4 May 1861

Welles, Gideon, 1802-1878

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William W. McKean

Redirects a ship, the Niagara under Captain W.W. McKean, originally sent to blockade Charleston to the Gulf of Mexico to "take measures for instituting and carrying into effect a rigid blockade of the Mississippi and such other ports, especially Mobile, as the force under your command will admit." Sends a copy of President Lincoln's proclamation ordering a blockade (not included). Mentions other ships that will participate. Docketed twice. Marked "Copy."

GLC08908

1862

Blakeslee, Amos C., 1826-?

Diary

Title: [Diary of Civil War surgeon]

Medical diary by U. S. Army contract surgeon covering the Union hospitals in and around Philadelphia. The bulk of the entries appear between 14 September 1862 and 23 November 1862. Comments on his hospital work, in which he treated wounded soldiers, and records news received from the frontlines. On 14 September he notes a flood in Philadelphia in which "some lives were lost." On 15 September he indicates that General George McClellan "reported a glorious victory" and two days later records hearing about Colonel Miles's death and surrender to the Confederates at Harper's Ferry. On 7…

GLC08909

1813/07/27

Bowen, J., fl. 1813

Printed document signed

Title: [Exchange papers for American prisoner of war Joseph W. Clark]

Countersigned by Jn. Haines and W. Boothby, who along with Bowen were "Commissioners of His Majesty's Transport Service," and Thomas Gribble as agent for prisoners of war on parole at Ashburton, England. Certifies that Clark, a master of an American merchant vessel who had been on parole in Britain since 31 March 1813, has permission to return to the United States and outlines the conditions and mode of his transfer. He was to travel from Ashburton to Dartmouth and embark aboard the Jenny Cartel. Identifying biographical and descriptive information about Clark appears on the verso and…

GLC02247.02

circa 1878

Norton, Joshua Abraham, 1819-1880

Header Record

Title: [Two items relating to Joshua Abraham Norton, self-proclaimed emperor of the United States] [Decimalized]

Joshua Norton was an Englishman who came to America during the California Gold Rush of 1849 and proclaimed himself emperor of the United States. Mark Twain is said to have modeled the character of Huck Finn on Norton.

GLC02729

circa 1878

Bradley, James, fl. 1783

Photograph

Title: [Cabinet photograph of Joshua Abraham Norton]

Signed "Emperor Norton." Three-quarter profile photograph of a seated Norton. He is wearing an officer's uniform.

GLC02729.01

30 August 1814

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph document signed

Title: [Committee of Defence authorization for Dr. Robert M. Patterson to lead a Corps of Field Engineers]

The committee, empowered by the General Committee of Philadelphia, made Patterson the chief engineer and organizer of the corps and charged them with "the Defence of the City and its Environs."

GLC02978.01

1814/08

Committee of Defence (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Autograph document

Title: [Call for applications to join a Corps of Field Engineers for the defense of Philadelphia]

Calls for 100 men to serve as artillerists. Indicates pay will be the same as artificers in the United States Army. The committee was authorized to raise the corps by the General Committee of Philadelphia.

GLC02978.03

1814/08

Committee of Defence (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Autograph document

Title: [Announces that the Corps of Field Engineers will fortify the defenses of Philadelphia]

Indicates that a company of artillery will be devoted to building a defense of ports and obstructing the British army's approach during the War of 1812. The company would be outfitted with tools. They would come from the Corps of Field Engineers, which had been raised by the Philadelphia General Committee of Defence and led by Dr. Robert M. Patterson as the chief engineer (see GLC02973.01 and GLC02973.03).

GLC02978.04

1814/08/31

Fonciu, John, fl. 1814

Autograph document signed

Title: [Provision of Fortifications indispensable to the defense of Philadelphia] [French]

Fonciu, a French officer who had lived in Philadelphia, was Jonathan Williams' chief assistant in the volunteer association of field engineers organized by Philadelphia's Committee of Defence.

GLC02978.05

1814/09/02

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for John Biddle to report to Dr. Robert M. Patterson and join the Corps of Field Engineers]

Biddle is identified as a member of the topographical engineers. Patterson had been appointed the chief engineer and organizer of the corps (see GLC02978.01) by the Philadelphia Committee of Defence. Williams signed this letter as "Chief Engineer."

GLC02978.06

1814/09/03

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph note signed

Title: [Request for Dr. Robert M. Patterson to continue building a fortification]

Asks Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, to "direct & continue the operations on the heights next of Schuylkill [River] without delay.

GLC02978.07

1814/09/04

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Tells Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, that a man named Jonathan Jones, who knows the local terrain, can provide assistance to the topographical engineers. Also notes a man named Spencer Sargeant will be retained for communication purposes, possibly as a secretary.

GLC02978.08

1814/09/15

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Requests that Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, report whether or not a man named Dr. Paschall consented to having his grounds entered and upon what terms. Also asks him to report on others who had consented to have their grounds occupied and works built upon them by the Corps of Field Engineers. See GLC02978.10 for Patterson's response.

GLC02978.09

1814/09/15

Patterson, Robert M., 1787-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Williams

Patterson, the chief engineer of the Corps of Field Engineers, reponds to Williams' request (see GLC02978.09). Indicates that Dr. Paschall refused to allow works to be built upon his land, but may consent if the works are not near his buildings, which he feared would be destroyed in an attack. Also reports that another man, Judge Lloyd, consented to works being built upon his grounds.

GLC02978.10

1814/09/10

Goodman, John, fl. 1814

Broadside

Title: General Committee of Defence For the City and Liberties of Philadelphia

Applauds the formation of the Volunteer Associations for the Defence of the City and County of Philadelphia and outlines the authority vested in the Committee of Defence. Indicates that the rules governing its formation are prescribed by law, that voluntary service does not replace military obligations, and only those not currently in the military can come under the direction of the committee, volunteering imposes no additional duty and will not require any services that would not be required by the militia, and if volunteers exempt from the militia wish to remain exempt then they…

GLC02978.11

1814/09/16

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert M. Patterson

Reports that the General Committee of Defence had an interview with the Pennsylvania governor about the formation of a corps of engineers and pioneers. Governor Simon Snyder agreed to commission them as volunteers that could be called into service under General Bloomfield. Lists names of men to be appointed and at what rank. Patterson is marked first, as a captain. Williams asks if Patterson will serve and select men to fill other ranks. Hopes Patterson, who was a professor, will not refuse on account of his lectures. Also notes that there will be no difficulty getting enough men.

GLC02978.12

circa 1775

Montrésor, John, 1736-1799

Map

Title: [Map of Lower New York State and surrounding areas]

Full title "To the Right Honourable Sir Jeffrey Amherst Knight of the Bath and Lieutenant General of his Majesty's forces etc., This map of the Province of New York is humbly Inscribed by His most obliged humble servant John Montresor, Engineer." Includes lower New York State, Connecticut, upper New Jersey and Long Island. Also shows the Livingston Family manor holdings. Framed to 92.7 x 111.8 cm. "P. Andreus, Sculpter" appears in lower right corner.

GLC03101.02

15 November 1819

Sergeant, John, 1779-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Discusses the results of the case of Clark's Executors vs. Wilson. States he will send a copy of the material in the next mail (see GLC03545.23.02 for the copy). Free franked by Sergeant.

GLC03545.23.01

16 November 1819

Sergeant, John, 1779-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Williams

Copy of the original opinion of the judge in the case of Clark's Executors vs. Wilson, a case concerning the voyage of a ship and the freight involved. Includes separate address leaf free franked by Sergeant.

GLC03545.23.02

20 May 1864

Read, Sophia C., fl. 1859-1864

Manuscript document

Title: Assignment of mortgage: Sophia C. Read to Benjamin C. Barroll

Copy of the mortgage agreement. As Read was living in Gravesend, England at the time, the document is signed by a public notary from England stating she appeared. Barroll assigned the mortgage to John G. Lantz on 4 June 1864. Samuel Spier signed as a witness. With United States inter revenue foreign exchange stamps and life insurance stamps.

GLC03545.24.01

13 February 1867

Watson, Henry, fl. 1864-1867

Manuscript document signed

Title: Deed from Henry Watson to Caroline W. Remington

Also signed by W. H. Hayward certifying the authenticity of the deed. Watson grants to Remington a parcel of land in Baltimore.

GLC03545.24.02

22 January 1867

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Manuscript document

Title: Mortgage from William Remington & Caroline Remington to Clara A. Ross

Copy of the mortgage. Countersigned as a witness by Samuel Spier. Mortgage for a piece of land in the city of Baltimore.

GLC03545.24.03

21 April 1868

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Manuscript document

Title: Lease to Mr. N. P. Campbell

Marked as a copy. Agreement to lease No. 50 Bolton Place to N. P. Campbell for three years. Sets the yearly payment and the conditions of the lease. On page two are notes dated 1871 and 1872 renewing the lease.

GLC03545.24.04

12 March 1912

Chamberlin, P. W., fl. 1912

Manuscript

Title: Copy of a legal document [in Spanish]

GLC03545.24.05

26 April 1864

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Manuscript document

Title: [Bond of Williams Remington, William Remington, and Nathaniel Williams to the Marine Bank of Baltimore]

Marked as a copy. Binds the three men to the Marine Bank for 5,000 dollars. On page 3 Williams Remington certifies that he will undertake the duties of runner of the Marine Bank faithfully and diligently.

GLC03545.24.06