Lot 25
JOHN HANCOCK
(1737-1793) American Revolutionary politician and first signer of the Declaration of Independence, President of the Continental Congress and two-time Governor of Massachusetts. Historic content manuscript signed document: "By Order of Congress John Hancock Presid''y", 1p. 8" x 12", "In Congress" [Philadelphia], May 16, 1776.
This document reflects the American commitment to sever ties with Great Britain at the price of bloodshed. In a hurried move to fortify Boston against a feared imminent attack by the British-and in the midst of congressional resolutions which would soon lead to the bold Declaration of Independence from Great Britain-Hancock signs this resolution authorizing recruitment of battalions of troops. In full:
"In Congress May 14th 1776
Resolved, That the five Battalions now in Massachusetts Bay, be recruited to their full Complement, and that three additional Battalions be raised in the Eastern Department, for the service of the Continent, the Recruits to be taken into Continental Pay so soon as they shall be armed & mustered.
May 16.th
Resolved, that two of the additional Battalions be raised in Massachusetts Bay, and the others in Connecticut.
That it be recommended to the general Assemblies of Massachusetts Bay & Connecticut to endeavor to have the Battalions enlisted for two years, unless sooner discharged by Congress, in which Case they are to be allowed one Month?s Pay on their Discharge; but if the Men cannot be prevailed on to enlist for two years, that they be enlisted for one year; and that they be ordered as soon as raised & armed immediately to march to Boston."
The recently-ended siege of Boston provides the backdrop for these resolutions. General George Washington, with too few troops to defend Boston following his move to fortify New York, sought reinforcements for Boston in light of intelligence that British ships loaded with German mercenaries were bound for America.
Following the battles at Lexington and Concord in April, 1775, the colonists drove the British back to Boston and then encircled the city with 15,000 troops in an effort to contain the enemy. Reinforced by sea, the British counter-attacked at Breeds (Bunker) Hill on June 17th and took the heights above Boston. reinforced its army by sea, however, since the Americans had no navy, and attacked the colonists The next month, Washington arrived in Boston to assume command of the Continental Army. Using cannons captured at Fort Ticonderoga, Washington?s army bombarded Boston for two days in early March 1776 before Washington moved more troops and cannon into position on Dorchester Heights above the city and Boston Harbor. Knowing that he could not dislodge the Americans, British General William Howe withdrew on March 17, 1776.
Washington hurried the Continental Army to New York, recognizing its strategic importance and fearing that the British fleet was en route to that city. Boston was left protected only by four undermanned regiments. On May 7, 1776, Washington received several very credible reports that British ships carrying Hessian mercenaries had embarked for Boston and Quebec almost a month earlier.
With sailing time of a month or less between England and North America, these reports meant that the Hessian troops could arrive any day if they had not already arrived, whether in Canada or somewhere in the colonies.
Washington wrote immediately to Hancock to ask that Congress investigate the claims. Congress in turn appointed a committee to consider the issue. On May 10, the committee recommended that Congress urge Massachusetts "to assist the Officers of the five Continental Regiments now in that Colony in compleating their Enlistment" and that "they endeavour to prevail on their People to enlist, and those already enlisted to re-enlist for 3 years, unless sooner discharged, and then to receive a mo. pay." It also recommended that Washington "be desired to send such Genl. Officer as he can spare from the Army at New York to command in the Colony of Massachusetts Bay." Congress debated the issue further, however, and on May 14 and 16 it enacted the resolutions that appear in this document:
The fervor for independence had reached a boiling point in Congress as it enlarged the Continental Army with these resolutions. On May 10, 1776, it had enacted the following resolution, with language that would appear six weeks later, in modified form, in the Declaration of Independence:
Resolved, That it be recommended to the respective assemblies and conventions of the United Colonies, where no government sufficient to the exigencies of their affairs have been hitherto established, to adopt such government as shall, in the opinion of the representatives of the people, best conduce to the happiness and safety of their constituents in particular, and America in general.
In other words, Congress authorized the colonies to throw off the British crown in favor of self-government. It appointed a committee of three, John Adams, Edward Rutledge, and Richard Henry Lee, to draft the preamble to the resolution:
"Whereas his Britannic Majesty, in conjunction with the lords and commons of Great Britain, has, by a late act of Parliament, excluded the inhabitants of these United Colonies from the protection of his crown… the whole force of that kingdom, aided by foreign mercenaries, is to be exerted for the destruction of the good people of these colonies…it appears absolutely irreconcileable [sic] to reason and good Conscience, for the people of these colonies now to take the oaths and affirmations necessary for the support of any government under the crown of Great Britain…for the preservation of internal peace, virtue, and good order, as well as for the defence of their lives, liberties, and properties, against the hostile invasions and cruel depredations of their enemies…"
On May 15, after vigorous debates over three days, Congress approved the preamble and ordered that it be published along with the resolution passed on May 10. To his wife, Abigail, John Adams wrote that Great Britain had "at last driven America, to the last Step, a compleat Seperation from her, a total absolute Independence, not only of her Parliament but of her Crown, for such is the Amount of the Resolve of the 15th." In a letter to James Warren, Adams called it "the most important Resolution, that ever was taken in America." Fold splits and edge chips have been very professionally mended, and none of these affect Hancock''s striking signature. The signature has not been affected by other defects, which have been professionally repaired. Overall the document is good to very good condition.
This is a superb, significant document from the tense weeks in the Continental Congress leading up to adoption of the formal Declaration of Independence. It belongs in the finest of Revolutionary War collections. From the collection of H. H. Strong, 1919.
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