After the repeal of the late American Stamp Act, we were happy in the pleasing prospect of a restoration of that tranquility and unanimity among ourselves, and that harmony and affection between our parent country and us, which had generally subsisted before that detestable Act. But with the utmost grief and concern, we find that we flatter’d ourselves too soon, and that the root of bitterness...
2Draft Instructions of Boston to its Representatives in the General Court, 8 May 1769 (Adams Papers)
You have, once more received, the highest Testimony of the Confidence and Affection of your Constituents, which the Constitution has impowered them to exhibit; the Trust of representing them in the great and general Court or Assembly of this Province. This important Trust is committed to you, at a time when your Country demands the Exertion of all your Wisdom Fortitude and Virtue; and...
3Elbridge Gerry to the Massachusetts Delegates, 20 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
I Received the Letters, with which you were pleased to favor me per Mr. Fessenden on Saturday last being the 18th Instant, at a Critical Time for the Army posted at Cambridge. The Evening preceeding Orders were Issued in Consequence of a Consultation between the General Officers and Committee of Safety to take possession of Dorchester Hill and Bunkers hill in Charlestown which I must confess...
4From George Washington to John Hancock, 25 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
Upon my Arrival here this Afternoon I was informd that an Express was in Town from the provincial Camp in massachusets Bay; and having seen among other papers in his possession a Letter directed to you as president of the Congress I have taken the Liberty to open it. I was induced to take that Liberty by several Gentlemen of New York who were anxious to know the particulars of the Affair of...
5II. Letter Sent, 10–11 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I arrived safe at this Place on the 3d Instt, after a Journey attended with a good deal of Fatigue, & retarded by necessary Attentions to the successive Civilities which accompanied me in my whole Rout —Upon my Arrival, I immediately visited the several Posts occupied by our Troops, & as soon as the Weather permitted, reconnoitred those of the Enemy. I found the latter strongly entrench’d on...
6I. Notes for Letter, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
The time of my arrival. The Situation of the Troops—Works—& things in genl—Enemy on Bunkers Hill. The almost impossibility of giving up the present Incampment in the Face of the Enemy, & after so much work has been bestowd notwithstanding our Situation from the devidedness of it, & length of our lines &ca is by no means desirable. The exceeding difficulty of getting returns of the Forces &ca...
7From George Washington to John Hancock, 14 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of addressing you the 10th Instt nothing material has happened in the Camp. From some authentick & later Advices of the State of the Ministerial Troops & the great Inconvenience of calling in the Militia in the midst of Harvest, I have been induced for the present to waive it; but in the mean Time recruiting Parties have been sent throughout this Province to fill...
8From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did myself the Honour of addressing you the 14th Instt, I have received Advice from Govr Trumbull, that the Assembly of Connecticut had voted, & that they are now raising two Regiments of 700 Men each, in Consequence of an Application from the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay. The Rhode Island Assembly has also made an Augmentation for this Purpose: these Reinforcements, with...
9From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am particularly to acknowledge that Part of your Favour of the 10th Instt wherein you do me the Honour of determining to join the Army under my Command. I need certainly make no Professions of the Pleasure I shall have in seeing you—At the same Time I have to regret that so little is in my Power to offer equal to Col. Hancock[’s] Merits & worthy his Acceptance. I shall be happy in every Oppy...
10From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since closing the Letters which accompany this I have received an Account of the Destruction of the Light House, a Copy of which I have the Honour to inclose & of again assuring you that I am with great Respect, Sir Your most Obed. Hbble Serv. P.S. I have also received a more authentick Account of the Loss of the Enemy in the late Battle than any yet receivd. Doctr Winship who lodg’d in the...
11The Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Massachusetts delegates, 25 July 1775 (Adams Papers)
Watertown, 25 July 1775. FC ( M-Ar : Mass. House of Representatives Records, 57:263). As speaker, James Warren notified JA and the other members of the delegation of their election to the Council and expressed the wish that they would take their seats on the Council as soon as their duties in the congress permitted. Their election to the Council had taken place on 21 July. JA took his seat on...
12From George Washington to John Hancock, 27 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Nothing material has occurr’d in either Camp since I had the Honour of addressing you on the 21st Instt by Express. But on Tuesday 3 Men of War & 9 Transports sailed out of Boston Harbour & stood a Course about E.S.E. One Groves who came out of Boston the same Evening informed the Officer at one of the Out Posts, that the Transports had on Board 600 Men & were bound to Block Island, Fishers...
13From George Washington to John Hancock, 4–5 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am to acknowledge the Receipt of your Favour of the 24th July accompanied by 284 Commissions, which are yet much short of the necessary Number. I am much honoured by the Confidence reposed in me of appointing the several Officers recommended in mine of the 10th ult.; and shall endeavour to select such Persons, as are best qualified to fill those important Posts. General Thomas has accepted...
14From George Washington to John Hancock, 31 August 1775 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed Letter came under s⟨uch⟩ a Direction, & Circumstances as led me to supp⟨ose⟩ it contained some interesting Advices, either respecting a Supply of Powder; or the Cloathing lately taken at Philadelphia: I therefore took the Liberty of breaking the Seal; for which I hope the Service & my Motives will apoligize. As the filling up the Place of vacant Brigadier General, will probably be...
15From George Washington to John Hancock, September 1775 (Washington Papers)
A Gentleman this Instant ⟨put the⟩ Inclosed Gazette (containing ⟨the Addre⟩ss & Petition of the Lord Mayor, ⟨Aldermen⟩, & Commons of the City of London) into my hands, desiring I would forward it to you. I accordingly ⟨do⟩ so, and am with very great ⟨regards⟩ and esteem, Sir Yr Most Obedt & Most Hble Serv⟨t⟩ ALS , PHi : Conarroe Collection. The manuscript is torn in several places. This is...
16From George Washington to John Hancock, 7 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour of addressing you in Consequence of an Application from the Commissary General, who is by my Direction taking all proper Precautions on the Approach of Winter. I desired him to commit to writing such Proposals as his Experience & Knowledge of the Country might intitle him to make, which he has done in the Paper which I have the Honour to inclose. The Difficulty of...
17From George Washington to John Hancock, 21 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have been in daily Expectation of being favoured with the Commands of the Honbl. Congress, on the Subjects of my two last Letters. The Season now advances so fast, that I cannot any longer defer laying before them, such farther Measures, as require their immediate Attention, & in which I wait their Direction. The Mode, in which the present Army has been collected, has occasioned some...
18From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Revd Mr Kirtland the Bearer of this having been introduced to the Honle Congress can need no particular Recommendation from me: But as he now wishes to have the Affairs of his Mission & publick Employ put upon some suitable Footing, I cannot but intimate my Sense of the Importance of his Station, & the great Advantages which have & may result to the United Colonies from his Situation being...
19From George Washington to John Hancock, 5 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I was honoured with your Favour of the 26th ult: late the Night before last, and a Meeting of the General Officers having been called upon a Business which will make a considerable Part of this Letter, I took the Oppy of laying before them those Parts of yours which respect the Continuance, & new modelling the Army—the Fuel, Cloathing & other Preparations for the ensuing Winter. They have...
20From George Washington to John Hancock, 12 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
I am honoured with your several Favours of the 26th, & 30th September, & 5th October. The Contents of which I shall beg Leave to notice in their respective Order. Previous to the Direction of Congress to consult the General Officers on the best Mode of continuing, & providing for the Army during the Winter, I had desired them to turn their Thoughts upon these Subjects, & to favour me with the...
21From George Washington to John Hancock, 24 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
My Conjecture of the Destination of the late Squadron from Boston in my last has been unhappily verified by an Outrage exceeding in Barbarity & Cruelty every hostile Act practised among civilized Nations. I have inclosed the Account given me by Mr Jones a Gentleman of the Town of Falmouth of the Destruction of that increasing & flourishing Village. He is a very great Sufferer & informs me that...
22From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Information which the Gentlemen who have lately gone from hence can give the Congress of the State & Situation of the Army would have made a Letter unnecessary if I did not suppose there would be some Anxiety to know the Intentions of the Army on the Subject of their Re-inlistment. Agreeable to the Advice of those Gentlemen & my own Opinion, I immediately began by directing all such...
23From George Washington to John Hancock, 2 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I could not suffer Mr Randolph to quit this Camp with out bearing some testimony of my duty to the Congress, although his sudden departure (occasioned by the death of his worthy relative, whose loss as a good Citizen, and valuable member of Society is much to be regretted) does not allow me time to be particular. The Inclosed return shews at one view what reliance we have upon the Officers of...
24From George Washington to John Hancock, 8 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
The immediate occasion of my giving the Congress the trouble of a Letter at this time, is to inform them, that in consequence of their Order signified in your Letter of the 20th Ulto, I laid myself under a solemn tye of secresy to Captn McPherson, and proceeded to examine his Plan for the destruction of the Fleet in the Harbour of Boston with all that care and attention which the Importance of...
25Credentials of the Massachusetts Delegates to the Continental Congress, 11 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
Watertown, 11 November 1775. (Misc. Papers of the Continental Congress, Reel No. 8). Although the credentials as passed by the house bear the date 10 November, the Journal of the House of Representatives Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts [1715- ], Boston, reprinted by the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1919- . (For the years for which reprints are not yet available,...
26From George Washington to John Hancock, 11 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to address myself to you the 8th Inst. by Captain Macpherson, Since which, I have an account of a Schooner Laden Chiefly with fire wood being brought into Marblehead, by the armed Schooner Lee Captain Manly. She had on board the Master, a midshipman, two Marines, & four Sailors, from the Cerberus man of war, who had made prize of this Schooner a few days before, and was...
27From George Washington to John Hancock, 19 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I received your favors of the 7th & 10th instant with the Resolves of the Honble Congress, to which I will pay all due attention—As Soon as two Capable persons Can be found, I will dispatch them to Nova Scotia, on the Service resolved on in Congress —the Resolve to raise two Battallions of marines will (if practicable in this Army) entirely derange what has been done; it is therein mentiond...
28From George Washington to John Hancock, 28 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour of writeing to you the 19th Instant. I have now to inform you that Henery Knox Esqr. is gone to New york, with orders to forward to this place, what Cannon & Ordnance Stores, Can be there procured, from thence, he will proceed to General Schuyler, on the Same business, as you will see by the inclosed Copy of instructions which I have given him —it woud give Me Much...
29From George Washington to John Hancock, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had the honour to write you the 28th Instant by Captain Joseph Blewer—Last evening I received the agreeable account of the Schooner Lee, Comanded by Captain Manly haveing taken & Carried in to Cape Ann a Large Brigantine bound from London to Boston Loaden with Military Stores, the Inventory of which I have the pleasure to inclose you —Cape Ann is a very open Harbour and accessable to Large...
30From George Washington to John Hancock, 4 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I had the honor of writeing to you the 30th Ulto incloseing Inventory of the Military Stores, taken on board the Brig Nancy, by Capt. Manly of the Armed Schooner Lee—I have now to inform you that he has Since sent into Beverly, a Ship named the Concord, James Lowrie Master, from Grenock in Scotland bound to Boston. She has on board dry goods & Coals to the value of £3606.9.7 Stg Shipd by...