9 January 1789

Winslow, Isaac, 1736-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a business venture involving Winslow, Knox, Colonel [Benjamin] Hichborn, and a Mr. Jones and a Mr. Robbins (likely pertaining to the Waldo patent lands). Reports that Mr. Jones's abrupt departure and resignation has delayed the completion of their business. Mentions that his cousin Samuel Winslow is going to travel on business as well.

GLC02437.04080

1 November 1791

Constable, William, 1721-1791

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that he will sail to London in ten days and wants to have his interest in the Kennebeck Company defined. Adds, "Duer being now with you may I request that you will forward me some sort of memorandum for my share in that Concern." Would have written to Duer on this subject, but has not received an answer to his last three letters to him. Stamped "FREE" on verso.

GLC02437.05218

circa 1783-1815

Livingston, James Smith

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Wigram re: receipt of two days riding

GLC03107.04354

February 14, 1782

Lamb, John, 1735-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Burlington, likely in New Jersey. Writes that he was "informed by the Pay-Master that the Financier intended the officers should receive two months Pay, in certain Notes, payable on the 1st of August next." He and the other officers agreed that "our receiving Pay of any kind in which the Soldiers do not share, will have a tendency, to sour their minds, still more, - and, may involve consequences not only fatal to those who command them, but the Public." Is ready to travel to New York state and hopes to stop in Poughkeepsie and convince the legislature there to recruit new…

GLC02437.01354

25 August 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Writes that a friend of William's [name illegible but might be Mr. Samuel Hodgdon] will be travelling to France and will see William, so Knox felt he had to take the opportunity to write. Thanks William for his last several letters. Comments that he thinks William's motives are just for remaining in Europe till peace is achieved. Mentions the recent defeat of Comte de Grasse, and also relates that General George Washington has appointed him Commandant of West Point. Reports that he and his family resided in Philadelphia until they moved to the North River. Writes, "All my little family have…

GLC02437.01539

January 3, 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Knox has only received a short note from Lafayette (on recommendations for the Society of the Cincinnati), since last June. Believes it is due to the suspension of packets between France and America, as Count de Moustier, the French minister to America, has also not received letters. Says they heard that General Nathanael Greene's son was placed in a respectable academy near Paris. Hopes his conduct is good. Reports that "Our Country is busy in making elections for the new Government - what is to take place the 1st of March. The people at large are becoming more and more strongly attached to…

GLC02437.04071

24 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Knox signs with his initials. References receiving several letters from William since 7 April. Has no excuses for why he has not written more often. Says this letter will not be long because there is a ship in port that is just about to leave for Liverpool and this note needs to be on it. Says they are all well and situated comfortably near the city at Bush Hill, Vice President John Adams's house. Adams was away at Braintree, Massachusetts, so the house was available. Reports he is going into a good house in Philadelphia in the autumn. Is surprised that William is living "in a strange…

GLC02437.05027

21 October 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter

Title: to John Adams

Later copy of GLC02437.01252. A detailed account of the siege of Yorktown. Affirms the correctness of Adams' ideas about a need to conduct a major attack against the British in the southern states. Announces the recent surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the Battle of Yorktown. Explains the "harmonious concurrence of circumstances" that made the victory possible, mentioning the fleet from the West Indies commanded by Admiral Compte de Grasse, the American and French troops marching down from the Hudson River, and a fleet from Rhode Island under the command of Compte de Barras. Provides a…

GLC02437.01251

3 January 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Written by Brigadier General Henry Knox to his brother William Knox. References receiving several letters from William before he left Boston, but that they took a long time in arriving. Reports on several merchant ships that have been captured. Mentions the birth of another son: "I am happy to inform you that our domestic happiness encreases. Mrs Knox has presented me with another fine boy who was born on the 20th ultimo. he is almost the image of Harry, except that his limbs are rather longer. We name him Marcus Camillus, after a roman republic character to which I early became attached."…

GLC02437.01323

December 16, 1784

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lafayette reports to Knox that he will be leaving the United States from New York. Regrets that his situation renders him unable to see Knox in Boston before leaving. Expresses happiness on the birth of Knox's child. He has heard that Knox will probably be asked to serve in a ministerial post and might not have time to watch over his son's education in Boston. He hopes Knox will think about sending his son to France to study. Was happy to see that Congress was numerous and hopes they will do good. Will try to see Knox's brother William when he arrives in Europe.

GLC02437.03078

May 11, 1785

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lafayette hopes this letter finds Knox in New York arranging for his duties as Secretary of War. Rejoices in Knox's selection as "the patriot and the soldier are nobly united in your person." Says Knox can write to him as a friend or as secretary of war. Lafayette goes on to say he might be a "useful tool in some expeditions," but that he should keep quiet about it. Says he had a chance to write John Jay a few words on "the affair of Longchamps, a journey I intend taking to be back in October, and a whale oil proposal, in consequence of what you told me at Boston, which is all what I could…

GLC02437.03144

June 12, 1785

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Previously thought Knox's brother William had returned to America, but he recently received news that he had been confined in a house in London since January because he was "disordered in His Head." Reports William is better and "in a few weeks will be able to go out, which he very much desires." Says he wanted to go to London upon hearing the news, but thought better of it as his travels would no doubt be noticed by many and might cause unseemly news about William to get in the newspapers. He sent a trusted family member instead, who has made sure William received proper care. He hopes that…

GLC02437.03155

September 17, 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

References Lafayette's letters of May and June 1785. Says "I had the unhappiness previous to the receipt of your benevolent letter of June to be fully informed of my Brothers insanity." Goes on to say he recovered his health and reason. Says he has proof of this through William's letters and reports from other friends. Reports that William is now in London and will soon sail for Boston. In reference to Lafayette's assistance, tells him to moderate his kindness or he will be oppressed by his goodness. He would like to send his son, Harry, to France to study under Lafayette, but says the boy is…

GLC02437.03196

December 10, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Letter of introduction for John Coffin Jones Esq. and his lady. Reports that Jones is a merchant of Boston of "highest estimation." Would be obliged for any protection and kindness he can show Jones. Place writ inferred from GLC02437.04047.

GLC02437.04048

November 7, 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Knox sends his sincere wishes for Lafayette's happiness. Mentions mutual friends, including the Marchioness de Bréhan, who was wary of returning to France due to the "state of affairs" there (the French Revolution). Reports that "We are all peace - Our beloved chief is on a journey to the Eastern States - He is received every where with all possible demonstrations of affection - long may he live to be the cheif of the U.S." Encloses a letter from Catharine Greene for her son, who was studying with Lafayette in France (not included here).

GLC02437.04407

20 July 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Gives a report of his trip to Alexandria, Virginia, and the surrounding area. Mentions that he had dinner with the Washingtons at Mount Vernon. Says he would have stayed with a Mrs. House in Philadelphia, but the Attorney General, Edmund Randolph, arrived with a large family, so William had to lodge elsewhere. Discusses business he tended to while in Virginia and Maryland, and reports on the success of crops, including tobacco, corn, and wheat, in the area. States that Mr. [Alexander] McGillivray left Philadelphia that morning, and will soon see Knox in New York.

GLC02437.04658

June 27, 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox references Henry's letter from April 6. Says he has sent 13 letters to him, the last from Dublin on June 13 or 20. Says his last letter informed Henry of his "motives for coming here namely to negociate some funds by which I might be kept from sinking in Dublin." He is sorry that Thomas Randall "cannot find it convenient to wait agreable to my proposition to him, from a perfect knowledge that the amount will bear hard upon you..." Offers to refund him when he is successful. Says Gouverneur Morris is here but has not made a great sale of land. Reports that William Temple Franklin…

GLC02437.05035

3 August 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References his letters of 27 June and 19 July that he sent to Henry. Has not received any letters from Henry since the one marked 6 April. States he has not met with any success in selling Henry's lands, not even a single serious offer. Says his feelers in Paris have not met with any more success, noting "The Scioto business has left unfavorable impressions at Paris relative to purchases of land in America." Wants to go to Ireland next week, but needs to secure a loan to settle his debts there first. Claims his prospects are bleak. Reports "I cannot tell what will be my fate," unless…

GLC02437.05099

9 August 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox writes Secretary of War Henry Knox about his travels through Newburyport and Salem, Massachusetts. Reports that his friends Mr. Jonathan Jackson and Mr. George Cabot have welcomed him and introduced him to "characters most calculated to forward my views to the eastward of this Town." Adds that his return will be delayed by a day due to the trip he took through Newburyport and Salem. Plans on returning via Newport, Rhode Island, for two reasons, "first, that my stay at Providence was too short for me to make any arrangements satisfactorily in passing through, and the second is…

GLC02437.04681

28 September 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox describes to his brother, Henry Knox, that the winds were not in his favor as they set sail from Sandy Hook, New Jersey. He has now reached Newfoundland. Remarks that he has not suffered any seasickness, unlike his other companions, Mrs. Green, who is still seasick, and Miss Hunter, who has recovered.

GLC02437.04739

25 October 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William relates the details of what was nearly a shipwreck on his voyage from America to England. William will report to Knox on the political situation in Europe as soon as possible. Will see Mr. [James] Webber before W. Knox leaves London. Reports: "This much I can tell you that the British fleet is in the Channel - that 2000 guards are to march this day for Plymouth for embarkation - that Peace is restored between the Swedes & Russians - & that the Duke of Cumberland brother to the King of Eng. is dead in consequence of which every body that can buy a black coat or get credit for…

GLC02437.04756

2 December 1792

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs his brother that he was unable to obtain passage and so has been obliged to stop for a while on his journey. States that he has met with William Duer, who seems insistent on delaying some payment or proposal. Date from docket. Noted as written at Broad Street.

GLC02437.05719

January 25, 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Arrived Wednesday evening and spent part of yesterday enquiring for a house. Makes reference to various homes, including a Mr. Morton's on Broadway, and Brockholst Livingston's. Reports "at this moment I cannot hear of a good one to be hired." Says that Samuel Shaw believes he will sail on Sunday, but William does not think he will. Says he dined with Shaw and Thomas Randall yesterday. Writes, "The idea here is universal that you are about resigning, how it got here I do not know." Written from the home of Mrs. McEwen. Place written inferred from content. "Free" handwritten on address…

GLC02437.05794

January 28, 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Enquired of Berry & Rogers for horse or travelling canteens. They only had one pair of a small size for 7 guineas. Heard Mr. Edgar will quit his house on Wall Street. Also heard that Mrs. Fleming is moving from her home. Is meeting with Fleming's agent and Mr. Edgar today to discuss possible rent. Reports there is a house belonging to a Mr. Rynlander on the North River near Partition Street, although he thinks Henry will not like it. Is satisfied that Henry did not have a connection with Green, as his reputation has been damaged recently over an incident involving "erasure on a note…

GLC02437.05798

February 6, 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Henry's letter of 2 February. Mentions that Shaw and Randall sailed on 1 February. Does not know how they made the mistake of drawing the interest on his shares. If Henry wants, he will write to Mr. Smith or another of their agents to have the situation rectified. Mr. Green goes in the packet on Thursday in an attempt to recover property "which has been long litigated on the other side of the water." Green believes Mr. Pinckney will assist him in London. "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.05807