31 July 1785

Moriarty, John, fl. 1785-1787

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the possible purchase of some of Knox's land in present-day Maine, referring to Knox's ownership of two farms and a limeworks. Notes that he could arrange to bring people from Ireland to settle the land. Proposes his method of payment.

GLC02437.03169

1 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that two days prior he sailed to New Haven to see Mr. Gouverneur Morris, and returned last night. Also met with Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth, to discuss business (a plan Wadsworth was working on with Robert Morris to loan money to Congress - see GLC02437.003314 and .03318). Writes, "He appears to think [well] of the efficacy of the proposed plans, and will I am persuaded engage in it on proper principles." Could not convince Wadsworth to return with him to New York, since Wadsworth is a member of the Legislature and needed to remain in town. Will come to New York within the next…

GLC02437.03323

26 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that the Board of Treasury will write by the next post to comment on the "proposed contracts." Declares that he sincerely hopes "that nothing may occur to prevent the completion of this business, in a manner advantageous to the public and satisfactory to you and Mr Wadsworth." (Refers to a loan Morris and Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth are attempting to grant to Congress; see GLC02437.03330.)

GLC02437.03349

30 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that the Board of Treasury will write to Morris by this post regarding the proposed contracts. Intimates that not enough members of Congress are seated yet, but believes that by the time Morris and Wadsworth, as well as the Board of Treasury, sign the contract, Congress will be in session and will pass the contract easily. Discusses the merits of the measure but laments the time it will take to pass the measure through Congress. See GLC02437.03354 for a related document. Marked "private."

GLC02437.03357

8 December 1786

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Received a letter from [John Francis] Hamtramck and has enclosed the majority of the information in it (not present). Hamtramck wrote to North in confidence, but North believes he cannot be faulted for showing the information to Knox, and that his ideas will show Hamtramck to be a good officer. Also hopes Knox will excuse Hamtramck's writing, as "[E]nglish is not his mother tongue." Would have liked to present the recommendation to Knox personally but his sore throat has returned and he would like to stay at home as much as possible.

GLC02437.03368

12 December 1786

Moore, William, 1752-1819

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Gratefully acknowledges Knox's support for his cause; this support induces him to include an extract of a letter from Captain [possibly Constant] Freeman which he just received. Had been hoping for an appointment from the state of Massachusetts but now has "the mortifying information of my being neglected." If his conduct as an officer during the war had caused censure from his commanding officers, he would not have looked for another appointment, "but conscious of ever endeavoring to merit their Esteem, by acting, as far as my abilities would admit, consistent with the Character of a…

GLC02437.03373

December 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Robert Morris

Writes that he has received the documents finalizing the loan Morris and Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth were preparing to give to the Board of Treasury. He is thrilled the plan worked, and believes the public good will be well served. Has received a copy of a letter from the Board asking that Colonel Wadsworth come to New York to finish signing the paperwork as well. Discusses the insurgents associated with Daniel Shays, and explains the claims and issues they are raising. Also mentions several of their acts of rebellion, including several attempts to keep the General Court from sitting in…

GLC02437.03403

9 January 1787

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that he has not replied yet to Knox because he expected to see Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth in Philadelphia, but has not yet, and does not know when he will arrive. Declares that the newspapers will have informed Knox that Pennsylvania has "appointed me a Commissioner on her Part to meet at the Convention in May. Had the object been any other than it is I would have declined. The appointment was the most unexpected thing that ever happened to me for I have not only declared in general my unwillingness to accept of any thing under this State but in this particular instance objected to…

GLC02437.03411

January 16, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Body of the letter and signature in the hand of Robert Pemberton, Knox's aide. Marked "copy" on the docket Details General [Benjamin] Lincoln's deployment with 4,000 men to deal with Shays and his supporters. Writes that Lincoln will begin at Worcester, trying to protect the Court, and then make several more stops around the state. If the insurgents do not "choose to oppose him in his parties," he will proceed to search for them individually. Is pleased to hear that both he and Robert Morris have been chosen to attend the Philadelphia convention: "I ardently wish for many reasons that the…

GLC02437.03417

January 25, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Later copy. Writes to update Morris on the status of the fight against the Massachusetts insurgents. First, mentions that Colonel [Jeremiah] Wadsworth is unavoidably detained for a few days. Then, outlines the actions of Generals [William] Shepard and [Benjamin] Lincoln in Massachusetts, mentioning that Lincoln is planning to take his troops to Hampshire next.

GLC02437.03424

18 March 1787

North, William, 1755-1836

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses his resignation from his office and thanks Knox for his kindness, friendship and support.

GLC02437.03495

21 July 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to William Moultrie

Writes to Moultrie, the president of the Society of the Cincinnati's South Carolina chapter, about society business. Reports that the Society as a whole has decided to repay Major L'Enfant for money he laid out on their behalf, but without their permission, to buy more Eagle insignias; they wanted to preserve the "immaculate" reputation of the Society. The Society also felt that "the general credit of our country does not stand well in Europe," so they wanted to ensure that the credit of their foreign members remained in good stead. Provides details of their reimbursment of L'Enfant,…

GLC02437.03609

29 October 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Reports that a Mr. Hoffman and a Mr. Hornblower have been in contact with a British company interested in pursuing a project with Morris. Requests that Morris make a decision as to whether he wants to participate, and what his share would be; and that he provide the necessary funds. Briefly describes his own interest in the venture, and adds that Mr. Hoffman would like to write to England right away with Morris's decision. See GLC02437.03687 for further discussion of this project.

GLC02437.03686

1 November 1787

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Must decline Knox's offer to participate in a business deal. Explains that the need for him to decide on the matter immediately makes him reluctant to agree. Also argues, "[t]o hold a small Share is not worth our while, to hold a large one, say 1/2 or 3/4, might prove inconvenient." Might consider participating if an opportunity arises at a later date. Noted as private. See GLC02437.03686 for Knox's offer to Morris. Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.03692

24 March 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Alexander Macomb

Thanks Macomb for information related to the exports of Canada for 1787. Apologizes for his late reply, noting that Lucy, his wife, had inadvertently placed the information Macomb sent in a pile of her own papers.

GLC02437.03829

15 April 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [John Peter Gabriel] Muhlenberg

Discusses the appointment of officers to meet Pennsylvania's quota. Informs Muhlenberg, Vice-President of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania, that Captain [David] Ziegler arrived from the frontier for the purpose of the recruiting service (Ziegler had been serving in the Ohio Valley under General Harmar). Marked "private" at the top of verso and on docket.

GLC02437.03839

7 December 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Wishes Morris, who will soon embark for Europe, "a prosperous passage and a full participation of every felicity of this life."

GLC02437.04045

10 December 1788

Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Morris, who will soon embark for Europe, thanks Knox for his well wishes (GLC02437.04045). Notes, "Whatever Orders you have in Europe if (as Mr. Burgoyne says) within my Scale of Talent command me." Signer of the U.S. Constitution.

GLC02437.04046

circa 1785-1791

Macpherson, John, ?-1775

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his kind considerations of all of his inventions and discusses pensions and his own service to the country. Claims he has been cheated by three powerful men, who then prevented him from publishing a pamphlet exposing them. Encloses (not present) the few pages that were printed.

GLC02437.08250

12 April 1785

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Moriarty

Responds to a letter of Moriarty's and provides price information about lands in part of the Waldo patent.

GLC02437.09123

February 21, 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Knox, Commander at West Point, writes to Morris, Superintendent of Finance. Remarks, "The Army generally have always reprobated being thirteen Armies. Their ardent desires have been to be one continental body looking up to one sovereign..." Calls for a central government to preserve the anticipated peace. Declares, "America will have fought and bled to little purpose if the powers of Government shall be insufficient to preserve the peace...why do not you great men call the people together and tell them so, that is have a convention of the States to form a better Constitution. It appears…

GLC02437.10098

19 April 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Pierre Charles L'Enfant

Writes that he has received L'Enfant's note from this morning. Does not believe the members of the Society of Cincinnati in France have received their diplomas yet. Does not have the names of the members because all the information was left in the possession of General [Otho] Williams, Assistant Secretary. If L'Enfant has the names, and sends them to Knox, he will immediately have General [George] Washington sign them and have the name blanks filled in.

GLC02437.03261

January 18, 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that a storm prevented him from going to West Point but he intends to visit there before returning to Philadelphia. Although Lincoln is uncertain whether he will be able to travel by water the following morning, he requests to see General Knox at 9 the next morning.

GLC02437.02301

22 July 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. Marked "private." References Knox's private letter that was recently sent by the post. Congratulates him on the birth of his son. Believes Congress will not leave Princeton soon. Before he left for Virginia, Lincoln says he put Knox's business before Congress. Says no compensation has yet been voted on. Hopes to know more in a few days. Asks to be updated on the business of the Society of the Cincinnati. Reports he will attend meetings at other state gatherings if necessary. Place written is spelled "Prince Town."

GLC02437.02315

23 July 1783

Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Written by Secretary of War Lincoln to Major General Knox. References Knox's letter of 15 July, which referred to a plan for an arsenal [at West Point?]. Reports that as the official peace treaty has now arrived, they may not have the help of "the three years men in building the magazines." Says they should hire common laborers, as it will be cheaper than keeping those troops in the army. Says he will be able to give more information in a few days when Congress makes a decision on the magazines. Expresses that Knox's plan for the arsenal was "elegant," but does not expect an arsenal based…

GLC02437.02319