April 3, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: Instructions to the commanders of private ships or vessels of war, which shall have commissions or letters of marque and reprisal, authorizing them to make captures of British vessels and cargoes.

Printed as a broadside. Signed by Hancock as President of the Second Continental Congress. Contains eleven articles created by Congress authorizing private American ships to capture British vessels. Instructs American captains to bring captured goods, ships, and persons to court in the colonies following capture. Forbids torture of captured persons, demanding civilized conduct. Requires captains to transmit a written account of capture to Congress. Demands that one third, "at the least, of your whole Company shall be Land-Men." Forbids the ransom of prisoners.

GLC00038.01

11 October 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Header Record

Title: Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River [Decimalized .01-.02]

Entirely in Hancock's hand except for clerical date. includes mezzo tint of Hancock.

GLC00372

25 October 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Print

Title: The Hon. John Hancock of Boston... Done from an original picture paint

With platemark numbered 84. Based on painting by Littleford, Oct. 25, 1775

GLC00372.02

July 5, 1787

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Massachusetts Governor Hancock requests permission of New Hampshire Governor Sullivan to send troops in pursuit of rebels involved in Shays's rebellion through his state.

GLC00300

13 September 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Assignment of privateer's bond by John Hancock to Joseph Hewes and Robert Smith]

Countersigned by Jacob Rush and Benjamin Towne. Revokes the earlier privateer commission given to Barzilla Smith by Hancock as President of the Congress of the United States because Smith did not conduct himself and his crew according to the terms of the bond. The commission stated that Smith would have to make reparations of $5,000 for any damage caused by the misconduct of himself or his crew (see GLC01450.014.02). Smith, as commander of the privateer schooner, the Eagle, apprehended a brig called the Joseph, owned by Joseph Hewes and Robert Smith of North Carolina who state Barzilla…

GLC01450.014.01

May 15, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Free frank

Title: to Thomas Johnson

The docket has been separated from the Free Frank (address leaf). Johnson was the governor of Maryland.

GLC01412.52

February 1, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

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

GLC01205.01

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

14 August 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Samuel Nicholson as Commander of Frigate Deane]

Signed by Hancock as President of the Countersigned by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress.

GLC01450.001

19 March 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Promotion of George Clark to Second Lieutenant of a Company of foot in the seventh Pennsylvania regiment].

Countersigned by Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson. Official document promoting Clark. Partially printed, with blanks filled in by hand. Hancock signed as President of the Continental Congress.

GLC01253

13 November 1787

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Massachusetts state pardon for Scripture Frost for counterfeiting coin]

Frost was sentenced to stand in pillory for 1 hour and to 2 years hard labor. Conditionally pardoned excepting that Frost pay a 25 Pound ($40) fine. Signed and sealed by John Hancock as governor. Written by Secretary to the Governor John Avery, Jr. Includes pieces of Continental currency.

GLC01988

February 1, 1785

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: to William Davis and Benjamin Russell

Countersigned by John Avery as Secretary of State. Calls for Davis and Russell to take depositions from Patience and William Cornell regarding their divorce. Note on page two dated 8 February 1785 and signed by Justice William Davis, states that he has performed the duty requested. With paper seal of Massachusetts.

GLC02357

26 August 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: Commission of Thomas Noyes.

Assigns Noyes as Lieutenant of the Eleventh Company in the Second Regiment of the Brigade raised by the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Signed by Hancock as President of Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary.

GLC02150.01

1 January 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission for William Burbeck as First Lieutenant Colonel]

Partially-printed document signed. Countersigned by Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Burbeck is commissioned to serve in the artillery regiment commanded by Henry Knox.

GLC02437.10001

March 4, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Dorothy Hancock

Letter written by Hancock, a Declaration of Independence signer, as President of the Continental Congress to his wife. Apparently written on the road to Congress. Says he is stuck where he is until the ice is cut and he can cross with the ferry. Says "My Boy" Joe has treated him ill when he got drunk on his wine, broke several bottles, and dropped his trunk out of the wagon, which was later found. He was brought to the inn drunk and put to bed. Hancock says he will "turn him adrift" once he gets to Philadelphia. He is glad he did not leave him with her, because he "would have been a plague."…

GLC01732

August 5, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Horatio Gates

Letter written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Gates as Commander of the Northern Department. Says enclosed resolutions (which are not included here) give him command of the army. Gates was in a struggle for control of the Northern Department with General Philip Schuyler, which he won on August 4, 1777 after storming into the halls of Congress to plead his case. His victory came partially because Schuyler had lost Fort Ticonderoga to General John Burgoyne's invading forces. Congress's resolutions ended the squabble for power and allowed Gates to concentrate on defeating…

GLC01498

10 May 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Captain's commission for William North]

Partly printed document signed by Hancock as President of Continental Congress and co-signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. This commission gives William North the rank of captain. A later note at the top of the document, by North's son, says "This Commission went with my father in his bosom through the War of the Revolution." The condition of the document attests to this note. It's been folded many times and has been repaired. The docket on verso is faded and hard to read.

GLC02524

6 August 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolve of Congress on General Gates's call for militia]

Written in the hand of William Churchill Houston as deputy secretary of the Continental Congress. Signed by Continental Congress President Hancock. It is noted that this is a copy from the Journals of Congress. Resolve issued in the aftermath of the fall of Fort Ticonderoga to the British. On 2 August 1777 Gates was given the permission of Congress to requisition from each state's militia the number of men he felt was necessary to defend against General John Burgoyne's advance. This resolve was sent to help Gates in his recruitment saying it is "impossible, in the present Circumstances of…

GLC02525

July 5, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to New Jersey Convention

The letter announces the Declaration of Independence. Stamps on verso: "Sold by Merchantile Library" [red stamp] "Tomlinson Collection" [purple stamp]. With docket on page 2.

GLC00154.01

17 October 1781

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Norton Quincy as Justice of the Peace].

Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, John Hancock, appointed Justice of the Peace, Norton Quincy, for the County of Suffolk. The order gives a general sketch of the duties of Quincy's new office. Partially printed. Accompanied by frilled paper seal of the State that protrudes from the broadsheet on the upper left side.

GLC00210

16 March 1778

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Partially printed document authorizing the forcible capture of British vessels]

This document serves as a form by which Continental Congress authorizes the seizure of British ships and crew members in a warlike manner. Originally signed by Hancock during his term as President of the Congress (24 May 1775- 31 October 1777). This particular document authorizes Ebenezer Williams, Commander of the Polly, to seize British vessels. States that the Polly is owned by Andrew Caldwell of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Signed at the bottom by William Mumford, a Secretary, and Rhode Island Governor Nicholas Cooke. Williams' name and other information appear to have been filled…

GLC00231

February 12, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Resolution to Colonel Anthony Wayne]

Transcribed by Charles Thomson Secretary of the Continental Congress from 1774-1788. Resolve requesting all colonels of the Pennsylvania battalions to send a report detailing the number condition of the enlisted men as well as the places where they are now and their rank. This specific order was sent to Colonel Anthony Wayne. Signed By Hancock, President of the Continental Congress.

GLC00496.031

June 4, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress. Begins by saying "Our affairs are hastening fast to a Crisis; and the approaching Campaign will in all Probability, determine for ever the Fate of America." Says the King and Parliament has left no measure unemployed to accomplish their destruction. Says they are blockading the coast and about to pour in foreign troops. Says the affairs in Canada have "a melancholy Aspect" to them. Says it is likely the colonies will have to deal with Canada and the northern Indians as well as Great Britain. Sends resolves of Congress (not included…

GLC00639.12

July 6, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Cooper

Enclosing the Declaration of Independence, with personal notes to his friend and description of sabotage of a captured American ship. Cooper was town clerk of Boston. Also, discusses military matters.

GLC00595

10 June 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Resolution to equalize pay of troops]

Resolution of Congress to equalize pay of the troops in the Middle Department with that of those in the Eastern Department. Passed by the Continental Congress in response to George Washington's 8 June 1776 letter stating that Congress had intended such a resolution, but had not yet passed it.

GLC00782.07