February 15, 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Peirce to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 31 January. This is a follow up on Peirce's letter at GLC02437.01835. Says Mr Rowe has finally given a price of £3600 for the Belcher farm - one third due up front, one third in six months, and the last third in twelve months. Did not speak to Rowe about Knox's government securities as he wanted to know his opinion on the price first. Says a Gavin Brown has lately returned from England with news that Lucy's father was doing well as of last July. Brown saw Mr. Flucker walking down James Street with Treasurer Gray. Says Mr.…

GLC02437.01921

16 June 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the purchase of a house in Brookline, Massachusetts and mentions a Mr. Flucker, possibly in conjuction to the Waldo Patent, a tract of land that is in present day Maine.

GLC02437.02167

13 August 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks for his decision regarding a house in Dorchester and forwards a letter for Lucy Knox from a Mrs. Howard of London, the daughter of a Sheriff Stephen Greenleaf, and a letter for Knox from his brother. Mentions that he heard from a Mr. Samuel White that William had gone to Dublin, Ireland.

GLC02437.02385

4 September 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Peirce references Knox's letter of 27 August. Says he has signed an agreement for a house for Knox "for one quarter certain to commence the 15th of this month at £45." Reports the farm can be rented with the house next year.

GLC02437.02469

7 October 1783

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a petition in Congress "to postpone the sale of absentees estates till further orders of the court, and to enable agents to lease as heretofore," which would affect Knox's claim to the Waldo patent. Also discusses the issue of commutation in Congress, and includes an update on the voting results.

GLC02437.02627

3 September 1787

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his letter of 30 August. Appreciates that Knox will give him information "of the course of Lake Erie &c." Encloses a letter for Knox to forward to General [Richard] Butler, noting that sending letters to the "West Country" through the War Office is the most secure mode of transmission. Noted as received and forwarded by William Richards 6 September 1787. Includes Richards' signature.

GLC02437.03654

8 September 1787

Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wishes Knox could visit, with Lucy and the children, before Knox goes "to the Eastward." Notes that 150 acres of the land they had previously looked at is available for 2,000 Lbs. Hopes to take ten acres for 300 Lbs. Written at Delaware Works, located in what is now Morrisville, Pennsylvania, near Trenton, New Jersey.

GLC02437.03657

24 December 1787

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that "By a Resolution of Congress the Ohio Company are intitled to sink their military Rights in the Purchase to the Amount of the Seventh of the Purchase Monies" and asks for documents to facilitate that end. Notes that he has contracted with the Connecticut commissioners "to run the lines of their Reserve to the Indian Boundary." Asks if the military there can assist him, if "a Post will be establish'd next Season near the Mouth of the Cuyahoga, or whither Capt. Hutchins will be directed to take the Course of Lake Erie next Spring." Recommends Mr. [Manasseh?] Cutler to replace Mr.…

GLC02437.03737

January 27, 1789

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has received Knox's last letter. Has not yet seen Mr. [Isaac] Winslow, Sr. but has seen a member of the petition committee, who declared that the committee will meet in two or three days. Hopes to see Mr. Winslow before then. Has enclosed a copy of the petition, Knox's check book from the bank, and a letter to Peirce's brother (not present).

GLC02437.04101

23 March 1789

Peirce, Isaac, 1722-1811

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to discuss bounty lands due to him for being an officer of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Discusses the death of his two sons, Hardy and Isaac Peirce, in the service. As executor of his son Isaac's estate, would like to know what lands are owed them.

GLC02437.04152

11 April 1789

Parsons, Samuel H., 1737-1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a letter (not included) from General [Horatio] Gates and Mr. Balmain which requests Knox to send warrants for their "Donation Lands." Has asked Colonel [perhaps Richard] Platt to obtain the warrants from Knox, as well as a warrant for Parsons, which he is asking for with this letter. Discusses traveling to the Illinois Territory and asks Knox to give orders to General [Josiah] Harmar (he spells it "Harmer") on the subject.

GLC02437.04177

January 31, 1790

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards a letter for his brother and thanks Knox for the information about his brother since he had not heard from him since his absence. Asks Knox if he received Pierce's father's letter regarding being the heir to "county land due to my late brother." Asks if a certificate can be entitling his father to the land. Also informs Knox of a possible Clause "that may affect you very materialy [sic] if adopted - it is to enact a Law to quiet the Setlers [sic] on land who have been in quiet possession thereof..."

GLC02437.04487

6 April 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Peirce writes to Secretary of War Knox regarding the condition of Knox's property they are trying to sell. Peirce tells Knox, "it may be of importance for me to know if you furnished Mr. Jas Bowdoin with the statement of Mr. Flucker's acct." Peirce believes the statement was in Knox's handwriting. Thinks "the commission" might use that in case Knox claims he did not pay "the note."

GLC02437.04906

9 April 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Peirce tells Knox that in his last letter, he forgot ask about other documents he might have. There is a question regarding Thomas Flucker's estate and "whether the Estate should be held responsible for quieting the settlers that were in possession previous to April 18, 1775." Peirce goes on to discuss various details of Flucker's and James Bowdoin's accounts.

GLC02437.04911

8 May 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses land deals related to the Flucker family and the Waldo patent. Mentions business affairs with Mr. [James] Bowdoin, Mr. [Benjamin] Hichborn, and Judge [John] Sullivan, among others.

GLC02437.04941

17 May 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Peirce received Knox's letter of 8 May 1791. Says the Commissioners rejected Mr. [James] Bowdoin's claim. Also discusses a letter he received from Captain [Thomas] Vose regarding advertisements Vose put up, with the help of [David] Fales and [Moses] Copeland, about the sale of lands in Maine. Encloses the probate bond with this correspondence (not present). Peirce asks Knox "who shall draw the deeds after the sale?" (See GLC02437.04957 for related information.)

GLC02437.04949

24 May 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Knox's agent Peirce to Secretary of War Knox. References Knox's letter of 16 May, which mentioned the insolvency of the estate. Is confident it is insolvent because the probate judge reported it so to the judges of the Supreme Court and because of advertisements in the newspapers. Says that Samuel Winslow reported to him that David Partridge, an occupant (possibly a squatter) of the Cooper Claim, was served a writ. On Winslow's advice he sent fifteen dollars to a Mr. Parsons to handle this issue, which will be tried in Portland in July. Peirce wrote to Winslow to find evidence of…

GLC02437.04957

29 May 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Peirce as Knox's agent in Boston to Secretary of War Knox. Recently received a letter from a friend in reference to "Fowles Land." Says the buildings mortgaged stood on land that was not Fowles's. The buildings were sold to pay the ground rent. Says the land could sell for 150-200 dollars as it is in a good part of town. Wants to know if it should be sold immediately. Claims that Mr. Parsons will visit him tomorrow to discuss the Cooper Claim. Sends latest information on claims on the Flucker estate. Mentions Samuel [Hindley], a Mr. McCarthy, Isaac Winslow, and Thomas…

GLC02437.04964

5 June 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Knox's agent Peirce to Secretary of War Knox. References Knox's letter of 30 May. Says the Sheriff of Lincoln County came to see him about taxes due on Knox's lands in Maine. Peirce was able to prove that there "was a Resolve of Court to stay the Sale of Absentees Estates for Taxes till the further order of Court." Received word from Samuel Winslow that it would be best to retain Judge Sullivan. He accordingly gave Sullivan 15 dollars and asked him to be particularity mindful of the problems at the Cooper Patent. Mentions a court case involving a Miss Bradbury, Mr. Parson, Mr.…

GLC02437.04975

14 June 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private" on address leaf. References receiving Knox's letter through Henry Jackson. Has received information that Mr. Thomas's letters were being forwarded in a memorial this day. Cannot guess what his real intentions are, but thinks it might be to stop a land sale related to the Waldo patent. Makes reference to various intrigues in the Massachusetts House and Senate over the Waldo lands. Postscript mentions receiving Knox's letter of 8 June. Says he will consult Hichborn and Davis about getting a petition drawn up before the legislative session ends this week. Believes it is bad…

GLC02437.04995

19 June 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Peirce says he wrote Knox last on 16 June. On 17 June the estate sale took place. After a short conversation he had with Mr. Thomas the sale went forwarded and succeeded. Says that "Mr Fluckers residue (as by the advertisement), of the Patent was knock'd off to Dr. Oliver Smith (from whom is the enclosed Letter) for Three thousand dollars." Reports that the rights to the Welch house "was knockd off to Genl Jackson for 100 dollars." Will have the deeds drawn and executed as soon as possible. Wants to know how much of a commission to pay the auctioneers. Mentions that an…

GLC02437.05007

23 June 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "Private" on address leaf. Encloses deeds for Knox to execute (not included). Also encloses deeds of conveyance to be executed to Knox (not included). Says it is necessary to have the deeds for property in Lincoln and Hancock counties (in Maine) recorded in those places. Is unable to determine if the lands of the Lincolnshire Company "in which the half share is" lay in both counties. As it is in the patent as a whole he included the deeds. Tells Knox about some quibbling in the wording about the quantity of lands. Says the deed from Henry Jackson is not included. Says "The purchase…

GLC02437.05020

17 July 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has not received a letter from Knox since 2 July. Received a letter from Samuel Winslow dated 12 July. Winslow's letter noted, "I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that our Cause has succeeded: the Adverse party intend reviewing at the Sup. Court next year - Mr. Bradbury opin'd & Sullivan closed the plea - The Action upon Coxes petition was continued for want of time - Mr Parsons is secd against us - Judge Sullivan thinks there is no danger - It will be adviseable to secure Parsons & Sullivan to defend the Action at Review next year." Reports that the cause first mentioned is…

GLC02437.05069

4 August 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

The original was sent to New York. Says that Henry Jackson informed him that Knox was in New York. Informs him that the deed from Knox to Oliver Smith is recorded. Notes they will both be sent eastward once he finds a responsible person to take them. States "Colo. H. however is of the opinion it would be best to keep the Deed from S to you several months, without recording and then have a new one executed in lieu of it.." Wants his opinion on that. Says his accounts are complicated "so that the appointments will be made ready to deliver me with the order for distribution on Monday next…

GLC02437.05102

11 November 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that his last letter was shipped on board a schooner, upon which he also shipped a variety of merchandise. Regrets that he hasn't had a line from Knox in some time. Includes information related to the business and real estate world, such as the news that Mr. [James] Bowdoin "declined receiving the dividend due to his Fathers Estate" (may be speaking about Governor Bowdoin's son, as the Governor died in 1790). Provides information on Knox's Waldo patent lands in Maine, and the legal struggles relating thereto.

GLC02437.05256