24 May 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Duer to Secretary of War Knox. Reports that General Henry Jackson is going to Philadelphia, presumably because of the problematic speculation deal sponsored by Duer. In reference to the business problems between Duer and Knox, Duer says that William Constable has agreed to "combine" with him. Hopes Knox will hold off doing anything because "I have an operation which I will Communicate when we meet, that will make the Speculation solid, and productive; but then all arrangements must be within our own Controul." Pledges that he still stands by his promise. Says the parties are…

GLC02437.04956

2 June 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph document signed

Title: [Land purchase instructions for Henry Jackson and other agents]

Document is apparently written in Duer's hand and signed by both Knox and Duer. Docket is in Knox's hand. Document provides instructions to their agents for the purchase of a tract of land in Maine. Docket suggests General Henry Jackson was one of the agents. Knox and Duer tell their agents to alter the contract if circumstances warrant, but to avoid any major changes, especially in terms of price. They permit them to incur whatever expenses are necessary to quickly complete the transaction, and add that they will be reimbursed. They give advice on how to handle the committee of the…

GLC02437.04970

2 June 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph document signed

Title: [Principles of agreement between Henry Knox and William Duer and the state of Massachusetts]

Agreement of Knox and Duer to purchase lands in the District of Maine from the state of Massachusetts. Written in Duer's hand. The major stipulations include: an equal stake in the investment for both parties, a desire to pay only 12 cents per acre in no less than five annual installments, that only Knox and Duer are directors of this purchase with William Constable being given the option to join them during a six-month period after the purchase, and that Henry Jackson and Royal Flint are to serve as agents for the purchase. Goes on to provide stipulations that "subordinate parties" will…

GLC02437.04971

8 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Written by Secretary of War Knox to Duer. Marked "Secret." After receiving William Constable's answer, says that Samuel Ogden will write to the commissioners of Massachusetts "relinquishing any claim on the eastern lands." Knox says he told Ogden "if he relinquished and we purchased that he should have a handsome quantity without any advance." Says the eastern lands are exempt from taxes by law for 10 years. 20 families are to be settled on each township in 5 years. Says Henry Jackson will arrive tomorrow evening at the latest. Asks him to send the declaration that Duer, Constable, and…

GLC02437.04980

14 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Duer

Writes, "Mr. Samuel Ogden transmitted by the post yesterday to the Massachusetts [committee] a full [renumeration] of my claim on the eastern lands..." Says this will make things easier for Henry Jackson. Discusses the details of two drafts for $5,000. Has given them to Captain Randall and hopes Duer will accept them. Tells Duer that his son William has been injured in a fall.

GLC02437.04993

June 17, 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Signed and initialed by Knox. This appears to be a copy of two letters that Knox sent to Duer on 17 June and 19 June. On June 19, Knox told Duer to pay a $2,500 note 33 days after the date to the firm of Shaw and Randall. On June 17 he had told Duer to pay a $2,500 note in 60 days. This document relates to the notes worth $5,000 Knox has recently corresponded with Thomas Randall about (refer to GLC02437.05006).

GLC02437.05008

19 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Knox reports that Samuel Ogden decided to take the obligation for $3,000 in preference to the 50,000 acres of land. Asks Duer to draw up a joint note for both of them to sign. Adds that if Duer thinks it proper, Mr. Constable should also sign the note. Relates that by the last post, he received the deed from Henry Jackson, and he will have it copied and sent to Colonel Walker on Monday. Wants to know if he has any plans or prospects "relative to a sale."

GLC02437.05009

20 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Says Duer must have received Henry Jackson's letter of 12 June. Writes, "I flatter myself you have sent Mr. Flint or some other person in his stead. I am desirous we should secure the whole quantity of 4 Millions as I am concerned it is now or never." Says different names for land companies must be used to complete the sale. Hopes for a price of 7 or 8 cents per acre.

GLC02437.05015

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

7 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Says Duer will receive by this day's post a public letter "relative to the supplies on the western frontier." Says he is alarmed about information he just received from Mr. Walker that Duer has yet "to arrange for ... the stores for the expedition." Tells him "I hope in God you have made other and more effectual arrangements or you will suffer excessively in your interests." Wants to know by the return post what exact steps he will take to fix the situation. Says the troops for the expedition have now arrived at Fort Pitt "and other places on the Ohio - and the rear of the force for the…

GLC02437.05056

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

15 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Intended to leave for New York today, but circumstances will prevent him from going until next week. Says he cannot give an exact day "as I am not entirely master of my own time." Will go at the first opportunity. Place written assumed from content.

GLC02437.05064

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

17 December 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Receipt]

Knox outlines monies Duer owes him for accommodations. Duer writes that he promises to repay the monies, and signs his name at the bottom.

GLC02437.05259

23 December 1791

Pintard, John, 1759-1844

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

The first part, at the top, is a note from John Pintard, explaining that he is sending Knox five thousand dollars in gold to Knox, per Duer's request. The note on the bottom is from William Duer, referring to the sum Pintard is sending, and mentioning that he will be sending more money on the following Tuesday. Pencil calculations on verso.

GLC02437.05271

February 16, 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Notes on his accounts with William Duer]

Chronicles financial transactions between Henry Knox and William Duer from December 1791 to mid-February 1792. Information on page 2 indicates that a Francis Ingraham is willing to "take up Mr. Duer's note."

GLC02437.05322

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

20 March 1792

Duer, Catharine Alexander, fl. 1792

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Catharine Alexander Duer, also known as Lady Kitty Duer, wife of William Duer, writes that she and her husband have sent the bearer, their old servant Henry, to Philadelphia so he could check on his petition to Congress. Hopes Knox will extend his friendship to Henry and help him receive whatever Congress decides is due him. Sends love on behalf of herself and her husband to Mrs. Knox.

GLC02437.05366