13 March 1778-14 March 1778

Billings, Joseph, fl. 1778

Document signed

Title: [Bill to Henry Knox]

Bill to Henry Knox from Joseph Billings. It appears that Billings was a tailor. Billings carried over the £86.3.3 from the bill at GLC02437.08421. After doing additional work for Knox, the total comes to £106.7.3. After making partial payments, Knox still owed £4.7.3.

GLC02437.08422

19 May 1778

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: [Travel expenses from Lebanon to Valley Forge]

Written in Shaw's hand, whose signature is in the body of the document. Countersigned by Ephraim Groves (or Grovey) stating he received payment. Groves noted that he received £3.15 from Shaw for four-and-a-half days of expenses from Lebanon to Valley Forge.

GLC02437.08436

January 12, 1779

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document signed

Title: Katy's account for washing at Valley Forge

Laundry bill from time at Valley Forge. The total was for slightly over 17 dollars. Gives a detailed list of items and how much each cost to clean. Docket notes that this includes "5 Dozzen Clothes for Mrs Knox a Dollar pr Dozzen." Shaw also had washing done. It is noted on the document that Katy the washwoman was the wife of Marshall Saxe.

GLC02437.08459

1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Thoughts on military action] [incomplete]

Discusses the [pending?] arrival of "C.G." [the Comte de Grasse], and potential British troop placements in New York and Virginia, and how this would impact a proposed American operation. See GLC02437.08176 for a related document.

GLC02437.08161

circa 1777-1786

Printed document

Title: [Rules for enlisting men for service]

Provides a set of guidelines for enlisting men into the service. Includes rules stating "Neither Negroes, Mulattoes, or Indians, shall be inlisted [sic] in the Service of the United States. Every Man under five Feet six Inches in Height shall be refused. No Man under sixteen, or above forty-five Years of Age, shall be inlisted [sic]. Every Man, who shall be inlisted [sic], must be robust and perfectly formed, with Respect to his Body, Limbs and Organs, and in full Health." Circa date is based on reference to "Col." Jackson in the docket. This most likely pertains to Henry Jackson, who held…

GLC02437.08189

circa 1780-1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Memoranda]

List of cannons and mortars that need to be transported from West Point to use against New York city. Includes the type of artillery and its poundage. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.08302

17 May 1777

Sweers, Cornelius, fl. 1777

Autograph document signed

Title: [Account of goods for Henry Knox by order of Captain Lieutenant Treat]

Signed by Sweers, commissary of military stores in Philadelphia, who notes that the contents were received in full from Treat. Lists water biscuits, green tea, and other items.

GLC02437.00594

20 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

To his brother, writes, "It is so long a time since I've had the pleasure of a Line from you that did I not hear it from others I should suppose that you had paid Natures last tribute..."

GLC02437.00595

20 May 1777

Manuscript document

Title: Arrangement and present strength [incomplete]

Lists Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, and colonels in New Jersey. Lists Major Generals Green (Nathanael Greene), John Sullivan, [Adam] Stephen, [Benjamin] Lincoln, and "Ld. Sterling," (William Alexander). May be incomplete. Possibly created by Henry Knox.

GLC02437.00596

22 May 1777 - 2 July 1777

Document

Title: Instruments made for the artillery by Mr. John Lamb

Title from docket in Knox's hand. Mentions "callippors" (artillery calipers), quadrants, and scales.

GLC02437.00597

22 May 1777

French, Samuel, fl. 1777-1779

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Receipt between Samuel Treat and Colonel Flowers]

"Received... of Samuel Treat one thousand dollars for which he gave Col Flowers a Receipt." Signed by French as Major and Commissary of Military Stores. Text in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.00598

22 May 1777

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses their recent exchange, noting that he had not received some of her letters due to the postman's mistake. Expresses how much he misses her, emphasizing that nothing but an obligation to his country could separate them. Mentions the threat posed by General John Burgoyne, stating that Lucy, in Boston, should "get a House in the Country as a Retreat." Can not assure Lucy regarding a possible visit due to the danger of the roads and the uncertainty of his location. In closing, notes "I shall always make it a rule to write you by the post, and expect the same from you."

GLC02437.00599

22 May 1777

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Colonel Jackson writes to Brigadier General Knox in Morristown, New Jersey. Chides Knox for not writing to him through the last post. Comments that Boston will choose representatives the same day he writes. Expresses relief that Henry's wife, Lucy, and their child recovered from a recent bout of smallpox. In closing, requests Knox to procure an order "for the Cloth & Arms & other necessary's for my Regt- dont forget I shall be ambitious to make as good an appearance in field..." Relates that in future letters, he will sign as "your friend," due to the danger of correspondence…

GLC02437.00600

1 August 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter

Title: to William Phillips

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign, to British General Phillips as the highest ranking officer with the Convention Army. References Phillips's letter from 29 July 1778. Hopes no accident has befallen Captain Willow. Says he needs to get General George Washington's permission to allow Phillips to take a journey to Canada. Tells Phillips that a recruiting party that visited British prisoners was from the navy and that he has asked them to desist in such activities. Has given Captain Williams permission to…

GLC04789.02

circa 1770-1785

Engraving

Title: Major General Rogers

Engraving of Tory officer Robert Rogers in uniform shown holding hands with a Native American Indian.

GLC01450.201.02

circa 1770-1785

Engraving

Title: The Right: Honorable: the Earl of Loudoun

Full length engraving of British General John Campbell from Scotland. Printed on engraving in addition to the title, "Captain General & Governor in Chief of his Majestys Forces in North America: and one of the sixteen Peers of Scotland." From London Magazine.

GLC01450.201.04

14 June 1813

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

After a long lapse in correspondence, Hewson is updating Lincoln on his family life. Mentions Lincoln's letter from May 1813. Also mentions that Lincoln's daughter lives in the house of his wife's sister and that she is weak in health, but happy in Philadelphia. Says they had an enjoyable visit with her. His wife just recovered from a painful illness that necessitated a six month confinement. Says he is weak and can only walk 50 yards before tiring after a three month illness. Says he only recovered because of his faith. Is glad a present he sent arrived safely. Thanks Lincoln for the…

GLC03849.01

4 July 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Asks forgiveness for not replying to his last letter as he was ill. But says his health is as good and his morals as upright when they were on "the Island" (New York ) together (from a reference in another letter, it appears he escaped in October 1778). Relates what happened to him after they escaped. At 10 p.m. he went to the mouth of a creek which led to the sea. They had prepared a large boat, but not everyone in his party had arrived yet and they took a small canoe instead. There were five in the canoe and they stopped and ballasted it with sand before heading to the ocean. Says they made…

GLC03849.02

23 November 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Saw Lincoln's daughter, who brought a letter from Lincoln in response to Hewson's of 4 July 1815. Glad that Lincoln enjoyed his last letter. Expresses joy that Lincoln might come to visit. Tells him his wife died on 30 September 1815 after a nine year battle with disease at the age of 64. Says he is relying on God to see him through this trial. Says she was his second wife, "a good & kind Mother to my five Motherless Children I had when we came together." They were married 41 years and says as she grew more infirm he grew to love her more. Says death did not "approach her as a King of…

GLC03849.03

8 July 1817

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter

Title: to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]

Says Lincoln's daughter reports his health is as good as can be expected. Hewson says his health has been poor since last winter and that he was confined to the house for eight or nine weeks. Says God wanted him to live in order to help his youngest son, who ruined his family through drinking, move westward to Ohio and work as a carpenter. He has bound him out to a master carpenter for two or three years to complete his training. Says his other son James was in the Hospital for one year at 4 dollars a week and he is to move west as well. A son-in-law has also gotten into debt and ran away and…

GLC03849.04

30 March 1819

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Tells of his six month confinement to his room. Had two colds in that time, despite sitting four feet from a fire the entire time. Relates their harshness. Did not send for a doctor, but was bled twice. When his daughter saw how bad he was, she sent for a doctor, who prescribed some medicine. He took it once, but it made him feel worse and he stopped. Says his faith in God kept him from complaining and that he never expected to live this long. Says he has not seen Lincoln in 40 years and six months, which is probably when they escaped from New York around October 1778. Says Lincoln's daughter…

GLC03849.05

20 November 1819

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

References Lincoln's letter of 6 June 1819. Says he is sorry that Lincoln's hearing is so bad and goes on to explain his temporary problems with hearing. Says he put drops of oil in his ear and took a piece of smooth wood and used that to clean out the wax from his ears. Claims he pulled out two or three pea-sized balls of wax from his ear and that he repeats this every few years. Says he is writing this small script without the aid of glasses, which are in his wig. Claims he read a newspaper article about putting drops of spring water in your eyes daily and that has preserved his eyesight.…

GLC03849.06

1 November 1820

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Claims to be suffering from severe influenza and that he might die soon. Hopes they can meet in heaven.

GLC03849.07

circa 1820

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter

Title: to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]

Undated, circa date inferred from other letters in the collection. Note in pencil in different hand says page 13 is the last, but it is missing here. Pages numbered 5-12 so beginning and end of letter are missing. After escaping to New Jersey, probably in October 1778, from a reference in another letter, they went back to pick up their fellow escapees who could not swim and paid their helpers with the canoe they stole. They were forced to keep moving and were helped by farmers who supported the Revolution. Says this took place in Monmouth County where "General How made so many wigs by his ill…

GLC03849.08

circa 1777-1779

Kingston, Robert M., ?-1794

Manuscript document

Title: [Cypher]

Appears to be Kingston's cypher to communicate with his superiors while a prisoner of war after the Battle of Saratoga. On verso are the names of the people who seem to be in on the coded messages: General Sir William Howe, General Robert Pigot, General William Phillips, and General Henry Clinton. Altogether there are 14 areas cut out, each one numbered, when placed over a coded letter of the same size will convey the true message.

GLC04764.01