111[Diary entry: 15 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
15. Clear in the afternoon. A little lowering in the forenoon.
112From Benjamin Franklin to [William?] Bradford, 16 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; draft: American Philosophical Society I have just now been urged to apply to you in behalf of a Stranger who is suppos’d to have spoken some disrespectful Words of you, and who is apprehensive of the Resentment of your Company, as he is told they are exceedingly exasperated against him. He declares that the Words ascrib’d to him, are much...
113From Benjamin Franklin to [Joseph Priestley], 16 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Printed in Benjamin Vaughan, ed., Political, Miscellaneous, and Philosophical Pieces . . . Written by Benj. Franklin . . . (London, 1779), pp. 550–1. You will have heard before this reaches you, of a march stolen by the regulars into the country by night, and of their expedition back again. They retreated 20 miles in [6] hours. The Governor had called the Assembly to propose Lord North’s...
114To Benjamin Franklin from Noble Wimberly Jones, 16 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Duke University Library The frequent accounts of your Intentions of leaving England, also unwilling to intrude on time taken up with Matters of Consiquence prevented my Writing as often as I otherwise should have done, however constrained by a real Esteem for a Gentleman so great a friend [of] Mankind in general and of American in particular will I trust plead my Excuse for thus...
115[Diary entry: 16 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
16. Dined at the City Tavern & Spent the Evening at Doctr. Shippens.
116[Diary entry: 16 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
16. Clear & pleasant. Evening a little Cool.
117From George Washington to Fairfax County Committee, 16 May 1775 (Washington Papers)
If I could have communicated any thing by the last Post certain and satisfactory, I should most assuredly have done it agreeable to my premise, but the only articles of Intelligence which came to my hands were containd in the Gazette, & went regularly to you—This is pretty much the case at present, and leaves me little to add as the Congress are again under the Tye of Secrecy in respect to...
118To Benjamin Franklin from Charles-Guillaume-Frédéric Dumas, 17 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS (draft): Library of Congress En attendant que j’aie l’avantage de répondre plus au long à la Lettre dont vous m’avez honoré de Londres par Mr. Rey en date du 24 fevr. 1774, Celle-ci vous sera présentée par Messieurs Giraud et Planier et leurs Epouses, quatre braves et honnêtes gens, qui pour l’amour du plus précieux de tous les biens de l’homme, pour l’amour de la liberté, ont quitté leur...
119[Diary entry: 17 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
17. Went to the Commencemt. at the College and dined at Mr. Saml. Griffins—after wch. attended a Comm[itt]ee at the Conistoga Waggon. GW attended the ceremony at the College of Philadelphia in his role as a member of the Continental Congress, which attended as a group. For a description of the commencement, see Pa. Packet , 15, 22, 29 May 1775. The Conestoga Wagon was a small inn on Market, or...
120[Diary entry: 17 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
17. Clear and pleasant in the forenoon but Cloudy & dropping of Rain afterwds.
121[Diary entry: 18 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
18. Dined at the City Tavern, and attended a Comee. afterwards at the State House. The president of Congress on this day gave Congress news of the capture of Ticonderoga, which he had received by messenger the evening before. Congress resolved to recommend to New York that the cannon and stores be removed from Ticonderoga to the south end of Lake George, where a strong post should be...
122[Diary entry: 18 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
18. Clear and Warm all day.
123[Diary entry: 19 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
19. Dined at Mr. Allans. Spent the Evening in my own lodgings. The committee of Congress to consider the defense of New York, which had occupied much of GW’s time for two days past, brought in its report. The report was read and referred to the committee of the whole, which made its resolutions regarding New York’s defense on 25 May (see JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of...
124[Diary entry: 19 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
19. Clear & warm in the forenoon, but lowering & Cool afterwards.
125To John Adams from Joseph Warren, 20 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
Having wrote fully upon several Subjects to Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams, upon several Matters which they will communicate to you, I can only add here that I Yesterday heard from your Family at Braintree were all in Health. A person having brought me a Letter from your Lady to me recommending one of your Brothers to be a Major in one of the Regiments, I am sorry the Letter did not arrive sooner,...
126To Benjamin Franklin from Jonathan Williams, Jr., 20 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Since my last I have recvd from La Duchesse de Villroy the Plan of your Armonica improved, which you will receive by this Ship. The Newspapers will give you all in the political Way. I have been several Days shut up in your Room, so have not been able to gather any thing more than the Public Prints contain. You will see by the Fate of the N York and Quebec...
127[Diary entry: 20 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
20. Dined at the City Tavern & Spent the Evening at my Lodg.
128[Diary entry: 20 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
20. Clear and pleasant. Rathr. cool.
129From John Adams to James Warren, 21 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
I am vastly obliged to you for your Letter. It was like cold Water to a thirsty Soul. We Suffer, greatly for Want of News from you and Boston. I am very unfortunate, in my Eyes, and my Health. I came from home Sick and have been so ever Since. My Eyes are so weak and dim that I can neither read, write, or see without great Pain. Our unweildy Body moves very Slow. We shall do something in Time,...
130[Diary entry: 21 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
21. Dined at Mr. Richd. Willings and Spent the Evening at my Lodgings. Richard Willing (1745–1798) was a captain in the Philadelphia Associators during the Revolution ( WALKER [3] Lewis Burd Walker. “Life of Margaret Shippen, Wife of Benedict Arnold.” Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography 24 (1900): 257-66, 401–29; 25 (1901): 20-46, 145-90, 289-302, 452-97; 26 (1902): 71-80, 224-44,...
131[Diary entry: 21 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
21. Clear in the forenoon with a good deal of Rain afterwards.
132To George Washington from James Cleveland, 21 May 1775 (Washington Papers)
I Am so well sattes fied that You have Got the Last letter that I shall Not right so Full as I should If I thought that Could fail as I give You a Full a Count of all My Prosedeurs & that the sarvents Plaged me Much At that Time Fore of them Ware gone to the Indanes town & that Day I should set out after them but Concluded To send stefenes after them & he Returnd to me Last Ni⟨ght⟩ With two of...
133Abigail Adams to Edward Dilly, 22 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
Just before Mr. Adams set off upon his journey to Philadelphia he had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from you by way of New York, accompanied with 3 pamphlets. He determined to have wrote you immediately, but two days after he received them, we were by the Hostilities of General Gage thrown into all the horrours and distresses of civil war. Mr. Adams directed me to write you by the first...
134[Diary entry: 22 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
22. Dined at Mr. Griffins & spent the Evening at my Lodgings.
135[Diary entry: 22 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
22. Lowering in the forenoon with Rain in the Afternoon.
136From Benjamin Franklin to Humphry Marshall, 23 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Reprinted from William Darlington, Memorials of John Bartram and Humphry Marshall . . . (Philadelphia, 1849), p. 521. I received your favour of the 13th inst. I think, with you, that the non-importation and non-exportation, well adhered to, will end the controversy in our favour. But, as Britain has begun to use force, it seems absolutely necessary that we should be prepared to repel force by...
137[Diary entry: 23 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
23. Dined at Mr. Jno. Cadwalladers & spent the Evening in my own Room.
138[Diary entry: 23 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
23. Lowering most part of the day.
139Abigail Adams to John Adams, 24 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
Suppose you have had a formidable account of the alarm we had last Sunday morning. When I rose about six oclock I was told that the Drums had been some time beating and that 3 allarm Guns were fired, that Weymouth Bell had been ringing, and Mr. Welds was then ringing. I immediatly sent of an express to know the occasion, and found the whole Town in confusion. 3 Sloops and one cutter had come...
140[Diary entry: 24 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
24. Dined at Mr. Andw. Allan’s & Spent the Evening at the Gov[e]r[nor’]s Club.
141[Diary entry: 24 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
24th. Clear and pleasant with but little Wind.
142[Diary entry: 25 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
25. Dined at Mr. Tilghman’s, & Spent the Evening at the City Tavern.
143[Diary entry: 25 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
25. Clear & pleasant but growing warmer.
144John Adams to Abigail Adams, 26 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
I embrace an Opportunity by two young Gentlemen from Maryland to write you a Line, on friend Mifflins Table. The Names of these Gentlemen, are Hall. They are of one of the best Families in Maryland, and have independent Fortunes, one a Lawyer the other a Physician. If you have an Opportunity I beg you would shew to these Gentlemen all the Civilities possible. Get them introduced to your Uncle...
145From John Adams to James Warren, 26 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
The Bearers of this are two young Gentlemen from Maryland, of one of the best and first Families in that Province. One of them is a Lawyer, the other a Physician. Both have independent Fortunes. Such is their Zeal in the Cause of America, and Such their fellow Feeling for the People of our Province, that they are determined to Spend the Summer, in our Camp in order to gain Experience and...
146From Benjamin Franklin to Jane Mecom, 26 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : Marietta College Library; copy: Harvard University Library I have just now heard by Mr. Adams, that you are come out of Boston, and are at Warwick in Rhodeisland Government: I suppose it must be at good Mr. and Mrs. Green’s, to whom present my affectionate Respects. I write this Line just to let you know I am return’d well from England; that I found my Family well; but have not found the...
147[Diary entry: 26 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
26. Dined at Mr. Meridiths and Spent the Evening at the City Tavern.
148[Diary entry: 26 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
26. Clear and Warm. Wind Southerly but not fresh.
149[Diary entry: 27 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
27. Dined at the City Tavern & spent the Evening at my own Lodgings. GW, Philip Schuyler, Thomas Mifflin, Silas Deane, Lewis Morris, and Samuel Adams were named a committee to “to consider of ways and means to supply these colonies with Ammunition and military stores and to report immediately” ( JCC Worthington Chauncey Ford et al., eds. Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789 . 34...
150[Diary entry: 27 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
27. Clear and very Sultry. Wind still Southerly.
151[Diary entry: 28 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
28. Rid out to the Provence Island & dind there in Compy. with sevl. other Gentlemen.
152[Diary entry: 28 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
28. Clear and warm. Wind pretty fresh from the South.
153John Adams to Abigail Adams, 29 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
Our amiable Friend Hancock, who by the Way is our President, is to send his Servant, tomorrow for Cambridge. I am to send a few Lines by him. If his Man should come to you to deliver this Letter, treat him very kindly, because he is a kind, humane, clever Fellow. My Friend Joseph Bass, very cleverly caught the Small Pox, in two days after we arrived here, by Inoculation and has walked about...
154From John Adams to John Winthrop, 29 May 1775 (Adams Papers)
The Bearers of this are two young Gentlemen from Maryland. Aquilla Hall and Josias Carvill Hall, both of one of the best Families in Maryland, and both of independent Fortunes. Their Errand to Cambridge, is to join our Army as Volunteers, against the Enemies of their Country in order to gain Experience, in the Art of War, in which they have already made good Proficiency. As it is of importance...
155[Diary entry: 29 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
29. Dined at the City Tavern. Spent the Evening in my own Room.
156[Diary entry: 29 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
29. Warm with some appearances of Rain but none fell.
Alarmed by the designs of an arbitrary Ministry to extirpate the Rights and liberties of all America, a sense of common danger conspired with the dictates of humanity, is urging us to call your attention, by our late address, to this very important object. Since the conclusion of the late war, we have been happy in considering you as fellow-subjects, and from the commencement of the present...
158[Diary entry: 30 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
30. Dined at Mr. Mease’s, & after setting a while with the Boston Gentlemen retird to my own Room. boston gentlemen : GW is referring to the Massachusetts delegates to Congress.
159[Diary entry: 30 May 1775] (Washington Papers)
30. Lowering all day & warm. Wind fresh from the So[uth]ward.
160To Benjamin Franklin from Richard Oliver, 31 May 1775 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Some time since Mr. Wm Lee forwarded my letter to you advising the payment of £100 from the Constitutional Society into the hands of your Bankers Messrs. Brown Collinson & Co. towards relieving the distress’d Inhabitants of Boston. On the 23d Inst. they voted £100 more for their relief which is also paid into the hands of the same Gentlemen on your Account...