Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Martin, Luther (1748-1826) to Thomas Sim Lee

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.103 Author/Creator: Martin, Luther (1748-1826) Place Written: Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 5 February 1781 Pagination: 4 p. ; 24 x 18.5 cm. Order a Copy

Informs Lee about criminal cases tried in court and their outcomes. Thomas Laughlin was convicted of highway robbery and attempted murder to a blind man, Horner and Keith were convicted of breaking into the house of Moses McCubben. Discusses someone named Shoemaker who petitioned the governor of Virginia to become a citizen. Also mentions that Shoemaker told Mr. Lindenberger that there were people in town corresponding with the enemy. They offered Shoemaker a chance to escape if he became a spy and gathered information on the flour ships. Martin was an attorney and a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Maryland. Lee was the governor of Maryland. Last page of letter is adhered to a paper border.

Martin, Luther, 1748-1826
Lee, Thomas Sim, 1745-1819

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