February 11, 1796

Beaumez, Sarah Lyons Flucker, fl. 1784-1801

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Discusses her pleasure in her recent marriage: "In the presence of Mr. and Mrs. [Ware] - and my three children - I am made the happy Wife of the Man I sincerely love." Feels her life will change dramatically for the better and believes her friends agree. Discusses their travels and plans to relocate, apparently to Wilmington or Philadelphia, and explains why she hopes her children will be happy with the new arrangements. Encourages Lucy and her daughters to write to her at Wilmington.

GLC02437.06624

August 3, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston James

In pencil, James writes to his wife regarding how much he misses her and their son, Robie. He speaks of a letter from Liv and says "we are all bound to have an opinion on every subject and let Liv have hers, and you, our friend, and myself will have ours." With an added note, he writes "This day is one ever to be remembered by [sic] 4 months ago to day Jesse was foully murdered." He signs the letter as Ben.

GLC01648

August 15, 1882

James, Frank, 1844-1915

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Anna Ralston and Robert James

Frank James writes to his wife Anna and son Robert (referred to as "My Precious Ones") while being pursued by state and federal authorities. References the Shakespearean character, Timon of Athens, who also spent time exiled in the forest. Reflects on his love for Anna by stating: "Did I not appreciate you I should feel as I was a disgrace to humanity and should be universally and deservedly detested as the most ungrateful being that ever lived." Refers to Charles and Bob Ford as "loathsome wretches" because they killed Jesse James, his brother, in April 1882. Expresses expectations that…

GLC01692

December 5, 1783

Jay, John, 1745-1829

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah Livingston Jay

Letter written by Jay, three months after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, to his wife Sarah, who he refers to as "Sally," while she was in Paris. Says last letter he received from her was from November 18. Says his trip to the spa town of Bath has improved his health greatly. Says he will spend another 8-10 days and see where that leaves him. Says he misses her and fears his daughter will forget who he is. Jay's formal, straight-laced personality comes through when he says "in a Letter by the post I must not indulge these Emotions as in confidential Conversations." Says he has received…

GLC01610

October 5, 1780

Hamilton, Alexander, 1757-1804

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Schuyler

Hamilton begins a dramatic love letter to his fiancée with, " I have told you, and I told you truly that I love you too much . . . I meet you in every dream. . . I am to be thus monopolized by a little nut brown maid like you and from a Statesman and soldier metamorphosed into a puny lover." He continues on to say how much he misses her, but that he must remain until Lieutenant Colonel Robert Hanson Harrison returns. He states that he will not be delayed past November and assures her that he is doing everything in his power to return. He descriptively explains how much he loves and misses her…

GLC00773

1777-1783

Elmer, Ebenezer, 1752-1843

Header Record

Title: Two letters by Ebenezer Elmer [Decimalized .01-.02]

Written at Camp Middlebrook. Dated June 20, 1777 - May 12, 1783.

GLC01450.165

29 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Thanks her for her letter. Discusses Lucy's dislike of Mrs. Nathanael Greene. Longs to see his wife.

GLC02437.00401

1 August 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reaffirms his love for his wife. Discusses smallpox and the possibility of Lucy going to Boston to be inoculated. Comments on various daily and domestic activities, like how he typically spends his time, with whom he dines, and what time he goes to bed. Mentions being ill. Discusses the possibility of Lucy returning to him. Mentions that business prevented him from having a meeting with Lord William Howe, whom he believes will soon attack.

GLC02437.00408

4 August 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

In response to her husbands recent illness, pleads with him to attend to his health. Worries about Henry's exposure to enemies. Thanks him for his expressions of love and comments on their baby's health. Requests updates on British activities. Sends Henry saltpeter from the mills in New Haven, Connecticut. She will consider going to Boston for smallpox inoculation but fears the arrival of foreign troops will limit her movements.

GLC02437.00409

23 September 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Reaffirms his love for Lucy and apologizes for not being able to write a much as he would like. Writes angrily about the enemy who is forcing them apart but expresses optimism for a victory. The postmaster had moved twenty five miles north, making correspondence more difficult. Comments that Major John Crane lost a toe.

GLC02437.00450

1 October 1776

Stringer, Samuel, 1725-?

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Signed Philocles. Because he is impatient, asks Knox to deliver a letter (not included). A post script notes that the woman to receive the letter is going to Salem, if she has left, Knox should deliver the letter upon her return.

GLC02437.00461

4 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Explains that he wrote her at Fairfield, Connecticut to check on her well being and tell her how much he values her, to tell her that the British had landed at Staten Island but had not attacked New York yet, and that he believes when they do, the Americans will be able to beat them back. He also asked her to send money after taking what she needed and to ask where to send her trunks. Reports that General Nathanael Greene, Jonathan Pollard, and Mrs. [Herey] are all "well an in good spirits," information that Lucy could pass on to spouses and loved ones in Connecticut. Asks if Lucy took the…

GLC02437.00359

July 1776

Knox, Lucy Flucker, 1756-1824

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Distressed, Lucy discusses the circumstances under which she left New York and argues she was undeserving of Henry's censure. She stayed in New York longer than expected in order to have "a more affectionate parting." When she desired to go to Fairfield, Connecticut, she received a message from Mr. Burr (possibly Aaron Burr), indicating that he could not obtain a house or furniture for her there, as Henry had requested. Is dissatisfied that Henry writes "frequently in your letters to remind me of my incapacity of judging for myself." Also writes that Henry ignored, or never read, her…

GLC02437.00364

13 July 1776

Knox, Henry, 1750-1806

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Lucy Knox

Henry is upset that Lucy is taking others advice over his and reiterates his recommendation for her to go to Fairfield or New Haven immediately. Mentions various people going to New Haven who Lucy could meet up with. Discusses the British attack of New York the previous day. Knox lost six men in an accident, which he casts as a learning experience for the others, who will learn "to moderate their fiery courage." After the attack the British ships sailed north to Tappan Bay, near Tarrytown New York. Knox will send…

GLC02437.00372

August 28, 1862

Hughes, Alfred, fl. 1862-1864

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Mary Hughes

Affectionate sentiments to his wife; advising her to take Belladonna for her ailments.

GLC02166.051

January 25, 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Takes offense at the charge (by Susan, his wife's sister?) that he doesn't write as often as he could. Defends himself by saying he is very busy and does not have an abundance of materials with which to write, unlike the people at home who can write, but don't. Complains that he has received "less than 6 letters" since he left home (probably September 1861) but he writes once a week. He writes, "There is something wrong in the mails, not in the correspondents." Puts Eliza's mind at ease over whether Cook loved her. He writes, "You have sometimes laughingly intimated that I did not love…

GLC02570.14

February 11, 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Discusses Eliza's letter to Sam Jones (GLC02570, #15) that he returns with this letter. Compliments her letter writing and encourages her progress in this "art which you so much desire." Reply's to Eliza's claim that she writes every week with "I do not get a letter from you once a month. I have many complaints about the matter, every one who writes letters to Richmond (Texas) or whose letters are mailed there complain that they never go or get through. We do not know what to think of it." Misses his wife because "There is no one here, like you darling, to rub my head when it aches or…

GLC02570.17

22 March 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Has received Eliza's letter and even though it was over a month old, "your hand had traced it and your thoughts were on it so I kissed it and read it over and over." Cook reports that he received letters from his father and his aunt, but nothing from his sisters. Apologizes for having nothing exciting to write since he does so frequently. He wonders why Mrs. Lamar has not written him back and attributes it to the fact that he may have written a letter that was "out of taste." Asks Eliza to tell Mrs. Lamar that if his writing was offensive it is only because he is ignorant of such matters…

GLC02570.23

17 August 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Cook recounts his visits with his sister Ginny, "When I went to see her and the servant told her who it was in the parlor the nervous little woman came running with arms outstretched and tears streaming from her eyes. She threw herself upon my breast and sobbed as though her heart would break saying whenever she could speak, 'oh, my brother I am so glad you are alive' 'I thought you might be dead' etc, etc. She held me around the neck for fifteen minutes looking up at me every few moments to see if it was really brother Gustave and then hiding her little face to weep for very joy."…

GLC02570.28

10 December 1862

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Writes how the ink is freezing in his pen's point and it is visible in the letter. Reports on possible campaigns. Is frustrated with the mail which he calls "uncertain" and he "must learn to endure although I am inpatient when I do not get letters from my little wife. My own sweet one must think of me often, as I am very jealous of her love. I dream of you often darling Lizzie and oh! how sweet are my dreams. I see you, fold you to my heart of hearts and you look into my eyes with love and confidence." Cook is unsure of his wife's intentions and wonders if she dreams about him, thinks…

GLC02570.36

19 - 20 March 1863

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Had not meant to write to Eliza but his hand automatically wrote "Darling." Reminds her of taking walks on the prairies and jokingly tells her to watch for persuasive suitors. Cook had written Eliza an explicit letter and wonders why she has not returned the favor. He continues, "If I should find a pretty, sweet, nice, little one here who would indulge me for your sake would you object? It is not fair for me to ask the privilege without extending to you the same and as I know I am safe why I will just say on the Bible that when I get home I will exchange secrets with you, telling you all…

GLC02570.41

20 April 1863

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Fuss about Cook's lack of mail: "I will venture that no other wife in Texas, or sweetheart even, gets half as many letters from her lover as you do. Is it not so? And yet I do not get letters from you as often as many do from others. How come this? Who is to blame, you or the mail? Never mind though I wrote you one ill natured letter on this very subject last week and that shall gratify my spleen for a time." Discusses his loss of good looks, "…I have just lain aside my mirror in the reflection of which I have been gazing upon the once attractive features of your husband. Alas! Miss…

GLC02570.43

29 April 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Glad that he received Eliza's picture and letter. Cook is relived that she is well again and shares his fear of her death. He was most afraid she would die without ever knowing how much he loved her. Wishes their children to grow up and follow in their mother's goodness. Note takes the tone of an apology/guilt ridden letter. He writes, "Oh that I were with you every day and hour, that I might in some measure atone for the past and convince you that I am wholly truly and forever thine and thine only." Cook is upset by the death of his good friend Robert Calder and says "The death of…

GLC02570.56

14 June 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Cook writes that he has been very sick but is getting better. Critiques Eliza's last letter in which she doubts his love and truthfulness. He writes, "You speak of "Annie Laurie" as being sung in the house I 'used to love so much.' Was this kind? Thus to allude to a matter which I hoped was buried with the past and fully understood. How I may have acted heretofore I hoped you had forgiven when I so humbly begged forgiveness. But it seems that you still cherish it in your heart…I had hoped you were not jealous of me darling but this looks rather strange. I do not [illegible] anything I…

GLC02570.58

7 July 1864

Cook, Gustave, 1835-1897

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Eliza Cook

Writes that he is thinking of Eliza and has nothing to write except "that I love you and fear you do not believe it." Discusses at length camp and army news. Reports on his gaunt physique and how much he has changed from the man Eliza fell in love with. Reports the arrival of Dr. Feris' letter and his quick reply.

GLC02570.59