Peyster, John Watts de (1821-1907) to W. H. Whitimore
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02016.177 Author/Creator: Peyster, John Watts de (1821-1907) Place Written: s.l. Type: Manuscript letter signed Date: 25 May 1864 Pagination: 4 p. : envelope ; 20 x 25 cm. Order a Copy
Thanks Whitmore for four volumes and accompanying pamphlets. Writes that the cost of publishing has deterred Mr. Morgan from publishing biographies on [John] Watts (New York politican and member of the Third U.S. Congress) [John George] Leake (New York lawyer and founder of the Leake and Watt's Orphange), and another de Peyster family member. Encloses photographs (not included) of the dePeyster and Watts family vaults at Trinity Church in New York City. Mentions a letter from his son regarding the battle of Williamsburg in 1862. His son was aide de camp to General Philip Kearny, a member of the Watts family.
John Watts de Peyster was a descendent of Abraham de Peyster, an early mayor of New York. He served as a brigadier general in the New York State Militia during the American Civil War and in 1866, was granted the honorary rank of Brevet Major General. After the Civil War, de Peyster became a military historian, authoring histories on the Battle of Saratoga. He was also a philanthropist and served as benefactor for various charities, and libraries including Franklin and Marshall College.
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