26 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Knox signs with his initials. Is glad Royal Flint is in Boston. Says Flint has written to Duer on the progress of their negotiations, "which appears to be good." Knox says he wrote to Jackson about the boundaries of the purchase. Says "if they can execute the advice I have given they will do well." Wonders if he will see Duer soon, and calls Duer "a terrible correspondent." Thanks him for accepting bills. Is concerned about provisions on the frontier and says about 2,500 troops are marching to Ohio. Perhaps in reference to his land dealings, writes, "Charleston South Carolina subscribed…

GLC02437.05031

10 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Knows that Duer is a bad correspondent so "I have not suffered myself to be hurt by your silence." Congratulates him on their shared accomplishments in Massachusetts, a reference to their purchase of two million acres of land in the District of Maine. Reports that Royal Flint will be in New York on 15 July and that Duer can examine the relevant documents and maps then. Proposes that he will be in New York by 16 July. Tells him to use his "sensible mind" to handle any changes that need to be made to the business. Has written Duer repeatedly about preparing provisions for the frontier.…

GLC02437.05060

25 July 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph document signed

Title: [Agreement to purchase one million acres of land in Maine]

Legal document written in William Duer's hand. Signed by Duer, Henry Knox, Royal Flint. Knox also signed for Henry Jackson. The document states the four parties to the agreement "agree with each other upon honor to be equally concerned in the purchase of one million of acres of land in the Province of Maine - no parties to be admitted to this concern without the consent of the subscribers." The location of the land is to be determined by the parties. They also agree to make proposals in joint concern for the land belonging to the Indians on each side of the Penobscot River.

GLC02437.05084

4 August 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer and Benjamin Walker

Pages 1-2 contains a letter to William Duer. Pages 2-3 contains a letter to Benjamin Walker. Knox signed the Duer letter and initialed the Walker letter. Hopes Duer received the maps and that he will be in Boston with Royal Flint by 14 August. Says the committee will be together to collect the $5,000 and "it will be an excellent opportunity on the payment of that sum to commence the negociation for the additional million, and the conditional agreement to be extend[ed]." States much of their future depends upon the punctual payment of the $5,000. The letter to Walker says he has enclosed…

GLC02437.05101

5 August 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Initialed by Knox. Encloses Mr. Bruce's report on the eastern lands (not included). Congratulates him on their purchase of the Mount Desert lands. Says "This is decidedly a good thing." Mentions that Duer will see from Bruce's report "that it would be rather imprudent to us to take the second million between the Schoodie and Penobscot - I would rather we should negotiate by Jackson and Flint for a million north of the Waldo Patent." Wants to explore buying additional townships for sale on the Penobscot or on the sea coast. Says they should move immediately and wants to know Duer's…

GLC02437.05103

27 August 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports that this letter will be delivered by Madame de la Val and Mr. de la Roche who will communicate provisional articles "I have Enterd into with them for commencing a French Establishment on the Lands we have purchased." Says the present state of France ought not to be neglected "and while the Climate of the Tract we have purchased may not be so Congenial to the French, as the Scots." Believes the Scots will become large purchasers of land in their tract and "All that is necessary is to give a Reputation to the Affair in the first Instance." Believes the purchase in question will…

GLC02437.05134

3 September 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Legal document involving land agreement with William Duer and Henry Knox]

This document is in the hand of William Duer, but the last sentence on page 3 is written by Knox, who also signed it. States that Duer and Knox accede to the forming of a French colony on their land in Maine, probably in reference to Madame de la Val and Mr. de la Roche's inquiries. Proclaims a need for the boundaries of the colony to be precise. The two parties still need to describe the number of rations that need to be purchased and their price, the number and size of the houses to be built, and the price of the land. Reports that "The Subscriber is of Opinion that a Vessell from New York…

GLC02437.05141

5 September 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Says he wrote to Duer earlier about the provisional articles for the French colony on the land they have purchased in Maine. Believes that Madame de la Val and Mr. de la Roche were supposed to have seen the property yesterday, but believes they were kept by the recent bad weather. Had written to Henry Jackson earlier and asked him to assist them in any way. Says if they are expecting to establish their colony this winter they need to move without delay. Asked Jackson to procure another million acres, even if it costs 15 cents per acre. Does not think any time should be wasted getting the…

GLC02437.05145

4 October 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Knox signs with his initials. Knows that Duer understands the "modification of our purchase in Massachusetts yet I confess I wish we could make some definitive arrangement, to enable us to pay for a considerable portion of it that we might be freed from anxiety on that head." Believes that their land is "superior to any other purchase that has been or can be made in the United States, or perhaps in any other part of the world." States that it would better if they could add another million or two [acres], even if they have to pay 15 cents for it. They could then connect their various purchases…

GLC02437.05185

7 March 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Appears to be making arrangements with Duer for his portion of lands in the Waldo patent. Mentions General [Henry] Jackson, as well as debates in the Legislature regarding the lands.

GLC02437.05336

9 March 1792

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Duer or Royal Flint

Marked "copy." Explains the offer he made to the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands the day before, describing what lands he asked for and the terms by which he intends to purchase them.

GLC02437.05342

26 April 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Urges Duer to make a decision with respect to the purchase of lands in Maine. Suggests he speak to General [Henry] Jackson about it, who will report faithfully back to Knox. Would like to travel to New York but is unable to do so, due to the pressures of his job. Encourages him to keep up his spirits.

GLC02437.05431

29 April 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document

Title: to War Department [in French]

Note on the docket declares that this is a copy of a letter Colonel William Duer sent to Mr. [Despreminet] without the authority of Henry Knox. Mentions Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche. Docket is an Autograph document signed by Knox, stating, "a copy of a letter to Mr D [Despreminet] by W Duer 1792 without authority from H Knox - given to me this day by Bacler delaVal 18 [March] 1793."

GLC02437.05435

4 May 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Wrote to Duer a week ago asking him to see Henry Jackson in New York City regarding their project to purchase lands in Maine. Stresses the importance of their making a decision on the lands, as their financial situation is dire. Will not personally be able to get to New York, so again asks that he speak to Henry Jackson on the subject.

GLC02437.05447

5 May 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a conversation he had with General [Henry] Jackson about business, but feels he needs to speak to Knox directly about their arrangements. Considers their attempts to purchase land in Maine. Comments on his own character and the damaging nature of his debt. Mentions a land purchase by Mr. [Samuel] Ogden.

GLC02437.05448

7 June 1792

Harrison, Richard, 1750-1841

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Indenture between Henry Knox and William Duer]

An important land transaction of Knox's involving more than one million acres of land. Agreement of indenture between Henry Knox and William Duer. Signed by Richard Harrison and [Benjamin] Walker. Henry Knox signature has been crossed out.

GLC02437.05492

8 June 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Obligation between Henry Knox, Samuel Ogden and William Duer]

Knox signs with his initials. Outlines a financial transaction between Knox, Ogden and Duer regarding their purchase of townships (in Maine).

GLC02437.05495

8 June 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Obligation between Henry Knox, Samuel Ogden and William Duer]

Copy of GLC02437.05495. Includes a note written and signed by William Duer authorizing delivery of "the deed within mentioned to Benjamin Walker in his own name." On page two, contains a note written and signed by Benjamin Walker authorizing delivery of "the deeds for the whole to Saml Ogdon in his own name."

GLC02437.05496

8 June 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Account between William Duer and Henry Knox]

Ledger outlines accounts between Duer and Knox from 1791-1792.

GLC02437.05498

8 July 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Discusses his lack of funds to purchase Henry Knox's land claim and other business in regards to land. Noted as a copy and written in Jackson's hand.

GLC02437.05531

8 August 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he will not be able to make their previous appointment as he cannot leave Philadelphia at this time due to some "public business." Adds that he does not think this will disappoint Duer, though, because he understands that it is Duer's responsibility to finalize the arrangements with Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche. Docket is partially cut off.

GLC02437.05574

6-13 September 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Copies of correspondence]

Copies of correspondences between William Duer, Henry Knox, Royal Flint, and Henry Jackson detailing the progress of their land deals and Duer's financial instability. Also includes details on the land agreements involving Madame de Leval and Monsieur la Roche. In the first correspondence, dated 12 September 1792, Duer writes to Jackson and Flint discussing a contract he drew up for Knox involving land deals between Knox, Roche and Leval. The second letter, dated 13 September 1792, Flint forwards a packet (not included) to Jackson which was originally between Knox and Duer. The packet…

GLC02437.05607

16 September 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Discusses an agreement between them concerning land. Notes he was in hopes of hearing Duer's decision on whether he will be selling his land.

GLC02437.05612

17-18 September 1792

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of correspondence and documents]

Copies of correspondence related to Henry Knox's agreement with William Duer concerning land. Includes various legal documents from the Circuit Court in the Pennsylvania District of the Middle Circuit. Various witnesses and judges include Samuel Caldwell, Richard Peters, George Taylor and Daniel Parker. Noted as a copy.

GLC02437.05615

16 October 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Informs Jackson that Henry Knox has agreed to give Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche deeds for portions of Trenton and "No. 8" (both in present-day Maine). Instructs Jackson, "To enable her further to place the Germans, you will assist her to take possession of no. 15." States that Leval and de la Roche are not to make any application to the State without consulting Knox and Duer. Written in Henry Jackson's hand and marked as a copy.

GLC02437.05655