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.

Hancock, John (1737-1793) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03491 Author/Creator: Hancock, John (1737-1793) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 March 1787 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 23.1 x 18.6 cm. Order a Copy

Thanks Knox for his sympathetic letter concerning the death of his son, John George Washington Hancock, who was only nine years old. Discusses his pursuit of health and states traveling was recommended to him during this trying time, "Journeying is much Recommended to me, & as my Situation is totally deranged by the untimely Death of my Dear & Promising Boy, I have no Affectionate object to promise myself the Enjoyment of what I leave...". He is making a 10 day trip to New York City and Philadelphia with his wife. Asks Knox to "engage such Lodgings in an Airy place, as you shall Judge will be suitable for Mrs. Hancock & myself & three servants; I wish for a decent parlour, or two parlours, an handsome well furnished Chamr. for us, & decent Rooms for my Servants, for they Lodge & Eat at home as well as I do myself - " Docketed by Knox noting that he found rooms for the Hancocks.

Hancock, John, 1737-1797
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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