1Enclosure: John Hancock to John Adams, 16 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
On a Visit to Mrs. Yard this Evening I was inform’d by her that your Lady and Children propos’d to go into Boston, with an intention of Taking the Small Pox by Inoculation, and as the Season is warm, and the present process of Treating that Disorder, requires all the Air that can possibly be had, and as my Scituation in Boston is as much Bless’d with a free Air as most others, I make a Tender...
2To John Adams from John Hancock, 2 February 1778 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Hancock’s Compliments to Mr. Adams. The Inclos’d Letter from the Baron De Kalb he Received under Cover. Mr. Hancock would have been exceedingly Glad to have Seen Mr. Adams at his house at any time when he has been in Town, and had Mr. Hancock have known when he was in Town he should have Sent to him; if Mr. Adams should Come to Town on Wednesday next, and it would be agreeable to him to...
3To John Adams from John Hancock, 7 May 1788 (Adams Papers)
I Lodge this Letter with the Pilot at the Light House to deliver you, which will inform you that I have given him directions to hoist a Signal which will be known at the Castle, from whence I am to Receive Notice of your Arrival, & where I have Lodged orders to pay you every mark of distinction in my power when you pass the Fort— My Coach shall be at the end of the Long Wharff for the...
4Report Relative to Assuming Civil Government, 10 December 1774 (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 73–74. This, the second report on this date of the Committee on the State of the Province, was framed in the form of three resolutions: that the adjournment on 29 October had...
5From John Adams to the Freeholders and Other Inhabitants of the Towns and Districts of Massachusetts Bay, 10 December … (Adams Papers)
Cambridge,10 December 1774. printed : Mass. Provincial Congress, Jours. William Lincoln, ed., The Journals of Each Provincial Congress of Massachusetts in 1774 and 1775, and of the Committee of Safety , Boston, 1838. , p. 69–72. Prepared by a committee appointed 12 October, originally composed of fifteen members: John Hancock, Joseph Hawley, Joseph Warren, Samuel Dexter, Artemas Ward, James...
6John Hancock to the Commissioners to Canada, 26 April 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): National Archives The late Disturbances in Canada, owing to an Insurrection of a Number of the Inhabitants, have, for some Time, occupied the most serious Attention of Congress. In Pursuance of which they have come into sundry Resolves calculated both to increase our military Force in that Country, and to allay the Fears and Apprehensions of the People. Of this latter Kind is the...
7John Hancock to the Commissioners to Canada, 24 May 1776 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (letterbook draft): National Archives By the enclosed Resolves of Congress which I do myself the Honour of transmitting, you will perceive that every Step has been taken to procure hard Money that could be devised. I have forwarded to Genl. Schuyler by this Conveyance the Sum of sixteen Hundred and sixty two Pounds one Shilling and three Pence in hard Money, which was all that was in the...
8To Benjamin Franklin from John Hancock, 13 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Maine Historical Society I am reduc’d to the last moment of the Departure of the Ship, that I have only Time to Solicit your Notice of Mr. William Cooper Son of Mr. Wm. Cooper of this Town, and Nephew of the Revd. Docr. Cooper; he is on board the Boston Frigate; if you can Devise any mode of effecting his promotion in the Service, or fix him in any place of tolerable Emolument, it would...
9To Benjamin Franklin from John Hancock, 28 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Delaware I had the honour of your Letter, with Copies of the Intercepted Letters from Lord George Germain, and could wish that he was this moment Acquainted with the Real State of Affairs on this Continent, he would from thence be fully Convinc’d that all his plans & prospects as to America are at an End— I most heartily Congratulate you on the Success of our Arms &...
10To Benjamin Franklin from John Hancock, 9 February 1778 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society My ill State of health oblig’d me to leave Congress for a time, in hopes that a Journey and Relaxation might be beneficial. I have much Recover’d, and shall in a few weeks attend my Duty in Congress. I hope this will meet you in the full enjoyment of Health. We wish much to hear the State of Affairs in Europe. Mr. William Vernon Son of Mr. Vernon one of the...
11To Benjamin Franklin from John Hancock, 30 June 1783 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania I beg leave to introduce to your Excellcy Mr. DeValnais the bearer, late Consul of France, here; who is going home wth his lady. I take the Freedom to refer your Excellcy, to this Gentleman, for the particulars relative to the present Scituation of Affairs in America after so advantagious a Settlement of Peace, with which, I in the most cordial manner...
12To Benjamin Franklin from John Hancock, 27 October 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Pennsylvania Library I have already written to you by this Opportunity, the Occasion of my Troubling you again, is at the last moment of the Departure of the Frigate to Solicit your Notice & Civilities to Mr. William Knox, who will have the Honor of Delivering this to you, he is Brother to General Knox whose Abilities & Conduct in the Military Line during this Contest has...
13Massachusetts Delegates to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, 21 May 1777 (Adams Papers)
Mr. Gorham and Mr. Russel, Agents of the Town of Charlestown, have presented to Congress a Petition from the unfortunate Inhabitants of that Place, praying for a Compensation for their Losses. The Petition was drawn in very decent and handsome Terms, containing a lively Description of the Distresses to which the unhappy Petitioners are reduced, from a State of Ease and Affluence; and the...
14Address to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson Requesting the Return of the General Court to Boston, 7 June 1770 (Adams Papers)
7 June 1770. MS ( M-Ar ), in an unidentified hand. Printed: Mass., House Jour. 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, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 22. Prepared by a committee appointed 6 June composed...
15Message to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson on the Command of Castle William, 23 October 1770 (Adams Papers)
23 October 1770. MS not found. Printed: Mass., House Jour. 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, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 111. Prepared by a committee appointed 17 October composed of Samuel Adams,...
16Message to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson on the Command of Castle William, 20 November 1770 (Adams Papers)
MS not found. Printed: Mass., House Jour. 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, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 171–172. Prepared by the committee on the state of the province, appointed 16 October (see...
17Reply to a Speech of Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson, 31 July 1770 (Adams Papers)
31 July 1770. MS , fair copy, in the hand of Samuel Adams ( MB ). Printed: Mass., House Jour. 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, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 63–71. Prepared by a committee appointed...
18Message to Lieutenant Governor Hutchinson on his Speech to the General Court, 4 October 1770 (Adams Papers)
4 October 1770. MS not found. Printed: Mass., House Jour. 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, the original printings are cited, by year and session.) , 1770–1771, p. 86–87. Prepared by a committee appointed and reporting the same day composed...
I have had the honor of receiving your Letter of the 4 th . instant. The territory referred to has been quit-claimed to the Honorble M r . Gorham and others by the Legislature of this Commonwealth for a valuable consideration so that we having no interest therein, it is judged unnecessary that the Commonwealth should attend by their Agent at the running of the Line— M r . Gorham and others who...
20To John Jay from John Hancock, 31 March 1790 (Jay Papers)
Being confined with the gout I am oblig’d to employ a Second hand to communicate my wishes— Learning that it is Your intention to be at Boston with your Lady, M rs Hancock and myself present our best respects, and beg the favour of Yourself and Lady to take up your residence at my house during your tarry in town I am with Sentiments of Esteem Dear Sir Your most Obed t & hum b1 Sv t ALS , NNC (...
21I. The Governor of Massachusetts to the Secretary of State, 25 October 1790 (Jefferson Papers)
Having laid your Letter of the 24th. of August last before the Legislature of this Commonwealth; an order passed that assembly appointing a Committee to meet as soon as may be, and consult, and determine the proper means of obtaining full, and authentic information respecting the Whale, and Cod fisherys as heretofore, and now carried on in this Commonwealth and to lay the same before the...
22To Thomas Jefferson from John Hancock, 30 September 1776 (Jefferson Papers)
The Congress having appointed you to fill a most important and honorable Department, it is with particular Pleasure I congratulate you on the Occasion. By the enclosed Resolves you will percieve, that Doctor Franklin, Mr. Deane, and yourself, are chosen Commissioners at the Court of France, to negotiate such Business as the Congress shall entrust you with. For this Purpose, Letters of Credence...
23To Thomas Jefferson from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Jefferson Papers)
I Had the honour to Receive your obliging favor by Mr. Harvey, with Forty seven Dollars, being an additional Donation of the County of Albemarle for relieving the poor of Boston which shall be faithfully applied to their Benefit. My constant application to Publick Business both in and out of Congress, has so impair’d my Health, that some Relaxation has become absolutely necessary, and to...
The Congress being Inform’d by a Letter from Genl. Washington, that two Thousand of the Continental Troops at Cambridge and Roxbury are deficient in Fire Arms, and that he has not been able to Purchase the Same from the Inhabitants or Obtain them from the Assemblies of the New England Colonies, have directed the General to make Returns to the Assemblies of the Numbers of men Inlisted from...
25To George Washington from John Hancock, 21 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit the enclosed Resolves, in Obedience to the Commands of Congress. They are so explicit, that I shall only request your Attention to them. You will percieve from the Vote of Congress, the Sense of that Body with Regard to the Necessity of furnishing the Troops for the new Army, as soon as possible; a Copy of which, I have forwarded to the respective States agreeably...
26To George Washington from John Hancock, 28 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
This moment Dodd the Express from the State of Massachusetts, who Took your Dispatches to Congress on Saturday last, Arriv’d at my house, and informs me that this Day about 12 oClock he put up at one Bissinett’s a publick house in Bristol, where he open’d his Bundle to deliver a Letter to be forwarded over the Ferry to Mrs Reed, & leaving his Bundle in the Barr Room while he Stept out, on his...
27To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive by the enclosed Resolves of Congress, which I have the Honour to forward, that they have come to a Determination to augment our Army, & to engage the Troops to serve during the Continuance of the War. As an Inducement to enlist on these Terms, the Congress have agreed to give, besides a Bounty of twenty Dollars, a Hundred Acres of Land to each Soldier; and in Case he should...
28To George Washington from John Hancock, 12 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment favoured with yours by the Express —I am sorry for the unfortunate Issue of the Day, but from the Troops keeping up their Spirits, I flatter myself it will still be in our Power to retrieve the Loss of yesterday. I have thought proper, in Consequence of the Intelligence received this Morning, to call the Congress together at six O’Clock. I have the Honour to be, with the...
29To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Congress have sent to you by Major William Coates, & Captain Joseph Copperthwait five hundred twenty seven thousand four hundred and eighty dollars continental money to be delivered to the paymaster & subject to your Order for the use of The Army under your Command. I have the honour to be, Sir Your most Obedt hum. servt The Cloathing is on the way. Your Letters are now under the...
30To George Washington from John Hancock, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 30th Novr was duely received; in Consequence of which, as the Contents were of the utmost Importance, I thought proper to call the Congress together; whose Resolutions of this Day, I now do myself the Honour to enclose. Considering the very critical Situation of our Affairs, the Congress have agreed that you may order into the Jerseys, the Troops who are at present on the...