1811/08/28

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Document signed

Title: [Renunciation of claim by N. Roosevelt against Robert R. Livingston & John Stevens]

Roosevelt renounces his shipping-related claim against Livingston and Stevens. Signed by Nicholas Roosevelt and by Robert Fulton, as a witness. Document lacks original seal at right hand side. Nicholas J. Roosevelt (1767-1854) had gone into joint venture with Robert Livingston and John Stevens in 1797 to build a steamboat. Roosevelt proposed a vertical wheel design for that vessel. In the spring of 1802, Livingston commuicated Roosevelt's plan to Fulton; the next year, Livingtson and Fulton launched a steamboat propelled by Roosevelt's vertical wheel design. The "New Orleans," piloted by…

GLC04266

1825/11/03

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: Patent issued to Robert Dennis for improvement to steam engine (c/s Clay)

Countersigned by Henry Clay. Joined with a yellow ribbon.

GLC07020

1905/03/15

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear children.

Reports that he quit his position at the Post because he did not want to work continuously for 12 hours. He bought a quarter interest in a mine nearby and is now "taking out a 'dump' which means that the pay streak is 30 feet under the ground and frozen so solid as a rock so that we have to thaw it with steam." [continued on 06/12] States it took three months because the mail was shut off. They finished "sluicing out" the dump but the outcome was disappointing. They want to remove one partner. Comments that the telegraph is working well and the Bering Sea is clear of ice. Written on YMCA…

GLC05245.28

1908/08/17

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to My son

He is proud that Owen has chosen to go on a church mission. He is sending a $500 draft. He asks if Owen will visit any of he family in England or on Long Island. The plant just bought a small steam engine and steam washer. He asks if Owen's speech has improved. He recently turned 49.

GLC05245.42

1862/12/20

Smith, David V.M., 1823-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Smith and children

Smith describes his march from Washington, loading and unloading baggage cars, and being ordered to load the wounded onto steamers at Acquia Creek. They are camped within the sights of Confederate artillery. Addressed from Virginia nearly opposite the City of Fredericksburg.

GLC04189.20

1814/08/01

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Document signed

Title: [Certificate for one share of "Hudson River Steam-Boat Stock."]

Certificate, signed by Fulton, entitling Cadwallader D. Colden to one share of "Hudson River Steam Boat Stock" upon payment of $500. Certificate refers to May 13, 1814, articles of agreement and August 1, 1814 memorandum of agreement between Fulton and Colden and contains receipt, acknowledging payment of $250. Colden (1769-1834), Robert Fulton's friend, lawyer, and first biographer, later became mayor of New York and a U.S. congressman. He also headed the syndicate that purchased the Hudson River Steamboat Company after Fulton's death in 1815. Accompanied by unrelated manuscript receipt,…

GLC04333

1814/09/22

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Livingston

The letter touches on various points of business relating to the men's steamboats. Assigns captains to their respective boats. Advises Livingston to try to get protection from the government against Indians.

GLC04353.04

1866/12/20

Archer, Edward R., fl. 1830-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to friend Paddon

Requesting information about the process of pressing and refining the surplus coal at the Tredegar Iron Works into a saleable product for steamers through compression into blocks that burn longer and produce more steam than unrefined bituminous coal. Archer also gives Paddon information on mutual acquaintances within associated with the Virginia Volunteer Navy. Letter also contains the interesting contention that the spirit of rivalry between North and South has grown sharper since the end of the war and that far from "harmonizing," relations between the two sections are "as mixing oil with…

GLC01896.084

1831/04/29

Miller, Joseph, fl. 1819-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Mease

Responds to Mease's query about the causes of a boiler explosion aboard the steamboat Philadelphia. Blames the accident on a combination of factors including the age of the boiler and the rust accumulated on it. Places most of the blame, however, on the engineer, who he argues was not well trained and tried to generate more steam than the engine could safely maintain. James Mease (1771-1846) was a prominent Philadelphia physician and scientific thinker. Joseph Miller was captain of the steamboat "Bristol."

GLC06515

1788/02/16-17

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Michel G. de Crevecoeur

Franklin thanks Crevecoeur for gifts received the previous summer, as well as pointing out the pros and cons of a steam engine in the postscript, dated February 17.

GLC07899