Politics and Government (Archives): Manuscripts - 18th Century

Mary Clay Lloyd Collection.  1800s-1980.  Includes information about the Clay family of Alabama, including Matthew Clay (a member of Congress from 1797 to 1813).  1 box.

William Heath Letter.  Dated 26 December 1781, William Heath's letter is addressed to "His Excellency the President of Congress" [John Hanson] and relates the news of an embarkation of British troops at New York destined for Charles Town, Georgia, and St. Augustine and discusses the desertion of some of Benedict Arnold's soldiers. Transcription available. Location: Small Manuscripts 78-6 (3 folders).

Skipwith Revolutionary War Collection. Dating from 1776 to 1824, the Skipwith Collection consists primarily of letters received by Major General Nathaniel Greene from such noted individuals as John Hancock, George Washington, Henry Lee, Anthony Wayne, David Ramsay and Robert R. Livingston, as well as documents related to Greene's military service during the American Revolution.  Transcripts available.  In the collection are signed engraved portraits of Greene and the correspondents.  1 box.  Also available as a digital collection. 

Society of Cincinnati Certificate.  Dated 31 October 1784, this original document signed by George Washington certifies that William Hulton Lignire is a member of the Society of Cincinnati, a hereditary organization based upon familial descent from officers of the Continental Army.  Location:  Oversized Small Manuscript 79-2.

Spanish Land Conveyance. Dated 19 March 1798 and witnessed by Jose Vidal (the Secretary of the Spanish Government in Natchez, Mississippi), this document attests that Peter Camus sold land on the Homochitto River to Andrew Ellicott and Robert Walker. President George Washington had commissioned Ellicott to survey the boundary between the United States (including the new Mississippi Territory) and Spanish Florida. Location: Small Manuscripts 81-1 (1 folder).

James Wilkinson Letter. Dated 1 July 1798, James Wilkinson's letter describes to Mississippi Territory Governor Winthrop Sargent his descent down the Mississippi River from New Orleans, freight rates, and discusses enclosed documents no longer present. Location: Small Manuscripts 92-1 (1 folder).