2 January 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Wishes Duer a happy new year and relays information he heard from Major [Winthrop] Sargent. Sargent reports that the bearer, from the Ohio area,indicates trouble with a military provisions agreement. Knox informs Duer to take immediate measures to "remedy any evils" that may have occured. Knox's working draft. Noted as private. Docket is written in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.04459

4 January 1790

Williams, J., fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Shaw

Forwards a letter (not included) to Shaw regarding information from India. Wishes the information was more agreeable but hopes it is still useful. Asks Shaw to inform his family in Boston, Massachusetts that he has safely arrived and "enjoying the height of domestic felicity with my Wife & Child both of whom I found in good health."

GLC02437.04462

4 January 1790

Williams, J., fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions moving his family to settle in America and discusses the revolution in France. Encloses (not included) letters to [Samuel] Shaw that he has left open for Knox to also read. Writes about the French Revolution, it "supports itself to admiration. What a few years since would have been called the enthusiastic Fables of political madmen is now supported by stubborn Fact. France is perhaps the nearest to a democracy of any Government in the Universe, preserving only a monarch at the head of it pro forma, with no more to do with this composition than the diamond Button has with his…

GLC02437.04463

January 29, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

A short note informing Duer that he has received the note for the $2,000. Docketed in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.04486

20 February 1790

Donnison, William, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the "arrangement that might take place in the Militia, under the Federal Government -" Asks for Knox's help in being continued as the head of the Orderly department of Massachusetts saying "I am at a loss to determine by whom it is intended that the Adjutant Generals for the respective States shall be appointed; whether by the president of the United States; by the Great Adjutant General; or by the individual States according to their own Lawes [sic]- " Also asks Knox to "mention my name for that appointment-" Encloses a copy of the General Return of the Militia of Massachusetts…

GLC02437.04514

30 March 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he has endorsed a note for $990. Also reminds Duer that he has two other notes for about the same amount, and asks that Duer return them to Knox soon.

GLC02437.04566

5 May 1790

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Describes an incident that took place between England and Spain and the possibility of the two countries going to war. Says yesterday this country was "surprised by a hot press, which like an explosion swept between 3 & 4000 seamen, and to day we find the course in a Message sent by the King to the House of commons." Evidently, two Spanish ships of war seized two British ships that were trading off the northern coast of America. All of the men who were aboard were sent to a Spanish port as prisoners. The justification of the seizure was that Spain had the "exclusive rights of soverignty […

GLC02437.04594

13 May 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

In reference to an earlier request (see GLC02437.04603), Knox lends Duer money to pay for his accommodation.

GLC02437.04605

19 August 1790

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Major Doughty acknowledges Knox's letter of 25 July. Doughty was worried about his parents who had word that he had died in a skirmish on the frontier (see GLC02437.04606 and GLC02437.04628 for Knox's correspondence with Doughty's family). Thanks Knox for writing to his family and for sending him a letter from Doughty's parents and sister, which eased his mind. Mentions that Judge Turner left him two eagles from "the property of the Society [of Cincinnati]" to sell. Says that General Josiah Harmer wants Doughty to encourage re-enlistment of older soldiers. Doughty says "not one soldier…

GLC02437.04695

27 October 1790

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Manuscript letter

Title: to the Executors of Dr. Benjamin Franklin's Will

In this contemporary copy of a letter from Franklin's grandnephew Williams to executors of Benjamin Franklin's will, Williams is trying to obtain books from Franklin's library as part of his inheritance: "Being still without your answer to my repeated applications for the legacy left me by the late Doctor Benjamin Franklin, consisting of that part of his library particularized in his catalogue under the head of medicine, surgery, &c... I am instructed to give you notice of my intended appeal to the Laws, that you may possess yourselves of the catalogue and the books I claim before it is…

GLC02437.04758

25 December 1790

Viar, José Ignacio de, fl. 1785-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wishes Secretary of War Knox "the Compliments of the season" and regrets that his poor health prevented him from seeing Knox. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.04807

30 December 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Doughty

Knox acknowledges receipt of Major Doughty's letter informing him of Doughty's passage to New Jersey. States he is chagrined that Doughty will not arrive in Philadelphia sooner as he needs information on "the late expedition," likely connected to Doughty's negotiations with Indian tribes. Asks him to hasten his arrival so they may, "form a more accurate judgement of the measures necessary to be adopted." Marked private on docket.

GLC02437.04812

8 March 1791

Doughty, John, 1754-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Declines Knox's request to serve as Lieutenant Colonel Commander. Says after much deliberation, he has decided to leave the service. He wanted to when he served with General Josiah Harmar but the difficult situation with the Indians "forbid my retireing at that Time." Explains in detail his reasons for leaving the military stating, "I have long tried the military Life & have found many Disapointments..." Questions the nature of the military establishment. "A military establishment is certainly a very unpopular measure in this Country," Doughty explains. "Every Act of the Government…

GLC02437.04875

27 March 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Doughty

Express his embarrassment over Doughty refusing the appointment as lieutenant colonel of the 2nd Infantry Regiment Secretary. Writes, "Your declining the appointment of Lt Colonel Commandant has mortified me extremely." Hopes Doughty will not regret his decision. See GLC02437.04875 and .4892 for related documents.

GLC02437.04891

5 November 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Statement of meeting proceedings]

Statement relating to a meeting held between Henry Knox, William Duer, William Constable, and Royal Flint, in July 1791. Declares that Knox testified to Samuel Ogden's relinquishment of his claims on certain townships in Maine. Outlines a discussion between the attendees about compensating Ogden for the lands.

GLC02437.05226

30 November 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he has looked over the some of the papers regarding their land business and continues with related business.

GLC02437.05717

December 11, 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Duer

Discusses his reasons for terminating his financial agreement with William Green and mentions other avenues he is considering. Notes he has made overtures to [Théophile] Cazenove, andt after receiving Duer's "pressing letters" decided it best to try to push forward an agreement with [William] Bingham. Assures him he will do everything in his power to finalize a sale most advantageous to Duer. Notes Cazenove has offered to purchase one million [acres?] of the Kennebec and continues to discuss in detail the status of various other deals he is trying to negotiate on Duer's behalf.

GLC02437.05732

12 December 1792

Le Roy, Herman, 1758-1841

Manuscript letter

Title: to William Duer

Copy of a letter from Herman Le Roy to William Duer; written in Henry Knox's hand. Informs Duer that Knox called on "Mr C" [Théophile Cazenove] and himself to discuss the eastern lands. Says Knox made it clear to them that he would be willing to divide the land as necessary in order to accommodate them in a purchase, however, both he and Casenove had previously decided "not to have anything to do" with the eastern lands until Mr. Morris returns and they receive news from Europe.

GLC02437.05733

13 December 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer he called on Herman Le Roy and [Théophile] Cazenove the day before to discuss the eastern lands, especially the sale of Duer's portion. Notes he tried pushing forth a sale of Duer's portion of land in "every way and manner possible" but was informed that they would not be interested in a purchase until Mr. Morris's return and possibly not even then. Expresses his surprise over this news as he was under the impression from Duer that the gentlemen would be willing to negotiate. The men stated that regardless of Duer's impression they were not ready to move forward with the deal…

GLC02437.05734

18 December 1792

Leval, Rosalie Josephe Bacler de, ?-1811

Manuscript letter

Title: to [Heny Knox] [in French]

A duplicate of GLC02437.05741. GLC02437.05741 is a translation. Discusses land deals involving herself, Knox, [Jean-Baptiste] de la Roche, and [William] Duer. States that Mr. de la Roche has gone to the eastern lands to hopefully provide stability. Says [Henry] Jackson has assured her that he (Knox) will keep to the conditions of the contracts. Notes they (she and Roche) have titles for about half their land but they cannot move forward until they receive the 306,000 acres from Knox and Duer stated in the last contract. Expresses her frustration with Duer, who she claims last minute…

GLC02437.05742

6 July 1793

Deblois, George, fl. 1793

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that Knox's agent, Nathan Dane, called on him yesterday to inspect the power of attorney Mr. and Mrs. [John] Wall gave to Mr. Winslow. Dane believes that Winslow can not use the power of attorney to sign over Wall's interest in the patent. Deblois reports he is the only one who can now complete the deal, and he is being prevented from doing so by a "special order." Wrote to Mr. Wall on 18 May to see if the deal could be completed, which he believes Wall will approve. Will write when he has further information.

GLC02437.05904

8 February 1796

Doughty, William, fl. 1796-1837

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for a job to help build ships.

GLC02437.06617

6 May 1797

Denning, William, fl. 1789-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Gives a character recommendation for a former worker.

GLC02437.06963

February 25, 1798

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ezekiel G. Dodge

Discusses the sale of land for $50 an acre.

GLC02437.07090

12 March 1798

Dodge, Ezekiel G., fl. 1795-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions a meeting with several other men that do business with Knox and discusses the sale of land. Fourth page is separate and may or may not be a continuation of the previous pages.

GLC02437.07103