Important John Hancock Autograph Letter to Robert Morris

John Hancock Autograph Letter. One page, 7.75" x 8.5", Boston, May 7, 1783. Written to another signer of the Declaration of Independence Robert Morris, regarding the first Chief engineer under George Washington. Colonel Richard Gridley (Hancock's retained copy). Colonel Richard Gridley was born and raised in Boston, and trained as a military engineer. He sided with the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War and was made Chief Engineer in the New England Provincial Army. He laid out the defenses on Breed's Hill and was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

When the Continental Congress first created a Continental Army under command of George Washington in 1775 he was named to Chief Engineer (artillery). He directed the construction of the fortifications on Dorchester Heights which forced the British to evacuate Boston in March 1776. When Washington moved his army south, Gridley remained as Chief Engineer of the Eastern Department. Here Hancock writes U.S. Superintendent of Finance Robert Morris to reconcile Gridley's compensation for military service.

In part it reads: "Your favor of March 18 I have had the Honor of Receiving relative to Colonel Gridley. The Inclosures will inform you of the Agreement made with Colonel Gridley at an early Period of the Contest, and of all the Transactions upon that Subject. I cannot find that any other Advances Grants or Payments have been made to him than are mention'd in the Inclos'd papers, the General Court having Refer'd the Matter to Congress. The Sacrifice Col. Gridley made in the loss of his half pay entering into the service of the United States merits the Attention of the Publick, and I am persuaded you will do all in your power that the Old Gentleman may Receive an Adequate Compensation." The provenance comes from the Hancock-Chase Collection, formerly housed at the National Museum of American History. A fine war-period letter from one of the great figures of the Independence movement to another Declaration signer and legendary financier of the Revolution. In fine condition; almost complete clean separation along one fold; light overall toning.

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