3 January 1789

Sayre, Stephen, 1736-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards him a letter for Genl. W. [General George Washington] regarding the American Navy. Believes that if Knox is named in charge of the military by Congress, as will likely be the case, Knox will have influence with Congress and might encourage them to adopt his proposal. Asks Knox to act on his behalf if the Court requests his presence in America. Adds that he believes the Court "will show a very different temper, as to America, if the Prince of Wales takes the Regency."

GLC02437.04067

13 October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to Winthrop Sargent

Later copy. References Sargent's letter of 28 September. Believes Congress will meet in Philadelphia as the yellow fever appears to have dissipated. Believes a symbolic gesture that things are back to normal is necessary "or all the American commerce will be injured in foreign countries." Encloses a letter from Fort Washington in Ohio (not included). Says the army marched from the Ohio River on 7 October with 3,000 volunteers and is expecting more. Written from Falls of Schuylkill, Pennsylvania, present day Philadelphia.

GLC02437.05944

16 December 1793

Sayre, Stephen, 1736-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Claims to have communicated sensitive information to Knox and that he should let President Washington know (specifics not provided). Tells Knox of a master shipbuilder in this city (likely Philadelphia), and that Congress and the president need to know this if they plan to build ships to protect the nation after the outbreak of war in Europe. Recommends "graduate improvements" in a previous communication and assumes Knox is in agreement with him. Notes he knows that a multitude of people will oppose his scheme, but claims this is reason enough for Knox to support him early.

GLC02437.05997

22 August 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Seward

Written by Brigadier General Knox to Captain Seward. Orders Seward to proceed to New Windsor and to bring all the garrison carriages for 18 pounders. Says if there are not 10 there, he is to take some of the French 18 pounder carriages that Colonel Crane had placed on a ship lying off New Windsor. Also wants 3 carriages for English 24 pounders. Needs them to be at Verplanck's Point by tomorrow. Says General McDougall will assist him in this mission with men and boats. Captain Mitchell will also help him. Expresses confidence in Seward's ability carry out the mission.

GLC02437.01152

December 27, 1781

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates that he has confirmed the loss of ships Knox invested in by speaking both to McGee and Col. Sears (see GLC02437.01306). Comments that Col. Sears would like him to invest in another ship McGee will be sailing, upon returning from transporting flour to Havana; adds, "If you do, I wish most heartily that Fortune may be in a better humor, and by prospering the next voyage, make you ample amends for last disappointments." Declares that he wrote a letter to Knox's brother and gave it to the Marquis Lafayette who was waiting to set sail from Boston. He writes, "Nothing has been done, or is…

GLC02437.01311

16 May 1782

Sears, Isaac, 1730-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Sears, who was known for his early and vehement support of the patriots in New York, to Major General Knox. References Knox's letters of 23 January and 1 May. Says his first "orders" are paid and the other will be paid when due. Is happy he could offer his services to Knox and his wife. Refrains from speaking on political matters, but hopes to be able to see Knox in New York soon. Says "it appears to me the heart of the American War is near at an end, but don't believe we shall have a peace very soon, unless the French and Spanish gains some great advantage over the British in the…

GLC02437.01418

24 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas Seward

Written and signed for Knox in the hand of Samuel Shaw, Knox's aide-de-camp. Writes, "I have directed a company under Capt. Lt. [Isaac] Guion from Col. [John] Lamb's regiment to relieve yours now Stationed in the Northern department. You will therefore obtain permission from Maj. Gen. [William Alexander] Lord Stirling to collect your men and repair to this post as soon as possible. You must carefully examine all the waggons and other carriages which were taken from General [John] Burgoyne in 1777, and such of them as are fit for Service must be brought here in their present state - the…

GLC02437.01626

5 June 1783

Sears & Smith, fl. 1775-1785

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards a letter from William Knox and expresses the wish to see him in New York. Also asks Henry Knox if he could give "information when the British are to [leave] the City [New York] ... " Sears & Smith refers to the merchant company owned by partners Isaac Smith and his son-in-law, Paschal N. Smith.

GLC02437.02147

27 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sears & Smith

Replies to a previous letter and asks Sears and Smith to hold onto some items that his brother William had sent him via the firm. Discusses the British evacuating New York. Says New York will probably be evacuated by 20 October but not much earlier. Sends them both his and his family's compliments.

GLC02437.02427

22 September 1783

Sears & Smith, fl. 1775-1785

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

States that they will keep the trunks of merchandise with them until they see Knox again. Mr. Sears will leave for New York as soon as the British evacuate so "he may enter the City soon after Civil government is established there..." Apologizes for having trouble selling the wares that William Knox, Henry Knox's brother, had entrusted to them.

GLC02437.02554

5 November 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Orders regarding transport for cannons]

Orders for a Sergeant Searl to transport two cannons and carriages to Princeton, New Jersey. Noted as a copy. Docket in the hand of John Lillie, Knox's aide-de-camp.

GLC02437.02758

3 May 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Philip Schuyler

Knox asks Schuyler to help him arrange transportation for the Minister of France to St. Johns (possibly present-day Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec). Asks if there are boats on Lake George or Lake Champlain that could adequately transport the minister to St. Johns. Inquires as to the number of men he should send from West Point to facilitate the minister's transportation.

GLC02437.02996

8 August 1785

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Shaw, Knox's former aide-de-camp, writes a friendly letter to discuss a variety of matters. First, he forwards "Mr. Gardiner's oration on the anniversary of independence. If you can travel through so much various matter as it is composed of, it will be a strong proof of your perseverance." References a letter he sent Knox on 1 August, saying that it was "written in the bitterness of my soul, and what is worse, a bitterness which still continues"; he is having problems settling his father's estate, and is resigned that the outcome will not benefit himself or any of his siblings. Relates some…

GLC02437.03174

9 September 1785

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates that per Knox's instructions, he has gone to New Haven and met with Mr. [Samuel] Broome and Mr. [Jeremiah] Platt to discuss their outstanding financial business. Explains that Broom and Platt assured him they will not be able to repay the money they owe in the next year. Provides a lengthy and detailed explanation of the firm's financial dealings, including the ways the war interfered with their business. Adds some information about the money they owe to the firm of [James] Webber & Co. Relates possible solutions to the problem.

GLC02437.03190

16 September 1785

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to explain the status of their dealings with the firm of Broome & Platt, with whom they are trying to settle a debt. Relates that Broome and Platt acknowledge the amount of money they still owe Webber & Co. of London (on whose behalf Knox is settling this debt), but will be unable to agree to the conditions requested by Knox. Describes a story the firm told him about their debt to Ludlow Gold of New York, which they also cannot pay, as evidence of the serious financial trouble their firm is in. Shaw also mentions that upon receiving the goods owed to him and Knox, he noticed…

GLC02437.03195

27 December 1787

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he is leaving the ship, Columbia, which is making the trip back to the United States and mentions that "[m]y affairs require my being at Canton this evening, which prevents me from going down the river to meet the new comers - " Noted as written in "Wampo, 17 miles from Canton."

GLC02437.03743

29 June 1789

Sayre, Stephen, 1736-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Ogden

Writes to Ogden and asks Ogden to show the present letter to Henry Knox, because feels that if he wrote to Knox directly, the letter might get stopped. Declares that he is still expecting a response from Knox to several letters and is still "disposed to consider myself worthy Reply - holding the rank of a Gentleman entitles me to one." Asks that Knox speak to the President and respond to him. Reports that he recently dined with a Colonel Miranda, who has just returned from Paris, and that Miranda's "prejudices are still the same against the French nation." However, Miranda has traveled…

GLC02437.04262

February 14, 1790

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks for Knox's advice in dealing with his situation with a Mr. Holker and Mr. Parker, most likely Daniel Parker, the captain of the ship Shaw took to Guangzhou, China. Writes "I desire to be governed entirely by you ... " and that "Mr. Parker and his agent, which has occasioned such trouble an inconvenience to my friends, that I can no longer for observing any measurs [sic] with him, but what the most rigid justice demands; and I shall be perfectly satisfied with any mode you shall be please to adopt for prosecuting the business."

GLC02437.04512

10 May 1790

Sayre, Stephen, 1736-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses surprise at Knox's lack of a reply to a mutual friend (unnamed, but Sayre may be referring to William Duer, whom he discusses throughout the letter). Reports business difficulties with Duer, declaring, "Mr. Duer will not deny his having made a most solemn agreement, as a man of honor, to act with me, for our equal benefit." Duer has not, apparently, done justice to this agreement. Hopes for Knox's help in encouraging Duer to contribute to the project, by securing the appropriate business contracts to let Sayre continue his work in England. Also advises Knox to have the…

GLC02437.04602

4 September 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Stephen Sayre

Knox tells Sayre despite several letters sent to him, he still has not heard from Sayre. Says he presented Sayre's plan to the president. The magnitude of the plan was such that the president could not give an explicit answer. Talks about the "expectation of war between Great Britain and Spain" and the public attention it has managed to capture. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04715

18 May 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Winthrop Sargent

Later copy. References several of Sargent's letters and apologizes for not responding sooner. Hopes the arrival of "the Governor" will afford him an opportunity to visit the Atlantic States. Mentions the "political storm" pervading in Europe. Says the French are the cause of it. The copyist noted that the paper was thin and that he found the continuation of this letter with Colonel Sargent's son (see GLC02437.05894). It was copied on 21 November 1856. In the letter Knox continues his discussion of the French. Says "a little misfortune may teach them more moderation, and have a…

GLC02437.05892

8 May 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to J. Hector St. John de Crèvecoeur

Knox writes to Crevecoeur, French consul at New York. Expresses his regret at Crevecoeur's loss of important papers. Apparently responding to Crevecoeur's request for information related to the Revolutionary War, writes, "...I was not at the frontiers during the War having always been with the Army under the immediate orders of His Ex Gen Washington[.]"

GLC02437.03141

April 27, 1785

St. John de Crevecoeur, J. Hector, 1735-1813

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Crevecoeur, French consul in New York, delivers a letter from "the good Marquis," possibly the Marquis de Lafayette (letter not included).

GLC02437.03133

20 August 1787

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Sends his condolences over the recent death of Knox's baby. Discusses his visit with Jeremiah Wadsworth and an upcoming voyage to China. Notes a 500 ton ship is supposedly being built for the China trade and Sargent believes it would be "not impossible if we could engage Wadsworth heartily in the Business..." (See GLC02437.03637 for Wadsworth's views on the voyage). Describes the business in further details, including the different parties involved and possible funding for the voyage. Stamped "Boston." See GLC02437.03644, GLC02437.03647, and GLC02437.03652 for related documents.

GLC02437.03638

January 12, 1788

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Congratulations Knox on the birth of son. Mentions their "friend Platt" noting, "It appears to me that we have not placed any 'Bars in the way of military Associators' & that soldiers would find it very much to their interests to take their Lands with us..." Referring to state ratification of the Constitution, writes "French & English war, Dutch Interests & every thing else indeed are giving way to the important Business of the Convention." Mentions Massachusetts delegate Samuel Adams's opposition to ratification. Notes that Connecticut's ratification (9 January 1788) will…

GLC02437.03757