Revolutionary Era broadsides, 1776-1783

About this collection

The New-York Historical Society has an extensive collection of broadsides that document the American Revolution and the tumultuous events leading up to it. Broadsides, the technical term for any document, large or small, printed on one side of a single sheet of paper, served as posters, handbills, official proclamations, advertisements, and conveyors of ballads and poetry. They were plastered on walls, distributed by hand or read out loud and are especially important for the study of the Revolutionary period. At a time when newspapers were published one or two times a week, broadsides served as the immediate vehicle for late-breaking news.

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: At a general meeting of the Committee of Mechanicks, at Mrs. Van Dyke's, the 27th December, 1783.; Listing 15 candidates for the New York Legislature., "Signed by order of the chairman, Richard Kip, jun. sec'ry.", Names separated by vertical ornamental rule., N-YHS copy inscribed on verso: McDougall; fabric lining.

: At a meeting of the governor and Council of Safety, holden at Hartford, on the 19th day of June A.D. 1781.; Signed: Extract from the minutes, test, Benjamin Payne, clerk., N-YHS copy: inscription and manuscript annotations on verso; fabric lining.

: At an adjourned town meeting, holden at Norwich, in Connecticut, on the 29th day of March, 1779.; "To the freemen, and other inhabitants of the state of Connecticut. Gentlemen, We, the freemen and other inhabitants of the town of Norwich, beg leave to ask your attention to the present mode of taxation in this state, at a time which, above all others, calls for equal justice in apportioning the burden of public taxes. We also beg your attention to another mode which we shall by and by propose ...", "A true copy of record, examined by Benjamin Huntington, Jun. town clerk. the above forwarded to the Selectmen of the town of [blank] by order of the town, Samuel Tracy, Zabdiel Rogers, Thomas Hyde, Jun. Samuel Lovett, Nehemiah Waterman, jun. Selectmen"., N-YHS copy damaged along creases, with slight loss of text; ink stains; fabric lining.

: Boston, September 26, 1777.; Account of the engagement at Stillwater, N.Y., Printed area measures 32.2 x 11.5 cm., N-YHS copy: fabric lining.

: By Commodore Sir George Collier, commander in chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels in North-America; and Major-General William Tryon.; Encouraging the inhabitants of Connecticut to end their persistent, "ruinous and ill-judged resistance," and warning those not resuming allegiance to the King not to expect continued leniency., Signed: George Collier, Wm. Tryon., Place and date of publication supplied by Alden., Text in two columns., Royal arms at head of title., N-YHS copy dated in manuscript at head of title "4 June [sic] 1779"; inscriptions on verso: "5 inhabitants", "To The honorable Continental Congress to be forwarded with all Expedit[...] Possible", and "Proclamation of General Tryon & Commoder Sir George Collier, dated 4th july 1779"; fabric lining.

: By His Excellency George Clinton, Esq; governor of the state of New-York, general of the militia, and admiral of the navy of the same. A proclamation.; Overtures intended to confirm and clarify title to disputed lands originally granted by Massachusetts or New Hampshire and occupied by tenants in Albany, Charlotte (i.e. Washington), Cumberland, and Gloucester Counties in New York, the latter two counties ultimately ceasing to exist after Vermont declared itself a republic. Additionally warns that claims to properties will not be recognized by tenants acknowledging "any allegiance or subjection to the pretended state of Vermont.", N-YHS copy: fabric lining.

: By His Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, governor of the state of New-York, &c. &c. &c. To [blank] greeting.; "Given at Poughkeepsie, this [blank] day of [blank] 1781. By His Excellency's command, [blank]"., N-YHS copy has manuscript notes on leaf [2]: "Copy of Warrant to enlist Men on bounties of unappropriated lands" and "No. 1"; ink stamp: "Tomlinson Collection--Deposited by Mercantile Library Association".

: By his Excellency George Clinton, Esquire, governor of the state of New-York, general and commander in chief of all the Militia, and admiral of the Navy of the said state. Proclamation. Whereas in and by a proclamation of the United States of America ...; "Given under my hand, and the privy seal of the said state, at Poughkeepsie, in the county of Dutchess, this seventeenth day of April, in the seventh year of the independence of the said state, 1783. Geo. Clinton. By His Excellency's command, Robert Benson, secretary.", N-YHS copy signed by Clinton; from the Donald F. Clark collection; backed on paper.

: By His Excellency George Washinton [sic], Esquire, general, and commander in chief of the army of the United States of North-America.; Signed and dated: Given under my hand, at head-quarters, New-York, August 17, 1776. George Washington., N-YHS copy: tissue lining.

: By His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esq; governor of the state of Connecticut, in America. A proclamation.; Concerning the granting of free pardons to deserters from the British forces, following their voluntary appearance before a justice and taking of an oath of allegiance to the state of Connecticut., Resolution includes text of oath of allegiance to the state of Connecticut., Signed: Jonathan Trumbull., Incorrectly ascribed to the New London press of Timothy Green by Evans., N-YHS copy: fabric lining.

: By His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esquire ... A proclamation.; Signed: Jonth. Trumbull., Printed area measures 31.4 x 18.5 cm., Not in Evans or Bristol., N-YHS copy: fabric lining.

: By His Excellency Jonathan Trumbull, Esquire, governor and commander in chief in and over the state of Connecticut. A proclamation.; Reaffirming Connecticut's claim to the Western Reserve., Signed: Jonth. Trumbull., N-YHS copy: fabric lining.

Revolutionary Era broadsides, 1776-1783

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