24 December 1781

Freeman, James, fl. 1781-1783

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions he is aware that Congress has decided to "make good the depreciation of pay, to such officers as have not been under the patronage of any particular State, and have diverted the auditors to Liquidate their accounts, and give them a certificate of the amount of pay due." Has applied to the auditors, but they inform him they have no business with him. Asks if Knox has any advice as to how to receive some or all of his pay: he is "entirely dependent upon Strangers for even the common necessaries of life," and hopes this will induce Knox to reply as early as is convenient, "without…

GLC02437.01310

January 23, 1790

Eustis, William, 1753-1825

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses pensioners of the Revolution, especially the fact that he feels that "this State has judged her citizens so grudgingly & so exclusively that she has not her just number & those who are pensioned do not receive enough." Also states that many soldiers were cut off from their pensions, leaving especially those who have been disabled from the war, without a means of support. Asks Knox for his help in supporting this cause. Mentions the Waldo patent, saying without fully understanding the subject he does believe the settlers pose any danger to the heirs of the patent.

GLC02437.04479

10 April 1787

Williams, Henry Howell, fl. 1775-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests Knox's help in getting Congress to compensate him for the loss of his property during the Revolution. Mentions that many articles were taken from Noddles Island either for use of the American army or to keep them out of the hands of the enemy. He has received no compensation and has been reduced to beggary. Noddle's Island is now a part of East Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03516

January 29, 1803

Dutton, Samuel E., fl. 1803-1805

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Hallowell, possibly in Maine. Would have visited Knox in Boston if weather permitted; however, due to the snow, he is happy to send Knox a letter. Cannot write a long letter because he is short on paper. Reports on dairies in a region of Knox's lands, and discusses taxation affecting Knox's lands. Also includes a bill for his services, and asks Knox politely if he could pay soon, as he is "poor."

GLC02437.07784

January 24, 1864

Campbell, John Archibald, 1811-1889

Endorsement

Title: [Endorsement on a British citizen's request to leave the Confederacy]

Written on half-sheet of paper. Contains a request from Thomas Fitzpatrick to the Secretary of War. Fitzpatrick writes, "I am a native of Ireland and a subject of Great Britain. My trade is house-painting, and I am not only out of employment, and unable to obtain any, but am absolutely destitute of means and money, without a shelter to stay in. I earnestly and respectfully ask that I may be permitted to leave the Confederate lines by land." Campbell, Assistant Confederate Secretary of War, endorses on verso. Captain [R. L. Hardy?] also signs on verso, noting that Fitzpatrick is not…

GLC05516

7 April 1770

Ward, Artemas, 1727-1800

Document signed

Title: to The Province of Massachusetts Bay

Signed by Massachusetts commissioner Brattle and countersigned by Artemas Ward (four times), Samuel Crosby, and Edward Flindt as Selectmen of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. Provides list of expenses for the poor transient William Quirk, including room and board and "sundry articles." From docket the cost appears to be slighty over 15 pounds. Brattle says "I apprehend the charges reasonable." Note provided by the selectman says Quirk was from Newfoundland and arrived in their town under "Indigent Circumustances." Brattle became a Loyalist general during the Revolution, while Ward led the…

GLC05535

8 May 1779

McHenry, James, 1753-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to S. Smith

Written by McHenry as a secretary to General George Washington to Colonel Smith. References Smith's previous letter. It appears that Smith is trying to decide if he should leave the army to deal with business affairs. McHenry says he is sure Smith wouldn't leave the army except reluctantly. McHenry then claims he is desirous to stay in the army because he doesn't hold riches to as high a regard as others do. Says "For my own part I shall be prouder in poverty should the war terminate in the happiness of the people, than in any wealth, which I might accumulate from the civil exercise of any…

GLC05715

May 1961

Bernot, Rafael A., fl. 1961

Document

Title: Project for the economical development of Mexico and Latin America

Co-authored with Renan E. Perez Rivero. Published in Mexico City, Mexico in May 1961. President John F. Kennedy signed a note "For Jim," using his personal stationary, which is pasted at the front of the binder. Items contained in green leather binder with "Mexico, Alliance for Progress" stamped at the bottom of the front cover. Includes two color photographs placed in an inside pocket; one of a tickertape parade in Mexico and another of John and Jacqueline Kennedy with unknown Mexican government officials. Bound copy of report created by the Mexican government in response to Kennedy's…

GLC05723

1813

Pamphlet

Title: Report of the committee, to whom was referred the petition of Daniel Boone together with the resolutions of the legislature of the state of Kentucky, relative to said petition.

Printed by Roger C. Weightman. Boone sought a grant of land in the Missouri territory. The committee cites Boone's service to the United States, his willingness to face peril, his contribution to western settlement, and his current state of poverty. Authorizes that Boone's wish is granted, and that he receive a grant of land. Also states that the committee has corresponded with the legislature of Kentucky regarding creation of a Boone memorial. This pamphlet's pages are separated.

GLC05206

circa 1970

Bolinger, Truman, fl. 1970

Autograph manuscript signed

Title: to Mrs. Howard

Bolinger, a sculptor, argues that people on welfare do not appreciate what they receive because they have not exchanged anything for it. He then offers his own interpretation of the phrase (from the Sermon on the Mount) "Ask and ye shall receive...," arguing that it properly applies to seeking Truth. Bolinger also writes that society needs a "workable moral code." Brown felt tip pen, with a printed "watermark" of a cowboy riding a bucking bronco.

GLC05508.042

circa 1843

Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881

Autograph manuscript

Title: [Excerpt from Thomas Carlyle's 'Past and Present'].

From chapter 8 "Unworking Aristocracy," on p. 172-74 of Carlyle's 1843 book, "Past and Present." A note on the top identifies the content: "A scrap of T. Carlyle's manuscript of 'Past and Present.' RW. Emerson," although, it is probably not in Emerson's hand. The manuscript attacks the aristocracy for doing nothing in the face of others' suffering.

GLC05508.060

April 1842

Caroline, Amelia, fl. 1842

Autograph quotation signed

Title: to Mrs. Fry

Writing as the Queen of Denmark, Caroline quotes Proverbs 19:17: "He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord, and that which he hath given will He pay him again."

GLC05508.061

30 November 1767

Adams, John, 1735-1826

Autograph document signed

Title: [Legal document to the Justices of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace at Charlestown in Middlesex County, Massachusetts]

Countersigned by "Jon. Sewall." Legal document created by Adams in defense of the town of Stoneham, Massachusetts. The town of Framingham, Massachusetts had removed James and Rebekah Holden and their daughter Naomi as poor residents who could not support themselves and sent them back to Stoneham, where the officials of Framingham said they were from. Adams says the Holden family was not from Stoneham and that the town should not have to take them in as a charity case. Sewall's note on verso says that Selectmen of Framingham state Stoneham is the home of the Holden family.

GLC05609

9 June 1785

Handley, George, 1752-1793

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Letter related to the Creek Nation and minutes of the Georgia Executive Council]

The first part of this document consists of a letter from the Creek Nation presented before "the board," or Executive Council of Georgia, of which Handley was secretary. The letter, written by James Durouzeaux and copied by Handley, indicates: "The Fat King and the good Child King of the half way House desired me to acquaint you of their coming down to meet the Governor or the beloved men at your place Beard Bluff, there to hold a treaty and there settle every point of the line and boundary of Land and all matters relative to their Nation, as provision is vastly scarce, and there planting…

GLC02437.03153

12 August 1789

Cockle, John, fl. 1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to ask for employment under Knox. Emphasizes that he must support an aging mother and three sisters. Explains the financial misfortunes of himself and his family. Mentions several of the others he has contacted on the subject, including Colonel [David] Humphreys.

GLC02437.04325

24 November 1792

Winslow, Samuel, fl. 1781-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discussing Knox's plans to purchase two fifths of the Waldo patent from him and his family. Asks Knox to at least purchase his smaller share, since his family is destitute, and discusses a price.

GLC02437.09238

20 July 1782

Lamb, John, 1735-1800

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that has noted Knox's previous letter, which indicates that artificers are working hard on wagons and tumbrils. However, "At the same time, I am sorry to inform you, that, they will fall far short of your expectations, in this particular owing to the great portion of time which has been taken up, in making the necessary repairs of the carriages, of those Pieces, that were brought from Philadelphia, to this place, many of which were in a wretched state." Writes that he is "chagrined" to find that a Lieutenant Fisk has resigned to avoid a Court Martial. Adds that the bearer of the…

GLC02437.01495

30 August 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Expresses his happiness and relief to hear that the family is doing well and is healthy. Mentions that he is happy to hear that his son, Henry Jackson Knox, is still at Hingham and that he should remain there for the winter. States that he "must go to the Province of main [sic, Maine] the next year or we must be content to be extremely poor - the modifcations of our interest there is of the greatest importance to our future happiness."

GLC02437.05593

1871-1881

Hemans, Daniel Wright, fl. 1872-1881

Header Record

Title: Letters with wife Nancy, to Rev. & Mrs Shiras [decimalized]

Letters by missionaries from north of the Missouri River, 38 miles north of Santee Mission in South Dakota, describing teaching English, arithmetic, and bible to Yankton Sioux Indians. The collection was written to Rev. and Mrs. Alexander Shiras of the Bureau of Education in Washington, D.C., mostly by either Daniel Hemans or his wife, Nancy Hemans, with the greatest concentration of letters in the early 1870s and early 1880s. Both Nancy and Daniel were Santee Sioux Indians. Daniel joined the mission to the Yankton Sioux as an interpreter and a teacher, and eventually became a preacher.…

GLC02429

14 December 1884

Gibbon, John, 1827-1896

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson Hunt

Discusses current events, including recent elections. Writes that Hunt may be in a position to aid the army by influencing the Secretary of War to prohibit army appointments made by politicians. Writes "Try to have a rule adopted by which every officer shall have a 'service record' kept in the A.G.O. setting forth every duty he has performed, & the recommendations of the officers under whom he has served." Encourages military advancement by merit. Hopes the new President (Grover Cleveland, to take office in 1885), will make changes in medical programs for veterans. Encourages Hunt to…

GLC02382.054

1841-1846

Reily, James, fl. 1841-1846

Header Record

Title: Letters to Thomas Ward re: business, Texas finances, Mexican War [Decimalized .01- .04]

Letters all written from Houston, as follows: 1) 8/4/1841 3 p. + FF re: business, Texas finaces & poverty. 2) 9/22/1841 5 p. + FF re: land cases, politics 3) 11/10/1841 1 p. + FF re: land business 4) 6/11/1846 3 p. + addr. re: impending war with Mexico and the U.S.

GLC02145.23

12 March 1790

Bryant, John, 1742-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox, stating, "when I think of the attention that has been paid to me in my necessitous circumstances and of my situation in life, I cannot but with gratitude think on the author of it that his name may ever be rememberd [sic] in my family. I have named a son Henry Knox. he was born on the first of March. He is a fine large boy."

GLC02437.04545

10 July 1790

Cavenough, William, fl. 1784-1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks for Knox's assistance, complaining that "the world has severely frowned upon me, and has left me, nearly as wretched, as the Human mind can conceive." Asks to have an interview with Knox so that he can explain his situation more fully. States that mutual acquaintances will give him recommendations.

GLC02437.04649

12 September 1790

Breck, Samuel, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Breck is pleased with people Secretary of War Knox introduced to him (perhaps the two men Knox introduced to Breck in GLC02437.04722). Informs Knox that they "express themselves much satisfied with our part of America." For Breck this is important "as it tends to cultivate a good understanding between the Citizens of each State and to cement that Union so necessary to the Happiness of our Country." Breck talks about the government paying for the manufacturing of cutters, and wishes the Secretary of the Treasury to know about the new sail cloth manufacturer in Boston. The purpose is the "…

GLC02437.04727

14 October 1791

Carrington, Edward, 1749-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 5 October, which enclosed John Pope's note for eight dollars. Knox sent Carrington a copy of a memorandum on a meeting he had with Pope on 5 October (see GLC02437.05187). Describes Pope as "unhappy in his habits of wandering, and is considered in a degree crazed. he was once a young man somewhat pioneering - his talents were more than common." Adds that even now, several scraps of poetry written by Pope are "not intirely contemptible." Relates that Pope left Virginia for Kentucky about 12 months previously. After that, Carrington heard he traveled to New Orleans.…

GLC02437.05195