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Sale 58
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Lot 45
Hancock, John (1737-1793) First Signer of the Declaration of Independence; member of the Continental Congress (1775-80, 1785-86) which he served as president from 1775-77. He was the first Governor of Massachusetts and was elected to that office nine times. Autograph Letter Initialed "J.H.", as Governor of Massachusetts, 2 pages (recto and verso of one sheet) plus integral leaf with docket, 12¼ x 7 in., Boston, July 8, 1782. Being Hancock's retained copy of his letter to Captain George Little regarding orders for the sloop Winthrop. Some archival fold repairs and ink bleed-through, but overall clean and legible.
Even though the Revolutionary War had ended and peace negotiations between the U.S. and Great Britain were being held in Paris, many Americans, including George Washington and John Hancock, were suspicious of the British government. In this letter, Hancock commands one of his sea captains to protect Massachusetts ships engaged in trade and to engage any hostile ships threatening the coastline. In part: "Having Appointed & Commissioned you to the Command of the Arm's Sloop Winthrop belonging to this CommonWealth & you having reported to me that the Sloop is in every respect Ready for the Sea; you are hereby Order'd to Embrace the first favorable Weather and proceed with the Sloop under your Command to Sea upon a Cruise for the protection of the Sea Coast against the Enemies of these United States, whose Vessells if not Superior to you in Force you will use your best Endeavours to Take, Sink or Destroy, & should you be so fortunate as to Take any Prizes you will Send them into the Port of Boston, unless Circumstances should occur to you to make it more safe to Land them into any other Port. You will be particularly careful not to fall in the way of a Superior Force, but avoid as much as psossible even the Hazard of being Captur'd, and should you find that there are Vessells of Superior Force to you in the Bay, & your Sloop will be in danger of being Taken, you are directed immediately to Return into the Port of Boston. You will Take under your Convoy any Vessells that are ready & bound to the Eastward, particularly the Schooner bound to Machias with provisions for the Garrison, also the Sloop Roxburn Capn Bosworth with Provisions for Kennebeck River, & a Vessell bound to Frenchman's Bay, these Vessells you are hereby order'd to Take under your Convoy & See them safe to the Several Destin'd ports….As Soon as you have Complied with your orders as to your Convoy & have Discharg'd yourself from them; you will proceed to Cruise along the Eastern Shore, and such other parts as you shall Judge most conducive to answer the principal Object of your Cruise, the protection of the Sea Coast. You will be attentive to the Coasting Vessells from the Eastward & whenever a number of them are Loaded & ready to Sail for Boston…you are hereby Directed to Take them under your Convoy & proceed with them to Boston, & bring your Vessell to Anchor in the Road below, & come up to Town in your Boat, that I may have notice of your Arrival & be made Acquainted with the Occurences of your Cruise…."
Estimated Value $8,000 - 10,000.
The Hancock-Chase Collection, formerly housed at the National Museum of American History.
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