious, and hostile personality. Wishes he would have been in Philadelphia when recipient was there. In reference to the treaty of Paris, which wouldn't be signed until 3 September 1783, "We have happily reached the goal of a great & doubtful contest; & our efforts have been crowned with liberty & glory." Writes that he is glad Congress has moved from Philadelphia to get away from the "crafty, corrupting, & rapacious man" - a reference to…

GLC06539

7 April 1794

Edwards, John, 1748-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Langdon

Edwards, a United States Senator from Kentucky covers issues pertaining to Kentucky politics with Langdon, a Senator from New Hampshire. Discusses establishing posts on the wilderness road, navigation of an unspecified river (possibly the Mississippi or Ohio), establishing government for western people, and "firmly deciding in favour of Every resolution to oppose the insults and exhortations of Great Britain."

GLC06541