January 2017 Auction Ends Thursday, January 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/26/2017
John Hancock letter signed as Governor of Massachusetts in 1791 regarding The Society for Propagating the Gospel Among the Indians. Originally accompanied by a petition from The Society, Hancock writes to the Senate and House of Representatives on their behalf, who in 1789 had received a large private endowment for the purchase of Bibles, farm tools and other articles to be used for the education and eventual assimilation of the Indians. Here the Society seeks a state grant to enable missionaries to travel to eastern parts of the state to proselytize the population. Hancock's letter reads, in small part, "…I feel myself so much impressed with the disagreeable Situation of our fellow Citizens in the Eastern part of the Commonwealth [likely Maine]…that I cannot but urge…[you] to take measures for their relief…The People…are obliged to Suffer toil, hunger, and all the hardships which are incident to the Settlement of a new country; whilst every tree they cut down, and every acre of wild Land they Subdue contributes to the wealth of the State…there will be a peculiar disadvantage in having so numerous a body of people, as the rising generation in that part of the Commonwealth will form, Situated upon a frontier point of the United States, almost entirely destitute of that knowledge and information which render the other parts of their Country so respectable…the resources of the State by the appropriation of Wild lands…are such, as will allow you to assist that Society…to disseminate the principles of Religion and morality amongst our fellow Citizens…" Signed "JH" by Hancock, who also annotates a word in the address and writes "Council [?] / Jany. 28th, 1791 -". Toning, a few archival tape repairs and some brittleness, overall very good condition.
John Hancock Letter Signed Regarding Native-Americans -- "…The People…are obliged to Suffer toil, hunger, and all the hardships which are incident to the Settlement of a new country…"
Click above for larger image.