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.

Wolcott, Oliver (1726-1797) to Ezekiel Williams

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC06659 Author/Creator: Wolcott, Oliver (1726-1797) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 23 February 1776 Pagination: 4 p. : docket ; 20.6 x 16.4 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Wolcott, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, as a Continental Congressman from Connecticut, probably to Ezekiel Williams as Connecticut Commissioner of Prisoners and Wolcott's son-in-law. Notes already in Past Perfect said this document is from the papers of Ezekiel Williams, which could not be confirmed from the collateral files. But the content of the letter makes Williams a likely recipient. Wolcott says he forgot to mail a previous letter requesting a list of prisoners. Is now asking for an updated list in order to liquidate Connecticut's accounts with Congress. Wolcott also informs Williams of a forthcoming British bill rendering American trade subject to seizure. Concludes by reporting the number of British troops en route to the colonies. Postscript says the Boston Port Bill and Restraining Acts have been repealed by the latest acts of Parliament on seizures.

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