14 June 1813

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

After a long lapse in correspondence, Hewson is updating Lincoln on his family life. Mentions Lincoln's letter from May 1813. Also mentions that Lincoln's daughter lives in the house of his wife's sister and that she is weak in health, but happy in Philadelphia. Says they had an enjoyable visit with her. His wife just recovered from a painful illness that necessitated a six month confinement. Says he is weak and can only walk 50 yards before tiring after a three month illness. Says he only recovered because of his faith. Is glad a present he sent arrived safely. Thanks Lincoln for the…

GLC03849.01

4 July 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Asks forgiveness for not replying to his last letter as he was ill. But says his health is as good and his morals as upright when they were on "the Island" (New York ) together (from a reference in another letter, it appears he escaped in October 1778). Relates what happened to him after they escaped. At 10 p.m. he went to the mouth of a creek which led to the sea. They had prepared a large boat, but not everyone in his party had arrived yet and they took a small canoe instead. There were five in the canoe and they stopped and ballasted it with sand before heading to the ocean. Says they made…

GLC03849.02

23 November 1815

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Saw Lincoln's daughter, who brought a letter from Lincoln in response to Hewson's of 4 July 1815. Glad that Lincoln enjoyed his last letter. Expresses joy that Lincoln might come to visit. Tells him his wife died on 30 September 1815 after a nine year battle with disease at the age of 64. Says he is relying on God to see him through this trial. Says she was his second wife, "a good & kind Mother to my five Motherless Children I had when we came together." They were married 41 years and says as she grew more infirm he grew to love her more. Says death did not "approach her as a King of…

GLC03849.03

8 July 1817

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter

Title: to Rufus Lincoln [incomplete]

Says Lincoln's daughter reports his health is as good as can be expected. Hewson says his health has been poor since last winter and that he was confined to the house for eight or nine weeks. Says God wanted him to live in order to help his youngest son, who ruined his family through drinking, move westward to Ohio and work as a carpenter. He has bound him out to a master carpenter for two or three years to complete his training. Says his other son James was in the Hospital for one year at 4 dollars a week and he is to move west as well. A son-in-law has also gotten into debt and ran away and…

GLC03849.04

30 March 1819

Hewson, John, 1744-1821

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Rufus Lincoln

Tells of his six month confinement to his room. Had two colds in that time, despite sitting four feet from a fire the entire time. Relates their harshness. Did not send for a doctor, but was bled twice. When his daughter saw how bad he was, she sent for a doctor, who prescribed some medicine. He took it once, but it made him feel worse and he stopped. Says his faith in God kept him from complaining and that he never expected to live this long. Says he has not seen Lincoln in 40 years and six months, which is probably when they escaped from New York around October 1778. Says Lincoln's daughter…

GLC03849.05

3 April 1857

M.B., fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Expresses his disappointment at Cripps canceling his plans to visit. Describes what the two of them would have done if Cripps came to visit. Written on personal stationery with a "B" imprinted at the top center of page one and on the envelope. Includes a 3 cent stamp depicting George Washington. Postmarked by hand in Rippon, Virginia, 4 April. Possibly written by Mr. Benedict of GLC03587.32 and .34.

GLC03587.24

circa 1852

Webster, Daniel, 1782-1852

Autograph note

Title: Daniel Webster's dedication to James William Paige

Printed dedication from the fifth volume of Webster's works, intended for Harriette Story Paige's husband James William Paige (included with GLC1946.62.01). Contains Daniel Webster's corrections and an addition in his hand.

GLC01946.62.02

circa 25 June 1835

Berte, fl. 1835

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Elizabeth Blair

A friend informs Blair, the daughter of Francis Preston Blair, of the affairs of mutual acquaintances in Washington, D.C. Year estimated based on the use of Blair, Elizabeth's maiden name. "A.G. Brown" was written in the top right corner of the address leaf at a later date.

GLC03209.27.08

29 November 1853

J.B.M., fl. 1853

Autograph letter signed

Title: to John Cripps

Writes to his friend about his lack of correspondence. Chides Cripps about setting up the San Francisco boys for when they arrive in Mexico. Includes local news and describes the financial burden the ranch has become. Sends his regards to Cripps' mother, if she has yet joined him.

GLC03587.06

31 August 1860

Carl, George F., fl. 1860

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Joseph M. Maitland

Tells his friend that he has left Urbana, and explains that he might have made an "impression" on a couple of women, noting however, that it was unintentional. Writes that when he left "I felt considerably like as if I had been drawn down a rainbow hauled by a pink angel, with 'shingled hair' did you feel so?" Discusses the merits of teaching as a profession. Proclaims, "May our friendship be 'lasting as the mountains rich' and 'as endurable as the waves of the ocean.' "

GLC03523.10.028

9 March 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes that the regiment is still in Helena, although General Benjamin Prentiss has encouraged the men to be ready to march at any time. The Lieutenant Colonel of the 29th, whom Damuth accuses of thinking "more of the Rebels than he did of his own men," has left and Damuth writes that morale among the soldiers has increased dramatically. Tells an anecdote about Colonel Gill. Describes a trip to visit Jesse's grave in an old Southern graveyard and writes that it "will likely be the last time I shall ever visit his last resting place."

GLC03523.14.15

4 April 1863

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Discusses the hurt feelings of a friend and Democrat from back home. Mentions that there is not "much drunkenness down here" since "Gen Prentiss is a temperance man." Asks for packages with items like dried fruit, silk handkerchiefs and cayenne pepper.

GLC03523.14.19

23 June 1864

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Has recently arrived at a new camp on the Mississippi River, twelve miles from [Carrollton]. Damuth does not know why the men are there: "I cant see anything to guard except fences houses and hog pens." Says that it is too hot for the men to march. A man wounded in at [Sabine Cross Roads] in April has turned up at a nearby hospital. Damuth writes that the man and another soldier "lay on the Battle field that night and the next day Ferdinan died what a lonesome night that must have been." Describes the sense of brotherhood he feels in his company and hopes to send home photographs of his…

GLC03523.14.60

30 July 1864

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Reports the deaths of more members of Company D at a fight against the Confederate Army on the Atchafalaya River. Mourns a friend and writes, "I cant think otherwise than that cotton and whiskey was the cause of Jeromes death… I do know that a great many of the Officers were beastly drunk." The men marched thirty-four miles in the heat after the battle, and "after the funeral I went into my tent and laid there till this morning." The Confederate soldiers have fortifications across the river, and Damuth writes that the Union soldiers will not attempt to fight again soon.

GLC03523.14.63

1 September 1864

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes that the men have marching orders, possibly to go to Grand Gulph. Damuth may have the opportunity to become a lieutenant. Writes about Lincoln's reelection and the "copperheads and disappointed politicians" who are against him. Damuth writes that although he complains about men in his company, he "should hate to part with them."

GLC03523.14.67

13 September 1864

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

The men are on guard against the Confederates in a camp on the bank of the White River. The Cavalry has captured some Confederate soldiers. Damuth is working as Provost Marshal. He reminisces about coming to Arkansas before with his friend Jessie, "we had never seen many fortifications then."

GLC03523.14.68

16 November 1864

Damuth, Dolphus, fl. 1839-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Maria Damuth

Writes to his sister. The men have arrived at Devil's Bluff and will soon move to Little Rock. The colonel is hunting deer, but "evry one cant get out of the picket line." The mail has brought a death announcement about one of Damuth's close friends who was sent home on sick leave. Writes about military gossip: Sherman "has made a brake for Charleston with the most of his army." Things are looking up for the men following Lincoln's reelection and everyone is in good spirits.

GLC03523.14.74

12 March 1786

Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

General Nathanael Greene writes, "I thank you for the public attention you are paying to my public Trophies; but I have been so embarrassed and perplexed in my private affairs for a long time past which originated in the progress of the War that I have but little spirit or pleasures on such subjects. My family is in distress and I am overwhelmed with difficulties and God knows when or where they will end. I work hard and live poor but I fear all this will not extricate me." Describes some business losses he has suffered, including poor harvest due to wet weather. Mrs. Greene is about to "…

GLC02437.03251

8 November 1784

Knox, William, 1756-1795

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Nathaniel Tracy

Thanks Tracy, the financier from Newburyport, Massachusetts, for his "attention & politeness" during William's recent episode of mental illness. Relates his plans for sailing to America. Instructs Tracy to contact Edward Byrne if he travels to Dublin, Ireland.

GLC02437.03069

13 November 1863

Terry, Robert B., fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sister

Relays to his sister that, a possible mutual friend, Dan Shern has died. States, "little did I think when I saw him on the 14 of October that he would be in the grave before one month roled over his head. Well it is a road we will all have to travel so we must be prepared for the uncertain hour of our certain death." Discusses her "situation," possibly referring to her marital status. Indicates that he thinks she should get married rather than be a schoolteacher. Inquires about their mother's health, relating remorse that he did not write about her sooner as he knows she has been sick.…

GLC03523.08.84

2 May 1787

Warren, Mercy Otis, 1728-1814

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox

Explains that her son, Winslow Warren, has run into financial troubles and appeals to Knox for help. The attention of either Henry or his brother William Knox is needed to resolve the situation with the creditors. Hopes he or William will attend to this matter soon. Asks his opinion on the political events of the spring of 1787, referring to the Constitutional convention to be held in Philadelphia in May. Comments on her inquiry, "But if you Sir should Judge that inquiries of this nature are not altogether consonnat [sic] to Female Genius. - then tell us the Gradations of theatrical…

GLC02437.03539

11 October 1786-21 November 1786

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Manuscript document signed

Title: to John Green

Written from Canton, present-day Guangzhou, China. Writes a long narrative regarding a dispute with Captain John Green, who helmed the ship Shaw traveled on during his first visit to China in 1784. The first page contains a letter to John Green from Shaw, in which he declares that he is aware of the "liberties you have taken with my character." Writes, "I know you to be my enemy. I declare myself irreconcileably yours. Yet, although enemies, I will ask a favor of you. Do not, Mr. Green, ever attempt, under any circumstances, to speak to me. I will religiously observe the same rule towards you…

GLC02437.03310

21 November 1786-3 December 1786

Shaw, Samuel, 1754-1794

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Henry Knox and Samuel Ogden

Written from Canton, present-day Guangzhou, China. Writes a lengthy letter updating his friends Knox and Ogden on the status of his business in China. Says he is pleased to finally be able to write, but is sad to report on the illness and death of their mutual friend Mr. [Isaac] Sears, who had been in China with him. Describes the cool reception he received from the Europeans when he arrived in China, because of the threat of competition the Americans posed. Discusses their business prospects, including the high prices and poor sales for tea and other goods. Includes a detailed…

GLC02437.03311

9 March 1780

Smith, Oliver, 1749-1797

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William Knox

Smith writes to Knox in Amsterdam. Issues a lengthy apology for not writing sooner. Relates that his friend, Mr. Whitlock, shipped Knox's trunks. Describes a mutual acquaintance, "young Mynham," as "a perfect Dutchman." Compares the virtues of the French and Dutch. Recently spent time at Clapham, England, where he finds the air "particularly wholesome & agreeable." Mentions news of mutual acquaintances in Boston, Massachusetts, including the marriage of William and Peggy Goldthwaite. Bottom quarter of first page and second is missing. Address directs the letter to Knox at J.…

GLC02437.00803

18 October 1905

Lee, Stephen D., 1833-1908

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Frank H. Furness

Lee is unable to attend an event in honor of "G. W. Hodge, the Confederate soldier whose life you saved." Furness invited Lee to attend a reunion of the Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, which Furness commanded. The reunion was to honor G. W. Hodge, whose life Furness saved "in the terrible days before Richmond." Lee cannot attend, but is glad to hear about stories like this, as they promote reconciliation between former enemies, "those of us who had ugly feelings in the 60s are now mellowed and living friends." Lee was invited because he was in charge of the United Confederate Veterans.…

GLC04271.01