Lincolniana Original Manuscript Collection

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Document, State v. Van Deventer, 1849

This is a pair of legal documents concerning the State v. Vanderventer case involving John Vanderventer's assault charges. The first document is a set of sworn statements by James [Suiertz] and Mrs. [Suiertz]. The second document is "A True Bill" presented to the Grand Jury for the State of Illinois vs. Vanderventer. See also: Document, Van Deventer Affidavit, April 18, 1850; Document, Van Deventer Jury Instructions & Pleading, [1849]; Letter, Jess W. Weik to Willis Van Devanter, December 24, 1914; Letter, Jess W. Weik to Willis Van Devanter, September 30, 1911; Letter, Jess W. Weik to Willis Van Devanter, November 5, 1911;
Document, Van Deventer Jury Instructions & Pleading, [1849]

This legal document is written instructions to the jury that advises them that if they believe the evidence that the defendant, John Vanderventer, was provoked to commit assault they are to find him not guilty in the case against him. The instructions aren't signed or dated. See also: Document, State v. Van Deventer, 1849; Document, Van Deventer Affidavit, April 18, 1850; Letter, Jess W. Weik to Willis Van Devanter, December 24, 1914; Letter, Jess W. Weik to Willis Van Devanter, September 30, 1911; Letter, Jess W. Weik to Willis Van Devanter, November 5, 1911
Letter, Millard Fillmore to H. C. Day, November 21, 1848

Milliard Fillmore

This handwritten letter, dated November 21, 1848, is written from Millard Fillmore to H. C. Day as a response discussing his account and money matters as well as a bill Day is to send to him.
Letter, Salmon P. Chase to Thomas Bolton, October 14, 1848

Salmon P. Chase

This handwritten letter, dated October 14, 1848, is written from Salmon P. Chase to Thomas Bolton wherein Chase discusses the difficulties in getting a letter two Van Buren [Martin VanBuren?] and the difficulty of planning for VanBuren's impending visit.
Bond for Deed, William Florville to Thomas J. Atkinson, Sangamon County, Illinois, May 16, 1848

This legal document, dated May 16, 1848 , is a bond for deed between William Floraville and Thomas J. Atkinson which states that holds Floraville bound to Atkinson for the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars with the condition that payment or cause of payment of three hundred seventy-five dollars be made by Floraville by December 25th 1848 assures that a warranty deed for the described property in Sangamon County, Illinois be made to him and the bond be null and void. The Bond is signed by William Floraville and witnessed by Josiah Francis, Justice of the Peace for Sangamon County Illinois. A note of witness and verification by Josiah Francis follows the title bond statement.
Letter, Hannibal Hamlin to Unknown, May 19, 1847

Hannibal Hamlin

This handwritten letter, dated May 19, 1847 is written from Hannibal Hamlin to an unknown recipient discussing the governor's statement on the Wilmot Proviso, an unsuccessful 1846 proposal in the United States Congress to ban slavery in territory acquired from Mexico in the Mexican–American War. The letter goes on to discuss how someone referred to as Gaac will be "left out in the cold" and speculates on how things will turn out, stating that Gaac's looks could sour milk.
Letter, Hannibal Hamlin to a Friend, January 2, 1847

Hannibal Hamlin

This handwritten letter, dated January 2, 1847, is written from Hannibal Hamlin to a friend as a response to a letter he received from the friend and discusses a case he is currently working on. The letter goes on to discuss the proposition to keep California a free territory.
Document, Suit for Money Owed to Stephen T. Logan and Abraham Lincoln by James D. Smith, January 5, 1846

This legal document includes a fee bill at the top that itemizes money owed to Stephen T. Logan and Abraham Lincoln by James D. Smith followed by the suit filed in the Circuit Court and witnessed by the Clerk, John C. Calhoun, alleging that the bill has gone unpaid with the command that the twenty-one dollars and forty-eight cents debt is to be paid. The document was signed January 5, 1846 by the Circuit Court Clerk, John C. Calhoun.
Menard County, Illinois Pollbook, featuring Abraham Lincoln, August 1846

This handwritten poll book includes names and tick marks for candidates. Abraham Lincoln is included in the poll along the top margin.
Document, Latham Guardianship Case, August 5, 1845

This legal document, dated August 5, 1845, is a respondent of Abraham Lincoln's guardian ad litemship of the five latham children. The document is signed, A. Lincoln. The information on the back of the document names the case as Richard Latham, et al vs. Catherine Latham, filed August 5, 1845 by J. Calhoun, Clerk.
Dorr Liberation Stock Certificate from the Dorr Rebellion, October 28, 1844

This Dorr Liberation Stock certificate to raise funds to carry Dorr's case to the Supreme Court, is not issued but signed by the president of liberation society and counsel for the citizens, A. H. Lorel. The certificate bears the image of a man in a dark suit above a star with the word "Liberty" within it on the left side and the image of an eagle with a snake above an anchor and a flag on the right side.
Letter, Zachary Taylor to Unknown, re: William Grandier, October 11, 1844

Zachary Taylor

This handwritten letter, dated October 11, 1844, is written from Zachary Taylor to an unidentified recipient regarding his knowledge of and relationship with William Grandier. There are visible stains on the paper.
Document, Hope v. Beebe Declaration, March 3, 1845

This legal document, dated March 3, 1845, is a declaration of intent to sue due to the defendant's refusal to pay damages brough in an earlier suit. The declaration is signed by Lincoln and Herndon and was filed by J. Calhoun in Sangamon County Illinois Circuit Court.
Document, Illinois Central Railroad Company v. George S. Hill, May 19, 1844

This legal document, dated May 19, 1884, is a plea and notice of the defendant's intentions in the case, Illinois Central Railroad Company vs. George L. Hill. The statements are signed "Moore and Lincoln."
Memorandum of Quitclaim Deed Agreement, Norman H. Purple, Joseph O. Glover, and Theophilus. L. Dickey, April 12, 1844

This quitclaim deed agreement describes a particular parcel of land that is to sold by Norman H. Purple an behalf of himself, Theophilus L. Dickey and Joseph O. Glover with the proceeds to be split evenly between the three gentlemen. The quitclaim deed is signed by N. H. Purple and dated Aril 12, 1844. An amendment to the deed, dated April 13, 1844, states that the agreed payment distribution is to be amended so that twenty dollars are to go to Dickey for moneys he has out and the remaining is to be dividing equally between the three men. An additional note on the back of the page states that Dickey is to "have his interest and Purples if Kentucky has given the Clay electors more than seven thousand majority over the Polk elections--otherwise Purple is to have both said interests to wit; of Dickey and Purple."
Document, Wineman v. Swaney et al., March 18, 1844

This legal document, dated March 18, 1844, is, a petition to sell real estate in the Philip Wineman, administrator for the estate of William L. Swany versus Luthor J. Swaney and other heirs at law of the deceased. The petition describes the land in question and makes the argument that the guardian ad litem to the minor defendants has examined the papers and has found no reason that the petition should not be granted. The petition is a transcript that was certified by Sangamon County Illinois Circuit Court Clerk, John Calhoun.
Document, Amended Bill, 1843 November 22

This handwritten legal document is an amended bill of the Lincoln Ryder vs. D. Stringer Sother (?) concerning the resignation of the original administrator of the estate, Eleanor Mitchell, and the appointment of a new administrator, John L. Stuart. The bill is signed by Lincoln and filed on November 22, 1843 by the clerk, J. Calhoun.
Document, Summons for Drennan and Bradley, 1843

This legal document, dated November 1, 1843, is a summons for Thomas Drennan and Franklin Bradley to appear before the Circuit Court of Sangamon County, Illinois. The summons is to answer to a bill in Chancery filed in the clerks office of the circuit court. The summons is signed by J. Calhoun, Clerk. "Abe Lincoln wrote above" is written in pencil in the bottom left of the document.
Document, Beebe v. Dunn, July 18, 1841

This handwritten legal document, dated July 18, 1841, is a sworn statement from Isaac Beebe concerning debt owed him by Jonathan Dunn. The statement is addressed to the State of Illinois and Sangamon County. An attachment is included at the bottom making a request of the Sangamon Circuit Court Clerk. The attachment is signed, "Logan and Lincoln, Esq."
Land Deed, John Onion to Perry Healy, April 15, 1842

This deed, dated April 15, 1842, is a land deed for a certain parcel of land owned by American Indian, John Onion, under the advice and direction of Elisha R. Potter. The land was purchased by Perry Healy of Charlestown, Rhode Island for the sum of one hundred and fifty-three dollars and fifty cents. The deed describes the location of the land sold and is signed by John Onion and witnessed by Joseph Gavit and Joseph H. Griffin. The deed was received by the Charlestown town clerk, John Stanton and May 2, 1842 and was recorded in Book number 7 Land Evidence on May 26, 1842.
Document, Butler and Polk Legal Indenture, February 22, 1842

This handwritten legal document, dated February 22, 1842, is an indenture between Clement M. Polk and William Butler. The document is signed by C. M. Polk and a note from the N. W. Matheny, the Clerk of the Circuit Court follows at the bottom of the page. The mortgage deed was certified by Benjamin Talbot, the Recorder for Sangamon County on a separate page. A note is written in pencil on the back of the document stating that the document was written by A. Lincoln.
Document, Courtney & Smith Pleas, October 19, 1842

This handwritten legal document concerning the Courtney vs. Smith case, filed October 19, 1842, offers the defendant's pleas of innocence and presents the plea of the plaintiff's theft. The document is signed by Lincoln and the pleas were filed by the Clerk, Amos Williams. There is damage along the edges.
Letter, George Arkman to Franklin Dexter, December 4, 1841

George Arkman

This handwritten letter, dated December 4, 1841, is written from George Arkman to Franklin Dexter concerning the postponement of a case and the opportunity it provides for and accurate survey the stream and the works upon it. The letter is signed by Arhman and is addressed to Dexter in the U. S. District Attorney in Boston. A red wax seal is seen on both the front and back of the address page.
Letter, Charles Sumner to Joseph Story, December 24, 1840

Charles Sumner

This handwritten letter, dated December 24, 1840, is written from Charles Sumner to Judge Joseph Story regarding the Wentworth Boardinghouse and informs Story that there is one vacancy on the second story of the house and describes the room. Sumner goes on to inform Story of the details of renting the room and who the boarders are. The postmark on the back of the envelope is for Boston on December 25.
Ephemera, Check Issued to Abraham Lincoln By the Auditor's office Illinois, Springfield, December 17, 1840

This is a check issued to Abraham Lincoln, dated December 17, 1840, for fifty dollars. The check was issued from Auditor's Office Illinois, Springfield, Illinois as a partial payment of Lincoln's services as a member of the General Assembly, Session 1844 and 41. The check is check number 3706 and is signed by the treasurer, John D. Whiteside and the auditor of public accounts, Levi Davis.