December 1, 1783

Upham, Joshua, 1741-1808

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his regret on having to leave New York as he is leaving behind many friends, both Loyalists and Patriots, including Knox. Asks for and expects Knox's protection and attention for and to his friends and their families who remained in the city. States that "I am distressed that so many Gentn ... have been under the Necessity of leaving New York etc. and separating from their Families - their sorrows are very much in the extreme ... " Noted as written "On Board the Ceres off Staten Island."

GLC02437.02814

8 December 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Asks for provisions for the troops and mentions the War Office's move (with Congress) to Annapolis, Maryland.

GLC02437.02822

11 June 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Copy of instructions to the commander of West Point]

Provides detailed instructions for the commander of West Point following the Congressional order to reduce the number of troops at that garrison to one company of 55 men. Notes that "the great principle upon which this company is retained is the preservation of the Stores at this place and the other Magazines..." Title from docket.

GLC02437.03012

2 November 1785

Van Berckel, Franco Petrus, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "In answer to Your Letter of this day I have the honour of informing You, that the person, who has applied to You, having served me for the time of about two Years, has been always remarkable for his good behaviour and sobriety, and can be equalled but by few in honesty and attention to his Master- I cannot therefore but recommend him to You, & have no doubt but he will give You entire Satisfaction." The name of the person to whom he is referring is not mentioned.

GLC02437.03211

3 January 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Hannah Flucker Urquhart Harwood

Marked "copy." Body of the letter and signature in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Directed to "Mrs. Hannah Urquhart one of the executors of the late Hannah Flucker or other person or persons who may have the payment of the debts due from the Estate of the late Thomas Flucker Esq." Requests that when Mrs. Urquhart has received the proceeds of Thomas Flucker's estate, she should give "the amount of the legacy devised to the subscriber Lucy Knox by her uncle the late Francis Waldo Esq. as one of the two surviving children of the said late Thomas Flucker Esq. and Hannah his Wife,"…

GLC02437.03405

25 March 1787

Harwood, Hannah, F.U., fl. 1774-1796

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that she sent a box of millinery for her sister Lucy, Knox's wife. Asks him to "speak favorably" about a friend's estate in New Hampshire. Comments on financial and personal business.

GLC02437.03499

4 June 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to [Pieter Johan] Van Berckel

Written to "P.J." Van Berckel, likely Pieter Johan Van Berckel. Replies to Van Berckel's letter from 9 May, in which he recommended Joseph Mandrillon for membership in the Society of the Cincinnati. Regrets that the Society's rules "did not permit to associate so worthy a character." Refer to GLC02437.03566 for Knox's letter to Mandrillon.

GLC02437.03568

8 September 1787

Van Cortlandt, Augustus, 1728-1823

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Asks Knox to forward an enclosed document (not included) to John Doughty. Docketed by Knox: "From Augustus Van Cortland Esqr, enclosing a bond of collateral security of Major Doughty which is to be delivered to his order."

GLC02437.03656

5 December 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannah Flucker Urquhart Harwood

Informs Mrs. Urquhart of the birth of his eighth child, a boy, and states that both the mother and child are well. "Were all our little flock living you would not want for nephews & nieces but death has robbed us of three." Mentions her separation from her husband and offers her his friendship and aid, should she need it. Remarks, "Oppulence is far from essential to happiness."

GLC02437.03721

circa 29 September 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Discusses the Constitution of the United States. Declares, "But a candid examination of [the Constitution], will most probably produce a conviction that it is one of the best models of a republican government ever presented to the sons of men." Comments on different groups' opposition to the Constitution, noting that the southern states will oppose it because they think it will support the commercial interest of the north. Remarks that the Constitution will affect "the projects of the paper money..." Notes that America is seen with contempt abroad. Of the current government writes, "The…

GLC02437.03778

21 July 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Thanks the recipient for sending "some nuts, and two vennison hams-" via Lieutenant Armstrong. Reports, "The new Constitution has been adopted by ten states, and it is most probable that New York will also adopt it in such a manner as to be received into the Union- She has been more averse to the system than any other state Rhode-Island excepted." Relates that North Carolina's convention meets on the same day he writes. Says it is expected the new government "will promote the happiness & prosperity of this country in a very [eminent] manner."

GLC02437.03943

13 October 1788

Vanderburgh, Henry, 1760-1812

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from "Post Vincennes," present-day Vincennes, Indiana. Vanderburgh predicts an increase in the number of troops raised. Solicits reappointment "either in the line or staff of the army as would enable me to serve with honor." Docket notes, "Wants employ."

GLC02437.03996

7 March 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Letter addressed only to "My dear friend," responding to a letter of 24 February 1789. Discusses Waldo patent business, specifically responding to the mistaken claims of Mr. Parkman regarding a sum of 2000 dollars.

GLC02437.04137

8 March 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Edward Carrington

Unsigned, but authorship inferred from handwriting. Discusses Carrington's last letter, in which he reported the winners of the Virginia elections and described his prediction that the electorate would "change their sentiments" to support federalism (see GLC02437.04119). Comments on the New York legislature, specifically the Senate and individual members. Also lists the number of Senators and Representatives from each state present in New York. Lastly, discusses Carrington's query about an appointment with the new government (see GLC02437.04119). Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.04139

11 March 1789-17 July 1789

Vance, John C., fl. 1789

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Document contains two parts. In the first part, dated 11 March 1789 and written from Hilsborough, John C. Vance declares that he is en route to the Cumberland River and after that to the Ohio territories. Asks if Knox can acquire for him a Spanish passport to use at the "Tolls of the Ohio." In the second part, dated 17 July 1789 and written from New York, Knox replies that it is "absolutely improper" for him to request the passport. Includes Knox's signature.

GLC02437.04141

23 March 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown

Unsigned, but handwriting suggests the author is Henry Knox. Thanks him for his letter of 21 March offering to work in Knox's department. Replies that there are no openings in his department at present, but if there were he would offer them to the addressee. (Addressee may be Isaac Sherman, who wrote Knox with this request on 21 March; see GLC02437.04147.)

GLC02437.04151

12 March 1790

Van der Kemp, Francis Adrian, 1752-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Knox's plan for the militia. Writes, "The sight of a part of your plan for reforming our militia - and my fear of that hideous monster - a standing army, though covered with alluring clothes by artful politicians, wil [sic] atone for the liberty of taking few moments of your leisure by a man of General Knox's disposition." Argues for the establishment of a formal military academy where cadets learn various subjects, including geometry, algebra, geography, engineering, etc. States, "The academy seat must be at the place of the seat of government." Discusses funding for sending young…

GLC02437.04543

13 May 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Doughty

Writes to inform the addressee that a report is circulating "on the frontiers" that the addressee's son ,Major [John] Doughty, may have been fired upon by a party of Indians while traveling on the Tennessee River. Is not sure of the details of the situation; fears the reports have been exaggerated. Believes it is likely that the boat was indeed fired upon, that Major Doughty "thought it prudent to retire," and that the boat did not ultimately fall into enemy hands. Resolves to provide further information when he receives it. (See GLC02437.04628 for what may be a follow-up letter.)

GLC02437.04606

16 June 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Doughty

Writes in reply to an earlier inquiry regarding the recipient's son (Major John Doughty). Wishes he could relieve the recipient's stress. Encloses a letter he originally sent via Mr. David Ogden, but believes at the time it was "not delivered lest it should excite in your breast fears which might be groundless." In the month since the letter was originally written, he feels more hopeful for the fate of the son: "My last letters from Genl Harmar were dated the 5th of April - and the boat was said to have been fired upon the 2d of March - If the fact was true of your sons being killed as has…

GLC02437.04628

25 July 1790

Van Berckel, Franco Petrus, fl. 1790

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Thanks the recipient for visiting with [Alexander] McGillivray. Hopes that the recipient and McGillivray can come to dinner since he missed their visit. Possibly written to Henry Knox.

GLC02437.04660

3 October 1790

Swan, James, 1754-1830

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he received Knox's letter from a year ago and would have replied sooner if he had anything interesting to say. He asks Knox to look at a letter he sent to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson regarding a contract for "supplies to the french navy and the Kinds Rationers in the Colonies-to receive in payment for such orders from the Treasury...in part of the debt of the United States to france." Swan describes that the bankers in Amsterdam are holding out from repaying any "Company or persons who may hold the bonds, other than the Government here." Swan is concerned that a trading…

GLC02437.04743

15 June 1791

Franklin, William Temple, 1760-1823

Manuscript letter

Title: to Tench Coxe

Most of the information on this record comes from a letter written by Julian P. Boyd, the editor of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, in 1969. Boyd's letter is in the file with the original document. The document is not signed, but Boyd identifies its creator as William Temple Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's grandson. Boyd claims it was sent to Tench Coxe who was serving as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. The letter is a summary of the report of the Lords of Trade to the Privy Council. This report was written mainly by Lord Hawkesbury on 28 January 1791. Having this document was a…

GLC02437.04997

1 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to unknown

Received his favor of 30 June. Had previously sent a pair of letters and expects to get an answer that day or the next. Needs something subscribed and wonders if recipient can help him. Says he wishes to "make a considerable subscription, on the expectation of the sale of my lands." Wonders if recipient can discount them in the Bank of New York next Tuesday. Refers to what appears to be notes of William Duer's and hopes to get the proceeds by Wednesday. Asks the addressee to do this only if it is convenient. Knox notes in a struck-out section that the recipient is to go to Thomas…

GLC02437.05044

18 December 1792

Leval, Rosalie Josephe Bacler de, ?-1811

Manuscript letter

Title: to [Henry Knox]

Duplicate of GLC02437.05742. GLC02437.05742 is in French. Discusses land deals involving herself, Knox, [Jean-Baptiste] de la Roche, and [William] Duer. States that Mr. de la Roche has gone to the eastern lands to hopefully provide stability. Says [Henry] Jackson has assured her that he (Knox) will keep to the conditions of the contracts. Notes they (she and Roche) have titles for about half their land but they cannot move forward until they receive the 306,000 acres from Knox and Duer stated in the last contract. Expresses her frustration with Duer, who she claims last minute changed…

GLC02437.05741

December 21, 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Madame de Leval

Responds to a previous letter from Leval (GLC02437.05741) and discusses their land deals. Says he completely agrees with her on the advantages they would gain from a French settlement in Maine. Although she is aware of the "awkward situation" concerning the Maine lands, assures her the situation is now looking better. A "solid company" with adequate resources has now taken responsibility of the land. Notes [William] Bingham is the head of the company and [William] Duer has relinquished his rights. Believes she will be satisfied with Bingham's performance as an agent.

GLC02437.05750