John Hancock papers

1753-1783

Collection consists of correspondence, speeches, and documents signed by Hancock in his capacity as president of the Continental Congress and governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Letters are largely outgoing and most pertain to his official duties in the Continental Congress, including several letters to Col. Jeremiah Powell in the days leading up to the Battle of Rhode Island, expressing great distress at the desertion of the French fleet under Admiral d'Estaing. Several bills and accounts dating between 1753 and 1771 relate to the building and fitting out of ships for Hancock during his mercantile career. One oversize folder contains a letter dated October 17th, 1777 pertaining to an order to send more clothes to the troops, and references enclosures from General Washington so convincing that the Assembly would see that "the troops are in the greatest distress, and likely to suffer still more from the indemnity of the approaching season," though the enclosures are not present