61To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 17 April 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
I have this moment received a letter from you of the 7th Instant. Our concern with Moses by his sketch of an account exhibited me at New York was in sundry Vessels. I am so well persuaded that in these concerns we shall loose Money, even if Moses pays all his debts that I would willingly give up 5/ in the pound & ⟨– –⟩ & give discharges for 15/ in the pound. I do not ⟨think⟩ I can be at NYork...
62To Alexander Hamilton from Henry Laurens, 19 April 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
I was yesterday honored by receipt of your very obliging Letter of the 6th. inclosing Mr. Frederic’s Narrative. A tissue of Lies. During the Seige of Charleston, when he pretends he carried arms & to have acted in the Trenches, he was at my Mepkin Plantation, whence some time after the Town fell, he joined the temporary Conquerors; he also seduced his Wife, she thro’ the persuasion of faithful...
63To Alexander Hamilton from William Cooper and Andrew Craig, 9 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Burlington [ New Jersey ] May 9, 1785 . Ask for information and advice on the progress being made in the sale of 40,000 acres in the Otsego Patent. LS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Cooper, who later founded Cooperstown, New York, was the father of James Fenimore Cooper. From 1776 to 1786 Cooper and Craig, both of Burlington, New Jersey, purchased the greater part of the Otsego...
64To Alexander Hamilton from John Ross, 17 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 17, 1785. Sends information concerning Ross’s share of ownership of the ship Diligent . ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Ross, a Philadelphia merchant, was an agent for François, Marquis de Barbé-Marbois, the French chargé d’affaires in the United States. H was representing Ross in Bartholomew Terrasson et al . v. Ship Diligent , a case pending before the New York...
65To Alexander Hamilton from Cornelius Glen, 20 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Albany, May 20, 1785. Requests aid in the recovery of money from Daniel Parker and Company. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Glen, an Albany merchant, had been an agent for Daniel Parker during the Revolution.
66To Alexander Hamilton from John D. Coxe and Tench Coxe, 21 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 21, 1785. Request Hamilton to represent them and to provide information on lands in dispute between John and Tench Coxe and Robert Lettis Hooper and James Wilson. Request Hamilton to forward certain legal documents to the commissioners of the Land Office of New York. LS , in writing of John D. Coxe, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. John D. Coxe, a Pennsylvania lawyer,...
67To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen De Lancey, 27 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Scarsdale [ New York ] May 27, 1785 . Asks for information concerning the progress of various legal actions instituted against De Lancey’s debtors. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. De Lancey was the grandson of Stephen De Lancey, founder of the family in the United States.
68To Alexander Hamilton from Ezekiel Forman, 31 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Philadelphia, May 31, 1785. Asks Hamilton to return John Philips’s bond. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
69To Alexander Hamilton from James Hamilton, 31 May 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ St. Croix, May 31, 1785. On June 22, 1785, Hamilton wrote to James Hamilton : “I have received your letter of the 31st of May last.” Letter not found. ] James Hamilton was H’s older brother. See H to James Hamilton, June 22, 1785, note 1 .
70To Alexander Hamilton from Jarvis Coles, 7 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ June 7, 1785. According to the catalogue description of this letter, Coles, on Hamilton’s orders, had occupied a house for military purposes. Coles, who after the war was sued by the owner for rent, requested Hamilton to defend him. Letter not found. ] ALS , sold at Swann Galleries, March 5, 1943, Lot 37.
71From James Duane, John Jay, and Robert R. Livingston to Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Jones, 9 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
At a meeting of the agents appointed by the state of New York to manage their controversy with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts —it is agreed that a general retaining fee be given to Alexander Hamilton and Samuel Jones Esqrs. as Counsellors and Solicitors on the part of this State that the brief already prepared together with the necessary papers be put in their hands—That they compleat the...
72To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Livingston, 13 June 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Your kind & interesting letter of the 25th. April did not come to my hands before the 23 May, when I was at my Iron works endeavouring to git them repaird & to Sett the Furnace going which gave me much trouble & realy exercised my patience & from whence I return’d last Saterday, much fateagu’d, this troublesome Job, am persuaded will appologise for my not answering your polite letter Sooner....
73To Alexander Hamilton from Jacob Hardenbergh, 14 July 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Raritan [ New Jersey ] July 14, 1785 . Hopes that his father will be given a new trial. Asks for Hamilton’s assistance. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Hardenbergh was the son of Johannes Hardenbergh of Ulster County, New York. See “Cash Book,” March 1, 1782–1791, note 29 .
74Power of Attorney from John B. Church, 3 August 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, August 3, 1785. Appoints Hamilton “attorney at law, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to my use to ask, demand, sue for, recover, and receive of and from all and every person and persons whatsoever, whom it doth shall or may concern, All and every such sum and sums of money, debts and demands whatsoever which now are due and owing and hereafter may grow due and owing...
75To Alexander Hamilton from Andrew P. Skene, 10 August 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Montreal, August 10, 1785. Asks about the possibility of recovering property seized under the New York confiscation laws. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Philip Skene, the founder of Skenesborough, Vermont, and his son Andrew were Loyalists. They were both attainted and their lands confiscated. Early in the war Andrew P. Skene was captured and imprisoned in Connecticut.
76To Alexander Hamilton from Walter Livingston, 3 September 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, September 3, 1785. “… the House of De Lande and Fynje of Amsterdam have stopt Payment with a Considerable Sum in their hands belonging to the United States. I shall be glad of Your Opinion as Counsel what legal measures I can pursue for securing any Property belonging to that House, which may be in the Hands of Persons in this State.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress....
77To Alexander Hamilton from Stephen De Lancey, 12 September 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Scarsdale [ New York ] September 12, 1785 . Renews request made on May 27, 1785, for information on various legal actions taken to recover numerous debts. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
78To Alexander Hamilton from Cleland Kinloch, 20 September 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Belvoir near Charlottesville, Virginia, September 20, 1785. Discusses measures taken to pay John B. Church the amount of a bond given by the executors of Kinloch’s father’s estate. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Cleland Kinloch was the brother of Francis Kinloch, a South Carolina planter and member of the Continental Congress.
79To Alexander Hamilton from Peter Silvester, 24 September 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
September 24, 1785. Discusses pending litigation between Captain Phillips and Colonel Van Rensselaer concerning a debt contracted by Phillips in 1776. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Silvester was a lawyer who practiced in the area which, in 1786, became Columbia County.
80To Alexander Hamilton from John Adams, 19 October 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
At the Instance of Mr. Hartley in behalf of his Friend Mr Francis Upton, I advised Mr Upton to apply to some Councillor in New York and particularly to Mr Hamilton, whose Reputation was known to me although his Person was not. Mr Hartley now requests for Mr Upton a Letter of Introduction. As a total Stranger but by Character, it would be very difficult to find a Pretence to excuse the Liberty...
81To Alexander Hamilton from John Lowell, 19 October 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ Boston, October 19, 1785. On October 30, 1785, Hamilton wrote to Lowell : “Mr. Lowe has delivered me your letter of the 19th. Instant.” Letter not found. ] Lowell, a judge of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, was serving as a member of the New York-Massachusetts commission to settle the boundary dispute between those states.
82To Alexander Hamilton from John De Ponthieu Wilkes, 8 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
I received just now a Note from Mr. Atkinson which you had written to him for Mr. Hearts obligations to Mr. Mc.Cauley and which I suppose was occasioned by my Message to you yesterday. I am very glad at any rate that the creditors are likely to obtain some settlement But I think at the same time that you have adopted a strange and injurious line of Conduct to me. It is now near six months...
83To Alexander Hamilton from John Lowell, 9 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
Boston, November 9, 1785. States that there is no bankruptcy act in Massachusetts and sends information concerning the transfer of property by a citizen of Massachusetts to a New York creditor. ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. This letter is in reply to H to Lowell, October 30, 1785 .
84To Alexander Hamilton from John De Ponthieu Wilkes, 9 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
The moment I received yours I perceived the precipitancy of my own Conduct and was very sorry I had so far mistaken both our Characters to act in the manner I have done. I flatter myself that the same Candor which has dictated yours will be exerted towards mine and that you will only view it as the act of a Man who conceived himself injured. As you have never experienced the cruel reverses of...
85To Alexander Hamilton from Jeremiah Wadsworth, 11 November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
I received your favor of the 29th ulto. Thursday. I have been very uneasy about my stock in the Bank of North America and long before the repeal of the Pensilvania act of Incorporation, I had determined to take the first favorable opportunity to withdraw it. When I was last at New York it was pretty certain the state of Pensilvania would repeal their Act. I then wrote a letter to Mr Pettit of...
86To Alexander Hamilton from John Auldjo, November 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
New York, November, 1785. “You have herewith the papers relating to the dispute with Mr. Rhinelander, but lest the business should still be treated with the same trifling attention it has hitherto had, I beg you to press for an explicit answer whether Mr. Rhinelander is seriously disposed to bring it to a hearing.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Auldjo was a partner of the house...
87To Alexander Hamilton from Francis Upton, 6 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
London, December 6, 1785. “… you will perceive that a considerable tract of land in the province of New York has been long since given in trust by My late Father for the use of myself Brother & Sister. As they are both Minors & Myself but just come of Age, it prevented our making a More early Application to take possession of these Lands; but I am now having the proper writings prepared … to...
88To Alexander Hamilton from Robert Howe, 8 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
December 8, 1785. “Mr. & Mrs. Wilson … are in very embarassed Circumstances. As I know you have the direction of Baron Polnitz’s House now Empty, if you could acommodate them with a few Rooms thro’ the winter it would be of espestial service to them.” ALS , Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress. Howe, who had been a major general during the Revolutionary War, resigned in 1783 and returned to...
89To Alexander Hamilton from George Washington, 11 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
I have been favoured with your letter of the 25th. of November by Major Farlie. Sincerely do I wish that the several State Societies had, or would, adopt the alterations that were recommended by the General meeting in May 1784. I then thought, and have had no cause since to change my opinion, that if the Society of the Cincinnati mean to live in peace with the rest of their fellow Citizens,...
90To Alexander Hamilton from John B. Church, 21 December 1785 (Hamilton Papers)
[ December 21, 1785. On the back of a letter that Church wrote to Hamilton on April 5, 1786 , Hamilton wrote: “Letters from J B Church December 21 April 5. 1786.” Letter of December 21 not found. ]