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At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Weeden, Henry (fl. 1850) to Watson Freeman

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC09028.01 Author/Creator: Weeden, Henry (fl. 1850) Place Written: Boston, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 4 December 1850 Pagination: 1 p. : address ; 24.5 x 19.3 cm. Order a Copy PDF Download(s): PDF of image and transcript

Weeden, a tailor with a shop at 10 Franklin Avenue in Boston, declines to repair Watson's coat by saying "With me Principle first - Money afterwards. Though a poor man I crave the patronage of no Being that would volunteer his services to arrest a Fugitive Slave...."

Freeman was the U.S. Marshal of Massachusetts charged with enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act.

Boston Dec 4. 1850
Mr Watson Freeman
Sir
Your Coat came to me this morning for repairs. I take this method of returning it. without complying with Your request. With me Principle first. Money afterwards.

Though a poor man I crave the patronage of no Being that would volunteer his services to arrest a Fugitive Slave or that would hang 100 Niggers for 25 cents each -

Henry Weeden
10 Franklin Avenue
[address leaf]
Watson Freeman
Court Square
Boston

Weeden, Henry, fl. 1850
Freeman, Watson, fl. 1827-1857

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