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

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

5 November 1791

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Statement of meeting proceedings]

Statement relating to a meeting held between Henry Knox, William Duer, William Constable, and Royal Flint, in July 1791. Declares that Knox testified to Samuel Ogden's relinquishment of his claims on certain townships in Maine. Outlines a discussion between the attendees about compensating Ogden for the lands.

GLC02437.05226

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

22 August 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Promises Knox he will not sell any of his own shares in their joint business before offering them first to Knox. Makes arrangements with Knox on how he will come up with the necessary amount of money.

GLC02437.05424

26 April 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Urges Duer to make a decision with respect to the purchase of lands in Maine. Suggests he speak to General [Henry] Jackson about it, who will report faithfully back to Knox. Would like to travel to New York but is unable to do so, due to the pressures of his job. Encourages him to keep up his spirits.

GLC02437.05431

29 April 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document

Title: to War Department [in French]

Note on the docket declares that this is a copy of a letter Colonel William Duer sent to Mr. [Despreminet] without the authority of Henry Knox. Mentions Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche. Docket is an Autograph document signed by Knox, stating, "a copy of a letter to Mr D [Despreminet] by W Duer 1792 without authority from H Knox - given to me this day by Bacler delaVal 18 [March] 1793."

GLC02437.05435

4 May 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Wrote to Duer a week ago asking him to see Henry Jackson in New York City regarding their project to purchase lands in Maine. Stresses the importance of their making a decision on the lands, as their financial situation is dire. Will not personally be able to get to New York, so again asks that he speak to Henry Jackson on the subject.

GLC02437.05447

5 May 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a conversation he had with General [Henry] Jackson about business, but feels he needs to speak to Knox directly about their arrangements. Considers their attempts to purchase land in Maine. Comments on his own character and the damaging nature of his debt. Mentions a land purchase by Mr. [Samuel] Ogden.

GLC02437.05448

8 July 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Discusses his lack of funds to purchase Henry Knox's land claim and other business in regards to land. Noted as a copy and written in Jackson's hand.

GLC02437.05531

5 August 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he has received the letter informing Knox that their agreement "is to be considered as conclusive." Will be travelling to New York City to finalize their arrangements.

GLC02437.05569

8 August 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he will not be able to make their previous appointment as he cannot leave Philadelphia at this time due to some "public business." Adds that he does not think this will disappoint Duer, though, because he understands that it is Duer's responsibility to finalize the arrangements with Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche. Docket is partially cut off.

GLC02437.05574

6-13 September 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript document

Title: [Copies of correspondence]

Copies of correspondences between William Duer, Henry Knox, Royal Flint, and Henry Jackson detailing the progress of their land deals and Duer's financial instability. Also includes details on the land agreements involving Madame de Leval and Monsieur la Roche. In the first correspondence, dated 12 September 1792, Duer writes to Jackson and Flint discussing a contract he drew up for Knox involving land deals between Knox, Roche and Leval. The second letter, dated 13 September 1792, Flint forwards a packet (not included) to Jackson which was originally between Knox and Duer. The packet…

GLC02437.05607

16 September 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Discusses an agreement between them concerning land. Notes he was in hopes of hearing Duer's decision on whether he will be selling his land.

GLC02437.05612

6 October 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Marked "Confidential." Apologizes for not answering Knox's letter sooner. Discusses his difficulty in keeping to his part of the contract with Knox. Is unable to find funds to buy a tract of land. Describes his circumstances and why he is unable to buy the land as he had hoped. Also discusses his future and the likelihood of his imprisonment and the effect it will have on his family.

GLC02437.05643

16 October 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Informs Jackson that Henry Knox has agreed to give Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche deeds for portions of Trenton and "No. 8" (both in present-day Maine). Instructs Jackson, "To enable her further to place the Germans, you will assist her to take possession of no. 15." States that Leval and de la Roche are not to make any application to the State without consulting Knox and Duer. Written in Henry Jackson's hand and marked as a copy.

GLC02437.05655

19 October 1792

Duer, William, 1747-1799

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

States that [Samuel] Shaw and [Thomas] Randall are considered "transient merchants," thus their credit is not considered good for long engagements. Discusses a financial matter with Knox, and notes that he hopes to see Knox before he leaves.

GLC02437.05656

19 October 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Asks if Duer approves of the joint bonds between Knox and William Greene as security for the $40,000. Instructs Duer to let him know by sending a note to Mr. King's, where Knox will be having dinner.

GLC02437.05657

21 October 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Agreement with Duer where Duer will sell "all [the] original rights in the province of maine lands" to Knox. Duer will be paid $50,000 in three annual installments, and he will receive the bonds of William Green, Knox, and Shaw and Randall. Signature has been struck. Contains an autograph note signed by Knox on the address leaf stating that the agreement was cancelled 20 December 1792 by virtue of an agreement between Duer, William Bingham, and Henry Knox.

GLC02437.05662

21 October 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to William Duer

Copy of GLC02437.05662. Agreement with Duer where he will sell "all [the] original rights in the province of maine lands," to Knox. Noted as a copy and signature(s) are clipped.

GLC02437.05663

29 October 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Discusses concerns about an agreement with Mr. [William] Green: "As Mr Green has not to my knowledge any great fixed property in this Country, and as he objects to any guarantee of his bonds, although going abroad, an apprehension is excited in my mind that by some fatal accidents, I may have parted with the property and yet have the bonds to pay." Relates that he requested a legal agreement from Green to protect his rights, ensuring Green will continue to make payments on the bonds while in Europe (GLC02437.05675). Discusses potential consequences if Green refuses. Instructs Duer to…

GLC02437.05677