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.

Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron (1717-1797) to Thomas Hancock

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.277.01 Author/Creator: Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron (1717-1797) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Letter signed Date: 28 December 1760 Pagination: 2 p. : docket ; 31.5 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

General Amherst approves of Hancock's discharging "the Amherst, & the Snow Friendship" and recommends "discharging Captain Waddle." Asks Hancock's assistance to help prepare a vessel that had to stop in Boston's harbor to continue its journey during the French and Indian War. Concludes with a reference to a letter being sent from Hancock's nephew, possibly John Hancock. Second page contains a manuscript note with a short biography of Amherst and a suggestion that the referred to nephew was John Hancock, dated 14 June 1862. Docket by Hancock indicates he received the letter on 10 January 1761 and responded the following day. Text loss down the right side of the page. Accompanied by engraving of Amherst (see GLC01450.277.02).

Amherst was the British Commander in Chief during the French and Indian War.
Hancock was a prominent Boston merchant who profited greatly from government war contracts.

Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797
Hancock, Thomas, 1703-1764

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources