13 February 1787

Higginson, Stephen, 1743-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the upcoming Convention in May to possibly create a new system of government and Constitution. Writes that the idea of such a convention "may not only be new, but may appear to interfere with that article in the Confederation, which provides that, 'no alteration therein shall be made without the consent of all the states.' But will not that consent be naturally obtained, by the recommendation of Congress to the States to adopt this mode, as they are all supposed to be, at all times, represented in that Body?" Provides evidence to support this argument, and discusses the…

GLC02437.03452

25 February 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Stephen Higginson

Thanks Higginson for his observations on the current state of the government. Says Higginson's views are "perfectly just and well founded" and that Higginson has "a greater degree of attention, and thought on the subject, than most other gentlemen..." Shares his thoughts about the state of affairs, noting "the whole must be taken to peices [sic], and a new one erected on the bases of publick Liberty and public happiness..." Notes Congress has acceded to the idea of a Convention. Discusses the benefits the Convention would bring if the states were to agree to it. States he hopes that…

GLC02437.03468

25 March 1787

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to ensure the enclosed letter (not present) gets on the packet and apologizes for troubling Knox with his private matters. Discusses the upcoming election for the governorship of Massachusetts. States that John Hancock will have 3/4ths or 4/5ths of the votes and that "Lincoln is very popular but he with Bowdoin is damned by his connections (Higginson & Co.). I give you this information because Harry & many of your good Friends are blind."

GLC02437.03498

22 July 1787

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a difficult situation of mutual friends, [possibly Henry] Jackson and [Stephen] Bruce, stating that "something must be done ... or they must both be ruined." Asks Knox for his "friendly aid in this interesting business," which seems to be financial in nature. Explains that Bruce will be departing for New York with "vouchers & information," with the goal of obtaining only "scanty justice." Written in Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03610

23 December 1787

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his worry over a mutual friend [possibly someone eluding creditors] who is in danger. Hopes the friend is gone by the time Knox gets this letter. States, "things are at present in status quo, but hostilities are threatend from all quarters." Marked as "private."

GLC02437.03735

26 December 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to François-Louis Teissèdre de Fleury

Mentions that Samuel Shaw is probably in Canton, China and was in India the last year. Updates Fleury on the Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia and the progress of ratifying the constitution in each state. "A convention or representation of all the States excepting Rhode Island met in Philadelphia in the month of May last and after four months deliberation agreed on the Constitution herein enclosed (not present)." Goes on to state, "This constitution is to be submitted to a convention chosen by the people of each state," and adds that Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey have…

GLC02437.03740

11 December 1788

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Extremely faded and difficult to read. Discusses recent correspondence and appears to apologize for not replying sooner. Hopes to conclude some business (a funeral?) before Mr. Jones goes to Europe.

GLC02437.04050

17 January 1789

Henley, Samuel, fl. 1788-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written in Charlestown, possibly in Massachusetts. Writes to inform Knox that he purchased of Zachariah & Bethiah Fowle a house, barn and land in 1756. He bought them from Thomas Flucker, Knox's father-in-law, to whom the property had been mortgaged. Some time later, he happened to encounter Mr. Flucker and was told that everything regarding the mortgage was arranged to Henley's satisfaction. At the time of the purchase, he and Mr. Flucker were very close friends, and, being unused to buying property, Henley did not read the contract as closely as he should have. Twenty-five years…

GLC02437.04093

5 March 1789

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Declares that Knox must think him a "Barbarian" for not writing sooner, and apologizes. Briefly touches on Waldo patent business. Discusses the possible appointment of a Mr. Frederick, a former naval officer, to the new government. Writes that Governor [John] Hancock is still sick, but less incapacitated than he had been. Mentions that Mr. [John] Adams, the new Vice President, has bought a coach through his agent, Colonel Smith, from Mr. [James] Swan. Sends Mrs. Hichborn's regards to Mrs. Knox, and reports that he should be arriving in New York some time next month.

GLC02437.04136

25 March 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Henley

Received his recent letter via Mr. [Nathaniel] Gorham. Declares that he was unable to find certain mortgage paperwork pertaining to Mr. [Thomas] Flucker's estate that Henley asked him for. Would have submitted it to Henley if he had found it. Discusses legal actions surrounding land claims on the Waldo patent.

GLC02437.04155

21 June 1789

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Apologizes for not responding sooner to his recent letters. Comments on a variety of issues regarding the Waldo patent lands, including whether to bring the matter before the General Court and how to handle the petitioning residents of the territory. Refers to "Cousin Isaac," likely Isaac Winslow, Sr. Sends his compliments to Mrs. Knox.

GLC02437.04252

22 July 1789

Heth, William, fl. 1750

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox for help placing his brother, John Heth, in a government military position. Describes his gallant service during the war and the many generals he worked with and aided.

GLC02437.04300

28 July 1789

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Encloses a letter to the President from his "worthy friend and Nephew Majr. [likely Nathaniel] Fosdick," which asks for an appointment in Marblehead for Fosdick. Knows Fosdick to be an "honest worthy fellow." Sends his regards to Knox's wife and family.

GLC02437.04308

15 October 1789

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that the upcoming visit to New York of their mutual friend [Henry] Jackson will likely render unnecessary the present letter. Discusses Knox's financial dealings in Maine, especially regarding a land ownership dispute with Mr. [William] Wetmore. Relates news of mutual acquaintances and mentions several people complaining that Knox has not written them in a while. Expresses his sympathy for the death of Knox's child and sends his respects, along with his wife's, to Knox and his family. Free frank signed by Benjamin Hichborn.

GLC02437.04390

20 November 1789

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Has browsed Knox's statement on the Flucker Estate and plans to attend to the matter of the creditors. Asks Knox to recommend that his friend [John] Tucker be appointed to the position of clerk of the Supreme Court, implying that the appointment would help Knox's case. Notes that Mr. Jay is already in support of Tucker. Stamped "Boston" and "Paid." Marked "private" on the address leaf.

GLC02437.04418

9 December 1789

Hazen, Moses, 1733-1803

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Received a letter from Knox on the same day (GLC02437.04433). The letter included an enclosure from [Joseph] Howell. Agrees that there must be some mistake with his accounts, because he never received the sums Howell listed. Related to GLC02437.04430 and GLC02437.04431.

GLC02437.04432

9 December 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Moses Hazen

Forwards a letter from the pay office. Notes that Hazen was mistaken with respect to the proportion of pay which was advanced to the army in 1782 and 1783. Writes that it is not in his power to advance Hazen any funds. Related to GLC02437.04430, GLC02437.04431, and GLC02437.04432.

GLC02437.04433

17 March 1790

Higginson, Stephen, 1743-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to help his son obtain a position in the military. Higginson's son, John, previously served as an Ensign under General Jackson. He is now employed as commander of a ship, overseeing its cargo, but wants to change careers and become a soldier again: "[B]efore he sailed last, he told me, that he should prefer being a Captain in the Army, to the situation of an [eminant] & wealthy merchant." Reports that his son is abroad, but will return in two months; asks that if Knox raises any new troops during that time, he reserve a spot for John Higginson, "if that be not improper."…

GLC02437.04553

7 April 1790

Higginson, Stephen, 1743-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests an appointment in government for his son. Discusses his, and the general population's, views on the current government. Writes that judging from the past, "there appears too much reason to fear yet further fluctuation, if not changes, in the tempers & dispositions of the people toward the Government of the Union. But it appears to me, that a great alteration in the habits & feelings of the people has take place for the better; & that many new circumstances have arisen, tending to increase the force & respectability of Government, & to give a strong impression…

GLC02437.04578

15 July 1790

Hichborn, Benjamin, 1746-1817

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes on behalf of General [John] Glover who wishes to fill the office of collection officer at Marblehead, Massachusetts. Mentions that a Mrs. Danforth "took herself from earthly trouble yesterday by strangling herself." For Glover's appeal to Knox, refer to GLC02437.04653.

GLC02437.04652

12 January 1791

Hobby, John, 1749-1802

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes Knox about the militia forming in Maine. States he would like to be appointed Inspector of the militia. Says, "I am pained to the Extreme to find myself in a situation which renders it necessary to Couch my letter in such language as has the smallest appearance of as self recommendation."

GLC02437.04823

2 May 1791

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports to Knox his findings as he surveys the land and rivers for a canal. Says he has ridden along the river Chikabi for several miles. Comments that "hiring men in this part is very troublesome for I have been obliged to discharge two that I had, respecting that I wanted to Trepan them into Military life."

GLC02437.04936

10 May 1791

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Captain Hills reports that he has left Springfield [Massachusetts] and is proceeding with his land survey. Lists the area he intends to cover, and offers preliminary results of the surveys.

GLC02437.04945

6 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Hills

Written by Secretary of War Knox to Captain Hills. References Hills's letter from Brookfield. Says that as Hills is still surveying the project must be promising. This is in reference to surveying a route for a canal from the Connecticut River to Boston (see GLC02437.04909). Says "I am not discouraged as to the height of 295 feet, nor even 100 more added thereto, provided there should be a sufficiency of water upon the high ground." Tells him to make his work as accurate as possible to bring himself honor and so that it will not have to be repeated. Tells him to send for money if he…

GLC02437.04977

23 June 1791

Hills, John, fl. 1771-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Hills as a surveyor examining ground for a canal from the Connecticut River to Boston. Hopes Knox does not think he was neglecting him, but he has been 10-15 miles off the Post Road and has been unable to send a message. Says he found the "Head of Chihabi" and that it is a noble water that runs two ways and empties into the Swinaporet River. Continued his route into Holden, Massachusetts and followed it by way of the "Half way river" that runs through Worcester, Massachusetts. Continued down the "Half way river" by way of Stone House Mountain as far as the Boston Road. Says he…

GLC02437.05022