August 23, 1779

Marchant, Henry, 1741-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

States he has received his letter and is concerned to hear that Marchant has not located two missing bundles of money yet. Advises that he will support his integrity in this matter should he be blamed for it or for another problem with counterfeit bills. Advises him to send copies of all the letters pertaining to the lost money and the counterfeit bills to William Ellery, a Continental Congressman from Rhode Island. Congratulates him on Major Henry Lee's brilliant attack on the British at Paulus Hook (19 August 1779). Reports that he has heard things look well at Penobscot, (referring to…

GLC01450.104.01

August 30, 1779

Marchant, Henry, 1741-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Discusses two lost bundles of money, and states that Mr. Hopkinson needs all the information about the matter so he can present it to the Treasury fairly. He has heard the Penobscot expedition has failed and that the American fleet was burned. Comments that Continental forces will not falter under the disappointments but will seek vengeance. Letter is not addressed but recipient is inferred from context (refer to GLC1450.104.01).

GLC01450.104.02

November 30, 1779

Greene, William, 1731-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

States that since he is absent from home, he is taking the chance to send him the enclosed. Apparently free franked by Henry Marchant and Greene. Addressed to Greene as Governor of the state of Rhode Island on recto; addressed to Joseph Clarke, General Treasurer of Rhode Island, on recto.

GLC01450.105

June 29, 1777

Speakman, Gilbert Warner, fl. 1771-1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Hitchcock

States he has sent with Mr. Baker a large box of items he will need when he is in Brookfield. Requests that he receive it and not turn it upside down as there are bottles that could break. On the reverse someone has written a prayer. There are notes possibly about various accounts written on the first page and on the page with the address dated 1772-1778.

GLC01450.106

May 1, 1783

Walton, William, fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Walton signed as Magistrate of Police. States that Mrs. Harrison ought to relinquish the house she holds. Requests that the Commandant force her removal if she refuses to give up possession. Note at bottom signed by James St. Clair stating that the Commandant will order force to be used if Mrs. Harrison makes it necessary.

GLC01450.109

March 30, 1779

Autichamp, Jean-Louis de Beaumont, 1738-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Chevalier de Montrond

Discusses various personal matters.

GLC01450.110

October 15, 1783

Haynes, Samuel, fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mr. Baker and Blow

Addressed to Mr. Baker and Blow, merchants, South Quay, Virginia. Encloses a certificate from the Auditor's office for eight hundred seventy-nine pounds, eleven shillings, four pence for rum. Discusses the appraisal value of the rum. Requests that Baker and Blow inform the assembly that he is waiting at his expense to get paid for the shipments, having come over from his home in St. Croix, the West Indies. Hopes they will order payment soon with interest.

GLC01450.111

July 31, 1778

Trumbull, Jonathan, Sr., 1710-1785

Letter signed

Title: to Jedediah Huntington

States that letters from Providence have made a council session necessary. Requests that he attend as soon as possible and to pass the notice along to Mr. Mumford and Mr. Hillhouse. A list of supplies (port, wheat, oats, etc.) is jotted on the top and bottom of the second page. Trumbull was the governor of Connecticut 1769-1784. Jedediah Huntington was a Continental general from Connecticut. Letter is matted along edges.

GLC01450.114

June 4, 1776

Read, John, fl. 1774-1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Owen Biddle

Addressed to Biddle in Philadelphia. Encloses a receipt from Lieutenant Werte for utensils delivered to Captain Lewe's company of the First Battalion of Colonel Mile's Regiment of Riflemen. Mentions receiving 10 wooden bowls. Reports that since being appointed as Barracksmaster, the artillery men have been applying for many necessities. Asks him to review a copy of a request for supplies made by Captain Proctor and let him know what quantities he should send. Biddle was a clockmaker and merchant in Philadelphia. It is possible he was supplying the wooden utensils and other supplies.

GLC01450.115

August 25, 1781

Steward, William, fl. 1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Seymour

Discusses business relating to the exchange and sale of nails and board. Postscript informs Seymour about information he has learned from men aboard a sloop of his that arrived in Newport, Rhode Island. Discusses a ship or fleet that sailed with a French fleet and was bound for Havana to meet some Spanish ships. States that it was reported that they have 10,000 troops, 300 heads of cattle, and clothing. He cannot guess their destination.

GLC01450.126

October 9, 1779

Lamband, Joseph, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joshua Jacob

Addressed to Captain Joshua Jacob. Informs that he is well. Mentions that his father did not give him the money he felt he was due. He states, "To with the smiles of god I shall live without it and am as many would think a bastard and not one of the family." Asks Jacob to send this letter to his sisters.

GLC01450.127

March 21, 1779

Crozer, John, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Knowles

Discusses at length the poor state of politics and the monetary system. Remarks that he does not know how to answer all the demands made upon him and he has only a negative view of things to come. Advises Knowles to not let this information dampen his spirits or stop him from finishing his education. Finishes with a poem of Cato.

GLC01450.128

August 16, 1775

Goldsborough, Robert, 1733-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Matthew Ridley

Goldsborough, a member of the Continental Congress, discusses the alteration of [Minshall's?] deed with Ridley, a merchant in Baltimore (possibly the manager of the Maryland branch of the London mercantile firm of Stewart and Campbell). States that he has been unable to collect money from various persons who owing for the transaction. Apologizes for not being able to gather the money, stating that his failure was due to family illness and business in the courts. Hopes to collect the money in the course of the following week, and promises to send messengers by ship regarding the transaction…

GLC01450.135

December 16, 1777

Middleton, Peter, ?-1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Myles Cooper

Written by Middleton as a Loyalist and former medical professor and governor at King's College (now Columbia University) to Cooper, the former president of King's College who fled New York in 1775 after revolutionary violence erupted. Reports on Burgoyne's failed campaign at Saratoga. Is very critical of the general's performance in the field, saying "Where do you find in the British Annals that a disciplined [&] gallant Army ever surrendered themselves with Arms in their Hands to a Rabble, to Militia?" Applauds the speech of the Archbishop of York that claims Presbyterians need to be…

GLC01450.138

April 10, 1776

Deblois, Stephen, 1735-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Deblois, a loyalist writing during the American Revolution, thanks Clarke for forwarding him a letter from John Glover, a colonel in the Continental Army, and asks him to forward a letter to Nathaniel Clark and Jeremiah Clark, possibly the commander of the guard ship Pigot in Providence.

GLC01450.139

February 16, 1778

Harrison, Robert Hanson, 1745-1790

Autograph letter

Title: to Oliver Titcomb

Discusses personal matters. Addresses to Titcomb, but the letter was probably intended for someone else, most likely the writer's wife. Text missing and signature lost.

GLC01450.144

February 10, 1777

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Meschech Weare

Written by Sullivan as a Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts and a member of the Massachusetts legislature to Weare as Chief Justice of the Superior Court of New Hampshire and a member of the Council, the upper house of the legislature. Sullivan writes to smooth over problems he foresees with a new Massachusetts law. Says he was the chairman of the committee that proposed the law to prohibit the export of certain articles therein mentioned. Says it was not passed to anger neighboring states, but to clothe the troops. Says the Southern states have not regulated the articles…

GLC01450.145

May 21, 1775

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Warren

Written by Sullivan as a member of the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts to Warren as President of the Committee of Safety. Says this letter will be transmitted by Mr. Seammell, who he has recommended to be major of the York County Regiment. Says the regiment from Cumberland County will only have one gun for every three men and that they expect to be armed by the Province of Massachusetts. Says if the colony does not intend to arm those men, then Colonel March needs to be notified immediately. Claims it might be best if no men were brought from that part of the colony (which is present…

GLC01450.146

1778

Gates, Horatio, 1727-1806

Letter

Title: to Lord Thanet

Copy of a letter to Thanet in which Gates appeals to Britain to recognize American independence. Cites the American victory at Saratoga and foretells "Calamities which England will sustain" if the war is continued. A version of this letter was printed in the 29 April 1778 edition of the Pennsylvania Evening Post.

GLC01450.150

July 26, 1778

Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Campbell

Discusses obtaining clothing and related expenses for a newly raised regiment to be stationed at Fort Pitt. Requests an account of his expenditure of his $60,000 budget. Written at the War Office.

GLC01450.152

November 23, 1779

Paine, Samuel, 1754-1807

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Amasa Davis & Co.

Letter describes trading conditions in the South. Encloses account of sale of the cargo of the ship "Dove," which amounted to over 20,800 pounds (the account is not included here). Knows recipient will be disappointed with the small cargo being sent to Boston, but says the war has made shipping a precarious business. Complains of high prices after the failed attempt to take Savannah and the increased local demand after the harvest. Apologizes for not finding any light articles or valuable produce to ship and says prices will not drop until after Christmas. Recommends against shipping indigo…

GLC01450.158

February 29, 1780

Bullard, John, 1756-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Man

Written by preacher John Bullard to Rufus Man. Asks Man to join him at the schoolhouse that evening at 1 a.m. precisely. Tells him to say nothing to anyone.

GLC01450.160

July 22, 1777

Trumbull, Jonathan, Sr., 1710-1785

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezekiel Williams

Written by Trumbull as Governor of Connecticut to Williams as Commissary of Prisoners at Hartford. Asks Williams to follow through on the request of Elias Boudinot, the congressionally appointed Commissary General of Prisoners, for information. Tells Williams to pass along a list of prisoners and expenses to Boudinot's assistant, Mr. Messerau, when he arrives from Boston. Says Boudinot has written "several" times for this information and that Williams needs to move so prisoner exchanges and reimbursements can be facilitated.

GLC01450.163

March 6, 1778

Davis, Eleazar, 1722-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Hand

Informs Hand that "a Gentleman by the Name of Elliot" can verify "what I have related to you concerning myself." Written at Fort Pitt.

GLC01450.164

May 1, 1761

Saltonstall, Richard, fl. 1761

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Shepherd

Saltonstall, commander of a regiment during the French War, provides Shepherd the names of the officers who have been appointed to serve with him. He is ordered to make weekly returns to Major Salah Barnard of the number of men that he and his officers enlist. Details the form of the company's uniforms, and tells him the name and location of the tailor who will prepare these. Further orders will come from Major Barnard.

GLC01450.179