17 March 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Isaac Winslow, Jr.

Declares that the papers he and Winslow have on the claim of Mrs. [possibly Sarah] Waldo on the Waldo estate are likely all the papers that exist. Discusses Mrs. Waldo's claim, and asks that Winslow, his brother [Samuel Winslow], and his cousin [Isaac Winslow, Sr.] get all their papers on the subject in order, as Knox will be visiting and would like to meet with them about it. Also discusses claims on the Muscongus patent by the Plymouth Company, as well as monies owed on the Muscongus patent.

GLC02437.09174

February 11, 1805

Winchester, Edmund, fl. 1799-1805

Manuscript document signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Write that Knox owes money on notes belonging to them. They did not expect he would have left town the previous summer without paying some of it, so they hope he will do so without further delay.

GLC02437.07907

1 April 1773

Document

Title: [Statement pertaining to Samuel Waldo's debt to Isaac Winslow]

States that the late Waldo paid his account in full. Contains account specifics on verso.

GLC02437.09479

10 March 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Jeremiah Wadsworth

Replies to a letter from Wadsworth (GLC02437.03101), in which Wadsworth informed Knox of his likely appointment as Secretary at War. Knox had heard that he might receive this appointment, but is disappointed by the low salary. Comments on his financial affairs, noting that he is owed money from many sources. For present subsistence, however, he may have to accept the War Department's offer. Agrees to recommend Samuel Blachley Webb (Blatchley in some sources), for a position, possibly as his own assistant. Sends his regards to General [Samuel] Parsons.

GLC02437.03107

circa 1783-1815

Livingston, Robert, 1654-1728

Manuscript document

Title: Authorization for John Wigram to distrain and appraise goods for overdue rent

GLC03107.04355

16 June 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Later copy of letter written by Knox to Lafayette at GLC02437.03276. Thanks Lafayette for the kind treatment given to his brother William. Discusses the affair of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who had been sent to France in 1783 to purchase jeweled eagle badges for the members of the Society of the Cincinnati. L'Enfant returned to America in 1784 and brought back many badges purchased on credit. The price proved too high for some officers, which left L'Enfant in a bind. Goes on to say that the Society approved of L'Enfant's conduct and owed 630 dollars to him for his services in France…

GLC02437.03275

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

23 August 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Written by General Knox to his brother William. References William's letters of 7 April 1783 and 13 June 1783. Says he received a letter from Messrs. Smith and Sears (see GLC02437.02229) that they received William's shipment, but that they have had a hard time selling the goods. Hopes William arrives in America soon as he wants his advice on purchasing property. Says New York will be given back to the Americans in six weeks and believes the remainder of the army will then be disbanded. Reports that the peace is glorious, but that the officers have not been paid what they deserve. Makes…

GLC02437.02410

February 13, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Provides an account of Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts. Claims the "discontents in Massachusetts" were "speedily and effectually suppressed." Says these discontents were immersed in "Opinions which perhaps were necessarily diseminated previous to and during the revolution [which] seem to produce effects materially different from which they were intended." Discusses the debts, factions, and "the recourse to arms" of the farmers of Hampshire, Berkshire, and Worcester counties. Discusses the government's reluctance to resort to bloodshed in suppressing the rebellion, which consisted of 2,000…

GLC02437.03451

May 5, 1787

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

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter provides a detailed update on French politics during the build-up to the French Revolution. Says he is busy in the Assembly of the Notables and has had little time to write. Says his recent letter to Alexander Hamilton will inform Knox of circumstances in the Assembly up until Easter. Wants Knox to inform Hamilton that he does not need to keep a motion he sent to him secret as the newspapers have published it in France. Says Michel Bouvard de Fourqueux, who succeeded Charles Alexandre de Calonne, could not last long (de Calonne had been ousted as minister of finance after suggesting…

GLC02437.03542

6 September 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Tells William he is anxious about his sister-in-law Mrs. "Horwood" (Hannah Flucker Harwood) paying a debt Henry Knox owed to Mr. Longman. Writes, "I hope there is no unnecessary delay on the part of Mrs Horwood - She appears to have answered the business with judgment and fidelity." Also asks about the state of the St. Lawrence lands and Mr. Malcolm's "state of mind respecting the balance."

GLC02437.04720

3 September 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Knox [incomplete]

Writes that he is not a good correspondent and this lack "of duty on my part however does not arise from a want of affection." Mentions that a vessel escaped him a few days ago and the situation "mortifies me not alittle." Gives him some business advice and it would "be extreme folly to pursue further." Advises him to clear his debts. Watermarked with crest over "G R."

GLC02437.10253

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

18 July 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References the letter he sent Henry on 27 June. Updates Henry on his endeavors in London. Says he is still trying to sell Henry's lands even though Gouverneur Morris has been empowered by Mr. [Alexander] McComb to sell the lands. Will proceed as if Morris was not given this power until he hears otherwise from Henry. Has advertised in the Times and the Morning Herald. Will wait another fortnight to see if things develop. Declares that he is concerned about mounting debts and believes the United States government should support its consuls better. Notes Nathaniel Barrett, consul at Rouen…

GLC02437.05071

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

12 November 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William, managing affairs at the War Office in Henry's absence, reports on military matters. Mentions Lieutenant [John] Pratt , [John] Stagg, Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth and others involved with the logistics of organizing Pratt's march to Fort Pitt. Discusses clothing, wagons, and horses readied for the march. Comments on Ensign Luce, who was to join Lieutenant Pratt on his march to Fort Pitt: "The only trouble was with Luce, who was arrested for debt by a variety of people at Brunswick where he has a pretty bad name... indeed he is a bad bargain to the U States." Discusses the daughter…

GLC02437.04031

5 July 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports on a recent visit he made to [Samuel] Ogden. Attempted to persuade Ogden to pay a debt he owed [James] Webber, a London merchant, but Ogden has to wait for money that is owed to him before he can pay the debt. Relates that he delivered several letters to different individuals, and discusses the prospect of exporting flax seed to Ireland. Informs Knox that two ships from India have arrived in Philadelphia since he has been there, and they both have full cargoes. Says that [Thomas] Mifflin has taken him to dine with the Society of the Cincinnati. Writes, "Bells ringing and Grays gardens…

GLC02437.04645

3 November 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William tells Secretary of War Henry Knox that since his last letter to Henry of October 29 (GLC02437.04759) he has discussed with Hannah Harwood the money she owed Mr. Longman and has "delivered her the care of Watch furniture and seeds from Mrs. Knox." William explains the reason that Harwood is holding back payment to Mr. Longman. She hopes "that the other creditors would agree to her paying him the full sum of 1300 pounds." The agent for the creditors, Mr. Frazer, believes she has a case, and the prospect of a lawsuit would prevent the creditors from pursuing one. Nevertheless, "she is…

GLC02437.04768

4 November 1790

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox writes Secretary of War Henry Knox to correct his previous letter (GLC02437.04768). After speaking with Mr. Longman, William has learned that "the idea of paying the whole thirteen hundred pounds originated with Mr. Frazer" is not correct. Mr. Longman and Hannah Harwood were the only parties involved. When they informed Mr. Frazer, the creditors' agent, Frazer warned them that a "suit in Chancery would probably be the result of refusal to pay the Creditors their proportion, and the insisting on your whole sum." Mrs. Harwood is still waiting for Henry Knox's decision to "acceed…

GLC02437.04769

January 15, 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Copy. Describes the various transportation obstacles that prevented his letters from arriving earlier. Says the St. Lawrence lands are being advertised in two prominent Irish newspapers. Discusses the meeting he had with "the Earl of Westmoreland, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland" (John Fane, 10th Earl of Westmorland). Says they discussed trade between Ireland and America, and that he will write more about his encounter with the Earl and on the English administration of Ireland at a later time. Asks Knox to thank Mrs. John Jay for introducing him to the "Viscountess Stronghold," whose husband…

GLC02437.04828

7 April 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William had previously sent a packet to Knox that included "Paynes [Thomas Paine] pamphlet in answer to Burke on the french revolution." William tells his brother, "therefore the present is only to enclose you the papers since then, by which you will see from the debates in the English House of Lords and Commons and the preparations making, that Great Britain is about incurring a few more millions of debt, and (if the Empress should prove inflexible which in all probability she will) plunging the greater part of Europe into a War by sea and land - However distressing to humanity such an event…

GLC02437.04907

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

February 12, 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Dined with Cary Ludlow, the father-in-law of Mr. Morton, where he learned that Mrs. Morton was opposed to going into their new house on Broadway. Ludlow said his son-in-law will probably be induced to let it for 350 pounds. Says if Morton can be persuaded to part with it for 300 pounds, it will be a good price in the current market. Relates that he spoke to Mrs. Fleming again about her house, but she is still determined to let it for 400 a year for 3 years. Reports that Isaac Clason, a merchant, is about to buy up Macomb's debt at 5/6 to the pound. Does not see William Duer taking any…

GLC02437.05815

6 March 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Has been trying to make an arrangement with Mr. Vaughn's bill for the last 3 or 4 days. Says it will be impossible to cash without the loss of 10 percent. The scarcity of money is making borrowing hard. Asks Henry to send him a United States bank note for $50 so he can pay his debts before going to Philadelphia. Wants to know when Henry will employ Dr. Shippen. Signature has been clipped.

GLC02437.05843

19 April 1793

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wanted to write yesterday, but received no word of Wilks' house until after the post left. Mr. Wilks is currently in negotiations with Colonel William Smith either for the purchase or lease of it. Will know the outcome in two or three days. If Smith does not take the house it will be let for £350 per annum. The house also has 50 acres of grounds. Yesterday a ship arrived form Calcutta owned by John Livingston. It contained Indian sugars and muslins. Says the ship and cargo amounts to $50,000. While it did not net Livingston as much as he hoped, "he considers it as so much saved from…

GLC02437.05874