11 July 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Comments affectionately about writing to Lucy often. Reports that he goes to Roxbury and Cambridge in the mornings and returns to Watertown in the evenings, offering support to Captain Michael Jackson's company. Plans to visit her soon, but feels he must provide his "oppressed Country an essential service." Mentions that General Charles Lee received word that General John Burgoyne wants to have a meeting, but Lee will not comply unless ordered by Congress. Praises the patriot's burning of "Browns House on Boston neck." Also praises George Washington, who took over the Continental Army in…

GLC02437.00199

10 August 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Affectionately laments their separation. Mentions that Generals George Washington and Charles Lee inquired about her. Comments on an encounter with navy prisoners. Discusses the "regulars" making a "fine prize" of 2000 sheep and 150 heads of cattle on Fishers Island, off Connecticut. Thinks he will see her Monday. The American Army got into a skirmish with British forces nearby at Plumb Island the day after this letter was written, the first reported clash between regulars in the Continental Army and the redcoats. Letter is dated Thursday morning 9 August 1775 but Thursday was actually…

GLC02437.00200

23 August 1868

Conger, Levi P., fl. 1824-1868

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann Conger

Writes to his wife about the lack of correspondence he has received, and desperately wishes to hear from her. Explains that Gurkes Ranch is a 150-acre vineyard and describes all the fruit he has been eating. He wishes he was able to send Ann a basket of fruit. Written at Gurke's Ranch.

GLC04672.07

5 January 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Lucy Knox

Laments not being able to return to Lucy when he had hoped to. Praises Lucy at length and reaffirms his love for her. Notes that this is only the fourth letter he has been able to write to her in the two months they have been apart, and explains why his letter of 5 December 1775 was so short (see GLC02437.00215). Comments on the weather and the lack of snow, which impeded his plans to transport artillery from Fort Ticonderoga to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Mentions that his brother William Knox is now at Lake George preparing the sleds for…

GLC02437.00237

16 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes lovingly to his wife. Discusses his journey to visit her, getting caught in a violent storm, and expecting to see her tomorrow night. Explains that George Washington has ordered him to go to Fort Ticonderoga. Knox, having recently been appointed head of the artillery, was sent to Ticonderoga to inspect and bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there by a force led by Ethan Allen on 15 May 1775.

GLC02437.00209

27 November 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Writes affectionately, asking about Lucy's journey from Worcester. Discusses his own journey to New York City on his way to Fort Ticonderoga, where George Washington had ordered him to travel to in order to bring back to Cambridge the British artillery captured there in the Spring of 1775. He met his brother on the road, a meeting he describes and dubs "truly farcical." Comments on business opportunities. Reports the easy victory by which American forces captured Montreal on 13 November 1775. mentioning the British retreat, the construction of an American battery, and the…

GLC02437.00211

17 December 1775

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Longs to see his wife and plans to in three weeks. Discusses activities relating to the transport of artillery captured from the British at Fort Ticonderoga earlier that year to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Reports that both his and William Knox's health has been good. Quips about his rotund figure. Discusses the "Bravery of America" and a growing awareness of it among the British prisoners he has seen: "Enemies who would not before this allow the Americans a Spark of Military virtue." Blesses America and Lucy. Links God watching over Americans to God watching over Lucy in particular.…

GLC02437.00223

February 25, 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Burbeck

Asks Colonel Burbeck to procure horses and carts, and move some artillery pieces from Prospect Hill in Somerville, Massachusetts, after assessing the road in the daytime. Notes that he would have done this himself if his wife, Lucy Knox, was not currently ill.

GLC02437.00254

1775

Waldo, Jonathon, fl. 1721-1779

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Thanks Knox for so often obliging him. Reports that Mr. Oliver, possibly Andrew Oliver, will pay Knox for the gun he got for Waldo (see GLC02437.00190 and GLC02437.00194). Assures him that Knox's requests are foremost on his mind. Expresses his desire to get married, placed in the context of a discussion on human nature. Reports that tories in Salem are "scar'd to Death" and leaving the area. Has heard that British soldiers will soon come to attempt to "intercept our Grand muster" but doubts that General Gage could ever "hinder their mutiny." Expresses that he would not like to see…

GLC02437.00230

24 March 1788

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter

Title: to Alexander Macomb

Thanks Macomb for information related to the exports of Canada for 1787. Apologizes for his late reply, noting that Lucy, his wife, had inadvertently placed the information Macomb sent in a pile of her own papers.

GLC02437.03829

10 July 1791

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Alexander Macomb

Says that a Mr. [Reynal] called on him with Macomb's letter of 6 July. Was not there to receive him and missed [Reynal] when he went to town today. Hopes to see him tomorrow. Delivered to Lucy Knox the news of Macomb's pending marriage. He joins her in wishing him the best. Reports that Lucy gave birth to their tenth child on 8 July. Says the mother and daughter are both "in a good way." Is "well satisfied you have authorized Mr. Gouverneur Morris to sell the ... Lawrence Lands." Hopes Morris will get a good price for him. Describes Morris as "an able negociator." Thanks Macomb for…

GLC02437.05061

6 July 1791

Macomb, Alexander, 1748-1831

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Writes a letter of recommendation for a young gentleman, a W. Meyrick British officer of the 24th Regiment. Takes "the Liberty to request [Knox's] Civility towards him, and presume upon [Knox's] goodness to pardon [his] boldness, which however [he does] not sit uneasy under knowledge [of] the hospitable dispostion of Mrs. Knox and [Knox]." Sends his regards to "your Lucy" and informs Knox that he is going to remarry. Invites the Knox family to visit. Stain on address leaf where the letter was sealed. Watermarked " J Whatman" and with a hunting horn inside a crest.

GLC02437.10232

12 November 1781

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to Benjamin Lincoln

Later copy. Written by Brigadier General Knox to General Lincoln. Says he was concerned for him, but hopes he is safe at Head of Elk, Maryland. Tells him to "pray take care of the trophies and carry them triumphantly into rome." Reports from Mount Vernon that Martha Washington's son, "Mr. Custis," has died. Says there is a pallor of sadness in the Washington home and that "You who know the tender feelings of a father in their extreme can form some idea of the affliction which must at this moment overcome Mrs Washington & the General." Says they are expected back at Mount Vernon in a…

GLC02437.01288

January 27, 1782

McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Acknowledges receipt of Knox's letters and apologizes for not responding more quickly. Writes, "But as I am now in arrest you and all the Army will hear from me through the channel of Mr Loudons partner. I shall not enter into a detail of the merits or demerits of the arrest, because probably you may be of the court martial, nor shall I enter on other subjects, as this is not the best conveyance I could wish." Adds that Mrs. McDougall is with him and that they send their regards to Mrs. Knox.

GLC02437.01341

22 October 1792

McClure, David, 1748-1820

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Responds to a previous letter from Knox (GLC02437.10255) and thanks him for ordering copies of his "Sermons on the Moral law." States that Knox has suggested the only plan for teaching the Native Americans "civilization": "an incorporation of white men & women with them by intermarriages." Says that if twenty or thirty virtuous young men could be found to take part in Knox's plan, he is convinced "they would tame & civilize the Indians and render them valuable Members of Society." Discusses two main obstacles that will hinder the plan: the hostile disposition of the Indians and the…

GLC02437.05664

1 October 1792

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to David McClure

This letter was copied in an unknown hand. Writes to the Reverend David McClure and thanks him for the "remembrances of the pure friendship of our early years." Goes on to discuss his views on the Indian Wars and his ideas for intermarriage between whites and Native Americans. Recounts that the government attempted to prevent settlers in Kentucky from "any incursions into the indian country." Also reports that messengers were sent to invite the Native Americans on the Kentucky frontier to a meeting. Writes, "[t]hese pacific overtures were followed by a pretty general irruption of the…

GLC02437.10255

29 October 1794

Jarvis, Samuel G., fl. 1777-1794

Autograph letter

Title: to Henry Knox

Expresses his joy and appreciation over the friendship he shares with Knox and his lady [Lucy Knox]. Provides a detailed account of his last moments with his wife before she died. Notes she was four months pregnant and doing well. Discusses a romantic evening he had with her. Describes laying together at night for an hour talking and singing to her younger child. Says they awoke the next morning and laid in bed playing with their children past sunrise. Notes she walked over to his side of the bed and complained of a great pain in her side. The doctor was fetched but she passed away a few…

GLC02437.06232

13 April 1800

Jackson, Henry, 1747-1809

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Jackson tells Knox that "Mr. Pickman of Salem" has called on Jackson to pay the interest due to him. Jackson suggests that Knox pay up. Jackson has not heard from Knox's son and cannot be sure what ship he boarded, if any. He knows Henry Jackson Knox was not in Philadelphia as of the 1st of April. He tells Knox to write his son, Henry Jackson Knox, until Knox knows of his son's situation and ship. Jackson expects Knox's daughter's wedding will not occur until "we have an arrival from Malaga" of food and wine.

GLC02437.07392

20 November 1787

McNeill, Mary, fl. 1787-1791

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Thanks Knox for his help in settling her husband's public accounts. Text in the hand of Henry Knox. See GLC02437.03662, .03670, .03675, .03772, .03781, and .03784.

GLC02437.03708

22 July 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph document

Title: to William Lewis

Asks four questions about issues surrounding the Waldo Patent. The questions deal the legal paperwork of the late [Francis] Waldo, the uncle of Samuel and Isaac Winslow. Wants to take possession of the lands owned by Waldo. Also asks about the power of attorney of John and Hannah Wall. Expresses concern that Lucy Winslow, the mother of Isaac Winslow, did not assign her real estate to her husband.

GLC02437.05907

1 March 1796

Liancourt, François Alexandre Frédéric, duc de la Rochefoucauld, 1747-1827

Manuscript letter

Title: to Henry Knox

No addressee or author listed, but previous research suggests that the letter was written by the Duc de Liancourt, to Henry Knox. This information is written in pencil on the document. Declares that he had been meaning to write to Knox for a long time but has not been able to. Has visited Mr. and Mrs. Beaumez, and is very happy for their recent marriage, but is worried their happiness may not last if they do not become financially secure. Discusses his plans for travel and the possibility of visiting Knox. Provides updates on several of their friends, and asks to be remembered to Mrs.…

GLC02437.06646

6 January 1785

Webber, James, fl. 1784-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Webber, a London merchant and friend of William Knox, reports the details of William's recent episode of mental illness. William had announced his intentions to marry Miss Laurens, "a Daughter of Mr Henry Laurens." Although they were apparently courting, she knew nothing of the proposal. Webber regrettably describes a scene in which William arrived at the Laurens' residence with loaded guns, declaring "God, and Nature had join'd [William and Miss Laurens] together, and no power on Earth should prevent ye Union, and if not accomplish'd ye House and Street should be set on fire in a few days…

GLC02437.03082

5 December 1787

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Hannah Flucker Urquhart Harwood

Informs Mrs. Urquhart of the birth of his eighth child, a boy, and states that both the mother and child are well. "Were all our little flock living you would not want for nephews & nieces but death has robbed us of three." Mentions her separation from her husband and offers her his friendship and aid, should she need it. Remarks, "Oppulence is far from essential to happiness."

GLC02437.03721

21 May 1794

Van Berckel, Franco Petrus, fl. 1785-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox [in French]

Expresses happiness that his marriage to Madame Bacler de Leval has led to a friendship between him and Knox.

GLC02437.06103

22 August 1793

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Manuscript letter

Title: to unknown [incomplete]

Discusses the layout of his house. Comments that he "do[es] not think it too large - it has only [three ?] rooms on a floor. I want a comfortable house." States that Mrs. Lucy Knox wants a bigger house. Lists corrections for building. Mentions that he wants the roof to be pitched at a certain level and to let Thomas Vose know about the alterations. Second page is cut off on the right side. Watermarked "Watt & C Patent Copying/Sold By J Woodmason/ London." Letterpress copy.

GLC02437.10276