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Collections of college and personal papers, as well as a select number of individual documents, have been briefly described in entries available for browsing and searching on this site. All collection and document descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents.
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June 6, 1758
Captain John Montgomery writes Richard Peters to recommend John Hadden for a commission as ensign. Montgomery explains that his “Company are Desireous that no other person should have the commission but [Hadden].” Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-25
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict
Time Period: Before 1760
June 6, 1758
Captain John Montgomery writes to Major Thomas Lloyd in reply to letter received on June 3rd. "I will not be able to march to Lancaster of Friday next as you have requested as I am still raising men for my company." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1964-3
Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict
Time Period: Before 1760
View Item: Letter from John Montgomery to Thomas Lloyd
April 18, 1759
Charles Nisbet writes this prayer, expressing contrition and hope, while in Edinburgh, Scotland. Transcript included.
Format: Speeches and Sermons
Location: I-McIntoshM-1965-4
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: Before 1760
View Item: Prayer Written by Charles Nisbet
April 9, 1762
Joseph Priestley writes to John Seddon regarding Seddon's invitation to Liverpool, recent books, work, and news regarding lectures at the Academy. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-BeachW-1966-1
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality, Science and Technology
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Seddon
1762-1785
John Dickinson writes two letters to attorney George Read concerning legal matters. The first expresses his unwillingness to engage Mr. Gooding in a chancery suit. The second concerns the examination of a witness, Mrs. Mary Allmond, to a deed for land in which Dickinson is interested. Transcripts included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F1-2
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1760-1779, 1780-1799
View Item: Letters from John Dickinson to George Read
May 25, 1764
Isaac Norris, the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly, writes to Governor John Penn regarding legislation and the taxation of property. "And as these Objections do not appear to use justly founded," Norris notes that "we have returned the Bill and request your Honour would give your Assent... without further Delay." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1963-8
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from the Pennsylvania Assembly to the Governor
circa 1765
Joseph Priestley writes to John Seddon, the secretary and librarian of Warrington Academy, regarding a divinity tutor at Warrington and new students.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-BeachW-1982-2
Subject: Education, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to John Seddon
September 21, 1765
Attorney John Dickinson writes this legal opinion regarding Joseph Yard's will .
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Location: I-SpahrB-1958-18
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Legal Opinion of John Dickinson on Joseph Yard’s Will
August 12, 1766
John Dickinson sells the tract of land, "Brothers Portion," near Dove, Kent County in Delaware to William Killen on August 12, 1766. Dickinson signs the deed with his personal seal and Caesar Rodney signs it as the Recorder.
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Location: O-SpahrB-1965-3
Subject: Economics and Finance, Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Deed for Land Sold by John Dickinson to William Killen
November 18, 1766
Continental Congress delegate John Montgomery signs this agreement to take up 150 acres of land on Jack's Creek in Cumberland County.
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Location: I-HunterW-1974-1
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Land and Real Estate
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Land Agreement Signed by John Montgomery
circa 1767
Joseph Priestley writes to the Duke of Northumberland, Hugh Percy, and asks for the Duke's patronage in order to write a history of experimental philosophy, continuing his previous work. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11
Subject: Politics and Government, Science and Technology
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to the Duke of Northumberland
February 24, 1767
Charles Nisbet writes to the Minister of Drumelzier and inquires about various events since his visit three months ago. Nisbet also requests updates on several ministers as well as a few other individuals. "Does [Mr. Plummer] continue his nightly Engagements with the Devil & Sir David Murray, as formerly?," as Nisbet asks. In addition, Nisbet comments on the conditions in his town. "This year... has been very mortal here" and, as Nisbet explains, "we have had a Burial for every Day since the first of January." Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-TurnbullM-undated-4
Subject: Health and Medicine, Personal and Family Life, Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from Charles Nisbet to the Minister of Drumelzier
May 6, 1769
John Dickinson writes to Mr. Baynton and Wharton, a Philadelphia mercantile firm, on the issue of settling a disagreement over an unnamed policy. Dickinson mentions Mr. Philips as the identity of one of the parties involved. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F1
Subject: Economics and Finance
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from John Dickinson to Baynton and Wharton
June 13, 1769
Joseph Priestley writes to Anna L. Aikin of Warrington Academy about her poetry on Corsica for James Boswell and Samuel Johnson. Priestley also provides Aikin with an update on his own writing. "My piece on Perspective is nearly ready for the press," as Priestley explains. Aikin, as Anna Laetitia Barbauld, later publishes her own poetry and children's literature. Partial transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-Friends-2010-1
Subject: Literary Pursuits
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from Joseph Priestley to Anna Aikin
1770-1787
Elizabeth Graeme Fergusson's commonplace book contains handwritten poems and transcriptions of correspondence dating from 1770 to 1787. The poetry includes odes, elegies, and neoclassical-style poems written by Fergusson and others, such as her husband, Henry Hugh Fergusson; her niece, Anna Young Smith; and Francis Hopkinson. The book also includes transcriptions of correspondence between Fergusson and Anna Young Smith and Elias Boudinet, as well as correspondence between Smith and her husband, Dr. William Smith. Transcript included.
Format: Diaries and Journals
Location: MC 2006.3, B1, F1
Subject: Literary Pursuits, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1760-1779, 1780-1799
View Item: Commonplace Book of Elizabeth G. Fergusson (Transcript)
June 16, 1770
Attorney John Dickinson writes this legal opinion regarding George Churchman's case, which is centered on a disagreement over land. "I have concluded ... that Churchman's title to the Land in Dispute, is good in Law," as Dickinson notes.
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Location: I-SpahrB-1958-18
Subject: Land and Real Estate, Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Legal Opinion of John Dickinson on George Churchman case
August 7, 1770
The testimony of Charles Nisbet against the doctrines contained in an extract from the minutes of some late conversation between Reverend John Wesley and others at a public conference in London on August 7, 1770. Transcript included.
Format: Meeting Minutes
Location: I-TurnbullM-undated-3
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1760-1779
July 26, 1771
Charles Nisbet writes to Selina Hastings, the Countess of Huntingdon, about Methodist leader John Wesley's success in England and other related religious issues. Wesley "has been but too successful in seducing many of the ignorant and unwary into his Notions," as Nisbet explains. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-TurnbullM-undated-2
Subject: Religion and Spirituality
Time Period: 1760-1779
November 30, 1771
John Dickinson writes to Samuel Cadwalader Morris and a Mr. Cadwalader to request the payment of eight pounds and six pence to Mr. Henry Maag. This letter is a copy of the original. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F1
Subject: Economics and Finance
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from John Dickinson to Samuel C. Morris & Mr. Cadwalader (Copy)
April 30, 1772
John Armstrong writes to his son James about his attempt to seek his fortune in the West Indies. Armstrong also discusses news of General William Irvine, Dr. McCoskry, Dr. Benjamin Rush, and Mr. Waddell. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1968-4
Subject: Business and Industry, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government
Time Period: 1760-1779
November 23, 1772
Philadelphia attorney John Dickinson sends this bill of exchange for 100 pounds to pay John Hanbury Osgood, who is in London.
Format: Financial Documents
Location: I-SpahrB-1965-24
Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Bill of Exchange from John Dickinson to John Osgood
May 28, 1773
Attorney James Wilson prepares this legal document about auditing accounts for the case of Stevenson & Thompson v. Ross & Cole. Both sides agree that "matters of account between them" will be referred to John Potts, John Patton, and Ephraim Blaine. The issue of Ross's discharge from payment to Cole will be referred to B. Chew, E. Shippen, and Andrew Allen. Wilson notes that these individuals will "report to the" court their findings.
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Location: I-SpahrB-1959-11
Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Legal Document, Stevenson & Thompson v. Ross & Cole
July 24, 1773
This legal notice, which is related to the case of Robert Urie v. Joseph Hudson, calls for the Sheriff of Cumberland County to collect the debt that Hudon owes Urie. Judge James Wilson signed this document and John Armstrong witnessed it.
Format: Legal and Government Documents
Location: I-Friends-1995-3
Subject: Carlisle and Cumberland County, Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Legal Document, Robert Urie v. Joseph Hudson
March 25, 1774
Attorney James Wilson writes to Jasper Yeates and discusses upcoming cases he will try in Cumberland, York, and Northumberland counties. Wilson also announces the birth of his son.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: I-SpahrB-1966-21
Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life
Time Period: 1760-1779
View Item: Letter from James Wilson to Jasper Yeates
May 4, 1774
John Dickinson writes Samuel Cadwalader Morris to confirm a financial matter and asks Morris to forward the enclosed letters. Transcript included.
Format: Letters/Correspondence
Location: MC 2001.13, B1, F1
Subject: Economics and Finance
Time Period: 1760-1779