1To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 24 July 1778 (Washington Papers)
24 July 1778 . Encloses a letter that “may occasion a comfortable Supply if not intire Relief to two worthy Men” and requests “that it may be sent the first favourable Opportunity.” ALS , DLC:GW . Neither the enclosure nor the men have been identified.
2I. Petition of Thomas Johnson, [before 11 November 1777] (Jefferson Papers)
To the Honl. The Speaker and Delegates of the Common Wealth of Virginia. The Petition of Thomas Johnson Jun. humbly shewith that your petitioner was appointed a Captain in the County of Louisa and raised his quota of men and when he was about to march to Join his Ridgment, was obliged to hire a Cart and two Stears of Charles Yancey to carry his mens baggage &c. as far as Carrs bridge and after...
3Contract between the Secret Committee and Thomas Mumford for Supplying Gunpowder, 28 November 1775: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Owner anonymous; transcript furnished by courtesy of Dr. Joseph E. Fields, Joliet, Ill. (1957) Less than a month after the creation of the secret committee Silas Deane, one of its members, wrote his friend Thomas Mumford to suggest that he come to Philadelphia to find out what profit could be made under the committee’s aegis. The letter seems to have crossed one from Mumford, who explained...
4To John Jay from Thomas Johnson, 24 February 1777 (Jay Papers)
I am much obliged by your Favor which reached me in the Jersey’s; in my Way, at philadelphia, I had the pleasure of reading the Address which you kindly inclosed me. I had in my own Mind given you the Cred t . of having a principal Hand in it— When I left Home I had no Expectation of crossing the Delaware. I imagined our utmost Exertions would scarce save philadelphia our people like all other...
5To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 4 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I recvd your Letter of the first Instant and was happy in having it in my power to converse with General Smallwood on the Contents of it. I see several Vessels in the Harbour which I think might well be applied for the purpose you mention and believe I could get Men who would at least endeavour to go through it but I am apprehensive it could not be conducted with Success we have very little...
6To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 22 February 1778 (Washington Papers)
I this Moment received your Letter of the 16th Instant with its Inclosure I have within a few Days past received Letters on the same Subject from the Board of War and also from Members of the Congress from this State —the first Intimation or indeed Apprehension I had of any Difficulty in your Supplies of provisions was about the tenth of January and every Assistance which I thought could be...
7To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 22 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
We have had many Applications from People of this State for Leave to go into Phila. some of them want to return again: we have not given Leave to any Body to go in, without permission from the Officer commanding the Continental Troops at some post on the way nor have we recommended any except Mrs Stewart Mrs Caldcleugh and Mrs McCall —We were not satisfied of the propriety of frequently...
8To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 6 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Some Time since I received a Letter from Mr Paca from Chester informing me of your Request to Mr Cadwallader which Mr Cadwallader very readily gave into—The Council and myself as our Affairs were circumstanced requested Colo. Richardson to move up in order to join the Militia before we knew that you had designed Mr Cadwallader should take the Command or that the Congress had fixed on Colo....
9To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Johnson, 3 April 1778 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society Expecting that Mr. Joshua Johnson of London has removed to France we have empowered him to apply for a Loan of Cloathing etc. for the Use of this State and have taken the Freedom on the uncertainty of his being there to give the like Power in Case of his Absence to such Person as you may nominate hoping that you will take the Trouble of appointing a proper...
10To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 9 July 1779 (Washington Papers)
Your circular Letter of the 22d of May, in great Measure, occasioned a Call of our Assembly which is to meet the 15th Inst. We have to regret that Congress did not earlier make their Requisition on the States to fill up their Quotas of Troops and that Cloathing was not, we suppose could not be, sent with the Recruiting Officers. We have not been altogether without Success, tho’ it is much...
11To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 20 May 1778 (Washington Papers)
I received your Letter of the 17th within these few Hours—We had before ordered about three hundred Militia as Guards to the Stores at & in the Neighbourhood of the Head of Elk —In Consequence of your Letter Orders are already gone to the Lieutenant of Cecil to call out a Battalion of that County on the same Service—for three Companies from Baltimore and two from each of the Counties of Kent...
12To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 19 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Many Circumstances have unluckily concurred to retard the recruiting Service in this State amongst them Rank has not been the most inconsiderable; that Matter is at last so far accomodated that I hope for the Service of nearly all those Officers who shared in the Fatigue of the last Campain. Inclosed is a List of our Feild Officers with the Numbers of their Regiments and I expect in a few Days...
13To Benjamin Franklin from Thomas Johnson, 12 August 1781 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : American Philosophical Society Mr. Ridley is about returning to France in prosecution of his private Affairs and impowered to transact some Business for this State your Acquaintance with him in France must have given you favourable Impressions of him— I have known him a long Time and he is one of the very few for the promoting whose Views I would request your Countenance. I am dear Sir...
14To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 23 April 1779 (Washington Papers)
I had the pleasure of receiving last Sunday your Favor of the eighth Instant most of the Maryland Officers sent hither on the recruiting Service have since been with me and received the Money they desired some of them have sanguine Hopes of Success—I saw Colo. Rawlings on Friday; from Conversation with him I collected that he had upwards of 100 Men and I heard Yesterday he enlisted several in...
15To George Washington from Thomas Johnson, 13 April 1782 (Washington Papers)
I wold inform you That Sevril months have of varry havely as I have been hoping That Sum Dore Wold open That I might have A quanted you of Sum A Fares That I Think must have been a greabel To you as I have been made So well a quanted with your Desires inclinations and A Teachment To The British Crown I Shall with The greater Meashur inform you how the Rebels are imposed on and as my Life my...
16Contract between the Secret Committee and John Brown, [before 20 January 1776]: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy with DS by Nicholas Brown: John Carter Brown Library <[Before Jan. 20, 1776]: Agreed between John Brown on the one part and members of the committee on the other that a voyage or voyages will be undertaken to procure thirty-six tons of gunpowder (or, failing that, sufficient saltpetre and sulphur to make up the same amount), 1,000 stand of good arms, 1,000 gun locks, twenty tons of lead,...
17The Secret Committee to Richard Harrison and Adrien le Maitre, 3 June 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society We wrote you the 2d Ultimo by the Sloop Fanny Capt. Wm Britton which we hope will get safe, at that time we directed how you were to dispose of the Net Proceeds of the Cargo Consigned you by said Sloop and probably you may have complyed with those orders before this reaches you, if so its well, but if those orders are not executed and you remain possessed of...
18The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 1 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Harvard University Library; letterbook copy: National Archives Mr. Morris has communicated to us the substance of your letters to him down to the 23rd June when you was near setting out for Paris. We hope your reception there has been equal to your expectation and our wishes, indeed we have no reason to doubt it considering the countenance we have met with amongst the French Islands, and...
19The Committee of Secret Correspondence to William Hodge, Jr., 3 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives We Commit to your care sundry dispatches delivered you herewith, and you are immediately to repair onboard the Sloop Independance John Young Commander now waighting for you between this and Rheedy Island. This Sloop will carry you and Said dispatches with the utmost Expedition to the Island of Martinico, where you must apply to Wm. Bingham Esqr. delivering to him all...
20The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 18 February 1777 (Franklin Papers)
ALS : University of Virginia Library You will receive herewith a Copy of our Letter of Yesterday by the Lexington, with its enclosures. This goes to Boston for a Passage from thence. An armed Vessel belonging to that State will carry the dispatches and will be governed by your directions respecting her Load back, and the Time of her return. Should you have failed in obtaining the Loan, or of...
21Charter Party between the Secret Committee and Joseph Harper and James King, 1 February 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
DS : The Rosenbach Foundation <February 1, 1776: The agreement is between members of the committee and James King and Joseph Harper, Philadelphia merchants and owners of the brigantine Cornelia of approximately 100 tons, Thomas Genn master, to hire her for a voyage to France. She is to sail to a port in South Carolina to be subsequently designated, there to be loaded with rice, indigo, or...
22The Committee of Secret Correspondence to [Arthur Lee], 30 November 1775 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: University of Virginia Library On November 29, 1775, Samuel Chase brought before Congress a proposal to send ambassadors to France. John Adams seconded the motion, and a vehement debate ensued. A number of alternatives were advanced, and one finally gained approval: to appoint a five-member committee of secret correspondence for the purpose of opening communication with friends of...
23Contract between the Secret Committee and John and Nicholas Brown, 6 February 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: John Carter Brown Library <Philadelphia, February 6, 1776: The Browns will procure in Europe 10,000 good blankets at approximately 4 s. 6 d. to 5 s. sterling apiece; 9,200 yards of blue and brown broadcloth for uniforms and 800 yards of different colors for facings, most of the cloth, being for privates, at about 4 s. sterling per yard and the rest, for officers, at 6 s. ; ten tons of...
24The Committee of Secret Correspondence to William Bingham, 21 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : American Philosophical Society; copy: National Archives We send you herewith a copy of what we wrote you the 1st Inst. per the Sloop Independance Capt. Young and hope some of the articles that were to be forwarded to your Island or St. Eustatia by Monsr. Hortalez have arrived. In that case you will apply for, receive and Ship them by these opportunities of our Continental Cruizers, which...
25The Committee of Secret Correspondence to John Bradford, 30 July 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: National Archives; typescript of ALS : Yale University Library We take the liberty to enclose herein some dispatches for Messrs. Saml. & J. H. Delap Merchts. in Bourdeaux which youl please to deliver into Capt. Clevelands own hands with a strict charge to take the utmost care of them and follow the orders also enclosed herein directed to him which you will be pleased to deliver and...
26The Secret Committee to the American Commissioners, 9 May 1777 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Johns Hopkins University Library; copies: American Philosophical Society, National Archives, Library of Congress, University of Virginia Library This letter is intended to be delivered you by John Paul Jones Esquire an Active and brave Commander in our Navy, who has already performed signal services in Vessels of little Force and in reward for his Zeal, we have directed him to go on board...
27The Committee of Secret Correspondence: a Report to Congress, [on or before 14 February 1776] (Franklin Papers)
AD : National Archives The invasion of Canada, authorized by Congress in June, 1775, had begun in August under Major General Philip Schuyler. Because of his ill health the command almost immediately devolved upon his subordinate, Brigadier General Richard Montgomery, who by November had captured the forts at Chambly and St. Johns and the city of Montreal. Governor Carleton escaped to Quebec...
28The Committee of Secret Correspondence to William Bingham, 23 October 1776 (Franklin Papers)
LS : Historical Society of Pennsylvania; copy: National Archives We have wrote you already by this Conveyance of the Brigantine Andrew Doria to St. Eustatia which we deem safer than the Sachem as she sails faster and is of more Force. Therefore we now enclose you some very Important dispatches for Mr. Dean and request you will forward them by the very first good Conveyance advising us...
29Contract between the Secret Committee and Silas Deane and Others, 19 February 1776 (Franklin Papers)
Copy: South Carolina Historical Society; copy: Connecticut Historical Society We normally summarize contracts of the secret committee signed by Franklin, but this one is important enough to be printed in full because it was the initial reason for Deane’s going to France. Soon after he lost his seat in Congress in October, 1775, and thereby his membership in the secret committee, he began to...
30The Committee of Secret Correspondence to Silas Deane, 23 October 1776: résumé (Franklin Papers)
Copy: Haverford College Library; copy: National Archives <Philadelphia, October 23, 1776: We have written you twice today by different ships. This letter goes by the Andrew Doria to St. Eustatius, to be forwarded to William Bingham and by him to you in a French vessel. We enclose two resolutions of Congress. The first replaces Thomas Jefferson as commissioner with Arthur Lee, whom you will...