Newberry Library - Letter Boston, Mass., to His Excellency the Governour John Hancock, Boston, Mass., 1788 Mar. 4

Letter Boston, Mass., to His Excellency the Governour John Hancock, Boston, Mass., 1788 Mar. 4

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Open book Letter Boston, Mass., to His Excellency the Governour John Hancock, Boston, Mass., 1788 Mar. 4

Title Letter Boston, Mass., to His Excellency the Governour John Hancock, Boston, Mass., 1788 Mar. 4

Creator Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Date 1784

Place Maine, Massachusetts--Boston

Language English

Subjects Indian land transfers, Indians of North America, Massachusetts, Penobscot Indians

Description Forms part of the Edward E. Ayer Manuscript Collection (Newberry Library)
Text of letter on p. [1]-[3]; endorsement on p. [4]
For more information, consult the Special Collections Info. File.

Summary March 4, 1788, letter to Massachusetts governor John Hancock, regarding the history and status of the state's land cession negotiations with the Penobscot Indians of Maine, 1784-1788. Lincoln reviews the Massachusetts commissioners' negotiations of 1784 (unsuccessful) and 1786 (successful); notes that he had delivered the agreed-upon goods and left a quit-claim deed for the tribe (then away on a hunt) to sign; explains that for various reasons the Penobscots wished to forget that an agreement had been reached and had not claimed the goods or signed the deed; and urges state action to prevent hostilities that "would put a great check if not a total stop to the sale of land in that country."

Biographical/Historical Note Revolutionary War general and post-war speculator in Maine lands. In 1784 and 1786, Lincoln served as a Massachusetts commissioner to negotiate land claims with the Penobscot Indians.

Extent 1 item (1 folded sheet (4 p.)) ; 32 cm

Format Records

Archival Collection Title Edward E. Ayer Collection

Link to Catalog View record

Call Number Ayer MS 514

BibID 142551

Rights Status No Copyright - United States

Contributing Institution Newberry Library

Newberry Open Access Policy The Newberry makes its collections available for any lawful purpose, commercial or non-commercial, without licensing or permission fees to the library, subject to these terms and conditions.

IIIF Resource Type Canvas

Size 2389px × 3786px 25.91 MB

Filename 991425518805867_Ayer_MS_514_00001.tif

Unique Identifier NL11IBCV