circa 1781-1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Printed document signed

Title: [Congressional certificate authorizing vessels to engage in military activity]

Signed below seal by John Hanson. Countersigned by Charles Thompson, Secretary of the Continental Congress. Contains blank spaces designated for the name of commander and vessel, the vessel's weight and type, and the number of men on board. Created to authorize vessels (possibly privateers) to "set forth ... in a warlike manner ... to attack, subdue, seize, and take all ships and other vessels, goods, wares and merchandizes, belonging to the King or Crown of Great Britain ..." Features paper seal.

GLC04870

19 March 1781

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Thanksgiving proclamation]

Signed by Hanson as President of Continental Congress and countersigned by Charles Thomson as Secretary to Congress. Proclamation from Congress calls "upon the several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." There is a slight paper loss to the edge of the document. Although the document bears the year 1781, Hanson did not serve as president of Congress until November of that year. The circular letter that originally accompanied the proclamation (John Hanson to the States, 20 March 1782, Letters of Delegates to Congress, memory.…

GLC06420.01

24 June 1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Document signed

Title: [Certificate of appointment to rank of major general]

Partially printed document appointing William Heath to Major General in the Continental Army (Heath was previously a Major General of only Massachusetts troops and Brigadier General in the Continental Army). Signed by John Hanson as President of the Continental Congress and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as Secretary of War. Marked "No. 1" at the top above an embossed paper seal of the Department of War.

GLC01412.08

16 September 1782

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of William North as captain of 9th Massachusetts]

Signed by Hanson as President of Congress and countersigned by Benjamin Lincoln as Secretary of War. Document is official notification of William North's appointment as captain in the 9th Massachusetts Regiment. Says he is accorded the rank from the 10 May 1777. Includes embossed paper seal at top corner.

GLC02542.09

1777/05/13

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Johnson re: recommendation of Thomas Edison as battalion Adjutant

[Continental Congress members]

GLC02471.17

1782/04/10

Hanson, John, 1715-1783

Broadside

Title: Thanksgiving proclamation [with J. Trumbull printed note]

"The United States in Congress assembled... call upon the several states, to set apart the last Thursday in April next, as a day of fasting, humiliation and prayer." Printed by Timothy Green. This proclamation includes a printed note of Jonathan Trumbull (unlike 6420.01) Trumbull's proclamation states: "All servile labour is forbidden on said day."

GLC06420.02