1731To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
I take the Liberty of addressing your Excellency in Behalf of Mr James Aborn who waits upon you with this Letter. I can assure your Excellency that he is a worthy honest Man, and hath upon all Occasions approved himself a sincere Friend to the Liberties of his Country. He sent a Vessel last Spring to the Eastward to trade and Fish, and to cover his Interest from the Enemy made Use of a Friend...
1732To George Washington from Moses Gill and John Pitts, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Watertown [Mass.] 30 November 1775 . Present “Mr Gillam Tailer, a Gentleman from Boston, of a good Family & whose Character is unexceptionable, as being desirous to serve his Country.” LS , in John Pitt’s writing, DLC:GW . Moses Gill (1731–1800) of Princeton, Mass., was a member of the council and served on the committee of supplies. See Tailer to GW, 1 Nov. 1775 .
1733To George Washington from Colonel Benjamin Ruggles Woodbridge, 30 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
Camp Near Prospect Hill, 30 November 1775 . Certifies that he has “no Objection that ... John Wetherbee Should be Dischargd from the Army.” ADS , DLC:GW . Although this document is not addressed to GW, his discharge of Wetherbee on this date indicates that it was sent directly to him. John Wetherbee, a private in Capt. Reuben Dickinson’s company in Woodbridge’s Massachusetts regiment, was...
1734To George Washington from Noncommissioned Officers and Soldiers of Captains Thomas William’s and Jonas Hubbard’s … (Washington Papers)
[December 1775] . Petition for reimbursement of damages sustained on the Quebec expedition. “Some of your Pettitioners By Reason of the Badness of the Weather, at the Cold Season of the Year, Suffered Considerable Losses, by going up the River; and others by being Destitude of Provisions were obliged to Leave the Detachment and Return back from Sd Expedition; were at Considerable Expence in...
1735To George Washington from William White, December 1775 (Washington Papers)
[December 1775] . Declines appointment as an ensign in “Capt. Peters Company in Colono. Larnerds Regiment” and gives his reasons. ALS , sold by Parke-Bernet, Catalogue 1825, item 464, 29–30 April 1958.
1736To George Washington from William Palfrey, 1 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Palfrey, 1 Dec. 1775. On 4 Dec. Robert Hanson Harrison wrote to Palfrey: “I am commanded by his Excellency to inform you that he received your favors of the 1 & 3 Instant” ( DLC:GW ).
1737To George Washington from Major General Israel Putnam, 1 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I shall esteem it as a particular Favour if your Excellency will be so obliging as to recommend my Worthy friend Collo. Henry Babcock to the Honorable Continental Congress to be appointed to the Rank of Brigadier Generall in the Continental Army. I have been upon Service with him several Campaigns the last War and have seen him in Action behave with great Spirit and Fortitude when he had the...
1738To George Washington from the Stonington Committee of Safety, 1 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Recd Your Excellency’s Orders of the 27th Ult. Accompanied with the Papers belonging to the Sloop Warren, now in this port, and in consequence the Committee convened, and have taken the same into Consideration, and find that John Denny the Master of Said Sloop is a Native of Great Britain & is Suspected to hold principles Inimical to this Country, Wherefore we dont think Proper to discharge Sd...
1739To George Washington from John Hancock, 2 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your severall Letters from the time the Committee left the Camp to the 19th of November inclusive being duly Rec’d, were laid before Congress, on which, as well as on the Report from their Committee, they have Come to sundry further Resolutions, which I have the honour to inclose you —The Money order’d is getting ready and will be forwarded with all possible Expedition—The Congress have...
1740To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 2 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 2 Dec. 1775. On 15 Dec. GW wrote to Reed : “I have had the pleasure of receiving your Favours of the 28th Ulto and 2d Instt.”
1741To George Washington from Eleazar Wheelock, 2 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
On the 13th Ult. the Famous Major Rogers came to My House from a Tavern in the Neighbourhood where he calld for Refreshment—I had never before Seen him—he was in but ordinary Habit for one of his Character—He treated me with great Respect—Said he came from London in July, and had Spent 20 Days with the Congress in Philadelphia, and I forget how Many at New York—had been offer’d & urged to take...
1742To George Washington from Jonathan Glover, 3 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have the pleasure to Inform your Excllencey that Capt. Manly in your Schr Lee Brought into the Mouth of Marblehead harbour this Morning, the Ship Concord James Lowrie Master from Glassco; the Invoices and all the papers on Board her have Sent forward By Capt. Richd James, the Ship Immeadatly on her Comeing into Marblehead, order her, to Beverly, as She was Turning in, got a ground on the...
1743To George Washington from William Palfrey, 3 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from William Palfrey, 3 Dec. 1775. On this date Palfrey informed GW: “I wrote this Morning to acquaint you of the Capture of the Ship from Glasgow.”
1744To George Washington from Captain William Palfrey, 3 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote this Morning to acquaint you of the Capture of the Ship from Glasgow, since which we have been busily employ’d in getting her Cargo into small Craft, in order to get her off the Ground where she stuck in coming in, & hope to be able to hawl her to the Wharf to-morrow morning—This afternoon I have been procuring a number of Horses to carry the Baggage Waggons & Gun Carriages to...
1745To George Washington from Lund Washington, 3 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Two Letters from you came to hand this Week dated Nvmr the 6th & 12th. I also recieved the one by Mr Gilpin which I men⟨ti⟩on’d in my last —I am glad to hear Mr Harrison is with you—I shall alter the Servts Hall—If it is not Intended for a Wash House one of the Chimneys is rather larger than it shoud be, it was done by Mrs Washingtons Derection, but as they have the same outward appearance I...
1746To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 4 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Three Men having deserted from One of the armed Schooners in the Harbor of Newport on Wednesday Evening last, the Captain with a Midshipman, came ashore after them, and were both taken Prisoners. They were brought here Yesterday. The Captain whose Name is Stanhope was a Lieutenant on board the Glasgow. It was reported that he was a Son of Earl Stanhope. Upon Examination he denied it, but...
1747To George Washington from Colonel Benedict Arnold, 5 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
My last of the 20th ultimo from Point aux Trembles, advising of my retiring from before Quebec, make no Doubt your Excellency has received. I continued at Point aux Trembles until the 3rd Instant, when to my great Joy General Montgomery joined us with Artillery and about 300 Men. Yesterday we arrived here, and are making all possible Preparation to attack the City, which has a wretched motley...
1748To George Washington from Colonel Henry Knox, 5 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I arriv’d here Yesterday & made preparation to go over the lake this morning but General Schuyler reaching here before day prevents my going over for an hour or two. He has given me a list of Stores on the other side from which I am enabled to send an Inventory of those which I intend to forward to Camp —The Garriso⟨n⟩ at Ticonderoga is so weak, The conveyance from the fort to the landing is...
1749To George Washington from Captain William Palfrey, 5 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I wrote Mr Moylan Yesterday to acquaint your Excellency (through him) of the progress we had made in forwarding the Ordnance Stores &c. I have since got all the Baggage Waggons & Gun Carriages put together & should have sent them off this Morning, but unfortunately could not procure Harness for the Horses, & the Harness that came with them is not arriv’d from Cape Ann. I have desir’d Capt....
1750To George Washington from Colonel James Mitchell Varnum, 5 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Prospect Hill , 5 December 1775 . Informs GW that Private Ralph Morgan of his regiment “hath a Wife and two Children destitute of an House to cover them, & his Household Furniture in the Streets.” Morgan wants an eight-day furlough, “But, as that Regard which the Colo. is happy in paying to General Orders will not admit of a regimental Relief (Morgan declining the Service), begs his...
1751To George Washington from Richard Henry Lee, 6 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The inclosed letter from Colo. Pendleton came to hand two days ago, and as it will save a good deal of unnecessary writing, I send it to you. The proclamation there alluded to, we have seen. It proclaims martial law thro Virginia and offers freedom to all the Slaves, calling their Masters rebels &c.—It seems this unlucky triumph over Hutchings with his less than half armed Militia, so...
1752To George Washington from James Lovell, 6 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I address your Excellency upon a Matter greatly important in its Consequences to more than myself. And, though I am personally unknown to you, I shall proceed without any other Ceremony than just to beg you would not attribute my Abruptness to the Consideration of the Chanel by which my Letter will be conveyed, but to my Embarrassment in an Aim to express by Words, my real Veneration of your...
1753To George Washington from Phillips Callbeck and Thomas Wright, 7 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Case of Phillip Callbeck late commander in Chief of the Island St John and Thomas Wright one of the Council, Justice of the peace, and Surveyor General of the said Island—Addressed to His Excellency General Washington. That on Friday the 17th of November two armed Schooners or Privateers arrived at Charlotte Town the Capital of the said Island, immediately after Captain Broughton and...
1754To George Washington from the Massachusetts General Court, 7 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
We inclose to your Excellency an attested Copy of the Resolve, passed by the General Court, on the first instant, upon the Subject matter of which Resolve, a Committee of both houses had yesterday the honor of a Conference with your Excellency. We are clearly of opinion, that the words of the Resolve will not admit of such a construction as was suggested to your Excelly by Genl Heath, but that...
1755To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 7 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 7 Dec. 1775. On 25 Dec. GW wrote to Reed : “your favours of the 7th, & 11th as also the 8th are come to hand.”
1756To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 7 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Excellency’s Letter of the 2nd instant ⅌ Capt. Clark came to hand the 4th. The late extraordinary and reprehensible conduct of some of the Troops of this Colony impresseth me, and the minds of many of our People, with grief, surprise and indignation—since the treatment they met, and the Order and request made to them was so reasonable, and apparently necessary for the defence of our...
1757To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Mr Jonathan Smith a gentlemen of this city who with two others is charged with 500.000 dollars for the use of the army under your command. I have the honor to be Sir Your obedient humble Servt I shall Dispatch an Express this Day to you by order of Congress in Consequence of your Letter of 28th ulto. LS , DLC:GW . The body of the letter is in Charles Thomson’s...
1758To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your letter of the 28 of November by Captn Blewer being received was immediately laid before Congress. By my letter of the 2d instant, which I hope you will in due time receive, you will perceive the Congress have in a great measure prevented your wishes, having written to New york and given orders to General Schuyler to supply you with and forward with all possible expedition what cannon can...
1759To George Washington from Thomas Lynch, 8 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour by Captn Blewer gives me infinite Concern not less on yours than on the Account of the Continent. Providence favours us every where, our success in every operation excedes our most sanguine expectations and yet when God is ready to deliver our oppressors into our hands, that Men cannot be found willing to receive them, is truly surprising. With grief & shame it must be confessed...
1760To George Washington from Timothy Pickering, 8 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
’Tis with real pain I ask your Excellency’s attention (engaged as it is in affairs of such vast importance) to the subject of this letter: but justice, & compassion to the distressed (not to say the injured) compel me to do it. The bearer Capt. McGlathry about a month since was coming from the eastward with a load of wood, bound to Salem, but was taken by a man of war, & afterwards retaken by...
1761To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 8 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 8 Dec. 1775. On 25 Dec. GW wrote to Reed : “your favours of the 7th, & 11th as also the 8th are come to hand.”
1762To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 8 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the honor to advise your Excellency of my arrival here on the 7th Inst: should have wrote you yesterday but I was all day in conference with Sixty of the principal Sachems of the Six Nations. the matter was merely congratulatory and introductory to the business which they intend to open on monday, the substance of which I have not yet been able to learn. Inclose you copys of...
1763To George Washington from Brigadier General John Thomas, 8 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Capt. Chapin is one that was Arrang’d as a Captain in Colo. Wards Regt But does not fin’d himself Successful in Recruiting, & for Some other Reason brought me his Resignation, which I herewith inclose, Capt. Hazleton who Served as a Capt. in the Same Regt with Said Chapin the Last Summer Return’d to Stay & was Arrang’d with Colo. Jonathan Brewer, But by Some Means after the Arrangment was...
1764To George Washington from William Bartlett, 9 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I have the Pleasure to acquaint your Excellency that Capt. Manly has brought in here a Ship from London and a Brig from St Eustatia I Enclose your Excellency the Papers which I forward by Mr Cabot Shall Secure them Untill fu[r]ther O[r]ders from your Excellency The Brig is Safe arrived from Cape Ann. I am with Respect your Excellencys most Obedt Hume Servt N.B. The Capt. of Ship has hove...
1765To George Washington from Ezekiel Cheever, 9 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Received of His Excellency General Washington, Ten Firelocks with Steel Rammers—Nine Pouches—three Cartouch Boxes—Seven bullet bags—Nine bayonetts with 8 belts & Scabbards; for all which I promise to be Accountable. DS , DLC:GW .
1766To George Washington from Colonel William Prescott, 9 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Sewall’s Point [Mass.] 9 December 1775. . Consents to the discharge of Lt. James Russell who “Represents to me that the affairs of his Family are Such that Require his attention at home.” LS , DLC:GW . James Russell (d. 1801), lieutenant of Capt. Hugh Maxwell’s company in Prescott’s Massachusetts regiment, was discharged on this date.
1767To George Washington from Major General Philip Schuyler, 9 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
Since I did Myself the Honor to address Your Excellency on the 8th instant, my Baggage is arrived, & now inclose the Return of Cannon at Crown Point Tionderoga &ca —besides these there are a few at Fort George, the Return whereof I gave Colo: Knox to Copy & he forgot to redeliver It to me. As soon as I am a little setled, I shall take the Liberty to send You Copies of my Letters to Congress,...
1768To George Washington from Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 9 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
last Evening I received your Excellency’s favour of the 5th in your hurry not signed, the number of men inlisted left blank. While this Express waits for a horse, I have only time to mention, That I shall (Deo volente) set out on my Journey to meet the Assembly at New Haven the 12th please to favour me with a List of the Officers of our several Regiments, and of the Companies in each as they...
1769To George Washington from Lund Washington, 10 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I recieved no letter last post from you I suppose you did not write. Jennifer Adams has made Deeds for his Land to you—Dr Craik was here on thursday last he says he thinks unless the Land is Rented to Adams, it will not be rented at all, unless it is Rented for little or nothing, as yet I cannot tell what I shall do with it, if I find it cannot be rented to Advantage, perhaps I may let Adams...
1770To George Washington from William Bartlett, 11 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I acknolidge the Favour of yours of this date concerning the Ship Concords Cargo and Shall forward it to Head Quts. as fast as Possible but the Roads being Very bad the Teamers think the Price Stipulated by Our General Court is not Sufficient Desire Your Excellency would inform me weather you will allow them any more or not The Porter togeather with the Other Arcticles mentioned by your...
1771To George Washington from William Bartlett, 11 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I beg Leave to inclose Your Excellency the Petition of the Committee of Corrispondence of this Town where they set fourth the Sutiation of it in a Very Clear Light & Pray Your Excellency would hear and Answer the same if you in your Grate Wisdom think it Necessary. Those Valuable Prizes brought in here are much Exposed as we have nothing to Defend them with—Our Herbour is as Safe as any can be...
1772To George Washington from the Beverly Committee of Correspondence, 11 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Petition of us the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth That as the Highand of Minesterael Creuelty hath brought us into a most unnatural War with our mother Country by which means the Town of Beverly is much Exposed to their most unnatural Savage Like Creuelty. the Town Lying more then four miles on the Sea coast and a grate part of that way Conveiniant for Landing, the Inhabitents of this Town...
1773To George Washington from Nicholas Cooke, 11 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honor to address this Letter to you by Mr Penet, and another French Gentleman who arrived here last Night in Capt. Rhodes from Cape Francois, who was dispatched some Time since from this Place for Powder. Mr Penet comes extremely well recommended to our Committee for providing Powder from a Merchant of Character at the Cape. He hath Proposals to make for supplying the United...
1774To George Washington from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 11 December 1775 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Reed, 11 Dec. 1775. On 25 Dec. GW wrote to Reed : “your favours of the 7th, & 11th as also the 8th are come to hand.”
1775To George Washington from William Sever, 11 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
At the request of the Board I am to acquaint your Excellency, that in consequence of a Letter, received the 4 Instt from your Excellency’s Aid de Camp, Robt H: Harrison, Esqr. giving Information of a number of Persons coming out of Boston, who were apprehended to be infected with the smallpox; The whole Court immediately took Order thereon, an attested Copy whereof is inclosed —This the Board...
1776To George Washington from Nathaniel Freeman, 12 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
—M ay it please your E xcellency : Colonel Otis , the younger, the author of the letter to your Excellency enclosed herewith, sent the same open to me, as we were together in ordering Mr. Lovell apprehended and sent a prisoner to your Excellency. Upon reading it, I thought it would not be improper to add, that the two Lovells mentioned in this delinquent’s letter, owned that they told Shubael...
1777To George Washington from John Morgan, 12 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
In pursuance of your Excellency’s command I have carefully inquired into the state of the genl Hospital, and of the sick in each House, and do find that the number set down in the last weekly return, made to me, from the Surgeons of the Hospital, amounts to 676, but they have sometimes amounted to near 15,00; of which the proportion at Roxbury, is about one third; and on an average, their...
1778To George Washington from Joseph Otis, 12 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
B arnstable [Mass.], December 12, 1775— M ay it please your E xcellency : The enclosed letter was sent me by the Governour of Rhode-Island , on the receipt of which, with the advice of the Field Officers of this regiment, I took up the writer, and, with the advice of Colonel Otis , have sent the man to your Excellency, by Lieutenant Lothrop . The two men mentioned in the letter, we talked...
1779To George Washington from William Bartlett, 14 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I now forward to Your Excellency by the Bearer Three Cask of Porter purchased of Capt. Hunter one BLL of Lemons of what was Remaining Sound out of the Ship Concord one Box of Pickels one Keg of Sweetmeets one Box of wine Two Cases of wine one BLL of Tea & Loaf Sugar one BLL of Oranges being all the Sound ones on board the Brign. Hannah the Oranges being Directed to his Excellency Generall...
1780To George Washington from Robert Rogers, 14 December 1775 (Washington Papers)
I sail’d from Gravesend the 4th of June last in a Merchant ship bound to Baltimore in Maryland, which was at the time I came away the nighest passage I could get to Philadelphia, where I waited on the Gentlemen that compose the Continental Congress, in order to obtain ⟨their permit to set⟩tle my private Affairs, being much ⟨encumbered with de⟩bts, chiefly contracted in the province ⟨of...