15151[Diary entry: 1 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
Sepr. 1. Exceeding Hot, with but little wind from the Southward. In the Night Rain (where I was).
15152To George Washington from Francis Willis, 1 September 1774 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Francis Willis, Jr., 1 Sept. 1774. The letter is listed in Thomas Birch’s Sons catalog no. 663, item 73, 21–23 April 1891.
151531774. Fryday. Septr. 2. (Adams Papers)
Dined at Mr. Thom. Mifflins with Mr. Lynch, Mr. Middleton, and the two Rutledges with their Ladies. The two Rutledges are good Lawyers. Govr. Hopkins and Govr. Ward were in Company. Mr. Lynch gave us a Sentiment “The brave Dantzickers, who declare they will be free in the face of the greatest Monarch in Europe.”—We were very sociable, and happy. After Coffee We went to the Tavern, where we...
15154Abigail Adams to John Adams, 2 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I am very impatient to receive a letter from you. You indulged me so much in that Way in your last absence, that I now think I have a right to hear as often from you as you have leisure and opportunity to write. I hear that Mr. Adams wrote to his Son and the Speaker to his Lady, but perhaps you did not know of the opportunity. Suppose you have before this time received two letters from me, and...
15155[Diary entry: 2 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
2. Din’d at Rock Hall (waiting for my Horses) & lodg’d at New Town on Chester.
15156[Diary entry: 2 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
2. Again very warm with but little wind & that Southerly. In the Night Rain.
151571774. Saturday. Septr. 3. (Adams Papers)
Breakfasted at Dr. Shippens. Dr. Witherspoon was there. Coll. R. H. Lee lodges there. He is a masterly Man. This Mr. Lee is a Brother of the Sherriff of London, and of Dr. Arthur Lee, and of Mrs. Shippen. They are all sensible, and deep thinkers. Lee is for making the Repeal of every Revenue Law, the Boston Port Bill, the Bill for altering the Massachusetts Constitution, and the Quebec Bill,...
15158William Tudor to Abigail Adams, 3 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
You may depend on my giving your Letter to Capt. Marston who sets out for Philadelphia on Monday. A safer Hand it could not go by. Pray let your Fears subside about Tumults—there have been none. There was an Assembly of 4000 Patriots at Cambridge yesterday—where the utmost Regularity was observ’d, and after finishing their Business they all repair’d to their homes in Quiet. They procur’d a...
15159To John Adams from William Tudor, 3 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
This Week has been fruitfull of extraordinary Transactions. I will endeavour to give You some Account of them. Tuesday the Superior Court opened and Mr. Oliver took his Seat as chief Justice. When the grand Jury were called upon to be sworn they all to a Man refus’d taking the Oath, for Reasons committed to Paper, which they permitted the Court, after some Altercation, to read. The Petit Jury...
15160From Benjamin Franklin to Thomas Cushing, 3 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; duplicate: New York Public Library It is a long time since I have been favoured by a Line from you. I suppose you thought me on my Return to America, and that your Letters would probably not reach me here. But I have been advised by our Friends to stay till the Result of your Congress should arrive. The Coolness, Temper, and Firmness of the American...
15161From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 3 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Hearing just now of this Opportunity, I write a Line to acquaint you that I am well and hearty, Thanks to God, as I hope you are. It seems likely now that I shall stay here another Winter; you will therefore be kind in continuing to write to me. My Love to Jenney, &c. I am ever, Your affectionate Brother For reasons explained in the preceding document. Jane...
15162[Diary entry: 3 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
3. Breakfasted at Down’s. Dind at the Buck Tavern (Carsons) & lodg’d at Newcastle. down’s : a tavern operated by William Down at Down’s Cross Roads, now Galena, Md., 1½ miles south of Georgetown ( W.P.A. [2] W.P.A. Writers’ Project. Maryland: A Guide to the Old Line State . American Guide Series. New York, 1940. , 365). The Buck Tavern was in New Castle County, Del., 11 miles south of the...
15163[Diary entry: 3 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
3. Cloudy & Cool, Wind fresh from the Northward.
151641774. Septr. 4. Sunday. (Adams Papers)
Went to the Presbyterian Meeting and heard Mr. Sprout in the forenoon. He uses no Notes—dont appear to have any. Opens his Bible and talks away. Not a very numerous, nor very polite Assembly. Dined at our Lodgings at Mrs. Yards, with Major De boor a French Gentleman, a Soldier, Mr. Webb, and another. Went in the Afternoon to Christ Church, and heard Mr. Coombs Coombe . This is a more noble...
15165To John Adams from Edward Hill, 4 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
I wrote you a fortnight ago by Mr. Sullivan, since which almost every day has produced some new matter of joy to the friends of Liberty. The proceedings of the people at Salem Cambridge and other places —the resignation of many of the new Councillors—the behaviour of both juries at the Superior Court held here the last week; are some of the most important. I had proposed to send you a very...
15166Poem on the Death of Elias Boudinot’s Child, [4 September 1774] (Hamilton Papers)
D , in writing of Elizabeth Hamilton, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. At the end of this poem, Elizabeth Hamilton wrote: “Written by Mr. Hamilton, when he was residing in new jersey, preparing for College, on the Death of a child of Mrs. Boudinot.” While attending Francis Barber’s academy in Elizabethtown, H was a frequent guest in the home of Elias Boudinot, a New Jersey lawyer, who...
15167[Diary entry: 4 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
4. Breakfasted at Christeen Ferry. Dined at Chester & lodged at Doctr. Shippens’s in Phila. after Supping at the New Tavern. Christina (Christiana) ferry crossed Christina (Christiana) River at Wilmington on the main road from New Castle to Philadelphia ( LINCOLN Anna T. Lincoln. Wilmington, Delaware: Three Centuries under Four Flags, 1609–1937 . Rutland, Vt., 1937. , 83–84). William Shippen,...
15168[Diary entry: 4 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
4. Again Cloudy & Cool. Wind about No. East & fresh.
151691774. Septr. 5. Monday. (Adams Papers)
At Ten, The Delegates all met at the City Tavern, and walked to the Carpenters Hall, where they took a View of the Room, and of the Chamber where is an excellent Library. There is also a long Entry, where Gentlemen may walk, and a convenient Chamber opposite to the Library. The General Cry was, that this was a good Room, and the Question was put, whether We were satisfyed with this Room, and...
15170[Diary entry: 5 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
5. Breakfasted and Dined at Doctr. Shippen’s. Spent the Eveng. at Tavern. On this day the delegates to Congress met at City Tavern. The credentials of the various members were read, and Peyton Randolph of Virginia was elected chairman, or president, and Charles Thomson of Pennsylvania secretary. Carpenters’ Hall, which has been offered by the Carpenters’ Guild of Philadelphia, was chosen as...
15171[Diary entry: 5 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
5. Cloudy all day & now and then Misting. Wind at No. Et.
151721774. Septr. 6. Tuesday. (Adams Papers)
Went to congress again. Received by an express an Intimation of the Bombardment of Boston—a confused account, but an alarming one indeed.—God grant it may not be found true. R. T. Paine’s Diary ( MHi ) has this account under this date: “About 2 o Clock a Letter came from Israel Putnam into Town forwarded by Expresses in about 70 hours from Boston, by which we were informed that the Soldiers...
15173[Notes of Debates in the Continental Congress, 6 September 1774.] (Adams Papers)
Mr. Henry . Government is dissolved. Fleets and Armies and the present State of Things shew that Government is dissolved.—Where are your Land Marks? your Boundaries of Colonies. We are in a State of Nature, Sir. I did propose that a Scale should be laid down. That Part of N. America which was once Mass. Bay, and that Part which was once Virginia, ought to be considered as having a Weight. Will...
15174To Benjamin Franklin from James Bowdoin, 6 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society I am much obliged to you for introducing me to the acquaintance of General Lee. He came hither from the Southward about a month ago, when I had the pleasure of receiving by him your agreable Letter of July 28. 1773. The character you give of him is very just, and what compleats it is, that he is a hearty Friend of America. This may be no...
15175[Diary entry: 6 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
6. Dined at the New Tavern—after being in Congress all day. On this day GW spent 15s. for shoes, etc., for William Lee, his body servant, who accompanied him to Philadelphia (Cash Memoranda, 24 Mar.—25 Oct. 1774, CSmH ). In Congress today the decision was made to keep secret the proceedings of the Congress ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress,...
15176[Diary entry: 6 September 1774] (Washington Papers)
6. Clear & pleasant with but little Wind.
151771774 Septr. 7. Wednesday. (Adams Papers)
Went to congress again. Heard Mr. Duchè read Prayers. The Collect for the day, the 7th of the Month, was most admirably adapted, tho this was accidental, or rather Providential. A Prayer, which he gave us of his own Composition, was as pertinent, as affectionate, as sublime, as devout, as I ever heard offered up to Heaven. He filled every Bosom present. Dined with Mr. Miers Fisher, a young...
15178From Benjamin Franklin to John Foxcroft, 7 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society Mr. Todd call’d to see me yesterday. I perceive there is a good deal of Uneasiness at the Office concerning the Delay of the Accounts. He sent me, in the Evening, to read and return to him a Letter he has written to you for this Mail. Friendship requires me to urge earnestly your Attention to the Contents, if you value the Continuance of...
15179From Benjamin Franklin to William Franklin, 7 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : British Museum; letterbook draft: American Philosophical Society I received yours of July 3. from New York, with the Bill of Exchange for Forty Pounds, Cobham on Bond & Ryland, which is carried to the Credit of your Account. I have spoken in Mr. Antill’s Favour, but there seems to have been a previous Disposition of those Places. At the Time of making up the Mail for the August Packet, I...
15180From Benjamin Franklin to Joseph Galloway, 7 September 1774 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): American Philosophical Society It is long since I have heard from you, tho’ I have written several Letters to you. There is great Expectation here of the Result of your appointed Congress, both among Friends and Enemies. If you declare and resolve your Rights, and confederate not to use British Manufactures till they are acknowledg’d and confirm’d here, you will...