November 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to the Convention of Maryland

Enclosing a letter from James Searle regarding possible attack by British fleet. On November 13, 1776 Searle spotted about one hundred British ships off the point of Sandy Hook at Long Branch, New Jersey. He immediately wrote to Thomas Wharton Jr., chairman of the Pennsylvania Council for Safety and warned him that the ships seemed to be heading southward. The letter caused great worry in Congress. Hancock sent letters to assemblies in all of the Southern states, and enclosed a copy of Searle's letter as well. However, the British fleet Searle saw was heading for Britain. Letter also notes…

GLC00779

11 September 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Commission of Martin Eichelberger as first lieutenant].

Cosigned by Charles Thompson.

GLC00782.05

October 2, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to the Assembly of New Jersey

President of the Continental Congress Hancock reminds the Assembly of New Jersey of the requirement that they provide the military with physicians to certify surgeons and their assistants. If New Jersey does not comply, it will risk losing representation in Congress. Several other states were called upon to take the same action.

GLC00782.06

12 May 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Daniel Howard as state senator]

Appoints Howard as a Massachusetts state senator from "Plimouth" County. Partially printed document signed. Signed by Hancock as Governor. Countersigned by Avery as secretary.

GLC00945.05

March 9, 1779

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Clarke

Hancock writes to Treasurer Clarke that he must deny his request for a loan, as the state is too burdened with debt. " ... the Situation of our publick Funds, & the large Calls for Money by Loans for the Service of the State, makes it impossible to obtain Loans for any other purposes."

GLC00987

29 May 1788

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: To the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives

A conference with the Penobscot Indians. Signed with initials

GLC08037

27 March 1784

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter

Title: To: Massachusetts delegates in Congress.

Petition on "lands laying to the west of Husdon's River which belong to this common wealth"

GLC08038

11 October 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph document signed

Title: [Orders to George Washington to blockade the Hudson River]

Orders to blockade and defend Mount Washington from the enemy without regard to expense. Allows Washington's appointment of a Deputy Commissary of Stores for the Army at New York. Docket not in Hancock's hand.

GLC00372.01

17 November 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Henry Knox's Congressional appointment as colonel of artillery in the Continental Army]

Congress represents the "United Colonies." Hancock signs as President of Congress. Also signed by Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress. Extremely fragile, and torn in several creases.

GLC02437.10435

20 November 1771

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Note]

Note of exchange for Henry Knox for the amount of £100 sterling.

GLC02437.08272

14 September 1768

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed letter signed

Title: to the Selectmen of Medway, Massachusetts

Along with Hancock, Joseph Jackson, John Ruddock, John Rowe and Samuel Pemberton signed as the selectmen of Boston. Recounts Parliament's impositions on the Americans via the Intolerable Acts and the alarm caused by the announcement by Sir Francis Bernard, the royal governor of New Jersey, that additional regiments were expected in Massachusetts. Announces a convention to discuss the matters.

GLC03110

27 December 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Henry Knox to Brigadier General of Artillery]

Congressional appointment for Knox to the newly created rank of Brigadier General of Artillery. "We, resposing especial Trust and Confidence in your Patriotism, Valour, Conduct and Fidelity, DO, by these Presents, constitute and appoint you to be a Brigadier General of Artillery." Signed by Hancock as President and attested by Charles Thomson as Secretary, both of the Continental Congress.

GLC02437.00500

4 January 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission for John Popkins as Captain]

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

GLC02437.10002

circa 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: Congress's proposed ship's passport

Certifying Congress's proposed ship's passport, which became part of the 1778 Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France, the Nation's first treaty with a foreign power in the hand of Charles Thompson

GLC08115

February 1, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of James Mackinson to First Lieutenant] [Fragment]

Partially printed document appointing James Mackinson a first Lieutenant. Attested by Charles Thomson as secretary. The top of the document, which contained Mackinson's name, has been lost. The name is found on the docket.

GLC02437.00529

February 14, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Commission of Gideon Stebbins]

Countersigned by Charles Thomson. Partially printed appointment of Gideon Stebbins to Second Lieutenant in the Army of the United States Colonies. Accompanied by two signed payrolls for militia commanded by Stebbins during Shays' rebellion. The payrolls are dated June 1786 and September 1786. (GLC01412.10.01 + GLC01412.10.02)

GLC01412.10.01

February 9, 1776

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Document signed

Title: Commission of John Harper, Quartermaster of 4th Battallion, Penna.

Partially printed document, cosigned by Charles Thomson.

GLC00184.15

1777/04/14

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Broadside

Title: Resolution [revising act of Congress for governing troops]

Printed by Dunlap. Signed in type by John Hancock.

GLC01182

1788 ca.

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph manuscript

Title: Draft of address to Mass. Legislature after ratification of the Constitution

Discusses the new form of government and reminds legislators of their desire for a Bill of Rights.

GLC01559

1788/04/01

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document

Title: re: 300,000 acres of western territory agreed to be ceded by state of New York

Also discusses funds for "extinquishing by purchase the claims of the native indians". Clerical signatures of Hancock and Samuel Adams. Noted by John Avery Jr. as a "True Copy"

GLC07044

1788/02/16

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Transmits a copy of the proceedings of the Massachusetts ratifying convention for the Constitution. Notes that the Convention recommended amendments and alterations to the Constitution.

GLC04362

February 18, 1777

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Written by Hancock as President of the Continental Congress to Morris as a Continental Congressman from Pennsylvania. Reports to Morris that Congress will return to Philadelphia, and suggests that its return may relieve some of the burden of Morris's work. Says he has sent his secretary to secure a house for him. Hancock also asks for wagons to transport the papers of Congress from Baltimore. Asks for four of them. Concluding with a kind postscript: "A number of friends... dine with me tomorrow, when we shall not be unmindful of our Philada friends." Free frank is in Hancock's signature on…

GLC04431

1775/04/15

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Broadside

Title: In Provincial Congress. [Massachusetts broadside re: day of fasting and prayer]

Broadside calling for a day of fasting and prayer. (Trimmed)

GLC07467

1777/07/29-1777/08/03

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: Resolutions re: relieving Major General St. Clair and Schuyler of command

Resolutions of Congress, signed as President, countersigned by William Houston. Also calls for more soldiers. Was written in Congress.

GLC07477

1782/12/24

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Autograph note signed

Title: Promissory note to Ms. Margaret Tidmarsh for 300 pounds

GLC06746.04