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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

View Item: Letter from John Montgomery to Richard Peters

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

View Item: Testimony of Charles Nisbet against John Wesley

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

View Item: Letter from Charles Nisbet to Selina Hastings

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

View Item: Letter from John Armstrong to James Armstrong

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

View Item: Letter from John Dickinson to Samuel C. Morris