2 September 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Broadside

Title: A proclamation

Issued as Governor of Massachusetts. Gives a brief account of the rebel mobs storming the Court of Common Pleas in Northampton. Calls upon all civil & military officers to suppress Shays' Rebellion.

GLC03538

13 December 1776

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Jonathan Trumbull

Informs Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, that "We join with you most fervently in your prayer that America may not be lost, or fall a Victim to the rage of a merciless tyranny. On the contrary we trust there is virtue & spirit enough in the United States to produce exertions sufficient with the blessing of Heaven to prevent it." Discusses details regarding enlisting soldiers for the Continental Army, including wages, length of service, the raising of militia, and cooperation between New England states related to raising troops. Mentions Generals George Washington, Lincoln (possibly…

GLC04947

March 23, 1770

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Co-signed by committee members Samuel Pemberton and Joseph Warren, transmitting the official statement on the Boston Massacre. Explains that they hoped she could intercede for them. Refer to the Macaulay papers, GLC01784.01-1800.04.

GLC01789.02

16 September 1789

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that their friend Mr. [Nathaniel] Barrett, the bearer of the letter, is applying to the President for the position in the Consulate of France. Relates that Mr. Barrett lived in France as a merchant and would be well-suited for the position. Hopes that if Knox agrees that Mr. Barrett is a good match for the position, he will second the nomination.

GLC02437.04359

February 10, 1789

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph note

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to dine with him at two o'clock. Year unknown. Noted as written at Beacon Street, which is most likely Beacon Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.08118

30 May 1750

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Deed]

Grants Thomas Flucker the rights to an estate and property. Signed by James and William Bowdoin, with several other people. Includes notes from Joshua Winslow as Justice of the Peace signed Boston 15 June and a note of receipt from Ezekiel Goldthwait signed 16 June 1750.

GLC02437.08950

20 October 1788

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text as "Mr. Bowdoin." Sends his compliments, and asks Knox who will pay the debt owed him by Thomas Flucker's estate (Flucker was Knox's late father-in-law).

GLC02437.04005

24 November 1788

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Agrees to propose the admission of two Spanish noblemen to the Academy of Arts and Sciences based on Knox's request (GLC02437.04033). Asks Knox to inform him of their titles and "literary character." The Spanish noblemen are the Marquis de Santa Cruz and the Duque de Almondovar (the VII Marqués de Almodóvar del Río, Pedro Francisco Ximénez de Góngora y Luján).

GLC02437.04034

14 December 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Manuscript letter

Title: to William Shepard

Thanks him for the intelligence provided by his last two letters. Says that the last of the letters was received by "your confidential Friend Major Shepard," and he has talked with him extensively about the matters contained therein. Writes that the Council will meet on 20 December, "when the means of effectually suppressing the Insurgents will be taken into serious consideration." Will hear from him on the subject as Shepard may have an active part in the situation. Asks for his ideas on the best plan for that purpose, from start to finish: "Beginning with the support of the Worcester…

GLC02437.03378

16 November 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of William North as a Major in the United States Army]

Partially printed document signed by Massachusetts Governor James Bowdoin countersigned by Secretary John Avery. North among troops raised by order of Congress on 20 October 1786. Features paper seal.

GLC02542.11

18 July 1776

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Document signed

Title: [Massachusetts Bay treasury document]

Partly printed document. Signed by Secretary Jonathan Avery and sent to Treasurer Henry Gardner. Also signed by members of the Council Chamber. The more prominent officials on the list include: future Massachusetts Governor James Bowdoin, Continental Congressman and future Massachusetts Acting Governor Thomas Cushing, and future Massachusetts Representative and Senator Benjamin Austin. There are 11 other signatures, including Caleb Cushing, Henry Gardner, Samuel Holten and Moses Gill. Document states that Gardner is directed to pay Beriah Norton, commissary, 500 pounds to provision the…

GLC01450.147

28 July 1780

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Lieutenant Zibeon Hooker]

Document names Zibeon Hooker as a lieutenant in the Fifth Regiment of Foot, in one of the fifteen battalions raised in Massachusetts to serve in the Continental Army under Colonel Rufus Putnam. Signed by John Avery, Secretary of State of Massachusetts and James Bowdoin as President of the Council.

GLC01450.616.01

February 17, 1787

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation: [amnesty offer to Shays's rebels]

Offers pardons to Massachusetts citizens who participated in Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787). Document includes a printed seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Printed by Adams and Nourse. Noted in Ford no. 2474.

GLC00518

December 13, 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Document signed

Title: [Appointment for Simon Elliot as captain]

Appoints Elliot as an Adjutant in the militia with the rank of captain under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln. This militia was being raised to put down Shay's rebellion. At the time it was actually an illegitimate militia put together by the upper classes in Massachusetts to put down the rebellion, but it later became legitimate. Also signed by James Austin as "Secretary." Massachusetts state seal is attached by a ribbon.

GLC01450.448.03

March 25, 1777

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

Bowdoin requests assistance in writing a history of the present disputes. Reports the American people "continue spirited & determined." Complains "the English now in America seem to have lost all that humanity for which they were justly famed."

GLC01791.02

1786/08/09

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elbridge Gerry

The Governor of Massachusetts asks Gerry to attend a meeting for the selection of state representatives for the Annapolis Convention, where matters of interstate commerce in regard to the restrictions in the Articles of Confederation would be discussed. Implies the need for Gerry to serve, because "the council" had concluded there could "be no such representation, unless some of the Gentleman appointed for that purpose by the General Court, accept the appointment." The meeting was scheduled for the following day, in the Massachusetts senate chamber. A draft of Gerry's response dated 11…

GLC02450.03

1780/06/16

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Broadside

Title: State of Massachusetts in Convention [State Constitution]

GLC03116