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...
Many unforeseen engagements, and unavoidable accidents, furnish us with our only apology for not transmitting a seasonable answer to your favour of March last. We flatter ourselves you will be so kind as yet to accept of our most sincere thanks, for all your noble and generous expressions of regard for the Colonies. We yet too sensibly feel the loss of every right, liberty and privilege, that...
4Address 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...
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...
28 September 1770. MS not found. Prepared by a committee appointed 27 September, composed of Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, Jedediah Foster, Thomas Denny, JA , John Hancock, George Godfrey, James Warren, and Humphrey Hobson Mass., House Jour. Journals of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts [1715–], Boston, reprinted by the Massachusetts Historical Society, 1919–. (For the years for...
7Boston Town Committee Report on a Society to Promote the Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce, 29 September … (Adams Papers)
Boston, 29 September 1770. MS not found. At the Boston Town Meeting of 20 Sept., JA was named to a committee including John Hancock, Thomas Cushing, Samuel Adams, Thomas Boylston, Joseph Warren, and William Dennie to consider the “Proposal of a number of Inhabitants for forming a Society in order to promote Arts, Agriculture, Manufactures and Commerce in this Province.” The town meeting...
8Message 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...
9Message 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,...
10Committee Report on the State of the Province, 16 November 1770 (Adams Papers)
16 November 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. 164. Prepared by a committee appointed 16 October composed of Thomas...
11Message 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...
12Committee of Correspondence to Benjamin Franklin, 17 December 1770 (Adams Papers)
Boston, 17 December 1770. RC ( MeHi ). Printed: Franklin, Papers The Papers of Benjamin Franklin , ed. Leonard W. Labaree, William B. Willcox (from vol. 15), and others, New Haven, 1959– . , 17:301–304. Prepared by a “Committee of Correspondence” appointed 7 November composed of Thomas Cushing, John Hancock, Stephen Hall, Samuel Adams, and JA . Although “Boston” was used in the date line, the...
10 April 1771. MS ( P.R.O. : Colonial Office, 5:760). Prepared by a committee appointed and reporting the same day, composed of John Hancock, JA , and John Gallison. The committee listed above was to prepare a bill for a grant of £506 to Hutchinson for his services as lieutenant governor. A second committee, of which JA was not a member, was appointed to draft a bill for Hutchinson’s support...
14From 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...
15Report 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...
16Elbridge 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...
17The Massachusetts Delegates to George Washington, 22 June 1775 (Adams Papers)
In Complyance with your Request We have considered of what you proposed to us, and are obliged to give you our Sentiments, very briefly, and in great Haste. In general, Sir, there will be three Committees, either of a Congress, or of an House of Representatives, which are and will be composed of our best Men; Such, whose Judgment and Integrity, may be most rely’d on; the Committee on the State...
18From 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...
19To George Washington from John Hancock, 28 June 1775 (Washington Papers)
By Direction of the Congress I now Transmitt you severall Resolutions pass’d yesterday, by which you will Observe they have Directed Major General Schuyler to Examine into the State of the Posts at Ticonderoga & Crown Point, and of the Troops Station’d there, as also to Enquire into the Disposition of the Canadians and Indians. You will likewise find they have Directed him to Take or Destroy...
20To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you by Alexander the Express nothing has Taken place in Congress that particularly Respects your Department. By Direction of the Congress I now Transmitt you by Mr Fessenden our Return Express, the Rules & Articles pass’d by Congress for the Government of the Troops under your Command, I wish them safe to hand. I have not Time to add, but that I am with much Respect, Sir Your...
21II. 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...
22I. 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...
23To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since my last to you, nothing has Taken place in Congress particularly Respecting your Department. I by order of Congress forward you the Declaration, & Address to the People of England. I must beg the favour you will Reserve some birth for me, in such Department as you may Judge most proper, for I am Determin’d to Act under you, if it be to take the firelock & Join the Ranks as a Volunteer. I...
24From 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...
25To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Introduces the bearers, “Mr Ogden & Mr Burr of the Jerseys,” who “Visit the Camp not as Spectators, but with a View of Joining the Army & being Active during the Campaign. . . . Your Dispatches Reach’d me last Eveng. I shall forward you the Papers immediately. The Results of Congress you shall know as early as possible.” ALS , DLC:GW . The address includes the words “Favd by Mr Burr.” Matthias...
26From 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...
27From 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...
28From 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...
29To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 10th inst. with the enclosed papers being duly received was laid before Congress and immediately taken into consideration. In answer to the several matters therein contained I am to inform you, that the Congress appointed a committee to enquire what quantity of light Sail Cloth, Sheeting and Oznabrigs could be obtained in this town for the purpose of making Tents, and in...
30The 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...