1869 PEMBERTON, VIRGINIA LETTER

1869 PEMBERTON, VIRGINIA LETTER - REV JH MORRISON
Letter signed, "J. H. Morrison", Pemberton, Goochland County, VA, May 7, 1860.
With postal cover to Dr. Thomas B. Taylor, Mt. Meigs, Montgomery Co., Alabama.
Morrison notes that he has two parishes on either side of the James River; inquires about Dr. Taylor's cotton; and comments on the late war. Excerpts:
"The late war has almost obliterated the landmarks of the Past. It rolls as a dark flood between us and the period that preceded it. And yet the troubles we have had to wade through cause the heart to cling the more closely to old friends..."; "Like nearly all Southern clergymen, and many Laymen, I am much occupied in trying to provide a maintenance for my family."


Ebay Item number: 230428658107

Letter to Mrs. Eliza Thornton,Lauderdale County, Mississippi, from Elizabeth Baggott, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio 1847

Dayton P O Ohio montgomery Co. march the 14th 1847

My Dear and affectionate Aunt

Father is married again.. He married A lady by the name of Caylor., She was about twenty when he married. She has had five children. their Names are Martin V B is 9 [originally “8"] years old Virginia Helen was ten months when she died., she has been Dead six years., Oliver P he is five years old Josephine Boneparte She is three years old James K Polk is two years old this month Mother had 8 Children four dead and four a living William is the Eldest he is 27 years old George is 23 years old and I will be 21 the 21 [sic] the sixth of next month Martha Ann will be 17 the 28 of this month

... continue reading Letter to Mrs. Eliza Thornton, Alamucha P. O., Lauderdale County, Mississippi, from Elizabeth Baggott, Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, March 14, 1847

Letter to Mrs. Mary Bradford and sister Sarah Jane, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, from Louisa, York Pennsylvania, 1839

York Friday Nov. 25th ‘39

— I cannot refrain from expressing my thanks, thus early, for it, nor from giving you, Sarah Jane, our particular thanks (which you well deserve) for urging dear Mrs Bradford to renew her determination of visiting us at Christmas – We have set our hearts upon seeing her then, and cannot be disappointed – Sally & Emy, I am sure, will not be happy without her.....

Miss Naudain left Town about a week since – she is a lively, pleasant girl, and probably may carry off one of our Beaux – certain it is, that Mr Barnits was very attentive to her, which, is all I have to found my supposition on. We are as yet without a stationed Clergyman — Mr Wallace who has preached here once, is expected this week, to remain six months upon trial – It is generally supposed that he will be continued, as he was universally liked, by those who heard him — On Sunday next, in addition to Mr Wallace; Mr Wolfe (the celebrated missionary), and Mr George Jones will preach here

... continue reading Letter to Mrs. Mary Bradford and sister Sarah Jane, Northumberland, Pennsylvania, from Louisa, York Pennsylvania, 1839

Letter from Simeon Baldwin, New Haven, Connecticut, January 4, 1808

New Haven Jany 4th 1808

Dear Sir

I have this day received yours of the 3d Inst wishing me to enquire more particularly of Mr Wm Baldwin respecting the circumstances of your brothers death. – You have indeed imposed upon me a painful task; but I expected it, & duty requires however painful it may be to us both, that I execute it faithfully.

– A day or two preceeding the Death of your brother he with Mr Michael Baldwin & three or four other Gentlemen arrived in Pittsburg from the westwards in a Stage & took lodgings at the Stage house, the next day he visited with a party of Gentlemen, at Henry Baldwins & by his cheerfulness rendered himself peculiarly acceptable to the family & the party

... continue reading Letter to unidentified person from Simeon Baldwin, New Haven, [Connecticut], January 4, 1808

Brooklyn, Connecticut 1849

Letter with lots of good and bad news from home. Dated Brooklyn, Connecticut, June 14, 1849, Fanny, Lucy and their mother Sarah Litchfield write to their sister and daughter Mrs Eldridge Hill, who has recently moved to the prairies of Illinois. Much information about friends and family, with news of marriages, a neighbor coming back from a lengthy out of town visit with a baby, concerns about health, a friend who died ["She was a very pleasant corpse"], a neighbor who destroyed his wagon and broke his leg in an accident, concern about ever seeing each other again, and desire to move to Illinois.

This interesting letter is for sale on Ebay Item number:200428293463

Letter to Alvah Bush, Albany New York, from her sister, M. M. Bush, Cooperstown, New York 1843

Cooperstown Oct 11th 1843.

I forgot to tell you that I paid $8 for my shawl which I suppose you will think very extravagant – It is cassimere, two yards square with a handsome heavy fringe and is very warm – I looked at it a long time before I could make up my mind to take it, but I thought it would do to wear very often instead of a cloak and thus save me the necessity of getting a new one –

I received a long letter from Joseph last week, giving an account of the wedding and the conflagration which are two very important events in Bainbridge – It will be but a little while before I shall see them all again, and I assure you I look forward to it with a great deal of pleasure – I shall spend a week or two there on my way to Binghamton — Mrs Sumer returned from Boston, Saturday, and left with her family for Cleveland this morning – Miss Stowel is very well –

...Continue reading Letter to Alvah Bush, Albany New York, from her sister, M. M. Bush, Cooperstown, New York 1843

St. Clair County Illinois 1804

Illinois postmarked letter dated St. Clair County Nov 5 1804, from Lawrence Shook, to John Gibson, Secretary, Vincennes, Indiana Territory, manuscript postmarked Cahokia, Illinois. The content reads, in part, as follows: "Permit me to inform you that about two years ago I [obtained a] right of 100 acres of land from Danl. McCann as assignee of Joseph Managre who was assigned of Jaque[s] Bartholomew, a militia man of St. Clair County, which right Governor [William Henry] Harrison confirmed in the year 1802. He also kept the right in order to issue an order of survey for the same, but the order was not obtained. Now the law requites that all claims of land should be presented to the Register of Land office as Kaskaskia before the 1st of Jan 1805. Therefore I earnestly request of yr. honor to send me the right, or a copy of the Governor's confirmation, so as I may be able to lay my claim before the Register before the time expires. Your Honor's goodness in so doing will highly obligate and support me, otherwise I shall undoubtedly lose my right ... [signed] Lawrence Shook."

This letter is up for sale on Ebay Item number:250559570389

Civil War soldier's letter, Norfolk, Virginia

Civil War soldier's letter, dated at the Signal Station near Norfolk, Virginia, December 13, 1863, from Julius Swain to his friend Frank....This letter, which is full of good content, contains the following highlights.....General Butler has laid a heavy hand on drinking shops and houses of ill fame...his order regarding darkies is refreshing....Swain's "boy" is joining the Colorado Cavalry...."the sight of a few black Zouaves and cavalry who are no doubt permitted to move round among the brethren have given a new imortance to enlistments and the niggers are gathering"....can't wait till Spring to be ready for the Rebs and Grant will get to Richmond, more......

This Civil War soldier's letter is up for sale on Item number:
200425775285

Feature Letter 1863 Civil War Letter from George B. Atkins to his father from Camp Douglas, Illinois

The Texas Republican
Camp Douglas
Chicago, Illinois

March 19, 1863

Dear Father

I write a letter to ARIE about a month ago, giving a statement of the condition of our company. Since then there have been so many changes in the prospects of nearly one half of us. When I wrote to Arie, there were two dead, H. T. WALKER and W. C. FORD. Since then ten more have departed this life, and now we have two at the hospital whose return, I fear, will be like the all the rest who have gone there; otherwise we are dong as well as could be expected—improving in health, getting plenty to eat, and receiving very good treatment. Money is scarce and no prospects of getting any, and of course, without it, we can procure none of the many delicacies we need when sick.

...continue reading 1863 Civil War Letter from George B. Atkins to his father from Camp Douglas, Illinois

Civil War letter written by Henry Stokes Figures

Today we feature a letter on PastVoices.com website. This is a Civil War letter written by Henry Stokes Figures on 9 May 1861 to his father

Henry S. Figures enlisted in the 48th Alabama on May 22, 1862. He was Adjutant of the 48th Alabama and was killed at the Wilderness Battle on May 6, 1864.

"My Dear Pa--

I received your letter and I received yours and Matties, Otey’s and Ma’s letters this morning dated the 5th--also your paper. I received my pay last Monday and would have sent it to you sooner, but was waiting for a letter. ..."

... Continue reading

1900 NEW LONDON, CT - LETTER RE COCKFIGHTING

Letter from George D. Havens in New London Conneticut with candid content re cockfighting.

New London, Connecticut, with postal cover to D[on] C. Mickey, Fostoria, Ohio.

In part:
"I received your circular...How I would like to get something that can whip the grade of J*ps [gamecock; derogatory term] that they have in Rhode Island. I have had bad luck lately...They was the Black & tan and the j*ps whiped us in good shape."
"I have a main coming off soon here and what I would like to know if you have got 5 cocks that will weigh from 5 1/2 to 6...and tell me if you thnik they can win against the j*ps."
"I have ordered a set of spurs from McGregory."
"I have a lot of game but they are all mostly light birds and they are a little to slow for the j*ps."
Also included is an envelope [empty] to Mickey from W. C. Gregory, Steel Spurs, Wilmington, OH.

Ebay
Item number:
230417954227

Christiansand 1809

Document dated 1809, a letter from Captain Joseph Eck, in Christiansand, where his ship has been captured by Danish Privateers. In this letter Captain Eck states that to date 29 American ships have been captured and brought into port, they has a trial and were convicted for crimes such as not listing all crew members on docket and that one of the crew members swore at the Registrar....he knows not when they will finally be released from this place....signed Charles S. Smith and Joseph Eck.

This letter is for sale on Ebay Item number:350290092161

Lonoke, Arkansas 1874

WARNING: THIS LETTER CONTAINS RACIST CONTENT.

Interesting 4 pp. letter dated Lonoke, Arkansas, Jun 29 1874, from E. K. Purdy, who was with his relatives, to "Addie," his wife.

Lonoke AR, Jul 1 postmark, to Mrs. E. K. Purdy, Schoolcraft, Michigan. The letter reads, in part, as follows: "Ed & his mother are broke out in patches as large as peas all over & water is a stranger to their hides. They say it is chigger bites, but it is filthy skin (chiggers is a small insect about the size of these dots [has drawn a circle of dots]), but one has not troubled me yet ... Jul 1 ... Yesterday was Election Day and I was crowded with darkies, White & Black all day ... I did not enjoy the barbecue. I did not go near the grove that day. The day before I went to see the trenches & see how they barbecued the meat ... I saw two trenches dug in the row 4 feet wide [by] 100 feet long each & 40 or 50 darkies filling them with wood & burning to coals. Then there was laid on boards, meat, pork, mutton & some goat or kid meat, ready for laying on the coals in the trenches. N-----s [crude racial slur for African-American people] all around dressing sheep & young N----s running off with all the insides, that should be eaten by dogs. Yesterday Edgar came near being crippled for life. He was repairing a pistol that was loaded & carelessly fired it off, shooting of 2 barrels, blowing his eyes and face full of powder caps & today he cannot hardly see. I was at work near him, but fortunately for me, the balls went through the side of the house instead of my head. The editor [of the local paper] asked him what his initials was, as he was going to put him in his paper in regard to the shooting yesterday. I told England [the editor] his name was simply Edgar Purdy & not publish me as the one hurt, as it might cause trouble to my friends and others & cause me trouble & him the loss of one subscriber. So that ended. Just before that I went into a store & bought a file & was asked politely if I could settle my account. I said I have no account. Being being your name is E. K. Purdy, is it not? Yes that is my name, but I don't owe you anything. Well it is on the books [as] E. K. Purdy. I said Edgar Purdy is the person. So ended that ... [complains of lack of privacy] some of your last letters I have preserved by hiding them in my bed ... Edgar's eyes look bad ... [signed] 'E'."

This letter is for sale on ebay Item number: 260529457056

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

Jefferson County 1801

Letter signed, "John Jeffords", Jefferson County, N W Territory, May 12, 1801, with hand carried cover to John Simonson, Esqr, Washington. Witness signatures of John Humphrey; James Crow. It reads:

"Sir this is to inform you that I have setled with the defendents and received full satisfaction in the suit commenced November 1800 term against David Winters, Cristifor Winters, John Winters, William Johnson, John [?], Daniel McCoy and wish you to dismiss the suit provided the pay all lawfull costs."

Ebay
Item number:
230406703978

Farmington, New Hampshire 1798

A letter dated 1798, where Christopher Varney has written to Anna Austin of Farmington, New Hampshire....he admits his deep friendship towards her, and that he must travel east..hoping that she will keep the letter and wait for his return.....signed Christopher Varney.

This fantastic old letter is for sale on Ebay Item number:350262333512

Cincinnati, Ohio 1849

Letter from Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb 1 1849, from Archibald A. Irwin Jr. to "Mrs. Colonel Arian," at Madison.
Reading in part, as follows: "My nephew Wm. Henry Harrison will sojourn in your goodly town for a day or two. I promise he is a clever fellow. Be kind enough to introduce him to my good friend Miss Mary Esther and also tell the Col that he is going to California & wishes some of your citizens to join the expedition, to which he has attached himself. It is in command of Lieut Woodhull Schenck of the U.S. Navy, one of the very best officers our Navy can boast of ... [signed] Arch. A. Irwin Jr. ..."

This interesting letter is for sale on Ebay Item number:250520001619

Letter by Isaac Gorham Peck 1834

A interesting letter by Isaac Gorham Peck in 1834 is up for sale on Ebay.

“Fredericksburg 10 Nov. 1834
My Dear Mother,
After a long interval of silence I may now address a letter to you. Yes a long interval it has been truly, so long that even your kindness and disposition to forgive must have been tried to the utmost and perhaps, but I will not say so, no, I cannot in truth say that. I have never for a single moment doubted your confidence and was that in saying too little, your wholly and esteemed confidences in my continued affections tho we have been long separated, now more than half my life has been passed away from you. It’s now 17 years since I first left you and come out into the world to scuffle as I best might with cold and selfish men. Others may think that with long separation, this coupled with the world, has hardened my heart and blanketed my bitter feelings, that my affections are cold and selfish but I feel I know that is not so. I wish, how often have I wished, myself incapable of feelings so acutely. It would be for my personal happiness and for this kind of life that I shall doubtless lead, be far better for me to have less of this kind of feeling then I find myself to possess………On our arrival at Washington on this business we found there was likely to be several competitions for our line……If their bids succeeded we’d thrown our property on our heads. The consequence was that we determined to take hold boldly and bid not only for our routes but also for another and the only chance of success to go in for a low price. At this stage of the business I thought it my duty to state my situation to Wellford. My own mind was pretty much made up before I bid for myself alone or I should say rather Peck and Wellford and Price and Co. Wellford and myself were to take about 2/3 and Price, his brother and a Mr. Rollins 1/3, in case we got the routes. We succeeded in getting about 400 miles and lost about 200 of our old route. Our old contract was for 263 miles (we ran 309 miles). A few days ago our new partner Price, whom we left in Washington, compromised with the person who took the 200 miles of our old routes and 32 miles of another route of his which leaves us Wellford, Price & Co. and Peck about 532 miles. Price & Co. offered it to Wellford and myself either to take 2/3 of the whole or ½. We took the half. I think it will prove a good contract and I have so much confidence in it that I was for taking 2/3. By this comparison we got the part of the line that was advertised 2 a week, 50 miles, 2 known parts put up to 3 times a week, 4 horse post coaches, 80 miles a day. I hope you will feel no anxiety about it…….in the whole 4 years I feel certain of a good business. Our property will be valued on the first of January……..My interest will be something like 8000 dollars. I ought to have said that on the southern end of the 200 miles of an old contract which we lost, so that our line or the part that we run commences 100 miles from now and extends to Milledgeville Geo. The 32 miles commences at Danville through which our main line runs and extends that distance on the Lynchburg route. I declined any agency…….I have laid off rather a circuitous route, back again. It is to go via N. York up the canal to the Lake Erie through Ohio to Louisville pass through Indiana take a good look at Illinois, stop a few days with a friend at the Yellow Banks then down to Natchez and N. Orleans…..by that time I shall have determined when to locate myself. I hope by that time our line will be in such repute that if I shall be able to sell out, if I think proper…….We have never done more business I think than I have done so far. It seems I have been busy almost night and day and I hope and know that you will be satisfied with what I have done…….Your most affectionately, I G Peck.”

Ebay Item number:170399152612

Letter by gold rush seeker James C. Ferris, May 9, 1864 Independence, Missouri, to sister Mrs [?] Frances M Knapp, Lock Hollow, Cayuga County, New York. Although his spelling is poor, the overall meaning of his letter is easy to understand. Ferris writes that they are breaking the mules and will head out on the 10th. "Captain Tuttle is agoin croast with us." He's in good spirits and health and plans to come home again in three years with "my pocits full of gold." He also comments on the colery [cholera] - "very thick" in Independence and there were cases of it on the road. One steamboat was brought up with thirty bodies. Although he's impressed with the local cornstalks, 8 to 10 feet high, he also mentions that there were three men shot in Independence before they arrived and one man since, but they don't do anything about it. He likens the place to a nasty, drunkards hole. "I would advise you that if you can [?] see the country hear you would stay thare."

Ebay Item number:230389846661

Pooler - Winsor - Brown Family

Pooler - Winsor - Brown Family - Lot of 6 handwritten personal letters, 1817-1837, from a variety of family corespondents to Allen Pooler in Rutland, Vermont (one to NY); and one to James Pooler in Clarendon, VT. Plus, 1831 poem, 1p., "The Morning Star", signed Winsor Brown, Corinth [New York]. Of particular interest are the three letters by Olney Winsor of Providence, Rhode Island, 1828, 1833, 1837. He notes in the 1833 letters that he is 80 years old and remarkably comments in the next letter, at 84, that, "Indeed I am a happy old man..." An 1817 letter by Winsor Brown, Hadley, contains a poem at bottom:
"At ten a child at twenty wild; At thirty strong (if ever); At forty wise, At fifty rich; At sixty good or never."
Other correspondents: Son, Amasa Pooler, 1829; and letter by Huldah and Lydia Brown, Corinth.

Ebay Item number:230389846637