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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

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"Shay's Rebellion"

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June 1786

Stebbins, Gideon, 1739-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Stebbins militia company for service suppressing Shay's Rebellion]

Lists the men and indicates that they helped suppress "the Mob at Northampton."

GLC01412.10.02

September 1786

Stebbins, Gideon, 1739-1829

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay roll for Captain Stebbins militia company for service suppressing Shay's Rebellion]

Lists the men and indicates that they served under General William Shepard "in defense of the Supreem Judicial Coart at Springfield."

GLC01412.10.03

1788

Minot, George Richards, 1758-1802

Book

Title: The history of the insurrections, in Massachusetts, in the year 1786, and the rebellion consequent thereon

First edition copy published by Isaiah Thomas. Gives a historical account of Shay's Rebellion.

GLC03808

1788

Minot, George Richards, 1758-1802

Book

Title: The History of the insurrection, in Massachusetts, in the year 1776, and the rebellion consequent thereon

First edition copy published by Isaiah Thomas. Gives a historical account of Shay's Rebellion. Late 19th century binding by P. V. Sanford.

GLC05949

February 25, 1787

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Later copy of a letter by Washington to Knox, discussing Shay's rebellion. Greatful that the rebellion has been supressed. News of the rebellion, and fear of further upheaval, helped spur Washington to agree to attend the Constitutional Convention. Copy made 2 February 1854.

GLC02437.09334

February 17, 1787

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Broadside

Title: A Proclamation: [amnesty offer to Shays's rebels]

Offers pardons to Massachusetts citizens who participated in Shay's Rebellion (1786-1787). Document includes a printed seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Printed by Adams and Nourse. Noted in Ford no. 2474.

GLC00518

1787/07

Manuscript document

Title: [Resolution of the Society of Cincinnati, State of Massachusetts, to deny a membership application]

Draft resolution of the Society of the Cincinnati, State of Massachusetts, to return the membership fees of Luke Day and Elijah Day for "openly joining & leading & conducting the late rebellion in this Commonwealth," and thus having "rendered themselves particularly odious & obnoxious to this…

GLC04379.03

December 13, 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Document signed

Title: [Appointment for Simon Elliot as captain]

Appoints Elliot as an Adjutant in the militia with the rank of captain under the command of General Benjamin Lincoln. This militia was being raised to put down Shay's rebellion. At the time it was actually an illegitimate militia put together by the upper classes in Massachusetts to put down the rebellion,…

GLC01450.448.03

10 April 1786

Ivers, Thomas, ?-1800

Broadside signed

Title: [Massachusetts document assessing a tax]

A copy for the selectmen or assessors of the town of Gorham, Massachusetts. Signed by Thomas Ivers as Treasurer and Receiver-General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Docketed on verso: "Treasurer Warrant for Ass…

GLC04402

1797/10/24

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rev. Dr. Walter re: Europe's political strife, system of checks and balances

Some edge losses at top right, affecting a few letters. A rare letter, written as president, commenting on his writings on government, and their influence on the Federal constitution and his depair over Europe's political and military strife. He thanks Dr. Walter for sending two volumes of ess…

GLC06666

January 28, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Marked "copy." Written from "Head Quarters Springfield." Reports on Shay and his supporters' situation. Relates that he and a number of other regiments arrived in Springfield the day before. Writes, "On my arrival I found, that Shays had taken post at a little village, six miles north of this, with the whole force under his [inserted: immediate] command, and that Day had taken post at West Springfield, & that he had fixed a guard at the ferry-house on the west side of the river. By this disposition, all communication, with the north & west in the usual paths were cut off." For a…

GLC02437.03427

29 October 1786

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "The people here smell a rat, that the Troops about to be raised are more for the insurgents than the Indians, however this makes no odds, every body seems to wish a strong government, & to believe the government can only be strengthened by an army. The requisition has been laid before the hou…

GLC02437.03322

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