5 October 1864

Hills, T. Morton, fl. 1864

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certificate of corpse]

"Certificate of corpse" that accompanied [Samuel Watson] Van Nuys's body from Virginia to Indiana.

GLC07687.173

November 1839

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimonies regarding the capture of the Amistad]

Possibly given at Connecticut District Court in November 1839. Marked "U.S." at the top. Begins with the testimony of Lieutenant Richard W. Meade, who led an armed party that initially boarded the Amistad, requesting the ship's papers. Includes the testimony of Baldwin, Dart Sharp (on board the USS Washington when it came in contact with the Amistad), and Captain Mather (who "went with Mead made soundings & c.").

GLC05636.11

January 1840

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimonies regarding the capture of the Amistad; includes Cinque's testimony]

Created at Connecticut District Court in 7-9 January 1840 by or for William S. Holabird. Serves as notes of the testimony of Richard Robert Madden (head of the British Anti-Slavery [Mixed] Commission in Havana), Sullivan Haley (on board the USS Washington when it met the Amistad; discusses the statements of Jose Ruiz and Pedro Montes, two Spanish men found aboard the Amistad) , Dwight P. Janes (abolitionist), James Covey (a Mende native and translator for the Africans aboard the Amistad), Professor Josiah Gibbs (who claimed based on the Amistad Africans' language, they were recently arrived…

GLC05636.13

9 January 1840

Manuscript document

Title: [Testimonies regarding the capture of the Amistad; includes Cinque's testimony]

Marked "&c Cinqué" at top. Appears to be a continuation of GLC 5636.13. Testimony of Cinqué, leader of the Africans aboard the Amistad, continues. Contains the testimonies of Grabbo and Foolaqua, Amistad mutineers. Includes the testimony of Norris Wilcox (United States Marshal for the District of Connecticut), Captain Mather (on board the USS Washington when it came in contact with the Amistad), Professor Josiah Gibbs (who claimed based on the Amistad Africans' language, they were recently arrived from Africa and had not resided in Cuba), Reverend George Day (employed to supervise the…

GLC05636.14

2 July 1834

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Document signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Partially printed. Holabird's appointment as Attorney of the United States for the District of Connecticut. John Forsyth, Secretary of State, appoints William S. Holabird as Secretary of State for the District of Connecticut. A handwritten note by Forsyth states: "I will thank you at the time of acknowledging the receipt of your Commission to name the place of your birth."

GLC05636.16

23 September 1839

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Forsyth states: "It is necessary to a just decision on the various points presenting themselves for the President's consideration in the case of the Spanish Schooner 'Amistad,' that the Department should be furnished, with a copy of the ships' papers, together with a transcript of the proceedings of the Court of Inquiry held by the District Judge, on board that vessel, to which you refer in your letter of the 5th instant, and on which the Blacks were imprisoned for the alleged murder of the Captain and Mate..."

GLC05636.17

6 January 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Forsyth discusses the Amistad case, revealing the administration's assumptions regarding the verdict of the trial. States that the Spanish minister had applied to the State Department for the "use of a vessel of the United States in the event of the decision of the Circuit Court in the case of the Amistad being favorable to his former application, to convey the negroes to Cuba, for the purpose of being delivered over to the authorities of that Island." States that President Van Buren has agreed, and "ordered a vessel to be in readiness to receive the negroes from the Custody of the Marshal…

GLC05636.18

17 January 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Fearing that his letter of 12 January had not reached Holabird, Forsyth reiterates President Van Buren's instructions regarding the Amistad. Writes "... I have to acquaint you with the desire of the President that you take the necessary measures to carry the case by appeal to the Circuit Court, both on that branch of the decision which relates to the negroes, and that which grants salvage on the vessel and the goods found on board. That part which concerns the slave Antonio is not to be disturbed, and instructions will be forwarded to you designating the parties to whom he is to be…

GLC05636.19

8 February 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Writes regarding arrangements made by the Spanish Government for Antonio, the slave cabin-boy on board the Amistad, to testify at an upcoming trial in New Haven, Connecticut. Discusses the Minister's obtainment of Jose Ruiz's and Pedro Montes's proprietary title in the other Africans aboard the ship (the titles are to be procured from Cuba). Reports that he informed the Spanish Minister of Holabird's suggestion regarding obtainment of the Spanish laws and edicts prohibiting the importation of African slaves in Cuba. Relates that a Spanish Consul in Boston, Antonio G. Vega, and the Spanish…

GLC05636.20

25 March 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Encloses a letter from the Spanish minister at Washington, D.C., a translation of the letter, and the printed copy of a treaty (not included) from 1835 between Great Britain and Spain intended to enforce restriction of the slave trade. Intends for Holabird to use the documents at the upcoming Circuit Court Amistad trial. Instructs Holabird to return the treaty to the State Department on the request of the Spanish minister.

GLC05636.21

30 April 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Relates that the Africans' defense team requested President Martin Van Buren to instruct Holabird to present copies of the 1817 Decree of the King of Spain, the 1838 ordinance of the Queen of Spain, and the 1817 Treaty between Spain and Great Britain in the Circuit Court hearing of the Amistad case. These documents, which had previously been used when the Amistad trial was held at the District Court level, pertain to the slave trade in Spanish territories. Van Buren does not question the authenticity of the documents, but does not feel he has the right "to interpose in the manner desired of…

GLC05636.22

8 September 1840

Forsyth, John, 1780-1841

Letter signed

Title: to William S. Holabird

Transmits the deposition (not included) of Henry Thompson given to H. Griffiths, Esquire, United States Commercial Agent on the Island of Mauritius. Thompson had been a crew member of the Bark Pembroke, from which he was illegally discharged.

GLC05636.23

21 August 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy. Responds to Adams' (see GLC02437.00416) and discusses the urgent need to obtain copper from mines in New Jersey in order to cast canons. Joins Adams in lamenting the lack of officers from Massachusetts in the Continental Army, but also considers there to be a dearth of qualified candidates. Discusses recruiting and training good officers' rely not only on gentlemen but also on "local" talent. Suggests Colonel John Glover for possible promotion. Discusses raising an army and re-enlistment at length. Warns Adams that a bounty of $25-$36 or 100-150 acres of land is necessary to…

GLC02437.00423

25 August 1776

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to Knox's letter (see GLC02437.00423). Discusses the difficulty of obtaining copper in order to cast canons. Also discusses importance of officers to an army and the issue of appointing more officers from Massachusetts. Asks Knox for a list of the best prospects and comments on their characters. Explains his advocacy of a permanent regular army but also his doubts about one being created. Writes, "I am a constant Advocate for a regular Army, and the most masterly Discipline, because, I know that without these We cannot reasonably hope to be a powerfull, a prosperous, or a free…

GLC02437.00424

25 August 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to his brother's news about British ships sailing up the Hudson river, reinforcements arriving for the Continental Army, and Henry's optimistic outlook on the impending battle. Relays news from the West Indies that the Dutch have refused to renew a treaty with Britain to not sell military supplies to Americans and to supply the British with Scotch regiments. Hostilities between the two are beginning. Describes naval skirmishes. Mentions that he has not received any letters from Lucy Knox. Comments on the poor treatment of Tories exiled from Boston to the country. Indicates that…

GLC02437.00425

25 August 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses why he did not introduce two of Lucy's acquaintances, Mr. Livingston and Mr. King, to the ladies Lucy mentioned. Indicates that any enemy ship in the bay is seizing every ship that comes near.

GLC02437.00426

26 August 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: to William Knox

Directs his brother to pay Captain William Perkins thirty dollars. A note on the same page, signed by Perkins, instructs that the payment be made to Naby Perkins.

GLC02437.00427

27 August 1776

Greene, Caleb, 1751-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

A former customer of Henry Knox reestablishes a relationship in order to have some bookbinding completed that was ordered before the start of the war. Greene was a bookseller and apothecary in Bedford, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.00428

28 August 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Describes in detail the beginning of the Battle of Long Island (also known as the Battle of Brooklyn) on 27 August 1776. Looks forward to the future when they can be together again.

GLC02437.00429

29 August 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Gives a detailed account of a town meeting in Boston's Old Brick Meeting House about smallpox, and a debate over the propriety of multiple office holding especially when it links civil and military authorities. [James] Otis and Major [Paul] Revere argued on opposing sides. Mentions that they read a letter addressed to Henry Jackson in order to hear the news. Discusses getting the buttons and cloth that Knox ordered.

GLC02437.00430

1 September 1776

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Applauds the detection of a German traitor named Ledwitz, who had been appointed a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. Discusses various orders for payment Henry made. Discusses the last two letters he received from Lucy Knox. Has heard that Halifax was burned down by 500 Indians led by Frank Shaw. Discusses need for guns for privateers in Boston and for Continental frigates. Discusses the comparative advantages of large versus small ships, because Henry Jackson is going to arrange for a vessel that Henry "shall be concern'd in." Notes that new regiments have been raised but are…

GLC02437.00431

2 September 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

A brief and hurried letter to let Lucy know that he is well and in good spirits. Displays optimism about the war, although at the time the American forces were being driven from New York City by the British.

GLC02437.00432

11 August 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph note signed

Title: to William Knox

Directs his brother to pay Robert Cook twenty dollars. A note signed with the mark of [Anne Cook] (spelled "Cooke"), on verso, dated 2 September 1776, directs that the payment be made to Isaiah Doane.

GLC02437.00433

2 September 1776

Parry, Edward, fl. 1776

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Discusses plans to purchase books and other business. Mentions that the Army was in 3 divisions and describes the location of each division.

GLC02437.00434

2 September 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses the retreat from Long Island, after the Battle of Long Island, and plans to defend Manhattan.

GLC02437.00435