Saturday, March 28, 2009

Nancy Shippee, of Readsboro, Vermont

4 page letter, dated Feb. 10, 1862, from Nancy Shippee, of Readsboro, Vermont. Discusses family matters, marraige, Francis Boyd enlisting to go south, and Stamford soldier brought home named Richardson.

Ebay Item number: 170312713836

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

James Magee 1784

Letter from Fairfax County, Virigina., dated 22 day of April, 1784., stating that a young woman has taken the oath that she was made pregnant by Cpt. James Magee of the Ship GUSTAVUS, and that he shall be found and brought forward to answer to these charges. The woman has born a bastard female child and will likely be charged to the state for support.

This letter is for sale on Ebay Item number: 300300812759.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Camp Pierpont 1861

Nov 28th, 1861 letter written at Camp Pierpont, Va. . Letter was written by Sam M Stricby.
He writes We have our tent built up 31/2 feet with poles and then dug down 11/2 feet in the ground and our tent set on poles and banked up around the poles with dirt and then a fire place in the bank and one bunk in the floor for 2 to sleep and one a bove for 2 more to sleep. As this was Thanksgiving for Pa., I was in the country at an old favorite place and had a splendid diner, it consisted of roast pork-fresh- stewd rabid, warm buisket mashed potatoes....I suppose you have the news of the 1st Pa R Cavelry at Dranesville the other side of us. They brought along 11 prisners past our camp next day most of them on foot and 2 other rebels wounded and left 2 ded in the field. Our men was 4 wounded, one of them was the assistant surgon of the hospital. more about camp life.

Sam M Stricby

This great old Civil War letter is for sale on Ebay Item number: 280321194537

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Samuel Lillie 1705

Letter dated 1705, where mechant Samuel Lillie (Lilly) has written to Captain William Pickering, presently at Newfoundland, regarding the contents of the Sloop Content, mostly a hoard of fish....he also wishes Pickering to sell, at best price, a load of sundry goods to the people of Newfoundland and get paid in bills of exchange from London based banks, then to re-load with what fish can be had..but no contraband goods...if he gets blown of course then proceed to Berbadou (Barbados?)and get molasses and rum...signed Samuel Lilly.

This letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 350173047320.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

John H. Bowles of Portsmouth 1879

A fabulous reminiscence written by John H. Bowles of Portsmouth [New Hampshire} to a young man named George in Boston, Nov. 12, 1879. In elaborate detail, Bowles describes his first trip to Boston, the "El Dorado" of his imagination, as a thirteen year old in June of 1825:

The vast wharves with ships; visit to the Hancock Tavern; trip to the New England Museum where he sees a wax statue of George Washington and strange sea creature; death and funeral procession of Gov. Eustis; attends an amazing grand Equestrian Spectacle with a fire ball, chariot and cream colored horses; witnesses a fire on Doane St. which burned 60 of the finest warehouses in Boston - "...massive granite buildings..split to pieces like glass"; Bunker Hill Celebration; hears Daniel Webster orate; shakes hands with Lafayette.

Ebay Item number: 170307811557

Sunday, March 01, 2009

Muntown May 28 1863, Thomas Briggs Letter

An original Civil War letter dated Muntown May 28 1863. This is a letter written to Thomas Briggs from his mother. In this letter she mentions the Battle of Fredericksburgh which occurred in Virginia and someone who was in the fight it looks like his name is Laz she writes, "we have got three letters from laz since the batle at fredericksburgh and he was in the fight but he came off safe Bill donaldson and Boy atkinson and McCune of Cannonburgh was all killed laz says there was eighty five killed and wounded in his regiment Colin walls got the hind part of his cap shot off and cut the skin to the skull the report came here that laz was wounded in the knee but it was to so torn we her that you had run off to cannedry...we want you to try and rite oftener and give us the war news and tell us if you think there is any prospect of the war coming to an end...." She also talks about a draft and that they are enrolling all able bodied men, she says some say they will not go till they are forced out, she also says if he wants to write to Laz Briggs he should direct the letters to 140 Regmt Co H Care of Capt Stockton Washing City. At the end it is says, "...tell us you think you can get a discharge your Mother Nancy Briggs writen by A H Caesber."

This letter is for sale on Ebay Item number: 120382539422.

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