September 9, 1782

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Gen. David Forman

Letter written in the hand of Washington's aide-de-camp Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. Written two months before the signing of the first provisional peace treaty between Great Britain and the United States in Paris on November 30, during the uneasy lull that followed American victory at Yorktown in September 1781. As Brigadier General of New Jersey militia, Forman had acted as Washington's watchman since 1780 by keeping the Commander in Chief advised of enemy movements off the coast. Even after ratification of the peace treaty, it was not until November 1783 that British troops entirely evacuated…

GLC01783

1778

Book

Title: Recueil des loix constitutives des colonies [french compilation of US documents]

French compilation of documents relating to American independence and self-rule, including state constitutions. Includes Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation. Dedicated to Franklin.

GLC01720

October 3, 1775

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph Palmer

Letter written as member of Congress to a neighbor at home. The letter discusses family news and congressional business. Adams mentions Franklin, Lynch, and Harrison forming a committee to visit New England to investigate continuation of a united army.

GLC01725

1776

Pownall, Thomas, 1722-1805

Header Record

Title: Declaration of Independence [book printing]: The remembrancer....

GLC01730

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

4 September 1777

Pemberton, Israel, fl. 1777

Broadside

Title: The following remonstrance, was this day presented to the president and Council, by the hands of their secretary. To the president and council of Pennsylvania. The Remonstrance of Israel Pemberton, John Hunt, and Samuel Pleasants.

Pemberton, Hunt, and Pleasants were Quakers protesting their seizure and pending exile to Virginia because of suspected Loyalist sympathy. Printed by Robert Bell as the British army approached Philadelphia. Reference material: Evans 15498.

GLC01757

9 September 1777

Pemberton, Israel, fl. 1777

Broadside

Title: Mason's Lodge, September 9th, 1777, 10 o'clock P.M. To the inhabitants of Pennsylvania.

Title continues: "the following is a copy of a paper we received at half past four o'clock this afternoon, and we have since received orders to prepare for our banishment to-morrow." Reprints the resolutions issued by Secretary of the Supreme Executive Council Timothy Matlack that banishes twenty-two individuals to Virginia on suspicion of being Loyalist sympathizers. Page 2 includes the "Remonstrance and protest of the subscribers," which charges that the resolutions are arbitrary and unlawful. Evans 15501.

GLC01758

June 22, 1779

Deane, Silas, 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Barnabas Deane

Writing to his brother in reference to accusations of fraud against him in relation to foreign procurement of supplies, Deane finds "our Situation,...without a Parallel either in Ancient or Modern Story." Also describes the plight of American money, her people and her army.

GLC01759

1 September 1775

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of Henry Clinton a lieutenant general in the British Army "in America only"]

Issued at the Court of St. James's and countersigned by George Germain. A note indicates it was filed with the Secretary of War. Includes a paper seal. Docket on back notes "in America only."

GLC01763

February 15, 1779

Howe, Robert, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John F. Grimké

Letter written by Major General Howe as Commander of the Southern Department after the defeat at Savannah, Georgia that led to his court martial (he was later exonerated). Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Grimké as Deputy Adjunct General for South Carolina and Georgia. He acknowledges Grimké's last letter and tells him to send future correspondence to the President of Congress. He is travelling north to Philadelphia after the popular outcry against him for the loss at Savannah. He hopes they can remain friends after he leaves. Mentions that "the present Patriot" - meaning John Rutledge, who was…

GLC01764

July 9, 1780

De Kalb, Johann, 1721-1780

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Caswell

Letter signed as "Baron de Kalb." Writes to Major General Caswell about the Camden campaign. Discusses trouble procuring provisions. Judges that it would not be prudent to travel "not even to Cole's bridge with our whole Body of Troops, for we durst not expose parties of Collecting Provisions, when the Enemies are So near, So Superior in Cavalry & for what I know in Infry; if you would chuse not to go as far as Cole's Bridge but halt Where you now are...We might with propriety reassure our plan for Coxe's." Notes that he will send back some artillery to lighten their traveling load. Also…

GLC01766

September 1779- February 1780

Laperouse, Jean-François de Galaup, Comte de, 1741-1788

Document signed

Title: [Monthly list of armorer's supplies for the Frigate L'Amazone] [In French]

Laperouse signs six times (once per month).

GLC01768

September 24, 1776

Folsom, Nathaniel, 1726-1790

Letter signed

Title: to Artemas Ward

Letter signed as chairman of the Committee of Public Safety as the Exeter Committee of Safety prepares for war. Reports that one thousand men are marching towards New York to serve in Washington's army. Has sent this letter as an express to Boston to determine whether ammunition should be sent along with New Hampshire's troops.

GLC01460

17 July 1782

Carleton, Guy, 1724-1808

Document signed

Title: [Authorization for payment to General William Howe's forces in New York]

Dating from the final months of British occupation of New York during the American Revolution. To Deputy Paymaster William Deane Poyntz. Countersigned by W. Morgan. Payment of 246 pounds, 19 shillings, and 4 pence sterling for the provisions of Howe's 23rd Regiment of Foot. Money to be paid to Paymaster Captain James Drury. Partly printed document, numbered 38.

GLC01468

30 June 1780

Avery, John, 1739-1806

Broadside

Title: [Massachusetts Order to recruit aid to fight against the British in New Jersey]

One broadside from Massachusetts calling for recruiters, officers and town selectmen who "are fired with love of Freedom and scorn to be Slaves" to fight against the British army in Morristown, New Jersey. Message printed by John Avery.

GLC01495

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

15 May 1776

Hart, John, 1708-1780

Autograph document signed

Title: to the Treasurers of the Provincial Congress of New Jersey

Certifies payment to Augustine Stevenson for his service as a member of the New Jersey Committee of Safety.

GLC01499

December 24, 1780

Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter written by Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. Says he will need the recipient's assistance when he goes before Congress, the French Ambassador, and the Generals of the Continental Army to communicate the wants and needs of the southern states. Wants information on the troops under the recipient's command. Would like a full report on their status, place of origin, and supplies. Says the assembly is "straining every nerve to send you a respectable body of men, to cloth them well and to lay in the necessary stock of…

GLC01502

February 16, 1776

Williams, William, 1731-1811

Autograph document signed

Title: [Document allocating funds for the construction of a naval galley]

Williams, a Lebanon, Connecticut city clerk and Selectman, reports that at a previous meeting, the Governor and Council of Safety of Connecticut voted that the Committee of Pay Tables should collect money to build a galley for use by the colony. States that the sum will be accounted for by Captain Jonathan Lester. Instructs that Lester draw his order on Constable Jabez Hough of Norwich. Lester signs on verso, stating "Please to pay or Discount the within to Jabez Hough." Hough also signs, underneath an order to the treasurer for the amount requested. Docketed 15 March [1776].

GLC01503

August 7, 1776

Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Varick

In the postscript it says letter has been forwarded to Connecticut Governor Trumbull and General David Waterbury of Connecticut shortly after General Schuyler led the controversial retreat from Crown Point. Says he received their letters from August 4-5, 1776, along with their enclosures. Asks them to send iron and spikes and any other supplies they might think the army will need. Says he is "greatly surprised" that money has not arrived and says he will not be to blame if it doesn't arrive. Says they can borrow on his credit as long as they can, but to keep track of who they are borrowing…

GLC01529

April 9, 1778

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Clement Biddle

Greene mentions that he discussed his plan to amend Pennsylvania's wagon law with General George Washington, who suggested that the change might cause jealousy between the army and state. Closes the letter by mentioning the return of Lafayette, who wants his old quarters back. Greene, as the new Quartermaster General for the Continental Army, desired a change in the wagon laws as part of a larger effort to reorganize the transport operations. Commissary General Biddle had previously served as Greene's aide-de-camp.

GLC01637

1776-1792

Sawyer, William, 1753-1817

Header Record

Title: Account book and deed pertaining to William Sawyer [Decimalized .01-.02]

GLC01626

September 9, 1780

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: Appointing county commissioners to procure supplies for Continental army

Two printed documents, one signed by Jefferson as governor of Virginia. The supply requisition was for county troops going to the Carolinas. The second document is a printed extract of the relevant act of the Virginia assembly (13 x 16 cm.)

GLC01634

October 22, 1780

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Letter signed

Title: to Lieutenant of Berkeley Co.

Manuscript letter signed by Jefferson as governor of Virginia, ordering the Lieutenant of Berkeley County to mobilize a quarter of the county militia. The letter also discusses the arrival of British troops.

GLC01636

20 June 1776

Howe, Richard Howe, Earl, 1726-1799

Manuscript document

Title: Official French copy of Benjamin Franklin-Richard Howe letters [in French]

First letter dated 20 June 1776, written aboard the Eagle off of Sandy Hook, New Jersey, is from Admiral Richard Howe to Benjamin Franklin. Encloses official dispatches (not present) outlining his mission of peace with the colonies. Mentions in his postscript that his brother, General William Howe, will act as a fellow peace commissioner. Franklin replies on 30 July 1776 from Philadelphia. Refuses the offers of a pardon in the case of the colonies' surrender, as outlined in the official documents referred to by Howe. Rejects the idea of surrender and excoriates the British Empire for what…

GLC01670