Lot 115
Hancock, John (1737-1793) First Signer of the Declaration of Independence; president of the Second Continental Congress; Goveror of Massachusetts. Autograph Letter Signed with his initials ("JH") as Governor of Massachusetts, 1p, 9¾" x 8 in., Council Chamber, Boston, Feb. 10, 1783. Hancock's retained draft, addressed to "Gentlemen of The Senate, & Gentlemen of the House of Representatives," requesting additional funds to reimburse citizens who had billeted the French army as they prepared to leave America at the end of the Revolution.
In full: "The several Resolves of the General Court, authorizing the Gentlemen Selectmen of the Town of Boston, to prepare Accomodations suitable to the Rank of the Officers of the French Army upon their Arrival in Boston, have with great attention & punctuality been attended to by the Selectmen. I have the Satisfaction to inform you that the General of that army the Count De Viomenil assur'd me, that he with the other General & Subordinate officers were accommodated in a manner very agreeable, & that he with the other officers were perfectly Satisfied, & had a grateful Sense of the ready & polite attention that was paid them. In Consequence of this Transaction, Gentlemen, considerable Expences have arisen, & agreeable to the Resolve of the General Court, I have by Advice of Council drawn a Warrant on the Treasure for Five hundred pounds, in part, I have Directed the Secretary to lay the several Accnts. relative to this Transaction before you, by which you will observe that there Remains a Balance due for this Service of Four hundred & nine pounds & three shillings & six pence and as the Persons who are to Receive this Ball[an]ce have applied many times for payment, I Beg Leave to Refer the Settlement of it to your Consideration. JH"
On September 23, 1782, the French army left Williamsburg, Virginia, where it had been instrumental in Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown on October 19, 1781, and set out for Boston, where it would embark for the West Indies. The Comte de Rochambeau bid farewell to his troops at Providence, Rhode Island and turned over his command to the Comte de Vioménil. The French entered Boston on December 7 and set sail on December 24.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Ex The Hancock-Chase Collection. Sold at Butterfield, June 27, 2001, lot 9084, $4,000.
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