Our Collection

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.

Dougherty, H. (fl. 1776) to Andrew Caldwell

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.011.04 Author/Creator: Dougherty, H. (fl. 1776) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Letter signed Date: 23 April 1776 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 33 x 21 cm. Order a Copy

Petition cosigned by John Hamilton, James Montgomery, James Davison, Alex Henderson, Hugh Montgomery, Thomas Houston, and Richard Eyres. Signers inform Caldwell that promotions of men from lieutenant to captain are being given by order of seniority. The signers are worried that a William Allen, who is a senior Lieutenant, will be appointed to a command post in the fleet. They do not wish to serve under him and will give reasons why if necessary. Numbered list on p. 2 possibly documenting concepts or people they feel loyalty toward. Starts with Congress, then George Washington and the army, the memory of the worthy heroes that fell in the cause of liberty, etc. Caldwell was the Commander in Chief of the armed boats of Philadelphia. Docketed in the form of a list mentioning Congress, the navy, and various other topics.

Dougherty, H., fl. 1776
Caldwell, Andrew, 1722-1788
Hamilton, John, fl. 1776
Montgomery, James, fl. 1776
Davison, James, fl. 1776
Henderson, Alexander, fl. 1776
Montgomery, Hugh, fl. 1776
Houston, Thomas, fl. 1776
Eyres, Richard, fl. 1776
Allen, William, fl. 1776

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