Search Results: Revolutionary War from Seth Kaller, Inc.

"you have only entertained us with some loose declamations upon abuses in the English government; and shocked us, for want of better arguments, by a perversion of things sacred; filling the papers with personal invectives, and calumnies against all who cannot swallow, at a venture, every crude notion, you may cook up as the politics of the day. This will as little agree with the stomachs of others as with mine; although I have declared that, when the last necessity comes, I have no expedient in view but to take my chance with you, for better and for worse."

"Liberty or Slavery is now the question. Let us but fairly discover to the inhabitants of these Colonies on which side Liberty has erected her banner and we will leave it to them to determine whether they would choose Liberty tho' accompanied with war, or Slavery attended by peace." [THOMAS PAINE].
Newspaper. The Pennsylvania Ledger: Or the Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, & New-Jersey Weekly Advertiser, April 13, 1776. Including… Read More

"We are accused of 'forgetting the allegiance which we owe to the power that has protected and sustained us.'… What allegiance is it that we forget? Allegiance to Parliament? We never owed—we never owned it. Allegiance to our King? Our words have ever avowed it...we oppose the claim and exercise of unconstitutional powers, to which neither the Crown nor Parliament were ever entitled." [SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS].
Newspaper. The Pennsylvania Gazette, December 13, 1775 (No. 2451). Philadelphia: David Hall and William Sellers. With the Response of the Continental Congress to King George III's Proclamation of Rebellion. (December 6, 1775). 4 pp. 10 x 15½ in. [Significant damage: Half of column on p1 excised.]

Historical Background

In response to British plans to fortify the hills surrounding Boston harbor, colonial forces besieging Boston occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill on the Charlestown peninsula, north of Boston. On June 17, 1775, British troops repeatedly attacked colonial… Read More

"Friends and Countrymen:... we find ourselves reduced to the disagreeable alternative, of being silent and betraying the innocent, or of speaking out and censuring those we wish to revere. In making our choice of these distressing difficulties, we prefer the course dictated by honesty, and a regard for the welfare of our country...."

"it is clear beyond a doubt, that a resolution is formed, and now is carrying into execution, to extinguish the freedom of these colonies, by subjecting them to a despotic government…" [CONTINENTAL CONGRESS].
Newspaper. Pennsylvania Gazette, November 9, 1774 (No. 2394). Philadelphia: David Hall and William Sellers. Front-page printing of Memorial "To the Inhabitants of the Colonies of New-Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode-Island, and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina" (October 21, 1774); and Letter "To… Read More

"We ask but for Peace, Liberty, and Safety." [CONTINENTAL CONGRESS].
Newspaper. The Pennsylvania Gazette, January 18, 1775 (No. 2404). Philadelphia: David Hall and William Sellers. "Petition of the Continental Congress To the King's Most Excellent Majesty" (October 25, 1774). 4 pp., 10 x 16¼ in.Many members of the Continental Congress blamed the crisis between Great Britain and the North American colonies on acts of British governors, military officers, and ministers. On October 1, 1774, Congress resolved unanimously to prepare an address to the King, and appointed Chairman Richard Henry Lee, John Adams of Massachusetts, Thomas Johnson of Maryland, Patrick Henry of Virginia, and John Rutledge of South Carolina as a committee to draft the petition. On October 3, 4, and 5, Congress deliberated on the proper matters to include in the Petition, and Patrick Henry wrote a first draft. On October 21, Congress debated the first draft, asked for revisions, and added John Dickinson of Pennsylvania… Read More

"Shame, Shame, to take the Advantage of your country in such an oppressive degree…we are sensible of the Mortal Wounds we Received and do receive from you." UNKNOWN.
Handwritten Letter, to Hugh Gaine. November 1, 1774. New York State. 1 p., 8¼ x 8⅜ in.
At meetings held from September 6 to 9, 1774 in Dedham and Milton in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, colonists passed a series of resolutions composed by physician-patriot Joseph Warren. Declaring the Intolerable Acts (or Coercive Acts) of March-June 1774 illegal, the "Suffolk Resolves" urged Massachusetts citizens to withhold taxes and disregard orders of royal officials, called for weekly musters of minutemen, and recommended cessation of trade with Britain until the acts were revoked. Paul Revere brought the resolves via horseback to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where on September 17, Virginia's Peyton Randolph read them aloud on the convention floor.

The resolves, endorsed by Congress on the same day that… Read More

[JOHN HANCOCK].
Newspaper. Massachusetts Centinel, Boston, Mass., June 4, 1788. 4 pp., 9½ x 14½ in. Trimmed close at bottom edge, with minor text loss to pp. 3-4 but not affecting Hancock's speech. "X"s mark certain columns for reading or copying. Excerpt

"The complete restoration, and perfect establishment of peace and tranquility, within the State, leaves me but little to offer, except my most cordial congratulations on these interesting and important events...

It is with pleasure that I find so large a part of the domestick debt of these United States in a way to be discharged by the sale of the Federal lands… I should be happy, Gentleman, if some system could be adapted to place the remaining part of our State debt on such funds as could prevent the extreme fluctuation in its value, which is in my opinion as injurious to the government, as it is mortifying, and destructive to the public creditor. I shall only remark that the necessity of such measures, is increased by the… Read More

Chief Justice John Marshall's magisterial biography of George Washington was originally a five-volume set. This 1840 publication, revised and issued in two volumes, also includes the 1832 companion atlas of maps relating to the Revolutionary War. JOHN MARSHALL. [GEORGE WASHINGTON].
Books, The Life of George Washington Commander in Chief of the American Forces, During the War which Established the Independence of his Country and First President of the United States, Compiled Under the Inspection of the Honourable Bushrod Washington, From Original Papers Bequeathed to him by his Deceased Relative, 2nd edition, in two volumes. Philadelphia: James Crissy and Thomas Cowperthwait, 1840. 982 pp. plus index, 5½ x 9 in. Both have pencil inscription on blank fly leaf "A. Seeley 1851 Presented by T.C. Gladding." Rebound; very good, some foxing toward the front. OCLC 183328030. With: Atlas to Marshall's Life of Washington, Philadelphia: J. Crissy, [1832], 10 hand-colored maps. Ex-Grand Lodge A.F.… Read More

"To Trouble & Expence against Rioters at Woodstock £1… To my Trouble & Expence to bring Actions agst the Collectors of Excise pr order of Assembly, £3.10" JEDEDIAH ELDERKIN.
Autograph Document Signed ("Jeda Elderkin"), Hartford, November 9, 1768, being an accounting of monies owed to and collected by Elderkin in Connecticut for services rendered as King's attorney from December 1754 to 1766. 2 pp., recto and verso, double-folio.
Each county court appointed a king's attorney mostly paid by fees collected from losing parties. This balance sheet records charges and reimbursements, including expenses against rioters in Woodstock, Ct on September 4, 1758, and suing Stamp Act excise collectors in 1765. Other entries include "To a Bill of Cost agst Peter Negroe £18.18.5… To Cost agst Mary an Indn
Woman. £16.2.0… To Cost agst Joseph Benjamin £17.10.-… To Cost agst a Mulatto £24… 1758 … To Expence in Prosecuting Capt Benjn Lee pr ordr of Assembly who Dyed Insolvent…"

Historical… Read More

Financier of the Revolution forced into bankruptcy court: "Sixty days after date, I promise to pay unto Mr. Mathias Kurlin Junr or Order Thirteen Hundred & forty six Dolls & Sixty Seven Cents for value recd." ROBERT MORRIS.
Autograph Document Signed, December 12, 1794. 1 p., 7⅛ x 3¾ in.
On the document's verso is a note reading "Exhibited to us under the commission against Robert Morris, Philadelphia, 15th October 1801."

Signed by John Hollowell and Thomas Cumpston, commissioners appointed to oversee the bankruptcy proceedings after Morris had languished in debtor's prison for three years.

Historical Background

Robert Morris (1734-1806), signer of the Declaration of Independence, merchant and land speculator, is best known for his role as financier for the Continental Congress. With the national government virtually bankrupt, Morris risked his own personal fortune by purchasing supplies for the army, pressuring the states for cash contributions and securing a major French loan to… Read More