Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824) to Henry Knox
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.01199 Author/Creator: Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824) Place Written: Mount Vernon, Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 29 September 1781 Pagination: 2 p.
Notes the "very kind reception from the good Lady of this place" [Martha Washington]. Gives news about their daughter Lucy, who is staying in Philadelphia. Colonel Clement Biddle and his wife will see her each Sunday. Pertinent correspondence will be forwarded to Knox. Requests that Knox write Biddle to thank him. Expresses her desire for a home and rhetorically asks "will the time ever come when we shall have a house of our own and our children about us[?] if not, life is undesirable." Reports difficulties with their son Harry. Mentions a rumored battle fought by General Nathanael Greene. The Continental Army began to invest the British works for the siege of Yorktown the day before.
[draft]
Mount Vernon Sept 29 1781 -
Last evening I was so happy as to receive two lines from my dearest friend which were wellcome coming from him: tho I must say I wish he would bestow a little more time and pains upon the only pleasure I enjoy in his absence -
I wrote you on monday by Mr Custis and informed you that Lucy was fixed with Mrs Bred[o?] in philidelphia: Colo & Mrs Biddle have promised to see her every Sunday and to write by every mondays post, I directed them to forward thier letters to you which I resent having done, as the communication between us, is much less frequent than I expected - I beg you will write him by the first oppty and thank him for his great kindness & friendship to me and I need not ask you to forward any letters which mention the dear little girl, with all possible dispatch to her a[inserted: n]xious mother, will the time never come when we shall have a house of our own and our Children about us if not, life is not desirable -
I mett a very kind reception [2] from the good Lady of this place but my circumstances lead me ardently to wish for a home - and I see but one possible way to obtain one - you know my meaning - I wish for nothing inconsistent with your happiness and future peace - but could you reconcile it to your feelings I think it would make me happy -
Harry has been very troublesome to me since he lost his nurse he will have nothing to say to the new one but is in my arms day & night a circumstance not very agreeable at this [text loss] but I must not say who is to blame -
We have a report of an important action fought by Genl Greene but fear it cannot be true as you do not mention it in your letters - pray write me all news that may be communicated and believe me to be as ever
Yours
LK -
[docket]
Mrs K.
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