8 April 1779

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to unknown

Written by Heath as Major General in Continental Army from his hometown of Roxbury to an unknown council. Heath was in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign. After surrendering in October 1777, they were marched through Albany to Boston, where they remained until February 1779, when they were marched to Virginia. This letter deals with barracks for those prisoners of war at Rutland, Massachusetts. Says Colonel Joshua Davis is now ready to settle his accounts for the expenditures that were used to build the barracks to…

GLC03376

16 December 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from Saratoga campaign to General Burgoyne as prisoner of war. Says that he received word from Congress on 1 December 1777 that Burgoyne's troops are not to leave through any port except Boston, the one stipulated in the Convention treaty. Wants Burgoyne to have the earliest notice of this news.

GLC04787

February 11, 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Letter signed

Title: to William R. Lee

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign to Lee as commandant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where many of the troops were located. Complains to Lee that many British soldiers are disguising themselves as sailors and peasants and joining the Continental Army in order to receive a bounty, clothing, and arms and then returning to the British barracks. Orders Lee to go to Burgoyne immediately and to retrieve several persons who names are enclosed (not included here). If Burgoyne will not give them up, he is…

GLC04788

9 June 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Header Record

Title: [Collection of two letters to William Phillips] [Decimalized]

Two letters by Heath to General William Phillips. See 4789.01 and 4789.02. Collateral engraving also included.

GLC04789

16 September 1782

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Writes that since the Commander in Chief [General George Washington] has not yet received money or the necessary papers by the Southern post, he plans to postpone the meeting of Commissioners to next Wednesday.

GLC02437.01615

16 April 1783

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General Heath to General Knox. Reports that General Washington ordered the officers of each state in the army under his immediate command to meet to give their decision on the Congressional resolution of 23 March (this offered five years pay as commutation instead of half-pay pensions for life). Says that the Massachusetts line is meeting at the public building at New Windsor next Friday and wants Knox and the other Massachusetts officers at West Point to be there. Asks that he collect their sentiments and pass them along by the time of the meeing if they cannot make it.

GLC02437.02096

7 August 1783

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Requests that Knox intercede with the Commander in Chief, George Washington, to obtain a discharge for a man named Mr. Shaw. References his advanced age and that he had a Captain's commission from the state of Massachusetts. He is therefore, not a "proper person" to serve as a private soldier.

GLC02437.02373

24 June 1782

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by General Heath to Major General Knox. Reports to Knox that the men of the Massachusetts line believe Congress needs to address the arrears of pay due to them for 1781. They would like the general officers from Massachusetts to join them. Says a meeting has been scheduled for 26 June at noon and it is asked that Knox attend.

GLC02437.01467

13 September 1782

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written from Camp Verplank's Point, present-day Verplanck, New York. Encourages Knox to come down to his location soon to discuss and prepare for a meeting with the British Commissioners (regarding the prisoner cartel). Also mentions a discussion with the Quartermaster General [Colonel Timothy Pickering] about preparation of a barge. Writes that the Quartermaster General would like Knox to make preparations for it.

GLC02437.01607

28 May 1783

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a Lieutenant-Colonel [John] Popkin and whether or not he should stay at his post as Superintendent of Recruiting Services in Boston, Massachusetts, as the recruiting service has been closed.

GLC02437.02137

11 June 1783

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards a list [not included] of people appointed by the Massachusetts line to a committee to "prepare an address to his excellency the commander in chief, &c on the happy issue of the war."

GLC02437.02158

January 14, 1782

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

General Heath relates that Doctor Woodward, who presented this note to Knox, left for furlough in November 1781 and was supposed to have returned to service 7 January 1782. Heath explains that the death of Woodward's father, Reverend Woodward, and brother, and the illness of other family members have prevented his compliance with the furlough. Heath writes, "...humanity compel [sic] me to write you a line in his behalf, and as I know he has been perfectly innocent, to request that he may be fully acquitted of any blame."

GLC02437.10033

January 2, 1781

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Stevens

Heath acknowledges his reception of the Quarter Master's receipt for Colonel Hazen's regiment. Letter written from "Garrison West Point."

GLC01412.64.10

February 7, 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to David Wooster

Written by Heath as Major General in the Continental Army to Major General Wooster. He orders a grand forage for the next morning. Mentions complaints about vandalism of local houses by soldiers and asks Wooster to look into it. Requests that soldiers be prohibited from traveling to New York City without the consent of the Committee of Convention. Adds that the Detachment of Artillery will soon be inactive and he would like General Treadwell and the other detachments to come to Kingstreet so that they may all be together. Heath was soon to be censured by Washington and would be given commands…

GLC01139

April 7, 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Hancock

Letter countersigned by Seth Loring, Secretary. Heath writes to the Deputy Paymaster General of the Forces of the United States of America requesting payment of $200 for Captain Benjamin Wallcott of Colonel Thomas Marshall's Regiment for five months of pay beginning 6 July 1777. Letter accompanied by a certificate dated March 27, 1778 written by Marshall to Heath certifying that Wallcott was in his regiment since July 6, 1777. The two documents are attached by a wax seal. Heath was a major general in the Continental Army.

GLC01450.005.03

October 18, 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Letter signed

Title: to Ebenezer Hancock

Letter written in a secretarial hand, by Major General Heath's secretary Seth Loring, and signed by Heath. A request for payment of a soldier's wages sent to Ebenezer Hancock, Deputy Paymaster General of U.S. forces. John Black, a soldier in Captain Turner's company in Colonel Bradford's regiment was to receive "Twentysix Dollars & two thirds in full of four Months pay." Black was unable to withdraw his pay with the regiment because he was confined to the hospital. Note on verso, signed by John Black, states he received the money.

GLC01450.200

circa July 1776

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph note signed

Title: to Henry Knox

After receiving an inquiry from the Continental Congress, General Heath asks Knox how many of the canons brought to Massachusetts from Fort Ticonderoga (for the Siege of Boston) were brought from Cambridge to New York, and how many belong to New England colonies. At the time, Heath was in New York, serving under General Israel Putnam. Signed in text in the third person.

GLC02437.00405

August 2, 1782

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Henry Jackson

The recipient is inferred from contents of the letter. Heath informs Col. Jackson that he has just received the New York newspaper with an enclosed letter of intelligence from him. States that he will send the letter and newspaper to the Commander in Chief.

GLC01412.63.04

3 January 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

This document references receiving a resolve from Congress of 19 December 1777. Quotes section of the resolve to Burgoyne about the need for the British commissary to either send provisions of equal amount that have been supplied or to liquidate accounts with gold or silver before any prisoners are released. The resolve "is prefaced upon Sir Will: Howe's requisition for provisions to be sent in for the Subsistance of the American prisoners in his possession." Thought it best to send this information to Burgoyne, so he can arrange to settle the accounts before embarking for England. Marked "…

GLC04764.91

1 July 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Pay document]

"Abstract of One Months pay of sundry Artificers employed in the Continental Service from the first of June to the last 1777." Showing amounts owed Captain Thomas Urann [a Boston Tea Party participant] and eleven of his men.

GLC09072

1 August 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter

Title: to William Phillips

Written by Heath as commander of the Convention Army, which consisted of British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign, to British General Phillips as the highest ranking officer with the Convention Army. References Phillips's letter from 29 July 1778. Hopes no accident has befallen Captain Willow. Says he needs to get General George Washington's permission to allow Phillips to take a journey to Canada. Tells Phillips that a recruiting party that visited British prisoners was from the navy and that he has asked them to desist in such activities. Has given Captain Williams permission to…

GLC04789.02

9 June 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Phillips

Written by Heath as American commander in charge of the Convention Army, which consisted of the British prisoners of war from the Saratoga campaign, to General Phillips as the highest ranking officer in captivity with the Convention Army. References Phillips's letter of 8 June 1778 where he complains of restrictions put on the movement of his men. Heath previously gave orders saying the prisoners were not allowed to travel to Watertown anymore. The prisoners were housed in Watertown previously because there were too many to keep them all in Cambridge. Heath says that exchanges have culled the…

GLC04789.01

16 December 1777

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by Heath, as American commander of the district where the Convention Army was located. The Convention Army consisted of the British prisoners of war after the Battle of Saratoga. To General Burgoyne, the British commander, in captivity. Passes along information that the Continental Congress has passed a resolution saying the Convention Army can only leave from the port stipulated in the Articles of Convention, which was Boston.

GLC04764.43

3 January 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Letter in response to GLC04764.45. Written by Heath, the American General in charge of the district where the captured British Convention Army was based, to General Burgoyne, the commander of the British troops in the Convention Army. Gives permission to David Geddes, the acting paymaster, to travel to Rhode Island to procure funds for the army. Says Geddes needs to come to him to get a passport. Says it is improper for Burgoyne to have a man-of-war pick him up to be returned to England. Says a normal transport will work just as well as a man-of-war, which he does not want entering the harbor…

GLC04764.46

8 January 1778

Heath, William, 1737-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Burgoyne

Written by General Heath as commander of the district where the captured British Convention Army is located to General Burgoyne, the commander of the Convention Army. Says that Mr. Blodget has valid complaints against British soldiers demolishing three buildings and other property near Winter Hill. Says documents he has before him are convincing. Tells Burgoyne to "pay that attention to Mr. Blodget's Representation, which the Considerable Loss he has met with intitles him to." Trusts Burgoyne will redress the issue. Repair to the back page of the letter. Most of the address was lost in the…

GLC04764.48