20 December 1789

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for everything has done for him and writes, "While I feel the full force of the most lively gratitude for your friendship towards me, it pains me to know that the too tender concern you take in everything which regards your poor Shaw cannot but interrupt that happiness you deserve ever to enjoy, and which with my whole soul I wish you. On this account, it aggravates my present unhappiness to inform you, that nothing could be done in the way we wished - and that I must get my ship ready and proceed, with my present means alone, as fast as possible to Batavia and China." Adds that…

GLC02437.04445

January 24, 1790

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for a previous letter. States that his current business prevents him from writing a long letter and "occupies me to much at to render me almost a stranger to what is passing either in the gay or political world."

GLC02437.04481

7 March 1790

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses his business with [Samuel] Parkman and Messrs [Nicholas] Hoffman and [Son], noting it will soon be settled. Informs Knox he will be sailing in the near future, thanks to Parkman. Writes that "[l]anguage is insufficient to express how much I love you both - Tell Billy that he occupies a brothers place in my heart."

GLC02437.04532

15-21 March 1790

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Gives Knox some last minute instructions concerning his affairs before he sails, and expresses his love towards Knox and his family, including Knox's brother, William, whom Shaw calls Billy. Page one is from 15 March; page two is from 21 March.

GLC02437.04549

15 September 1791

St. Clair, Arthur, 1734-1818

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References a letter he wrote Knox from Lexington on 4 September. Encloses a duplicate of that letter here (not included). Says all the troops he is supposed to have arrived on 9, 10, and 12 September, except the Kentucky militia. Has received Knox's letters of 11, 18, and 25 August with their enclosures. Writes, "The Anxiety Sir, which the President has expressed that the Operations of the Campaign should begin at an early period does not surprise me, and the Delays that have hitherto taken place have been to me the most irksome that can possibly be imagined." Wants Knox to reassure the…

GLC02437.05157

16 March 1789

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Introduces the bearer, Mr. Tracey, who is in charge of a party that is founding a settlement fourteen miles from Marietta, Ohio. Discusses the emerging society in Ohio. Remarks on the geography of his region, including the location of the Muskingum River. Asks about the operation of the new government and voices concerns about whether he will be under the jurisdiction of the new government. Discusses his desire for his friends to write him, due to his sense of isolation, and comments on his friendship with Knox and others back in the East.

GLC02437.04145

17 May 1792

Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox [incomplete]

Thanks him for his recent letter, as well as his kindness and friendship. Discusses how he would like to meet or surpass expectations in his job, especially by enforcing discipline among his troops. Tries to explain why he might have a bad reputation among the troops. Refers to a letter from Knox in which Knox asks why he is thought to act with "haughtiness and severity" (see GLC02437.05423). Discusses whether or not to decline his post, but seems resolved to keep his job.

GLC02437.05466

28 April 1782

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Mostly written in French, introducing Brigadier General Le Comte De Bennofsky , of the French Army. Short paragraph in English reads: "Lt. Philips is taken. A Treaty of diffensiv & offensiv alliance signed between France & Holland. Huza my friend all goes well."

GLC02437.01397

20 June 1784

Steuben, Friedrich Wilhelm Ludolf Gerhard Augustin, Baron von, 1730-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Offers sentiments of friendship. Written at the "Louvre." Contains a note, written later in pencil at the bottom of the page: "This was a house in the present 57th in NY- why called the 'Louvre' is not known. Steuben was living there at the date of this letter. Kapp's life of Steuben 178." Year from docket.

GLC02437.03020

9 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Smith

Informs Smith that a friend from France wishes his nephew to study at Princeton College. Wonders if the youth could study for a year or two, focusing on English language and mathematics. Asks the cost of tuition for such a course of study, as well as for room and board.

GLC02437.03599

7 December 1791

Smith, William Stephens, 1755-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private." Thanks him for his recent letter, and writes that he is "much obliged by the intelligence it contained." Declares that he is satisfied with the arrangement, and believes he has "discharged faithfully the duty I owed my Country, my friends and myself." Adds that Knox's communications to him will always be held in confidence. (See GLC02437.05251 and GLC02437.05253 for related information.)

GLC02437.05255

23 October 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to George Ulmer

Notes on a letter Knox sent to Ulmer. The note mentions that Knox gave Ulmer a "list of settlers who subscribed in 1788 for lots and paid." Knox wants Robert Houston to finish his surveying and notes that Benjamin Lincoln and Henry Jackson are his "worthy friends." Knox also wants to make sure that his surveyors are not interrupted as they were "on 18 July last."

GLC02437.07476

February 14, 1805

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Tudor

Unsigned, but handwriting suggests the author is Henry Knox. Writes that Tudor's son (likely Frederic) has been urging Knox to repay the note he owes the Tudors. Explains the difficult financial circumstances under which he is suffering, leading him to be unable to pay it within six months, as Frederic asked. Believes he will be able to repay it in the next year. Asks for Tudor's indulgence, based on their friendship, to allow him to renew the note for eighteen months. See GLC02437.07909 and GLC02437.07910 for related information.

GLC02437.07911

21 July 1784

Troutbeck, John, fl. 1755-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his feelings of friendship to Knox: "An age of absence can never obliterate from the Mind, Friendship, which has once been formerly rooted; from that principal I seek no apology for addressing this to my Old & much esteem'd Friend; who, after the fatigues of War, I shou'd be as happy to shake by the Hand, as any Man I know under the Sun." Refers to having sailed to almost every part of the globe. Mentions a set of mugs he bought for Knox in Canton, China (present-day Guangzhou), one of which has since broken. Had a drawn sword and the motto "Pro Libertate" painted on the mugs…

GLC02437.03030

February 5, 1785

Tracy, Nathaniel, 1751-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tracy discusses the "unfortunate situation" of Knox's brother, William, who is in London. Assures Knox that William "is in an exceeding good Family, where he is treated with great tenderness, & is attended by one of the first Phisicians [sic] in London..." Promises to "pay every attention in [his] power" to William during his stay in England.

GLC02437.03094

25 October 1784

Teissier, Lewis, fl. 1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "I beg leave to sincerely congratulate you on the total recovery of my worthy Friend your Brother Mr. Wm. Knox from the disagreeable state of despondency he was in for a few months & of which with his other Friends who like myself live in great intimacy with him I find he has no remains." William had previously instructed Henry to send his mail care of Teissier, a merchant in London.

GLC02437.03061

10 September 1804

Swan, Christiana, fl. 1799-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

No addressee is listed, but based on previous letters, may be written to Lucy Flucker Knox Thatcher, daughter of Henry and Lucy Knox. Writes a lengthy letter about her life in Paris. Talks about the luxuries of the city, as well as the wealth disparities between the rich and poor. Discusses her difficult voyage to Paris, and her stop in Holland. Compares Paris to Holland. Asks about her wedding, and whether it has happened yet (Lucy Knox married Ebenezer Thatcher in January, 1804).

GLC02437.07877

3 January 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Samuel Shaw and Thomas Randall

Unsigned. Writes that he received Shaw's letters and enclosures, and was delighted and satisfied to hear of his health and the prospect of advancing his interests. Has no hope that Shaw will receive the letter, but addresses it to him on the "bare possibility" he will receive it, hoping that if he does not, "our dear friend Randall may for whom it is equally intended." Focuses primarily on business matters. Discusses the sale of merchandise Shaw arranged for Knox before he left for China, and describes a transfer of this merchandise from Samuel Ogden because Ogden went out of town. Also…

GLC02437.04073

19 June 1792

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses seeing Knox before he returns to Boston. Writes, "I have deferred writing to you since I came here - and as I now promise myself that happiness next Monday evening, I shall still defer for a viva voce communication..."

GLC02437.05511

13 June 1773

Troutbeck, John, fl. 1755-1784

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Lightheartedly discusses hearing that Knox was "confoundedly peeked" by not hearing from Troutbeck for a long time. Reaffirms their friendship, informs Knox of an upcoming trip to the country, and promises future correspondence upon his return. Troutbeck was a surgeon. Knox's last letters from him were written in December of 1770, when Troutbeck was finishing his medical exams (see GLC02437.00002 and GLC02437.00003).

GLC02437.00073

February 5, 1810

Houghton, Nathaniel, 1784-1840

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Aaron Hobart

States how pleasurable it is to hear from Hobart and shares his affections. Mentions that he plans to visit Bridgewater and Abington this winter.

GLC06313.04.012

15 September 1864

Donahue, Thomas, fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

Written from a fort near the Weldon Railroad. Says he is sorry to hear about the death of friends. Accompanied by an envelope printed with the insignia of the Fifth Corps.

GLC04706.11

26 May 1862

Remington, William, fl. 1864-1873

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Almira Winchell

The regiment has moved across the Potomac to Fort Lyon. Gives news of the death of a friend. Accompanied by an envelope printed with the insignia of the Fifth Corps.

GLC04706.18

21 March 1865

Walbridge, Charles E., 1842-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Louise Walbridge

Expects to be transferred to General Turner's division. Saddened by the prospect of leaving a place that has been his home for almost a year. Writes about some friends he has made at the post. Mentions fighting "in front of the Army of the Potomac."

GLC04663.60

2 September 1776

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Briefly describes an unsuccessful "secret expedition" to obtain some artillery pieces. Seeks assistance in outfitting a ship with guns. Discusses a town meeting to choose wardens and various militia officers. Says James Otis "spoke as well as ever he did in his life." Names militia officers chosen, including William Davies, who had been Paul Revere's fellow rider on the April 18, 1776 "midnight ride." Indicates that many people think there will be no fighting in New York in the fall, but he is uncertain. Prays that Knox's "head may be cove[re]d in the day of Battle."

GLC02437.00436