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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.

Ellsworth, Oliver (1745-1807) to Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00641 Author/Creator: Ellsworth, Oliver (1745-1807) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 8 March 1789 Pagination: 2 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 23.1 x 19 cm. Order a Copy

Ellsworth, a Senator from Connecticut, reports to his wife, who he calls "Nabby," concerning the first Presidential election. States that "the Votes for the President-& Vice-President are not yet opened, but there is no doubt of-General Washington's being chosen to the first office & Mr. John Adams of Boston to the latter." States that a public building was erected and finished for the new national leaders.

Ellsworth served as a member of the Continental Congress 1778-1783 and as a delegate to the convention that framed the federal Constitution in 1787.

New York March 8. 1789-

Dear Mrs. Ellsworth,
You will be glad to hear that I arrived here safely in three days from Hartford, & that I am accommodated with the lodgings in a good family-
Most of the Members from the Eastern States are arrived, but mot a Sufficient number yet from the Southward to proceed to business-. I employ my time, as I presume a number of others do, in looking into and preparing for the business we are soon to enter upon. The votes for the President & Vice-President are not yet opened, but there is no doubt of General Washington's being chosen to the first office & Mr. John Adams of Boston to the latter.-
No pains have been spared by the inhabitants of this place to provide for the reception of Congress & to render their stay here agreeable. [2] A publick building has been erected & finished [inserted: for them] in a very short time, at the expense of fifteen thousand pounds, which does honor to the City & surpasses in elegance any building in this Country- I wish the business expected to be transacted in it may be as well done and as universally admired as the house is-
You have the kind remembrance of Doctr Johnson & his Lady, who are in heaviness for the loss of their daughter that was married here. Her funeral was attending the moment I arrived- - That your life & health & that of the dear children may be preserved you will readily believe is the daily petition of an affectionate friend
Olivr: Ellsworth

You may let Chauncey know
I shall not have occasion for}
him as the family in which}
I live incline to furnish me}
with what- attendance I want

Mrs. Ellsworth.-

[docket]
Hartford March 13, 1789

[address leaf]
Mrs. Nabby Ellsworth
Windsor
Connecticut
Free
Olivr Ellsworth.

Ellsworth, Abigail Wolcott, 1756-1818
Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807
Adams, John, 1735-1826
Washington, George, 1732-1799

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