Adams John (1735-1826)

Adams, John (1735-1826), Autograph Letter Signed, December 9th, 1777, one page, to fellow signer Elbridge Gerry, a letter to his close friend condemning the practice of distributing goods to obtain popular support and introducing John Thaxter as a possible clerk for Gerry in Congress, with holograph address leaf, (very minor fold loss on address leaf). Text in full: Braintree Decr. 9, 1777 / Dear Sir / Some day next week, Mr. John Thaxter will set off on his Journey for Yorktown....You may remember the want of Secretaries, and Clerks, which We Suffered before I came away, and that I agreed to Send you one or more....Mr. Thaxter is of a good Family, was educated at Harvard Colledge (sic), and has spent three years in the Study of the Law in my office, and was last Summer admitted to the Bar....You may depend upon his Sobriety, Modesty, Industry, and Fidelity....He has an Inclination to spend a year, in some place near Congress, which may afford him a decent support and where he may have an opportunity of serving the World, and learning the Nature of Men, and Things. If the President has no Secretary, Mr. Thaxter would make a very good one...I shall be much obliged to your for your Patronage, and Friendship to him and am very confident he will deserve it. I am, with great Truth, your Friend& Servant/ John Adams/ turn over/ Have the Trumpets yet Sounded at York Town, 300 Cord of Wood, to the Poor of the Town of Boston - and the magnificent Provisions making for the Poor at Thank Read more…