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.

Peirce, Joseph (1745-1828) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01494 Author/Creator: Peirce, Joseph (1745-1828) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 18 July 1782 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 22.6 x 18.4 cm. Order a Copy

Writes, "I had the pleasure of once to your Letter of 3rd inst. and mentioning what you desired to Mr. Dawes, who will use his influence in every good measure to move the Massachusetts Line." Adds that he has enclosed a letter from Knox's brother, William. The letter had recently arrived by ship from France and landed at the port at Newbury. There are apparently more goods on the ship for Knox but they haven't been retrieved yet.

Mr. Dawes could refer to Joseph Peirce's father in law, Colonel Thomas Dawes, who served the Massachusetts state legislature as a representative in both the House and Senate

Peirce, Joseph, 1745-1828
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Dawes, Thomas, 1731-1809

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