Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

[Information pertaining to commissaries and military clothiers]

Order a pdf of this item here.

A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00793 Author/Creator: Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript document Date: circa 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : Height: 26.8 cm, Width: 20.6 cm Order a Copy

Appears to be collected information about clothiers and commissaries. Mentions James Wilkinson, Clothier General at Philadelphia in 1779 and Otis and Henley, clothiers in Boston. Notes, "About this time- shoes were provided for the army by Exchanging hides with shoe makers all over the Country- for what purpose Commissaries of hides were appointed- this business was extensive, and irregularly preformed some returns are here, of the Commissaries but very little information can be collected from them. Relates that D. Brooks was Deputy Clothier at Newburgh, New York 1779-1783. Another note indicates, "Much clothing was taken at sea & applied to the use of U States. Whole Cloth was in the later periods of the War, purchased and, made up by the army themselves."

Wilkinson, James, 1757-1825
Otis, Samuel Allyne, 1740-1814

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources