1To George Washington from John Hancock, 15 October 1776 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Hancock, 15 Oct. 1776. On 18 Oct. GW wrote to Hancock : “I was Yesterday morning honoured with your favor of the 15th.”
2To George Washington from John Hancock, 13 October 1777 [letter not found] (Washington Papers)
Letter not found: from John Hancock, 13 Oct. 1777. GW wrote Hancock on 16 Oct. : “I have been duly honoured with your Favors of the 12th & 13th Instant.”
3To George Washington from John Hancock, 13 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
[Philadelphia] 13 August 1776 . “I have nothing in Charge from Congress to Communicate to you. Had not the honour of a Letter by the Post, I Judge the Return Express is on the Road, by whom wish to have an Agreeable Accot of the State of the Army.” ALS , DLC:GW .
4To George Washington from John Hancock, 12 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I am this Moment favoured with yours by the Express —I am sorry for the unfortunate Issue of the Day, but from the Troops keeping up their Spirits, I flatter myself it will still be in our Power to retrieve the Loss of yesterday. I have thought proper, in Consequence of the Intelligence received this Morning, to call the Congress together at six O’Clock. I have the Honour to be, with the...
5To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 September 1775 (Washington Papers)
The Congress have sent to you by Major William Coates, & Captain Joseph Copperthwait five hundred twenty seven thousand four hundred and eighty dollars continental money to be delivered to the paymaster & subject to your Order for the use of The Army under your Command. I have the honour to be, Sir Your most Obedt hum. servt The Cloathing is on the way. Your Letters are now under the...
6To George Washington from John Hancock, 1 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 30th Novr was duely received; in Consequence of which, as the Contents were of the utmost Importance, I thought proper to call the Congress together; whose Resolutions of this Day, I now do myself the Honour to enclose. Considering the very critical Situation of our Affairs, the Congress have agreed that you may order into the Jerseys, the Troops who are at present on the...
7To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I Arriv’d last Eveng at this place, where I was honour’d with your Letter of 23d Inst. which I shall lay before Congress as soon as the whole of the Members arrive here which I Expect will be this Day. The Inclos’d Letters for Commodore Hazelwood & Capt. Alexander, the Marine Committee judg’d best to forward, at least to induce them to Exert themselves to the last, they are left open for your...
8To George Washington from John Hancock, 15 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I do myself the Honour to enclose you sundry Resolves of Congress, accompanied with a Commission for Monsr Armand, which I am to request you will order to be delivered to him, as he is now at Head Quarters. Ever since the appointment of Brigadiers I have been waiting to be informed of the Dates of their respective Commissions in Order to settle their Rank in making out new ones. But as there...
9To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have only Time to forward the foregoing Resolves. By to morrow’s Post I hope to write you on the Subject of all your Letters which remain unanswer’d. I have the honr to be Your very hume sevt Your favr 14th just Rec’d. ALS , DLC:GW . This note is written at the end of the three resolutions of 15 July which were copied from the minutes of Congress and signed by its secretary Charles Thomson....
10To George Washington from John Hancock, 4 May 1776 (Washington Papers)
A vacancy having happend in the first New Jersey batallion by the promotion of lieutenant Colonel Winds, the Congress thought proper to elect Mr Ogden to supply his place. Lord Sterling in his letter of the 18th of March last, among other things, informed the Congress, that by this appointment Major de Hart and the batallion considered themselves “exceedingly hurt” and enclosing a memorial...
11To George Washington from John Hancock, 25 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have been duely honoured with your Favours of the 18th and 21st and immediately laid them before Congress; from whom I have it in Charge to forward the enclosed Resolves, with a Request that you will pay that Attention to them which they require. You will recieve herewith two Bundles of Commissions, which I should have forwarded sooner, had I not been prevented from signing them, by a severe...
12To George Washington from John Hancock, 22 December 1780 (Washington Papers)
The Assembly of this Commonwealth have taken every measure they could devise for Expediting the supplies of Provisions so necessary for the support of the Army, the Conduct of this Business they placed in the hands of three Gentlemen of acknowledg’d Abilities whose constant residence, for the sake of Dispatch, is at Springfield, & by whose Information it appears that they are forwarding the...
13To George Washington from John Hancock, 19 July 1775 (Washington Papers)
Introduces the bearers, “Mr Ogden & Mr Burr of the Jerseys,” who “Visit the Camp not as Spectators, but with a View of Joining the Army & being Active during the Campaign. . . . Your Dispatches Reach’d me last Eveng. I shall forward you the Papers immediately. The Results of Congress you shall know as early as possible.” ALS , DLC:GW . The address includes the words “Favd by Mr Burr.” Matthias...
14To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have it in Charge from the Congress to Direct that Two Companies of Colonell Dayton’s Battalion of New Jersey Troops be Station’d at Cape May, for the protection of the Property and Navigation in that Quarter, and you will please to Issue the necessary Directions accordingly. I am Sir Your very hume servt ALS , DLC:GW ; LB , DNA:PCC , item 12A. In response to a petition written in behalf of...
15To George Washington from John Hancock, 1 July 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by the Express on Saturday last, since which nothing has Occurr’d worthy your Notice —The sole Reason of Troubling you with this is to Acquaint you that in Consequence of your orders to Capt. Peters he proceeded with Major Rogers to this City, & Call’d on me Saturday last, & in the Evening of that day I Reliev’d him of his Charge, & put Major Rogers under Guard at the Barracks,...
16To George Washington from John Hancock, 29–30 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
You will perceive from the enclosed Resolves which I do myself the Honour of transmitting, that Congress have had under Consideration the State of Ticonderoga and have come onto sundry Re⟨solv⟩es on the Subject. I beg Leave to refer your Attention to them, and am particularly to urge that you immediately write to the Eastern States and request them in the Name of Congress to pursue every Means...
17To George Washington from John Hancock, 8 August 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your letters of the 7 with the papers enclosed are received and now under consideration of Congress. Enclosed I send you a resolution passed respecting lieutenant Josiah. He was first lieutenant of captain Nicholas Biddle & was taken in a ship capt. Biddle had made prize of, by the Cerberus frigate. By a letter which he found means to convey he informs that “he is used worse than he ever...
18To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 July 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honour of addressing you on the 24th of June, I have been favoured with the Receipt of your several Letters of the 25th 28th and 30th of that Month, and of the 1st and 2d instant; all which were immediately laid before Congress. Having Nothing in Charge at this Time, but to transmit the enclosed Resolves, I beg Leave to request your Attention to them; and have the Honour to be,...
19To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves are all I have in Charge from Congress to forward at this Time. General Mifflin having applied to Congress in Consequence of your Letter to him, he has their Permission to repair immediately to Head Quarters agreeably to his own Desire. I have made him acquainted with this Determination of Congress. In Order that you may be enabled to meet Genl Howe upon his own Ground...
20To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have only Time to enclose you the Resolves of Congress passed yesterday and to request your Attention to them. As I am not acquainted with the Name of Count Polaski, I must beg you will give orders for his Commission to be made out; and delivered to him. As he is at Head Quarters, it may be done with Exactness by consulting him as to his Name and Titles. Your Favour of yesterday I was duely...
21To George Washington from John Hancock, 2 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
Philadelphia, 2 October 1776 . “The Bearer Major Ross calling on Me previous to his setting out for Head Quarters, I have only Time to enclose you sundry Resolves, and to inform you, that I shall write you fully by General Mifflin.” LS , DLC:GW . The enclosed resolutions of 25, 26, 27, 30 Sept. and 1 Oct. concern Congress’s actions on a variety of matters affecting the army, including James...
22To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
In Consequence of your Dispatches by Genl Mifflin, who arrived here on Sunday Evening, the Congress, the next Day, came to the enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour of forwarding in Obedience to their Commands. They will inform you of the Steps taken to reinforce your Army at this Juncture. The Urgency of Affairs, will, I trust, induce the Militia to exert themselves in a proper...
23To George Washington from John Hancock, 11 March 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last I have had the honour of receiving your letter of the 9th of Feby. The congress have not yet come to any resolutions on your former Letters. The design of this is only to desire you to send Captain Morgan Connor of the riffle Batallion to Philada the Congress having occasion to employ him in the southern department. The Congress having promoted Edward Hand Esqr. to be colonel of...
24To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 June 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves relative to the Army, and therefore necessary for your Information, I have the Honour of transmitting at this Time; and beg Leave to refer your Attention to them. The Congress have finished the Commissary’s Department, and it is now in the Press. As soon as it is printed, I will forward sundry Copies for your Use. Your Favour of the 13th 14th & 15th Inst.; as also a Copy...
25To George Washington from John Hancock, 5 February 1781 (Washington Papers)
Colonel John Ashley and Brigr General Warner a Committee Appointed by the General Court to take charge of a Sum of Money in Specie granted by a Resolve of the 15th Ulto as a Gratuity to the Non Commiss[i]ond Officers and Soldiers belonging to the Massachusetts Line of the Army, will wait upon your Excellency with this Letter and I have it in Charge by a Resolution of the General Court (which...
26To George Washington from John Hancock, 4 December 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress apprehending that, in the present State of the Army, and Situation of our Affairs, an Exchange of Governor Franklin might be prejudicial, and attended with some bad Consequences, have been induced to come to the above Resolution, which I transmit by their Directions. I have the Honour to be, with the utmost Esteem & Respect, Sir your most obed. Sert Your favr of 3d Inst. just came...
27To George Washington from John Hancock, 11 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
Your Favour of the 10th Inst. containing the most interesting Intelligence was received this Day, and immediately laid before Congress. In Order to expedite the March of the Militia destined for New York, I have sent, by Order of Congress, Expresses to the several Colonies that are requested to furnish Troops for that Place. Copies of my Letters on the Occasion, I do myself the Pleasure to...
28To George Washington from John Hancock, 26 April 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since I had the Honour of addressing you yesterday, the Congress have come to the enclosed Resolves, to which I beg Leave to refer your Attention. General Schuyler, in Pursuance of the Orders of Congress, has dispatched Officers to forward the Troops to Head Quarters; and I am to request you will send some General Officer into the Eastern States, to hasten on the Troops already raised, to...
29To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 November 1775 (Washington Papers)
By order of Congress I have the Honour to forward you the Inclos’d Resolutions this moment come into. The suddeness of this order and your Zeal for the Service supercedes all necessity of Recommending this measure to your particular Notice, have only to Add that Congress leave the Appointment of the persons to you. A Variety of Business has Occurr’d, which has prevented a final Determination...
30To 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...
31To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
I wrote you by Express yesterday, and enclosed you all the Resolutions of Congress to that Time, since which Nothing has occurred. This will be handed you by Captain Bradford, who has in Charge the Money destined for the Army in Canada, three Boxes of Silver Dollars containing 21,725½, and three Boxes of Paper Dollars containing 187,000. I am to request you will please to discharge the...
32To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
This will be delivered to you by Mrs Graydon of this City, a very worthy Lady, whose Anxiety to see her Son Captain Graydon, now a Prisoner with the Enemy, is so great, that Congress have been induced to consent to her having an Interview with him. I am therefore to request your Attention to the enclosed Resolve on the Subject, and that you will give Directions for having it carried into...
33To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 May 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have Nothing further in Charge from Congress at this Time, except the enclosed Resolve, founded upon Complaints which, if not immediately enquired into and redressed, must be productive of the most fatal Consequences to the Army. Nothing can so effectually lay the Foundation of Discontent, and of Course encourage a Spirit of Mutiny and Desertion among the Soldiers, as withholding their Pay...
34To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour to forward, will inform you of the ample Provision the Congress have made for the Support of both Officer and Soldier who shall enter into the Service during the War. The Pay of the former is considerably increased, and the latter is to receive annually a compleat Suit of Cloaths, or in Lieu thereof, the Sum of twenty Dollars, should he...
35To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves will inform you of the Proceedings of Congress since my last. I have wrote to the Council of Massachusetts Bay on the Subject of the enclosed Resolve relative to an Attack on Nova Scotia, the Propriety of which the Congress have submitted to that State. You will please to inform Doctor Morgan, and likewise Doctor Stringer of their Dismission from the Service of these...
36To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 November 1776 (Washington Papers)
Since my last Nothing material has occurred here, nor have I any Thing in Charge from Congress, except to request you will negotiate an Exchange of the Hessian Prisoners at Elizabeth Town under the Care of Mr Ludwick as soon as possible. They have been treated in such a Manner during their Stay in this City, that it is apprehended, their going back among their Countrymen, will be attended with...
37To George Washington from John Hancock, 27 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I have the Honour to transmit you the enclosed Resolves which Congress have passed at this critical Period, with a View to have the disaffected in the States of Pennsylvania and Delaware immediately apprehended and secured. I shall forward Copies of them to those States with the utmost Expedition, that a Measure of such Consequence may be carried into Execution as soon as possible. I have only...
38To George Washington from John Hancock, 7 June 1776 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Letter from the Commissioners in Canada, I am commanded by Congress to transmit to you. The Contents of it are truly alarming. Our Army in that Quarter is almost ruined for Want of Discipline, and every Thing else necessary to constitute an Army, or to keep Troops together. The Congress, in this Situation of our Affairs, have resolved that Genl Wooster be recalled from Canada. I...
39To George Washington from John Hancock, 16 September 1776 (Washington Papers)
The Congress having at different Times passed sundry Resolves relative to a Variety of Subjects, I do myself the Honour to enclose you a Copy of the same, as necessary for your Information & Direction. The Resolve of the 12th respecting Colonel Trumbull, will I trust be satisfactory, & prove the Means of his continuing in an office of such Importance to the Army, and which he has hitherto...
40To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 October 1775 (Washington Papers)
Captn John Macpherson having informed the Congress, that he had invented a method, by which with their leave, he would take or destroy every ministerial armed vessel in North America, they appointed Govr Hopkins Mr Randolph & Mr J. Rutledge to confer with him on the subject, for he would not consent to communicate the secret to any but a committee & you. These Gentlemen reported, that the...
41To George Washington from John Hancock, 9 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
The absolute Necessity of cutting off all Supplies and Intelligence from the Enemy in and near the City of Philada and thereby preventing any Intercourse between them and the disaffected in the State of Pennsylvania and elsewhere, has induced the Congress to adopt the enclosed Resolves, in Hopes, if possible to put an effectual Stop to a Practice so extremely dangerous to the Cause of America....
42To George Washington from John Hancock, 22 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your several Favours—by Colonel Hamilton—by Lieutenant Ewing—and also of the 21st Inst. I have had the Honour of receiving in the Order of their respective Dates. The Congress having had your Letter and the Proceedings of a Council of War under Consideration, highly approve the same, and have come to the enclosed Resolution to the Subject, to which I beg Leave to refer you. Since my last, we...
43To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
The great Desire of Congress to be informed of the Movements and Positions of the two Armies as early as possible, at this critical and important Period, has induced them to pass the enclosed Resolve, to which I shall only refer your Attention. Your Favour of yesterday I was honoured with last Night. With warmest Wishes, that Victory and Success may attend you, and that the Campaign may...
44To George Washington from John Hancock, 1 September 1777 (Washington Papers)
Your several Favours to the 30th ulto (inclusive) I have had the Honour of receiving in the Order of their Dates. From the enclosed Resolves you will perceive, the Congress have appointed a Committee to collect and arrange the Evidence relative to the Evacuation of Ticonderoga, which will be afterwards transmitted to you, that a Court Martial may be thereupon instituted for the Trial of the...
45To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 October 1776 (Washington Papers)
I have only Time to forward the enclosed Resolves. The Cartridges are on the Way, and I hope will arrive in Season. The Congress will be attentive to all your Requests. With Sentiments of Esteem and every Wish in your Favour I have the Honour to be Sir your most obed. & very hble Servt LS , DLC:GW . The enclosed copies of Congress’s resolutions of 14–16, 18, 21, and 23 Oct. concerning various...
46To George Washington from John Hancock, 20 April 1776 (Washington Papers)
The polite Attention which your Goodness has induced you to pay to me and my private Affairs, particular[l]y while you were at Boston, makes me take the Liberty of requesting you to spare your Aid De Camp a few Days. If Mr Palfrey could, consistent with the Service, be permitted to pass two or three Days with me in this City, on Business of Importance to me, I shall esteem it a particular...
47To George Washington from John Hancock, 15 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
The enclosed Resolves I do myself the Honour to transmit in Obedience to the Commands of Congress, as necessary for your Information. By them you will percieve, that in Order to restore the Credit of the Continental Currency, the Congress have adopted, & recommended to the States, such Measures, as if properly executed cannot fail to produce the Effect. Doctor Potts, who is ordered to repair...
48To George Washington from John Hancock, 24 January 1777 (Washington Papers)
Since my last of the 18th, the Congress have come to the enclosed Resolves, which I do myself the Honour of transmitting for your Information and Direction. They are so explicit as to require no Comment or Illustration. I have wrote, in Obedience to the Order of Congress, to the Council of Safety of this State, to request them to call forth immediately the Militia of the Counties of Cecil,...
49To George Washington from John Hancock, 10 August 1777 (Washington Papers)
I was this moment called out of Church by the arrival of an Express, with a letter informing of a large fleets being seen of Senapuxon, Copy of the letter I enclose you pr Express, should I hear any thing further I shall immediately advise you of it. I have the honour to be, with sincere respect & esteem. Your most obedt & very hble Servt LS , DLC:GW . This letter is addressed in part to GW at...
50To George Washington from John Hancock, 17 October 1777 (Washington Papers)
It is now above Two years since I have had the Honour of Presiding in Congress, and I should Esteem myself happy to have it in my Power to render further Service to my Country in that Department; but the decline of Health occasion’d by so long & unremitting an Application to the Duties of my Office both in Congress and out of Congress, join’d to the Scituation of my own private Affairs, have...