1To John Adams from Perez Morton, 19 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
Agreable to the Direction of the inclosed Resolution, I am to acquaint you that by a joint Ballot of both Houses of Assembly for the Colony of Massachusetts Bay You are elected one of the Delegates to represent that Colony in American Congress untill the first Day of January AD 1777 And the enclosed Resolve you are to make the general Rule of your Conduct. RC ( Adams Papers ); with enclosure,...
2To George Washington from Perez Morton, 4 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
In the Brigantine Dolphin lately carried into Gloucester, the two Women accompanying this were Passengers —There names are Margaret Roberts & Mary Knap—They say they have Husbands belonging to the 59th Regt of Genl Gage’s Army—And are desirous of seeing them—I am therefore directed by the Board, to recommend to your Exy to permit them and 2 Children, to pass your Lines, in order to their...
3To John Adams from Perez Morton, 23 February 1791 (Adams Papers)
At the request of Miss Hannah Adams, I enclose & forward to you her Request to honor a publication, she intends making to the World, with Your Patronage by fixing your Name to it in a dedicatory Address—this is forwarded for your perusal.— The Merits of the Work I am totally a Stranger to having never perused—but being informed it is a correction, enlargement , & amendment of a former Work of...
4To James Madison from Perez Morton, 30 December 1805 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Perez Morton. 30 December 1805, Boston. “I have taken the Liberty to introduce to your acquaintance & Civility, my friend Jas. Temple Bowdoin Esqr: the Nephew & adopted heir of our Ambassador to Spain. The high respectability of his Connections are well known to you, & you will find him on acquaintance not less deserving in his personal Qualifications; he sustains the highest Character...
5To George Washington from Perez Morton, 26 December 1789 (Washington Papers)
If, as the Commerce of the United States is every day extending, & their Intercourse with the East Indias rapidly growing into an established Trade, The Wisdom of the Supreme Executive should suggest the Necessity of appointing Consuls in that Quarter of the Globe, permit me to solicit the favor of an appointment of that kind for the Hither India in behalf of a Brother, Joseph Morton, Merchant...
6To James Madison from Perez Morton, 25 June 1806 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
§ From Perez Morton. 25 June 1806, Boston. “About two years since, you may recollect, I applied to you in favor of Mr Nathaniel Fellowes jnr, in Havanna, to be appointed Consul at that place. This was done at the solicitation of his Uncle Nathl Fellowes of this place, and whose Confidence and support the younger Mr Fellowes then enjoyed. The elder Mr Fellowes made a visit last Fall to Havanna,...
7To James Madison from Perez Morton, 20 December 1803 (Abstract) (Madison Papers)
20 December 1803, Washington. “I have just received from Boston a Statement of the Case of the Ship Nancy, owned by Messrs Nathaniel Fellowes and Samuel Brown, on the subject of which I sometime since had the honor to converse with you: the circumstances attending her Capture, and the subsequent proceedings, are so minutely detailed in the statement made by Messrs Fellowes & Brown, & which...
8To John Adams from Perez Morton, 6 August 1824 (Adams Papers)
In the course of my official practice, for my own government, and to promote facility and dispatch in the discharge of my public duty, I have thought it expedient to form an elementary digest of the criminal code of our Commonwealth, including all the crimes and offences, recognized by her laws, whether originating at common law or by Statute, with the adjudged cases under each, together with...
9To George Washington from Perez Morton, 12 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
Agreable to your Request, I am directed by the Board to inform your Excellency, that in consequence of your Excellency’s Letter to the Board, relative to the great Increase of Prisoners here, they apprised the 3 other Colonies of New England, thereof by Letters to their several Assemblies —In Consequence of Which they have received for answer, from Govr Cooke of Rhode Island, that their...
10To John Adams from Perez Morton, 28 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
I am directed by the Major part of the Council of this Colony, to acquaint You, that by Virtue of the power and Authority in and by the Royal Charter in the abscence of the Governor and Lieutt. Governor lodged in them, they have seen fit to appoint You, with the Advice and consent of Council, to be first or Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature &c. for this Colony. The inclosed is...
11To James Madison from Perez Morton, 18 July 1803 (Madison Papers)
I have to acknowledge the receipt of your kind favor, which covered the penal Laws of Virginia. Our Legislature have chosen a large Committee of both Houses to form a penal code on the penitentiary system, and a Statute for the regulation of the State prison, and report at the next Session; Of this Committee I have the honor to be one, & doubt not we shall find our Duty much facilitated by the...
12The General Court to the Massachusetts Delegates, 9 – 10 May 1776 (Adams Papers)
Inclosed you have an Account of Powder supplyed the Army lately before Boston, by this Colony. We have not been able to procure the proper Vouchers for the delivery of the whole of it to the Army, but as it was delivered on the day of the Battle at Bunker Hill and at other times of Alarm and Confusion, we trust that neglect will be excused. The Account is not supposed to contain the whole of...
Watertown, 6 September 1775. Printed form with spaces filled in appropriately ( Adams Papers ); signed by Perez Morton, Deputy Secretary, and fifteen Council members; on the verso in an unidentified hand: “J. Adams Esq.”; docketed in later years by JA : “Commision.” This commission, listed in Council records under the date of 8 September, was approved at the same time as similar ones for John...
14John Adams’ Commission as Justice of the Peace in Massachusetts Counties, 8 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
Watertown, 8 November 1775. Printed form with spaces filled in appropriately ( Adams Papers ); signed by Perez Morton, Deputy Secretary, and fifteen Council members. This commission is identical to that received by JA dated 6 September appointing him Justice of the Peace of Suffolk County (see calendar entry, above) except that it broadened his powers to include all of Massachusetts. Like the...
15Enclosure: List of Superior Court Justices, 28 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Honble. John Adams Esqr. William Cushing Esqr. William Read Esqr. Honble. Rob. Treat Paine Esqr. Nathl. P. Sargent Esqr. RC ( Adams Papers ); addressed: “To The Honble. John Adams Esq at Philadelphia”; docketed: “Dpty Secys. Letter. Octr. 28. 1775.” For Paine’s placement in the ranking and its consequences, see James Warren to JA , 20 Oct. and notes (above).
16Enclosure: Resolution Appointing Massachusetts Delegates to the Continental Congress, 18 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
Whereas John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, and Elbridge Gerry Esqrs. have been chosen by joint Ballot of the two houses of Assembly to represent the Colony of Massachusetts Bay in New England in the American Congress untill the first day of January A.D. 1777— Resolved that they or any one or more of them are hereby fully impowered, with the delegates from the other...
The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider a Plan for fiting out one or more Armed Vessels for the defence of American Liberty, have attended that service, and Report in the following Resolves, vizt. Resolved that two Ships be built, as soon as may be, at the expence of this Colony; One Suitable to carry Thirty-Six Guns, vizt., Twenty Four Guns carrying twelve Pound Shot, and Sixteen...
18To Thomas Jefferson from John Bacon, 26 January 1807 (Jefferson Papers)
It is, with the most cordial satisfaction and peculiar delight, that we perform the duty enjoined upon us by the Senate and House of Representatives of this Commonwealth, in communicating to you the high and grateful sense which they entertain of the important services rendered by you to these United States, in the capacity of Chief Magistrate, during the whole course of your...