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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.

Steward, William (fl. 1781) to Thomas Seymour

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01450.126 Author/Creator: Steward, William (fl. 1781) Place Written: New London, Connecticut Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 25 August 1781 Pagination: 1 p. : address : docket ; 28 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

Discusses business relating to the exchange and sale of nails and board. Postscript informs Seymour about information he has learned from men aboard a sloop of his that arrived in Newport, Rhode Island. Discusses a ship or fleet that sailed with a French fleet and was bound for Havana to meet some Spanish ships. States that it was reported that they have 10,000 troops, 300 heads of cattle, and clothing. He cannot guess their destination.

Thomas Seymour was a lieutenant colonel in the militia from Hartford, Connecticut. He represented Hartford in the General Assembly for 18 years and was a member of the House of Assistants for 10 years. He was elected first mayor of Hartford in 1784.

Steward, William, fl. 1781
Seymour, Thomas, 1735-1829

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