Coming of the American Revolution banner pastiche of images from MHS collections

The Coming of the American Revolution: 1764 to 1776

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The Formation of the Sons of Liberty

The Townshend Acts

Non-consumption and Non-importation

The Boston Massacre

The Formation of the Committees of Correspondence

The Boston Tea Party

The Coercive Acts

The First Continental Congress

Lexington and Concord

The Second Continental Congress

The Battle of Bunker Hill

Washington Takes Command of the Continental Army

Declarations of Independence

Resources » Master Document List

"An Alphabetical List of the Sons of Liberty who din'd at Liberty Tree, Dorchester"

"To the People of Great Britain ..." and "To the Inhabitants of the Colonies ..."

The Boston Post-Boy & Advertiser (newspaper) and The Boston Post-Boy, &c. Extraordinary (supplement)

The Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser

A Bloody Butchery, by the British Troops; or the Runaway Fight of the Regulars

"A Circulatory Letter, directed to the Speakers of the respective Houses of Representatives and Burgesses on this Continent ... February 11, 1768"

A Circumstantial Account of an Attack that happened on the 19th of April 1775, on his Majesty's Troops ...

A Declaration by the Representatives of the United Colonies of North-America, Now Met in General Congress at Philadelphia

A Dialogue, Between a Southern Delegate and His Spouse, on His Return from the Grand Continental Congress: A Fragment, Inscribed to the Married Ladies of America by their Most Sincere, and Affectionate Friend, and Servant, Mary V.V.

A Fair Account of the Late Unhappy Disturbance at Boston in New England

A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress ...

A List of the Names of the Provincials who were Killed and Wounded in the late Engagement with His Majesty's Troops at Concord, &c.

A Narrative, of the Excursion and Ravages of the King's Troops Under the Command of General Gage, on the nineteenth of April, 1775: Together with the Depositions ...

Proclamation by General William Howe (manuscript copy), 28 October 1775

A Short Narrative of the Horrid Massacre in Boston...

A Verse Occasioned by the late horrid Massacre in King-Street

A View of the Year 1765

"Address to the Ladies"

"Americus (in the New-York Papers) writes ..."

"An Act for granting certain Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America ..."

An Act of Parliament Passed in the Sixth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the Third. 1766.

An Act to Block up Boston Harbour

"An Act to prevent Paper Bills of Credit, hereafter to be issued in any of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations in America ..."

An Elegiac Poem, Composed On The Never-To-Be-Forgotten Terrible And Bloody Battle Fought At An Intrenchment On Bunker-Hill

Appointment as lieutenant in Massachusetts militia, 19 May 1775

Artemas Ward orderly book, 3-8 July 1775

"At a Meeting of the Delegates of every Town and District in the County of Suffolk ..."

At a Meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, legally assembled at Faneuil-Hall, on Wednesday the 28th of October 1767

"At a Meeting of the Merchants in this Town ..."

"At a Town-Meeting held in Marshfield ..."

"At a very full meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Cambridge ..."

"At the Superior Court of Judicature ..."

Authorization of payment from Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard to Andrew Oliver, 10 December 1766

Authorization of payment from Massachusetts Governor Francis Bernard to Thomas Hutchinson, 10 December 1766

Battle of Bunker Hill: This Song was composed by the British after the engagement

Boston Tea Party meeting minutes, 14-16 December 1773

Boston Tea Party meeting minutes, 29-30 November 1773

Boston, 26th of June, 1775: This Town was alarmed on the 17th Instant ...

Boston, April 20th, 1773. Sir, The efforts made by the legislative [sic] of this province ...

Boston, April 9, 1773: Sir, The Committee of Correspondence of this Town have received the following intelligence ...

Boston, December 1, 1773. At a meeting of the people ...

"Boston, December 20. On Tuesday last the body of the people ..."

"Boston, February 24. Last Week was taken up ..."

"Boston, January 3, 1774. The Express that went from hence ..."

Boston, June 10, 1774. Gentlemen, Whereas several of our brethren, members of the committees of correspondence in the neighbouring towns ...

"Boston, March 12. The Town of Boston affords a recent and melancholy Demonstration ..."

"Boston, March 14. His Majesty Oknookortunkogog King of the Narraganset Tribe ..."

"Boston, May 28. At a Meeting of the Freeholders ..."

"Boston, November 4, 1765. By Capt. Chambers who arrived at New-York Yesterday ..."

Boston, September 14, 1768. Gentlemen, You are already too well acquainted with the melancholly [sic] and very alarming circumstances to which this province, as well as America in general, is now reduced ...

"By several Vessels from Charlestown, South Carolina ..."

By the Great and General Court of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay. A Proclamation ...

By the King, a Proclamation, For suppressing Rebellion and Sedition

"Cambridge, June 22. Last Friday Night a Detachment from our Army ..."

"Case of Capt. Thomas Preston of the 29th Regiment."

"Charlestown, (S. Carolina,) October 4. Saturday last, being the first of October ..."

Common Sense; Addressed to the Inhabitants of America ...

Declaration of Independence [manuscript copy by Thomas Jefferson, 1776]

"Extract of a letter from Charlestown, South Carolina, Dec. 2, 1765 ..."

"Extract of a Letter from London, dated July 27, 1770."

"Extract of a letter from one of the council of Boston, in New-England, to a merchant in London."

"Extract of a Letter from Philadelphia, Dec. 4, 1773. Our tea consignees ..."

"Friday last Kilroy and Montgomery ..."

"Friday, October 14, 1774. The Congress came into the following Resolutions"

"From the New-York Gazette of Nov. 7. To the Printer ..."

"From the Newport Mercury. Newport, June 24. Extract of a Letter from Gentleman in Philadelphia ..."

"From the Pennsylvania Chronicle. Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania to the inhabitants of the British Colonies ..."

"From the Pennsylvania Journal, Aug. 4. A Song. Address'd to the Sons of Liberty ..."

"From the Providence Gazette Extraordinary. The following is said to be a copy of the Resolutions of the Congress held at New-York ..."

"From the Supplement to the Pennsylvania Journal, June 29 All of the Printers ..."

General Gage's Instructions, of 22d February 1775

Gentlemen, The evils which we have long foreseen are now come upon this town and province ...

Glorious News. Boston, Friday, 11 o'clock, 16th May 1766 ...

Henry Knox diary, 20 November 1775 - 13 January 1776

In Congress March 23, 1776. Whereas the Petitions of these United Colonies to the King, for the Redress of great and manifest Grievances ...

In Congress, at Watertown, April 30, 1775 : Gentlemen, the barbarous murders on our innocent brethren on Wednesday the 19th...

In Congress, Friday, June 9, 1775. Resolved, That no Obedience being due to the Act of Parliament for altering the Charter of the Colony of Massachusetts-Bay ...

In Congress, July 4, 1776. A Declaration by the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled

In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

In consequence of a conference with the committees of correspondence in the vicinity of Boston, November 23, 1773 ...

"In our last we mentioned that at the Superior Court held here, on Wednesday began the Trial of Capt. Thomas Preston ..."

In Provincial Congress, Watertown, April 30, 1775. Whereas an Agreement has been made ...

"Instructions to the Representatives ..."

James Freeman notebook entries, 14 August 1765 - 1 November 1765

Jeduthan Baldwin journal, 8 December 1775-14 March 1776

John Dickinson

John Rowe

John Rowe diary 1, 1-2 October 1764, page 15

John Rowe diary 1, 13-14 August 1765, pages 182-183

John Rowe diary 1, 15-17 August 1765, pages 184-185

John Rowe diary 1, 15-17 January 1765, pages 72-73

John Rowe diary 1, 18-19 January 1765, page 74

John Rowe diary 1, 2-4 December 1764, page 47

John Rowe diary 1, 20 January 1765, page 75

John Rowe diary 1, 21-22 January 1765, page 76

John Rowe diary 1, 4-6 November 1764, pages 32-33

John Rowe diary 1, 9-12 January 1765, pages 69-70

John Rowe diary 10, 10 May 1774, pages 1824-1825

John Rowe diary 10, 16 December 1773, page 1727

John Rowe diary 10, 17 June 1774, page 1854

John Rowe diary 10, 27-28 June 1774, pages 1860-1863

John Rowe diary 11, 1-4 September 1774, pages 1901-1902

John Rowe diary 11, 18-19 April 1775, pages 1986-1987

John Rowe diary 11, 24 October 1774, page 1920

John Rowe diary 11, 31 January 1775, page 1958

John Rowe diary 13, 18-20 March 1776, pages 2123-2124

John Rowe diary 13, 28 March 1776, page 2129

John Rowe diary 13, 8 April 1776, pages 2136-2138

John Rowe diary 5, 2 May 1768, page 751

John Rowe diary 5, 4 March 1768, pages 717-718

John Rowe diary 6, 15-16 October 1768, page 837

John Rowe diary 6, 2-4 August 1769, pages 972-973

John Rowe diary 6, 28-29 September 1768, pages 827-828

John Rowe diary 6, 29 July 1768, page 798

John Rowe diary 6, 31 July - 2 August 1768, pages 799-800

John Rowe diary 6, 4-5 September 1768, page 817

John Rowe diary 7, 5-6 March 1770, pages 1073, 1076-1077

Letter (draft) from Abigail Adams to Mercy Otis Warren, [3] February 1775

Letter from Andrew Eliot to Thomas B. Hollis (copy), 25 April 1775 and letter from Andrew Eliot to unidentified recipient (draft), 31 May 1775

Letter from Archibald Kennedy to Cadwallader Colden (retained copy), 2 November 1765, and letter Cadwallader Colden to Archibald Kennedy (copy), 2 November 1765

Letter from Boston Merchants to Dennys De Berdt, 30 January 1770

Letter from Cyrus Baldwin to Loammi Baldwin, 15 August 1765

Letter from Hannah Winthrop to Mercy Otis Warren, 27 September 1774

Letter from Henry Bass to Samuel P. Savage, 19 December 1765

Letter from J. Waller to unidentified recipient, 21 June 1775

Letter from James Murray to John Murray (letterbook copy), 13 November 1765

Letter from James Warren of the Boston Committee of Donations to the Committee of Correspondence for Middletown, Connecticut, (copy in letterbook volume 1), 17 November 1774, pages 58-61

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams, 3 July 1776

Letter from John Adams to James Warren, 7 October 1775

Letter from John Adams to William Tudor, 12 April 1776

Letter from John Andrews to William Barrell, 12 June 1774

Letter from John Bromfield to Jeremiah Powell, 21 June 1775

Letter from John Hancock to Artemas Ward, 22 June 1775

Letter from John Sullivan to John Adams, 15 March 1776

Letter from Nathaniel Folsom and John Sullivan to Meshech Weare, 12 October 1774

Letter from Paul Revere to Jeremy Belknap, circa 1798

Letter from Peter Brown to Sarah Brown, 25 June 1775

Letter from Peyton Randolph to Thomas Cushing, 19 March 1773

Letter from Richard Henry Lee to Thomas Cushing, 17 March 1773

Letter from Samuel Adams of the Boston Committee of Donations to William Black of James River County, Virginia, (copy in letterbook volume 1), 2 March 1775, pages 133-135

Letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, 27 November 1772

Letter from Samuel Adams to James Warren, 4 November 1772

Letter from the mayor and corporation of the city of New York to Archibald Kennedy (copy), 4 November 1765

Letter from Thomas Cushing to Jasper Mauduit, 17 November 1764

Letter from Thomas Cushing to Roger Sherman, 21 January 1772

Letter from Thomas Hutchinson to James Murray, 23 July 1774

Letter from Thomas James to Archibald Kennedy, 4 November 1765

Letter from Thomas Robie to Richard Clarke & Sons, 13 January 1770

Letter from Thomas Whately to John Temple, 14 August 1764

Letter from Thomas Whately to John Temple, 2 May 1767

Letter from Thomas Young to Hugh Hughes, 21 December 1772

Letter from Titus Hosmer of the Committee of Correspondence for Middletown, Connecticut, to the Boston Committee of Donations (copy in letterbook volume 2), 17 October 1774, pages 81-83

Letter from William Black of the Committee of Correspondence, James River County, Virginia, to the Boston Committee of Donations (copy in letterbook volume 2), 22 December 1774, pages 94-95

Letter from William Prescott to John Adams, 25 August 1775

Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania, to the Inhabitants of the British Colonies.

"Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania, to the inhabitants of the British colonies ..."

Lt. Gen. Burgoyne

"March. 30. It was early conceived by the most sagacious and knowing Nations ..."

Massachusetts Spy

Massachusetts Spy Or, Thomas's Boston Journal

"Messi'rs Green & Russell. Please to insert the following, and you'll oblige one of your constant Readers."

"Messieurs Edes & Gill, Please to insert the following, Tea! How I shudder at thy fatal Stream!"

Minutes of a conference, held by the delegates of the honble Continental Congress with General Washington, 18-22 October 1775

"New-York, December 6, 1773. Whereas our nation ..."

On the Trial of the Inhuman Murderers, Of the 5th of March, 1770

Paper with a British revenue stamp

Paul Revere

Paul Revere's deposition, draft, circa 1775

Paul Revere's deposition, fair copy, circa 1775

Permit to pass through British lines, May 1775

"Philadelphia, Aug. 16. To the King's Most Excellent Majesty."

"Philadelphia, December 1. The following Hand Bill ..."

"Philadelphia, June 14. In Congress, May 26, 1775. To the Oppressed Inhabitants of Canada."

"Philadelphia, October 4. A Letter received by the late Committee of Philadelphia ..."

"Philadelphia, September 29. Extract of a letter from London, August 4 ..."

"Philadelphia. In Congress, Thursday, June 22, 1775."

Prospect Hill. Bunker's Hill.

Receipt from William Cunningham (includes example of a British revenue stamp)

Rules and Articles, for the Better Government of the Troops Raised ...

St-p! St-p! St-p! No: Tuesday-Morning, December 17, 1765

"Summary of the Cargo of the Snow Pittt [sic] ..."

Supplement to the Boston Chronicle

Supplement to the Boston Evening-Post

Supplement to the Boston-Gazette

Supplement to the Massachusets-Gazette [sic]

Tea, Destroyed by Indians

The Able Doctor, or America Swallowing the Bitter Draught

The Able Doctor, or America Swallowing the Bitter Draught

"The Association &c."

The Boston Chronicle

The Boston Chronicle

The Boston Post-Boy & Advertiser

The Boston Post-Boy & Advertiser

The Boston-Gazette and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Boston-Gazette, and Country Journal

The Essex Gazette

The Essex Gazette

The Examination of Doctor Benjamin Franklin, before an August Assembly, relating to the Repeal of the Stamp-Act, &c.

The following extraordinary Bills now pending in Parliament ...

"The following is one of the Petitions to the Selectmen of this Town ..."

"The following was dispersed in Hand Bills among the worthy Citizens of Philadelphia ..."

"The Liberty Song."

The Massachusetts Gazette

The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News-Letter

The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News-Letter

The Massachusetts Gazette and Boston News-Letter

The Massachusetts Gazette (includes supplement)

The Massachusetts Gazette Extraordinary

The Massachusetts Gazette: And The Boston Weekly News-Letter

The Massachusetts Gazette; and the Boston Post-Boy and Advertiser

The Massachusetts Gazette; and the Boston Post-Boy and Advertiser

The Massachusetts Gazette; and the Boston Post-Boy and Advertiser

The Massachusetts Gazette; and the Boston Post-Boy and Advertiser

The New-England Chronicle or the Essex Gazette

The New-England Chronicle: or, The Essex Gazette

The New-England Chronicle: or, The Essex Gazette

The New-England Chronicle: or, The Essex Gazette

The Petition of the Grand American Continental Congress, to the King's Most Excellent Majesty

"The Remains of young Snider, the unfortunate Boy who was barbarously Murdered the 22d of February last ..."

The True Sons of Liberty and Supporters of the Non-Importation Agreement

The Votes and Proceedings of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston, in Town Meeting Assembled

Thomas Boynton journal, 19 April- 26 August 1775

Thomas Jefferson's memorandum book, page 11

Thoughts on Government: Applicable to the Present State of the American Colonies

"Thursday, June 30. Boston. Whereas scruples have arisen ..."

"Thursday, May 9, 1776"

"To the Printers of the Massachusetts Gazette ..."

Tradesmen's Protest against the Proceedings of the Merchants ...

Two Acts of Parliament: One Passed in the Sixth Year of the Reign of King George the Second ...

Two favorite Songs made on the Evacuation of the Town of Boston by the British Troops, on the 17th of March 1776

"We hear from Weston in the County of Middlesex ..."

"We hear that there was held two or three evenings ago, an assembly of Ladies ..."

Boston, December 2, 1773: Whereas is has been reported that a Permit ...

William Jackson, an Importer; at the Brazen Head

"Williamsburgh (Virginia) May 17 ..."

[Stamp Act (1765)]

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