Collection Summary
Francis Baylies Papers
1814-1843
1814-1843
MSS12096
Baylies, Francis, 1783-1852
150 items
5 containers
2.0 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Scholar, diplomat, politician, and
historian. Primarily writings by Baylies relating to the American Revolution, the
Confederation and the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, and the administrations of
George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Adams, John, 1735-1826.
Baylies, Francis, 1783-1852.
Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804--Correspondence.
Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804.
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
Washington, George, 1732-1799.
Organizations
Lexington (Sloop)
Massachusetts. General Court. House of Representatives.
United States. Constitution.
Subjects
Auroras.
Fisheries--Falkland Islands.
Places
Falkland Islands--History.
Massachusetts--History--New Plymouth, 1620-1691.
Massachusetts--Politics and government.
United States--History--Confederation, 1783-1789.
United States--History--Constitutional period, 1789-1809.
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.
United States--Politics and government--1775-1783.
United States--Politics and government--1783-1789.
United States--Politics and government--1789-1809.
Occupations
Diplomats.
Historians.
Politicians.
Scholars.
Acquisition Information
The papers of Francis Baylies, scholar, diplomat, politician, and historian, were
acquired by the Library of Congress in the nineteenth century. An additional item was
given by David C. Mearns in 1961.
Processing History
The papers of Francis Baylies were processed prior to 1950. The finding aid was revised
by Melinda K. Friend in 2010. The finding aid was updated in 2023 by Maria Farmer as
part of a division-wide remediation project by the Inclusive Description Working Group.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Francis Baylies is governed by
the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Francis Baylies are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact
the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and
advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, Francis Baylies Papers, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress,
Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1783, Oct. 16
Born, Taunton, Mass.
1810
Admitted to the bar and commenced law practice
1812
1820
Served as register of probate, Bristol County, Mass.
1821
Elected as Federalist, Seventeenth Congress
1822
Married Elizabeth Moulton Deming (died 1868)
1823
Elected as Jackson Federalist, Eighteenth Congress
1825
Elected as a Jacksonian, Nineteenth Congress
1827
1832
Served as member of the Massachusetts house of representatives
1830
Published
An Historical Memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth. . .
Boston: Hilliard, Gray, Little, and Wilkins
1832
Served as U.S. Chargé d'Affaires to Argentina
1835
Elected to Massachusetts house of representatives
1852, Oct. 28
Died, Taunton, Mass.
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Francis Baylies (1783-1852) span the years 1814-1843. The papers contain
Baylies's writings relating to the American Revolution, the Confederation and
Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, and the administrations of George Washington, John
Adams, and Thomas Jefferson. Other documents include transcripts of Alexander Hamilton
letters, drafts of letters by Baylies, copies of diplomatic and naval correspondence on
the voyage of the Lexington (sloop) and the Falkland
Islands fisheries dispute, quotations from Baylies's book on the New Plymouth Colony,
manuscript copies of documents relating to the business of the Massachusetts house of
representatives, and a speech on the aurora borealis.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged by type of material.
Container List
Container
Contents
1
Copies of correspondence between George W. Slacum
and the secretary of state, 1831-1832
1831-1832
1
Correspondence, 1827-1831, 1840
1827-1831, 1840
1
Manuscript quotations from
An Historical Memoir of the Colony of New Plymouth. . .
, circa 1843
circa 1843
1
Writings
1
Unpublished manuscripts
1
"History of the American Revolution,
1775-1784"
1
1775-1777
1775-1777
(3 folders)
2
1777-1785
1777-1785
(5 folders)
3
On Confederation and Constitution,
undated
undated
(2 folders)
3
"History of the Adminstration of George
Washington," undated
undated
4
"The Civil, Military, Legislative, Diplomatic
& Miscellaneous History of the Administration of Thomas Jefferson,"
undated
undated
4
"The Civil, Military, Legislative, Diplomatic
& Miscellaneous History of the Administration of John Adams,"
undated
undated
4
On Alexander Hamilton, undated
undated
5
Miscellaneous, circa 1814-circa
1831
circa 1814-circa
1831
(2 folders)
5
Essays, undated
undated
5
Miscellaneous notes and notebooks,
undated
undated
(2 folders)
5
Notes on
5
Adams, John, undated
undated
5
Bristol Academy, Taunton, Mass.,
undated
undated
5
Cobb, David, undated
undated
5
Formation of the nations of Western Europe,
undated
undated
5
Hartford Convention of 1814-1815,
undated
undated
5
Northwest Territory, undated
undated
5
Population, undated
undated
5
Plays, undated
undated
(2 folders)
5
Speech by Baylies, "Some Remarks on the Phenomina
of the Aurora Borealis," undated
undated