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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824) to Henry Knox

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.00589 Author/Creator: Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824) Place Written: Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 May 1777 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket ; 32 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Informs Knox that their daughter has smallpox, but is recovering, and acting "very lively." Discusses sending Knox waistcoats and breeches through Colonel Mason. At her current location, has no company except for [Henry] Gardner, Treasurer of Massachusetts, and Madam Heath, "who is so stiff it is impossible to be sociable with her."

A previous assessment determined that this document was written at Sewall's Point in Carroll County, New Hampshire. There is evidence, however, that Sewall's Point as referred to in this letter may have been located in or near Brookline, Massachusetts.

[draft]
My Dearest only Love -
I write you My Harry this morning, but as I sent my letter by an unknown hand to town, I fear it may not reach you - and as you kindly say it gives you pleasure to receive my scribbling I will not be affraid of tiring you with it, - I told you that your dear little babe had got the small pox in the natural way - it is now upon the turns and this afternoon, she is very livly - playing about the floor the Dr says she will do well and I trust he is not mistaken -
I got Mrs Pollard to take out of my trunk at N Haven - such of your things as were worth sending and to leave them with Colo Mason at Springfield - she has been to see me and says she left in his hands 8 waistcoats & 4 pair of breeches which he promised to forward - When I return to town my first care shall be to get you some more of these articles with the handkerchiefs stocks &c - I have no company here but Madam Heath who is so stiff it is impossible to be sociable with her - and Mr Gardner - the treasurer - so that you may well think what I feel under my present anxiety - out of which if I am not soon [2] relieved I fear I shall be sick myself - what would I not give to see my dear Harry, when we parted my Love, I felt what words will not cannot tell. - but did I think after ten weeks absence there would be no prospect of our meeting - no no no My dear boy said in six weeks my Lucy shall be restored to my arms - do you remember it - do you also remember that you shed a tear [inserted: at leaving me] if you have forgot it I have not - but [struck: tomorrowing] tomorrow morning brings me a letter which were I in town I should receive to night - who knows what it contains - I will hope for that, and in that hope again take my leave - May all good angels gaurd
him who is dearer to me than life itself is the prayer
of a fondly anxious wife by the name of
Lucy Knox
Sewals Point May the 8th - eaight Oclock in the evening

[address leaf]
appoint the paymaster
To
Knox
Brigadier Genl Knox
at Head Quarters Morriston
[ ? ]

[docket]
Mr [struck, in pencil: Wm] [inserted, in pencil: [Major?] genl Knox
to his [struck, in pencil: Bro] [inserted, in pencil: Wife] -

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824
Gardner, Henry, 1731-1782

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