Lot 405
JOHN BRADFORD ALS TO JOHN HANCOCK, JULY 15, 1776, WITH MENTION OF RECEIVING A COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE three pages of folded letter on laid paper quarto, with docket written by John Hancock on verso. John Bradford, a protege of John Hancock, was the Continental Army agent and prize agent for the port of Boston during the American Revolution. His responsibilities included equipping ships and troops at Boston Harbor, as well as dividing the proceeds of captured ships between the government and privateers.
Boston 15th July 1776
Dear Sir
Your favour of the 6th Instant by Express reach'd me yesterday, am greatly obliged by your inclosing the Declaration of independance. it meets a General Eclat here, may a divine blessing follow that very important Resolution! The Resolve of the Hon.ble Congress Respecting supplies, sending the arms taken in the Scotch ships to General Washington, I beg leave to reply too, and hope I shall not fall under censure, for it being out of my power to Comply with it, The Brig Defence of Connecticut Cap.t Harding who was concern'd in taking the prizes claim'd by farr a greater proportion than I thought he was intitled too. Therfore he chose an agent to support it, he claim'd a Right to dispose of the proportion of Arms belonging to this Colony, and his agent being one of the independant Company. They insisted on the number of 70 being supplied. Seventy three were sent forward for York the 10th. The schooners were furnished with 20. Their were seventy Fuzes wch were sold to the Company with the musquets and Twenty two remain on hand damaged, Stock Locks etc being broke, which accounts for the whole number dld being 205.
The Arms taken in the ship carried into Marblehead Cap.t Glover acquaints me were imediately dispers'd through his brothers Regiment. he never consulted me in any one measure Relative to the disposal of them or any of his other proceedings altho I have shown him my appointmt under the Signature of the Marine Committee. he bouys himself up with an Opinion that as my Commission is not in my possession, I am not empower'd to act however when that arrives I hope he will be undeceived(?) he has advertized the powder for sale. I, on seeing it, went to a Lawyer to take his advice. he frankly told me Mr. Glover had been with him on the Occasion, and he advised him not to move in it. I design seeing him tomorrow, my Commis'n would be a means of setting matters in a right way, hope I shall be fav. with it when Convenient.
Your Ltr to Mr. Bant(?) I forwarded to him to Framingham the hour I rec'd. it wch was 1 o'Clock yesterday by a man who came down for medicine for Mr. Bant(?) he being sick. I have nothing farther to trouble you with at present, but to wish you Every Happyness and to Assure you that I am with the greatest truth
Dear Sir
Your much obliged
and most obedient & hble Serv
J. Bradford
Please observe for the musquets were not sold to the Independant Company till after the time we might have Expected an order to send them to York, and finally with this proviso that if such an order came, the purchasers promised by their Committee to Return them. I this day have had a Conference with them and shew them the Resolve inclos'd me, they urge the law of Self preservation, they say they've no arms (wch is a fact) that all the Regiments now here are order'd away and many arguments of the like nature urged by their ablest Rhetoricians, that in short they seem? to wish it was in the power of Eloquence to Elude a pledge of honour if theirs a possibility of Coming at the Arms by soothing(?) I'll get them return'd.
Yr. most Obed't
J. Bradford
I can't help mentioning that within a Week past, I have ... of the portledge Bills of three of the Schooners which amount'd to 2800 Dollars. So Shamefully have they neglected that duty with all the advantages they've had of money in their hands. I have drawn in fav.r of Mr. Joseph Barrett for 1500 Dollars and shall be oblig'd to draw largely if I am not supplied tho I am afraid I shant be able to ... my Bills.
[clean separations on the folds, piece missing lower left corner of first page but no loss of content, two small pieces separated at right side of first page but no loss of content, glue stain on top of 3rd page, edge chipping]
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