Margaret Fox | Autograph letter signed, to her husband George Fox, the founder of the Quaker movement, 1678

Margaret Fox

Autograph letter signed, to her husband George Fox, founder of the Society of Friends, 

sending her love ("In that inseperable pretious love, and life of the Liveing God, which wee are made partakers of, in this is my Deare and Etternall love remembred unto thee...") and encouragement during his imprisonment, mentioning several early Quakers including Thomas Lower, her son-in-law, 1 page, folio, integral autograph address panel ("To G: F: theise ddd w"' Care"), with later endorsement ("M:F: to G F 5 w.-78" and "My Dear and Honored Grand Mother's affectionate and Tender Letter to My Dear and Honour'd Grand Father Fox"), and remains of wax seal, Swarthmore Hall, Lancashire, 18 May 1674, small seal tear, small hole, some wear at edges

"...glad I am to heare, that the Lord preserves thee in health and Capacity, to travell on, in his worke and service, for which I Praise his holy name; We hope and expect, that the Lord will draw thee home wards, in Blessed time and day: Thou art much Expected, & longed for here; but wee must all submitt to the Lords blessed will & time..." 

AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE LETTER BY "THE MOTHER OF QUAKERISM". Margaret Fox (1614-1702) was the daughter of John Askew of Marsh Grange in Lancashire and married, before she was quite eighteen years of age, Thomas Fell of Swarthmore Hall, near Ulverston. A woman of the deepest piety, she opened her house to religious persons, among whom was George Fox, and was converted by him in 1652. Her husband acquiesced in the use of his house for Quaker meetings and she soon became a leading figure in the new movement. She was instrumental in the development of Quaker Women's meetings and was a fearless petitioner on behalf of imprisoned or persecuted Friends, among them George Fox himself. She wrote to Charles II a few days after his coronation on the subject of religious toleration, calling his attention to the Declaration of Breda, and on refusing the oath of allegiance in 1663 she was herself committed to prison, from which she was not finally released until 1668. The following year she married George Fox.

This letter was written after George Fox's return from his important expedition to America, during his incarceration at Worcester Castle for refusing to swear the oaths demanded by the Test Act. He was to remain imprisoned for fourteen months, until his wife obtained for him a royal pardon. NO OTHER LETTER BY MARGARET FOX IS RECORDED AT AUCTION (ABPC/RBH).

PROVENANCE:

Sotheby's, London, 24 July 1978, lot 88