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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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Showing results 126 - 150

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5 May 1792

Duer, William (1747-1799)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a conversation he had with General [Henry] Jackson about business, but feels he needs to speak to Knox directly about their arrangements. Considers their attempts to purchase land in Maine. Comments on his own character and the damaging nature of his debt. Mentions a land purchase by Mr. [Samuel] Ogden.

GLC02437.05448

10 May 1792

Duer, William (1747-1799)

Autograph note signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Money order to pay fifty dollars to a Peter Hasenfrats.

GLC02437.05455

23 May 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Walker

Discusses more business with William Duer, along with various other financial transactions. Mentions purchasing a tract of land and the Penobscots in Maine. Watermarked "G R" inside a crest.

GLC02437.10250

June 1792

Duer, William (1747-1799)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Proposition for Henry Knox]

Duer signs in text as "Mr. Duer." Presents a proposal for Knox to relinquish to Duer "his Right in the Pre Emption of Two million acres of land made of the State of Massachusetts of by Henry Jackson and Royal Flint..." Discusses in detail seven different features of the proposal, mostly covering financial aspects of the deal.

GLC02437.05524

7 June 1792

Harrison, Richard (1750-1841)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Indenture between Henry Knox and William Duer]

An important land transaction of Knox's involving more than one million acres of land. Agreement of indenture between Henry Knox and William Duer. Signed by Richard Harrison and [Benjamin] Walker. Henry Knox signature has been crossed out.

GLC02437.05492

7 June 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes that he is still in Philadelphia but hopes to leave soon. Adds that his public business is suffering. Describes an agreement he settled on with William Duer in which he forgives Duer's debts on their land purchases in Maine, in exchange for Duer providing him with certain securities (see GLC02437.05492 for the agreement). Apologizes for the shortness of his letter but promises to write again soon.

GLC02437.05493

7 June 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Manuscript document

Title: [Indenture between Henry Knox and William Duer] [incomplete]

A copy of pages 1-2 of GLC02437.05492.

GLC02437.05494

8 June 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph document signed

Title: [Obligation between Henry Knox, Samuel Ogden and William Duer]

Copy of GLC02437.05495. Includes a note written and signed by William Duer authorizing delivery of "the deed within mentioned to Benjamin Walker in his own name." On page two, contains a note written and signed by Benjamin Walker authorizing delivery of "the deeds for the whole to Saml Ogdon in his own name."

GLC02437.05496

8 June 1792

Duer, William (1747-1799)

Manuscript document signed

Title: [Account between William Duer and Henry Knox]

Ledger outlines accounts between Duer and Knox from 1791-1792.

GLC02437.05498

10 June 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses the urgency of making land payments and the fact that the committee doubts that they will be able uphold their part of the contract. States that he tried to explain the reason for the delay in making the payment, but the committee dismissed his excuses. Reports that he sent a copy of part of this letter to Royal Flint. Discusses a matter pertaining to Knox and "WD," likely William Duer, in the papers, and asks Knox for some related facts. Reports that Knox's sons embarked for Hingham the previous day with General Benjamin Lincoln.

GLC02437.05501

1 July 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

States that he has not received one farthing, and the money he had on hand "is more than all anticipated in the first payment to De Gregoire, expences of that survey & supplies to madame Laval..." Has written them for a further advance. Cautions Knox against his association with William Duer: "It is true my good friend I urged you to disengage yourself from Colo Duer but not to give it away for a song.

GLC02437.05525

1 July 1792

Duer, William (1747-1799)

Manuscript document

Title: [Contract]

Contract regarding the purchase of land by William Duer and Royal Flint from Samuel Philips, Leonard Jarvis and John Read. Authorizes the sale of the lands in Maine and grants Duer and Flint all of the rightful legal claims to it. Noted that Henrys Knox and Jackson have signed as witnesses. Appears to be a copy. Date previously inferred, written in pencil.

GLC02437.10724

3 July 1792

Flint, Royal (1754-1797)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Reports that he would have written sooner, but William Duer has not yet "been able to engage suitable characters to enter into a speculation of those lands." States that Mr. [Andrew] Craigie hopes to take part in the land dealings and has gone to Boston to inquire about his prospects. Notes that if Craigie declines the position, they will have to find a person "of solidity enough to carry it through." Noted as a copy and appears to be written in Henry Jackson's hand including Flint's signature. Sent with GLC02437.05529.

GLC02437.05526

8 July 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Expresses his happiness on hearing about his son Henry's current situation. Sends Lucy news of various acquaintances, which he lists by number. States that he is sorry to hear of Mrs. [Abigail] Adams's "indisposition," noting that the Adams family has ordered their furniture to be shipped to Boston. Vice President John Adams plans to return to New York without his family. Reports that George and Martha Washington will be going to Mount Vernon the following Wednesday, and will not return until 15 October. Mentions the Ogdens, Mrs.

GLC02437.05528

8 July 1792

Duer, William (1747-1799)

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Jackson

Discusses his lack of funds to purchase Henry Knox's land claim and other business in regards to land. Noted as a copy and written in Jackson's hand.

GLC02437.05531

9 July 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Benjamin Walker

Reminds Walker to bring the copies of the original deeds Knox left him. Asks if William Duer has made arrangements with Mr. Caznove [Théophile Cazenove] or anyone else to execute their conditional agreement. Also mentions Madam Leval and Mr. de la Roche.

GLC02437.05532

15 July 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses Knox's agreement with William Duer. Encloses a copy of a letter he received from Duer (not present) and states "I think it is pretty well understood that your conditional agreement will not be complyed [sic] with in his part - " Strongly encourages Knox to buy Duer out. Mentions some trouble in finding the money to pay the committee for their land contract. Mentions that Mr. De Gregoire has tried to evade his contract with Jackson and refused to give a Warranty Deed.

GLC02437.05538

15 July 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes that he was recently sick with the fever but has "surmounted the cursed disorder." Discusses his misgivings about whether William Duer will be able to pay the sums stipulated in their agreement. Expresses his dissatisfaction with his present duties and dismay at the situation in France. "Were I to leave this and any part of the public business be neglected I should receive no mercy at the public bar - What a humiliating picture of human nature do the affairs of france exhibit all mad stark mad - ...

GLC02437.05539

23 July 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Informs Lucy that he will not be able to be with her on a consistent basis for a while due to his current work. Discusses the situation with William Duer and writes that "he is too negligent - He is now busy in writing a political paper signed "Gracchus" in favor of [John] Jays election." Also sends news of friends.

GLC02437.05554

5 August 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he has received the letter informing Knox that their agreement "is to be considered as conclusive." Will be travelling to New York City to finalize their arrangements.

GLC02437.05569

5 August 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that he has not been able to obtain the deed of land from Mr. Barthélémy de Grégoire, who has run off with the money they already paid. Provides updated information on that land deal, and his attempts to satisfy their creditors.

GLC02437.05568

8 August 1792

Knox, Henry (1750-1806)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Duer

Informs Duer that he will not be able to make their previous appointment as he cannot leave Philadelphia at this time due to some "public business." Adds that he does not think this will disappoint Duer, though, because he understands that it is Duer's responsibility to finalize the arrangements with Madame de Leval and Mr. de la Roche. Docket is partially cut off.

GLC02437.05574

13 August 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Insists on meeting Knox at some point, if he really is unable to go to New York City. Suggests Kingston, New Jersey as a meeting place noting that "to see you at Princetown, Trenton or Brunswick they are very publick places & would cause some speculation that two such great men should have a conference, and its [sic] possible we may be newspaper'd & an alarm go forth that the Government was in danger - " Wants to discuss with Knox the situation regarding their land deals and with William Duer.

GLC02437.05579

15 August 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Discusses a possible purchase of 300,000 acres of land, and reports that proposals are being drawn up to Knox and William Duer by Mr. [Théophile] Cazenove and Madame de Leval. Assures Knox of his belief that Duer has nothing to do with this purchase, and probably knows nothing about it. Address leaf has calculations written all over it.

GLC02437.05580

15 August 1792

Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Informs Knox that "Mr. Cazenove is absent, but is expected this day. all negotiations are suspended until you & he arrives - " Extensively discusses business regarding their land holdings especially in regards to Mr. William Duer.

GLC02437.05581

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