30 May 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mercy Otis Warren

Replies to her letter from 2 May (GLC02437.03539). Discusses a financial matter involving Winslow Warren (Warren's son), Mr. Hawkins, Knox's brother William, and Mr. Breck. Apologizes for not being able to fully comply with her request from 2 May due to William's limited power in that regard. Knox discusses the present state of government, and the divided nature of the states, in the context of the Constitutional Convention, which gathered at Philadelphia 25 May. Discusses "the present awful crisis- I arrange in my imagination two or three hundred millions of [our] posterity with their eyes…

GLC02437.03558

22 March 1782

United States. Continental Congress.

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Resolve of Congress respecting the promotion of Knox to major general]

Signed by Charles Thomson as Secretary of Congress. Congress resolved to promote Henry Knox from brigadier general to major general. States that the promotion was granted on the recommendation of George Washington's letter of 31 October 1781 for merit during the siege of Yorktown. The promotion was dated from 15 November 1781. Knox was the youngest major general in the Continental Army.

GLC02437.01371

17 November 1775

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Printed document signed

Title: [Henry Knox's Congressional appointment as colonel of artillery in the Continental Army]

Congress represents the "United Colonies." Hancock signs as President of Congress. Also signed by Charles Thomson, Secretary of Congress. Extremely fragile, and torn in several creases.

GLC02437.10435

30 October - 1 November 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Copy of a letter dated 1 November 1783 from Benjamin Lincoln to Robert Morris, along with a copy of a Congressional resolution dated 30 October 1783. The letter and the resolution concern Congress's decision that Henry Knox should be allowed the pay of a Major General in a separate department during his command at West Point. The original resolution was signed by Charles Thomson, miscopied here as "Thompson." Copies written in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide de camp.

GLC02437.02748

circa 30 October 1783

Osgood, Samuel, 1748-1813

Manuscript document

Title: [Instructions for paying Knox during his command at West Point]

Indicates "That Genl Knox be allowed the pay of a Major Genl in a Separate Department during his Command at West Pt. his additional pay Granted by the Resolution of the 12th of Jany 1781 to cease during the Time he Receives the aforegoing Allowance..." This is most likely the enclosure cited by Samuel Shaw in GLC02437.02726.

GLC02437.02893

22 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Memorandum related to Robert Morris and Jeremiah Wadsworth]

Describes a series of meeting in October - November 1786 involving Knox, Robert Morris, Jeremiah Wadsworth, Gouverneur Morris, and Samuel Osgood to develop Knox's proposal to loan money to Congress to clothe, feed, pay and house the troops. Congress had recently passed a resolve that each state should donate money into Congress' treasury, and that Congress could take out private loans against this incoming treasury money. Docket, in Knox's hand, reads: "Minutes respecting an attempt to obtain Mr R Morris & Mr J Wadsworth to enter into contracts for supporting the troops directed to be…

GLC02437.03314

19 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Writes of his recent visit to Philadelphia to discuss with Robert Morris a loan that Morris and Wadsworth were planning to make to Congress. Relates the terms he worked out with Morris on Wadsworth's behalf (see GLC02437.03330, in which Wadsworth gives Knox permission to work out the terms of the loan for him with Morris).

GLC02437.03340

29 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Writes to Colonel Wadsworth regarding a loan Wadsworth and Robert Morris are arranging with Congress. Declares that Mr. [possibly Rufus] King will have explained everything, hopefully to Wadsworth's satisfaction. Wadsworth will receive a letter from the Board of Treasury and the terms of the proposed contracts. Knox has already showed the information to Mr. Morris, and he will be getting a letter as well. If Morris agrees to the terms, "it will be absolutely necessary for you to repair to Philadelphia, in order to make your private arrangements with each other." Hopes he is able to make…

GLC02437.03354

3 December 1786

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he received Knox's letter along with the letter from the Board of Treasury. Has written them back, and also written to Mr. [Robert] Morris to tell him he will come to New York to complete the paperwork if Mr. Morris approves of the terms. Is not fully reconciled to the business because it is a lot of money, but will agree to work with Mr. Morris if he approves (referring to a loan and contracts he and Morris are negotiating with Congress).

GLC02437.03363

13 December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Has received Wadsworth's last letter, and so has the Board of Treasury. Hopes he will not delay coming; everything rests on him, as everything stops until he and Mr. [Robert] Morris sign the papers (they are preparing a loan to Congress). Writes, "For Gods sake do not delay a single moment longer than is indispensably necessary." Discusses the Shays insurgents and mentions that he does not believe they will recede. Will write via Mr. [Rufus] King if he hears any more news. Also mentions several people who have been recently elected from Maryland to the national Congress.

GLC02437.03376

January 28, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Informs he has persuaded the board of treasury to give orders on Mr. Imlay for $3000, which Knox encloses in another public letter of this same date. States that if Wadsworth could negotiate $1000 more, he will try to get the board to give that sum solely to be applied to the subsistence of the officers and the pay of the men of Colonel [David] Humphreys corps. The money being paid to Wadsworth was related to raising troops that were used to quell Shays' Rebellion. Writes that Congress will probably discuss the troops soon, "it is most likely they must be reduced however keep this entirely a…

GLC02437.03475

28 March 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his unhappiness over not yet receiving the warrants he needs to pay the balance for rations at Springfield, Massachusetts. These warrants were likely related to raising troops to quell Shays' Rebellion. Wadsworth writes, "the troops may perhaps disband for want of food." Mentions more instances of insurgency in the state, including an incident in which Sergeant Hill and eleven recruits were beaten by some men that "spoke favorably of Shays." They were sent to prison but all escaped except Sergeant Hill and two recruits. "Free" handwritten on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03504

31 March 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph document signed

Title: Receipts for warrants to the amount of 3000 dollars

Two (duplicate) notes of receipt of three warrants for $1000 each on William Imlay from Major General Henry Knox for Continental taxes for the state of Connecticut. Warrants numbered 115, 116, and 117. These warrants were related to raising troops that were used to quell Shays' Rebellion. Title from docket.

GLC02437.03505

1 April 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received Knox's letters enclosing warrants for $3000 (possibly GLC02437.03475) and encloses receipts (see GLC02437.03505). Mentions that the troops need clothing and that Colonel [David] Humphreys ordered some to be made. But if the troops are to be reduced, he will stop the clothing order. Fears that if the soldiers are discharged without pay, they may join the Shays' rebellion insurgents. Discusses other warrants and how the money would be allocated. Mentions that he wants to send Knox some salmon but that he has not been able to catch enough due to the weather. "Free" handwritten on…

GLC02437.03509

8 April 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Jeremiah] Wadsworth

Thanks Wadsworth for a salmon he sent. In reference to Wadsworth's request for clothing and shoes for the troops, tells him to acquire it and he will be paid out of the warrants he already received (see GLC02437.03509 for Wadsworth's letter). Reports that Colonel [David] Humphreys has arrived and can inform Wadsworth that Congress is considering the issue of the troops but nothing has been decided yet. Responds to Wadsworth's letter about the sale of damaged powder sold from West Point (see GLC02437.03512). States that Captain Price is in charge there. Knox trusts Price but he does not have…

GLC02437.03513

5 May 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Notice of payment sent to Jeremiah Wadsworth]

Knox's warrant to Wadsworth to pay $3000 to Captain Joseph Wilcox "paymaster to the quota of troops raised by the state of Connecticut agreeably to the resolve of Congress of the 20th of October 1786...being the amount of an order of the board of Treasury on William Imlay Esqr. receiver of continental taxes for the state of Connecticut..." The troops were raised to quell Shays's Rebellion. Noted as written at the War Office.

GLC02437.03543

23 December 1787

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Is happy to hear that Pennsylvania adopted the Constitution. Mentions the debates over the Constitution in Connecticut. Hopes to set out soon for New York "as soon as that business is over" and possibly attend Congress. Mentions that "Old Pluckemin" [a dog] has died. In a postscript, writes, "If Publius comes out in a pamphlet I would want to have a number" (likely a reference to the Federalist Papers). States that everything written about the constitution in New York is "forwarded under cover to our Wrong Heads - & every under hand manner taken to prevent our adopting it..." Recipient…

GLC02437.03736

17 April 1788

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Replies to Knox's letter from 12 April (GLC02437.03835). Discusses army pay warrants. Has "ransacked the County a couple of good cows." Promises to send a cow to Knox when one can be obtained. Speculates on the possible adoption of the Constitution by Virginia and New York: "I don't believe [George] Mason and old [William] Grayson will be very influential in Virginia- and hope the exertions of the Federalists will continue to be industrious in New York for as I came thro E & W Chester I found the Antis had been busy and too successful." Further relates his views on whether New…

GLC02437.03843

1 June 1788

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Connecticut politics, referring to a sheriff whose actions may slow the payment of warrants. Informs Knox he will send him a letter via Pierpont Edwards, who will soon take a seat in Congress. Notes receipt of a circular letter from the General Meeting of the Society of the Cincinnati soliciting payment for Pierre L'Enfant, who designed badges for the Society of the Cincinnati. Intends to pay L'Enfant for his services and encloses something to Platt (presumably) money for that purpose. Wants to finish paying by the 4th of July.

GLC02437.03882

3 June 1788

Wadsworth, Jeremiah, 1743-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I am told the Present Post riders from New York to this Place are asking Congress for additional pay." Complains that "they have performed badly- deprived us of the benefit of stages on the road." Asks Knox to help him persuade Congress to revive the use of stagecoaches in mail delivery between Connecticut and New York.

GLC02437.03887

9 November 1774

Waldo, Jonathon, fl. 1721-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Makes a lengthy, poetic comparison of the reception of Knox's last letter to a lost sailor finding land. Also gives a lengthy explanation for why he has not written sooner and apologizes for being remiss. Continues with a discussion of friendship, love, and beauty. Notes that they have received the resolutions from the First Continental Congress. Offers lofty praise of the virtuous and resolute Bostonians and the American movement for freedom, and denounces the Intolerable Acts and the "Tyranny of Kings." The First Continental Congress ended on 26 October 1774. It had voted to cut off…

GLC02437.00185

19 November 1774

Rivington, James, 1724-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Indicates that he is in desperate need of printing ink and wants Knox to procure it for him. Discusses pricing for Rivington's edition of Lord Chesterfield's Letters, asking Knox to find purchasers immediately because the resolutions for non-importation issued by the first Continental Congress will soon take effect. Mentions that a fire and legislative action have caused a delay in a lottery Knox had a ticket for. Rivington was a bookseller, printer, and journalist who came to America in 1760. He published Rivington's New-York Gazetteer.

GLC02437.00187

June 1, 1777

Macaulay, Catharine, 1731-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Catharine Macaulay

GLC01794.39

February 27, 1783

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General McDougall under the alias "Brutus" to Major General Knox, lamenting Congress's refusal to pay the army and fund pensions for the officers. Says the motion was declined by Congress "for fear the States would consider it a design in Congress to Establish a Force to awe the States. What conduct will be taken towards the Army on a pace is now very uncertain." Says Congress is fearful that the army might take justice into its own hands. Reports "I should not be surprised if an attempt is soon made to split the Army into detachments to prevent their being formidable." Believes…

GLC02437.01959

1861-1877

Rogers, J. fl. 1860

Engraving

Title: The First Congress

One engraving entitled "The First Congress" circa 1861-1877. Portraits of Patrick Henry, Peyton Randolph, Charles Thomas, Reverend Jacob Duche, and Richard Henry Lee. Engraved by J. Rogers.

GLC08878.0119