JOHN HANCOCK Hancock handwrote, dated and put his "John Hancock" on this letter to the "Gentlemen of the Senate & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives" in 1783, while he was Governor of Massachusetts. He wrote this letter to inform the recipients that he had received an "Application for Sundry Articles for the use of the Tribe" from the Penobscot, which offered their services to the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. This letter was written less than eight months before the signing of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the war between the colonies and England. Draft autograph letter signed "J.H." as Governor of Massachusetts. 1 page, 7¾x6¼. Council Chamber, Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 7, 1783. Addressed to the "Gentlemen of the Senate & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives". In full: "I have this moment Rec'd a Letter from Colonel Lithgow, by Two Indians of the Penobscot Tribe, these Indians are come to make Application for Sundry Articles for the use of the Tribe. The Letter with the Commissions given one of these Indians by Brigr. Genl.

THE GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS URGES THE PRESIDENT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE TO TAKE THE SAME STEPS AS MASSACHUSETTS HAD TAKEN IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE FISHING INDUSTRY ON THE MERRIMACK RIVER   JOHN HANCOCK. Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1p, 6¾x9. Boston, 1783 October 31.To "His Excellency Meshech Weare Esqr. President of the State of New Hampshire".Begins: "Sir". In full: "In compliance with the Request of the Two Branches of the General Court I inclose you Two Acts of this Government making provision to prevent the Destruction of Fish by Mill-Dams in Merrimack River & c - As the Design'd [illegible] of this Bill will much Depend upon the measures that shall be Adopted by the Legislature of your State, I am to Request that your Excellency will be pleas'd to lay those Acts before them, and cannot but flatter myself that they will Take such effectual Steps as will ensure the good Effects for which our Govt. Court had in View in passing the Bill - I am with Sentiments of [portion of word crossed out] Esteem, Sir, Your Excellency's Most Obedt & Humbl Servt." Hancock's retained copy of his letter to Weare. Docketed in unknown hand on verso.

GENERAL THOMAS GAGE Important, 3-page ALS (1768) from Britain's military commander in North America to his Indian Commissioner: Strike a deal at the expense of the settlers! Autograph Letter signed: "Thos. Gage", 3 pages, 7¾x12½, front and verso. New York, 1768 January 16. To Sir William Johnson, Baronet. In full: "I have received your letters of the 24th, 26th Dec. and 9th Jan. The opinion you give of the general causes of the discontent of the savages, which originate from our growing power and their jealousy of our designs against them, I know no remedy against, but by doing them all the justice we can. If we can remove the settlers from their encroachments it will be a manifestation of our earnest desire to do them justice. And they have seen a person executed in New Jersey for the murther of an Indian, which must in some measure shew them we do what we can to give them satisfaction for the murter of their peoples, which tho only one example, is more than they have given us for the many white people they have killed at different times.

GEORGE WASHINGTON Ten days before Washington resigns his command as Commander in Chief, he discharges one of the last of his men in his personal guard. Manuscript DS: "G: Washington", 1p, 9¼x14¾. "Given at Philadelphia", 1783 DECEMBER 10.TEXT IN THE HAND OF COLONEL DAVID COBB WHO HAS PENNED AND SIGNED IN THE LOWER LEFT: "By His Excellency/Command/David Cobb/Aid (sic) de Camp". In full: "By His Excellency George Washington Esqr General and Commander in Chief of the Forces of the United States of America. The Bearer ROBERT PAPPE CORPORAL IN THE INDEPENDENT TROOP OF HORSE COMMANDED BY MAJOR VAN HEER, being enlisted for the War, and having served the term of his engagement, consented to continue in SERVICE UNTILL (sic) the 31ST DAY OF DECEMBER inst, from which date he is hereby discharged the American Army. And in consequence of his Attention and Fidelity, the Commander in Chief being authorized by a Resolution of Congress, presents him with the Horse, Arms and Accoutrements now in his possession, as a gratuity.

GEORGE WASHINGTON As President, he sends a miniature cameo bust of himself to a lady. The original gift is framed with the President's letter and a presentation plaque. Framed collection including: 1) Autograph Letter Signed in the Third Person. As President, 1 page, 6¼x4½. No place, 1796 March 16. Signed “the President” in text. To a Mrs. Stewart, in full: "Not for the representation or the value, but because it is the production of a fair lady, the President takes the liberty of presenting the enclosed, with his best regards, to Mrs. Stewart praying her acceptance." Toned and creased. Trimmed, irregularly cut edges. Fine condition.2) Ephemera, unsigned. Framed reproduction of Madame de Brehan's miniature portrait of a Grecian style image of Washington. George Washington (1732-1799) a Virginia planter and surveyor who gained his military experience in the French and Indian War, was a delegate to the Continental Congress when he volunteered to take command of the American militia surrounding British-occupied Boston in 1775.

JOHN HANCOCK Hancock handwrote, dated, and placed his “John Hancock” on this 1788 letter of introduction to Winthrop Sargent - Revolutionary War veteran and deputy to the first Governor of the Northwest Territory, the same year Hancock persuaded Massachusetts to approve the Constitution by 19 votes. This letter introduced Hancock's friend Nathaniel Balch, known as "the Governor's Jester," to Sargent. Manuscript letter signed "John Hancock" as Governor of Massachusetts. 1 page, 8x10, matted and framed to an overall size of 30 x 20. Boston, Massachusetts, Sept. 28, 1788. Noted at upper edge as "Volume 1, No. 06".) To Major Winthrop Sargent, in full: "I take the liberty to recommend to your notice Mr. William Balch, a Son of Mr. Nathaniel Balch of this town, a friend of mine, and a gentleman that I have a very great esteem for. He is about to take up his residence & settlement at Muskingum, & I trust that his abilities & integrity will be acceptable to you & beneficial to your new settlement.

JOHN HANCOCK His handwritten March 1783 letter as Governor of Massachusetts, instructing a garrison commander to forbid a ship full of Tories to disembark, requiring them to sail instead for New York (still in British hands) Autograph Letter, unsigned, 1 page, 7¾x12. Written as Governor. Boston, Massachusetts, 1783 March 27. To William Gordon, Commander of the Garrison in Dartmouth. In full: "I have this moment received your Letter by Express, giving information of the arrival of a Flag with a Number of Persons on board who were desirous of remaining some time at Dartmouth. I have laid the state of this Flag before the Council, & in consequence of their advice you are hereby Directed upon no pretense whatever, to suffer any of the Persons or any of the Effects brought in the Flag to be Landed at Dartmouth, or in any other place, but that you give immediate Directions for the Departure of the Flag with the Persons, & their effects to New York, and that after the Receipt of this Letter you make a point of Embracing the first fair wind to put her under Sail for New York, as no circumstance can possibly induce me to Deviate from this order. I am Sir your very humble servant.

JOHN HANCOCK and JOHN AVERY, JR. As Massachusetts Governor and Secretary of State, both sign a manuscript document appointing Superior Court Justice David Sewall to the Commonwealth's Supreme Court (1781). Ornate Manuscript DS: "John Hancock" as Governor of Massachusetts, 1 page, 21¾x13. On vellum. Boston, 1781 February 20.Countersigned: "John Avery Secy". Appointment of David Sewall as Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts. On verso, appears a short Manuscript DS: "John Hancock". In full: "In Council February 20th 1781. Hnble David Sewall Esqr appeared at the Council Chamber Subscribed the Declaration and the Several Oaths prescribed by the Constitution of the Commonwealth to qualify himself for the Office within mentioned." Born in York, Maine, SEWALL (1735-1825), Councillor for the Province of Maine (1766-1777), was Justice of the Superior Court of Massachusetts (1777-1781) when he received this appointment to the State's Supreme Judicial Court. He served until 1789 when he was appointed Judge of the U.S. District Court of Maine (1789-1817).