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...
2The 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...
3IV. John Hancock to George Washington, 2 April 1776 (Adams Papers)
It gives me the most sensible Pleasure to convey to you, by Order of Congress, the only Tribute, which a free People will ever consent to Pay; the Tribute of Thanks and Gratitude to their Friends and Benefactors. The disinterested and patriotic Principles which led you to the Field, have also led you to Glory: and it affords no little Consolation to your Countrymen to reflect, that, as a...
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...
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...
6To 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...
7John 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...
8John 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...
9To 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...
10To 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...