01 August 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Caleb Strong

Knox tell Governor Strong that the Attorney General has sent Strong "certain affadavits, exhibiting the outlines of an attempt made by unknown persons within the Waldo Patent, and County of Hancock to assassinate certain surveyors, who were in lawful pursuit of their business." Knox insists he always tried to peacefully resolve any conflicts between himself and settlers. Violence is not necessary. Knox goes on to explain his case and say that "the people generally within the Waldo Patent have an honor and keen [sense] of resentment against the recent act."

GLC02437.07438

15 August 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Caleb Strong

Knox sends to Governor Strong three affidavits of the surveyors "who were fired upon by assassins on the 13th ultimo." Knox speaks of the "most audacious and blood thirsty villains that ever disgraced the surface of New England." Knox thinks the perpetrators reside in Plymouth county. He wishes that the law come down as hard as possible on them. But strong government agents must be the ones investigating this, because lesser ones would not be as effectual.

GLC02437.07448

18 September 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Sullivan

Knox informs Sullivan that George Ulmer knows a man willing to give evidence about the assaults on Knox's surveyors, but only if "legally called upon." Knox suggests that this unnamed man, the wounded man staying with Ulmer, and Robert Houston receive summonses.

GLC02437.07463

24 September 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Alexander, Lord Stirling

Reports the arrival of part of a [bldg.] sent by Alexander. Discusses recent orders and troop movements in New York. Mentions ordering troops to Albany to take down a laboratory and to check on wagons in the vicinity. Mentions the recent death of his infant son, writing "The misery inflicted upon us poor mortals appears frequently to be too great to be borne, and yet we wade on, if not contented, yet unwilling to have a period put to our troubles and the shadows we call pleasures." Notes that Mrs. Knox sends her regards to William Duer and Lady "Kitty" Duer (Catharine Alexander, Stirling'…

GLC02437.10047

30 April 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Stewart

Discusses acquiring horses from Stewart. The middle section of this letter has been clipped out, leaving a large break in text.

GLC02437.10108

28 August 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Sullivan

Writes concerning the Waldo patent and a "petition of sundry of the heirs of Brig Genl Waldo for remission of certain taxes upon the patent." States that someone will assess the land and the tax. Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10277

7 June 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Memorandum of conversation with Edmond-Charles Genêt]

Initialled by Knox. Reports on a conversation with French Minister Genet. Mentions news about Guadalupe and Martinique. Says Admiral Gardener made an appearance there and was told that the defenders were in need of muskets, cannon, and ammunition. Notes that if the U.S. would provide the items, the amount would be deducted from the debt with France. Adds that Genet said "the US could not but be sensible that france had the right to demand our guarantee of those islands," because of the connections those islands have with American commerce. Told Genet that their own arsenals were deficient and…

GLC02437.05897

October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: to unknown

Relates the concerns of the President, George Washington, regarding the "present hostile state of Europe," and the consequences it may have for the United States. Writes, "It is acknowledged by all who reflect upon the course of human events that a just regard for its own preservation and security, is the primary duty of every independent nation." Believes that the United States is in a good position to defend itself should the need arise. States that though the President does not have legal authority to direct measures of defense, he feels that the respective states should do what they can…

GLC02437.09950

February 23, 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: Notes of a conversation with Mr. Soderstrom

Title taken from docket. Reports Soderstrom's offer of 20 cents per acre made to the committee on eastern lands in March 1792 specified the lands to be between the Penobscot and Scoodie Rivers. Notes Henry Jackson was empowered to offer 21 cents per acre, as a consequence, the committee told William Tudor, Soderstrom's agent, that Jackson's offer was for more. Soderstrom responded by saying he would not offer anything more. Tudor and Soderstrom wanted Jackson to make payment on a note owed to them. There was confusion on how they obtained the note. Docket also notes that a copy of these…

GLC02437.05832

19 October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Memorandum related to Joseph Peirce]

Reports on various issues Joseph Peirce was handling and mentions several deeds. Makes reference to the proprietors buying 9,000 acres, more than of which is occupied by squatters. Also states Peirce is to pay the £25 tax to the Hancock County Sheriff.

GLC02437.05949

20 October 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [List of trees to be delivered to St. Georges, Maine]

List of fruit trees to be delivered to the site of his future house (Montpelier). Includes 200 apple trees, 100 pear trees, 50 peach trees, 50 cherry trees, as well as 200 currant and gooseberry bushes. Mentions cuttings of grape vines, 30 locust trees, a weeping willow tree, and various nut trees will be sent. Place written was made Boston because other letters (GLC02437.05952) show that Knox was there on this date.

GLC02437.05951

18 March 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Simpson

Writes his mason regarding the construction of his house (his future estate, Montpelier, in Maine). Requests Mr. [Henry] Simpson to provide General [Henry] Jackson with an estimate of the supplies that will be needed. Reminds him he wants a well built house, but also desires it to be plain and not made of expensive carvings or ornaments. Informs Mr. Simpson he will not be present during the beginning of construction and is relying on his expertise and reputation. Allows for him to choose which workmen to hire but insists all agreements are made in writing. Gives detailed instructions on…

GLC02437.06064

27 November 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document

Title: [Assignment of land to Samuel Ogden]

Noted as a copy of the original. A legal agreement made by Henry Knox assigning property to Samuel Ogden and his heirs. The property includes all houses, land, and any other real estate associated with the said assignment. Docket notes 10,670 acres is assigned to Samuel Ogden.

GLC02437.06259

11 March 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Note]

Promissory note to pay Samuel Hodgdson $1,390. Signature is struck.

GLC02437.08664

circa 14 May 1795

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Notes]

Notes regarding various business, listed by date. Includes a drawing of a pointing hand on the first page.

GLC02437.08685

29 September 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Agreement with Sarah Waldo, William & Sarah Wetmore]

Document relating to Knox's attempt to purchase a large portion of the Waldo estate. Part of the estate is being given by William Wetmore to Sarah Waldo, as payment for a debt, and will then be sold to Henry Knox. Signed by Knox on the second page, also signed there by Sarah Waldo and William Wetmore, and signed and witnessed by Samuel W. Bayliss and William Lewison. The third page is a later note, dated 29 September 1794, stating that the pact has been completed, and signed by Sarah Waldo and William Wetmore.

GLC02437.09246

22 August 1794

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Agreement with the 20 Associates]

Agreement between Knox and "the twenty associates" represented by Charles Barrett regarding lands in the Waldo patent. Establishes the boundaries of the lands owned by the associates, and lists other rules reragding this property. The twenty associates were the group that initially owned the Waldo patent, with Samuel Waldo being a member. Also signed by Charless Barrett, David Cobb, John Wills and Thomas Cobb.

GLC02437.09253

29 August 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to George Washington

This appears to be a preliminary draft of Knox's 29 August 1790 letter to George Washington (in the GW Papers at the Library of Congress) responding to Washington's secret communication of 27 August. In that communication, sent to the members of his Cabinet, Washington asked for opinions as to the proper response to take if the British asked for permission to travel across U.S. territory, from Detroit to the Mississippi, in order to attack Spanish posts. See GLC02437.08216, GLC02437.08217, and 2437.09449 for related drafts.

GLC02437.04709

October 5, 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Memorandum on the visit of John Pope to Henry Knox]

This document describes the visit of "Mr. John Pope or Colonel Pope" who was from near Richmond, Virginia. Reports that Pope claimed to have gone down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers last spring in the employ of Patrick Henry and David Ross of the Virginia Yazoo Company. Pope claims to have met the governor of New Orleans (Miro Estevan) traveling up the Mississippi to the Walnut Bluffs to build a military base. He then went to Pensacola, and up the Alabama River, meeting Alexander McGillivray of the Creek Nation. He arrived at McGillivray's on 27 May, staying at his house 7 days, and staying…

GLC02437.05187

8 June 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Bill of sale to Benjamin Walker]

Bill of sale for a tract of land in New York to Walker. Dated previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.04625

22 June 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [Copy of a document related to the Cayuga Nation]

Appears to be a partial copy or a set of notes from a 22 June 1790 treaty signed at Fort Stanwix by five commissioners and eleven Cayuga chiefs and warriors. Discusses the Cayugas' lands. Apparently, the Cayugas are seeking permission from the state to [lease] their lands. An additional note states that "certain white people have settled upon the lands ... " Refers to [Mr. Street] in relation to the land. Lists the names of the five commissioners (including Joseph Brandt), along with a note stating that the original of this document was signed by eleven chiefs and warriors 22 June 1790 at…

GLC02437.04635

3 September 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: Power of attorney

Gives his brother William Knox power of attorney to sell Henry Knox's St. Lawrence lands along with 25,000 acres of the Waldo Patent. Recorded in the secretary's office of New York on 4 September 1790 by Robert [Harpur], Deputy Secretary.

GLC02437.04713

21 April 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document signed

Title: [Receipt for ice]

Receipt written in Knox's hand for the purchase of ice from the ice house at Bush Hill bought from Christopher Hart. Signed in text by Knox. Signed by a witness John Stagg Jr. and signed with the mark of Christopher Hart.

GLC02437.04921

2 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Legal agreement on land in Maine] [incomplete]

Incomplete legal document signed by both Knox and Duer with paper and wax seals next to their signatures. Portions of the document may be in the hand of General Henry Jackson. Document pertains to Duer's and Knox's joint purchase of what could be up to two million acres of land near the Waldo Patent in the District of Maine from the Massachusetts Legislature (see GLC02437.04670). Duer notes that if the lands purchased touched upon the Waldo Patent, Knox is to provide a township upon the Penobscot River to give the property access to the sea. Witnessed and signed by Henry Jackson and John…

GLC02437.04969

10 June 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: [List of articles sent to Harry Knox]

List of items that Knox sent to his son Henry Knox at Princeton, New Jersey. The items include: two morning gowns, one white waistcoat and breeches, and one nankeen. Sent nine books useful in a classical education. Also sent a green satchel and some apples. List is not in Knox's handwriting. Two additions to list and docket are in Knox's hand.

GLC02437.04987