Description:

Writing to his brother from London, John Hancock dispenses priceless advice, "...Let your Conduct be such as to merit the Esteem of all about you, & Remember that the Diligent Hand maketh Rich."

JOHN HANCOCK (1737-1793) Autograph Letter Signed,"Jno Hancock,", 2.5p, front and back of two conjoined sheets, 8.5" x 7", December 27, 1760, London, England, with address leaf in Hancock's hand, to William Ebenezer Hancock, Boston, with remnants of a blackwax seal.

Writing from London while attending his uncle's business, a young John Hancock asks about his uncle and aunts, congratulates his sister's marriage, talks about his own ill health and recovery, and inquires about the house slaves at the Hancock Mansion.

In full, "I have before me yo.r agreeable Letters of Nov.r 6.th by Capt Bride, & desire you will write one by every oppry [opportunity] & acquaint me more particularly with the Circumstances of my Uncle's Family. I am glad to hear you are well, & earnestly beg you will give great Attention to Business, & let you'r Conduct be such as to merit the Esteem of all about you, & Remember that the Diligent Hand maketh Rich. I Expect on my Return to find you a Compleat Merch.t I am much pleas'd at the Advantages you have before you, of which I doubt not but you will make the proper Improvement. / I observe by yor Letter our Sister is Married, & that you was [sic] with them at the Celebration of it, I wish them great Happiness & Satisfaction, I hope they will meet with nothing to Interrupt their Quiet, they have my best wishes, I [p2] I shall write you again soon. Have me Remembered in the strongest Terms of Affection to my Uncle & Aunt Love to all in the Family, particularly Hannah & Betsy. How is Molly, & how does Cate behave. Is Agniss a Breeding, Is Prince as gouty as ever, & Hannibal as peevish as formerly tell him I think of him, as he was the last of the family I saw on the Wharf. How is Thomas & in short all. / I have been lately ill, but am upon the Recovery, hope soon to get abroad again. / I wish you, with Hannah Betsy & all the family many happy New Years. / The Compliments of the Season attend you, & I am / My dear, Your Affectionate Brother / Jno Hancock [post script] Remember my Love to Nicholas Bower, & all of my Acquaintances My Respects to _______ & Brown Mr Ebenr Hancock Forward the Inclosd Letters to Bridgewater [p3] Tell Hannah that at Mr Barnard's where I am ill, is a young woman who is Remarkably Tender & kind to one in any Illness, & often brings her to my mind, that I am as well attended as I could ever desire, & that I am very well off, but had much rather be ill, if I must be so, where my Aunt & she is, But that this young woman is exactly the Image of her in Respect of a good and tender Nurse."

In 1760, future Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock lived in London while learning the English side of his Thomas Hancock's merchant firm. Thomas, his uncle, had adopted John upon the death of his father in 1744. Here, the 23-year-old writes to younger brother Ebenezer, encouraging his sibling to work diligently to build himself up in business, considering the advantage of family connections given to the two orphans. When John returned to America in 1761, Thomas's health had declined to the point that John began playing a greater role in the business. His appeal to Ebenezer to "write...by every oppry [opportunity]. & acquaint me more particularly with the Circumstances of my Uncle's Family" may have reflected his uncle's poor condition.

He notes his sister Mary's marriage to Richard Perkins, and inquires about the rest of the family, wishing to be "Remembered in the strongest Terms of Affection to my Uncle & Aunt" Thomas and Lydia Hancock. The "Hannah & Betsy" to whom he refers were aunts, both women being the sisters of Thomas.

Most interestingly, he inquires about "Molly," asks if "Cato" was behaving, is curious if "Agniss" was pregnant or having children, queries whether "Prince" still had the gout, and if "Hannibal" remained "peevish."These five individuals were the Hancock family slaves, (although Molly, a maid, was possibly white) who lived with the family in the Hancock mansion on Beacon Hill in Boston. Prince was also known as "Prince Holmes," and John would inherit them along with the rest of Thomas's estate in 1764. Hancock clearly considered the slaves a part of the family, even bringing them gifts when he returned from London. (Cato received a cap and French horn). Thomas also left his slaves small bequests in his will, and provided for the freedom of, at least, Cato, upon turning 30 years of age. Most of Thomas's slaves were freed by the terms of his will.

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