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.

Prowd, Charles (fl. 1783) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01901 Author/Creator: Prowd, Charles (fl. 1783) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 February 1783 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 19 x 17.7 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Prowd, a former artificer for the Continental Army to Major General Knox. Says that Colonel Frothingham has his pay and would like Knox to help him get it. Says he needs it badly as he is sick. Says his wife is also ill. Reports that "I Received no pay this Three Years and better, Which Please your Honr. is Very hard for me to live in Such Sircumstances." Postscript sends condolences for the death of his child.

[Excerpt:]
My wife and I joines in Love to The Honorable Lady Knox and is Very Sory for the loss of hur Child So no more at Presant but remains Dutifull Friend and Soldier to Death parts

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