In case your knowledge of mid 19th century penmanship is a little fuzzy, here's a transcription:
Urbana, Ill., April 21, 1857Yes, that's the same A. Lincoln that went on to be sworn in as President of the United States on 4 March 1861.
Thomas Meharry, Esq.
Dear sir
Owing to absence from home your letter of the 6th. was received only two days ago. The land in question, as I suppose, is the two dollar and a half land, and my opinion is that there can be no lawful preemptions on those lands, based on a settlement made after, the allotment of those lands, in 1852 or 3 I think. If I am right in this opinion, your entry is valid, and you can recover the land. I suppose yours, and your brother's adversary, are in possession; and if so, I would advise suits in Ejectment to be brought in the U. S. court, at Springfield. I can not tell in advance what fee I would charge, because I can not know the amount of trouble I may have. If the pre-emptioners have had patents issued to them, the cases, as I think, can still be managed, but they will be a good deal more troublesome.
If you conclude to have suits brought, & to engage me to bring them, call and see me at Springfield, from the 5th. to 10th. of May, at which time you will probably find me at home. I mention this, because I am absent a good deal.
Yours truly,
A. Lincoln
From what I can tell in a quick web search, this letter was a reply to one sent by Thomas on 6 April 1857. Thomas had purchased some land at auction near Danville, Illinois, on 24 November 1855, but there were two pre-emptions filed against this land on 17 August 1855, and one of those pre-emptions was trying to claim it. Thomas wrote to Lincoln to see if he would take the case and what he would charge for bringing the case to trial.
1 comment:
Nice way to start a new blog! Nice hunk of history there! Congrats.
Post a Comment