Part 5
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES ON THE WHITE FAMILY. The ancestor of the first Anthony White was sent to Virginia by Raleigh in 1587, as Governor of his colony. Returning the next year with supplies, he was defeated by Spanish vessels and obliged to return to England. In 1590 he found the colony of Roanoke deserted. Leonard (probably his son), emigrated to Virginia in 1620. Governor White’s daughter was Virginia Dare, the first white child born in the New World. One of his brothers, Sir John White, also went to Bermuda, probably in 1609, with Sir George Somers. It was the “terrible tempest” and shipwreck which dispersed this company which in 1611 suggested to Shakespeare the play of “The Tempest.” Sir John White married a descendant of Sir Owen Tudor, the ancestor of Henry VIII. Joanna White, sister of Anthony Walton, born Nov. 14, 1744, d. s. p. June 26, 1834; third wife of Col. John Bayard (born Cecil Co., Md., Aug. 11, 1738). He was a member of the Council of Safety, Speaker of the House of Representatives, in 1785 a member of the Old Congress in New York. In 1789 he removed from Philadelphia to New Brunswick; was Mayor there and Judge of the Common Pleas.
He died Jan. 7, 1807, a patriot of spotless life, public and private. He was the great-great uncle of the late Senator Bayard.
Euphemia White, second sister of Anthony, born Dec. 10, 1746, d. s. p. Jan. 29, 1832; married Hon. William Paterson (born 1745; grad. N. J. Coll. 1763. Att’y Gen’l of N. J. in 1775; in 1793 nominated by Washington Associate Justice of the U. S. Supreme Court; in 1794 Governor of N. J.; died Sept. 9, 1806).
The Staats family was originally from Albany. Dr. Abraham Staes, who came to New Netherlands in 1642, was the ancestor of the Staats of to-day, the name having been changed soon afterwards to its present form. Dr. Samuel Staats, son of Major Abraham Staats of Albany, studied medicine in Holland. When New York was surrendered to the English, he returned to Holland, and remained until William III. became King of England, when he returned to New York, and died there in 1715.
Being appointed by the King to a Government post in Java, he married there a native princess, by whom he had six daughters, all of whom married. In May, 1709, he again married—Catharine Hawarden, of New York. Of the nine children which he had in 1703, the first five were probably born in Java or Holland. The Princess’ six daughters were: Sarah, married Isaac Gouverneur in 1704. Their daughter Sarah became the second wife of Colonel Lewis Morris, of Morrisania. The second daughter married in 1716, Andrew Coejman, of Coejman’s Manor near Albany, N. Y. The third, Catalina, was baptized, N. Y., June 16, 1689. The fourth, Anna Elizabeth, baptized Dec. 21, 1690, married Captain Johannes Schuyler. The fifth, Joanna, baptized Jan. 31, 1694, married in 1716, Col. Anthony White, of Bermuda. Her second husband was Admiral Norton Kelsall, R. N. The sixth, Tryntje, baptized April 5, 1697, was first wife of Col. Lewis Morris. His second wife was thus Tryntje’s own niece. Two sons were born of these two marriages—General Lewis Morris, the “Signer,” and Gouverneur Morris, who were half-brothers. Another brother, General Staats Morris, married in London, Catherine, Dowager-Duchess of Gordon. Their grandfather, Lewis Morris, was the first Royal Governor of New Jersey (1738). He married in 1691, a daughter of James Graham, Attorney-General of New York. The mother of Margaret Ellis was —— Vanderhorst, sister of Elias Vanderhorst, American Consul at Bristol, England, in 1780, who is mentioned in “Thaddeus of Warsaw.” The family is represented in the United States by the descendants of Major Arnoldus Vanderhorst of Charleston.
A. S. GRAHAM, ANNA M. W. WOODHULL.
NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J.
(_To be continued._)
ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS
TWO EIGHTEENTH CENTURY LETTERS
[_Communicated by Mr. Wm. C. Lane, Librarian of Harvard_]
(These two letters from Mrs. Delany—Geo. III’s “Dear Mrs. Delany”—were addressed to Capt. Henry Hamilton, who, in the autumn of 1778, had led the English expedition from Detroit which, by way of the Maumee and the Wabash, reached Fort St. Vincent (Vincennes) and surprised and captured it.
The post was soon after surprised and recaptured by the Americans under Capt. George Rogers Clark, and Hamilton was carried a prisoner to Williamsburg, Va. He remained in captivity eighteen months under very harsh conditions, until sent on parole to New York in October, 1780. An exchange of prisoners was arranged in March, 1781, and Hamilton reached England in June of the same year.
In 1782 he was again in Canada, and on November 15, 1784, when Haldimand left Quebec for England, he succeeded him as governor. The next summer he was recalled. He was Governor of Bermuda 1788–94, and Governor of Dominica from 1794 till his death in 1797.
Hamilton’s memoirs and the journal of his expedition from Detroit are in the Harvard University Library, and will be printed in book form.—W. C. L.)
S^T. JAMES PLACE [_London_] _7 Feb^y. 1781_.
_Dear S^r_:
Being offer’d a safe conveyance for my letter, I cannot resist the opportunity of congratulating you, on your enlargement from your Horrible Dungeon; you are too just, and generous to your Friends, not to have felt their anguish on your Sufferings, and fear, it was no small aggravation to _them_. My exquisite Friend the Duchess Dow^r of Portland, took every precaution to conceal, what she with real concern, had heard was your situation, and during the rigor of it, I was ignorant of what must have griev’d me very much, as I cannot without shuddering recollect the inhuman treatment you have met with; most heartily I wish you at perfect Liberty, among your Friends here; tho it may be presumption in me, to have any expectation, of sharing the joy such an event would give them; and shou’d not be surpriz’d, if you started at my well known hand (tho somewhat the worse for the wear) supposing it a letter rather from the Dead, than the living; but, it has pleas’d God to Lengthen my Days to an age which commonly is attended with Labour & Sorrow; of the latter I have had some share of the most grievous kind that of surviving many Dear and Valuable Friends; but as I trust they are infinitely happier than I can possibly be on this turbulent spot, that consoles me and my spirits are still sufficient to enable me to enjoy my remaining Blessings; among the Number, The Honourable Station y^r Excellent Brother Sackville possesses, the high esteem he is in with every Body that can distinguish merit & his Domestick and social Happiness must gladden the heart of all that know him; I say no more of the rest of y^r familly as I suppose you have better intelligence from them; my last acc^{ts}. were satisfactory of all. The Death of our ingenious Friend and most excellent woman M^{rs}. Ham^n of Summer Hill had been so long expected from the severity of a long illness that her release was rather to be wished tho her loss must be lamented. I have felt much for her good Daughter who I fear has not so cordial a Friend in her Brother as she truly deserves; her Mother has taken care to leave her in comfortable and independent circumstanse. Your constant Friend M^{rs} Sandford has supported a very delicate state of health, marvellously, and gone thus far with great success in the Education of her 4 fine Sons; she has been very unhappy ab^t you as she heard how inhumanly yu had been treated—I know if she was at my Elbow I shou’d be charged with her affectionate complim^{ts} and wishes to _her_ old Friend Harry, and think if you were to meet you wou’d still recollect _your_ old Friend Pooney.
And now it might become me to apologize for so long a letter; but that would be meer ceremony for I know your good heart too well not to suppose even so imperfect an account of your Friends will be welcome, I therefore add before I conclude, that my three Nephews are well tho not all Happy, my Bro^r Dewes died last summer and has left his Eldest Son in good circumstances,—my Nephew Bern^d was the Happiest of Men till deprived some months ago of a most amiable wife; my 3^d Nephew has not a wish to make being the Husband of an agreeable worthy wife settled to their hearts’ content at Calwich. My Niece M^{rs} Port mother of 6 Children and consequently full of Parental anxieties but well in health—you see by trespassing so much on your Friend^p how confident I am of it—will you hazard a letter to me? if waves and wind are favourable I may receive it—please God,—before my 82d year is compleated; and, if not by that time superannuated, it will give sincere pleasure to Dear S^r
Your affectionate Friend and obliged hum^{ble} Serv^t M. DELANY.
BULSTRODE, _Nov. 25—1784_
_Dear Sir_:
I fully intended to have given my self the Pleasure of acknowledging you[r] letter dated the 31 of July a month ago—without any remorse for the trouble it might give you but flattering my self you woud rather receive a good account of my Health than an indifferent one—I waited for that Hour and can assure you I am as well in Health as can reasonably be expected at my years and to convince you that I am not grown Callous I am very sensible of you kind solicitude about me. You are well acquainted with the delices of Bulstrode with the Merits of its Soverign Lady [the Duchess of Portland]—and the ingaging qualities of Miss Hamilton (Sir William Hamiltons Niece) who I think you are no Stranger to—but to do her Justice one must be intimate with her. I would not venture to say so much tho’ you are at such a distance—as it is a dangerous subject—were she not an ingaged Person—and perhaps before this reaches you may be united to one who seems very worthy of such a Prise—our Pleasant society will soon be Dissipated I fear in less than a Month—we expect a weeks visit from Mr. Dewes before our departure. Yesterday Admiral and Miss Forbes made us a visit Just returned from my Lord Uxbridge’s in Yorkshire, where they had spent 6 weeks. The Admiral said he had or wou’d write to you soon—I don’t believe there is any thing in the report of Mr. Gardner being to be married to Miss Forbes tho’ he has made them a visit at Chaffont [Chalfont]—Mrs. Poole is well and Happy in Ireland but comes to Town in a month. The last letter from thence gave a very good account of our Friends there—my kind Friend and intelligencer Mrs. F. Hamilton is much afflicted I fear on the Death of Lady Drogheda who died of a Fever about 6 weeks ago—I can tell you no news—we are intoxicated with Balloons[11] and nothing else at Present talked of. I Grumble like an old woman at a Project that seems to promise no advantage but a waste of time and money. My secretary—your young Friend will be very angry with me that I did not postpone this letter till she comes to Town which will not be till the end of Jan^{ry}. At present she is engaged attending her poor Mamma who has been in a bad state of Health for some months past with nervous complaints—but I hope is some what better.
The Dutchess Dowager of Portland desires me to make Her best compliments to you—she is much obligd to you for the fossils you intend sending her. I dont doubt but she will find some among them worthy of a place in her Cabinet. Her Grace’s eager Pursuit at present is Land and River Shells—to compleat her Collection. Those that are most common in your Country may be rair and acceptable to her provided they come with their natural surtouts and inhabitants—upon recollection I believe I am mistaken in saying you are acquainted with Miss Hamilton—she tells me she never had the pleasure of meeting you at my House—I hope that time may come tho’ a presumptions Expectation from Dear Sir your very old but sincere Friend and Humble Servant
M. DELANY.
P S—Pray write me a long letter soon delays are dangerous
THE PANAMA CANAL TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO LETTER OF THE LATE SENATOR DOOLITTLE OF WISCONSIN
[_Contributed by Duane Mowry, Esq., Milwaukee._]
[The Senator’s views on his subject are interesting and pertinent in view of recent events on the Isthmus—ED.]
CHICAGO, _March 26, 1880_.
M. FERDINAND DE LESSEPS.
_Dear Sir_:
I have just returned to my office from the house of Mr. Washburn, where I had the honor to meet Madame de Lesseps,—an honor and pleasure wholly unexpected to me.
I went to see Mr. Washburn for the purpose of conferring with him in relation to yourself and the great International Canal through the Isthmus of Panama.
Mr. Washburn was absent. But Mrs. Washburn very kindly invited me to stay and lunch with them. As we had been in Congress twelve years together, he in the House, and I in the Senate from Wisconsin, and as our families were so well acquainted at Washington, I could not decline her invitation, especially as it would give me such an opportunity to make the acquaintance of your excellent wife.
But what I wanted to say to Mr. Washburn and have him join me in saying to you, is thus: I am not satisfied with the Message of President Hayes upon the subject of the Isthmus routes.
While I am, as an American citizen, prepared to stand by the Monroe doctrine, so far as it opposes the _control_ of these routes by Great Britain or any other power, I do not think the Monroe doctrine goes so far as to assert that we as the great Republic of the New World propose to take the control into our hands.
While we may be more interested in that route than any other nation, we cannot assert for ourselves what we are unwilling to allow to other nations,—the domination of the route, which, from its position on the earth, of right belongs to all mankind.
So long as we assert the doctrine of President Monroe we stand upon the defensive. We stand for the freedom of the seas. Our policy, our traditions, our arms will maintain that.
But if we assert the doctrine of President Hayes, we leave the ground on which Monroe stood and upon which our people would stand solid, even to the point of war, and we place ourselves in antagonism to the very idea which makes the Monroe Doctrine strong among our own people, and strong throughout the world.
If we follow Mr. Hayes, instead of defending the freedom of the seas we dominate the Isthmus ourselves, and lay our hands upon the commerce of the World.
When this subject comes to be discussed, calmly (but I fear that cannot be until the next President election is over), the sound sober thought of our people will repudiate this new departure of Mr. Hayes, and will sustain the Monroe Doctrine, in its true meaning, viz:
That the routes across the Isthmus, between North and South America, shall not pass under the domination of any foreign power to levy tribute upon our commerce nor upon the commerce of any other nation.
The Isthmus of Panama, the Isthmus of Suez, and the Bosphorus, ought to be free channels of commerce to all nations in peace, and in war; and no less in war than in peace. And the law of nations should provide that if any nation shall attempt to close or blockade them in peace _or in war_, that nation should be treated as having made war upon the commerce of all other nations.
As I go to my home in Wisconsin this evening and shall not be able to meet you, I beg to say that I hope you will not be discouraged in your great work. The people of America will be in sympathy with you, upon the basis that no control shall ever be permitted to any government, and that its freedom shall be guaranteed by the civilized nations, both in peace and in war.
With great respect, I am very truly yours, J. R. DOOLITTLE.
THE EARLIEST KNOWN AUTOGRAPH OF BENEDICT ARNOLD
(The original letter is owned in New York City. It it particularly interesting as showing Arnold’s dual trade—in books as well as drugs. A few of the characters are almost illegible, and we do not guarantee our correct transcription of them. It is also in evidence from the body of the letter that the “servant-girl question” was alive in 1765.—ED.)
NEW HAVEN, _March_ 2d, 1765.
_Sir_
Your favour of the 28^{th} ult^o came duly to hand—am much obliged to you for your Trouble in sending me a Maid—but had engaged one for Six Months before this came. Mr. W^m Johnston wrote me word that Mrs. Hobby Imagined the maid you have send (_sic_) was not able to do our business upon which we Engaged an other—as the Girl is willing to return and says it will be no disapointment (_sic_) we have Sent her back again.
I have cred^t your acc. ¹⁹⁄₆ according to your desire & have sent you
—Vitriol ʒ2 9^d 1.6 Liqu-Laud Sy^d ʒ2p. ⅙ 3.9 Stoper Vial ½ Common Vial 2^d 1.4 —————— £0.0.7
N. B.—(illegible) I shall have in a day or two. The Books you wrote for are Sold.
I am Sir Your oblig^d Serv^t Bened^t Arnold.
To Dr. John Dickinson, Middletown, [Conn.]
THE MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY
Which was founded in 1877, ceased to appear in 1893, not long after the death of Mrs. MARTHA J. LAMB, who had then been its editor for nearly ten years; and has never since been equalled, until the present time. A legal obstacle preventing the word “American” in connection with the title, the present Magazine will bear the name of
THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORY, WITH NOTES AND QUERIES.
(The latter phrase formed a part of the title of the Magazine of American History in 1880, and is adopted as peculiarly descriptive of an important part of the new publication.)
The Publisher (who will act as Editor for the present) desires it to be understood that this difference in title does not indicate any difference in the character or contents of the Magazine. It will be as near an exact duplicate of the original Magazine of American History in form, size—even in type,—as is possible, while the character and scope of its contents will be the same as won for the former in the past such approval as is found in the following paragraphs, taken from many such in one year:
“This periodical is without a rival in its domain, and is becoming indispensable to all intelligent readers. It is an unfailing source of historical and documentary evidence of the growth and expansion of our vast country.”—_Christian Advocate._
“It is more than a periodical; it gathers into permanent and accessible form material that would otherwise be lost, or only found with great effort. Its articles are uniformly well written, and the illustrations and print complete the attractiveness of the magazine.”—_New York Commercial Advertiser._
“This magazine is one of the best periodicals in America.”—_New York Tribune._
“It is always a pleasure to welcome the MAGAZINE OF AMERICAN HISTORY, with its antiquarian interest, its historical and biographical value, its fine type and paper, and its antique illustrations.”—_Brooklyn Eagle._
“Each number presents an admirable collection of papers, and maintains the high character of the gifted editor, who, in her history of New York city, displayed the highest qualities of an author. The magazine is as instructive as it is entertaining.”—_Scientific American._
“This publication has steadily increased in interest. It fills a niche of its own, and fills it so admirably as to ward off any attempt at competition.”—_Baltimore American._
“The editor is giving great dignity to our country in recording the lives of families that are noble in the highest sense.”—_Boston Globe._
“This periodical richly deserves the high rank accorded to it by leading historical scholars in the two hemispheres.”—_Boston Transcript._
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“It is rich in illustration and its make-up is of the highest order. Its articles are on subjects of real interest and value to all students of American history.”—_Westminster Teacher._
In the February number will appear an interesting Lincoln article, by Mr. F. E. Stevens, author of “The Black Hawk War.” It will be illustrated with two heretofore unknown portraits of contemporaries of Mr. Lincoln. There will also be a valuable article by Dr. Thomas Addis Emmet, on “Some Popular Myths of American History,” which will also contain an unpublished letter of Washington’s of peculiar interest.
A specific department—of Genealogy—not found in the M. A. H. will be added to the others, under the able care of Mr. William Prescott Greenlaw, the well-known Librarian of the New England Historic Genealogic Society. This will afford an excellent opportunity for such queries, which are usually inserted only in periodicals issued at much longer intervals than monthly.
During the next six months there will appear a series of articles on the Progress of Discovery of the Mississippi River, by Mr. Warren Upham, Secretary of the Minnesota Historical Society—as follows:
1. The Voyage of Vespucci past the mouths of the Mississippi.
2. De Soto and Moscoso on the Mississippi, 1541–3.
3. The expedition of Oñate, 1601.
4. Groseillers and Radisson, 1655–6 and 1660; besides a variety of other articles, covering the whole field of our country’s history; and a number of articles of less length, from the various writers who have offered their assistance to make the Magazine as interesting and valuable as its title and aim demand.
All that is necessary to insure the permanence of this most valuable publication is a hundred subscriptions, in addition to those pledged or already received. Towards this consummation, the various institutions of learning, as well as the old subscribers, are requested to lend their aid. Specimen copies will be sent on receipt of the price, 50 cents. Address the publisher.
The publication of this, the first number, has been delayed by having to change printers at the last moment; but after the March number shall have appeared, it is expected to publish regularly before the 15th of each month.
GENEALOGICAL
All communications for this department (including genealogical publications for review) should be sent to William Prescott Greenlaw, address: Sudbury, Mass., from April to November, inclusive; Commonwealth Hotel, Bowdoin St., Boston, Mass., from December to March, inclusive.
QUERIES
[A limited number of queries will be inserted for subscribers free; to all others a charge of one cent per word (payable in stamps) will be made.]
_1. a._ WEBB—Wanted, the date of birth, baptism, or proof of parentage of Nathaniel Webb, Sr., of Woolwich, Me., who married Jane, dau. of Samuel and Jane (Derby) Blanchard, of Weymouth, Mass.
_b._ BLANCHARD, PHILLIPS—John Blanchard, b. at Weymouth, Mass., March 27, 1660, son of Nathaniel, is said to have married Abigail, dau. of Nicholas Phillips. Nicholas Phillips, of Weymouth, and Nicholas Phillips, of Boston, both had daughters Abigail of the right age to marry Blanchard. Which was her father?
G. 1.