1From John Adams to John Hancock, 26 May 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r De Hogendorp a Lieutenant in the Dutch Guards, in the Service of the Republick of Holland, is going to America in the Suite of M r Vanberckel the Dutch Minister and I am requested by Some respectable Gentlemen to give him Letters of Introduction to Some Persons in America. any Civilities you may please to Shew him, will be gratefully acknowledged, by / Sir your most obedient and / most...
2From John Adams to John Hancock, 28 April 1783 (Adams Papers)
M r. Hartley, his Britannic Majesty’s Minister Plenipotentiary for negociating the definitive Treaty, has requested of me in the Name of the Prince Carominico, the Neapolitan Ambassador at the Court of S t. James’s, Letters of Introduction for his Cousin Il Comte di Vermé, who is going to visit America. He will be happy in an Opportunity to see so illustrious an American as the Governor of...
3From George Washington to John Hancock, 16 September 1782 (Washington Papers)
The present superiority of the British Fleet upon this Coast, naturally makes the Marquis de Vaudreuil apprehensive for the safety of that under his command in the Harbor of Boston. Should the enemy make an attempt upon him, a land force, superior to what he possesses, will be necessary for his defence, and for that he must depend upon the Militia in the neighbourhood of Boston. I am certain,...
4From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will permit me to introduce to your particular Notice & Attention M. Genl D. Choissny, who will have the Honor to present this Letter. As an Officer old in Command, & eminent for his Services, he has the Honor to be placed at the Head of the Troops destined for the Expedition proposed by the Marquis de Vaudreuil against Penobscot, provided that Enterprize should be attempted....
5From George Washington to John Hancock, 10 August 1782 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will be informed by B. Genl De Choisey, who does me the Honor to be the Bearer of this, that the Marquis De Vaudruiel, with a fleet of his most Christian Majesty’s Ships of War, may be soon expected in the Harbour of Boston. By a Correspondence which has passed between the Marquis & the Count de Rochambeau (a Copy of which I have been favored with by the latter) I am informed...
6From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
As the plan of Campaign must depend entirely on the means that are put into my hands, of which I have scarcely a conjectural knowledge at this time—and, on the force of the Enemy at their different Posts—I shall be obliged to your Excellency (as the communication between Boston & Hallifax is open to Flags, which frequently pass) for the most accurate account which you can obtain, covertly, of...
7From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 May 1782 (Washington Papers)
I find myself arrived at that period, at which I hoped to have seen the Batallions of the several States compleated to their Establishment, in conformity to the requisition of Congress of the 19th Decr last. The inclosed returns of Recruits, which I have caused to be made up to the 1st Instant, will shew how totally short of my expectation the exertions of the States, have fallen—from your...
8From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 21 September 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Yale University Library, Smith College Library; AL (draft) and copy: Library of Congress Five Captains of Vessels from Boston who had been carried Prisoners into England, made their Escape from thence lately in an open Boat and arrived on the Coast of Normandy in France. Being Strangers there, destitute of all Acquaintance, they had the good Fortune to meet with M. St. John, a French...
9From George Washington to John Hancock, 3 August 1781 (Washington Papers)
I this day receiv’d a Letter from the Count Rochambeau, a copy of which is inclos’d, respecting the Militia from the State of Massachusetts, that were some time since requested for the Rhode Island Department; as they have not arrived agreeable to my expectations, I have to request your Excellency to forward them with the utmost dispatch, as it is of the greatest importance that that post is...
10From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I did myself the Honor to address your Excellency under the 25th June last—requestg that you would be pleased to order 600, of the Militia of your State, which I Supposed to be raising under a former Requisition, to be sent to Albany for the Protection of the Northern & Western Frontier of the State of N. york—to this Letter (as indeed to several others of much earlier Date) I have not had the...
11From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
General Heath, in a letter of the 4th inst. informs me that the state have about 52 Pipes of Teneriffe Wine, which they are willing if it will answer as well to send forward to the army in lieu of Rum—as he thought it more than probable that he would have left Boston before my answer could arrive, he desired me to make it to your Excellency—wine cannot be distributed to the soldier insttead of...
12From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 July 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have not been honored with an answer to my several letters of the 24th and 25th of May and of the 2d 4th 15. and 25th of last Month, and am of course unable to form any certain estimate of what may be expected in consequence of my requisitions—this puts me in rather an awkard situation, as I can not give His Excellency Count Rochambeau, who has formed a junction with me, that official...
13From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I find I shall be under the necessity of drawing down all the Continental Troops which are at present upon the Northern frontiers, and as there is very great reason to apprehend an incursion of the Enemy from Canada, I shall be obligd to keep a respectable force of Militia in that quarter, in addition to the State Troops of New York; I have therefore taken the liberty to order the quotas from...
14From George Washington to John Hancock, 15 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
I flatter myself that proper Measures have been before this Time taken to procure the number of Men for Continental and Militia service, required by my Letter of the 24th May from Weathersfield. For the Calculation which I then made of the Aid of Militia which would be necessary to support the Operations which we have in View, I included sixteen hundred from Pennsylvania, but that State having...
15From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
One thousand Militia in addition to four hundred Troops having been deemed necessary to the security of the fleet, in the harbour of Newport, after the departure of the land Forces, I am to request Your Excellency to give orders for Five hundred from the State of Massachusetts to repair to Rhode Island as soon as they shall be demanded by His Excellency the Count de Rochambeau—The State of...
16From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 June 1781 (Washington Papers)
The proposed operations of the campaign will occasion such a demand for heavy cannon and military stores, as to exceed the number and quantity of those articles immediately in possession of the Continent. This insufficiency obliges me to apply to such of the neighbouring States as can afford us any assistance, with a full confidence that the importance of the object, and the apparent...
17From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
The great demand we shall have for powder in the proposed operations of the campaign constrains me to request a loan of this article, of the States who are possessed of it, to supply the deficiency of the Continental magazine. I therefore, Sir, earnestly request as great a loan of powder of the State of Massachusetts as can possibly be spared, and that the State would take most speedy and...
18From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 14 May 1781 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: Library of Congress Permit me to repeat my Congratulations on your Election to the Government of your Country, and my best Wishes for your Health & Happiness. A Privateer of this Country having taken an English Packet bound to New York, with her Dispatches, some of which it may be of particular Use to your State that your Excellency should see, as...
19From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 May 1781 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency will oblige me by having the inclosed delivered to Major General Howe should he be in Boston, or forwarding it to him should he be in the neighbourhood or in New Hampshire—The letter is of consequence, and I therefore hope you will excuse the liberty I have taken in addressing it to your particular care. I have the honor to be with very sincere Regard Yr Excellency’s Most obt...
20From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 26 March 1781 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress I am requested by some Friends of much Consideration in this Country, to recommend to your Excellency’s Protection Messrs. Galatheau & Compere who go over in the Ship Marquis de la Fayette, with a Power of Attorney to call to Account Messrs Peurien & La Fitte of Salem, for a Cargo intrusted with them by Messrs. Barran, Merchants of Bordeaux. Nothing is desired...
21From George Washington to John Hancock, 17 March 1781 (Washington Papers)
It would have afforded me the greatest pleasure, had I been able to have extended my late visit to Newport as far as Boston, but the important operations, which may be expected to the southward, made it necessary for me to return as soon as possible to the North River, that I might be more immediately in the way of receiving intelligence, and communicating any, which might be essential to the...
22From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of receiving your Excellency’s favor of the 5th by General Warner, to whom I gave every advice and assistance relative to the distribution of the generous donation of the State to their old Soldiers. This well timed gratuity has had, I am informed, a most happy effect, and I have not the least doubt, but if the future supplies of pay—Cloathing and provision, the two last in...
23From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
My Aide de Camp Col. Laurens is charged with a commission of the most critical importance from Congress to the Court of Versailles. The Alliance Frigate is ordered to convey him to France, but from the exhausted state of our continental resources in every department, delays which would be fatal to the objects of his mission are to be apprehended unless the influence of yr Exy or assistance of...
24From George Washington to John Hancock, 9 January 1781 (Washington Papers)
I have been honored with your Excellency’s favors of the 17th of November and 22d of December. The first, by some accident, had gone forward to Philadelphia and only reached me, by the post from thence, the 7th instant. Your Excellency will have had good reason to suppose me guilty of neglect, in not answering, sooner, so polite a renewal, on your part, of the correspondence which had been...
25From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 October 1780 (Washington Papers)
Upon the representation of Mr Morey that two Negro Men belonging to him, were detained as Soldiers in the Massachusett’s Line, contrary to his inclination, I gave directions to Brigadier General Glover to appoint a Board of Officers to enquire into the Justice of his claim, and to report the facts with their opinion thereon—A Copy of the Report I now do myself the honor to inclose to You. As...
26From Thomas Jefferson to John Hancock, 19 October 1778 (Jefferson Papers)
In a late conversation with Mr. T. Adams since his return from Congress I find, what indeed might have been well supposed that the state of the Continental finances was not the most flourishing. The establishment of banks in Europe for the purpose of maintaining our credit there, as well as here, and by that means of enlarging our supplies by way of loan may perhaps meet with the attention of...
27From Benjamin Franklin to John Hancock, 4 December 1777 (Franklin Papers)
AL (draft): Library of Congress The Bearer of this, Mr. Holcker, is a Gentleman of excellent Character, of great Credit in this Country, and one of my particular Friends. He can give you good Information of the State of Public Affairs here. I beg leave therefore to recommend him to your Acquaintance, and to all the Civilities you usually show to Strangers of Merit, of which you will find him...
28From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 November 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your Favor of the 25th I received on Monday Afternoon. You have my warmest wishes for your recovery, and I shall be happy, if your recess should be attended with benefits superior to your most sanguine expectations. Your exertions to promote the Genl Interest I am well convinced will be unceasing and that every measure, the situation of your health will permit you to pursue will be employed to...
29From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor of transmitting to Congress the inclosed copies of sundry letters just now received, and congratulate them most sincerely on the important intelligence which they contain. The damage the Enemy have sustained in their Ships, I hope will prevent their future attempts to gain the passage of the river, and the repulse of the Troops under Count Donnop and his Captivity, I...
30George Washington to John Hancock, 22 October 1777 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Whitpain Township, Pennsylvania ] October 22, 1777 . Regrets that Hancock is forced to retire as President of Continental Congress because of poor health and the pressure of private affairs. LS , in writing of H, George Washington Photostats, Library of Congress.