Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829 [Pickering's letterbook]

Inventory attached. Contains two alphabetical lists of recipient's names. One eight page list is attached to the inner front cover by string and measures 23.2 x 19 cm. The other list is bound in as part of the letterbook. Contains letters to George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Baron von Steuben, among various others. Letters within this book were created in various locations, and most were written by Pickering. The last, written to Pickering, is attached to the inner back cover. Includes an envelope attached to the inner front cover containing a transmission letter dated 30 January 1882 to George Sheldon of Deerfield, Massachusetts (possibly a Deerfield historian). Though the signature on this letter is illegible, the sender mentions that he transmits this letterbook as "a contribution to the old records in Memorial Hall." States that this book is one of several he transmits, and mentions to Sheldon that there is an immense amount of Revolutionary War documentation in the records of the War Department, but that he can not obtain access to this documentation because his connection with that department has been severed. Promises to send "a photographic copy of some letters found on [Lewis] Payne, the would be assassin of Mr. Seward & a coadjutor of John Wilkes Booth: the original came into my possession while in the War Department and I had a few copies stricken off." The outside of the envelope states "Kindness of Mrs. Jenks." Sender writes from Baltimore, Maryland. Transmission letter is housed with letterbook.