27 March 1860

Brown, Wealthy C., 1829-1911

Autograph letter signed

Title: to her sister

Addressed to "My Dearly Loved Sister," probably referring to one of John Brown's daughters at North Elba. Expresses sadness at the death of Martha Evelyn Brewster Brown, Oliver Brown's wife, and remembers Oliver's love for her. Sends her condolences to the whole Brown family in regards to all who died at Harpers Ferry. Also praises James Redpath. Martha had done much of the housekeeping on the Maryland farm where the Harpers Ferry raid was prepared, but had returned to North Elba shortly before the raid. Mentions receiving a letter from Annie (Wealthy's sister-in-law and daughter of John…

GLC06348.02

10 September 1882

Brown, John Jr., 1821-1895

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Wealthy C. Brown

Relates examination of a corpse believed to be one of his brothers, either Watson or Oliver, both of whom died at Harpers Ferry.

GLC06348.03

1915 circa

Collin, James C., fl. 1906

Printed document signed

Title: [Printer's prospectus for "The Capture and Execution of John Brown"]

Original publisher's prospectus for "The Capture and Execution of John Brown," by Elijay Avey. Claims the book is "crammed from cover to cover with the most thrilling events in the life of the fearless, justice-loving John Brown." Avey was an eye witness to the execution, who later wrote a book on the event and Brown's life. Collin was the publisher's agent.

GLC06806.02.01

July 17, 1913

Sweeney, J.D, 1869-?

Photograph signed

Title: [Photograph of house of John Brown's widow]

Photograph of the house of John Brown's widow in California. Photograph taken by T. Major Edgecomb. Docket on verso in green ink states "After the execution of John Brown, his widow and several of her young children came to Red Bluff. Citizens raised a sum of money which came from near and far and built a home for her. There she lived for several years, then moved over the Coach Range. A few still remain who recall having played with the Brown girls."

GLC06806.02.02

1915 circa

Brown, John, 1800-1859

Printed document

Title: John Brown's Prophesy

The last words of John Brown, and a poem he wrote in prison, printed on a piece of paper that may have been intended to go inside Elijah Avey's book on Brown. A hand written note at the bottom reads "One of these to every book."

GLC06806.02.03

5 March 1813

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dr. Benjamin Rush

Describes continued correspondence with John Adams, "with the commonplace topics of politics, we do not meddle. When there are so many others on which we agree why should we introduce the only one on which we differ?" Lauds the naval triumphs of the U.S.S. Constitution; and discusses at length veterinary and human medicine. "Man can tell his physician the seat of his pain, it's nature, history, and sometimes its cause, and can follow his directions for the curative process. but the poor dumb horse cannot signify where his pain is..." On Adams he writes, "a navy has always been his hobby…

GLC09038

10 June 1860

Battle, Narcissa Caroline, 1824-1906

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Slave sale letter]

A woman writes to her child about a slave sale she attended. "I went to town & bought all the negroes except Charity mamma & Charity's four youngest Children... Mamma is down at Watson's very much pestered she never would say before the sale who she wanted to buy her but now she is brought to her senses. Daughter I am not much grieved about either Chany or Charity they both have acted the lady ever since they came in my possession & I have been the slave now let them see the difference between me & other people... if they live the plantation will be filled with babies...The…

GLC09039

30 April 1861

Pamphlet

Title: Copy of Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the United States

Amendment to the Constitution concerning slavery. "...No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which will authorize or give to Congress the power to abolish or interfere, within any State, with the domestic institutions, including that of persons held to labour or service by the laws of said State." Transmitted to the Maryland House of Delegates.

GLC09040

1865

Mansfield, John W., fl. 1865

Sketchbook

Title: Book of Military Scraps by John W. Mansfield

Includes watercolor and pencil and ink drawings of: Sibley tents; Zouaves; shoulder straps by rank (in color); Fort Independence; Fort Winthrop; 'Instrument of Torture for Negroes;' several canon, mortars, and guns, including Winan's steam gun, 'Lincoln Gun at Fortress Monroe,' and Parrott Gun; flag of the Cumberland; a Berdan sharpshooter's rifle; Whitney Battery [Keokuk] 'sunk at the bombardment of Fort Sumpter'; Mississippi River gun boat; Privateer Savannah; 'Gun bent double by a cannon ball at Big Bethel'; U.S. Volunteer & Rebel; 'Field of Antietam'; 'A Skirmish at Yorktown'; Monitor…

GLC09041

1865

Mansfield, John W., fl. 1865

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: A Trip to the Army of the James

Journal illustrated by Mansfield. Includes fine pencil illustrations of 3rd Division camp and various studies of an officer, one of him in action wielding a sword. Inscribed to Mrs. Jesse J. Underhill.

GLC09042

20 March 1775

Warren, Joseph, 1741-1775

Broadsheet

Title: An Oration Delivered March 6th, 1775...

"...to commemorate the bloody Tragedy of the fifth of March 1770." Supplement to the Massachusetts Gazette. Boston: Mills & Hicks. Crucial Boston Massacre speech given by Warren under threat of death.

GLC09043

1774

Manuscript document

Title: [Worcester Resolve]

Worcester County, Massachusetts, June, July, or August 1774. "Voted that...the several towns & districts in the County...instruct their Representatives who may be chosen to meet at Salem in oct absolutely to refuse to be sworn by any officer or officers but such as are or may be appointed according to the Constitution...that they refuse to give their attendance at boston while the town is invested wtih troops and ships of war and should there be any thing to prevent there acting with...the Charter that they immediately repare to the Town of Concord and their join in a provence Congress…

GLC09044

1775[8]

Document

Title: [Massachusetts Militia Return]

Return or account of a militia and their armaments. Partially printed with a manuscript accomplishment, possibly by Capt Jonathan Rice, Sudbury, Massachusetts, dated in text 5 July 1775, with orders on verso from Colonel Ezekiel How, dated 26 October 1778[?].

GLC09045

circa 11 June 1776

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Military Printing Bill]

Bill for Revolutionary War printing done by Ebenezer Watson for the Connecticut Assembly between 12 June 1775 and 27 May 1776, and receipt of payment by Watson, Hartford, 11 June 1776. Includes 1,000 passes for Col. Benedict Arnold received by Col. Henman from Crown Point, advertisements for deserters, 500 copies of the Salt Peter and Gunpowder act, an unknown quantitiy of the Minuteman Act, 100 copies of the Embarg Proclamation, enlistment orders printed on three occasions, 400 orders and enlistments for minutemen, 2100 enlistments, and beating orders for Continental and Connecticut…

GLC09046

5 September 1774

Fletcher, Timothy, fl. 1774

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Grafton Resolve]

"Whereas the British Perlement has bin Making and Providing Acts for the government of the Massachusetts bay in New England conturary to our Constatution...I...Will do All that lays in my Power to defend the Rights Prevaleges and Liberties of this Country and am willing to comply with any Measures that shall be taken sutable for the Releaf of sd Country and I do hereby Promis and engage Not to Purchis any good, that shall be Imported from the island of Grate Britain...we do further engag to comply with any measures that the Congress shall Propose sutable for our Deliverence...[signed by 5…

GLC09047

1775

Manuscript document

Title: [Two muster rolls taken during the siege of Boston, September-October 1775]

A roll for Captain Luke Drury's company in the 32nd Continental Regiment of Foot under Colonel Jonathan Ward.

GLC09048

29 October 1782

Drury, Luke, fl. 1782

Manuscript document

Title: to Jonathan Ward

Complaint to former commander, now Worcester Co. J.P., Jonathan Ward, about public slander by Joseph Perry. Quotes Perry as saying he was never fit to be a colonel, that he cowardly ran from battle at Bunker Hill, and that he committed adultery with an Indian squaw.

GLC09049.01

5 November 1782

Perry, Joseph, fl. 1780

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Jonathan Ward

Recants what he said and apologizes for slandering Luke Drury's good name (see GLC09049.01). Signed by Perry and three witnesses.

GLC09049.02

5 November 1777

Titcomb, Jonathan, 1728-1817

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Convention Army]

Appointing Jacob Gerrish "Colonel of Regiment raised for a Guard to the Prisoners who surrendered to Major General Gates: and you are to march said Regiment, without Delay to General Heath's Headquarters" in Boston.

GLC09050

1777

Barstow, John, fl. 1777

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: [Patriotic Verse in schoolboy exercise book]

2 January 1777 entry - "The Amaricans Challings/ Americans to arms Prepare/ Honour & Glory Beats for war/ Exert Yourselves with Force & might/ Show how the amaricans Boys Can fight/ For to maintain Their Charter rights/ Hozah Brave Boys -- //...In Fighting for our Rights and Laws, and dying in so Just a Cause Bemoved/ We will Prove Their Fatal Overthrow..."

GLC09051

18 May 1780

Smith, Aaron, fl. 1780

Document signed

Title: [Parole oath for Lt. Smith]

Smith commanded the 3rd South Carolina Regiment and was taken prisoner at the fall of Charleston. Swears to "remain at the Barracks at Hadrils point or within six Miles thereof, without passing any River Creek or Arm of the Sea...I shall not in the mean Time do, or cause any Thing to be done, prejudicial to the Success of His Majesty's Arms, or have Intercourse or hold Correspondence with his Enemies..." Also signed by Maj. Stewart, British commissary of prisoners.

GLC09053

19 December 1755-1 July 1756

Header Record

Title: Papers of British Secretary of War Henry Fox relating to Braddock's defeat near Fort Duquesne and the recall of William Shirley due to the "Intercepted Letters Scandal" [Decimalized .01-.22]

Official papers relating to the conduct of Major-General William Shirley (1694-1771), who served briefly as Commander-in-Chief until he was dismissed and nearly court-martialled. The most serious charge against him was that he was the source of secret information which a spy had attempted to send to the French government in letters intercepted in England and gathered by the Secretary of War, Henry Fox. As the autography letters in the present collection were sent to Fox, and many of the fair copies are of letters sent by Fox, it seems reasonable to suppose that the archive was formed by him…

GLC09054

16 April 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: [Orders to Lt. John Pratt]

Orders Lt. John Pratt to return to Connecticut to fill state's quota of recruits, and to deliver the letter below to Gov. Huntington. "You will be careful to recruit men of the best characters for the honesty and sobriety...well formed in his body and limbs - perfectly sound in his organs and health and sufficiently robust to bear the fatigues of the military life...Neither Negroes Molatoes or Indians are to be recruited." Authorizes a half a month's pay to each new recruit as well as shelter and fuel. Once 20 men were enlisted, they were to be sent on to West Point to be outfitted.

GLC09055.01

16 April 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Governor Samuel Huntington

Informs him of Lt. Pratt's orders. See GLC09055.01.

GLC09055.02

12 August 1788

Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824

Manuscript document signed

Title: [U.S. Congress orders]

U.S. Congress orders for militia to prepare to join Federal troops in NW Territory Indian conflicts by sending 1500 men.

GLC09056