8 October 1782

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Gouverneur Morris

Relates a variety of information regarding (a prison cartel) meeting with the British Commissioners, General Campbell and Mr. [Andrew] Elliot [lt. gov. of British-occupied New York]. Contrasts Campbell with former British commissioner General [William] Dalrymple. Believes that Morris was "perfectly right" in his opinion that "the British Commissioners wouldn't be able to treat us with equal power." Mentions General William Heath. Knox notes the recent death of his child and illness of his wife Lucy and family

GLC02437.01651

22 August 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Discusses the layout of his house. Comments that he "do[es] not think it too large - it has only [three ?] rooms on a floor. I want a comfortable house." States that Mrs. Lucy Knox wants a bigger house. Lists corrections for building. Mentions that he wants the roof to be pitched at a certain level and to let Thomas Vose know about the alterations. Second page is cut off on the right side. Watermarked "Watt & C Patent Copying/Sold By J Woodmason/ London." Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10276

20 December 1800

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Document signed

Title: [Printed deed for land in Camden, Massachusetts]

Partially printed legal document signed by General Knox and co-signed by his wife Lucy Knox. Counter-signed by witnesses Josiah Reid, justice of the peace, and John Gleason. Also counter-signed by attorney Thomas Rice on verso. Document gives Elisha Gibbs, a yeoman, control of slightly over 99 acres of land in Lincoln County, Massachusetts (present day Maine) for $115.87. Describes the boundaries of land in detail. It was the lot that was signed for by Gideon Young, Jr. in 1788 and surveyed by J. Harkness on 2 December 1799. Docket on verso…

GLC04367.02

circa 1804-1854

Thatcher, Lucy Flucker Knox, 1776-1854

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Charles Davies

Letter is possibly a copy. Relays an anecdote she heard about her father, titled "Anecdote of [George] Washington." "Washington always kept this useful & scientific officer near his own person; he not only honored him with confidence, but with brotherly affection. After the defeat of Gales' army at Camden, General [Nathaniel] Green was offered the arduous command of the Southern department. The Lucker General, with his usual modesty replied, '[Henry] Knox is the man for that difficult undertaking; all obstacles vanish before him; his resources are infinite.' 'True…

GLC02437.09898

February 7, 1790

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Edward Carrington

Discusses the issue of General Nathanael Greene being responsible for John Bank's debts. States that Mrs. Greene and her friends are petitioning Congress for an indemnification. General Greene made a statement to Congress in 1785 explaining the transaction. Knox sends a copy of this statement (not present). If the indemnification is not granted, Greene's family will be greatly in debt and in dire straights. Believes the deceased Greene's reputation, along with his statement, should be enough to obtain the indemnification requested. Thinks a corroborative certificate from…

GLC02437.04503

3 August 1784

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letters to Captain Thomas and Mrs. Flucker]

Consists of two letters, both written by Knox at Dorchester, a neighborhood of Boston, 3 August 1784. The first letter is from Knox to Mrs. Flucker and consists of pages one and two. Discusses matters pertaining to the Waldo estate (Waldo was grandfather of Lucy Knox and Captain Thomas Flucker). Notes "You may rest fully assured that nothing shall be left undone on my part to secure as large a part of the Estate as possible to the family." Reports that winter has been ruinous to the estate, and people are squatting on the…

GLC02437.03036

May 1796

Waldo, Samuel, 1764-?

Manuscript document

Title: [Petition for Falmouth lands in Maine]

Previous research suggests the document was written in May 1796; that date was added in pen on page one at a later time. A petition on behalf of several members of the Waldo and Winslow families for a portion of the Falmouth lands in Maine. A note at bottom says that the letter was sent to General Henry Knox via Joseph Peirce. Signed by Samuel Waldo on behalf of William Wetmore, Sarah Waldo Wetmore, Elizabeth Winslow, Lucy Waldo, Isaac Winslow, and George W. Irving.

GLC02437.06758

1774/08/29

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Jackson

Comments on the "disagreeable" current events. Indicates that General Thomas Gage, then the commander-in-chief and governor of Massachusetts, "must recede," otherwise "carnage & bloodshed seem inevitable - there never was anything like the flame the last 2 Acts has produced...erect a standard and believe in a fortnight there would be ten thousnad country people flock to it." Earlier that year, Parliament had passed the intolerable acts--the Boston Port Act, the Massachusetts Bay Regulating Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the second Quartering Act--in response to the…

GLC05663

1 October 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Thanks Washington for writing to General Benjamin Lincoln, Secretary of War, on his behalf, requesting "an extra allowance from the public as head of the ordnance and during the time I have been in the command of these posts." Refers to a journey taken by Major Samuel Shaw to gain "information and if possible a favorable resolve" from Congress, apparently on his own and on Knox's behalf. Writes, "I hope it cannot be thought an unreasonable solicitation, to be placed upon the same footing with my predecessors, as an equal..." Notes that Generals [Alexander] McDougall, […

GLC02437.10153

21 August 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Isaac Winslow

Apologizes for not writing sooner but says the sickness, then death, of his youngest child prevented him from doing so. Says that his wife (Lucy Knox) and eldest daughter have also been sick. Discusses submitting a complaint to a committee to rectify an unspecified error regarding a patent, most likely the Waldo Patent. Also mentions Mr. William Wetmore's claim to the land, which appears to be a point of conflict. Requests Winslow to gather some information on the late Colonel Waldo's holdings. Asks to be informed if Captain Hall plans on going to St.…

GLC02437.03642

21 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Thomas Randall

References Randall's letter of 18 July (GLC02437.05070). Thanks him for the congratulations. Mentions that Lucy and the baby are well and that his wife has ridden several times. Will be happy to accept the drafts that Randall proposed to send. Says he will converse with him when he arrives in New York on Saturday. States there was a mix up at the bank as a Mr. Delafield had subscribed on the name Thomas Randall, but that the matter was settled in his favor. Will bring the certificates to New York. Docketed by Knox.

GLC02437.05077

29 May 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to [Jeremiah] Wadsworth

Knox left Philadelphia for New York because his daughter Lucy was ill, but by the time he arrived, she was feeling better. Hopes to obtain warrants from the Board of Treasury to pay the arrearages of pay and clothing to the Connecticut troops. Relates that the Constitutional Convention began in Philadelphia on 25 May with seven states. George Washington will preside over the Convention, and [William] Jackson will serve as secretary. Ten states are now present at the Convention, but Maryland, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island are all absent.

GLC02437.03557

January 15, 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Samuel Freeman

Discusses a variety of business matters. Mentions the value of the "lands of Falmouth," possibly referring to lands in Maine in possession of descendants of Samuel Waldo, a relative of his wife Lucy Knox (these lands may be distinct from the well-known Waldo Patent lands). Declares that he believes the family values the land highly, and would like to take a trip to Falmouth the present year to see it and compare it to other lands in the area. Comments on his fears about taxation, and asks that Freeman write to his friend General [Henry] Jackson about…

GLC02437.03237

December 14, 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Marquis de Lafayette

Knox says he has not heard from Lafayette in some time. Mentions that he wrote on the constitutional convention by the last packet. Reports on states that have called ratifying conventions to approve or reject the constitution. Has doubts specifically about Virginia and New York. Says Rhode Island has "too many schemes of convenience" to approve it. But says "it is highly probable that it will be adopted in the course of the year 1788 by nine states and more." Says he is anxious about rumors of war between France and England. Reports that those in the know claim the event is…

GLC02437.03726

4 November 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to James Swan

Very flattered by Swan's confidence in his judgment, and only wishes his judgments were up to that standard. He has not been contemplating the funds, so he cannot judge "which species of them ought to have the preference." Provides some thoughts as to the merits of each type of fund. Discusses attempts to raise money for Congress, for the government to use until the states provide money to the treasury. Relates that they need to make sure individuals who loan money to Congress feel secure that they will be repaid in a timely fashion. Discusses the functionality of their government.…

GLC02437.03326

11 March 1786

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Gordon

Writes to Reverend Doctor William Gordon, a prominent Massachusetts minister and historian. Discusses a brigade of General Nathanael Greene's division, commanded by Brigadier General Weedon, that engaged with the British "at the close of the action at Brandywine." Explains that while Colonel Walter Stevens' s regiment fought gallantly, so did many others. Adds that he has tried to obtain information for Gordon's history but has been of limited success; refers him to General Greene, whose "information must be perfect on this subject." Also relates that many printers in Boston are upset to…

GLC02437.03247

15 July 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Written by Major General Knox to Secretary of War Lincoln. Writes respecting the arsenal and magazines to let Lincoln know that his orders are "impracticable" to execute. Reminds Lincoln that he is the President of the Massachusetts branch of the Society for the Cincinnati and that he is Lincoln's deputy. Wants to know if Lincoln will be giving him his orders. Encloses some additions respecting the Society's medal (not included). References Congress fleeing Philadelphia to Trenton in the face of an angry mob of veterans. Says they all approve of Congress's decision. Informs…

GLC02437.02291

17 September 1783

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George Washington

Knox, Commander at West Point, writes, "I cannot refrain from communicating the joy I feel, and the pleasure manifested by the officers in general, upon the noble testimony of gratitude exhibited by Congress in their resolve concerning the equestrian statue..." Requests information regarding an officers' petition to Congress in which officers would be granted lands in place of their back pay. Assures Washington, "Were the prayer of the petition to be granted, the officers in a very few years would make the swift settlement on the frontiers, and form a strong barrier against…

GLC02437.10138

10 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Knows that Duer is a bad correspondent so "I have not suffered myself to be hurt by your silence." Congratulates him on their shared accomplishments in Massachusetts, a reference to their purchase of two million acres of land in the District of Maine. Reports that Royal Flint will be in New York on 15 July and that Duer can examine the relevant documents and maps then. Proposes that he will be in New York by 16 July. Tells him to use his "sensible mind" to handle any changes that need to be made to the business. Has written Duer repeatedly about preparing provisions for the frontier.…

GLC02437.05060