Details
5HANCOCK, JOHN Signer (Massachusetts), President of the Continental Congress. Autograph letter signed ("John Hancock," with attractive paraph), to his brother Ebenezer in Boston; London, 25 February 1761. One page, 4to, integral address leaf with panel in Hancock's hand, black wax seal.
An unusually early letter from the 24-year-old Hancock to his younger brother. Both had been orphaned early in life and adopted by their wealthy uncle, Thomas Hancock. Young John, after graduating Harvard in 1754, was sent to learn the mercantile trade in his uncle's establishment in London. In 1764, John inherited the business upon Thomas Hancock's death. "My dear Brother, I have only time to Acknowledge the Receipt of your Agreeable Letter by Capt Folger, Rejoyce to hear you are well, & that you are on so good a footing with your Uncle & Aunt, by all means engage their Love & Esteem by a Conduct answerable to their Goodness. I shall write you largely by he next Ships.
"Present my Duty to my Dear Mother, Love to my Sister, with my sincere Respects to Mr. Perkins & the Doctr. let them know I am well, & tell my Sister I shall bring her a Capauchin [monkey, for a pet]. My Love to Hannah, Betsy & the whole Family...." In a postscript, Hancock asks: "Can't you & Mr. Bowes Contrive to send me a Cage of yellow Birds, & a Cage of Bobelincornes [Bobolinks] [?] Think of me...."
An unusually early letter from the 24-year-old Hancock to his younger brother. Both had been orphaned early in life and adopted by their wealthy uncle, Thomas Hancock. Young John, after graduating Harvard in 1754, was sent to learn the mercantile trade in his uncle's establishment in London. In 1764, John inherited the business upon Thomas Hancock's death. "My dear Brother, I have only time to Acknowledge the Receipt of your Agreeable Letter by Capt Folger, Rejoyce to hear you are well, & that you are on so good a footing with your Uncle & Aunt, by all means engage their Love & Esteem by a Conduct answerable to their Goodness. I shall write you largely by he next Ships.
"Present my Duty to my Dear Mother, Love to my Sister, with my sincere Respects to Mr. Perkins & the Doctr. let them know I am well, & tell my Sister I shall bring her a Capauchin [monkey, for a pet]. My Love to Hannah, Betsy & the whole Family...." In a postscript, Hancock asks: "Can't you & Mr. Bowes Contrive to send me a Cage of yellow Birds, & a Cage of Bobelincornes [Bobolinks] [?] Think of me...."