February 13, 1793

Fitch, John, 1743-1798

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Nicholson

Fitch, an inventor, suggests that Nicholson pay Mr. Stokes for use of Stokes' unspecified model. Instructs Nicholson, Comptroller-General of Pennsylvania, to take a receipt for this payment, which "may appear to a jury as a purchase" in case Stokes attempts to claim exclusive rights to the model. Includes a fragment possibly removed from this document with the notation "fragment text does not match document text."

GLC04647

20 December 1790

Fitch, John, 1743-1798

Autograph document signed

Title: [Biography of John Fitch]

A handwritten biography of John Fitch. The text is written under an engraving of a image of a steamboat with the caption "Plan of Mr. Fitch's Steamboat." There is a more detailed typed biography attached to the upper left hand corner of the page. In the biography he mentions not being recognized for the invention of his steam boat, and his wish to be recognized.

GLC02480.07.01

1775/05/15

Fitch, John, 1743-1798

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for Robert Stocton for payment in full]

Receipt to Robert Stocton [Stockton?] for payment in full. Accompanied by incomplete letter of the same date, apparently in a different hand, stating "The enclosed letter came to my Hands of," with monetary calculations. John Fitch designed and successfully launched the first steamboat in 1787. He received a U.S. patent for his steamboat in 1791. In the 1770's, Fitch made a living in Trenton as a silversmith, gunsmith, and provisioner of Continental Army troops.

GLC02480.07