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Collection Reference Number GLC02437.03852
From Archive Folder The Henry Knox Papers [0084] April-June 1788 
Title Henry Jackson to Henry Knox discussing their mutual friend James Swan and the Massachusetts election
Date 20 April 1788
Author Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)  
Recipient Knox, Henry  
Document Type Correspondence; Government document
Content Description 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.
Subjects Revolutionary War General  Friendship  Marriage  Women's History  Finance  Debt  France  Global History and Civics  Politics  Government and Civics  Election  Federalists  US Constitution  Ratification  Mobs and Riots  Rebellion  Shays' Rebellion  
People Jackson, Henry (1747-1809)  Knox, Henry (1750-1806)  Swan, James (1754-1831)  Lincoln, Benjamin (1733-1810)  
Place written Boston, Massachusetts
Theme Government & Politics; Women in American History; Creating a New Government
Sub-collection The Henry Knox Papers
Additional Information 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).
Copyright The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Module Settlement, Commerce, Revolution and Reform: 1493-1859