Our Collection

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.

Hoff, Joseph (fl. 1776) to Henry Knox

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00462 Author/Creator: Hoff, Joseph (fl. 1776) Place Written: Hibernia, New Jersey Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 October 1776 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 32.4 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses the canons he was ordered to make. Work had stopped from lack of communication but was restarting, and Hoff seeks instructions on what to make. Also indicates that he has the opportunity to hire additional moulders, one of which was the letter bearer, his brother, John Hoff. Assures Knox his iron will make good canons. Hoff ran a foundry called Hibernia Furnace.

[draft]
Hibernia October 1st. 1776
Sir
Not having heard any thing from you respecting the Canon we were order'd to make by a Mr Ivers, I had stop'd doing any thing in that business for some time, but haveing frequently heard that Canon of every kind are much wanted, are now prepareing to go on again.
I have now an opportunity of employing a good set of Moulders (of which the Bearer is one) and would willing engage to make a Quantity of Shott of any kind and try at some Canon say of the 6 and 9 pounders & perhaps 12 pounders will therefore be oblig'd to you to inform me what kinds of stores are now wanted, the prices that will be given, where to be deliverd &c, it would suit me best to deliver them at New Ark
We are preswaded our Iron will answer for Canon, as we have prov'd the first we made to be good: if we do any thing in that way we must get the moulds of each Size from you -
I am Sr. with Respect, Yr. most hble Servt.
Jos Hoff.
Coll: Knox
[address leaf]
To
Coll. Knox
at For Washington in
the State of
New York -
favour'd by
Mr Ford -
[docket]
Joseph Hoff Eqr.
Hibernia Furnance
Respecting Cannon &
Stores

Hoff, Joseph, fl. 1776-1777
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources