Revolutionary War

John Hancock

John Hancock Appointment Signed. One partially printed sheet, 11 1/4 x 12 inches (sight), Massachusetts; July 1, 1781. A military appointment making William Bridge "Adjutant of the Seventh Regiment of Militia in the County of Middlesex where Johnathan Brown is Colonel." Signed by Hancock as Governor of Massachusetts, "John Hancock." Countersigned by John Avery as Secretary of the Commonwealth. Paper embossed seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the upper left. The document is matted and framed to an overall size of 19 x 24 inches.

On April 19, 1775, the day on which the Battles of Lexington and Concord began, William Bridge (1741-1804) mustered into service as adjutant for Colonel Ephraim Doolittle. He was elected Adjutant of the 7th Middlesex County Regiment on June 20, 1778.

Condition: Moderately toned, with smoothed folds. Some separations at the margins, with paper loss at the bottom right corner. Slight foxing, throughout. The paper backing of the frame has a tear at the bottom margin. Property from the Michael Freedman Collection.

Henry Knox

Henry Knox Autograph Letter Signed. Two pages, recto and verso, 8 x 12 5/8 inches; Philadelphia; June 19, 1791. Addressed to Major General John Brooks, Knox discusses the arrangement of a militia regiment. It reads in part: "I have received your favor dated the 14th. Although I conceived in some points of view the L regiment might not be equal to your desires, yet in others...you should have the opportunity of judging for yourself. I am persuaded you have decided properly...to your own prospects, which I am happy to learn are so good for the public. I regret that it cannot avail itself of the appearance of so valuable an officer. But I do not believe the claims...are such in this moment, as to require individuals to make great additional sacrifices." Signed, "Knox."

Following the Revolutionary War, Brooks continued to serve in the militia and rose to the position of major general in the Middlesex Division. In early 1792 Henry Knox offered him the rank of brigadier general in the Legion of the United States, but Brooks refused. This letter may be relating to that business as "Private" is written by Knox along the top edge.

Condition: Lightly toned with a few scattered stains. Flattened folds with a few pinholes at intersections, small separation at bottom right margin and minor offsetting at bottom left margin of recto. Text shows through on both sides, and pencil notation at bottom right margin of verso.

Patrick Henry

Patrick Henry Autograph Document Signed. One page, 8 x 8 1/2 inches, [Virginia]; March 3, 1770. A memorandum entirely in Henry's hand regarding the transfer of land between Patrick Henry and William Christian, with a second full signature in the text.

The document reads, in part: "Memorandum of agreement Between Patrick Henry + W'm Christian is Thus they have exchanged Lands, vg. the s'd Henry to convey to said Christian a Tract of Land on the head of Moccison creek containing 1400 acres, another Between Davis of the Road Oak of between nine hundred thousand acres - also a third of about the acre quantity called the Holly Bottom on Holston." Signed, "P. Henry" and "W'm Christian."

William Christian (circa 1742-1786) was a Virginia military officer, planter, and politician. He served as a captain under Colonel William Byrd during the Anglo-Cherokee War (1758-1761). In the mid-1760s, Christian studied law under Patrick Henry and later married Henry's sister, Annie. During the American Revolutionary War, he played a critical role in negotiating the Treaty of Long Island of the Holston in 1777. This treaty with the Cherokee Nation was vital for securing the western frontier during the war. After the war, Christian helped established Fort William, Kentucky, with the intent of strengthening defenses against Native American attacks. He was killed in a skirmish against Native Americans north of the Ohio River in 1786 during an expedition.

Condition: Moderately toned. Smoothed folds, with long separations thereat. The separations are touching text, but do not affect its readability. Wear at the margins, resulting in paper loss. Slight foxing, throughout. Several tape reinforcements and a paper strip along the top on verso.

Henry Lighthorse Lee

Henry "Light-Horse Harry" Lee Autograph Letters (2) Signed, with a Letter from his Son, Henry "Dark-Horse Harry" Lee. Three letters totaling five pages (various sizes). The first two letters, dated August 10, 1793 and October 12, 1795, are written by Henry Lee III, General Robert E. Lee's father, regarding the sale and transfer of land. The third, dated December 18, 1819, was penned by his son, Henry Lee IV.

In his letter dated August 10, 1793 (two pages, 8 1/4 x 13 inches, "Washington" [D.C.]), Henry Lee III writes to fellow Virginian politician Alexander Scott Bullitt: "In examination, I find I made an Entry for you on the 25th of Nov'r 1783, for about 7 or 8000 As on the N. fork of Sinking which stands in the Name of your Father, I shall survey it & send it forward & will thank you to write to the Register Authorizing him to issue the grant to me, the letter you wrote him by me will answer every purpose for those that stand in your own name. Speculating Lands has taken a surprising fall in Philld'a it is to be owen to some publication of the French Minister, warning his people against the grant which was then practicing by R.M. & others of that place be this as it may, I am pretty deeply in for it, I unfortunately saw Triplett before I heard this news & have purchased his part of the 20,000 made for himself & your father." Signed, "Henry Lee."

Lee wrote Bullitt again on October 12, 1795 (one page, 7 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches, no place), in part: "Humphrey Marshall Esqrs on behalf of Mr. Ja's Marshall & myself have made a a [sic] division of a Survey made in your Name for 2253 acres; on the Kentucky River & Cedar Creek, I am indeed to believe the Grant for this tract of land issued before your letter reach the register if so please to convey to James Marshall an order one Moiety of the aforesaid Survey: to be taken off the Southwest End: by a line running of right Angles: N.W. & S.E..." Signed, "Henry Lee."

Both Lee and Bullitt were prolific landowners, investing in properties across the early United States. Their investments solidified their families' lasting legacies, as the land they owned was passed to their sons and maintained until the outbreak of the Civil War. In the letter from Lee's son, Henry Lee IV, dated December 18, 1819 (two pages of a bifolium, 8 x 10 inches, "Washington" [D.C.]), he writes to Bullitt's son, William, to discuss a lawsuit brought against him for land his father purchased. The letter reads, in large part: "Your fav'r of the 28th ult. came to hand some time pas'd I have delayed the answer to obtain further information & find I was correct in my former information that the 1920 acre tract does not interfere with Moore & from the connection which I have inspected it must be near two miles from it. It is true that your father transfered [sic] one undivided moiety of his tract to Gustavus Scott & the other moiety to myself many years ago. It has appeared very extraordinary to me why your father sho'd have been made a defendant when he had long before divested himself of the title; & the deed to myself is recorded in the Gen'l Courts Clerks office. Moore has amended his Bill and made me a defendant I intent to answer & deny the interference which I know to be the fact, & will it not be extraordinary if the court should decree you or myself to pay cost on a false charge by the complainant."

Condition: All letters are slightly toned, with smoothed folds, as expected. August 10 letter has small pencil notations on the recto, not touching text. Some wear at the right margin, with slight separations not touching text. Docketed on the verso. August 10 and October 12 letters are reinforced with tape at the left margin on the verso. August 10 letter has remnants of sealing wax on both sides, with paper loss at the edge of the wax remnant near the bottom margin, obscuring some text. Small pencil notations present throughout. Rust stains on the recto at top and left margins. With integral address panel on the verso. December 18 letter has some ink smudging, not affecting the readability of the text. Slight separations at the creases, with some staining and discoloration throughout. With integral address panel and remnants of sealing wax on page four.

General Ward

Letter signed, General Ward July 26, 1775. Orders the Company to supply the Beaver with one Barrel of rum and four barrels of beer for General Putnam's fatigued men on Prospect Hill (Bunker Hill) 5 1/2 x 5 "

The American Revolutionary War began with the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. After this encounter, the colonial forces pursued the British troops back to Boston and initiated the Siege of Boston, effectively cutting off all land access to the city. Initially, General Ward led the colonial forces from his sickbed in Shrewsbury, later relocating his headquarters to Cambridge. During this time, he was named the commander of the forces from both New Hampshire and Connecticut participating in the siege. His primary focus was on organizing and addressing supply issues.In May, additional British forces arrived by sea, and General Ward learned of their plan to attack Bunker Hill in June. He issued orders to fortify the area, leading to the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775, where command responsibilities were shared among General Israel Putnam and Colonel William Prescott.Around the same time, the Continental Congress was forming the Continental Army, and on June 17, they appointed Ward as a major general, making him second in command to General George Washington. He was among the original four major generals in the Continental Army alongside Charles Lee, Philip Schuyler, and Israel Putnam. Over the following nine months, Ward played a crucial role in transforming the assembled militia units into a more organized and cohesive Continental Army.When the British evacuated Boston on March 17, 1776, Washington led the main body of the army to New York City. Meanwhile, General Ward assumed command of the Eastern Department and held this position until March 1777 when he had to resign from the army due to declining health.

General Artemas Ward

1727 - 1800