14 November 1786

Cook, David, fl. 1751-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to offer himself as "a candidate to your Excellency, for an appointment to command a Company of Artillery" in the expedition to "quell" the Indians in the Western territories or any other expedition. Writes that Knox knows of his service in the war as well as the suffering he endured. Has "lost all that was dear to me in this world (my children excepted)" and would like to "remove my person from the scene of my late unhappy loss." Writes that since he is not at present engaged in any business, he would be able to raise a company at short notice.

GLC02437.03337

January 24, 1787

Cooper, Samuel, 1757-1840

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "New Burgh," likely Newburgh, New York. Docket reads, "Mr. Saml Cooper- Wants an appointment what I cannot give him." Thanks him for his recent letters, as well as for his good opinion and willingness to help him. Writes that he is sorry his application was so late, and knows that it is likely the appointments have been mostly completed, but if there are any vacancies, he would be very honored if Knox would recommend him to Colonel [Henry] Jackson.

GLC02437.03423

January 31, 1787

Cook, P., fl. 1787

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written from Granby, likely in southern Massachusetts, near Springfield. Writes on behalf of the town of Granby that the prospect of war is causing severe anxiety among the townspeople, despite the fact that they have a lot of faith and confidence in the ability of General Lincoln. They held a large public meeting and voted to ask that the "Commander will use every possible way & means in his power as a man & as an Officer consistent with ye dignity of government and his own honour to prevent ye awful destruction of mankind- and shedding ye blood of our own Countrymen- and conquer…

GLC02437.03435

February 24, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Cooper

Writes that the arrangements of the Massachusetts artillery are completed and all the vacancies filled. Notes he will mention Cooper's request to Col. [Henry] Jackson. In a different hand, noted as written at "W. O.," which most likely stands for War Office. The War Office was located in New York City at that time. Also noted as "Private" on the docket.

GLC02437.03467

2 June 1787

Colt, Peter, 1744-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Transmits statements of monies received (not included) on an account related to Colonel Humphrey's regiment. Asks Knox to direct him as to how to close the account.

GLC02437.03561

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

13 December 1786

King, Rufus, 1755-1827

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that [Daniel] Shays disbanded his party on Sunday & Monday last. King reports that the stageman he is traveling with saw the disbanded insurgents. The stageman said they seemed crestfallen; "some of them say they will go no more, others that they are not yet tired of the business." Includes other information provided by the stageman, such as the fact that Shays will stay at Worcester until he receives word from the Governor. Postscript makes a reference to what appears to be the dispute over the New York-Massachusetts border. Claims there is a "prospect of compromising."…

GLC02437.03375

April 7, 1787

Pendleton, Edmund, 1721-1803

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Madison

The letter mentions the importance of the Federal system, the political situation in Virginia in Madison's absence, Shays' Rebellion, the situation with the Spanish on the Mississippi, and the impossibility of operating with independent sovereign state governments. Quotes Madison as "brook the eternal devil."

GLC00099.131

July 5, 1787

Hancock, John, 1737-1793

Letter signed

Title: to John Sullivan

Massachusetts Governor Hancock requests permission of New Hampshire Governor Sullivan to send troops in pursuit of rebels involved in Shays's rebellion through his state.

GLC00300

1776-1786

Header Record

Title: Three documents related to the military service of Gideon Stebbins [Decimalized]

GLC01412.10

December 4, 1786

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Refers to Washington's resignation as head of the Order of the Cincinnati. Describes a settlement he left after receiving a request to take command of the Massachusetts state militia, which was needed to suppress Shays' Rebellion. In response to a question from Washington, Lincoln discusses Shays' Rebellion in detail: the anger it is arousing, its causes, his expectation of bloodshed, the role of debt, and the rebellions current advantages. He writes that "In Short the want of industry economy & common honesty Seem to be the causes of the present commotions." Includes a postscript note…

GLC01478

November 7, 1786

Washington, George, 1732-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Washington writes to Lincoln asking for a report on Shays's rebellion. He writes "Are your people getting mad?"

GLC01479

February 24, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Knox recommends a Mr. Payton for work. Mentions Payton's "great distress owing to some peculiarly unhappy circumstances in his family," and suggests there might be an available post "within the Quartermaster or Commissary[']s line" under General Lincoln's patronage. Letter written at the time of Shays' rebellion. Signed as Secretary of War.

GLC01466

February 14, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Reports on Massachusetts' adoption of the Constitution of the United States. Writes, "It may with great truth be asserted that no subject was ever more candidly debated- Many of the minority express their determination, of inculcating the principle of union among their constituents." Categorizes those who oppose the Constitution into three groups: the "insurgent interest," the "desperate debtors," and "honest men, without information whose minds are apprehensive of danger to their Liberties." Encloses a paper "containing a description of the demonstration of Joy by the Boston people on the…

GLC02437.03797

February 14, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Edward Carrington

Informs Carrington, a Continental Congressman, of Massachusetts' ratification of the Constitution. Reports that those at the convention who previously opposed the Constitution have "declared their intention of uniting their influence in support of the constitution." Notes that [Elbridge] Gerry, who sat in but did not participate in the Massachusetts ratifying convention, has also pledged himself to the Constitution. Discusses the interests of some of the Constitution's opponents. Encloses papers describing the celebration in Boston after its passage. Notes that the New Hampshire…

GLC02437.03798

23 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

Writes that he hopes to be able to visit General Washington at Mount Vernon soon. Is convinced of the General's affection for him and feels sure that his limited correspondence will not be misconstrued; is aware that responding to too many letters can be difficult, and he has been traveling to and from Massachusetts on both public and private business, which has prevented him from writing. Argues that the political system currently in place is inadequate: "The powers of Congress are utterly inadequate to preserve the balance between the respective States, and oblige them to do those things…

GLC02437.03319

December 21, 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to George Washington

Writes, "The insurgents who were assembled at Worcester in Massachusetts have disbanded- The people at Boston seem to be glad at this event and say it was the effect of fear- But the fact is that the insurgents effected their object, which was to prevent the Court of Common Pleas from proceeding to business. It is probable that the seizing some of the insurgents at Middlesex occasioned a greater number of them to assemble at Worcester than otherwise would have assembled merely on Account of preventing the common Pleas." Adds that it appears that the government planned to bring the…

GLC02437.03385

January 14, 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Knox updates Washington on various state conventions meeting to decide on ratification of the United States Constitution. Writes, "The new Constitution has hitherto been as well received as could have been expected considering the various existing opinions prejudices and parties in the respective states." Reports that Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Connecticut have all voted in favor of ratification. Mentions Jeremiah and James Wadsworth, both part of the Connecticut convention. Thinks Connecticut's decision to ratify will influence the Massachusetts convention (Massachusetts…

GLC02437.03762

22 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Writes that he will receive by this post the act of Congress authorizing an additional 700 troops in the Ohio frontier, where the troops there are suffering attacks from local Indians. Reports that Congress has called for the states to pay into the treasury by June of the following year, but that they need money more quickly than that if they want to support the troops already in service and augment the force as well. Hopes that the wealthier men in Boston will agree to help support the government and that they can work out a measure in which they will be "confident of security, and a speedy…

GLC02437.03315

20 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bowdoin

Introduces Captain [possibly Jeremiah or Constant] Freeman as a worthy artillery soldier who served under Knox during the previous war. Recommends him for service in the Massachusetts line currently being raised.

GLC02437.03341

22 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to the Board of Treasury

Marked "copy." Written from the "War Office," likely in New York City during this period. Writes that his past agitations on behalf of payment for troops should convince them of his interest in providing for the public good. Believes that "the defective compliance of most of the States with the requisitions of Congress has been the Sole cause which has prevented better payments." Therefore, has conferred with Mr. Robert Morris and Mr. Jeremiah Wadsworth "in hopes that the public might derive substantial assistance from the great credit and monied influence of those gentlemen." Hopes that…

GLC02437.03342

25 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John] Ashley

Thanks him for last month's letter. Asks him if he can provide any information from his quarter, and would be obliged by a letter from him when possible. Docket reads "To Mr Ashley Springfield -"

GLC02437.03348

November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Additional sources of funding for supplying troops]

Docket reads, "Some minutes of additional funds which might be pledged for a loan, or contract for supplying the troops." Lists various sources of funding, and the amounts he might be able to acquire through these sources.

GLC02437.03359

13 December 1786

Bruce, Stephen, ?-1801

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Bruce, apparently a merchant, writes to Knox to discuss a contract for supplying the troops in the Boston area. Has been working with General [Henry] Jackson and Colonel [Benjamin] Hichborn, providing them with necessary supplies. Includes terms for a potential contract to work as an official supplier.

GLC02437.03374

14 December 1786

Bowdoin, James, 1726-1790

Manuscript letter

Title: to William Shepard

Thanks him for the intelligence provided by his last two letters. Says that the last of the letters was received by "your confidential Friend Major Shepard," and he has talked with him extensively about the matters contained therein. Writes that the Council will meet on 20 December, "when the means of effectually suppressing the Insurgents will be taken into serious consideration." Will hear from him on the subject as Shepard may have an active part in the situation. Asks for his ideas on the best plan for that purpose, from start to finish: "Beginning with the support of the Worcester…

GLC02437.03378