Personal and Family Life

    Entries drawn from collection & document descriptions

Letter from John Dickinson to Benjamin Rush
June 14, 1777

John Dickinson acknowledges the receipt of Benjamin Rush's pamphlet and mentions that he would only reenter Pennsylvania affairs to serve America. Dickinson also thanks Rush, a physician, for his attention to his daughter who is "well-recovered." Dickinson wrote this letter after the defeat of a...

Location: I-SpahrB-1955-4

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1760-1779

Letters from Wilhelmina Nisbet to Charles Nisbet
1779-1784

Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes six letters to Charles Nisbet on a number of different issues, including commenting on contemporary religious movements and arguing that Nisbet should not accept the position as President of Dickinson College. "The state of affairs there, &...

Receipt for Return of a Slave from James A. Wilson
October 27, 1780

James A. Wilson of Middleton Township signs this receipt for the return of an eight year old male slave.

Location: I-BeetemC-1968-1

Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Benjamin Rush to Susan Stockton
August 18, 1781

Benjamin Rush writes to his sister-in-law, Susan Stockton, with directions for making a husband unhappy without incurring the character of a bad wife. Rush states, "in a word you must be opposite to him in everything." Transcript included. 

Location: I-SpahrB-1953-23

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Last Will and Testament of William Thompson
August 27, 1781

A copy of the Last Will and Testament of Revolutionary War General William Thompson, certified on October 6, 1781.

Location: I-MoyermanS-1963-1

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from William Bingham to John Jay
December 2, 1783

William Bingham welcomes John Jay, an American politician and diplomat, to England and invites Jay to visit him in London. "I am happy at being informed of your Safe Arrival at Bath," as Bingham notes. Bingham serves as a member of the Dickinson College Board of Trustees. Transcript included....

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-19

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from David Erskine to Charles Nisbet
circa 1784

David Erskine, the Earl of Buchan, writes a letter to Charles Nisbet expressing that he does not sympathize with Nisbet's disappointment at being prevented "by the Calvinist party in Pennsylvania" from leaving Scotland to accept "your appointment at Carlisle projected college." Erskine also...

Letter from James Wilson to William Bingham
May 15, 1784

Dickinson College Trustee James Wilson writes to William Bingham regarding a loan Wilson seeks from an unspecified Mr. Lettsom. Wilson also discusses the opening of Land Offices and the possibility of changes to the Pennsylvania state constitution. Transcript included.

Letter from William Irvine to Unknown Recipient
July 29, 1784

William Irvine writes to recommend Ebenezer Denny as "a young man of good private character" who "conducted himself with propriety." Irvine notes that Denny had served as a "Lieutenant in the Pennsylvania Line" from 1780 "to the end of the War.

Location: I-SpahrB-1963-10

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from William Bingham to Benjamin Rush
November 10, 1784

Statesman William Bingham writes from Paris to Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia. Bingham responds to Rush's previous displeasing letter and discusses United States politics and his travels abroad. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-20

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government, Travel and Tourism

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letters from Wilhelmina Nisbet to Charles Nisbet
1785-1788

Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes five letters to Dickinson President Charles Nisbet in which she speaks of the health of her family and disapproves of Nisbet's new position at Dickinson College. "I still think you have been hurried off this stage which I do most sincerely regret...

Page from an Account Book of a Philadelphia Hatter
August - November 1785

This page from an account book of a hatter based in Philadelphia includes purchases by John Dickinson, John Montgomery, and Stephen Duncan.

Location: I-SpahrB-1954-10

Subject: Business and Industry, Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life

Format: Financial Documents

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letters from John Dickinson to Benjamin Rush
1786-1803

John Dickinson writes ten letters to Benjamin Rush on a number of different topics, including the administrative affairs of Dickinson College, the state of political affairs in the United States, political philosophy, and the death of Dickinson's wife, Mary. Transcripts included.

Letter from James Wilson to William Bingham
May 30, 1786

James Wilson invites William Bingham to spend an hour the following evening visiting with him.

Location: I-Friends-1975-26

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from John Erskine to Charles Nisbet
May 23, 1787

John Erskine writes to Dickinson College President Charles Nisbet with news of home and a list of books that he will send for "your College library." Erskine also mentions a letter from Dr. Benjamin Rush, in which Rush notes that the College "was prospering." Transcript included.

Letter from Benjamin Rush to Julia Stockton Rush
August 26, 1787

Benjamin Rush writes to his wife, Julia Stockton Rush, regarding poetry, the division of land, and his medical essays. Transcript included.

Letter from William Young to Agnes Young
August 18, 1788

William Young writes a letter to his wife, Agnes McLaws Young, describing his arrival in Carlisle and the people he met throughout his journey. Young also informs her of some errands that need to be taken care of. Young is a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia. Transcript included.

Letters from Wilhelmina Nisbet to Charles Nisbet
1789-1792

Wilhelmina Nisbet, the Countess of Leven, writes three letters to Charles Nisbet a series of letters regarding religious affairs in the United States and Great Britain as well as Nisbet's position at President of Dickinson College. One "young gentleman" reported, as Wilhelmina explains, that "...

Letters from Charles Nisbet to William Young, 1790-91
1790-1791

Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes a series of five letters to William Young that mostly focus on Nisbet's transactions with Young as a printer and book dealer. Nisbet criticizes the August issue of one of Young's magazines, declaring it "a vehicle of infidelity, blasphemy, & ribaldry...

Letter from John Armstrong to George Thompson
February 27, 1790

John Armstrong writes to George Thompson stating that he is "going to the woods and will be absent for some months".  Armstrong also explains his intention to bring a suit against Meyer McCully on account of a small debt.  Transcript included.

Location: I-ValeM-1947-70

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from James Wilson to Samuel Meredith
September 24, 1790

James Wilson, United States Supreme Court Justice and signer of the Declaration of Independence, writes to United States Treasurer Samuel Meredith. Wilson requests the immediate payment of his month's salary. Transcript included.

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-15

Subject: Economics and Finance, Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from John Young to William Young
January 18, 1791

John Young writes William Young, a bookseller and printer in Philadelphia, to express his intentions to withdraw his subscription for The Universal Asylum, and Columbian Magazine. "As Doctor [Charles Nisbet's] Course of Lectures is to close in about ten days," John explains that he will...

Letter from Samuel Thompson to James Hamilton
July 5, 1791

Samuel Magaw Thompson writes to James Hamilton and explains that he has been in Georgia since leaving his mother's.  Thompson notes that he would be glad to hear from the family and sends compliments to his sister, Mrs. Hamilton.

Location: I-ValeM-1947-66

Subject: Personal and Family Life

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letter from Joseph Priestley to Thomas Wedgwood
October 18, 1791

Joseph Priestley writes to Thomas Wedgwood about supplies for the laboratory that Priestley is building after his previous one was destroyed and discusses invitations to move from England to France. Wedgwood's family operated the Etruria Works ceramics factory. Transcript included.

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F11

Subject: Personal and Family Life, Science and Technology

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Time Period: 1780-1799

Letters from Charles Nisbet to Mary Nisbet
1791-1799

Dickinson President Charles Nisbet writes thirteen letters to his daughter, Mary Nisbet, offering advice on marriage and family life in addition to discussions of domestic and political affairs. Transcripts included.

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