Papers of John Adams, volume 21
r.10. 1793
The Lieut. Governour presents
his respects to the Vice President of the United States, and requests his
attendance at the Funeral of the late Governour Hancock, which will proceed
from his Mansion House on Monday next at 2 OClock P.M.—1
RC (Adams Papers); docketed by JA: “Funeral of / Governor Hancock.”
After suffering through years of ill health, John
Hancock died on 8 Oct. at the age of 57. Boston church bells tolled in
memoriam, flags flew at half-mast, and shops briefly closed. An
estimated 20,000 mourners attended his funeral. JA and
Samuel Adams rode together in the procession. Reflecting at length on
Hancock’s character and their tempestuous relationship, JA
later wrote: “I can say with Truth that I profoundly admired him, and
more profoundly loved him. If he had Vanity and Caprice; so had I. And
if his [‘]Vanity and Caprice’ made me sometimes Sputter, as you know,
they often did; mine, I well know had often a similar Effect upon him,
But these little fleckerings of little passions determine nothing
concerning essential Characters.— I knew Mr
Hancock from his Cradle to his Grave. He was radically generous and
benevolent” (
AFC
, 9:135, 450; to
William Tudor Sr., 1 June 1817, LbC, APM Reel 123).