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Lincolniana Original Manuscript Collection

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Orders Number 18, to Sargant Belger of Light Company "J", 1st Artillery, Fort Adams, Rhode Island, Marcy 24, 1859

This document orders Sergeant Belger of Light Company "J", 1st Artillery to proceed to Providence, Rhode Island in pursuit of Private Charles R. Wheeler and bring him back to his post.
Orders Number 19, to John Amill, of Light Company "J", 1st Artillery, Fort Adams, Rhode Island, Marcy 24, 1859

This document orders Corporal John Amill of Light Company "J", 1st Artillery to proceed to Boston, Massachusetts in pursuit of Private Charles R. Wheeler and bring him back to his post. The document is signed by J. B. Magruder.
Document, Corporal John Amill, Expense Report, July 2, 1859

This is a handwritten documentation of expensed accrued by Corporal John Amill of Light Company J, 1st Artillery, U. S. Army while he was in pursuit of a deserter, Lance Corporal Charles R. Wheeler, of his same company. The report includes a line item description of each expense and was submitted to the County of Newport, State of Rhode Island on July 2, 1859, signed by the mayor, William H. Cranston.
Document, Jury List and Guilty Verdict, undated

This document is the jury list and guilty as charged verdict in an unspecified and undated case. There are ink stains and other damage on the pages.
Probate Court Document for the Estate of Oliver G. Merrit, Appointment of Edmund D. Barker and Charles A Tenner, Esqs. as Appraisers of the Estate, December 6, 1858

This legal document, dated December 6, 1858, is a probate document filed in the District of Groton Probate Court concerning the estate of Oliver G. Merritt. The document appoints Edmund D. Barker and Charles A Tenner, Esqs. as appraisers of the Estate of Oliver G. Merritt. The judge tasks them with assisting the administrator of the estate in making an inventory of the estate, recording its value, inventorying the estate's credits and choses in action within two months of the date of the document. The document is signed by Judge Amos Clifton and is followed by a note to the Probate Board for the District of Groton notifying it of the appointment of the appraisers.
Probate Court Document for the Estate of Oliver G. Merrit, Instructions from Judge Amos Clifton, December 6, 1858

This legal document, dated December 6, 1858, is a probate document filed in the District of Grotan Probate Court concerning the estate of Oliver G. Merrit. The document is a direction from the court to the administrator of the estate of Oliver G. Merrit to cite the creditors of the deceased and they should bring their claims within six months from the date of the document or forfeit the debt. The document is signed by Judge Amos Clifton.
Probate Court Document for the Estate of Oliver G. Merrit, Limits on Claims from Creditors, December 6, 1858

This legal document, dated December 6, 1858, is a probate document filed in the District of Grotan Probate Court concerning the estate of Oliver G. Merrit. The administrator of the estate cites the creditors of the deceased to bring in the claims against the estate to the administrator within six months from the sixth day of December, 1858. The document is not signed though there is a space for a signature beside the word "Administrator" at the end of the text. There are some mild ink smudge stains on the paper.
Document, Action of Assumpsit, Illinois Central Railroad Company v. John Gatewood & Alfred W. Cochran, November 30, 1858

This legal document is an action of assumpsit (the recovery of damages due to the non-performance that is under contract) between Illinois Central Railroad Company v. John Gatewood & Alfred W. Cochran alleging that the defendants did not undertake a promise in manner with the plaintiffs. The document goes on to list the evidence the defendants intend to present. The document is named John Gateman vs. Ill. Cen. RR. Co. Plea. and was filed November 30, 1858 by the clerk. "Whitney for deft." is at the bottom of the back page.
Document, Shillinger v. Shillinger, Motion to Vacate Alimony, November 17, 1858

This handwritten legal document, filed November 17, 1858, is a motion to vacate alimony provided to Elizabeth Schillinger from her former husband, Jacob Schillinger based on the fact that the former Mrs. Schillinger has remarried. The motion is not signed.
Document, Action of Assumpsit, John J. Monaghan vs. J. J. Laws & William G. Vandike, March 23, 1858

This legal document is an action of assumpsit (the recovery of damages due to the non-performance that is under contract) between John A. Monahan vs. J. J. Laws & William G. Vandike. The document alleges that the defendants gave their not to the plaintiff for the sum of three hundred dollars and the full amount of the payment had not been paid before suit. The bill requests that the case be submitted to the court without a jury and the judge decide based on testimony by both parties and the judgment to be entered as of the current term and the decision to be take as have been duly and regularly excepted to with the option of appeal to the Supreme Court. The document is incomplete. The back of the page includes the filing date of March 23, 1858, filed by the clerk, P. Doty. Creases are visible on the page.
Document, Award in Spear v. Spear, December 6, 1851

This legal document, dated December 6, 1857, is a handwritten transcript describing the award in the [David] Spear vs. [Isaac P.] Spear case. The court awarded David Spear the net sum of three thousand and fifty-four dollars and sixty cents to be paid by Isaac Spear.
Letter, James Buchanan to Secretary of State, re: Russian Grand Duke Michael Nicolaevitch, November 24, 1857

James Buchanan

This document, dated November 24, 1857, directs the Secretary of State to affix the Seal of the United States to the envelope of a letter addressed to the Emperor of Russia in answer to an announcement of the marriage of the emperor's brother, Grand Duke Michel Nicolaevitch. The document is signed by James Buchanan.
Document, Promissory Note Milton Davis to Abraham Lincoln, November 7, 1857

This legal document is a promissory note dated November 7, 1857, written by Milton Davis promising to pay Abraham Lincoln fifty dollars with interest at ten percent per annum from the date until paid for value received. A note is written in pencil at the bottom of the page and signed "A. Lincoln." The back of the note contains information on a filing of David Davis vs. Milton Davis, filed and summons issued January 9, 1867.
Letter, Cadwallader C. Washburn to Hezekiah M. Wead, October 29, 1857

Cadwallader C. Washburn

This handwritten letter, dated October 29, 1857, is written from Cadwallader C. Washburn to Hezekiah M. Wead requesting help with obtaining a full account of the Rock Island Bridge Case as he was unable to obtain one from the St. Louis Republicans.
Letter, Cadwallader C. Washburn to Hezekiah M. Wead, October 8, 1857

Cadwallader C. Washburn

This handwritten letter, dated October 8, 1857, is written from Cadwallader C. Washburn to Hezekiah M. Wead asking if Wead could tell him how the jury stood on the Rock Island Bridge Case as Washburn had heard varying accounts.
Document, Azlma C. Flagg et al. v. Elisha C. Litchfield, August 22, 1859

This thirteen page legal document, filed with the Sangamon County Illinois Cricut Court in Chancery, is Elisha C. Litchfield's response to the complaint put forth by the complainants, stating that he "now and all times hereafter serving and reserving to himself all manner of benefit and advantage of exception to the many errors and insufficiencies that the complainants said Bill of Complaints contained" among other things. There is some minor damage to the page throughout the document. The back of the document provides the parties involved in the case, Azariah C. Flagg, et al against Elisha C. Litchfield impleaded with others and labels it as "answer" filed August 22, 1857 in the State of Illinois, Sangamon County in C in Chancery.
Last Will and Testament, Robert Stuart, January 19, 1856

This is a portion last will and testament was written by John L. Stuart, the executor for the estate of Robert Stuart, stating that he will handle the inventory of any goods and credits to the estate with fairness in according to the law. The document is signed by John L. Stuart and witnessed by N. W. Matheny [Noah W. Matheny], the clerk. The will was filed on September 19, 1856 and written into record on September 20, 1856.
Document, Affidavit of James McDaniel, Correll et al. v. McDaniel et al., December 12, 1855

This legal document is and affidavit of James McDaniel, one of the defendants in the Correll et all vs McDaniel et al case to invalidate the McDaniel Will. The affidavit states that James believed his father of sound mind at the time the Will was written and is surprised to have heard Dr. Randall testify otherwise during the most recent trial.
Document, Bill of Exceptions, Correll et al. v. McDaniel et al., December 12, 1855

This legal document, filed December 12, 1855 is a Bill of Exceptions (a formal written document in which a party objects to a judge's decision or relevant evidence at trial) detailing actions taken by both the defendants and complainants at trial, including the defendants' move for a new trial which was over-ruled. The letter is signed and sworn by David Dairs.
Document, Carpenter Affidavit, Correll et al vs. McDaniel et al, December 7, 1855

This legal document, subscribed and sworn on December 7, 1855, is the affidavit with a sworn statement by William Carpenter, a juror for the McDaniel will validity case, concerning the testimony he observed of Dr. Randall during the trial. The affidavit is titled "Correll et al vs. McDaniel et al" and was filed December 12, 1855 by the Sangamon County Illinois clerk.
Document, Devisavit vel non, Correll et al. v. McDaniel et al., December 12, 1855

This legal document is a statement on the testimony of Dr. Randall in the Thomas Correll and others vs. James McDaniel case to invalidate a will and issue a devisavit vel non--a document that sets forth the questions of fact pertinent to the validity of an alleged will and is sent from a court of probate or chancery to a court of law for a jury trial for judgment as to the validity of the will. The statement provides a summary of Dr. Randall's testimony to his interactions with the deceased and the assistance he provided in writing the will in question. Both the handwriting and the "person" changes on the third page, changing from third person to first person. The document is undated and unsigned, though presumed to have been filed on December 12, 1855 in relation to other documents included with this case.
Document, Valentine Affidavit, Correll et al vs. McDaniel et al, December 12, 1855

This legal document, subscribed and sworn on December 7, 1855, is the affidavit with a sworn statement by Valentine Mallory, a juror for the McDaniel will validity case, concerning the testimony he observed of Dr. Randall during the trial. The affidavit is titled "Correll et al vs. McDaniel et al" and was filed December 12, 1855 by the Sangamon County Illinois clerk.
Document, Whitehurst Affidavit, Correll et al vs. McDaniel et al, December 7, 1855

This legal document, subscribed and sworn on December 7, 1855, is the affidavit with a sworn statement by Willis Whitehurst, a juror for the McDaniel will validity case, concerning the testimony he observed of Dr. Randall during the trial. The affidavit is titled "Correll et al vs. McDaniel et al" and was filed December 12, 1855 by the Sangamon County Illinois clerk.
Document, Bill Charging Abandonment and Adultery, Sebrina Hopkins v. Freeman Hopkins, November 1855

This legal document, Sebrina Hopkins vs. Freeman Hopkins, is a bill charging Freeman Hopkins with "extreme and exhaustive cruelty" due to the abandonment of his wife, Sebrina Hopkins, and family after he sent them to Illinois from New York on the promise that he would join them but failed to do so and instead proceeded to leave them destitute while he committed adultery numerous times. Mrs. Hopkins was thus "compelled to labor hard to support the family" during the five or six years after Mr. Hopkins abandoned her and their children in Illinois. The bill, dated November 10, 1855, is seeking relief be mandated of Mr. Hopkins on behalf of Mrs. Hopkins. The bill was filed by the Sangamon County Illinois clerk on November 17, 1855.
Document, Bill for Divorce, Elyena Ray vs. Sanford Ray, Sep. 10, 1855

This legal document is a bill of divorce filed by Elyena Ray charging her husband, Sanford Ray, with abandonment that left her destitute. The bill further charges that she has discovered that he was already married to a woman in Missouri when he married Elyena and as such, renders their marriage null and void. The bill was filed in September 10, 1855 and presented during the March Term of the Circuit Court of Sangamon County Illinois.