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.

Goevansson, Andrew (fl. 1777) to John Hancock

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.034.02 Author/Creator: Goevansson, Andrew (fl. 1777) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 24 April 1777 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket ; 25 x 20 cm. Order a Copy

States that he received forged a letter which he believed was from Hancock last night authorizing him to join in matrimony Lawrence Wilson and Jane Bevan. He states he performed the act believing the note to be genuine. Asks what he should do when pressed to marry soldiers in the Continental service who do not have enough time to get a legal license. Asks if he can be empowered within limitations to perform marriages without a license from the government. Informs that this letter will be delivered by Mr. [Allcock?] who has an application to be married and is in the same position. Goevansson is identified as a reverend on the docket. See GLC1450.034.1 for the forged John Hancock document giving permission to marry Wilson. Docket is in Hancock's hand.

Goevansson, Andrew, fl. 1777
Hancock, John, 1737-1797
Wilson, Lawrence, fl. 1777
Bevan, Jane, fl. 1777

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