12 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he arrived in Boston last Thursday and spoke directly to "some of my friends members of our Legislature." Learned that the committee had full power to negotiate the sale of the whole or part of the "unlocated" lands. States that he spoke to the chairman and asked him to call a committee because he had an offer to make on a tract of land in the District of Maine. The committee has complete power to sell the eastern lands. He then told the committee he wanted to purchase between one and two million acres. The committee's terms are 14 cents per acre payable in Massachusetts notes…

GLC02437.04989

12 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes about the subject "of the Lands." Says Oliver Smith will attend to that business. General Brooks is going to write by this post. Hopes their mutual friend Dr. Eustis will obtain "the appointment of principal in the Medical line of the United States." Knows he will accept if it is offered. Assures that "Ben & David" are the only persons he spoke to about the lands.

GLC02437.04990

13 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Phillips

Marked "Copy." Was disappointed by the answer from the committee for the sale of lands respecting the mode of payment and quantity of lands. Wants to buy two million acres of unallocated land for specie payable at different installments with interest. Says if the committee cannot deal with him on those terms, he wonders if he should apply directly to the legislature. Wants a quick answer as the Massachusetts General Court is "rising this week" and he wants to close the purchase before the next session. Says the gentlemen he represents "will be desirious of turning their attention to some…

GLC02437.04991

16 June 1791

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "private" on address leaf. Peirce references Knox's letters of 8 and 9 June. Says his friends concluded it was best not to offer a petition to the legislature regarding the taxes. Observes Knox's instructions regarding Fowles's land and will attend to them. Makes reference to other financial matters and a petition that likely will not be presented before the legislature, since the current session is almost finished.

GLC02437.04999

16 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General Jackson to Secretary of War Knox. Says he is enclosing a copy of the correspondence he had with the committee on the sale of the eastern lands (not included). Says the committee declined to sell him 2 million acres. The committee then asked the legislature for advice on how to proceed. Jackson says that "my every exertion was brought to a focus, and by good management the Court have directed the Committee to treat with me for the quantity I have applied for, and in the morng I shall receive their proposals." Says Royal Flint arrived in Boston last evening.

GLC02437.05003

19 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References receiving Knox's letter of 13 June, which enclosed a copy of Samuel Ogden's letter. Reports that Abigail Cornish has set sail for Philadelphia. Says the lands in the Waldo Patent that were for sale in the advertisement went to Oliver Smith for £900/$3,000. Claims "it is thought best to say, or not deny, that the purchase was made for you." Says the auction was legal and open with sufficient time for all to bid. Tells Knox "I think you had better make your arrangements as soon as possible to pay the Creditors their proportions of the amount of this Sale, it will have a good…

GLC02437.05012

19 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wrote Knox by the last post and included a copy of his letter to the legislative committee that is managing the sale of the lands in Maine. Reports "the Legislature had directed the Committee to negotiate for two Million of Acres - this was a great point gained." Says "the tract they have in Contemplation is the extreme left flank of the state and will not permit us to come within six miles of Penobscot River, besides which we dislike their reserving a tract of thirty miles by six." Says they had a conference with the committee where it was reported that they wanted to reserve the land…

GLC02437.05013

23 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he has not slept "and if the Committe [sic] do not recind we have contractd for two Millions, at 10 Cents pr. Acre payable in eight annual installments."

GLC02437.05026

26 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letters of 17 and 19 June. Also references the letter he sent Knox on 23 June (GLC02437.05026). Encloses a copy of the preliminary agreement (not included) made with the committee for the sale of lands. Says the agreement will be completed next Tuesday when Mr. Phillips, the committee chairman, returns to Boston. Believes they will make few alterations. Has sent Mr. Bruce, a member of the Court from Machias, to get as much information as he can. He is to return in 30 days. Goes on to discuss the location of the tract. Says if the tract borders on the British lines "we…

GLC02437.05030

26 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, the "business of the patent was well conducted, had you been on the spot your most sanguine wishes & exertions could not have placed the conclusion of the business in a more favorable & satisfactory situation." Stresses that everything was done "agreeable to Law," and assures Knox that no difficulties with the law will arise. Hopes [William] Eustis will be named head of the medical department. Says Major Trescott wishes Burnham had been ordered to Fort Pitt first, as he is still waiting for his wife to come from the "Eastward."

GLC02437.05034

28 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Wrote Knox last Sunday and enclosed the principles of an agreement which has been "acceeded to by the parties." Says Mr. Phillips came to Boston and has started examining and discussing the business. Nothing of consequence has taken place. Writes, "we proceed very Slow, but with great harmony, and I think tomorrow will close the papers, with but little alteration from the one I sent you." Relates that Mr. & Mrs. Breck arrived last evening.

GLC02437.05036

30 June 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 23 June. Says the agreement is now finished and that two hands are now copying them. They will be signed, sealed, and delivered tomorrow morning. Made no material alteration from the instrument he sent to Knox on Sunday. Reports "we should have distroyed the ground we stood on, if we had proposed one single acre more than the two Million - that is secured and we must be content." Says he is writing this "in the presence of the Committee, who are affraid of their own shadow." Has engaged Captain [George] Ulmer to go to Penobscot to gather the necessary…

GLC02437.05041

30 June 1791

Stagg, John, Jr., 1758-1803

Manuscript document signed

Title: [War Department accounts]

First page written on 30 June 1791 delineates the salaries of seven members of the War Department for the months of April, May, and June. Notes that Knox made $750 those three months and that his annual salary was $3,000. A total of $1,437.50 was paid in salaries to all seven men for this period. Second page dated 2 July has signatures of members of the department, noting they received their salaries. Knox did not sign the document and Cummings made an "X" for his mark. The other five did sign.

GLC02437.05042

June 1791

Manuscript document

Title: Articles of agreement made and entered into this day of June one thousand seven hundred & ninety one

This is a copy of the legal agreement negotiated by Henry Jackson and Royal Flint as agents for Henry Knox and William Duer for two million acres of land in the District of Maine, sold by a committee of the Massachusetts General Court. The names of the seller are left blank while the buyers are noted as "Henry Jackson & Royal Flint for themselves and associates." The document is divided into ten articles and proclaims that the buyers are getting a price of ten cents per acre to be payable in nine payments for a total of $243,802. Stipulates that the buyers need to get 2,500 settlers to…

GLC02437.05043

3 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 26 June. Knows that Joseph Peirce wrote him about the sale of the patent and hopes Knox has no fears about it. Reports that "it was well conducted, and Mr. Smith had a right to buy. - he was the highest bider [sic], and every exertion, and delay was made use of by the Vendue Master, to induce the company to a higher price, and I believe not more than two in the room had the least Idea that it was purchased for you." Says no reflection or insinuation has been made on Knox's involvement. Claims "the only objection I have to your dividing the surplus to the…

GLC02437.05048

3 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 26 June. After much difficulty and jealousy with the committee, the contract was signed, sealed, and delivered. Encloses a copy for Knox (see GLC02437.05043, a copy of this contract or a slightly earlier version of it). Says the original for the second party is in the hands of Royal Flint who is taking it to New York. Says there is a small change in the contract in their favor, "as they have permitted us to take 23 miles on the east, & 18 miles on the west side of Kennebec - this gives us eleven miles more in width than they first proposed." Reports that…

GLC02437.05049

6 July 1791

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Maunsell

Reports that nothing new has taken place in France since he left. Wishes him a pleasant and speedy trip and hopes he gets to see his friends and family in New York and Philadelphia. Asks him to send his regards. Wants Maunsell to report to him on "every thing public and domestic." Notes his address as 28 Great Titchfield Street, London. Address leaf says Manusell was on board the "Sandwich Packet."

GLC02437.05053

7 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he wrote to Knox last Sunday and enclosed a copy of the contract. Reports that [Royal] Flint left Boston for New York on 3 July. Will forward Flint the maps tomorrow. Says the maps are accurate and well copied and give a good "insite into the two locations." Tells him to see Flint and look at the maps before he makes a final judgment. Enclosed a book by a "Mr. Sullivan." Mentions that their friend Judge [William] Tudor fell from his horse and his leg is badly broken.

GLC02437.05055

10 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 4 July. Is glad that Knox feels the two of them "succeeded well." Reports to Knox about issues with the Massachusetts legislative committee that recently sold them two million acres of land. Reports they have all of [Samuel] Ogden's townships except six on the Kennebeck. Discusses the land they purchased. The land was purchased in two tracts, each one million acres in size. Jackson believes they are fifty miles apart. Says Royal Flint's maps will be in New York by 15 July. Declares that if it is in Knox's power to leave Philadelphia to see Flint, it would be…

GLC02437.05058

17 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 10 July. Is happy to hear Lucy is doing well after the birth of their tenth child. Hopes God will take particular care of the little girl. Has made discreet inquiries about the powers of attorney necessary to transfer fifty bank shares, and describes the procedures for doing so. Reports that he asked Mr. Jarvis about the purchase of some land to satisfy "the ten proprietors." Says it is not best to "hurry the business, and therefore did not call the Committee together." Claims Jarvis understood his object and informed him that the committee would only sell…

GLC02437.05067

17 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

References Knox's letter of 10 July. Is happy that Knox approves of his negotiations. Is at a loss "where would be the best location." Will know more when Mr. Bruce returns from Penobscot. Wrote to Knox last Sunday about the purchase of the town of Trenton in the District of Maine with half of Mount Desert and a number of other islands in the bay. Believes it will be about 60-70,000 acres at less than ten cents an acre. Says it is advantageously connected with the Lottery Townships and "opens a wide door (bounding on the Sea) to our purchase." Tells him to move quickly on this purchase…

GLC02437.05068

22 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Notes he received this day from Captain Chessman a tin case containing the maps of the District of Maine. Hopes Knox receives them safely. Says he will see the advantage of purchasing Mount Desert by looking at the maps. Saw in the newspaper that Postmaster General Samuel Osgood resigned. Puts forward David Cobb's name for the position, claiming "he expects it." Says Cobb's situation is disagreeable with a family of 11 children and no employment. Begs "save him - for godsake save him - he is one of the best men on Earth." Timothy Pickering was appointed the next Postmaster on 12 August…

GLC02437.05080

24 July 1791

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Is disappointed that he has not heard from Royal Flint on the purchase of Mount Desert in Maine. Having authority to negotiate, he will make advances to Mr. Greigore tomorrow. Will receive the maps by Captain Chessman, who is on the Brig "Ceres" on its way to Philadelphia and that he will observe the situation of their tract from them. Notes much depends on the information being sent by Phineas Bruce.

GLC02437.05082

25 June 1791

Price, Ezekiel, 1727-1802

Printed document signed

Title: [Partially printed law document involving the estate of Samuel Waldo]

Marked "Copy." Signed three times by the attorney Ezekiel Price. Witnessed by Samuel Niles. States the amount recovered from the estate of Samuel Waldo in the Court of Common Pleas in Suffolk County was 4,125 pounds, 1 shilling, and 4 pence. That amount is supposed to go to Sarah Waldo of Boston "as she is Administratrix of the Goods & Estate of Samuel Waldo late of Falmouth." Contains wax seal on recto, covered by a square of paper.

GLC02437.05083

27 July 1791

Bruce, Phineas, 1762-1809

Manuscript document signed

Title: A short description of the lands between the rivers Penobscott and Schoodie in the District of Maine

Appears to be a copy of the description of lands in Maine sent to Henry Jackson and Royal Flint. There is also a secretarial signature of Bruce on page four. Claims it is less mountainous than most of Massachusetts. Describes fine fresh meadows and a number of small lakes, rivers, ponds, and swamps. As you get further from coast the rivers and swamps get larger in number and size. This disqualifies the land for settlement, especially since the land is barren and only producing pitch pine hemlock and shrubs. Reports that a one million acre purchase will encompass all that is valuable.…

GLC02437.05087