January 24- January 25, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Marked "copy" on docket. Describes in some detail the confrontations between his troops and the insurgents in Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays. Reports that General [William] Shepard, who is also leading troops, is in a precarious position which it seems likely Shays's troops will attack. Describes how Generals [John] Brooks and [John] Paterson [Lincoln spells it "Patterson"] should position their troops to help stave off the attack. Asks Governor Bowdoin to forward this letter to General Brooks "the moment It comes to hand - no Time I think should be lost."

GLC02437.03422

January 27, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Written from Brookfield, likely in Massachusetts. Marked "copy." Relates how he led his troops to the aid of General Shepard. "Writes, Gen'l Sheppard expects hourly an attack by the whole force of the Insurgents:- Shays marched with the party under his immediate command, about as is said: one thousand yesterday afternoon at 4 o'clock to the front of the Magazine; General Sheppard sent an officer to him to warn him of his danger if he passed over a certain line, which was described; Shays laughed at the information & continued his march until he approached within a few yards of the line…

GLC02437.03425

January 28, 1787

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Manuscript letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Marked "copy." Written from "Head Quarters Springfield." Reports on Shay and his supporters' situation. Relates that he and a number of other regiments arrived in Springfield the day before. Writes, "On my arrival I found, that Shays had taken post at a little village, six miles north of this, with the whole force under his [inserted: immediate] command, and that Day had taken post at West Springfield, & that he had fixed a guard at the ferry-house on the west side of the river. By this disposition, all communication, with the north & west in the usual paths were cut off." For a…

GLC02437.03427

January 1787

Manuscript document

Title: [Account of military supplies]

A financial account including monies owed to individuals, such as Jeremiah Wadsworth, as well as monies paid for military supplies, such as axes and shells. Numerical calculations on verso.

GLC02437.03436

January 1787

Manuscript document

Title: [Acknowledgment of legal counsel in case of James Swan v. John Campbell]

Note about a New York Supreme Court case pitting James Swan against John Campbell. Acknowledges Balthazar DeHaert as Swan's attorney, defending him against John Campbell's charge of trespass. See GLC02437.03690 for related information.

GLC02437.03437

31 March 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Certificate for Catherine Gardiner]

"This is to certify that in the year one thousand seven hundred, and seventy five the subscriber received by order of the provincial Congress of Massachusetts Bay certain articles of household furniture then late the property of Henry Barnes Esq - of Marlbrough [sic] in the aforesaid Province, an absentee[,] amounting in value to the sum of one hundred pounds current money of said province." Originally enclosed with GLC02437.03508, Knox's letter to Mrs. Gardiner.

GLC02437.03507

12 March 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Notes on Treasury Department travelling expenses]

Notes on payment of officers' travelling expenses: "Treasury department when removed in 1785 from Philadelphia to New York any charges including travelling expenses." Refers to an ordinance on the subject from 7 May 1787. Verso includes a note that Asa Copeland and Richard Frothingham, as conductors/commissaries during the war, "have been allow'd their travelling expences whilst after stores." Includes several dockets, one of which reads, "Vide General Knox's Account in the Treasury Books." See GLC02437.04542 for a related document regarding traveling expenses.

GLC02437.03545

May 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Payments made to the Society of the Cincinnati]

Lists payments made to the Society of the Cincinnati by the state societies "in consequence of the requisition of the General meeting" in May 1787. Includes an additional docket dated in 1791 listing individuals to whom "an eagle" was sold (a reference to the Society of the Cincinnati medal).

GLC02437.03560

6 June 1787

Bauman, Sebastian, 1739-1803

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt of payment]

Received from Henry Knox, "the sum of twenty one pound Eleven shilling and nine pence, in full."

GLC02437.03570

25 June 1787

Canary, Dennis, fl. 1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Asks William to write on his behalf to his brother, Henry Knox, for help with a land dispute. The tract of land in question is currently his but his ownership is being questioned by a widow, Mrs. Sarah Robinson, who argues her husband had some claim on the land. Would like Knox's advice on how to proceed. Stamped "Salem."

GLC02437.03591

14 July 1787

Breck, Samuel, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Briefly discusses events concerning mutual friends. Emphasizes his support for the idea of a stronger federal government. States, "I fully agree with you in the necessity of a National Government & hope that a system, in some measure resembling ours, will be adopted, which operating upon the large scale must, in a relative view, reduce the powers of each state to that of our Counties, such a government in my humble opinion would extend its authority over all these petty states & increase in the proportion as they are ... " Adds that a strong central government will help quash…

GLC02437.03604

25 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Francois, Comte de Broglio

Addresses the application de Broglio sent on behalf of his friend, the Baron de Valletiere, for Valletiere's membership into the Society of the Cincinnati. Informs de Broglio that the decision for membership will not be decided until the next general meeting which will take place the following year.

GLC02437.03617

25 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to François Claude Amour, Marquis de Bouillé

Discusses the Marquis' acceptance as a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Also reports that he has transmitted the news to the Count D'Estaing, already a senior officer in the Society.

GLC02437.03618

27 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Appleton

Informs Appleton he has applied to Congress to appoint Appleton's son as consul to the Isle of France. Says that Congress has not yet developed a system which allows them to make such appointments, however, if a system was ever developed Knox believes Appleton's son would be probable.

GLC02437.03625

31 July 1787

Anstey, John, fl. 1787-1788

Autograph note signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text. "Mr Anstey presents his Compliments to General Knox begs leave to return him many thanks for the honor of his notice and friendly attentions - "

GLC02437.03629

31 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Samuel Breck

Recommends John Anstey to Breck and other friends. Notes Anstey was assigned to "ascertain the losses of the loyalists during the late revolution."

GLC02437.03630

3 August - 10 November 1787

Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826

Manuscript letter

Title: [Letters from Thomas Jefferson, John Jay, and Benjamin Franklin]

Copies of three letters to Thomas Barclay. First one from Thomas Jefferson, written in Paris, dated 3 August. Presents Barclay with a tribute for his work as "Consul General for that Country [France] and Minister to the Court of Morocco, also as Agent in some particular Transactions for the state of Virginia ... " Second one from John Jay, dated 5 October from the Office of Foreign Affairs. Forwards a document from Congress "expressing their approbation of your conduct in the state of Negociations [sic] with Morocco." Third one from Benjamin Franklin, written at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,…

GLC02437.03633

18 August 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: to Dr. Bard

Signed in text. Thanks Dr. Bard for his services on a "recent melancholy event" (possibly referring to the recent death of Knox's youngest child) and sends him an enclosed document (not available).

GLC02437.03636

22 August 1787

Blodget, William, 1754-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for help in obtaining commutation. Says he also sent a letter to the President of Congress and asks for Knox's influence with him. Says he is "loth" to ask for help but varying circumstances has left him to rely on his friends. Along with other circumstances, Blodget also claims a service-related injury to one of his knees and elbows is now disabling him.

GLC02437.03643

23 August 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Joseph Barrell

Hopes Barrell has a successful voyage to China. Asks Barrell to consign his vessel or vessels in Canton (Guangzhou) to Messrs [Samuel] Shaw and [Thomas] Randall. Writes, "one or the other of those adventurous Americans will be there - and more honestt and punctuality cannot be found in any two mortals..." See GLC02437.03652 for Barrell's reply. See GLC02437.03637, .03638, and.03647 for related documents.

GLC02437.03644

27 August 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Expenses of cutting wood at Penobscot

Lists the conjectured expenses for cutting wood at Penobscot, which include paying for labor and transport. Written at Brigadiers Island, present day Sears Island, Maine.

GLC02437.03645

2 September 1787

Barrell, Joseph, 1739-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his good wishes "respecting the Enterprize I am engaged in for the Northwest Coaste of America & China..." Knox had recommended Samuel Shaw to assist Barrell's venture in China (see GLC02437.03644). Stamped "Boston" on the address leaf. "Free" handwritten on address leaf with no signature. See GLC02437.03637, .03638, and .03647 for related documents.

GLC02437.03652

16 September 1787

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that Major Reading Howell is making a map of Pennsylvania from a number of actual surveys. Notes that during the War a number of surveys were made by the Geographer of the Army and his deputies of different parts of the state and copies were sent to the War Office. Asks Knox to give Howell access to the War Office surveys and maps. See GLC02437.03663 for related document.

GLC02437.03665

15 October 1787

Broome, Samuel, 1735-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox if he would give James Jarvis a personal assessment of Broome's character and situation in life. Comments there have been reports to his [Broome's] prejudice and that his name can only be cleared by a statement coming from a gentleman.

GLC02437.03673

2 November 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the Society of the Cincinnati

A circular letter to the state societies requesting payment for the balance due to Major L'Enfant (fo Society eagle medals). Spaces for an individual state's name are left blank.

GLC02437.03693