16 October 1801

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General [Stevens]

Letter is not signed but appears to be in Knox's handwriting. Knox explains the financial difficulties he is having. Describes his limestone business and boasts over its quality. Requests Steven's takes Knox's limestone under his protection and form contracts on Knox's behalf. Provides the selling prices of the stone and encourages Masons; to try his stone. Asks for Steven's candid opinion on the subject. Addressee name was added later in red pen.

GLC02437.07637

9 October 1802

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Kidder

Noted as a copy. Instructions given to Kidder regarding the sale of Brigadiers Island (present day Sears Island, Maine) to [Rowland] Center.

GLC02437.07760

13 October 1802

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Mr. Kerby

Letter is not signed but appears to be in Knox's handwriting. Discusses their mutual friend Mrs. [Sarah Lyons] Beaumez (Knox's sister-in-law) and the loss of her husband. Mentions Beaumez's sons (Thomas and Francis Flucker) and how he hopes they will be led down the path of honor. Also speaks of a cargo full of lumber which might be of service to the Navy. Docket notes letter as a draft.

GLC02437.07761

22 November 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Thomas Jefferson

Informs Jefferson that "General Stewart declines accepting the appointment of Inspector for the port of Philadelphia and would have done the same with the naval office had it been offered to him. He says that he made the application at the influnce [sic] of his father-in Law, who is now convinced that the acceptance of the office would injure his commercial pursuits." Goes on to say that he enclosed "a letter from the Governor of Maryland" concerning "the capture of the brigs Cunningham and Pilgrim." Watermarked "J Watt & C Patent Copying/Sold By J Woodmason/London." Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10285

15 November 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Letter signed

Title: to Samuel Hodgdon

Written by Secretary of War Henry Knox to Deputy in Charge of Quartermaster Accounts in Philadelphia Samuel Hodgdon (1792-1794). Knox tells him he will arrange appropriations with Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton.

GLC01897

1750-1820

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Header Record

Title: Henry Knox papers, including retained and received correspondence, &c. [Decimalized .00001 - .10737]

Letters and documents, written to or by Knox, who served as chief of Artillery during the Revolution, and then as Secretary of War under the Articles of Confederation and in President Washington's first administration. The collection includes Knox's voluminous correspondence with luminaries like Washington, Jefferson, Lafayette, Benjamin Lincoln, Nathanael Greene, John and John Q. Adams, Hancock and Paine. It also includes his business and wartime correspondence, and the charming and affectionate letters between Knox and his wife, Lucy Flucker Knox. Much interesting business and personal…

GLC02437

February 11, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Wishes Washington a happy birthday, "permit me my dear dear friend to felicitate you on the return of your birth day." "I do not wish you long life as the greatest blessing, believing strongly the immortality of the mind, and that the next grade of existence will present you with joys highly superior to any attendant on the best possible situation in this."

GLC02437.04508

17 April 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

Replies to Bourne's letter (GLC02437.04585) that he received earlier that morning. Says that he will assist Bourne with his pursuits (an appointment abroad in the public agency) and gives him advice on how to best handle the business. Recommends Bourne expresses his desires on paper before seeking assistance from the President, George Washington, or the Secretary of Treasurer, Alexander Hamilton. Mentions his wish to have the Flucker estate settled as soon as possible.

GLC02437.04587

7 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to George Washington

A draft of a letter to Washington from Secretary of War Knox sketching out elements of a treaty with the Creek Indians. Signed a public treaty with the Creeks, represented by Alexander McGillivray and all the Creek leaders able to attend. Additional, private articles were signed by McGillivray on behalf of the Creek Nation. Reports that since recent negotiations had failed to produce a peace treaty, and since the informal truce had almost expired, the government felt it necessary to take up new negotiations to protect settler families. Discusses the issues at stake in the negotiation,…

GLC02437.04673

23 September 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Secretary of War Knox informs President Washington that "the differences between England and Spain have been accommodated." Signed "HK." Knox's retained draft.

GLC02437.04732

10 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to John Adams

Written by Secretary of War Knox to Vice President Adams. Thanks Adams for his hospitality at Bush Hill. Mentions criticism of Adams's travels in the Connecticut and New York newspapers. Comments on the "political heresy [of the] American edition of [the] payne pamphlet mentioned in the preface." This is a reference to Thomas Jefferson's endorsement of Thomas Paine's "The Rights of Man," in which he conflated the spirit of the American Revolution of 1776 with that of the French Revolution of 1789. Knox says "he has assured me that the note he wrote to the printer never was intended for…

GLC02437.04986

27 September 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Carrington

Has received his last letter. Believes that highly respectable people have sought and been appointed to the position of Marshal, and congratulates him on his appointment to that office. Adds that the President supports his nomination. Mentions that his wife Lucy is ill and grief-stricken after the death of their child. Also discusses content of newspapers.

GLC02437.04366

27 September 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

Received his recent letter. Did not reply because he expected to see Bourne in New York. Discusses appointments to the position of Marshal, and provides advice about Bourne's political career. Briefly comments on the Waldo patent lands.

GLC02437.04368

29 September 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Clymer

Discusses a map of the Susquehanna. Reports that someone has been hired to make a copy of the map.

GLC02437.04372

9 November 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Aitken

Based on an agreement with David Ramsay, Knox was supposed to have sent Aitken a list of general and field officers to be published in the appendix of Ramsay's book, History of the American Revolution. He had another person working on the list for over two months, and upon review found the list too erroneous to publish. Also thinks the list would offend many, as it did not take into consideration those who left the service before the end of the war. Intends to let Ramsay know his reasons for not sending the list (refer to GLC02437.04778).

GLC02437.04411

13 December 1789

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Bacon

Discusses the Waldo patent. Refers to difficulties in having the patent authorized by the Legislature of Massachusetts. Mentions struggles with settlers who believe they have claims upon the land.

GLC02437.04437

January 10, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sylvanus Bourne

Discusses the financial business of a mutual acquaintance.

GLC02437.04469

6 July 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Bingham

Writes a letter of introduction for Count [Paolo] Andreani, of Milan, Italy. States that Andreani is highly recommended by the Marquis de la Luzerne.

GLC02437.04646

19 July 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Burnet

Relates that Catharine Greene, widow of Nathanael Greene, has a petition before Congress requesting an indemnification against debts incurred by Greene during the Revolutionary War. During the war, Nathanael Greene had made a contract with merchant John Banks to supply clothing and provisions for the Southern Army, and Knox seeks to prove Greene was not a business partner with Banks. Says that some have alleged Burnett had evidence of Greene's partnership with Banks, through the papers of his son Ichabod Burnet, who had been Greene's aide during the war. Asks whether he had such evidence, and…

GLC02437.04657

11 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Blair

Secretary of War Knox confirms receipt of a letter Blair sent him on 6 August. Knox informs him he will "promote your views" but believes that now is not the best time to "agitate the point." Instead, will save the issue for the "next session when we shall all be on the spot together."

GLC02437.04685

6 September 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Breck

Secretary of War Knox's letter of introduction on behalf of Messrs. Cazenove and [Linctlair], both from Amsterdam. Mr. Cazenove is of "respectable character" and Mr. [Linctlair] is "attached to the Navy of the United Netherlands."

GLC02437.04722

16 September 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to P. Brett

Secretary of War Knox thanks Brett for his letter from 7 July (GLC02437.04647) and looks forward hearing from him more in the future. Also mentions General [John] Maunsell (Maunsell had seen Brett in London, and Brett had updated Knox on Maunsell's voyage from Halifax, in previous correspondence).

GLC02437.04724

7 October 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Bowdoin

Knox acknowledges receipt of a letter James Bowdoin sent regarding Bowdoin's late father. Knox comments that "other demands of a similar nature be a considerable [amount]...have not been attended."

GLC02437.04745

11 April 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: Memorandum

Memorandum of a meeting of Vice President John Adams, Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, and Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Knox's resulting discussion with Lieutenant Colonel [George] Beckwith about Lord Dorchester in Canada and Indian relations, as well as Great Britain's interests in North America. The opening statement of the document reads, " Memorandum of a conversation which passed between the subscriber and Lt. Colonel Beckwith who seems charged with some sort of an informal political commission by Lord Dorchester."

GLC02437.04915

25 May 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Benny & Rogers

Responds to the firm Benny & Rogers' earlier letter (see GLC02437.04948). Discusses financial business regarding a bill Knox covered on behalf of [William] Duer for $488.50.

GLC02437.04958