Our Collection

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

High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.

Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02437.03998 Author/Creator: Knox, Lucy Flucker (ca. 1756-1824) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 14 October 1788 Pagination: 2 p. : address ; 32.4 x 19.6 cm. Order a Copy

Complains that Henry has stayed away later than he had originally planned. Discusses her busy social schedule and numerous invitations, noting "Since the arrival of Mrs. Ogden I have passed my time as agreably as possible seperated [sic] from you." Understands that his business in Boston, settling with creditors, may extend until the end of the month (it is possible Henry was settling the matter of Henry Jackson's unauthorized sale of 10,000 dollars of Knox's notes). Remarks that her sister sent her a Queensware china set.

Euphemia and Samuel Ogden were close friends of the Knox family. Samuel operated the Delaware Works.

N York October 14th 88 -

The same evening on which my dear Harry receives this letter [will] I flatter me bring me one from him wrote at Boston - this I may calculate upon, even allowing him to have staid on the patent until the tenth, which is four days later than he proposed - when he wrote me on the sixteenth [inserted: with] the last date I have received -
Since the arrival of Mrs Ogden I have passed my time as agreeably as possible seperated from you - we have been twice at Mr [Hoffmans] and not a word said of the letter or my appearance of misunderstanding whatever this evening we are to pass at Mrs Coldens - friday at Mr Paschal Smiths and on Saturday we have invitations from Mr L Forest and Mr Lynch - the latter of which we have accepted - we have been at Mr Macombs at [illegible] Millers. Colo Ogden talks of going home the last of this week and returning for his wife but I believe I mentioned this before - I presume I need not ask you to write me by every post while you stay in Boston - if you attempt to settle with the creditors I imagine it must take
the
[2] The remainder of this month of this I have not complain as I consider it a sacrifice to duty -
I have a letter from my sister of the 27th of July in which she speaks with certainty of receiving the remaining compensation in Janry - She sends by the same vessel a [inserted: small] table sett of the better kind of Queens ware which is [inserted: the] manifactory of her husband - it is next and will [move] our china
and now my love lett me intreat you to consider the great importance of your friends to the little growing family who are looking to you and you alone, not only for present bread but for their future advancement and settling in life. tenderness is due to our friend but for gods sake do not carry it too far - suppose for a moment the case reversed and think what unity you would find -
Mrs Ogden desires to be mentioned to you with that attachment you know the possesser
Adieu my best beloved
Your tenderly affectionate
L Knox
[address leaf]
Honble
H Knox
Boston

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824
Knox, Henry, 1750-1806
Ogden, Euphemia Morris, 1754-1818
Ogden, Samuel, 1746-1810

Citation Guidelines for Online Resources