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.

Massachusetts Bay Council [Authorization to administer the oath of service for Bristol County Massachusetts]

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 #: GLC01450.522 Author/Creator: Massachusetts Bay Council Place Written: Bristol, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 6 September 1775 Pagination: 2 p. ; 38 x 31.5 cm. Order a Copy

Partially printed document signed Perez Morton as deputy secretary of the council. Signers from the Massachusetts Bay Council include: James Otis, B. Greenleaf, W. Spooner, Caleb Cushing, Joseph Garish, John Whitcomb, Jedediah Forster, Eliad Taylor, Michael Farley, Jabez Fisher, Moses Gill, B. White, B. Lincoln, and Dr. Samuel Holten. Authorizes James Williams, Benjamin Williams, Thomas Cobb, and Robert Liscolme to give the oath of office to civil officers (deputy sheriffs and coroners) appointed by the Massachusetts Council. Includes a paper seal on one side and an impression stamp.

Massachusetts. Council
Otis, James, 1725-1783
Morton, Perez, 1751-1837
Cushing, Thomas, 1725-1788
Gill, Moses, 1734-1800
Holten, Samuel, 1738-1816

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources