Scope and Contents Adden Nicholson writes James of the death of their father, and of the recent sickness and distress of their mother (Frances Witter Nicholson, 1744-1832). Speaks of the possibility of renting out the Nicholson property in Greenwich (the area was still rural, and a summer refuge for many residents of New York City), to live more permanently in town. Notes that Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin, with his wife Hannah Nicholson Gallatin and children, has departed for Washington; they had...

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Notes that Albert Gallatin and family have been "with us" about four weeks. On politics: "I wish you would let me know how your election will go — sad times in your State I think. As you know I am half a Fed. though John Randolph told me I came of too good a stock for me to ever turn Federalist — but I think that in quarreling with each other the Demos are all in the wrong, and thus far I am opposed to them —"

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Adden announces to her brother her marriage to James Chrystie (1786-1863) of New York, on 2 May 1807; within weeks the couple will take up residence in New York City. Mentions that the Albert Gallatin family "will spend the summer with Mama as usual." Page 3 contains an editorial addendum on the virtues of Adden Chrystie, signed "C. N."

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News of the feebleness of Albert and Hannah Gallatin's youngest child, Hannah; necessity of having "our affections disengaged from earth" and fixed on the eternal; arrival at New York of cousin John Nicholson on the U.S.S. Revenge; talk of war with Britain; observes that Adden Chrystie seems "comfortably situated, I hope they will do well, but I cannot tell much about her Husband's prospects . . . ."

Scope and Contents Announces to James that "on Monday evening last [27 March 1809] my dear Brother I gave my hand to John Montgomery member of Congress from Maryland." Will accompany her husband to Washington, for the first session of the 11th Congress; plans to reside at Belle air (Bel Air), in Harford County, Maryland. John Montgomery "bids me tell you that in case of war Mama is engaged at Belle air, it being a much less fatiguing journey for her than crossing the mountains to your dwelling — but I believe...

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Relief at James's safe return to New Geneva. Most of the rest of the letter is given over to religious exhortation.

Scope and Contents Writes of her disappointment at James's resignation of an unspecified, and apparently briefly held, position in New York. Montgomery goes on to provide a highly partisan overview of the Federalist-Republican riots in Baltimore in the summer of 1812, and the ensuing trial: "You no doubt often hear of the abuse bestowed on Mr. M. [President James Madison] in the federal papers, but those who know him despise the calumny, and feel nothing but contempt and indignation towards the Authors of it....

Scope and Contents News of the war, including the fact that a cousin, Benjamin Nicholson (1788-1813), was killed at the battle of York in Upper Canada, 27 April 1813. Also, "Baltimore has been in great commotion in expectation of a visit from the British, they are again very near us, and their having burned so many little Towns around us, makes them a dreadful foe — most of the females have left the place, and but that Mr Montgomery [now Attorney General of Maryland] would be here to fight, I suppose if I had...

Scope and Contents Mentions John Montgomery's purchase of a house on the York Turnpike, a mile outside Baltimore; has now not seen "my Brother, my only, my dear Brother" for six years; Hannah Nicholson Gallatin's distress at not having heard from her husband since his arrival in Europe, though "the British papers make frequest mention of him and Mr Bayard in Russia"; death of Lt. Col. John Chrystie, brother of James (Adden Nicholson Chrystie's husband), and a friend since childhood of the author (Chrystie...

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Removal of Frances Witter Nicholson (the author's mother) to the country home of William and Catharine Nicholson Few, in Dutchess County, New York; death of Maria Nicholson Montgomery's son, James Nicholson Montgomery.

Scope and Contents Account of the British attack on Baltimore, 12-14 September 1814 (the author herself was not in the city during the battle): "My beloved Husband has gained great credit to himself being Capt of a large Artillery Company [the Baltimore Union Artillery] who first met & slaughtered the haughty savage foe in great numbers at their landing at North Point — he was assisted by two or three Regiment of Infantry, but being overpowered by numbers were obliged to Retreat — the enemy followed them,...

Scope and Contents ". . . the last four months has changed my looks more than as many years of repose would have done, sorrow [at the death of her son] has affected my health as well as my spirits." Mother "very snugly fixed" in New York for the winter; hopefully the British will think it too late in the year to attack; "it is said that Lord Hill's destination is for the Mobile and New Orleans . . . . my dear James you know not the hardships of the military life, many Boys in this place enamoured with the fame...

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News of various family members, including the Gallatins, now in Paris, where Albert Gallatin was United States Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the Court of France.

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Death of Joseph H. Nicholson, the author's cousin, on 4 March 1817. ". . . he was a constant visitor and friend interested in my concerns like a Brother . . . . The Mayor & Common council, The Bar who have agreed to wear Black, The free people of color to whom he was a tried friend in releasing all unjustly confined &c &c all and hundreds more followed in procession to the Tomb".

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Facts relating to the inheritance of a Mrs. Bond, a matter with which John Montgomery and James W. Nicholson were apparently involved; news of relatives in Paris, New York, and elsewhere.

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A business letter from the New York banker and lawyer (and former member of the Constitutional Convention) Col. William Few (1748-1828), husband of Catherine Nicholson Few. The letter relates to a sum of money deposited with Few by James Blake of Ireland, which Nicholson is to receive and divide among five relatives in America.

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News of James's daughter Mary (1807-1840), then residing with the Montgomerys in Baltimore; John Montgomery away at Annapolis, serving in the Maryland state legislature; ". . . old folks say it has not been so cold for 40 years."

Scope and Contents Writing for William Few, who is unwell, Catharine Few describes complications in the Blake affair (see Folder 17 above). Discouraging news of Thomas W. Nicholson (1803-1869), James W. Nicholson's second eldest son, then living in New York with the Fews: has abandoned a course of study marked out for him by William Few, and . . ."his habits have rendered him mentally indolent, and I fear the prospect of his pursuing any of the learned professions with advantage to himself is but poor, &...

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News of various family members, including James' daughter Frances, called Fanny (1808-1843), then staying with the Nicholsons' mother at Greenwich; the Gallatins yet in Paris; the Montgomerys' loss of a valuable servant, an Englishman, "whom Mr M. can not afford to keep"; the Chrysties now at Albany.

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Adden currently visiting with "our dear old Mother"; Fanny Nicholson (James's daughter) to spend the winter at Albany with the Chrysties.

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More on the matter of the Blake legacy.

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Writes of purchasing articles in Baltimore "according to your direction"; mention of many Nicholson and Gallatin nieces and nephews.

Scope and Contents News of Maria's sisters and their children. Word that Jane Ingraham Seney, daughter-in-law of Maria's long-widowed sister Frances Nicholson Seney (1771-1851) has inherited a great fortune: "Robert, Jane & their Babe were at Greenwich and Sister Fanny I suppose delighted with her little Grand daughter. Jane proves to be one of the 100 heirs to, I forget how much, but her portion is 50,000 dollars, fifty thousand dollars, the agent had arrived from Hamburgh, and the poor Methodist preacher...

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The earliest letter in the group not directed to James W. Nicholson, this was written by Thomas W. Chrystie (1808-1888), oldest son of Adden Nicholson Chrystie and Rev. James W. Chrystie, then pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Albany. Thomas Chrystie was a student then living with his grandmother, Frances Witter Nicholson, in New York.

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Rev. Chrystie safely returned from New York; news of family and friends.

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Instructions regarding a saddle of mutton being sent by Rev. Chrystie to Frances Witter Nicholson.

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Frances Witter Nicholson has sold a New York property ("this old Mansion") at auction for $33,000, and next week will move into a rented, 3-story brick house on Hammond St. "Mama bids me tell you that she has been induced to sell this property chiefly on your account, that you may be enabled thereby to get out of debt, and hopes you will yourself & teach your children, never to live beyond your income . . . . their habits I fear are rather extravagant for their situation . . . ."

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Accounts of recent visits in New York with sisters Frances and Catherine.

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John Harris, nephew of John Montgomery, writes to inform Nicholson of Montgomery's sudden death from apoplexy, the previous day.

Scope and Contents The author, James Chrystie (b. 1811), was the second son of Adden Nicholson Chrystie and Rev. James W. Chrystie. Describes in some detail a trip by stage from Newburgh, New York to the Fews' residence in New York City. On the following day Chrystie, accompanied by his uncle Albert Gallatin, visits with several professors at Columbia College, to discuss his entrance examinations. Alludes to the death of his mother, on 28 December 1828: "I went out to see Grand mother [i. e., Frances Witter...