4 January 1759

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Newspaper

Title: Pennsylvania gazette. [No. 1567 (January 4, 1759)]

Includes international news from various overseas newspapers. Domestic news and classified ads inhabit pages 2 through 4. Letter to the editors discusses the latest improvements to Pennsylvania Hospital and extends thanks for the community's charity. Section reserved for announcing the indentured servitude of residents, the return of runaway slaves, and departing ships.

GLC06670.150

18 October 1890

Stoddard, Chester S., fl. 1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Paul Leicester Ford

Refers to a letter from Thomas Jefferson to Tristam Dalton, GLC07670.01. Regrets that years ago he tore off the address which had a free frank of Jefferson at the request of a friend who wanted the autograph. Identifies the recipient of that letter (GLC07670.01) as Dalton.

GLC07670.02

1865/04/18

Greeley, Horace, 1811-1872

Newspaper

Title: New-York semi-weekly tribune. [Vol. 20, no. 2076 (April 18, 1865)]

Announcement of the assassination of President Lincoln and attempt on Seward's life. Includes a minute-by-minute account of Lincoln's last night under the supervision of his physician, Dr. Abbott. Also includes Captain Theodore McGowen's account of the assasination. The paper is uncut.

GLC08428.08.01

8 July 1856

Dobbin, James Cochran, 1814-1857

Document signed

Title: [Commission for Edward R. Archer as a Third Assistant Engineer in the U.S. Navy]

Commission appointing Archer as Third Assistant Engineer in the U.S. Navy as of June 26th 1856.

GLC01896.017

1856/07/12

Welsh, Charles W., fl. 1850-1856

Manuscript signed

Title: [Navy Department orders for Edward Archer]

Request for a signature on Archer's oath of office.

GLC01896.018

1857/04/07

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Document signed

Title: [Navy Department orders to report for duty]

Orders to proceed to Norfolk, Va. and report to Captain Dornin for duty onboard the U.S. Steam Frigate Roanoke. Co-signed by Thomas A. Dornin on 1857/04/17 and by J.B. Montgomery [?] on 1857/05/04, certifying that Archer reported for duty.

GLC01896.019

1857/08/29

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Document signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Grants Archer a one week extension for a leave of absence.

GLC01896.020

1857/09/17

Toucey, Isaac, 1796-1869

Document signed

Title: [Navy Department orders to report for duty]

Orders to report for duty to the USFS Powhatan. Co-signed by Thomas A. Dornin on 1857/09/24, certifying that Archer reported for duty.

GLC01896.021

1857/09/18

Dayton, A.O., fl. 1857

Manuscript signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Advises Archer to contact "the purser on whose books [his] name is borne" regarding any funds deposited with him. Also states that the U.S. Steam Frigate "Roanoke's" purser has not yet transferred Archer's account.

GLC01896.022

3 June 1779

Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Relates that he enclosed to Samuel Broome of Boston a set of bills of exchange drawn by Captain [Simonot De Valcourt?] from Valcourt's father. Encloses an extract [from his contract with Broome], copying the information for Knox. Discusses the details of the contract. Writes, "The Depreciation of our paper money, & my wish to forward the Bills to France soon, makes it necessary to have some limited time that I may regulate some matters of foreign trade accordingly ... " Reports "I am happy to inform you that the Grand Army under Genl Washington are on their [march] for Fish Kills-"…

GLC02437.00767

27 July 1779

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Knox's working draft of opinion delivered to his Excellency General Washington]

Knox answers the question of "the position that it will be proper for our Army to take, on the Question whether any and what offensive measures can with propriety be pursued at present, and of the line of Conduct necessary for us to pursue under the circumstances ... " Asserts that the caution of the British suggests they are expecting reinforcements. Discusses strategic positioning and the possibility of enemy movement along the Hudson River. Mentions Verplanck's Point. In closing, writes, "Unless the Enemy receive a large reinforcement their operations will be pretty much [confind?]...…

GLC02437.00778

30 September 1779

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: to George Washington

Working draft of Knox's report to George Washington. Describes British fortifications at Stony Point and Verplanck, New York. Advises Washington regarding the feasibility of attacking British posts in the area. Docket reads, "Knox to Washington No. 4" with final page adding a report on West Point.

GLC02437.00784

1836/03/15

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Discusses disagreements in Congress over his positions at a time when, in his capacity as congressman, he was opposing patronage policies and the proposed "Gag Rule." Comments that "It was unfortunate for Mr. [Daniel] Webster that in the position he occupied on the 3d of March 1835 he hurried the Senate of the United States into a desperate quarrel with the House...upon principles so utterly untenable, and so unpatriotic, that they are sinking him and the Senate, under an unparalleled load of public odium." Although Webster and his followers are trying to take him down, Adams reports…

GLC06313.01

20 April 1850

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Thanks Hobart for a letter and his approval of one of Webster's speeches. Comments: "If we cannot subdue, or restrain, this fanatical abolition Spirits, I know not how we shall get along, without great trouble, or be able to carry on the Govt." Extends an open invitation to his home in Mansfield, New Hampshire.

GLC06313.02

3 March 1820

Sampson, Zabdiel, 1781-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

Briefly reports the passage of the Missouri Compromise: "The question, so long debated in Congress of excluding slavery from our territories is settled, by the passage of a bill...which excludes slavery forever, from the whole of the American Continent lying & being north and west of the State of Missouri."

GLC06313.03

1847/03/06

Maxwell, William, 1784-1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Robert Archer

Regarding "...meeting of the Executive Committee of our Virginia Historical & Philosophical Society, the following resolution was adopted, on the matter of [illegible] Capt. [illegible] H. Ellis..." Also, includes the Society's request for Archer to prepare a description and historical account of Fort George, on Old Point Comfort, Va. Maxwell, a Yale-educated attorney, was a noted poet and President of Hampden-Sidney College in Virginia.

GLC01896.013

1847/03/22

Archer, Robert, fl. 1842-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Maxwell

Response to previous letter regarding the Virginia Historical & Philosophical Society, providing a description and historical account of Fort George, on Old Point Comfort, Va. The fort was first ordered built in 1629-30 by Sir John Henry, Govenor of Virginia. "The work was called Fort George. The front lines only and part of the flanks are now tracable. The rear lines having been obliterated by the excavation of the ditch of Fort Monroe."

GLC01896.014

June 12, 1858

Jeffery, Roberta, fl. 1850-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Jeffery

Regarding his bad headaches and the well being of the children, a party given for them, Archer's handling of the farm, and death of an acquaintance [Sandie Parker] from paralysis of the spine.

GLC01896.015

1856/05/20

Dobbin, James Cochran, 1814-1857

Document signed

Title: [Request for examination by the board of Naval Engineers]

Requests that Archer report to Daniel B. Martin, Esq., Chief Engineer, to be examined by the Board of Engineers. The form is to be given to the care of J.R. Anderson, Esqr., Tredegar Iron Works, Richmond, Va. Document co-signed by Daniel B. Martin on 1856/06/02 when Archer reported, and again on 1856/06/20 when Martin signed for Archer's discharge. Dobbin was secretary of the Navy (1853-1857) under Franklin Pierce.

GLC01896.016

January 31, 1858

Archer, Robert, fl. 1842-1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward R. Archer

Three separate entries [one written by Robert Archer, another by Frances Archer, and the third by an unidentified writer which is incomplete] to their son, Edward, all written on the same date. Mr. Archer writes of his son's arrival in Madina, happenings at home, recent births, Mrs. Archer's return from Norfolk, family news, hard times for business, ship building, and changing of personnel as ship commander and chief, and respectively. Mrs. Archer writes of her two month stay in Norfolk with Edward's sister, a newly acquired housekeeper, his niece, parties in Norfolk, health of family friends…

GLC01896.023

August 7, 1858

Jeffery, Roberta, fl. 1850-1899

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Archer

Astonishment and joy over Sue's marriage to William [Jones], the sentiments of Kate, Sally, and Dr. A., news of family and friends, construction of a new Catholic church, Richard [Jeffery]'s request for Chinese pegs and Edward's bad fortune in love with Miss Tyler: "...[she] is married so you have lost your chance there." Also, writes that she knows he is "...surrounded by temptations [prostitution?] & I pray God you may have strength given you to resist them manfully."

GLC01896.024

May 21, 1779

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Henry Knox recaps a letter he recently sent to William, in which he urged William to sail directly to Amsterdam instead of stopping in France. He mentions letters of introduction he previously sent for William's voyage to Europe, noting he will also ask the Baron von Steuben for introductory letters. He requests William to send a list of the persons to whom Baron Johann De Kalb's letters of introduction were addressed. Relates that the Winslow sisters will travel to Boston within a fortnight. Comments on the recovery of Lucy, his wife, from a recent illness. He instructs William to ship his…

GLC02437.00763

27 May 1779

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Comments on "the present grandees of our once respected town" (Boston). Criticizes the "mushroom gentry" rising in Boston, referring to those of recently established wealth, such as merchants. Notes that the honest man is scarcely noticed, "unless he can talk of his premiums and per cent..." Remarks that the past winter has been more enjoyable than the winter William spent as a soldier. Refers to the circle of ladies in New Jersey. Describes a dramatic scene at a recent tea party and "social hop," during which a gentleman fell and a girl was thrown from a phaeton. Mentions the Winslow…

GLC02437.00764

29 May 1779

Oliver, Ebenezer, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Sears

Received goods, in order, from Sears in Amsterdam. Has not heard "one word of" goods shipped on his account by their mutual friend William (possibly William Knox). Discusses the obtainment of bills for Sears. Thanks Sears for procuring a cloak and bonnet for Mrs. Oliver, though wishes Sears would have sent a petticoat in the same box. Requests Sears to send a "Genteel Green Umbrella," a case of green-handled knives, and several other items. Marked as a copy at the top of page one.

GLC02437.00765

29 May 1779

French, Samuel, fl. 1777-1779

Manuscript document

Title: [Receipt regarding Henry Knox and Samuel Shaw]

Written in Shaw's hand. "Received of Gen. Knox by the hand of Samuel Shaw four hundred and eighty dollars for that sum lent him at Valley Forge last June ... "

GLC02437.00766