Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03852 Author/Creator: Jackson, Henry (1747-1809) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 20 April 1788 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 30.2 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy
Recently heard news that their mutual friend, James Swan, arrived in France. His wife, Hepzibah Clark Swan, is still in America and hopes James will send for her. Jackson doubts he will be able to, noting "...I am sure his Finances are not sufficient to support it, that is, if he has left with me a true statement of his affairs." Refers to the Massachusetts election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Reports that their mutual friend, "the General," has 3/5 of the vote (referring to Benjamin Lincoln and the election for Lieutenant Governor). Of Massachusetts legislature, writes "Our Senate will be charming it will be Federal to a fault, this gives great satisfaction to the man of influence & property and will be a very great check to an Anti- and Insurgent lower House." Marked "private" on the address leaf.
In the late 1780s, oppressed with heavy debts, Colonel Swan went to Paris with letters of introduction to Lafayette and other prominent men and eventually worked his way into a partnership in the firm of Dallarde, Swan et Compagnie, one of the firms that furnished supplies to the new French government after the French Revolution. When a business partner filed suit against him in 1808, Swan chose to go to a high-class debtor's prison at St. Pelagie instead of settling the claim. He stayed there for 22 years and died in 1831, just one year after his release. Hepzibah had lived in the house in Dorchester until her death in 1825 (from the Dorchester Atheneum).
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