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

10 May 1776

Massachusetts Bay Council

Printed document signed

Title: [Appointment of Thomas Dingley as Massachusetts militia captain]

Partially printed document signed by Perez Morton as deputy secretary of the council. Other signers from the Massachusetts Bay Council included: James Otis, W. Spooner, Caleb and Thomas Cushing, B. Chadborn, Moses Gill, John Whitcomb, Jedediah Forster, Michael Farley, James Prescott, John Winthrop, B. White, and Dr. Samuel Holten. Appoints Dingley to the 13th company, in the 2nd regiment of militia from Plymouth County, commanded by Colonel John Cushing. Includes a paper seal.

GLC00993

25 July 1775

Warren, James, 1726-1808

Document signed

Title: [Appointment of Second Lieutenant Enos Briggs]

Document of the Congress of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay appoints Enos Briggs a second lieutenant of a Company of Foot. Signed by James Warren, President of the Congress and Samuel Freeman, Secretary of the Congress. On verso is note written by John Cushing, Jr., Justice of the Peace in Plymouth, that Briggs took the oath required by officers and soldiers of the Massachusetts Army on 2 September 1775.

GLC00994

December 24, 1776

Ward, Henry, 1732-1797

Document signed

Title: [Rhode Island laws]

Signed by Ward as Rhode Island Secretary of State. Printed set of laws passed by the legislature and Nicholas Cooke, Governor of Rhode Island. Second page lists members of the legislature. Each page lists resolutions and laws and each paragraph has a quick summary in a column next to it. Most of the laws and resolutions deal with military issues of the Revolution. Some examples of laws include: appointment of a council of war, regulation of prices of goods, and the raising of three regiments. Most provide for military details, the commissions of officers, and money payments. Document is bound…

GLC00996

8 May 1779

Greene, William, 1731-1809

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Appointment of John Collins as a Rhode Island delegate to the general congress]

Signed by Greene as governor of Rhode Island, countersigned by Henry Ward as secretary of state. Commissions Collins to represent Rhode Island in the general congress in Philadelphia until ratification of the Articles of Confederation.

GLC00997

July 21, 1781

Tilghman, Tench, 1744-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Richard Varick

Letter discusses several wartime matters: George Washington's desire for Varick to build an unspecified fortification, a lack of intelligence from Nathanael Greene and the Marquis de Lafayette, and reports of "a partial action between the Marquis and Cornwallis." Also congratulates Colonel Varick on his actions at Poughkeepsie. Letter written in a light-hearted manner and composed at "Head Quarters." Tilghman was Washington's aide-de-camp.

GLC00816

02 May 1780

United States. Continental Congress.

Broadside

Title: Instructions to captains and commanders of private armed vessels...

Evans 17021. Printed broadside authorizing privateering. With Thompson's name printed at end

GLC00820

December 6, 1781

Harrison, Benjamin, 1726-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to a Virginia state assemblyman

Mentions a set of instructions for the assembly addressed to Thomas Roane and Thomas Coleman which are to be handed out in the county by John Warden. Also mentions a letter from Colonel Thomas Newton concerning the possession of the Cape Lands, ". . . which it seems some designing persons are determined to possess, which will be the case if the assembly does not act." Dated in council. Docketed, "Governor's Letter, inclosing Newtons/Decr:6th:1781. /to lie on table."

GLC00854

2 June 1779

George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820

Document signed

Title: King's Warrant

Order to pay Arnold Nesbitt, Adam Drummond and Moses Franks 9915.18.4 pounds for services provided in feeding the British troops in America. Sent to Richard Rigby, "Paymaster General of Our Gaurds Garrisons and Land Forces. Also signed by Lords North, Westcote and Palmerston. Richard Rowland, attorney for Drummond, Franks, and the late Nesbitt, signs on verso. Crow signs integral blank staing "Entered 5th June 1779 into the office of the Comptrollers of the Accounts of the Army." Title is from verso of integral blank.

GLC00857

26 September 1776

Morton, John, 1724-1777

Document signed

Title: [Payment of salary to Benjamin Bartholomew]

Authorizes the treasurer for the county of Chester, Pennsylvania to pay Bartholomew 31 pounds and 12 shillings for 79 days attendance as a member of the house. Also three pounds, 16 shillings for mileage. Note on verso dated 12 October 1776 states "received of John Branton 22 pounds, 15 shillings." Signed as Speaker.

GLC01098

March 18, 1777

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Townsend

Continental Congressman Duer orders Captain Townsend to send an inventory of the effects of Israel Seaman and William Crocker to "the Commissioners appointed for his County." Townshend had apprehended Seaman and Crocker earlier by order of the Congress. Instructs Townsend to follow any directions concerning "the personal Estate" of the captured men given by the commissioners. Seaman and Crocker were possibly loyalists.

GLC01099

August 31, 1779

Harrison, Robert H., 1745-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Letter written by Colonel Harrison as secretary to General George Washington to an unknown recipient. References a letter received from the recipient on August 31, 1779. States that his private opinion is that the commissaries and conductors of military stores should not be included in the benefits of the resolve from August 18, unless they come under the description of the officers mentioned in the resolve. Otherwise, every officer in the army might be included under it. Says he has heard that Congress has other regulations under consideration, which will to be better suited than the resolve…

GLC01450.149

1775-1776

Massey, Eyre, 1719-1804

Document signed

Title: General Contingent Accompt of Garrison and Incidental Expences at Halfax, during the Command of Brigadier Genl Eyre Massey from 25th December 1775 to the 31st March 1776

Document signed by Major General Massey as commander of British forces on Nova Scotia. List of two vouchers for expenses of troops in Halifax; one for the "Contingent Accompt of the Garrison of Halifax," which could possibly mean the cost of extra troops sent to Halifax, and the other for "Incidental Expenses at Halifax." The entire bill is slightly over 181 pounds of Halifax currency. Place written inferred from the location of Massey's headquarters at the time. One edge repaired with tape on verso. On 1 April 1776, General Sir William Howe's troops arrived at Halifax after being forced out…

GLC01450.151

17 March 1781

Whittlesy, Martin, 1737-1800

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for Martin Whittlesey]

Receipt for seventy-six pounds received from Mr. Seymour. Name spelled Whittlesy in this document.

GLC01450.188.02

March 21, 1779

Crozer, John, fl. 1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Knowles

Discusses at length the poor state of politics and the monetary system. Remarks that he does not know how to answer all the demands made upon him and he has only a negative view of things to come. Advises Knowles to not let this information dampen his spirits or stop him from finishing his education. Finishes with a poem of Cato.

GLC01450.128

circa 1778

Document

Title: [Payment and orders for a Massachusetts regiment]

States that each person enlisted will get two pounds per month. They will march to the heights of Dorchester, Massachusetts to be formed into regiments, and will serve until 1 December 1778 unless discharged sooner. On the reverse is a note stating that the total amount of money to hire men to serve in the army bound for Canada is $287.

GLC01450.129

31 August 1778

Bayard, John Bubenheim, 1738-1807

Document signed

Title: [Receipt for drummers and fifers]

Orders David Rittenhouse to pay Captain William Duffield seven pounds, 19 shillings for obtaining drummers and fifers for his company. On reverse is a note signed by Duffield certifying that he received payment, 11 September 1778. Bayard signed as speaker.

GLC01450.130

1775

Header Record

Title: [Collection of two documents related to the Harlem campaign] [Decimalized .01- .02]

GLC01450.131

1 May 1775

Trumbull, Jonathan, Sr., 1710-1785

Document signed

Title: [Printed militia commission for Zephaniah Briggs]

Commission of second lieutenant Briggs in a company commanded by Nehemiah Beardsley to assist his captain in gathering enlistments to form a company of 100 men.

GLC01450.132

May 6, 1778

Morrison, James, fl. 1778

Document signed

Title: [Affidavit of James Morrison declaring his knowledge of a mutiny]

James Morrison declares that he overheard Philip Slaid and Captain David Pierce (he has written "Peirce") say that Preserved Pierce is about to lead a mutiny. Related to GLC01450.134 and date infered from that document.

GLC01450.133

6 May 1778

Morrison, James, fl. 1778

Document signed

Title: to the Sheriff of the County of Bristol

Says that the Sheriff is required to apprehend and bring Preserved Pierce before him to answer for all the charges against him (from GLC01450.133, that charge is mutiny). Morrison states that there is enough evidence to say that Pierce is "Enemical to the United States of America and therefore ought to be Examined." Says if he won't take an oath he is to be sent to the "Common Goal." Is initialed "J.M."

GLC01450.134

August 16, 1775

Goldsborough, Robert, 1733-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Matthew Ridley

Goldsborough, a member of the Continental Congress, discusses the alteration of [Minshall's] deed with Ridley, a merchant in Baltimore (possibly the manager of the Maryland branch of the London mercantile firm of Stewart and Campbell). States that he has been unable to collect money from various persons who owing for the transaction. Apologizes for not being able to gather the money, stating that his failure was due to family illness and business in the courts. Hopes to collect the money in the course of the following week, and promises to send messengers by ship regarding the transaction.…

GLC01450.135

31 May 1781

Lawrence, John, 1719-1802

Autograph document signed

Title: [List of persons paid by the state of Connecticut]

To John Lawrence, Connecticut State Treasurer. Countersigned by William Moseley. Signed at the Pay Table Office. One docket, stating "Review the Contents for the within," is signed by John Sherman. Another docket states "Order Lieut Levi Munson & others," and is dated 31 May 1781.

GLC01450.136

6 May 1778

Trumbull, Jonathan, Sr., 1710-1785

Document signed

Title: [Account information 1774-1778]

Trumbull signs as Governor of Connecticut, a post at which he served 1776-1784. Possibly a naval account for the state of Connecticut.

GLC01450.137

December 16, 1777

Middleton, Peter, ?-1781

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Myles Cooper

Letter written by Middleton as a Loyalist and former medical professor and governor at King's College (now Columbia University) to Cooper, the former president of King's College who fled New York in 1775 after revolutionary violence erupted. Reports on Burgoyne's failed campaign at Saratoga. Is very critical of the general's performance in the field, saying "Where do you find in the British Annals that a disciplined [&] gallant Army ever surrendered themselves with Arms in their Hands to a Rabble, to Militia?" Applauds the speech of the Archbishop of York that claims Presbyterians need to…

GLC01450.138