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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 70,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World to soldiers’ letters from World War II and Vietnam. Explore primary sources, visit exhibitions in person or online, or bring your class on a field trip.

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4 August 1790

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses dinner engagements with various friends. Mentions that a Mr. LaTombe expects a large number of French trade ships to arrive from the West Indies soon, so they may avoid traveling during the rainy season. Reports that General [Henry] Jackson has gone to Portsmouth along with Mr. [Benjamin] Hichborn (see GLC02437.04666 for related information). Adds that Jackson's mother seems very ill. Declares that the elder Isaac Winslow wants Knox to complete certain deeds that he sent.

GLC02437.04668

9 August 1790

Ogden, Samuel (1746-1810)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Ogden writes Secretary of War Knox to report that four Cherokee Indians traveled to Canada via the West Indies to "procure my Lord Dorchester's permission for the western and northern Indians to join them, and the Southern Indians in the war against the United States." Ogden believes President Washington should know this information in light of the recent treaty with the Creeks. Ogden also informs Knox that the previous autumn there had been another conference of Six Nation Indians in Buffalo decrying American treatment and looking for help from England.

GLC02437.04682

29 October 1790

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

William Knox writes Secretary of War Knox that though in London ten days, he has been unable to do much regarding the sale of Knox's lands. William hopes to provide more news next week including "the result of the business between Mrs. Harwood and Mr. Longman." William notes that a Mr. Teissier will be his correspondent in London. He tells Henry to tell Captain [Thomas] Randall that William will write Randall with the next "Packet" across the Atlantic.

GLC02437.04759

10 November 1790

Rochefontaine, Stephen (1755-1814)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes that "M. Poisé secretary to General de Lafayette during the latter part of the American war has received a commission of captain as a reward" for his service. His work was equal to that of an officer and should therefore be allowed into the Society of the Cincinnati. "Madam de la Lafayette has been the intermediary" but she has not had a response yet from George Washington. Inquires after Lt. Col. Peter Regnier who led a New York infantry.

GLC02437.04776

15 January 1791

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Original version of GLC02437.04828. It contains an additional page where William tells Knox that he has heard from General Maunsell that Knox gave a grand one hundred person ball before leaving New York for Philadelphia and of several society marriages. Also notes he heard about French refugees "from the Islands" taking up residence in New York, the Dutch "being large purchasers" causing the "funds" to rise, and that "there had been a great influx of money from S. America and the Islands for Wheat."

GLC02437.04829

7 February 1791 - 11 February 1791

Polinaire, Jean Baptiste (fl. 1791)

Manuscript document signed

Title: The Examination of Polinaire taken the seventh day of February 1791

A summary of the testimony of Polinaire, a free mulatto, regarding the recent slave revolt in Dominica, in which he participated. "The Examinant...makes a voluntary Declaration of the truth of all he knows concerning the late Revolt knowing he must die knowing." Polinaire explains that the enslaved people believed that John Orde, the British Governor, was trying to help the enslaved people and free mulattoes of the colony, but was being prevented from doing so by the white planters. Thus the enslaved people organized a rebellion against the planters.

GLC02542.32.15

29 May 1791

Behague, Jean Pierre Antoine, comte de (1727-1813)

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to George Washington [in French]

The letter, which is in French, appears to be about the request of several French officers to join the Society of the Cincinnati. Behague, Governor of the French Windward Islands, requests a diploma for himself and for Fressinaux from the Society of the Cincinnati. Also sends his regards and pleasantries to Washington. Includes, on page 2, a copy of the text of a letter from Lafayette to Behargue. Recipient inferred from content of this letter and from another letter (GLC02437.05115) written by President George Washington's secretary William Jackson, dated 12 August 1791.

GLC02437.04963

13 June 1791

Prince, Job (fl. 1791)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says when he left Canton he received a box of china and a fan that Samuel Shaw, Knox's former aide-de-camp, asked him to forward. Says he should have taken care of it sooner, but he took a ship directly from the West Indies to Boston and had to wait for the goods to arrive in Providence. Says Captain [Thomas] Randall will take care of the arrangements (Randall worked with Shaw). Encloses a letter (not included) to be forwarded to Captain Freeman.

GLC02437.04992

15 June 1791

Franklin, William Temple (1760-1823)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Tench Coxe

Most of the information on this record comes from a letter written by Julian P. Boyd, the editor of The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, in 1969. Boyd's letter is in the file with the original document. The document is not signed, but Boyd identifies its creator as William Temple Franklin, Benjamin Franklin's grandson. Boyd claims it was sent to Tench Coxe who was serving as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury. The letter is a summary of the report of the Lords of Trade to the Privy Council. This report was written mainly by Lord Hawkesbury on 28 January 1791.

GLC02437.04997

15 July 1791

Zollickoffer, John Conrad (1742-1797)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Fears he is bothering Knox by continuing to bring up the status of Captain [Denis Nicholas] Cottineau [de Kloguene]'s claim to be admitted as a member of the Society of the Cincinnati (he spells it "Sincinaty"). Says he wrote twice to Knox, but has not received a response. Reports that Cottineau writes Zollickoffer from Port-au-Prince, Haiti, whenever he can, for this information. Hopes Knox can find some information "by which means Capt.

GLC02437.05065

27 July 1791

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reports that Mrs. Flucker arrived in New York from Antigua this afternoon with her 2 children, Thomas and Muriel. Says she is with him at Mrs. Lorings. Writes, "You will be charmed with and proud of her." She will set off from Elizabethtown either Friday or Saturday morning. They shall lodge with Colonel [Samuel] Ogden.

GLC02437.05089

12 August 1791

Jackson, William (1759-1828)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Signed in text in the third person by President George Washington's secretary William Jackson. Says he is writing by the President's command to transmit a letter (see GLC02437.04963)

GLC02437.05115

24 November 1791

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Short

Secretary of State Jefferson writes to Short, charge d'affaires to France. Short was in Europe negotiating a commercial treaty with France and handling details of a Dutch loan. Jefferson attempts to answer Short's request for information to quell rumors in France that America and Spain are on the brink of war. Recommends an essay on population by James Madison in the National Gazette be translated and published in France. Spends most of the letter on the issue of Santo Domingo, the restive French colony in the Caribbean whose slave population had revolted.

GLC03639

13 April 1792

Breck, Samuel (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes to introduce into Knox's acquaintance several men from Martinique who have lately been residing in Boston. They will be visiting Philadelphia, and Breck asks Knox to make them feel welcome. He and his wife and children send their love to Mrs. Knox and their daughter.

GLC02437.05414

16 June 1792

Jefferson, Thomas (1743-1826)

Autograph letter signed

Title: To: Marquis de Lafayette.

Re: "Exterminating the Monster Aristocracy" of New England Federalists, Constitution, The Voice of the People, French Colonies, and to Compound (House in Secure Facilities) Slaves in St. Dominique (Haiti).

GLC08063

25 June 1792

Tousard, Louis de (1749-1817)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Tousard signs in text. Sends Knox a picture of the late Colonel Duplessis (not present) which had been commissioned by the Spanish ambassador to France, le Comte de Fernand Nuñez. Writes, "I hope that the picture of an unfortunate and brave gentleman will be favourably accepted by General Knox, as he professed for him the highest esteem and gratefulness."

GLC02437.05516

10 July 1792

Knox, Berkley Sidney (fl. 1792-1800)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to George [Henry] Knox

Mentions that he is an acquaintance of his brother William, whom he met in Dublin, Ireland. Asks Knox for a recommendation to "any of your American Merchants that wishes for a West Indian Corrispondant [sic]." States, "the produce of any article sent to me shall be returned in rum Sugars Cotton Coffee or Spice or if more agreeable bills of Exchange on London... " Addressed the letter to "General George Knox," instead of Henry.

GLC02437.05533

19 February 1793

Knox, William (1756-1795)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Reports he recently met with Mr. Williamson and Mr. Wadsworth about lands in the "Gennessee Country" of upstate New York. Says farms of 300-500 acres are going for $1.50 per acre. Makes reference to lands that would eventually become Cooperstown and its environs, "those in this state in the neighbourhood of Lake Otsego, have greatly enhanced in value also." Believes the situation in Europe will lead investors to put their money into American lands. Heard several families from the English West Indies have recently bought land.

GLC02437.05824

28 April 1793

Kerby, Jane Byam (fl. 1793)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Flucker Knox

This was written to Lucy Knox, the daughter of Lucy and Henry Knox. Expresses gratitude for previous hospitality. Reports on hearing about a fever in New York in a letter from 10 April. Comments on the terrible heat in Antigua. Reminiscences about home. Reports that a Mr. Burke said he dined with Henry Knox at Dr. Shippen's home. Would like an update on the family and on politics. Is including a few bottles of Indian Arrow Root, which is nutritious for the young children. Says her mother is sending a cask of yams.

GLC02437.05882

6 May 1793

Knox, Berkley Sidney (fl. 1792-1800)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Says he was acquainted with William Knox in Dublin. Tells Henry he was for many years a merchant with extensive trade. Has since had troubles in business and left his wife and daughter behind in Ireland to make another fortune in Jamaica. Arrived on the island in December 1791 with letters of recommendation from Dublin and landed a clerks position with a salary of 160 pounds per annum. Wants to be able to return to his family or bring them to Jamaica and asks Knox for employment that is not degrading. Relates his lineage. See GLC02437.05889 for a copy of the letter.

GLC02437.05888

6 May 1793

Knox, Berkley Sidney (fl. 1792-1800)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Duplicate of GLC02437.05888, refer to that record for a catalog description. The letter is from a distant relative in Jamaica seeking employment.

GLC02437.05889

6 May 1793

Beaumez, Sarah Lyons Flucker (fl. 1784-1801)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Flucker Knox

Writes to Lucy Knox, daughter of Henry and Lucy Knox. Received no letter from Lucy and fears she is angry. References a letter from Mrs. Kerby from Antigua, and sends it to Lucy for her amusement (see GLC02437.05882). Asks Lucy to send some muslin for handkerchiefs. Mentions her children and various family members. Is thankful that Henry Knox has recovered. Has heard Lucy is fat and tall now and "I expect to be a shrimp by you." Says Madge is still confined to her room. Has written to Antigua for another servant and means to send her back before next winter.

GLC02437.05890

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.

GLC02437.05897

1 October 1793

Knox, Berkley Sidney (fl. 1792-1800)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Claims to be a distant relative of Knox's from Dublin, Ireland. Says he is acquainted with William Knox, whom he met in Ireland. Tells Knox about his situation in Jamaica, where he is trying to better his life and support his family. Goes into his family background. Asks about possible employment.

GLC02437.05938

12 November 1793

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Flucker Knox

References two of Lucy's letters. Expresses how much he misses her. Says he will meet her on the road "before you turn off from frankford road." Says the city appears to be safe and "It is filling with inhabitants." Reports that "A Vessell however has arrived and more are expected of the unfortune [sic] people of St. Domingo, expelled there by the English, or Aristocrats, who is apprehended are infected with some contagious disorder." Notes measures will be taken to prevent any danger.

GLC02437.05971

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