20 April 1775

Randell, Timothy, fl. 1765-1775

Autograph document signed

Title: to Ebenzer Williams

Randell asks for part of the town's supply of lead to make into bullets.

GLC01412.55

February 1778

Helme, R.J., fl. 1768-1778

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Authorization for John Reynolds]

Reynolds is given permission to withdraw 10,000 pounds from the General Treasury to purchase goods ordered by the General Assembly. Includes Reynold's signed docket and various received amounts on verso. Surname possibility spelt Helm.

GLC01412.56

September 22, 1779

Groves, William, fl. 1769-1779

Letter signed

Title: to unknown

Groves reports the capture of the British schooner Revenge. The schooner, formerly commanded by Hugh Gorden, is expected to arrive at Beverly Port.

GLC01412.57

May 28, 1775

Jewett, D., fl. 1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his son

A father writes to his son outside of Boston in the early stages of the siege. Relates that he just heard that "our Forces" march to Boston tomorrow. Was disposed to visit him in camp, but sends this letter instead. He sends his kindest regards and says his only daughter, Sally, is with him. Says she behaves well and is in good health. Says "She has not had one Turn of Hysterick-Disorder since she came." Includes some of her "broken Scrawls," but in a postscript says she tore it up to bits before he could include it. He will watch her as long as he remains at the front. He thanks God for his…

GLC01412.58

February 12, 1776

Langdon, Henry Sherburne, 1766-1858

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Woodbury Langdon

Letter written by the ten-year-old son of Woodbury Langdon. Woodbury was elected to the New Hampshire assembly in 1774-1775, but then spent the next two years in England trying to recover a large sum he invested there. This letter was sent to England. Henry says that Doctor Brackett asked him to write and to ask for a watch, laced hat, sword, and pistol. He says he has been a good boy, attended school, minded his books, and been good to his mother, brothers, and sisters. He tells his father that he has a new little sister since he left, and says he is looking forward to seeing him. He signs…

GLC01412.59

December 20, 1776

DeBlois, Elizabeth, 1761-1843

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Winslow Esq. and wife

DeBlois writes to her sister and brother in New York. She comments on her good health and hopes that she sees her family again soon. A postscript mentions rebels leaving Cumberland (Nova Scotia). Paper contains a loyalist watermark.

GLC01412.60

October 7, 1779

Ten Broeck, Abraham, 1734-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clinton

Letter written by Ten Broeck as a Brigadier General of Albany County militiamen to New York Governor Clinton. He references Clinton's letter from October 4, 1779 and thanks him for its enclosures. Says he has consulted with Colonel Klock and that he has sent out brigade orders which he is enclosing for Clinton (not included here). Paper has a watermark. Ten Broeck was a well-known colonial figure associated with the Livingston family who emerged as an important New York revolutionary, taking part in the Provincial Congress and serving as a delegate to the New York State Constitutional…

GLC01412.62

8 June 1781

Hopkins, Esek, 1718-1802

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal document created by a committee of the Rhode Island General assembly]

Signed by Hopkins, former Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy, as deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly. Cosigned by committee member John Jenckes. Order to pay Job Greene one hundred and thirteen pounds and five shillings. Endorsed by John Warner on behalf of Job Greene on verso. Joseph Clarke was state treasurer of Rhode Island for forty years.

GLC01412.64.02

30 October 1780

Bureau general des Postes

Printed document signed

Title: [Notice regarding postage] [in French]

Printed notice requesting the payment of postage to an office in France, in order to prevent further delay of the transmission of a letter. Written to Monsieur Cerranon in Baltimore, Maryland.

GLC01412.64.03

May 10, 1777

Ridges, R., fl. 1777

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Samuel Purveyance

Requests a portion of shirts purchased by Purveyance for the Continental troops.

GLC01412.64.06

April 1, 1782

Bowen, Jabez, 1739-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Stevens

Bowen states that he has received a request from Stevens to supply rations to Rhode Island troops. Stevens is instructed to only answer orders from Bowen or Lieutenant Colonel Olney regarding supplies for troops. Jabez Bowen was Deputy-Governor of Rhode Island from 1778-1786.

GLC01412.64.09

January 2, 1781

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Stevens

Heath acknowledges his reception of the Quarter Master's receipt for Colonel Hazen's regiment. Letter written from "Garrison West Point."

GLC01412.64.10

1777

Chapin, Ephraim, 1745-1812

Document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Ephraim Chapin's Company]

Also signed by William Pynchon, who attests to the validity of this pay roll. Includes names, dates of engagement and discharge, rank, and amount of pay per soldier.

GLC01412.64.11

May 6, 1782

Taylor, John, fl. 1744-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Livingston

Letter written by Colonel Taylor, commander of the 4th Hunterdon militia, to New Jersey Governor Livingston. He tells Livingston that the citizens of Brunswick have mounted a piece of artillery and have procured everything necessary for it. Says a company has also been formed and officers elected to command it. Says they ask the governor to grant a commission to Henry Lupp and if it is thought necessary to Peter Nessis. The company consists of 20 privates. Says "Give me leave to congratulate you Sir upon the present favourable appearance of our public affairs - the prospect begins to brighten…

GLC01412.64.12.01

March 24, 1780

Rogers, Daniel Denison, 1751-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Martha Rogers

To his sister, whom he calls Patty, a common nickname at the time for Martha. Comments on her impending marriage, his own bachelorhood, and shirts she has sewn for him. Roger's wife, Abigail Bromfield, was the subject of a famous painting by John Singleton Copley.

GLC01412.64.13

5 September 1780

Blake, Increase, fl. 1780

Autograph document signed

Title: Prisoners in Worcester Goal

List of five prisoners in the Worcester, Massachusetts, jail. Also mentions reasons for imprisonment: two for not paying ministerial taxes, one for desertion, one as a prisoner of war, and one for threatening the life of another person in Worcester.

GLC01412.64.14

May 11, 1776

Lee, Charles, 1732-1782

Letter signed

Title: to Edmund Pendleton

Letter discusses the differences in pay for Continental and state soldiers. Comments on the activities of "Mr. Agnew who was lately tryed by the Committee" and other Tories as they related to the British assault on Hog Island. Letter written to Pendleton as President of the Virginia Convention.

GLC01421

July 9, 1778

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Francis Barber

Letter addressed to Barber in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, where he was recovering from a wound received at the Battle of Monmouth. Washington instructs Barber to obtain intelligence on the British movements across the Hudson river in New York while in New Jersey. He informs that any expenses will be repaid. Washington expresses relief that Barber's wound is healing. He states that, "Tho I wish for your services, I would not have you to rejoin the Army before your condition will admit of it, with the most perfect safety." Text of the letter and the address are written in the hand of Washington'…

GLC01201

March 12, 1777

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Orders to submit a regimental return]

A working draft of a clerical copy of a circular letter from George Washington. These, or comparable, orders were given by George Washington on 12 March 1777 to various colonels of the Continental Army. (See Fitzpatrick and the GW Papers at the Library of Congress for numerous examples, which demonstrate slightly varied wording.) Instructs recipient to "march all the Recruits you have to Philadelphia, where they will be inoculated and receive farther Orders from the Commanding officers of that City ... Every Commanding officer should know where his inferior officers, and these where their…

GLC01205.04

October 28, 1775

Warren, Mercy Otis, 1728-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ellen Lothrop

Letter written by Warren, the well known Revolutionary and post-Revolutionary writer, to her friend Lothrop. Says she will leave politics for others to discuss and that she only has warm feelings for the circle of friends in Fairfield (where Lothrop is). Fears she will spend a very lonely winter, but would not want her husband back if would hurt the American cause. Year inferred from contents. Mrs. Warren is confident she will avoid bloodshed in her area and expects Providential intervention "to save the injured distressed Americans." Says the bearer of this letter will relate the news that…

GLC01189.01

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

February 25, 1777

Peters, Richard, 1744-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Smallwood

Letter written by Peters as secretary to the Continental Board of War to Brigadier General Smallwood. Says that he is sending a circular letter written by the Board with an enclosed resolve from Congress (the resolve is not included, but the circular letter is on verso). He requests his assistance as the matter is pressing. Says letters have been sent to Colonels Gist and Richardson as a matter of course and are not meant to countermand any orders he may have given them in regard to the Tory expedition. Congress wants to keep its previous promise to assist Maryland with the insurgents, but…

GLC01205.03

March 1776

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Livingston Jay

Written by Jay as a member of the Continental Congress to his wife Sarah, who he refers to as "Sally." References Sarah's letter from March 17, 1776 (date of creation inferred from this reference), which gave news of her and their son's improved health. Tells the story of the "Conch Shell Beauty" - a beautiful young woman he met in November 1775. Said he was traveling with Lewis Morris and that the good weather and roads induced them to walk to Gray's Ferry to dine. As they were having a fire made in a private room, they sat in the common room and spoke to people coming back from the market.…

GLC01220

1775

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Pamphlet

Title: A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies Of North America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia, Setting forth the Causes and Necessity of their taking up Arms.

Secretly printed pamphlet co-authored with John Dickinson. 8vo. Signed in type by Hancock and Charles Thompson. Printed in Philidelphia. For the London printing see GLC00156.

GLC01240

February 13, 1776

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Thomas Mumford, Groton

Docketed. Containing the comment that gunpowder "will be of the utmost service to the cause of Liberty & America." Free franked "On the service of the United Colonies" (probably not George Washington's hand), but not signed.

GLC01117