1775/05/15

Fitch, John, 1743-1798

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Robert Stocton for payment in full]

Receipt to Robert Stocton [Stockton?] for payment in full. Accompanied by incomplete letter of the same date, apparently in a different hand, stating "The enclosed letter came to my Hands of," with monetary calculations. John Fitch designed and successfully launched the first steamboat in 1787. He received a U.S. patent for his steamboat in 1791. In the 1770's, Fitch made a living in Trenton as a silversmith, gunsmith, and provisioner of Continental Army troops.

GLC02480.07

1792/05/11

Pearce, William, fl. 1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: inviting President to see demonstration of his machine

"[I] should be glad to be informed when the President of the United States (George Washington) and his Lady, would be pleased to Honor me with their Company, to take a look at [my machinery]." Also notes: "Mr. [Alexander] Hamilton & Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson wishes to be there at the same time." Docketed on address leaf.

GLC02794.025

1795/07/25

Gardner, H.H., fl. 1777-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Lear re: "hoisting machine"

Gardner, a self-described millwright, explains the capabilities of his heavy load "hoisting machine."

GLC02794.038

[1800 ca.]

Young, Arthur, 1741-1820

Document

Title: Detailed description of a plow

George Washington introduced Tobias Lear to Young, a prominent British agriculturalist.

GLC02794.178

[1800 ca.]

Document

Title: "Demention [sic] of a Thrashing Machine"

Detailed description of James Tod's threshing machine.

GLC02794.177

1808/06/11

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles W. Peale

Fulton writes to prominent American painter Charles Willson Peale, enclosing $120, apparently in payment of a debt. He also details the success of his steamboat business and mentions the "virtuous exertions and enterprising spirit" of Peale's son, Rembrandt, also an artist. Fulton may have studied miniature painting with the elder Peale early in his life; both studied with Benjamin West in England. Peale had painted Fulton's portrait the previous year; and Fulton was involved in the artist's efforts to start an art museum in Philadelphia. Rembrandt Peale had also painted Fulton's portrait…

GLC05817

1807/01/25

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Robert Livingston] re: discussion of the steam boat

Fulton writes a letter to describe the innovations of the steam boat, and how he has calculated its certain success. Docketed on p.12.

GLC03107.04464

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

1813/06/23

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Fulton

Agreeing with Fulton that "the diamons [sic] in the quarries of science are inexhaustable" and commenting "perseverance will succeed; indolence never can."

GLC04351

1798/04/14

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Earl of Stanhope

Fulton Writes to Stanhope to tell him about how well received his own ideas about canals have been in France, and to convince Stanhope that the British need to adopt his plans as well. Claims that his "small system of canals" will make fortunes for countries that use them, prove vital to trade, and simplify taxation and systems of government. Says he has enclosed two long letters explaining his new system of canals (GLC04661.02 and GLC04661.03). Asks Stanhope to see that the letters are published, so that his ideas can become popular in England.

GLC04661.01

1798/04/10

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter

Title: to Earl of Stanhope

Explains to Stanhope the various reasons that his canal system will be so profitable. Argues that it will speed transportation and increase commerce. Says that it will earn an extra 84 million sterling per year for France if they replace their roads with his canals and that the country will need only to tax shipping to make money. Also argues for the freedom of trade, claiming that if each country produces only what it does best this will force them all to trade freely and fairly and even bring an end to all wars. He closes by saying "superior riches is only to be found in home…

GLC04661.02

1798/04/14

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Earl of Stanhope

Writes that all wars are a waste of money and labor. Improving a country's infrastructure is the best use of these funds and energy, through projects such as his canals. He estimates just how much the canals would save England. Fulton comments: "Manual labor is true riches...There is not true policy but that which tends to multiply the produce of labor and increase the conveniences of life."

GLC04661.03

1825/04/06

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: Patent for improvement of building fireplace and chimneys, to Cyrus Blood

Issued to Cyrus Blood. Ribbon is dirty and rather unattractive

GLC06782

1835/03/11

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: Patent for Timothy Taylor for improvement in fastening names on horse collars

Countersigned by John Forsyth. Orange seal; tied with green ribbon.

GLC06693

1818/02/16

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Cutting re: appointing arbitrator to settle disputes

Appointing an arbitrator to settle a dispute between Daniel Pettibone of Philadelphia, and Peter Townshend and Van Tassel of Newburg, N.Y., who both claim to have invented a drill for boring cannon.

GLC06694

February 8, 1828

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Document signed

Title: [Patent for Hercules Thomas' invention of the Herculean Hub, an improvement in hubs for carriage wheels]

Signed by Adams as President. Countersigned by Henry Clay as Secretary of State and William Wirt as Attorney General. Thomas' description of the Herculean Hub is signed by [Charles?] Dwight and [Angus?] Peabody as witnesses. Sealed and bound with green ribbon.

GLC06595

1804/11/28

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Autograph note signed

Title: to [Charles Wilson] re: postscript on polygraph modifications [fragment]

A postscript signed with initials

GLC06468

1875/09/17

Baily, N.Y., fl. 1875

Autograph letter signed

Title: To sister Bettie

Writes that the Hot Springs delegation left this morning. Discusses family and friends. Mentions a mechanism referred to as the "double acting, self-adjusting refrigerator" which creates a sound similiar to that of a large steamboat.

GLC04522.14

1836/06/25

Jackson, Andrew, 1767-1845

Document signed

Title: Patent issued to Gould Thorp for inventing an improvement to the cooking stove

GLC07718

1906/11/09

Horsfall, Charles G., fl. 1900-1910

Autograph letter signed

Title: to my dear children

Reports there is no snow for sleds so he must use horses to carry the mail. Claims it is difficult to cross rivers with the horses because the ice is too thin to hold them. Rests in a "skookum" log cabin halfway through the six day round trip. Promises to send 100 dollars, to be followed by two more, for Christmas presents. States the Indians are killing "Ah Yu" [plenty] of large game and that one of them described a phonograph as "canned white man." Warns Ed not to get injured playing football and encourages Owen to jog, exercise, and practice deep breathing.

GLC05245.34

1866/08/16

Morse, Samuel Finley Breese, 1791-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Charles Butler re: Atlantic cable

"My prediction of the 1842-3 of the Atlantic Cable Project is at length realized. May it be a blessing to the World..."

GLC06805

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

1836/04/04

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Solomon Lincoln Esq.

Pontificating on the history and intentions of the Pilgrims and the Founding Fathers, and on the important principles to be learned from America's collective history. Also giving his views on freedom of religion and freedom of speech and the limits that should be put upon them;. also frankly discussing his ambiguous feelings about the issue of slavery. In part: "I would not undertake to say that the one hundred and one Germans of the compact on board the Mayflower, had all, or any of them, a conception of the consequences to the human race, of their emigration from Leyden; any more than…

GLC07868

1812/01/30

Fulton, Robert, 1765-1815

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Oliver Evans

Requests that Evans try out his engine against Watt's and promises that if Evan's's is in any way superior, there will be a good deal of interest in the engine.

GLC04331

1811/11/23

Evans, Oliver, 1755-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Pitkin

Hopes Congress will pass new laws that will help him to extend his steam engine patent. Argues that by protecting patents the government will be aiding the public good, and encouraging innovation.

GLC04265