17 August 1794

Rochefontaine, Stephen, 1755-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the progress made on fortifying various ports. Says two of the ports on Castle Island, Massachusetts have been fortified but the other has not. Also mentions difficulties with the shore being bold on one side and shallow on the other side.

GLC02437.06177

17 August 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen Rochefontaine

Notifies Rochefontaine to suspend the proposed works at Governor's Island, New York.

GLC02437.06178

18 August 1794

Rochefontaine, Stephen, 1755-1814

Autograph document

Title: to Henry Knox

A memorandum to Knox which lists equipment and workforce needed to conduct surveys in every seaport town in Massachusetts. Notes he will need chains, compasses, and additional men to assist each of the assistant engineers, along with more superintendents. City and state is not listed but appears to be in Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.06179

29 October 1803

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jonathan D. Robins

Has received Robins's note via Captain [Edward] Kelleran, and thanks him for his punctual payment. Reports that Captain Kelleran is departing with a full cargo of casks of lime. Does not believe he will be able to stop at Portsmouth to sell some of it, due to the weather.

GLC02437.07835

25 August 1794

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the death of their friend, Samuel Shaw (Knox's former aide-de-camp). Informs Knox the ship Washington arrived safely; however, the ship Industry has not arrived. Notes the voyage is not as lucrative since the Industry never arrived. Requests Knox to discharge his bond against them.

GLC02437.06184

30 November 1788

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Randall writes from Batavia (present-day Jakarta, Indonesia). Discusses the shipment of wine, sugar, and cotton. Sent ginseng to China via two East India Company ships, enabling Samuel Shaw, who is in China, "to fulfil his engagements & have funds in reserve." Sends his regards to Lucy Knox.

GLC02437.04038

14 June 1789

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Bombay, present-day Mumbai, India. Declares that he will be on his way to America before Knox reads this letter. Mentions he had arrived in Bombay ten days earlier, after an excruciating five-month-long journey from Batavia. After this he will sail for China. Mentions that his friend Mr. [Samuel] Shaw has long since arrived in America and will have told Knox about how Randall is doing. Describes a crewmember he had to suspend because his "pride and ignorance has rendered him so intolerable, as to make him quarrell [sic] with every officer on board." As he is uncertain…

GLC02437.04241

11 March 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Remsen

Sends to Remsen "the oath of Major Shaw respecting the ship Massachusetts as a necessary voucher for the issue of the Sea Letter granted for the said ship."

GLC02437.04538

10 October 1791

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports he has a letter of some consequence "requisite to recover a considerable debt due us in Philadelphia." Has taken the liberty to enclose it under cover to Knox (not included). Would like Knox to send it on to Mr. Anthony. Is in daily expectation of hearing from Samuel Shaw, as he heard from London that Shaw had left Canton. Also hears "insurance is effected upon him in London."

GLC02437.05190

31 October 1791

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References a previous letter from Knox. Says Knox can pay his brother's bill on either 16 November or 15 December. Calculated a repayment date of 16 November as he must remit Mr. McConnell money on that date. Reports that Colonel [William Stephens] Smith has not presented Knox's draft to him yet, but when he does, it will be honored. Hopes that Samuel Shaw's brother will arrive this winter; "if he does it will be very advantageous to our speculations and retrieve his loss on the sale of the ship Massachusetts."

GLC02437.05215

16 December 1791

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses payment of a bill owed by Knox's brother William. Paid the bill and encloses the receipt. Reports that he has heard that Mr. [Samuel] Shaw had recently passed the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa on a ship en route to Europe. Guesses as to why neither he nor Knox has recently received letters from Shaw himself. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.05258

30 December 1791

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses merchandise he purchased at Knox's request, and the prices he paid for them. Thanks him for the letter he enclosed from [Samuel] Shaw, and hopes Shaw received letters he mailed to him before Shaw left for Ostend [in present-day Belgium]. Expects to receive mail from him soon. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.05279

1 January 1792

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses financial arrangements with a Mr. Delafield and a Mr. [William Stephens] Smith. Relates that two ships have recently arrived from London, but he was surprised not to receive any letters from Mr. [Samuel] Shaw. Discusses his inability to proceed with their business affairs until he hears from Shaw. Wishes Knox and his wife "the compliments of the Season."

GLC02437.05284

February 5, 1792

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the possibility of the formation of a new bank. Relates that many respectable characters support the idea. Believes that the House of Representatives will grant a charter to it, but that the idea will run into opposition in the Senate. Reports that his wife has given birth to a daughter and they are both in good health. Writes that the weather has been mild, and he expects the arrival of Mr. [Samuel] Shaw's ship any day. Sends his regards to Mrs. Knox. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.05308

February 13, 1792

Randall, Thomas, ?-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has enclosed ten thousand dollars in United States bank notes (not present). Itemizes the notes he has enclosed, listing the amount of each and its recipient. Explains what debts the notes pay off. Provides news on their friend [Samuel] Shaw, who is en route from London to New York. Is looking to purchase a ship to send to Canton, China in the spring. Adds that Shaw plans to sail on the ship himself, which suggests that he "has given up any matrimonial ideas for the present." Sends respects from his wife and little daughter, Mary Louisa. Adds some more financial information in a post-…

GLC02437.05319

8 January 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Daniel Parker

Knox encloses a letter (not included) for Parker, of Daniel Parker & Co., a firm that supplied troops with provisions. Writes that the enclosure proves the "agonizing state of mind of my dear friend..." who had planned to gain passage on Parker's ship. Asks Parker to "keep the door open for him untill three or four days previous to the vessells sailing." Location inferred.

GLC02437.02925

18 June 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Parkman

Encloses two letters from [Samuel] Shaw (not present) which just arrived from Canton, China. Indicates one of the letters is for Parkman, and the other for Mr. Peck. Discusses a business transaction: "...Mr Eli Hayden the supercargo of the above vessell has contracted with Major Shaw to build a ship according to Mr Pecks directions & that he has remitted a certain proportion of the funds for this purpose on respondenture on the above Vessell consigned to the said Eli Hayden." Shaw enclosed Hayden's bonds for Samuel Ogden, assuming he lived in New York. Expects Ogden, (now located at…

GLC02437.03903

22 June 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Parkman

Discusses business related to the arrival of a brig from China. Mentions Samuel Shaw, Eli Hayden, and Samuel Ogden.

GLC02437.03908

29 June 1788

Parkman, Samuel, 1752-1824

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Signature is clipped. Creator indicated in docket. Discusses the arrival of the brig Columbia from Canton (present-day Guangzhou, China). On board the ship, there is property from [Samuel] Shaw "to be Improved in Building a Ship..." The ship is to be built under the direction of Mr. Peck. Awaits letters from Samuel Ogden before he shall proceed with business regarding the ship's supercargo, Eli Hayden. Encloses Shaw's draft on Ogden, writing "I am under the Necessity of giving this Trouble, as so large a Bill will not readily sell."

GLC02437.03917

6 July 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Parkman

Discusses a financial matter involving Samuel Shaw, Samuel Ogden, Nicholas Hoffman, and Eli Hayden. Notes, "It is supposed our friend has agreed for a pretty high price for the ship."

GLC02437.03928

24 July 1788

Parkman, Samuel, 1752-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses disappointment with Mr. Peck's ideas regarding the planned construction of a ship. Writes, "If his demand should be so Extravagant as we cannot comply with, shall the ship stand still, or shall another person be appointed to Construct & superinted [sic] the Building. I expect there is other Ship Builders besides Mr. Peck." Samuel Shaw gave Parkman the authority to hire Peck; Parkman asks Knox's advice, since he cannot hire another builder besides Peck without Shaw's approval. "Free" handwritten on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03945

7 March 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Parkman

Discusses business related to Samuel Shaw and Messrs [Nicholas] Hoffman and [Son] and Shaw's upcoming China trip on the Jay. Notes the Hoffman's will be informing Parkman of their situation concerning Shaw. They are willing to advance Parkman, on honor, $2000. If the Jay arrives they will replace him the other $2000 that way if the Jay is lost Parkman only has to wait for the insurance to be recovered. In the worst case scenario, and the Jay is lost Messrs Hoffman and Son will lay out $6000. Continues discussing payments made by Parkman and other financial matters related to the China…

GLC02437.04534

17 March 1790

Parkman, Samuel, 1752-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Explains the differences of settling premium accounts in England from those of the United States. Discusses issues relating to the insurance of Samuel Shaw. Stamped "Boston."

GLC02437.04554

28 March 1792

Osmont, Louis, fl. 1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signs in text in third person. Reminds Knox that Mrs. de Leval will soon be departing on a British ship, and he needs to meet with him before she leaves to discuss business matters, particularly regarding a land deed.

GLC02437.05383

24 August 1797

Document

Title: [Policy of assurance]

Signed by various underwriters. A policy of assurance for Henry Knox. Insures various amounts of money for cargos shipped between Thomastown [Thomaston, Maine?] to Bermuda. The vessel is insured for risk of "capture & condemnation" only, cargo is covered against all risks. Various sums of money are also listed next to each underwriter's signature. Noted recorded on 24 August 1797. Docket notes received 30 December 1797. Document is partially printed with information written by hand.

GLC02437.10600