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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.

Vaughn, John (fl. 1783) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.10169 Author/Creator: Vaughn, John (fl. 1783) Place Written: West Point, New York Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 15 October 1783 Pagination: 1 p. : docket ; 34.4 x 23.2 cm. Order a Copy

Petitions Knox for permission to draw supplies to care for himself and his family. Outlines the poor conditions his family is enduring. Due to his discharge, he is currently unable to provide for his family or himself. States that he was "discharged from the Service; that he has a wife & five small children depending upon him for support; that he...continues to be so unwell as to be able to give them very little assistance" etc. Includes a statement written and signed by Captain J. Williams of the 3d Massachusetts Regiment verifying Vaughn's condition. Also contains a statement, written and signed by Samuel Adams, certifying that the majority of Vaughn's family had been under his care and are in a "very distress'd situation." Watermarked with three fleur-de-lis in a crest.

Samuel Adams was a hospital surgeon in the army.

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Vaughn, John, fl. 1783-1794
Williams, J., fl. 1783
Adams, Samuel, 1745-1819

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