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.

Sullivan, James (1744-1808) [Denial of a permit to ship flour to Yarmouth, 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 #: GLC02450.19 Author/Creator: Sullivan, James (1744-1808) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Manuscript document signed Date: 17 August 1808 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 22 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

Also signed by the Select Men of Yarmouth, Massachusetts: Elkanah Crowell, John Eldridge, and Benjamin Matthews. Responds to the Select Men's request dated 10 August 1808 that Governor Sullivan issue a permit to David Killey for the schooner Betsy, mastered by Thomas Hall, so that flour (for consumption) could be shipped to Yarmouth from Baltimore or Alexandria. Sullivan shows respect for the Select Men's authority and acknowledges the legitimacy of their request, but claims to have no authority to issue such a permit. Sullivan's response appears on the verso of the request. The shipping problems possible stemmed from the Embargo Act of 1807.

Sullivan, James, 1744-1808
Matthews, Benjamin, 1765-1812
Crowell, Elkanah, 1757-1847
Eldridge, John, 1743-1838

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources