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.

Smith, Barzilla (fl. 1776-1777) [Privateer bond of Barzilla Smith, Joseph Chapman, and Elijah F. Payne]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.014.02 Author/Creator: Smith, Barzilla (fl. 1776-1777) Place Written: s.l. Type: Document signed Date: 15 October 1776 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 35 x 22.5 cm. Order a Copy

Privateer commission binding the three men in the amount of $5,000 to John Hancock, President of the Congress of the United States. Commissions Smith as commander of the privateer schooner the Eagle, Payne as owner of the schooner, and Chapman as privateers authorized to capture British vessels and cargo. Indicates that if the commander and his crew do not conduct themselves according to instruction and override authority, they must make reparations for all damages caused by misconduct. This bond was later revoked because of misconduct (see GLC01450.014.01).

Smith, Barzilla, fl. 1776-1777
Chapman, Joseph, fl. 1774-1776
Payne, Elijah, fl. 1776
Hancock, John, 1737-1797

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