July 23, 1817

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Regarding the establishment of the University of Virginia, Jefferson writes to set a meeting for handling donations to "our subscription paper" and discusses the details of arranging a meeting. Among those also contacted for the meeting were Joseph C. Cabell, General John H. Cocke, and a Mr. Watson.

GLC01198

May 3, 1862

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Ewing

Sherman writes about the Battle of Shiloh, 6-7 April 1862. He discusses his experiences in it, the strategy of the battle, the officers' uniforms, and various Union generals. Explains his daring position at Shiloh, "I do not think I exposed myself at Shiloh more than was necessary from the shape of the ground and the nature of my men." Writes that he had to give orders that usually would have been left to officers of a lower rank and therefore had to be out in the open. From the experiences of that day, he relays that he thinks officers should wear uniforms that differ from the enlisted…

GLC01203

February 1, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Sends resolutions by the Continental Congress (not included) relating to measures to suppress a Tory insurrection in Somerset and Worcester counties in Maryland. Orders General Smallwood to stand ready to execute the forthcoming orders. Signed by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress.

GLC01205.01

1776/12/31

United States. Continental Congress.

Autograph document signed

Title: Extract from minutes of Congress re: raising Maryland troops

Disbound. Directs Smallwood to raise Maryland troops Was written in Congress.

GLC01205.02

February 25, 1777

Peters, Richard, 1744-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Written by Peters as secretary to the Continental Board of War to Brigadier General Smallwood. Says that he is sending a circular letter written by the Board with an enclosed resolve from Congress (the resolve is not included, but the circular letter is on verso). Requests his assistance as the matter is pressing. Says letters have been sent to Colonels Gist and Richardson as a matter of course and are not meant to countermand any orders he may have given them in regard to the Tory expedition. Congress wants to keep its previous promise to assist Maryland with the insurgents, but asks that…

GLC01205.03

1763-1783

Manuscript

Title: [Description of General William Smallwood's family and education]

Appears to be a fragment of a biographical sketch of General Smallwood of Maryland. Previous entry in Past Perfect claimed the sketch appears to be from the early 19th century, before 1840, but there is no evidence to back up that assertion. Mentions that he comes from a "highly respectable family." Says his father Bayne Smallwood was a merchant and planter on a large scale who was also a justice of the peace and a member of the House of Burgesses for many years. He married Priscilla Heaherd of Virginia, "a lady of family and fortune." Smallwood was sent to England at a young age and first…

GLC01205.05

March 25, 1774

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

Written by Adams, who later signed the Declaration of Independence, as a member and clerk of the colonial assembly in Massachusetts to Gerry, also a future signer of the Declaration, as a member of the assembly. References a letter from Gerry that explained the violence in Marblehead, known as the Smallpox War or the Marblehead Riots, and asked for military intervention. Gerry was one of the leading citizens of the town who wanted to build a hospital to inoculate the populace against smallpox. Once it was built, the populace, fearful that inoculations…

GLC01213

February 5, 1860

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Norman B. Judd

Docketed by Judd on verso. Written by Lincoln as Presidential candidate at a time of revelations of old anti-Lincoln statements by Judd. Basler, Roy P. The Collected Works Of Abraham Lincoln. (New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press, 1953), Vol. III 1858 - 1860, p. 516

GLC01214

July 16, 1772

Adams, Samuel, 1722-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Warren

Written by Adams, a future signer of the Declaration of Independence, as member of the Massachusetts legislature to Warren, also a member of the Massachusetts legislature. Says the session is over and the resolves, including one asking the King to rescind Governor Hutchinson's salary, have passed. Says he will send him a copy of the resolves if he promises not to publish them. Expresses his friendship with Warren, who he says was with him when the Tories cursed him at a commencement speech at Cambridge and at another occasion when "Confusion to me & my Adherents was given as a toast."…

GLC01215

March 3, 1829

Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Pitt Preble

Letter regarding Canadian border dispute.

GLC01217

5 January 1865

Holmes, Oliver Wendell, 1809-1894

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: Sherman's in Savannah!

Four stanza poem glorifying General William T. Sherman's "March to the Sea." Was originally three stanzas and then the date and the word "Postscript" was crossed out and a fourth stanza added. Makes a correction in pencil in the second line of the fourth stanza. First stanza: Like the tribes of Israel / Fed on quails and Manna / Sherman and his glorious band / Journeyed through the rebel land, / Fed from Heaven's all bountious hand, / Marching on Savannah!

GLC01218

May 14, 1871

Stephens, Alexander Hamilton, 1812-1883

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Haldeman

Discusses an upcoming Pennsylvania Democratic Convention with Haldeman, a United States Representative from Harrisburg. Expresses concern regarding issues which might be addressed at the Convention, stating "Is not the most present and absorbing question ever submitted to the people any where whether ours is a Gov't of Laws or bayonetts ... the Democracy then must array itself against Usurpation -- against Centralism -- against Despotism in any shape and form ..."

GLC01219

March 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Livingston Jay

Written by Jay as a member of the Continental Congress to his wife Sarah, who he refers to as "Sally." References Sarah's letter of 17 March 1776 (date of creation inferred from this reference), which gave news of her and their son's improved health. Tells the story of the "Conch Shell Beauty" - a beautiful young woman he met in November 1775. Said he was traveling with Gouverneur Morris and that the good weather and roads induced them to walk to Gray's Ferry to dine. As they were having a fire made in a private room, they sat in the common room and spoke to people coming back from the…

GLC01220

1759-1830

Header Record

Title: Pennsylvania Revolutionary War collection [Decimalized .01-.07]

GLC01221

February 12, 1783

Armstrong, John, Jr. 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Searle

Writes to Searle, a fellow Pennsylvania politician, to relate personal news. Complains about political infighting and expresses his hopes for treaty negotiations in Europe and the possibility of peace. Address leaf separated.

GLC01221.01

December 28, 1830

Armstrong, John, Jr. 1758-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Buel

Thanks Judge Buel for a packet of books he sent. Discusses a publication by Buel's brother that proves a conspiracy to defraud the revenue. Remarks that the distress of Buel's brother has impaired his judgment though and "made his story highly excentric." Addressed to Buel "near Albany."

GLC01221.02

December 31, 1793

Clarkson, Matthew, 1733-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Nicholson

Written by Clarkson, the mayor of Philadelphia, to Nicholson, a famous land speculator, as comptroller general of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. References Nicholson's letter of 26 December 1793. Says he has passed its contents on to the "Committee for the relief of the poor & distressed Citizens" who have been suffering from the "malignant disorder" - yellow fever. They accepted it with thanks and "will cheerfully undertake the distribution thereof as comfortably to your wishes as possible." Small hole where seal was removed. Paper has a watermark.

GLC01221.03

April 6, 1765

Galloway, Joseph, 1731-1803

Autograph note signed

Title: to John Lawrence

A note at the bottom of a bond of Catherine Evans tells John Lawrence that Galloway does not object to Lawrence "delivering up of yr above mentiond Bond." Galloway, a delegate to Congress from Pennsylvania, publicly defended the Stamp Act in 1765 and became a Loyalist officer in 1776.

GLC01221.04

15 August 1797

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Printed document signed

Title: [Land share certificate for Moses Levy in Pennsylvania Property Company]

Partially printed certificate signed by Robert Morris, certifying that Levy owns ten shares in the Pennsylvania Property Co. Also signed by Garrett Cottinger, Thomas Fitzsimons, and Joseph Ball.

GLC01221.05

April 1, 1796

Smith, Thomas, 1745-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Smith

Writes in detail about accounts to be collected (while he is on the judicial circuit) interspersed with family news. Comments on Revolutionary War certificates: "I think I can make more by buying Certificates while they continue so low at present...for I am buying only to sell again." There are some notes on p. 2.

GLC01221.06

June 14, 1759

Willing, Thomas, 1731-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Greenough

Discusses collecting debts from Mr. Elwers, and remarks that Elwers broke up his business 18 months ago so he fears they will not be able to get him to pay. Encloses Willing's account balance (not present) and explains it.

GLC01221.07

July 14, 1862

Sherman, William T. (William Tecumseh), 1820-1891

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Philemon Ewing

Writes about his feud with the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. Informs that General Henry Halleck advised him not to reply to Stanton. Because of this, Sherman asks Ewing to keep this letter confidential, especially from the newspapers because he believes that, "No Military officer should write of the events of a Campaign until a year after the Campaign." Goes on to say, "I am satisfied Stanton is a Liar and Coward - for he states things by the merest guess." Expects to be sent to Memphis soon. Expresses his philosophy of fighting the South, " ... to subdue the South there must be…

GLC01224

4 April 1695

Penn, William, 1644-1718

Document signed

Title: [Land grant to Thomas Church]

Witnessed by William Springett and Francis Harding. Signed three times as Proprietor of Pennsylvania.

GLC01227

April 28, 1785

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Trumbull

Mentions Trumbull's M'Fingal, a poem styled on Hudibras, the great poem by Butler concerning the English Civil Wars.

GLC01228

1865 ca.

Brady, Mathew B., 1823-1896

Photograph signed

Title: Ulysses S. Grant, Lt. Gen., USA.

Published by E. & H.T. Anthony of New York from photographic negative in Brady's Nat'l Portrait Gallery. Inscription on the versi reads: "The last and best [illegible]"

GLC01229