Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, November 7, 1837
xml:
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, November 7, 1837
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:crb
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-11-07
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size: 12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, November 7, 1837
action: sent
sender: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
location: Westfield, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: crb
revision: crb 2015-11-09
<>
Page
1
Chautauqua Land Office
Westfield Nov 7. 1837
Dear Henry
I would have sent you a scrap
of political news last night if I could
have procured it. But singular as
it may seem it was not to be had.
This morning it is said there were
30 votes given out on the hill in a
Jackson quarter of the town–only 5
of which were whig votes. Today it
is said the 2nd days poll is closed
receiving 40 votes, more than an usual
proportion of which it is said are for
Vanism. Tomorrow the strength of the
town it is expected will be out- it being
common for most of the people to
meet at the last day of the election.
There is dissatisfaction it seems
among whigs, because the two impor-
tant offices of sheriff & clerk are both
from the S. part of the Co. - and Regency
men have out a "split ticket" with
Page
2
which they are pushing Babcock
& some whigs are helping them. Things
I fear do not go right. But really
I know but little about it.
Our new arrangement works like
a charm: I mean the extension of time
to ten years & the payment of semi annl
interest. The settlers catch at it like
a fish at a worm: and they swallow
it as Jo Blunt
the least roast apple over it. But in
regard to payments, our arrangements
have dryed up the resource measures of the
people. The moment we sai ved Lum-
bermans & Michigan would not go
it was thenceforth good for little else
than to cast into the fire, over which
there would be wailing if not gnashing
of teeth. It has been painful to
meet with poor fellows who took par-
ticular paints to get this kind of
money because they heard we
took it here and came with it a
day too late. When we refuse it
it is worthless. - I think I mentioned
to you that our receipts in Oct were
$7.200- & over.
Page
3
Little notice is being taken of our
steps for foreclosure - or our late notice
that it might become necessary. Your
attention however will be given this
subject when you arrive. To several
other little matters I shall be glad
to have your notice when you come.
In the way of mapping & preparing
books and writing up things behind
& getting blan checks &c &c we have been
making things ready for winter.
I hope they will be found con-
venient and be satisfactory.
We have a letter to you
from Mr. Vanderkemp
ing the copy of a letter written you
Oct 10. - begging a reply to it. - He
takes the liberty to mention that he
is informed by Mr Van Hall
funds have been received from Chau-
tauqua since he came into office.
We paid them $2830 in August – nothing
in Sept because of the change from 60 da to
4 mo in the time of receiving drafts from
the Lumb. & of 50 days with Chautauqua
Page
4
We paid $8.645.07. the 23 Oct- & $ 2.590.88
on the 6 Nov. - The reasons for the delay
over the month of Sept, were some time since
explained to Mr Van Hall. Lewis
with minutes for Arkwright . Villenova Han-
over & Sheridan. Few old contracts are coming in.
Marcia's
writes you that his partner Wells
had a bad fall- & he cannot himself leave
this autumn. Cornelia
From Florida we hear nothing– no letter from
you within the past week. Your grateful brother
B.J. Seward
W.H. Seward Esq
Auburn
N.Y.
Single
WESTFIELD N.Y.
NOV 8
PAID
Type: postmark
h
B.J. Seward
Nov. 7. 1837.
Chautauqua Land Office
Westfield Nov 7. 1837
Dear Henry
I would have sent you a scrap
of political news last night if I could
have procured it. But singular as
it may seem it was not to be had.
This morning it is said there were
30 votes given out on the hill in a
Jackson quarter of the town–only 5
of which were whig votes. Today it
is said the 2nd days poll is closed
receiving 40 votes, more than an usual
proportion of which it is said are for
Vanism. Tomorrow the strength of the
town it is expected will be out- it being
common for most of the people to
meet at the last day of the election.
There is dissatisfaction it seems
among whigs, because the two impor-
tant offices of sheriff & clerk are both
from the S. part of the Co. - and Regency
men have out a "split ticket" with
which they are pushing Babcock
Birth: 1793-03-20 Death: 1878-12-08
for Clk& some whigs are helping them. Things
I fear do not go right. But really
I know but little about it.
Our new arrangement works like
a charm: I mean the extension of time
to ten years & the payment of semi annl
interest. The settlers catch at it like
a fish at a worm: and they swallow
it as Jo Blunt
Birth: 1792-02 Death: 1860-06-16
does flattery, withoutthe least roast apple over it. But in
regard to payments, our arrangements
have dryed up the resource measures of the
people. The moment we sai ved Lum-
bermans & Michigan would not go
it was thenceforth good for little else
than to cast into the fire, over which
there would be wailing if not gnashing
of teeth. It has been painful to
meet with poor fellows who took par-
ticular paints to get this kind of
money because they heard we
took it here and came with it a
day too late. When we refuse it
it is worthless. - I think I mentioned
to you that our receipts in Oct were
$7.200- & over.
Little notice is being taken of our
steps for foreclosure - or our late notice
that it might become necessary. Your
attention however will be given this
subject when you arrive. To several
other little matters I shall be glad
to have your notice when you come.
In the way of mapping & preparing
books and writing up things behind
& getting blan checks &c &c we have been
making things ready for winter.
I hope they will be found con-
venient and be satisfactory.
We have a letter to you
from Mr. Vanderkemp
Birth: 1783-04-22 Death: 1855-12-04
- contain-ing the copy of a letter written you
Oct 10. - begging a reply to it. - He
takes the liberty to mention that he
is informed by Mr Van Hall
Birth: 1799-12-23
that nofunds have been received from Chau-
tauqua since he came into office.
We paid them $2830 in August – nothing
in Sept because of the change from 60 da to
4 mo in the time of receiving drafts from
the Lumb. & of 50 days with Chautauqua
We paid $8.645.07. the 23 Oct- & $ 2.590.88
on the 6 Nov. - The reasons for the delay
over the month of Sept, were some time since
explained to Mr Van Hall. Lewis
Birth: 1801-08-07 Death: 1879-10-12
is outwith minutes for Arkwright . Villenova Han-
over & Sheridan. Few old contracts are coming in.
Marcia's
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
health is improving. George
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
writes you that his partner Wells
Unknown
hashad a bad fall- & he cannot himself leave
this autumn. Cornelia
Birth: 1805 Death: 1839-01-04
seems in good spirits.From Florida we hear nothing– no letter from
you within the past week. Your grateful brother
B.J. Seward
W.H. Seward Esq
Auburn
N.Y.
Single
WESTFIELD N.Y.
NOV 8
PAID
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
Nov. 7. 1837.