1798-1799 Archive of Three Henry Knox-Signed Land Deeds – First U.S. Secretary of War – Thomaston, District of Maine
A remarkable archive of three original manuscript land conveyances executed by Major General Henry Knox (1750–1806), Revolutionary War artillery commander, trusted confidant of George Washington, and the first United States Secretary of War. These documents date from 1798–1799, after Knox retired from national office and devoted himself to developing his immense landholdings in Thomaston, Lincoln County, District of Maine, then part of Massachusetts.
The archive consists of:
- September 28, 1798: Warranty deed from Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox to Joseph and William Eaton, conveying a 100-acre tract adjoining the Camden line for $58.50.
- September 29, 1798: Warranty deed from Henry Knox and Lucy Knox to Sabra Barrows, conveying a Thomaston parcel for $87.00, acknowledged before David Fales, Justice of the Peace.
- November 16, 1799: Mortgage deed from Henry Knox to Joseph Huse securing $62.24, later marked satisfied in 1813.
Each document is written on period laid paper and bears Knox's bold autograph signature. The two warranty deeds also include the signature of Lucy Flucker Knox, whose relinquishment of dower rights provides an important legal and historical element rarely preserved alongside Knox's own signature. Original recording endorsements, registry notations, witness signatures, and remnants of paper seals remain intact.
These manuscripts document Knox's efforts to develop and finance his vast Maine estate after leaving Washington's Cabinet, offering a direct connection to one of the most important figures of the American Revolution and the early Federal government. As a unified archive of related transactions, they possess substantially greater historical and collector appeal than individual deeds.
An outstanding acquisition for collectors of Revolutionary War history, early American manuscripts, Washington family associates, Maine history, land records, and important Founding Era autographs.
The Three Documents
1. Mortgage Deed
- Date: November 16, 1799
- Grantor: Henry Knox
- Mortgagee: Joseph Huse of Thomaston
- Consideration: $62.24
- Signed by Henry Knox
- Lucy Knox joins in relinquishing dower rights.
2. Warranty Deed
- Date: September 29, 1798
- Grantor: Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox
- Grantee: Sabra Barrows
- Consideration: $87.00
- Conveying a tract in Thomaston.
- Acknowledged before David Fales, Justice of the Peace.
3. Warranty Deed
- Date: September 28, 1798
- Grantors: Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox
- Grantees: Joseph and William Eaton
- Consideration: $58.50
- Conveying 100 acres adjoining the Camden line.
- Surveyed by John Marsh.
- Acknowledged by Patrick Ripley and John Glayson as witnesses.
The reverse sides retain original recording endorsements, registry notations, later ownership inscriptions, and one mortgage satisfaction entry dated 1813.
Historical Importance
These documents come from the period after Knox left President Washington's Cabinet and returned to Montpelier, his estate at Thomaston, where he attempted to develop one of the largest private land empires in early Maine. He actively sold and mortgaged parcels from these holdings to finance his ambitious business ventures.
Unlike military commissions or later facsimiles, these are working legal instruments, signed as Knox managed the disposition of his frontier lands. They provide tangible evidence of the settlement and development of coastal Maine during the Federal period.
The inclusion of Lucy Flucker Knox, who relinquishes her dower rights on the deeds, adds another desirable historical element, as documents bearing both spouses are less frequently encountered.
Condition
Overall Very Good for late eighteenth-century legal manuscripts.
- Original laid paper.
- Strong manuscript entries.
- Three original Henry Knox signatures.
- Original folds.
- Paper seperations as shown
- Period recording endorsements.
- Minor edge wear and scattered foxing.
- Small paper seal remnants remain attached.
- Mortgage document bears later satisfaction notation dated 1813.
An attractive, complete group that has remained together.
A remarkable archive of three original manuscript land conveyances executed by Major General Henry Knox (1750–1806), Revolutionary War artillery commander, trusted confidant of George Washington, and the first United States Secretary of War. These documents date from 1798–1799, after Knox retired from national office and devoted himself to developing his immense landholdings in Thomaston, Lincoln County, District of Maine, then part of Massachusetts.
The archive consists of:
- September 28, 1798: Warranty deed from Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox to Joseph and William Eaton, conveying a 100-acre tract adjoining the Camden line for $58.50.
- September 29, 1798: Warranty deed from Henry Knox and Lucy Knox to Sabra Barrows, conveying a Thomaston parcel for $87.00, acknowledged before David Fales, Justice of the Peace.
- November 16, 1799: Mortgage deed from Henry Knox to Joseph Huse securing $62.24, later marked satisfied in 1813.
Each document is written on period laid paper and bears Knox's bold autograph signature. The two warranty deeds also include the signature of Lucy Flucker Knox, whose relinquishment of dower rights provides an important legal and historical element rarely preserved alongside Knox's own signature. Original recording endorsements, registry notations, witness signatures, and remnants of paper seals remain intact.
These manuscripts document Knox's efforts to develop and finance his vast Maine estate after leaving Washington's Cabinet, offering a direct connection to one of the most important figures of the American Revolution and the early Federal government. As a unified archive of related transactions, they possess substantially greater historical and collector appeal than individual deeds.
An outstanding acquisition for collectors of Revolutionary War history, early American manuscripts, Washington family associates, Maine history, land records, and important Founding Era autographs.
The Three Documents
1. Mortgage Deed
- Date: November 16, 1799
- Grantor: Henry Knox
- Mortgagee: Joseph Huse of Thomaston
- Consideration: $62.24
- Signed by Henry Knox
- Lucy Knox joins in relinquishing dower rights.
2. Warranty Deed
- Date: September 29, 1798
- Grantor: Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox
- Grantee: Sabra Barrows
- Consideration: $87.00
- Conveying a tract in Thomaston.
- Acknowledged before David Fales, Justice of the Peace.
3. Warranty Deed
- Date: September 28, 1798
- Grantors: Henry Knox and Lucy Flucker Knox
- Grantees: Joseph and William Eaton
- Consideration: $58.50
- Conveying 100 acres adjoining the Camden line.
- Surveyed by John Marsh.
- Acknowledged by Patrick Ripley and John Glayson as witnesses.
The reverse sides retain original recording endorsements, registry notations, later ownership inscriptions, and one mortgage satisfaction entry dated 1813.
Historical Importance
These documents come from the period after Knox left President Washington's Cabinet and returned to Montpelier, his estate at Thomaston, where he attempted to develop one of the largest private land empires in early Maine. He actively sold and mortgaged parcels from these holdings to finance his ambitious business ventures.
Unlike military commissions or later facsimiles, these are working legal instruments, signed as Knox managed the disposition of his frontier lands. They provide tangible evidence of the settlement and development of coastal Maine during the Federal period.
The inclusion of Lucy Flucker Knox, who relinquishes her dower rights on the deeds, adds another desirable historical element, as documents bearing both spouses are less frequently encountered.
Condition
Overall Very Good for late eighteenth-century legal manuscripts.
- Original laid paper.
- Strong manuscript entries.
- Three original Henry Knox signatures.
- Original folds.
- Paper seperations as shown
- Period recording endorsements.
- Minor edge wear and scattered foxing.
- Small paper seal remnants remain attached.
- Mortgage document bears later satisfaction notation dated 1813.
An attractive, complete group that has remained together.
