Lucy Knox to Her Loyalist Sister, Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776
Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776 (The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History)
When the British evacuated Boston in 1775, many loyalists left with them, including the family of Lucy Knox, wife of Henry Knox. In this letter, Lucy attempts to reconnect with her sister, Hannah Urquhart, whose husband, James, was a captain in the British 14th Regiment. The heavy editing visible in the image demonstrates how hard it was for Lucy to be caught between her husband and her family.
A Letter from Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776
The very sincere or tender affection that I entertain for you my dear Sister induce me to write you at this time, notwithstanding the great neglect with which I think I have been treated both by you – and my dear Mama – to her, I wrote several times during the seige of Boston – but never obtained a line in answer a circumstance that supprised and grieved me not a little – where she is now I know not – I am not only deprived of father mother Brother & Sisters but also denied the satisfaction of hearing of their wellfare. you I am told are at Halifax – if you are it is propable this may reach you and if it should I beg of you – to give me a particular account of my friends and relations is your little Boy, living – is he well –is Capt Urqurt with you when did you hear from him my Brother – is Sally married or not –where is she. I much wish to know all these particulars for my father and mother I entertain the most Dutifull affection – and in fraternal love am not behind hand – therefore am greatly interested in the above particular the answer to the above Querys – my dear Harry is well – he my sister is as when you seen him, the best and tenderest of friends, never were – two persons more happily united than we – we have a lively little girl, of whom I fear & we are two [illegible] she looks vastly like our Mama – who I hope will one day see her – she will love her I am sure she will. I am going at last to take the small pox – more for the sake of my little Lucy than myself – the Army and the country in general having been innoculated, will make it dangerous for me to go from home without haveing had it – and in the present state of things I wish to be in such a situation – that I can go to all parts of America without danger my Harry is not much at home – and I do not like to from him – if my sister, how horrid is this war, Brother against Brother – and the parent against the child – Who were the first promoters of it I know not but god knows – and I fear they will feel the weight of his vengeance – tis pity the little time we have to spend – in this world – we cannot enjoy ourselves and our friends – but must be devising means to destroy each other – the art of killing has become a perfect science – that man is most esteemed who has the best knack, at destroying the human species – in our juvenile days my Hannah we little thought – this Barbaras art would so soon have reached America – but alas her fruitfull fields of war been covered with the dead and dying – of the heartfelt the grief their sister and brothers must have suffered but enough of this god send a speedy issue to this war and give us a happy meeting is the sincere wish and prayer of her who thro all the changing scenes of life never will cease to be your affectionate friend and sister
LK
Source: Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
A Letter from Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776
The very sincere or tender affection that I entertain for you my dear Sister induce me to write you at this time, notwithstanding the great neglect with which I think I have been treated both by you – and my dear Mama – to her, I wrote several times during the seige of Boston – but never obtained a line in answer a circumstance that supprised and grieved me not a little – where she is now I know not – I am not only deprived of father mother Brother & Sisters but also denied the satisfaction of hearing of their welfare . . . my dear Harry is well – he my sister is as when you seen him, the best and tenderest of friends, never were – two persons more happily united than we – we have a lively little girl . . . she looks vastly like our Mama – who I hope will one day see her – she will love her I am sure she will . . . my sister, how horrid is this war, Brother against Brother – and the parent against the child – Who were the first promoters of it I know not but god knows – and I fear they will feel the weight of his vengeance – tis pity the little time we have to spend – in this world – we cannot enjoy ourselves and our friends – but must be devising means to destroy each other – the art of killing has become a perfect science – that man is most esteemed who has the best knack, at destroying the human species . . . but alas her fruitfull fields of war been covered with the dead and dying . . . but enough of this god send a speedy issue to this war and give us a happy meeting is the sincere wish and prayer of her who thro all the changing scenes of life never will cease to be your affectionate friend and sister
LK
Source: Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Background
When the British evacuated Boston in 1775, many loyalists left with them, including the family of Lucy Knox, wife of Henry Knox. In this letter, Lucy attempts to reconnect with her sister, Hannah Urquhart, whose husband, James, was a captain in the British 14th Regiment. The heavy editing visible in the image demonstrates how hard it was for Lucy to be caught between her husband and her family.
Transcript
A Letter from Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776
The very sincere or tender affection that I entertain for you my dear Sister induce me to write you at this time, notwithstanding the great neglect with which I think I have been treated both by you – and my dear Mama – to her, I wrote several times during the seige of Boston – but never obtained a line in answer a circumstance that supprised and grieved me not a little – where she is now I know not – I am not only deprived of father mother Brother & Sisters but also denied the satisfaction of hearing of their wellfare. you I am told are at Halifax – if you are it is propable this may reach you and if it should I beg of you – to give me a particular account of my friends and relations is your little Boy, living – is he well –is Capt Urqurt with you when did you hear from him my Brother – is Sally married or not –where is she. I much wish to know all these particulars for my father and mother I entertain the most Dutifull affection – and in fraternal love am not behind hand – therefore am greatly interested in the above particular the answer to the above Querys – my dear Harry is well – he my sister is as when you seen him, the best and tenderest of friends, never were – two persons more happily united than we – we have a lively little girl, of whom I fear & we are two [illegible] she looks vastly like our Mama – who I hope will one day see her – she will love her I am sure she will. I am going at last to take the small pox – more for the sake of my little Lucy than myself – the Army and the country in general having been innoculated, will make it dangerous for me to go from home without haveing had it – and in the present state of things I wish to be in such a situation – that I can go to all parts of America without danger my Harry is not much at home – and I do not like to from him – if my sister, how horrid is this war, Brother against Brother – and the parent against the child – Who were the first promoters of it I know not but god knows – and I fear they will feel the weight of his vengeance – tis pity the little time we have to spend – in this world – we cannot enjoy ourselves and our friends – but must be devising means to destroy each other – the art of killing has become a perfect science – that man is most esteemed who has the best knack, at destroying the human species – in our juvenile days my Hannah we little thought – this Barbaras art would so soon have reached America – but alas her fruitfull fields of war been covered with the dead and dying – of the heartfelt the grief their sister and brothers must have suffered but enough of this god send a speedy issue to this war and give us a happy meeting is the sincere wish and prayer of her who thro all the changing scenes of life never will cease to be your affectionate friend and sister
LK
Source: Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Excerpt
A Letter from Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776
The very sincere or tender affection that I entertain for you my dear Sister induce me to write you at this time, notwithstanding the great neglect with which I think I have been treated both by you – and my dear Mama – to her, I wrote several times during the seige of Boston – but never obtained a line in answer a circumstance that supprised and grieved me not a little – where she is now I know not – I am not only deprived of father mother Brother & Sisters but also denied the satisfaction of hearing of their welfare . . . my dear Harry is well – he my sister is as when you seen him, the best and tenderest of friends, never were – two persons more happily united than we – we have a lively little girl . . . she looks vastly like our Mama – who I hope will one day see her – she will love her I am sure she will . . . my sister, how horrid is this war, Brother against Brother – and the parent against the child – Who were the first promoters of it I know not but god knows – and I fear they will feel the weight of his vengeance – tis pity the little time we have to spend – in this world – we cannot enjoy ourselves and our friends – but must be devising means to destroy each other – the art of killing has become a perfect science – that man is most esteemed who has the best knack, at destroying the human species . . . but alas her fruitfull fields of war been covered with the dead and dying . . . but enough of this god send a speedy issue to this war and give us a happy meeting is the sincere wish and prayer of her who thro all the changing scenes of life never will cease to be your affectionate friend and sister
LK
Source: Lucy Knox to Hannah Urquhart, ca. 1776, The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
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