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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Witherspoon, John, fl. 1800-1801 to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.07645 Author/Creator: Witherspoon, John, fl. 1800-1801 Place Written: Sears Island, Maine Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 28 October 1801 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; Height: 30.4 cm, Width: 18 cm Order a Copy

Stresses to Knox he did not remove one of Knox's barns on Brigadiers Island (present day Sears Island, Maine). Informs Knox whoever told him he was removing a barn was mistaken. Says he removed the remaining portion of the roof on the house because it was damaged (likely from a storm). Also discusses the compensation he deserves for his work and the possibility of Knox selling the island. A small portion of the letter is missing at the bottom causing minor text loss.

Witherspoon, John, fl. 1800-1801
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

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