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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

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20 May 1785-31 December 1785

Manuscript document

Title: [Account of pay for the American Regiment commanded by Colonel Harmar]

Ledger of pay for Colonel [Josiah] Harmar's regiment, from 20 May-31 December 1785. Also includes amounts paid to various officers in that regiment.

GLC02437.03229

8 January 1786

Biddle, Clement, 1740-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes, "My present engagements prevented my going to the westward to direct the business of supplies therefore I could not interest myself in the late proposals for victualing the troops as I wanted the means to [carry?] it on. I shall be much obliged by your orders to furnish the troops here when the recruiting service is again enter'd on." Also, in reference to an earlier letter, mentions that his friend Colonel [Eyres?] along with Charles Biddle remain very interested in donating ships to Congress for use in the conflict against pirates (see GLC02437.03221 and GLC02437.03223). Writes…

GLC02437.03234

1775-circa March 1786

Crane, John, 1744-1805

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Partial account of money owed to John Crane by the United States]

March 1786 date added later in pencil. Document written in two hands. Pages 1 and 2 feature a ledger of expenses Colonel John Crane paid on behalf of the United States from 1775 until approximately 1780. Page 3 features writing in two hands, crossed-out text, as well as a signature, apparently by John Crane. Docket reads, "Copy of part my acct against the United States."

GLC02437.03255

6 May 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Certificate of financial transaction between Henry Knox, Nathaniel Barrett, and William Davis]

Receipt written by Knox and signed by him in text. Nathaniel Barrett signs at the close. "Received of Henry Knox, a certificate No. 93.945. dated the sixth of May 1786, signed by John Peirce, Commissioner, and issued to Wm Davis, for one hundred & thirty four 16/90 Dollars, which I promise to deliver to Wm Davis Jun of Boston (accidents excepted)." Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.03264

18 May 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Breck

Writes that an acquaintance of his, Mr. Badcock, will be delivering the present letter, and has business which "will require the confidence of the judgment of some gentlemen well acquainted with mercantile matters." Is assured that Breck will be able to help. He and his wife Lucy send compliments to Mrs. Breck and their "social circle," whom they hope to see over the course of the coming season.

GLC02437.03268

25 June 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas Theodore Bliss

Secretarially written and signed. Addressee listed as "Captain Bliss," may be Captain Thomas Theodore Bliss. Writes to make arrangements to send Bliss's daughter Betsey back to him. Betsey has apparently been staying with Knox and his family, possibly working as a servant. Adds, "I cannot refrain from mentioning to you that Betsey has been uneasy for a time lately with her situation - We have every [cause] to believe this disposition was created and kept up by an infamous Irish Girl who was in the House whose indentures we had bought but this grievance is at an end as the said Girl has…

GLC02437.03278

20 August 1786

Blackden, Samuel, fl. 1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that while he hopes that peace continues in America, it is hard to be in England and not see how "ill-disposed" the people there are to American independence. Believes that most British citizens think and hope America will come back under the English government, and all the newspapers, even the small, local ones, take that position. Discusses the possibility of a second war with England and how it would be fought. Suggests that America does not have sufficient cavalry so proposes that he have equipment made for their use. Also wishes to write to Congress for appointment as consul…

GLC02437.03294

13 September 1786

Broglio, Francois, comte de, fl. 1786-1788

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Written from "Quartier Dauphin." According to the docket, written from Saint Domingue to recommend the Baron de la Valletiere for membership in the Society of the Cincinnati.

GLC02437.03299

22 October 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to James Bowdoin

Writes that he will receive by this post the act of Congress authorizing an additional 700 troops in the Ohio frontier, where the troops there are suffering attacks from local Indians. Reports that Congress has called for the states to pay into the treasury by June of the following year, but that they need money more quickly than that if they want to support the troops already in service and augment the force as well. Hopes that the wealthier men in Boston will agree to help support the government and that they can work out a measure in which they will be "confident of security, and a speedy…

GLC02437.03315

20 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bowdoin

Introduces Captain [possibly Jeremiah or Constant] Freeman as a worthy artillery soldier who served under Knox during the previous war. Recommends him for service in the Massachusetts line currently being raised.

GLC02437.03341

22 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to the Board of Treasury

Marked "copy." Written from the "War Office," likely in New York City during this period. Writes that his past agitations on behalf of payment for troops should convince them of his interest in providing for the public good. Believes that "the defective compliance of most of the States with the requisitions of Congress has been the Sole cause which has prevented better payments." Therefore, has conferred with Mr. Robert Morris and Mr. Jeremiah Wadsworth "in hopes that the public might derive substantial assistance from the great credit and monied influence of those gentlemen." Hopes that…

GLC02437.03342

25 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John] Ashley

Thanks him for last month's letter. Asks him if he can provide any information from his quarter, and would be obliged by a letter from him when possible. Docket reads "To Mr Ashley Springfield -"

GLC02437.03348

November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Additional sources of funding for supplying troops]

Docket reads, "Some minutes of additional funds which might be pledged for a loan, or contract for supplying the troops." Lists various sources of funding, and the amounts he might be able to acquire through these sources.

GLC02437.03359

3 July 1786

Nourse, Joseph, 1754-1841

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Register of sums received]

Certifies that "the Honorable Major General Knox Secretary at War is debited in the Treasury books of the United States with the following Sums of Money" which totals $6,893.60. States in a note that "[t]he General stands indebted for the following sums; the Persons to whom they were advanced being to account for the same with him, conformable to the report of the Clerks of Accounts" including an armorer at West Point and people in charge of goods and stores. Goods and stores amount to $1,026 and some odd cents. Noted as coming from the Register's Office, which most likely travelled with…

GLC02437.10207

22 November 1786

Bankson, Jacob, fl. 1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports to Knox about the state of a case concerning Captain James Lee "formerly of the Artillery [who] has made application to the...Court in Consequence of an Injury he received in the Service of his Country..." Mentions General Varnum and a Colonel [Thaire ?] as witnesses to prove that Lee had a furlough and a doctor's certificate. Address leaf marked with a postage stamp "25 NO" and has a reddish stain where the letter was sealed. Watermarked with hunting horn in a crest and "J. De Busscher." "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.10208

31 August 1784

Price, William, ?-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return]

Return of ordnance and military stores at West Point, New York. Items listed by type, weight and length. Also includes a list of ordnance received since the last return.

GLC02437.10720

30 September 1784

Price, William, ?-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return]

Return of ordnance and military stores at West Point, New York. Items listed by type, weight and length. Also includes a list of ordnance delivered since the last return.

GLC02437.10721

31 October 1784

Price, William, ?-1790

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Return]

Return of ordnance and military stores at West Point, New York. Items listed by type, weight and length.

GLC02437.10722

13-19 March 1780

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph document

Title: Receipt

Receipt of Henry Knox's payments to various merchants for goods such as foodstuffs, bearskins, clothing, etc.

GLC02437.08533

24 January 1781

Magee, James, fl. 1781

Printed document signed

Title: Bills of Lading for the Brigatine Amsterdam

2 copies of bill of lading for "2 Casks Merchandize." The ship Amsterdam will take the goods from Boston to Alexandria, Virginia. Signed twice by Captain James Magee.

GLC02437.08542

30 April 1782

L., Blane, & Wagner, fl. 1782

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Bill to Henry Knox from L. Blaine & Wagner]

Knox's bill for various items, including a traveling case, hair powder, perfume, shaving soap, shaving brushes, etc. The total came to £16.5. Docket in Samuel Shaw's hand.

GLC02437.08543