6 September 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Mentions Lucy Knox's trip up the Hudson River and hearing that General Knox passed New Windsor, New York with Governor George Clinton on his way to meet Lucy. Comments on a naval battle off the coast of Boston between the French frigate Magicianne and the more heavily armed British ship Assurance. Inquires if a Mr. Diricks was ever a Colonel in the Continental Army. Discusses the arrival of a French frigate called the Diligent, along with news that the Spanish and French have attempted "the Reduction of Gibralter" and that they have brought a new type of ship that floats higher in the…

GLC02437.01167

28 September 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses plans for traveling to Europe, ships to take, and his effort to raise money. Also discusses what is happening at the port in Boston, mentioning specific ships, captains, armaments, and visitors. Mentions merchant activities, following up on his previous letter (GLC02437.01186) and announces that the sale of cargo on the Amsterdam has made Henry a profit. Comments on the large amount of public money owed to Henry. Discusses European business accounts. Speculates on the consequences of peace with Britain. Relates story of British Admiral Clyde Parker's battle with the Dutch off…

GLC02437.01196

4 October 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses news of the siege of Yorktown, mentioning the activities of the Marquis de La Fayette and naval engagements between French Admiral Compte de Grasse and British Admiral Thomas Graves. Reports that Congress has received indications of the capture of Lord Cornwallis, but faulty intelligence from the past has made them skeptical. Discusses his upcoming business trip to Europe and seeks his brother's approval. Explains his sale of stock to finance the trip and plans to travel by French frigate. Explains his plans in case ships with cargo he owns arrive in Boston after his departure…

GLC02437.01207

29 October 1781

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

He is leaving for Europe tomorrow on a French frigate commanded by Count De Grasse. Remarks that in his haste the contents of this letter are only things of greatest importance. Discusses leaving his store with Joshua Loring, arranging for a Mr. Pierce to serve as Henry's attorney and leaving important papers with him. William does not know how long his trip will last, but his plans will be affected by the prospects for peace. Mentions business plans to transport hemp and iron. Comments on his funds for the trip, how he raised them, and expected costs. He will be happy to be able to…

GLC02437.01270

January 23, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William Knox to his brother Brigadier General Henry Knox. Good travel description of France before the Revolution. Tells of his journey from L'Orient to Nantes. Arrived in Nantes on December 1 and stayed until December 8. Goes on to describe his time in Anjou (he spells it Angou) province. He mentions the fine riding school and slate quarries. Says he visited Tours and describes their silk industry. After Tours, he traveled to Orleans with stops in Amboise and Blois. States that French is spoken with great precision in Blois. He left Orleans on December 22 and arrived in…

GLC02437.01338

April 12, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William, Major General Knox's brother, to Henry Knox. Includes a postscript written and signed by Lafayette. References the taking of Mahon, an island off the Spanish coast in the Mediterranean, by the Spanish. Says Gibraltar is "closely beseiged and 'tis thought by many will fall." Mentions changes in the "English Ministry" -- Marquis of Rockingham is made First Minister and Lord Shelburne and Charles Fox are Secretaries of State. Says the Cavendishes, Duke of Richmond, Grafton, Lord Cambden, Burke, and Barre are all employed as well. Says "a sufficient time has not yet…

GLC02437.01386

5 May 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by William Knox to his brother Major General Knox. Mentions this is the fifth letter he has sent to Henry since arriving in France. Says he has received two from Henry. Says he is in Nantes on business, purchasing goods for his friends. Says "allmost all american orders are made out for this Country with English Ideas and the articles differ so widely that there is the greatest hazard of sending things which will not be acceptable." Says he has been settling his business accounts, which were confused. Says his reputation would have soured if he had not gone to Europe to settle his…

GLC02437.01409

May 7, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William to his brother Major General Henry Knox. Says he will not ship anything with the capital he has accumulated until the peace is complete. Says his business accounts were messy, but are now settled. Says he wrote to Lucy that he had no news of the Fluckers. Says the recent changes in the British Ministry probably been "influenced by the honest representations of Lord Cornwallis relative to the impracticability of reducing America, which rendered that Gentleman not so welcome an informant to the late Ministry as his Brother Passenger General Arnold, who from encouraging…

GLC02437.01412

23 May 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by William Knox to his brother Major General Knox. Mentions his travels to Flanders, Nantes (where he did some business for his Boston friends), and has stopped in Rochefort on his way to Bourdeaux. Wants to ship many things to America, but says he will hold back until after the peace is decided. Mentions changes in British govenrment and how they will assist in the peace process. Says the merchants are in favor of British troops withdrawing from America. Lord Shelbourne told them not to ship more goods to America in case of an evacuation. Says the British tried to get John Adams and…

GLC02437.01429

May 25, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Outlines arrangements he has made to ensure packages he is sending to Henry Knox will arrive to him safely. Relates that he has "packed the Epaulets in a little box by themselves" and entrusted them to the care of General Lafayette. Made the ship's captain aware of the gifts, and alerted Clement Biddle of their arrival should they land in Philadelphia. He also instructed a Mr. Du Quesne to give them to the local Quarter Master General should they arrive anywhere outside of Philadelphia, so they could be forwarded on to Knox. Adds, "Nothing further has transpired relative to Mr. Granville that…

GLC02437.01430

June 12, 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William to his brother Major General Knox. References a letter he wrote "a few days ago" and sent from Roquefort (he spells it "Rockford"). Also sent sweetmeats, caps, hats, a pair of epaulets, and two pieces of linen. Says he will not send property to America until a definite peace is in place. Says the diplomatic situation is the same as when he wrote last, except for Admiral de Grasse's defeat at the hands of a British fleet in the Caribbean in April 1782. Does not know how this will play out it negotiations. After losing 7 or 8 ships of the line, Louis XVI has ordered "…

GLC02437.01448

5 November 1782

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by William to his brother Major General Henry Knox. Fears that Henry is worried about him as he has not written since he was in Rochefort (William spells it Rochfort), France. While there he sent some linen, epaulets, sweetmeats, and some other things for Lucy. Has been in ill health lately, which has caused some problems with his business plans. The plan involved a Mr. Soderstroom from Gothensburgh, Sweden, who was going to work with a Mr. Sears, a Mr. Smith, and himself. It fell through when William was not able to go to Sweden as Soderstroom wanted. Has not given up all hope though…

GLC02437.01701

April 8, 1783

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Letter written by William Knox to his brother Major General Knox. Makes several witty references to the length of time between their communications. Mentions the peace and says "most people here particular those in commerce are happy at it, those who are and who ought to be most discontented are the American Refugees who from either side have apparently but little to expect." Says he has only been in London for a few days after arriving from Holland. Says he saw Lucy Knox's family -- Mrs. Fluker, Mrs. Urquhart, as well as Captain Fluker and his lady. Says they are all well, but wearing…

GLC02437.02073

13 June 1783

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses business in Europe and his hopes of expanding trade. Mentions the cost of labour in America as compared to that in Europe.

GLC02437.02160

20 October 1784

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Knox's brother writes, "I can only inform you I am happy to have recover'd from my late situation on point of health and spirits the want of which I have very unpleasantly experienced for many months," referring to his mental illness. Relates that his ill health did not permit an earlier return to America. Notes that his commercial friends in London have been indulgent, as his credit has expired. Discusses financial matters. Instructs Knox to send his mail care of Lewis Teissier, "one of the most capital merchants in London in the Spanish & French lines..."

GLC02437.03059

3 November 1784

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox writes to his brother. Relates his plans to sail for the United States, noting that his desire to be with family outweighs the unappealing prospect of making the voyage during winter. Expresses his disappointment at receiving only one letter from Henry this year, but understands that Henry was unaware of his condition (William suffered from mental illness). Discusses financial matters and business prospects.

GLC02437.03067

14 June 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Relates that Henry Jackson had shipped some goods on behalf of Knox, but was unable to procure a bill of lading. Notes, "...upon the whole I think the step we have taken not an improper step in having those articles brought to this city, as they were not in the most hopeful train of being disposed by our friend who I believe is rather more of a soldier and a man of pleasure than a merchant..." As a consequence, William had to pay the same duties on the goods as if they were imported directly from Europe. Mentions a box of medicine sent to Colonel Harmar, addressed to the care of Samuel…

GLC02437.03579

18 June 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to Knox about family and friends, including the illness of a daughter of Henry's. Discusses rent owed by Henry on his lodgings (see GLC02437.03583). Briefly mentions the "convention," the Constitutional Convention then taking place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Forwards some letters from Boston, Massachusetts.

GLC02437.03585

25 June 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox on the health of his children, particularly his daughter Caroline, who is teething.

GLC02437.03589

26 June 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox of his children's health, particularly Caroline, who "is so much better as to give us no concern respecting her health." Forwards a letter for Mrs. [Euphemia] Ogden, and ends with a line in French, while signing his name "Guillaume," the French version of William. Stamped "-York" on the address leaf, most likely "N-York." "Free" stamped on address leaf with no signature.

GLC02437.03592

28 June 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Confirms Knox's travel plans, mentioning a stop with Mr. [Samuel] Ogden, and declaring he imagines Knox will return by Saturday evening. Discusses mail Knox has received, particularly a letter from James White, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Southern Department. This letter contains various enclosures regarding the Creek Indians, including White's correspondence with Creek chief Alexander McGillivray. Writes that "as these papers and his [White's] letter are of consequence we are copying them for the inspection of Congress in case of their being in session." Mentions the…

GLC02437.03594

29 June 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Forwards letters and tells Knox about the people he has been seeing lately. Also mentions that "[s]ome members inform me that a Congress of Seven States will be formed an Wednesday or Thursday next week," which could refer to the Congressional meeting for the Northwest Ordinance.

GLC02437.03596

11 September 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses his trip to Boston, where he met with Mrs. Hancock but Governor Hancock was ill and so he did not see him. Mentions visiting other acquaintances in Boston, including Mrs. Waldo and Mrs. Butler. Writes: "Last night or rather this morning a Corvette or Royal Vessell [sic] arrived in the Harbour of Boston in forty days from Brest with orders for the fleet and the Viscount de Beaumont to repair immediately to France, in consequence of which orders have been given to the Fleet to sail tomorrow morning. - This has a serious appearance and produces various conjectures - the probability is…

GLC02437.03659

16 September 1787

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses acquaintances he has been seeing while in Boston, including his visit with Mrs. Butler. Mentions the Governor (John Hancock) continues to be ill but that he hopes to see him tomorrow. Comments his old friend Mr. [Smith] continues to live more comfortably than any other in this town and that he [Knox] has taken pleasure in renewing his friendship with Smith's "genteel" and "moderate" friends. Informs Knox that the vessel he had previously written about (see GLC02437.03659) did not sail when expected due to weather. Notes the vessel left yesterday and without the company of "Capt…

GLC02437.03664

1 June 1788

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Henry's brother, William, discusses a delicate situation in which Knox's friend, Henry Jackson, invested nearly 10,000 dollars worth of Knox's notes without his permission. Knox sent William to Boston in an attempt to reclaim the notes. William relates the state of the notes, which Jackson distributed among several persons. Writes, "I need not at present enter unto a detail of the manner in which I then conveyed my sentiments to that gentleman [Jackson], it is sufficient to say that I think your expectations were fulfilled respecting the strong terms in which I represented your chagrin…

GLC02437.03884