Greene, Catharine Littlefield (1755-1814) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.06248 Author/Creator: Greene, Catharine Littlefield (1755-1814) Place Written: Mulberry Grove, Georgia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 22 November 1794 Pagination: 4 p. : address : docket ; 22.8 x 18.7 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses a legal matter involving her late husband, Nathanael Greene, and a Mr. Burnett. Notes if ruled unfavorably by the court, her children will be "without protection or scarcely a friend". Requests Knox's assistance with her troubles. Asks if Knox knows someone who could speak with Mr. Burnett. Suggests Samuel Ogden as the person. Discusses her children.
[draft]
Mulberry Grove Novemr 22 1794
My Dear General
I hope you will pardon the liberty I take in forcing myself into your remembrance by asking new favors, while the long, very long list of Old ones, are still unsettled, and only remained [illegible] in my heart - but the Ebbs and flowes [sic] of my fortune and affairs, seem to make it necessary for me to give most trouble to those, for whos happiness I am the most interested - but I must say no more on this subject, permit then the Grateful teras that at this moment fills my eyes to insure my pardon and secure the favor I am about to ask - Mr Rutledge wrote you sometimes since; that the suit of Hams & Blackford which was to have been decided in the Court of Chancery at its last setting; was deferred by the direction of the Judges, untill January next; for the purpose of procuring Burnits evidence - Now if he could be brought to give a true testimony, I am confident [2] the cause would go in my favor - in which case my fortune wou[l]d be sufficiently independent - but if his evidence should be unfavorable? I shall be compelled to apply again to Congress - a Circumstance which I veryly believe would break my hearth and leave my unfortunate children without protection or scarcely a friend -
The subject of this Evidence has undoubtedly been explained sufficiently by Mr Rutledge who knows much more of the business than I do and can better inform you of the particular circumstances of that part of the cause, which requires this proof - All I can say is that Genl Greene was fully persuaded that this Cause must go in his favor, and that young Burnit was well acquainted with the settlement which had been made with the creditors - But you very well know that he is not among my best friends - and that the demon of malice and avarice (which has fast hold of his heart) may afford easy means of his being [illegible] to [3] partially in giving his deposition.
The best method of counteracting which, it appears to me, will be to engage some friend of yours (for alas the number of mine are very small) to question him in such a manner as to insure a knowledge of the truth - perhaps Colo. Ogden from friendship to you, might be induc[e]d to undertake the business as he is in the same Town as Burnit -
My Brother writes me that you have seen my son, and do not think him a very bad Boy which gave me much pleasure - My Girls are not handsome but are good and pretty well accomplished - but I hope to have the honor of introducing them to you, that you may judge for yourself - My estate is increasing in i[t]s value very fast[.] Its produce this year is Eight hundred barals [sic] of Rice - Each cask weighting 600 - the present price 12 Sterling per hundred - I presume that the interest you take in the wellfair [sic] of my [4] Children will not make the little foregoing statement uninteresting to you - be pleased to present my Compliments where they may be acceptable and believe me unalterably your Obliged
Grateful and devoted
CathGreene
[address leaf]
The Honorable
Henry Knox
Secretary at War.
Philadelphia
[docket]
Mrs Greene
Mulbery Grove
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