Ophelia Polk, Bayou Bartholomew 1868

Jan. 12, 1868, from Ophelia Polk to parents. Ophelia comments on the difficulty of finding and training servants among other topics. Excerpts:
"I was in hopes Emmeline would want to cook this year for me, but she said nothing about it. She has divided off poor Eliza's children among their kin, and only keeps some of the youngest herself."
"Mr. Polk has given up the Honduras notion now entirely and is willing to return to Tenn, much to the satisfaction of the girls and myself."
"...it is true the land is splendid but the negroes are too lazy to work it as it should be, and it does not pay to live in a sickly country and make cotton. I never want to see another seed planted."
"Jan. 13th This morning a negro woman was drowned in front of our house crossing the bayou, the boat turned over with them. I felt so sorry for the mother of the girl. She was on the bank looking at them cross and the boat struck a snag and threw her daughter and little boy out..."

Item number: 230351119461

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.

WILSON L. TURMAN, CAMP DOUGLAS, CHICAGO

A 2 page letter (front & back) written by WILSON L. TURMAN during his time as a guard at CAMP DOUGLAS in Chicago, IL.

In the letter, Turman mentions GRANT, SHERMAN, THOMAS and SHERIDEN. He also talks of the stench of the dead carcasses. Turman pens a detailed recipe for beer on the majority of the 2nd page of the letter and signs his name in closing.

The letter in part reads:
" And by the eternal we will only think of it. How will those bruised men black with the smoke of battle coming up through that firey furnace with SHERMAN with GRANT with THOMAS with SHERIDEN and a host of others feel when they see their meanest enemies at home. And tell me not that they do not know them. For a single glance of the ? portrays them for their deeds are written upon their brow and ? that has eyes can read. I am small in stature. But I am a head and shoulders taller when I get away ? things for taller. I try breath a purer air and lifting my thoughts heavenward. The stench from their putrid carcasses fall beneath and the bright sunshine that glitters upon the fields of our banner as she floats over the ramparts of Richmond loomes up and the flames as of olden time seemed to burn up the drops and verify that the sacrifice is exceptable before God Hallalujah the Lord God ? riseth. Let the earth rejoice and all things that are therein. My soul feasts upper. ? things for never did I know what happiness was before for I am so glad that my feeble mind ? the trying scenes through which we have had to pass has stood firm in its purpose and never a weary abrupt disturbed it. And I even I am permitted to stand and view the Promised Land with its returning herds leaping upon the green pastures that returning peace and liberty affords. But these thoughts are abortive. My mind fails to grasp language adequate to express the glory of the future. But glory glory is the out burst of my heart for its glittering streamy rais fill my soul and I will sing it forever and ever in the face of COPPERHEADS in the face of my meanest enemy I will shout. But I must close."

This great Civil War letter is for sale on Ebay Item number: 300322983832

J P Bambrick 1847

Handwritten letter to parents, Sept. 23, 1847, from J P Bambrick. The dateline notes Harrisonburg. Based on the letter content [proximity to New Orleans; river] this Harrisonburg most likely is in Louisiana (vs. Virginia.). Bambrick writes in part:

"The season has been "midling sickly and a good many deaths have arrived in our town...The yellow fever is raging in the city and no prospect of it decreasing untill there is a killing frost. The mortality has been very heavy from 5 to 600 hundred pr day."

"Cotton opens very lively here this season. It brings from 10 to 12 1/2 cents..it has been dry an[d] very favorable for picking cotton..."

"I traded my mild filly...for a race horse or rather pony and made a race on him for 25$ and won it and then sold him for 75$ in cash."

This great old letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230348680956.

Dana and Jennie Barber letters 1888-89

Four letters 1888-89, from Dana and Jennie Barber, newcomers to Knowles, MD. The letters were sent to sister and mother, Mrs. C. H. Duffy, New York City and Mrs. Geo. Root, Nineveh, NY. Three of the letters were sent from Dana at his Washington D.C. office. The highlight is the 12 page letter, octavo, from Jennie. Highly detailed in content, she describes her new home: Neighbor Mrs. Smith expects her "confinement" in a week, "but goes banging about as though nothing was the matter."; Kate Hayden, in a Queen Anne cottage on the other side has worked at the Treasury for 13 years and holds a literary club;. "...we pay $1.50 a cord for seasoned oak...then I gave a n-----r [racist term] $1.15 for sawing." [Knowles] "This is not a village at all; only a large farm which was owned by Mr. Knowles, grandfather of our landlord and after the death of the old people the farm was sold in parcels of 10 acres and less; there were only three or four houses until quite recently, every one has plenty of room; we have over half an acres, triangular in shape." Plus, attends new church with "shouting Methodist" who can be heard through closed windows a quarter mile away"; buys corn at the Health Food Co. and locally grown White Star potatoes for 80c a bushel; much more minute detail.

This group of interesting letters is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230347073715.

North Shore New York 1847

Letter post marked North Shore New York. Written in 1847 by E Allen, to his brother Wm in Flat Brook, NY. He writes about teaching, but is looking into a secret job. Writes about local people, and says in part...we have had but 3 days sleighing upon the island this winter, the ground is frozen hard, and the wagoning is good...... if you was not anxious to enter college I could get you the academy here, which would be worth 5 or 6 hundred dollars per year.. the teacher that has it will probably not stay more than this quarter.....Give my love to Aunt B.......I have my health.....

Ebay Item number: 160339307638.

L. H. Cook to D. H. White 1855

1855 letter from L. H. Cook to D. H. White in Iowa that mentions near the end: "There is some talk about the Indians being trouble some and scares some of the Women almost into a duck fit it has been reported that there is 6000 at the Counsul bluff but it does not interupt me till I know more about it . . .

This interesting letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 350204519314.

James Crandal 1792 Rhode Island

Hand written letter dated 1792 with the letter writers seal beside his name.

Know all men by these present that I James Crandal of Westerly in Washington County and State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantation for it valuable consideration to me in hand well and truly paid by Daniel Whitney Late of Newport now residing in the State of Masachusets and herewith I am content do hereby sell asign set over and transfer unto him the said Daniel Whitney a certain ballance reported to be due to me by a committee appointed by the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island and on account of the depreciation of my pay as a solider in the late State Regiment commanded by Coll. John Toppin which ballance amounting to fifteen pounds eleven shilling lawful money as by the depreciation account of said regiment will appear and with the interest due thereon to have and to hold the said transferred balance to to him the said Daniel Whitney his heirs Executor (?????can't make this word out) or asigns forever furthermore I the said James Crandal do hereby constitute and appoint the said Daniel Whitney or his atterney my Atterney and in my name but for his or there use to demand and recover said ballance and acquittance thereof to give in my name and this I give as my Irrevocable power with full power of substitution In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this 30th day of March in the 16th year of American Independence A1792 Signed sealed and delivered in presents of Sam Bliven George Saunders Washington County of Westerly March the 30th A1792 Personally appeared the above subscriber M'James Crandal and acknowledged the before going instrument to be his free act and deed hand and seal before me. Sam Bliven Justice of the Peace.

This document is for sale on Ebay Item number: 180359723034.

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.

1784-1864 WESTFORD, CT LETTERS, REV AMOS SNELL, BAPTISTS

Interesting lot of 9 handwritten letters, 1837-1864, to Rev. Amos Snell, a Baptist Church elder in Westford, Windham County, Connectiicut and later South Wilbraham, Massachusetts. The letters are primarily personal nature letters from former Snell church members in a variety of locales.

Some of the highlights:
1840 Hillsboro, Illinois letter, 3pp., Sabria Bennett. The writer dislikes Illinois, the "Western Wildernes"; "...not an eastern family in this neighborhood all suckers...they are not our sort of people."; "O that we could see you and hear you blow the Gospel"; "We often hear the wolves howl near our cabin doors verry thick. Two have been killed so near the house we could hear them bleat like a calf."
1854 East Pembroke, New York, 2pp, legal, Charles Snell, brother. Fire at large tavern house of Edward Powers . "Burnt to ashes", killing young son.
1837 Stafford, CT, Jemima Hicks, 2pp., legal. Had typhus fever, now in poor health. Highly religious letter with a few poetic lines re Jesus. "I can hardly refrain from weeping when I think of the long suffering compassion of the savior towards me..." Mentions "poor sinners"; "Pilgrimage to the Celestial City" and laboring in the "vineyard of the Lord."
Fabulous autograph letter signed, "Asa Snow", Petersham [MA], Jan. 17, 1854, 1 1/4pp., plus 1p. letter of Snow's second wife, Eunice. The internet has some interesting background information on this strange inviidual, also known as Asa "Popcorn" Snow, including his main diet of popcorn and milk; suicide death of first wife Isabelle; and Snow's metal casket with viewing window (became a local tourist attraction.)

This great group of letters is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230342789464.

Seth Chapman Letter Jamaica New York 1852

A letter from Seth Chapman in Jamaica New York to his son who is away at school. The letter is about school and also mentions a Ann and Libby and Lilly who are most likely sisters to the boy at school. Ebay Item number: 130305097499.

1808-21 SUMMERVILLE, VA - BRANCH FAMILY LETTERS

Lot of 4 handwritten, personal letters to Maria Branch -- two from mother, Mary F. Branch, Summerville, Chesterfield County, Virginia 1808; two from friends - Mary B. Royall, Locust Hill, 1821, and Selena Booker, Flat Rock, n.d. 9pp, 8" x 10", total. Brief content and excerpts:

1808, Mary F. Branch - Asks that Col. Clark bring Maria home at appointed time; a subject, "too delicate for distant discussion"; mentions Judith Woodson, E. Cunliffe; "Mr H was in a voilent (sic) pucker respecting his horse."; "Your letter is full of love from the pits." One letter with hand carried cover to Lucy Maria Branch, Col. Clark's, Powhatan.
1821, Mary B. Royall - Dr. Archer is busy, "taken up with courting." Has fine view of river where situated. "I am as contented as it is possible for a woman to be..." Hand carried cover to Maria in Summerville.
n.d. (c. early 1800s), Selena Booker - Writer upset, sister won't respond to letters. "They all seem to care so little for me."; "Will you believe me if I tell you that I have only one child. You know Maria I always told you that I did not intend to have any more for they are so much trouble."; "I am such a poor hardened siner. She I fear is like all the rest of you, cares nothing for poor Selena." Mentions Capts. Booker (husband?) and Taylor. Hand carrier cover to Maria Branch, Manchester VA.

This great group of Branch family letters is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230339876693

Philinda Ford 1846

1846 folded letter from Philinda Ford, to her sister Miss August S Ford in Binghamton New York. News letter with talking of children, weddings, and other local news-she is attending a lecture by a blind lady from Michigan on the influence of females.

Ebay Item number: 160331352128

William M. Bambrick Denver Colorado 1860

Handwritten letter to brother from William M. Bambrick, Denver [Colorado], Dec. 22, 1860. Bambrick describes his hard-going existence.. He was sick during the summer, "my hair all come out." "I bought in to some claims in Neivad [Nevada] Gulch and made money on them. They froze up first of November. I worked two months and cleared $1.30."; "I worked day and night in my claims this fall. I worked six hours on and six hours off."; "You can see by the Mountain News that there are killings and hangings in Denver. There is considerable excitement here now about new mines in Mexico. A great many going there from here." Provisions coming in to Denver by train. "Hogs sell as high as horses."; "There is a prize fight come off in the mountains this fall in sight of where I was at work but I did not go to see it. They fought eight and was both badly hurt."

This letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230339099522. If William M. Bambrick was one of your ancestors this letter would be a great addition to you family genealogy.

Connecticut Regiment Heavy Artillery

Agroup of ten letters from family members to David Sharpe of Company B, First Connecticut Regiment Heavy Artillery. Two are dated 1858, and the rest 1861-1863, with a total of 31 pages. Filled with news from home from his brother, sister, father and mother in Seymour, Connecticut, about the war, other soldiers from the neighborhood, and family news. The family shows its patriotism, faith in God and satisfaction with freeing the slaves. David originally joined the 4th Connecticut Volunteers under General Banks in 1861, which was then re-organized in 1862 as the 1st Connecticut Heavy Artillery. The regiment served 1861-64 in the defense of Washington, the Peninsular Campaign [Yorktown and Fair Oaks] and at Petersburg and Richmond. In all, the lot includes ten letters, average size 5 x 8 1/2, with folds, an additional letter in envelope dated 1871, and news clippings from the regiment's return to Connecticut in 1864, and Sharpe's obituary in 1926.

This fantastic group of Sharpe family letters is for sale on Ebay Item number: 200332059504

Turbutt Francis, Philadelphia 1773

Letter signed, "Turbutt Francis", Philadelphia, Aug. 19, 1773, 1p., legal, with hand carried cover to Peter Kacklien, Esq, Sheriff of Northampton. Content re delivering bond in exchange for articles of Mr. Allen. "Do let me know your intentions as neglecting to give me an immediate answer will be ading one injury to another." Also mentions 500 acres under lease to Manning.

This letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230336640148

Hezekiah Griffin Freedom Papers, Chillicothe

Chillicothe Jan30th 1823

I do certify that Hezekiah Griffin a yellow man abt 27 years of age is a free man and came by his freedom in the following manner viv He griffin ran off from his Master Gen Biggs of Virginia and came to this place was taken up by Major Beaty a friend of Gen Biggs was sold to me for 500$ cash this transaction was nowledged
since by Gen Biggs when in this place and further Hezekiah has paid me by his services and some money as whitness my hand.

Thomas James

J.L. Cummings

Reverse:

Hezekiah Griffin

Freedom Papers.

This interesting letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 160327299539. If Hezekiah Griffin was one of your ancestors this would make a great addition to your genealogy.

Chicago to Peru 1852

A travel letter from Chicago to Peru [Illinois], from a wife to husband, Peru, Feb. 29, 1852. The writer, travelling with her sister, describes a night in a hotel -- bitten by bugs, loud men with a drunken one stating he's going to sleep in their room. They retrieve scissors and shove the trunk by the door. The following morning they take the stage from Aurora -- gentleman passengers; Ottawa bridge torn away; mudhole; Joliet stage; coach sicknessness; no food. A few passengers get out to walk and are retrieved by the stage a few hours later at a stranger's house.

Ebay Item number: 230335308063

New York House of Refuge 1883

New York House of Refuge Letterhead - Handwritten letter, Dec. 12, 1883, signed W. C. Steele, sent to F. A. Fidler, Esq. A letter of apology, it reads in part, "I am heartily sorry that a playful remark interjected into one of my Lectures should have been the means of causing pain to any one, least of all yourself or the excellent young lady chosen by my friend Bro Strater for his companion in Christian labor..."; "I heard that some over-sensitive person had misinterpreted the aullusion...Mr. Strater is a man of noble qualities of head and heart..."

This fine old letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number: 230334856333