17 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 10 July. Is happy to hear Lucy is doing well after the birth of their tenth child. Hopes God will take particular care of the little girl. Has made discreet inquiries about the powers of attorney necessary to transfer fifty bank shares, and describes the procedures for doing so. Reports that he asked Mr. Jarvis about the purchase of some land to satisfy "the ten proprietors." Says it is not best to "hurry the business, and therefore did not call the Committee together." Claims Jarvis understood his object and informed him that the committee would only sell…

GLC02437.05067

17 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 10 July. Is happy that Knox approves of his negotiations. Is at a loss "where would be the best location." Will know more when Mr. Bruce returns from Penobscot. Wrote to Knox last Sunday about the purchase of the town of Trenton in the District of Maine with half of Mount Desert and a number of other islands in the bay. Believes it will be about 60-70,000 acres at less than ten cents an acre. Says it is advantageously connected with the Lottery Townships and "opens a wide door (bounding on the Sea) to our purchase." Tells him to move quickly on this purchase…

GLC02437.05068

22 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Notes he received this day from Captain Chessman a tin case containing the maps of the District of Maine. Hopes Knox receives them safely. Says he will see the advantage of purchasing Mount Desert by looking at the maps. Saw in the newspaper that Postmaster General Samuel Osgood resigned. Puts forward David Cobb's name for the position, claiming "he expects it." Says Cobb's situation is disagreeable with a family of 11 children and no employment. Begs "save him - for godsake save him - he is one of the best men on Earth." Timothy Pickering was appointed the next Postmaster on 12 August…

GLC02437.05080

24 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Is disappointed that he has not heard from Royal Flint on the purchase of Mount Desert in Maine. Having authority to negotiate, he will make advances to Mr. Greigore tomorrow. Will receive the maps by Captain Chessman, who is on the Brig "Ceres" on its way to Philadelphia and that he will observe the situation of their tract from them. Notes much depends on the information being sent by Phineas Bruce.

GLC02437.05082

25 June 1791

Price, Ezekiel, 1727-1802

Printed document signed

Title: [Partially printed law document involving the estate of Samuel Waldo]

Marked "Copy." Signed three times by the attorney Ezekiel Price. Witnessed by Samuel Niles. States the amount recovered from the estate of Samuel Waldo in the Court of Common Pleas in Suffolk County was 4,125 pounds, 1 shilling, and 4 pence. That amount is supposed to go to Sarah Waldo of Boston "as she is Administratrix of the Goods & Estate of Samuel Waldo late of Falmouth." Contains wax seal on recto, covered by a square of paper.

GLC02437.05083

27 July 1791

Bruce, Phineas, 1762-1809

Manuscript document signed

Title: A short description of the lands between the rivers Penobscott and Schoodie in the District of Maine

Appears to be a copy of the description of lands in Maine sent to Henry Jackson and Royal Flint. There is also a secretarial signature of Bruce on page four. Claims it is less mountainous than most of Massachusetts. Describes fine fresh meadows and a number of small lakes, rivers, ponds, and swamps. As you get further from coast the rivers and swamps get larger in number and size. This disqualifies the land for settlement, especially since the land is barren and only producing pitch pine hemlock and shrubs. Reports that a one million acre purchase will encompass all that is valuable.…

GLC02437.05087

27 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reports that Mrs. Flucker arrived in New York from Antigua this afternoon with her 2 children, Thomas and Muriel. Says she is with him at Mrs. Lorings. Writes, "You will be charmed with and proud of her." She will set off from Elizabethtown either Friday or Saturday morning. They shall lodge with Colonel [Samuel] Ogden.

GLC02437.05089

28 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses Phineas Bruce's report on the Maine lands around the Penobscot and Schoodie as well as the Kennebec Rivers (GLC02437.05087). After reading the report, Jackson says "I am decided to take one million in each situation." Has concluded the Mount Desert deal. The terms are: six pence per acre with four equal installments. One quarter of the full payment is due at the executing and delivery of the deeds, with the other quarters due 8, 16, and 24 months later. Bonds will be given for the last three payments. Says "this is a good bargain & will add much to the value &…

GLC02437.05090

1 August 1791

Tatham, William, 1752-1819

Printed document

Title: [A prospectus for "A Topographical analysis of the United States of America"]

Enclosed with a broadside with GLC02437.05093.01. Advertises the work to be published by Tatham. Says the analysis covers each state and "shewing the extent and relative Situation of the several Counties." It will be continued annually. Says three copies are to be published in French, German, and English. Note written by Tatham says "A Copy hereof fild in the Office of the Federal Court as the Law Directs."

GLC02437.05093.02

31 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's joint letter with William Duer of 26 July. Is happy he was able to anticipate their desires by concluding the deal on Thursday (this was for the purchase of half of Mount Desert and various islands off the coast of Maine). Goes on to describe the terms of the purchase. Says he is giving Mr. Gregorie, the seller, $100 to attend to the surveys to ensure that each settler has the exact quantity of land they are entitled to. Is also going to appoint a surveyor to attend to the entire purchase for Knox and Duer. When Jackson made this latest purchase for Knox, he had to use a…

GLC02437.05094

31 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Anticipates seeing Knox by the middle of August. Observed that Major Jackson was appointed Postmaster General (although this was wrong, Timothy Pickering was appointed on 12 August 1791). Says the news will "disappoint & mortify" their friend David Cobb. Asks him to keep him in mind for the "marshalcy." Refers to his claim to the job as his "hobby horse."

GLC02437.05095

7 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Agreeable to his promise of 31 July, he is enclosing a copy of the agreement with Mr. Gregoire (not included). Notes he will move forward with the surveys. States he drew upon Duer for $200 payable at 20 days sight to pay the sums mentioned his letter of 31 July. Says "this purchase is an important one to the Concern." References receiving the joint letter of Knox and Duer of 29 July. Following directions from that letter he has "notified these gentlemen of the committee who reside in this town of our intention of locating one million between the Penobscot & Schoodie & one…

GLC02437.05106

7 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 29 July. Besides the 100,000 acres mentioned as his payment earlier, Jackson wants another 100,000 acres more "as a subordinate purchaser, but I will leave it with you to determine exactly as is most agreeable to your views and I shall be satisfied." Notes their friends Ben and Cobb need to be remembered. Reports that they are "the only persons that has any Claim on me." Mentions that if he does not get the position of marshall he will have nothing to do. Would like to have this job or a position in Europe to promote their land sales. Says he would do that for…

GLC02437.05107

9 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References receiving Knox's letter of 3 August. Says "the five townships next the patent shall be attend'd to." Thinks the committee will meet on 15 August to receive the $5,000. Will then bring up the purchase of the other million acres then. Just received a letter from Royal Flint dated 4 August, which stated a person was to leave New York for Boston with the money. Believes this to be a good way to promote the other purchase. Notes he has not executed the deed because he cannot find the proper person to witness it. He was to send Knox the transfers, but he could not get 40 blank…

GLC02437.05113

11 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses the deeds for the two million acre land purchase executed by Flint and himself. Has also forwarded Knox his own transfers for the twenty shares (not included). Will forward Peirce's 20 shares when he is back in town. Says the shares are selling at $180 now. Notes he has received the $5,000 from William Duer to make the first payment to the committee. The deeds are likely GLC02437.05043 and .10230.

GLC02437.05114

12 August 1791

Bird, Henry Merttins, 1755-1818

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox [incomplete]

Marked "Extract." This is a partial copy of the GLC02437.05117.

GLC02437.05119

14 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 8 August. Says the Eastern committee will be together tomorrow or the next day. Notes he will attend to the other million acres and a conditional agreement respecting the four townships. Reports "the Winslows will never sell on such terms as you can afford to purchase, or can make any advantage from them, for they hold these lands in the highest estemation." Will keep in view the possible sale of lands on the sea coast of Passanquady. Furnished Joseph Peirce with blank transfer forms. States he has received some items from his sister Mrs. Flucker [Knox's…

GLC02437.05120

18 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Reports that as "we have located only one million acres of land between the Schoodie & Penobscot, I think it most for the interest of the concern'd to make a further purchase (provided we can command the funds) of the other million acres to join the million located between the Schoodie & Penobscot." This is laid out in an agreement the committee made with Royal Flint and himself on 1 July. Even though this tract is inferior in quality, he is content to purchase it on the same terms as the other 2 million as long as he has 40 days to consider it and get the approval of his associates…

GLC02437.05124

18 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that the bank scripts have been forwarded. Believes he took advantage of the high prices they were bringing and sold them. Says he "made prospects this day for the purchase of the other million, but I think they will not sell, or will ask much higher than ten Cents." Wants to know the highest price he'll go. Tells him General David Cobb will not accept the "marshallcy" because "it would not give him salt for his family." Says that the office offered to General David Brooks is not lucrative enough to support a family.

GLC02437.05125

21 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letters of 12 and 15 August. Comments he will be mortified if "our transfers did not arrive in season to avail yourself of the highest going price." Notes he could have sold them to be delivered in a few days, which was the usual practice. States he will be anxious until he hears from Knox as script is now 150-160. Says the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands met last Thursday. Only 3 were present: Philips, Jarvis, and Read. He proposed to purchase the townships at the head of the patent, but they declined. They put off a decision until the entire committee will…

GLC02437.05130

21 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Last Thursday he gave the enclosed proposals (not included) to the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands. Received a verbal answer on Friday "that it was an object of such magnitude they had concluded to consult and advise with their absent brethren as only three of the Committee were present." The committee told him they would not sell any land without giving Jackson previous notice. He previously asked for more time in the negotiations "to cover the application for you, as I wish'd they should think it originated with me." States he has discovered someone else applied for half a million…

GLC02437.05131

28 August 1791

Williams, Jonathan, 1750-1815

Manuscript document

Title: [Extract of a letter from Mr. Priestly to Mrs. Lapsly]

Creator from docket, which is in Knox's hand. Williams sent an extract of a letter from Mr. Priestly of Beardstown, Kentucky to Mrs. Lapsly who was residing at the warm springs in Bath County, Virginia. The extract says "The men are returned from the Expedition under the Command of Genl Wilkinson all safe but two who were killed. They killed seven Indians took thirty prisoners and destroyed two Towns and the Crops at them. they brought in one white white [sic] child but her mother who was at the Same Town they could not find." The extract was dated 28 August, while the docket is dated 16…

GLC02437.05135

28 August 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 22 August. Asks if he has any influence to exert it for John Coffin Jones to become the Director of the Bank. Jones owns 80 shares and Jackson says "few are better qualified for that important trust - he is now at Newport with an intention of handing his little girl up to the Alter before his return." Notes Captain John Hills must be with him by now. Reports that Hills "conducted very improperly while here, as he was d[runk] very frequently & exposed himself too much." Says Knox needs to talk to him as no one in Boston will trust him "if guilty of that…

GLC02437.05136

1 September 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 26 August. Reports that the committee "Jointly and Severally are averse to selling any more land in large quantities; and as I wrote you we must be prepared to make our application to the Legislature at their next Session." Announces that "the Committee are a parsel of Old Women, and very unfit for their situation - and I am satisfied if we had to make our purchase over again we should never be able to effect it on or near the terms we have obtained." Makes reference to arrangements to secure their previous purchase, including Leonard Jarvis traveling to…

GLC02437.05137

5 September 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Phineas Bruce

Marked "Copy." Asks Bruce to procure information on the soil, timber, and waters within the two purchases in Maine made for William Duer and Knox, each of which contains a million acres. Says expenses and "a consideration for your Service" will be paid. Tells him to report on each purchase separately. Would like to know as much as possible in 3-4 weeks when the land sales committee of the Massachusetts legislature will meet again. Docket in Henry Knox's hand. Bruce was in Machias in the District of Maine.

GLC02437.05144