February 23, 1813

Bainbridge, William, 1774-1833

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Timothy Bigelow

Letter written aboard the U.S.S. Constitution (Old Ironsides), Boston Harbor. Bainbridge expresses pleasure in hearing of a vote of appreciation for the Constitution's victory over the British frigate H.M.S. Java. "To merit and receive the appreciation of our Country is our highest ambition, and is the greatest stimulus we can receive in the exertion of our duty." Letter addressed to Bigelow as the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

GLC01125

1793

Bigelow, Timothy, 1739-1790

Pamphlet signed

Title: An Act for regulating and governing the militia of the commonwealth of Massachusetts

Contains the laws and rules for the Massachusetts militia. Signed "Capt. Thomas Bigelow" on the cover. Published by Adams and Larkin, "Printers to the Honorable General Court." An "additional militia law" of 24 February 1796 is bound in at the close of the volume.

GLC01125.02

circa 29 October 1843

Perry, Matthew Calbraith, 1794-1858

Document signed

Title: [General Order no. 8 regarding African Squadron vessels' procedure for obtaining supplies]

One letter written by Commodore Matthew Perry dated October 29, 1843. Contains orders that fresh provisions and medicaid aid must be approved by the commanding officers before given to members of the African Squadron. Signed on behalf of the Commanding U.S. Naval Officers on the West African Coast.

GLC01126

13 April 1861

Crawford, Samuel Wylie, 1829-1892

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of Crawford's notes regarding surrender of Fort Sumter]

Walker's "true copy" of Crawford and Seymour's first hand account of the meeting between Colonel Louis Wigfall and Major Robert Anderson, during which Fort Sumter was surrendered. Walker copied, in pencil, Crawford and Seymour's written account which details the conversation between Wigfall, Anderson, and other officers. Wigfall tells Anderson "You have defended your flag nobly, Sir. You have done all that can be done.Your fort is on fire. Let us stop this, Sir." Anderson agrees to surrender the fort under the conditions he proposed earlier to General Beauregard, to which Wigfall accepts…

GLC01127.01

April 11, 1861

Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893

Manuscript letter

Title: to Robert Anderson

Pencil copy of Beauregard's letter to Anderson demanding that Fort Sumter be surrendered and evacuated. Will permit that the flag "may be saluted by you upon taking it down." Page two contains pencil drawn copy of the watermark, and page three a penciled copy of the stationery impress mark. This copy differs slightly from the official version of this letter.

GLC01127.02

13 May 1861

Crawford, Samuel Wylie, 1829-1892

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of the surrender of Fort Sumter]

Firsthand account of the negotiations for the surrender of Fort Sumter. Details conversation between Major Robert Anderson and Captain Lee negotiating terms of surrender. Finishes Crawford's narrative begun in GLC01127.01. Recounts the conversation between Captain Lee and Major Anderson. Anderson had already told Louis Wigfall he would surrender, but Wigfall was not actually sent by Beauregard. Lee was Beauregard's true emissary, and he and Anderson agreed on the official terms of surrender. Also lists men wounded on 13 April as Thomas Kernin, James Hays, and Edward Galloway, here…

GLC01127.03

28 August 1789

J. Dunlap and D.C. Claypoole, 1784-1790

Newspaper

Title: The Pennsylvania packet, and daily advertiser. [No. 3300 (August 28, 1789)]

Prints seventeen proposed amendments to the Constitution. Reports on activities in the House of Representatives and news from around the country and Europe. Contains many advertisements.

GLC01129

18 February 1785

Durand, John, fl. 1779-1785

Manuscript signed

Title: [Account for supplying 4850 British troops in America 1779-1780]

An account of the expenses of the contractor John Durand for the provisions he delivered to the Commissary of Stores at Cork, Ireland for 4,850 British troops in America. The contract was dated 2 September 1779. The left column of the account has debits while the right has credits. The credits were received from 23 September 1779 to 7 December 1779 and add up to slightly over 42,296 pounds. The debits begin on 8 March 1780 and end on 16 August 1780. The debits match the credits with slightly more than 42,296 pounds. The account is also signed by Francis Maseres, Cursitor Baron of the…

GLC01133

May 22, 1826

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles F. Mercer

Letter to Mercer, a Virginia Congressman. Acknowledges Mercer's letter from May 20, 1826. Monroe was seeking a refund of his expenses in France during the Louisiana Purchase negotiations over 20 years before. States that he understands Mercer did not send documents to the House of Representatives because it would not be proper for them to be published at this time. He hopes to get copies of the documents for his own files and presumes Samuel Ingham, a Pennsylvania Congressman and chairman of the select committee of the Committee of Claims considering Monroe's request, probably has them.…

GLC01134

April 19, 1777

Morris, Robert, 1734-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel and Robert Purviance

Morris, chairman of a Congressional secret committee, acknowledges receipt of correspondence from the Purviance brothers, merchants in Baltimore, Maryland. Transmits inventories (not included) of two prize vessels, discusses a recent purchase of flour (possibly for military use) conducted by the Purviances, and relates that the committee will not purchase the prize vessels. Refers the Purviances' previous request regarding military clothing to James Mease, appointed in 1776 as clothier general. Referring to Captain James Nicholson, in command of the ship Virginia, states "It would give us…

GLC01135

22 July 1776

Williams, William, 1731-1811

Autograph document signed

Title: [Gun receipt for the Pay Table Committee of Connecticut]

Informs the Committee of the receipt from Captain William Huntington of twelve guns manufactured for Connecticut. A docket on the verso in Ellsworth's hand is signed by Huntington in Stamford and dated 13 November 1776; it confirms his receipt of payment.

GLC01136

May 10, 1823

Monroe, James, 1758-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter probably sent to John Quincy Adams as Secretary of State by President Monroe. Letter believed to be a precursor to the Monroe Doctrine. Said he had to withdraw the nomination of John B. Prevost, Aaron Burr's nephew, as Charge d'Affaires to Peru from the Senate. Monroe has heavily crossed out the words "Prevost" and "Peru" throughout the letter. Says he probably would have been rejected and that would have caused too much harm to Prevost's reputation. He wants Adams to write to Prevost and tell him everything that is being said about him. Recommends sending the letter by Caesar Augustus…

GLC01137

January 17, 1779

Howe, Robert, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Howe as a Major General to Major General Lincoln as commander of the Southern Department. Lincoln had replaced Howe as department commander in September 1778. Says he is desirous of beginning a correspondence. He hopes any information he sends along is important enough to merit Lincoln's attention. Says he saw Brigadier General John Ashe and that he marches tomorrow. Says he strove to assist him and he hopes he has succeeded. Says Ashe has 1500 men and that he [Howe] has struggled to obtain 1000 "stand" (possibly guns), although they are not in possession of all of them yet. Says…

GLC01140

December 18, 1792

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elliot & Williams

Wayne pleads for supplies (particularly flour), decrying with great urgency having "been frequently without provisions" and claiming that "There must have been some fatal neglect or error somewhere." Elliot & Williams were suppliers for the army. Legionville was a camp in western Pennsylvania used by General Wayne during the Indian Wars of the Old Northwest.

GLC01141

15 June 1779

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Broadside

Title: House resolutions for framing a new state constitution

Resolving that towns have elections and that elect representatives to a convention.

GLC01142

8 November 1767-1785

Sylvester, Deborah, fl. 1760-1785

Header Record

Title: Collection of items belonging to Deborah Sylvester [Decimalized .01-.02.08]

GLC01144

July 17, 1787

Jones, John Paul, 1747-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jean Crevecoeur

Jones, noted for his leadership in both the American and Russian navies, encloses a separate letter (not included) for Crevecoeur, French consul in New York. Relates that he recently returned to New York from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the company of General St. Claire (possibly Arthur St. Claire, Governor of the Northwest Territory). States that he repaid a loan from Crevecoeur through Mrs. Ellsworth, and transmits a letter (not included) from Mrs. Ellsworth to Crevecoeur. States "I have the pleasure to make you my compliments on your being nominated (at my request) by the President to…

GLC01145

April 18, 1785

Gage, Thomas, 1718-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Andrew Simpson

Written by General Gage on the 10th anniversary of his orders which started the American Revolution to Simpson as a former Captain in the 44th Regiment of Foot. Gage is responding to a letter from Simpson. Says he remembers Peter Butler of the 44th Regiment well. Says he was sober and well behaved man and that the indiscretion that has brought distress to his old age must have come from ignorance. Says General Leslie is a friend to old soldiers and that he will offer to do something for Butler. Wishes to be remembered to Moneypenny. Says not many of their old friends are still alive. Mentions…

GLC01146

May 24, 1782

Lee, Arthur, 1740-1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

Letter signed in the text "A.Lee." The first page is an extract of proceedings. The second page is an autograph letter to Madison explaining the extract, which deals with the Virginia House of Burgesses' resolution rejecting a British peace offer. Docketed by Madison.

GLC01148

March 14, 1777

Sewall, Jonathan, 1728-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Foxcroft

Letter written by Sewall as a Loyalist refugee in London to his Revolutionary friend Foxcroft in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A very witty letter throughout. Predicts the downfall of the American experiment. Writes in a mocking tone about "your high & mighty committees, as I suppose will be the case in your free & independent State." In order to protect Foxcroft from charges that he is corresponding with a Tory he writes that he has not received a line from him since August 31, 1774, except one innocuous one having to do with gowns shortly thereafter. In an ironic tone he says he cannot…

GLC01149

July 10, 1777

Livingston, William, 1723-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hayes

Livingston, writing as the president of the New Jersey council of safety, sends Hayes a "List of disaffected Persons to be apprehended by Maj. Hay[e]s & his party, & to be sent to Morris Gaol [a jail]." The list appears on a separate page and contains the names of forty eight Tories.

GLC01150

January 2, 1864

Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James L. Crane

Misdated "1864" but dated 1865 on internal evidence. The 21st Illinois was Grant's first command. Crane had served as chaplain of that unit.

GLC01151

March 9, 1778

Arnold, Thomas, 1742-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the inhabitants of the town of Providence Assembled in town-meeting

Arnold opposes the proposed "test oath," requiring a declaration of loyalty to the American cause. He argues that the Friends (i.e. Quakers) cannot swear to uphold a violent or warlike nation.

GLC01152

19 April 1784

United States in Congress Assembled. Thomson, Charles

Document signed

Title: Report on lagging attendence at Congress, recommendations

Recommends that the state appoint more representatives to Congress.

GLC01153

October 14, 1776

Wayne, Anthony, 1745-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Abraham Robinson

Wayne writes just as the British are approaching Fort Ticonderoga for an attack. "I have just time to inform you that the Enemy are approaching - the shattered remains of our fleet arrived last night." Eleven of the sixteen ships were lost, as well as two hundred men. "The whole body of the Enemy are now within two hours march of us - and we expect to see them every moment." He promises that "the contest will be warn and bloody - they out number us - but if we are too die - we are enough - and if to conquer the few men the greater than of Honor." Says he is sending Robinson's brother away,…

GLC01154