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| Field name |
Value |
| Collection Reference Number
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GLC02437.01408
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| From Archive Folder
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The Henry Knox Papers [0042] May 1782
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| Title
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Henry Knox to John Hancock about Isaac Winslow
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| Date
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1 May 1782
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| Author
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Knox, Henry (1750-1806)
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| Document Type
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Correspondence
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| Content Description
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Written on two different sizes of paper: the first is 33.4 x 21.3 cm, the second is 13 x 21 cm. Writes to Hancock, Governor of Massachusetts, to ask that eighteen-year-old Isaac Winslow be allowed to return to land his family owns in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Knox implies that Isaac's father, also named Isaac, is a loyalist. Relates that Isaac "hopes no conduct of his father will prevent his residence in a country for which he has the greatest respect." Young Isaac was sent away to Canada at age 11 when the enemy arrived, and is now eighteen and has landed in New York. Knox emphasizes young Isaac's innocence and desire to be of service to his country.
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| Subjects
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Loyalist Revolutionary War Revolutionary War General Government and Civics Petition Letter of Introduction or Recommendation Land Transaction Canada
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| People
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Knox, Henry (1750-1806) Hancock, John (1737-1793) Winslow, Isaac (1763-1806) Winslow, Isaac (1709-1777)
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| Place written
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Theme
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The American Revolution
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| Sub-collection
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The Henry Knox Papers
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| Additional Information
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It seems likely that the younger Isaac Winslow (1763-1806) was born to loyalist Isaac Winslow (1709-1777) and Lucy Waldo, and that the land to which Knox refers is part of the Waldo patent, a tract of land Knox would later attempt to purchase in part due to a claim his wife, Lucy Flucker Knox, had on the land.
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| Copyright
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The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
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| Module
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Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859
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| Related documents
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Henry Knox to John Pitts about the concerns for a Massachusetts family Letter from Henry Knox to John Lowell about Isaac Winslow and his loyalist father
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| Transcript
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Show/hide Download PDF Philadelphia 1 May 1782 Sir I beg leave to state to your Excellency, the case of a young Mr Isaac Winslow, son to the late Isaac Winslow Esqr of Roxbury. This young Gentleman, was taken from Boston by his father at the [inserted: its] time the enemy evactuated it [struck: not] [inserted: being] than [struck: being] [inserted: not] eleven years of age. The greater part of the War he has been in canada and at present is at New York. having [struck: now] arrived [struck: at a time of life which being he such of 17 &] [strikeout] [inserted: so nearly] eighteen years of age, when he [struck: must] can in some degree decide for himself he is extremely anxious to return to his native country, and truly hopes no conduct of his fathers will prevent his residence in a country for which he has the greatest respect. He has [struck: never] [inserted: not] been in any office under the Army, and has never [inserted: I presume] in the least degree render'd himself [inserted: personally] obnoxious to his countrymen. He [struck: has determined to live & die in this country and to present himself and [strikeout] the protection to the laws of this country, which he is [determ fully.] He seems inclined, to present himself [struck: to his countrymen,] [inserted: to your Excellency as the head of the State and the executive of the State] and [struck: hopes] [inserted: entreats] he shall be permitted to enjoy the citizenship of the most [liberal] Constitution in the world. [2] If this should be the case I earnestly request your Excellency to consider his [struck: case, and] innocence & years and [struck: under the constitution of these Laws which have been [strikeout] and which might by a vigorous [strikeout] application affect him as easy as possible] and to [struck: consider] [inserted: request] him in as favorable [point of service] as your high Status will permit. I have been lately at Elizabeth Town in the State of New Jersey [strikeout] [inserted: [to treat] with [such] British [commissions] relative to [pensions] [inserted: [illegible [inserted: relative to pensions] [struck: with you] british commissions, [struck: and there] I saw [inserted: there] this young [struck: gentleman] [inserted: man] whose youth and apparent innocence joined to earnest entreaties that I would write to your Excellency induced me to comply hoping that [inserted: with his [struck: request] wishes] he might be of [inserted: future] service to his Country. [paragraph struck: I am conscious that [struck: my motives] for [struck: this] [inserted: my] application is dictated by the surest motives of humanity, and I pray your Excellency to consider my request in [other] [struck: other point] manner than as [struck: cons] you may find it consistent with the duties you owe to the constitution. I have the honor to be with The greatest respect your Excellencys Most obedient and most Humble Sevt HKnox His Excellency Governor [struck: Humb] Hancock [3] I am conscious that my application is dictated by the surest motives of humanity. I hope I request nothing inconsistent with the duties your Excellency owes to the Constitution. if I do, I am certain that it will not be granted. [docket] To his Excellency Governor Hancock respecting a young Mr Winslow. 1 May 1782.
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