1Petition to the General Court for Setting off “The Farms” From Dorchester to Braintree, 5 February 1773 (Adams Papers)
To his Excellency Thomas Hutchinson Esqr. the Honorable his Majesty’s Council and the honble. House of Representatives in General Court assembled February A.D. 1773. The Petition of Josiah Quincy John Adams and Joseph Palmer in Behalf of themselves and the North Precinct in Braintree. Humbly sheweth. That there is a certain Tract of Land in the Town of Dorchester lying on the south side of...
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...
3IV. A Proclamation by the General Court, 19 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
The frailty of human Nature, the Wants of Individuals, and the numerous Dangers which surround them, through the Course of Life, have in all Ages, and in every Country impelled them to form Societies, and establish Governments. As the Happiness of the People alone , is the sole End of Government, So the Consent of the People is the only Foundation of it, in Reason, Morality, and the natural...
4Enclosure: Endororsement for Lemuel Robinson from the Committee of Safety, 30 November 1775 (Adams Papers)
We the Subscribers, Members of the late Committee of Safety of this Colony, do certify, That Colo. Lemuel Robinson of Dorchester has exerted himself in his Countrys cause, perhaps, as much as any other Man in the Government, and so as, in our opinion, to merit much of his Country, and said Committee did all in their power to obtain the Command of a Regiment for him, in the Colony Service, but...
5To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 19 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
I thank you for your Several favors, the last of which, the 10th Inst., I just now received. I have not had time to write, and thro’ abundant business my health has Sometimes been reduced; I now write in Committee of Safety, a few lines at a time as I can; all the business in this Committee has been done by only 6 or 7 Members, upon whom it has fallen very heavy, public business having pressed...
6Joseph Palmer to Abigail Adams, 29 September 1784 (Adams Papers)
I heartily rejoice to hear of Your safe arrival; pray make My best respects acceptable to Mr. Adams, Miss Nabby, and Your Son. I can write but little, being very weak, confined by lameness, about 8 Weeks, but am growing better; this day, I was carried out and put into a Chaise (the first time of being out) and rid out on the Farm; but I hope to go to Connecticut, next Month. They at Mr....
7To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 14 September 1774 (Adams Papers)
The spirit of liberty is amazingly increased, so that there is scarce a tory and hardly a neutral to be found in the country. This province seems ripe for a more popular government, if not restrained by congress, who will doubtless give all the encouragement to all that the good of the whole will admit of. Some talk of resuming our first charter, others of absolute independency. Our eye is to...
8To George Washington from Joseph Palmer, 16 December 1784 (Washington Papers)
I sincerely congratulate you on having Seen an end to the late destructive War, in which you have acted so conspicuous a part; so much to your own honor, & the honor & benefit of these States. And I thank God for having endow’d you with Such a high degree of Wisdom, courage & prudence; & preserving your life to this time. May you be still eminent for private & public Virtue; & die in peace, in...
9Joseph Palmer to John Adams, 16 June 1784 (Adams Papers)
I heartily give you joy of your meeting your M rs Adams & her amiable Daughter, as you will receive them before you See this— They are to Sail from Boston about 3 or 4 days hence. We Sincerely mourn our loss in their departure, & as Sincerely rejoice at the foreseen happy meeting of Such dear Friends after Such a long absence— may you all return in Safety, & bless your native Country, after...
10To George Washington from Joseph Palmer, 6 August 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Joseph Palmer, 6 Aug. 1775. On 7 Aug. GW wrote to Palmer : “Your favour of yesterday came duely to my hands.”
11To George Washington from Joseph Palmer, 21 August 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Joseph Palmer, 21 Aug. 1775. In his letter of 22 Aug. to Palmer , GW referred to “your favour of yesterday.”
12To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Palmer, 3 August 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society This moment I hear that Mr Adams arrived at Boston last Night—& that our Fleet & Army, sent to Penobscutt to dislodge the Enemy, who had taken possession with 7 or 800 Land Forces, 6 or 8 Men of War & other arm’d Vessels, had driven the enemies Ships up the river, taken all their outworks, & obliged them to retire to their center Fort, so that they must...
13To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 28 November 1785 (Adams Papers)
Your very friendly Lett r of the 26 th August ’84, wou’d not have lain so long unnoticed, had not my embarrassments continued. When I wrote you in the June preceding, I then hoped Soon to emerge out of that flood of diffeculties in which I had long been Struggling; but my hopes being disappointed, I cou’d not Suppose it consistant with honor, & the rule of right, to make any proposels to any...
14To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 1 July 1776 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday I had the honor of dining with your Lady, all well. Having an opportunity by my Friend Dr. Craigie, I Steal a few moments from the public, just to thank you, Mr. Paine, and other my good Friends for their many Friendly Letters respecting public matters. They have had good effects; and this assurance will, I hope, encourage you all in persevereance. I am not able to write, unless by...
15To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 1765 (Adams Papers)
My known fondness for Agriculture and Manufactures, has given many Opportunitys, which I have often embraced, for recommending the forming Societies for their improvement; but as nothing of that kind has yet taken place among us, that I know of; I wou’d now take the liberty of proposing a Society in this Town, for improvements in Agriculture, Commerce, Arts , and Manufactures : Agriculture is...
16To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 19 – 24 February 1776 (Adams Papers)
Your Family were pretty well yesterday; also Mr. Cranches and mine; N Q has a bad cold. I have been sick a few days, but am now better, so as to be abroad again. Yesterday a Gentleman arrived here, said to be a Prussian Knight, from France to the W Indies, thence bound to Philadelphia, but brot on upon the back of the Cape, from thence hither, and now at head Quarters, has many Letters for Dr....
17To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 31 October 1775 (Adams Papers)
Herewith you have a Copy of the Account of the Battle of Charlestown; the other matters will be attended to as soon as possible; That there has been an unreasonable delay, is not owing to J. P.; he is employ’d in signing &c. the Bills of Credit, which takes up, as he thinks, too much of his time. There has been a Sample of Lead-Oar, which has been assayed, and turns out 50 per cent Lead: I am...
18To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 2 December 1775 (Adams Papers)
Yesterday Mr. Revere returned, and brot your acceptance, which was truly acceptable to our Friends. Since mine by Revere, I have been exploreing some of the Mountains of North and Southhampton; and in the former we examined a Lead-Mine which has been worked, and in which, much loss has been Sustained. The circumstances of this Mine I will now give you, as near as I can recollect, but shall be...
19To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 23 January 1776 (Adams Papers)
To regulate the trade of the United Colonies, being a field of vast extent, far exceeds my present comprehension; and ’tis not likely I shall ever fully investigate that complicated System of Regulation, which will best Serve the trade of these Colonies; however, I will ven ture to Suggest to you Several reasons which incline me to favour the following Regulation, which respects the...
20To Benjamin Franklin from Joseph Palmer, 12 November 1779 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society; ALS (draft): Massachusetts Historical Society In the beginning of August last, I took the liberty of troubling you with a few Lines by my Nephew, Joseph Palmer, Passenger on board the Mercury Packett; Since which I have heard nothing from him, or the Vessell.— I then mentioned the flattering hopes we had of Success at Penobscutt, but were sadly...
21To John Adams from Joseph Palmer, 16 April 1777 (Adams Papers)
I have too many kinds of public business, to admit my looking into the matter of Finances, and examining the Same with that precision which the Subject demands; but some methods must be taken, as Speedily as possible, to sink the Bills of Credit. Taxes will draw in large Quantities, and Lotteries will operate in aid to Taxes: And I think that you ought to borrow hard Money; ¼ the Sum emitted...