Letters to R. H. Walworth Chancellor Of New York

Up for auction on Ebay is a fantastic group of 60 19th century letters to R. H. Walworth Chancellor Of New York. All of the letters date from 1834-1867. All of them come in manila envelopes. The envelopes have written on them, the condition of the enclosed letter, the date the letter was written, a brief summary of the contents & a list of included autographs in each letter. All of the enclosed letters are in great preserved condition. Included autographs are:

Dr. J. Edward Turner, William J. Mcalpin, George N. Titus, John N. Pruyer, Joseph White (member of congress), C. H. Platt, Ranson H. Gillett (Solicitor Of Treasury), S. S. Nicholas (Chancellor Of Kentucky), Jabez D. Hammond (State Senator & Member Of Congress), Henry C. Murphy (member of congress), E. Darwin Smith (Supreme Court Judge), Henry Vanderlyn, Charles C. Young, Col. Anthony Lamb, James B. Murray, Elisha Peck, Wm. Chauncey, Charles H. Ruggles, W. W. Woodworth, James Hooken, S. Van Benthuyzen, R. D. Davis, V. d. Bonestead, Ulysses Cole, John Livingston (Lawyer & Compiler of Legal Statistics), Daniel Ford, John Fine (Senator), James Powers (Senator), Henry Vail (member of congress), Dr. J. N. Campbelle, Henry Nicole (member of congress), Leroy Fanham, Cornelius Halsey, Finlay M. King, Thomas M. Howell, Henry C. Murphy, Nathan A. Vaughan, Aaron Ward (member of congress), James Gorham (NY City Postmaster), F. R. Tillan, William Porter, John D. Willard, Sidney Harris, Thomas Alexander, Daniel L. Seyman (member of congress), S. B. Ruggles, E. A. Simmons, Charles A. Peabody & J. Edward Turner.

The content of the letters involves mostly legal matters, personal & political. Some of the topics include: Requesting attendance at a meeting of state inebriate asylum (walworth was a trustee), Legal matters mentioning Judge Knox, Legal matters mentioning M. Gerard & M. Cleveland, Seeking support as canditate of District Attorney, letter seeking endorsement of his son (metions Horatio Seymans name & other well known names of the times), midwest land & railroad grants, letter to the Masonic union seeking endorsement as position of camel (?) Of New York government election, request to make speech before Masonic convention, letter regarding salery of chancellor, early double sheet half printed & 1/2 on light blue paper (one of the earliest letterheads), 7 autographs on one to the Chancellor of State Of NY all recommending an individual named as taxing master of the second circuit, selecting a site for a new building of the NY state inebriate asylum, letter about Walworth's son training to become an architect along the Ohio, letter seeking appointment assistant register in chancery & much more.

Alot of the letters have stamped letterheads. Some are also transparent & have text which can be seen when held up to the light. One of the letters has a tranparency in large print which says "Moinier's 1849." Some of the stamps/seals says things such as "Carson's Congress", "LLB & Co.", ship logo stamped "P & S.", "W. C. Little Albany", "J. L . & D. L. White Counsellors At Law, 14 Wall Street, NY, "Lee & Hurtbutt So Lee, Mass.", "Bath" with a king's crown seal, "W. Clark & Co. Northhampton, "Office Of Peabody & Baker, 167 Broadway, NY", "Superfine" crest, "P & S" knight on horseback crest, "Office Of Hatch & Thompson", dove with wax seal & many more.

This fantastic group of letters is up for sale on Ebay Item number:400093472758

1811-63 FAIRMAN, ROGERS FAMILY ARCHIVE

Handwritten lot of (19) letters centered around noted banknote engraver and inventor, Gideon Fairman (1774-1827) and his daughter, Caroline Augusta Fairman (b. 1809) who married wealthy iron and hardware merchant, Evans Rogers in 1830. Rogers owned a mansion on Washington Square in Philadelphia. [Evans and Caroline Rogers were the parents of Helen Kate Rogers who married Horace Howard Furness.]
Many of the letters were sent to Mrs. Stewart (Susan) Lewis of Albany, the sister of Gideon Fairman's deceased wife. Caroline appears to have been adopted by the Lewis family as she refers to Mrs. Lewis as mother. A few later letters were sent by Evans Rogers to daughter, Kate. Other correspondents include George Washington Fairman; David Fairman (one each), E. B. Hill. There are a number of letters of great interest:
(4) Autograph signed letters, G.[Gideon] Fairman, 1811-19. An 1811 letter with a fabulous "original" small drawing of ladies pantaloons. A few docketed, "Col. Fairman" [War of 1812 service].
1827 Phila. letter of Dr. Thos. B. Jones announcing death of Fairman, by "second attack of his disease."
1830 retained letter of Evans Rogers to Caroline with confession of love and marriage proposal. Rogers provides detailed content on his family history and financial standing.
1830s letters, newly married Caroline in Philadelphia -- with wonderful descriptions of her life in high society -- "four or five parties every week"; bed at 2 or 3; social calls every day; three parlors; servants.
1835-36 Two travel in Europe letters, Paris, Frankfort, letters home from Caroline -- with intricate detail -- Italian Opera; dining at Verys w/ floor to ceiling mirrors and cocks-comb pie. One with small hand drawing.
Plus, two 1863 ALSs, "Evans Rogers", while vacationing in Long Branch, NJ -- genteel company; riding Archy; crabbing; "Mr Furness luxuriates in the Blackberry field and Horace with his bugs."

This fantastic group of letters is up for sale on Ebay, Item number: 230349991355.

Lee family of Virginia

Three letters from the Lee family of Virginia. They include: (1) 2 pg. letter, November 28, 1789, Goochland, from Richard Lancelot Lee to his mother Betty Heale. In this letter Richard mentions he saw Kendall in Fredericksburg and that he ran into a Samuel Harding who had "lately been in the neighborhood of Ditchley & had heard that the family wee all tolerable well." He goes on to say that he sent Daniel (probably a slave) to buy some material for stockings, shoes, and a hat that he wishes to be made up for Tom. He mentions Kendall has a fine son about 6 weeks old. He gives compliments to his brother William. He adds that Daniel will carry down a horse for him and Arthur could take of the horse until he comes down. (2) A 2 pg. letter, March 12 1812, written by Louisa Lee to her aunt. The partial address indicates the aunt is "Mrs. Priscilla Edwards. The letter has much religious content. (3) A partial letter (no date) written by Judith B. Lee.

This great batch of Lee family letters is for sale on Ebay Item number: 280346604192

1737-1738 FIVE LETTERS FROM A PERSON JAILED FOR DEBT

Mr de Bellisle who is in the Chatelet jail of Paris writes patiently to Mr the chevalier de la Rye, the director general of tobacco in Paris, initially for a loan of 50 gold Louis and then as time passes to ask him to certify and pay accounts that will allow him to recover his freedom.

Mr de la Rye appears to have not reacted very quickly: the first letter is only dated 1737 and Mr de Bellisle has already been in jail six months. The following letters are dated May and December 1737 and then April and May 1738 and Mr de Bellisle is still very politely asking for the payments that would make him a free man.

Ebay item Item number: 360155979000.

Wagon Train Travel Letters

Manuscript copy of (12) riveting letters home from husband and wife, G. Nelson Allen and E. A. Allen, and daughter Lizzie H. Allen, while they were travelling through the mid and southwest, 1857-1860. It appears as if the copy, nicely penned in an unknown hand, was made circa 1890s-1910.

Letter locales: New Philadelphia, Ohio; Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin; Fort Des Moines, Iowa; Cass Co., Iowa; Council Bluffs, Iowa; Fort Kearny, Nebraska. A 13th letter is dated much later, 1887, from Camden, Delaware, but also mentions this trip. 35pp total, octavo and legal.

Fabulous content: Traveling to Pike's Pike; wagon trains as far as the eye can see; men heading for the mines; Sioux Indians; horse stolen; Pawnees begging for food; and more. Great local color and description.

This batch of Wagon Train Travel Letters is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 170287256399.

Thomas P. Wickes, Yale Letters

55 letters written to a man by the name of Thomas P. Wickes. They are personal and business letters received by Wickes who just graduated from Yale. Most of them are of a personal nature though. They start in June and go through October of 1874. Thomas spends his summer sketching and trying to sell the sketches to illustrated newspapers and tries in the fall to get employment as a bass singer in a church choir. His friends are off at employment in San Francisco or Chicago, or at graduate school in New Haven, or on Grand tours in Europe. There are wonderful letter heads and many of the letters are several pages long.

One letter that is not to him is actually from him. It is a 2 ½ page handwritten manuscript by Wickes himself. They are his own notes on Block Island’s geography and his appeal to the tourists which is to accompany sketches he is doing.

A most interesting thing about these letters is the fact that most of the writers were former graduates of Yale and also members of the Skull and Bones Organization. In fact many of the men sign their letters with the words “Bones” or “Fellow Bonesman” or even the number “322” which is very significant when it comes to the organization. There are several letters addressing the issue of a particular “Book” that was taken out of the Skull and Bones” Temple” and given to Wicke’s himself. The book, by the sounds of one of the letters, wasn’t supposed to be removed and very few members knew it was.

Some of the names in the letters are; Frank Spencer Witherbee, Fred Kernochan, H. G. Bixly, Henry H. Babcock, George Richmond, Watson Robertson Sperry and family (just their calling cards), Samuel Clark Bushnell, Henry W. Farnam, Thomas Williams Grover, J. D. Ball, Rockwell King, James Parkman, A. H. Messiter, W. D. Anderson, Whittemore, Horace Chittenden, Russell Walden, George Edmund Munroe and more. Some of the letters are also from his family members.


1) A note and a pharmacist’s envelope enclosing that says “I am in despair” It also has a hand drawn postage stamp.

2) “Newport June 22, My Dear Wickes, Yours of the 20th inst just recd. I am sorry of course to hear that any of your club have suffered from the panic or in any other way but surely no one of the pats? has any right to feel that you are not doing all your duty for three very good reasons. First the gift to the fund should be in every respect voluntary and not obligatory in any sense. Second, you have already spent so much on our dear old Temple………Yours always in Bones, I. Fred. Kernochan.” More to that letter.

3) One page letter on a “Nashua Lock Co.” letterhead. From H. G. Bixly. He wishes to meet him in New York and more.

4) Calling card of Mrs. Charles A. Fisher

5) E. H. W. author of this letter. New York June 24th, Message to their mother, Mr. Westen came to visit, and more.

6) E. H. W. from New York telegraphing June 26 that Mary left a cashmere sacque at hotel.

7) 4 pages letter; “Orleans June 28th, 1874. No. 2 ______Ave. My Dear Tom, This doubtless has been a very busy as well as a very agreeable month for you and ere these lines reach their destination, what remains of Yale 74’ will in all human probability have made it obeisance and in possession of the much desired “sheepskin” have made way for less worthy successors. Not however without some regrets, I presume, because that air of superiority. The three year acquisition, so inseparable upon the senior year cannot be so readily relinquished. If I ever regretted that my participation in your pleasures and troubles had not been of more active character, it is certainly now as the curtain falls upon the last act…….” He goes on to talk about his time spend abroad in Paris and says “Their religion over here would beat Goodyear’s patents out of sight as far as elasticity goes. But you could scarcely expect less where these damned Catholic priests have so strong a hold upon the nobility and the masses.” He signs his letter “The boy”.

8) Letter from Henry H. Babcock from New Haven June 29th. Wonders what he should do with the album ordered for Wickes.

9) Three calling cards. One from Miss Julia Henderson, One from Isaac Henderson and the last from Mr. and Mrs. Watson Robertson Sperry. On an additional note, Mr. Sperry was the U. S. Minister to Persia.

10) This is a 7 page letter from Frank Spencer Witherbee. I have some great information about Mr. Witherbee at the end of this description. He’s on a grand tour, exhausted by sight seeing….. “Morley’s Hotel, London. Saturday July 4th, 1874. My Dear Tom…….This time of the year the sun rises at 3:30 a.m. and sets at 8:30 p.m. Then a prolonged twilight prevails until 10 p.m. I have once or twice read a newspaper without candles at 9:30 p.m. I say without a candle for we have not struck a hotel yet where we have had gas in our rooms……I met old “Becky” in a book store last night. He was pouring over some rusty old books. At first he did not see me but knew me when I spoke to him. He is not in the least changed in looks, dress or manners. He is on his way from Germany to New Haven. I mistrust he is to have some position in the faculty…….Your aff. Friend in 322. Frank S. Witherbee.” More to this letter as he talks about a cricket match he attended with the “Elite” of London. Says the young ladies were dressed so beautiful but had very homely faces.

11) George Richmond Bookseller’s letterhead and letter.

12) Holden House Saratoga Springs Letter head. Letter from Sam Bushnell and in part reads….. “July 10th, 1874, My Dear Tom, for your sake I will play the part of the “sage” as you suggest. Don’t come to this “hole” of a Holden House. I meant nothing. This house is $2 per day. Two in a bed, six in a room, one towel for six, dish water for tea, chicken seed for coffee, no eggs, cold supper, “heavy pies” and thick headed female attendants. Go to the “Congress”, Yale’s headquarters. $3.00 per “dieue” where everything will be agreeable except, well, try it yourself. We can’t leave this……..Hence in “322” adieu to your friend, Sam C. Bushnell” Much more to this.

13) Telegram about the Columbia and Harvard game.

14) A photographer by the name of DeSilva is sending pictures to him by express. Wants to be paid right away because his wife is due with their baby

15) 2 ½ page letter from J.P R.W.? from San Francisco. “August 3rd, 1874, My Dear Tom, The photos are just received. They are splendid. You can’t realize the pleasure I am deriving from looking at them. Yours is “immense”. Do send me another that I may frame it. I want one for the Yale Album. Old “Rebald” looks as pious as an old wh—e at christening, as was his want in days and nights gone by. The hawk has his old look of swoop and the little fraud has “fixed” himself and tries to look 6 ft. What shall I say of Polonius……..Give my love to Polonius and all the Bloods. R. Walden” This letter has much more, especially concerning the photo and the nick names of the men in the photo. Great “Bones” letter.

16) From Sam Bushnell. Where should DeSilva send Grover’s pictures?

17) From DeSilva asking for his money again.

18) Mollie, I think his sister. Writing to thank him for the family wedding photo.

19) Uncle Robert Haskell in Lansingburgh. Writing with news about his mother. Tells him to have a good time at Block Island. Great “Floor Oil Cloths” letter head.

20) From an E.W.? A classmate of his called. Asking if he’s back in Block Island.

21) Letter from George Edmund Munroe.

22) Letter from Rockwell King in Chicago. Sorry to have missed him in N.Y.

23) Another from Sam Bushnell, tales of antics at Englewood with other classmates.

24) Short letter and the person, just signs it “E.W.”

25) Letter from Henry Farnam, Bar Harbor. August 19, 74’ Was on a cruise to Grand Manan Island with some Columbia men and got stuck in fog. Had a blow out with other Yale men and says….. “All the Yale men who are here at present are members of G.B. which is very pleasant. Last Sat. evening we had a blowout at Southworth’s room where raw oysters and Bass ale were consumed amid the familiar strains of the first anthem and of numerous secular songs. Those present on the occasion were P’s, Johnny Andrews, Howard Mansfield, J.S. Wood, T. Williams Grover, H. W. Farnam and K. Ed. Southworth….we are all sorry you are not here this summer…….Every yours in 322. Henry W. Farnam. B.S.C.”

26) Thomas Wickes notes on Block Island.

27) Daily Graphic New York Letterhead. Short note from J.D. Ball.

28) Eight page letter from his mother with family details.

29) Letter from Thomas Williams Glover, August 24th… “Dear Wickes, I returned from Mt. Desert last Thursday and write you a few lines……I had a most delightful time at Mt. Desert. Staid 5 weeks instead of 2 or 3. As I first intended. I only wish that you could have been there…..We had quite a bones crowd there. Andrews 70’, Mansfield, John Wood, Farnam, Southworth and myself and as we were there I suppose the impression was created that every Yale man, man’s a deities head. A wild and fantastic humor was spread abut the place at one time that the melancholy one, the great Polonius contemplated putting in an appearance…..Yours in 322, T. Williams Grover.”

30) Sam Bushnell. He is going to study Hebrew at Andover. Fuss between Harvard and Yale.

31) Letter from his father on a “Hudson River Oil Works” letter head.

32) Telegraph from Mary W. Rodman. “Come tomorrow without fail”

33) Another telegraph from Mollie “Come in the morning if possible”

34) Letter from Mary giving some general family news.

35) Letter from his brother, I believe, signs it E.W.

36) Another letter from Mollie. Details about home and more.

37) Letter from Sam Bushnell…… “September 6th, My Dear Tom, I cannot tell you how I have felt all this week about the book I sent you. I have not ceased to regret it. Have you received it? I sent it to your father’s address on Monday last and have not heard from you a single word. The pats (?) have been into to T---- everyday since the book was taken out. Our club book has been several times heavier and I have waited for the discovery of its absence with increasing uneasiness……..” There is so much more to this letter about the “book”. He says he also saw General Stapler and talked about the changes in Yale. He signs it “324 ½ Ever yours in S.B.I. Same C. Bushnell.”

38) Another great letter from Bushnell. Says they are having a meeting but without the book. He says that a man named “Gulliver” (I think that is the name) is writing his report and is asking where the book is. Signs it “Very Truly Yours nevertheless in 323.”

39) DeSilva begging for his money

40) ***** Another great letter from Sam….. “79 New Divinity, Sept 13, 1874. My Dear Tom, Sitting at my left and looking over my ______ enlarging is our mutual friend William Beebe. The soft light of theological gas throws over us its kindly radiance; everything in these gratuitous apartments breaths a pleasant influence, etc. Now I will cork up. I spent a most delightful afternoon today with Cushing at his room in Elm St. We had the kind of bones talk which makes ones cheeks glow and ones stomach yearn for 324……The “general” is one of the salt of the earth and his visits will be oasis in my life as a bones man this year. But Tom I thought I used to value Bones. My appreciation of it then was insignificant compared with the value I see on it now…..Arthur Allen was here Thursday. He expressed great regret that Wickes had locked up that book he had heard so much about. Tillinghast was very much worried about it until I had slung a series of lies at him. All the club of D’73 know your story and I want you to come on and unearth the book yourself as this will be the only possible way to avoid detection…….” He goes on to tell him to sneak in the Temple and put the book back. Tells Wickes he is happy about the work he did on the book but regrets to have to lie about where it is. Signs it “I am ever yours in Bones, Same C. Bushnell.”

41) Letter from Grover who is staying at the 5th Ave. Hotel in N.Y.

42) A letter about a report that should be taken to Sam.

43) Same as above and I think these were written by Grover.

44) This letter is from George Munroe, I think as the signature is tough to read. At the end of his letter he writes…. “The book is safe and the boys are ______from my back. I was discovered by Gulliver reading it in the S.E.C.’s room with the gas light, having just discovered it on the top of the book shelf. Where I ascertained they have not looked, much admiration is expressed &c&c….Yours in 324 ½”

This great bunch of letters is for sale on Ebay Item number: 180215136468. Just follow the links on this page if you want to take a closer look.

John Prince Knight. San Francisco California Letters

1850s San Francisco California Letters Item number: 330180082954

38 Pre Civil War Handwritten Letters. Most to: John Prince Knight. San Francisco California. And a few to other family members in Massachusetts. From: Most from Family Members & a few friends. Most from Boston & a few from other cities like Brighton, Germantown and one from Burlington College. & few other cities 1850 - 1866. Most later 1850s to early 1860s. [ 18 with year dates either on postmarks or letterheads & 20 without year dates] Mentions In Part: Visiting & Visitors - Wine bottle broke in Franks hand quite badly across the palm while drawing the cork - Sarahs wedding anf who attended - Henry Baldwin out in Brighton is engaged to a Sheep Killers daughter - Sleighing has been good - There is to be an ? immense cast at the Foundry and we expect several friends over to see the sight - The Brother Cup is perfect both in shape & color I can't imagine how it could have come such a distance - Daisy and Anna are playing and shaking the table so I can't write - Baby Daisy has Lung Fever, Dr. Channing - Trips to Brighton Massachusetts and New York City - Lydia talks of having a Ambrotype taken soon - Mr. Hooker took his dinner to the Mill to be ready for the train - Social at the House, all you will need is plenty of Light, you have lamps enough for the whole house but we have no oil, the can is at the Mill, got the Church cookery - Gift of a rocking chair - Goat attacked by dogs, men to the rescue - Their old friend Capt. Thomson died of cancer - Sick in bed for a number of weeks - Lovely Easter & Easter Sunday with flowers - New family dog named Dash, followed our old potato man came to see us - We had the house illuminated one night. A splendid procession formed on this street just in front of the house. The firing of the Cannon shook the house and caused one of the little ? lamp to fall from a bar on one of the front windows in my room ....., I threw a clock and shawl over the flames without sucess..... - It is prudent for you to be on the Wharf all night alone? - Writer updates John on all of the trees. The English Walnut you planted is eight feet high, Devils Walking Stick is about seven feet high ..... - Mr. Alger took us all over to the Foundry to see a large boiler for a Steam Ship cast - Mother died, I arrived the second day after the funeral - Mr. Bray has been making me a pair of skates from a mismatched old pair he found in the house. He took off the runners, fixed them onto a pair of Mahogany soles which he cut out very nicely .... & More.

This batch of John Prince Knight. San Francisco California Letters is for sale on Ebay. If you want to have a look or place a bid just follow the links to Ebay.