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.

Shepherd, Thomas (fl. 1814) to Joseph B. Varnum

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03845.14 Author/Creator: Shepherd, Thomas (fl. 1814) Place Written: North Hampton, Massachusetts Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 6 January 1814 Pagination: 3 p. : address : docket : free frank ; 24.5 x 19.5 cm. Order a Copy

Shepherd, appointed by the President of the U.S., previously held the position of Collector of the Revenue for the 17th District of the counties of Hampshire, Hampton, and Franklin. He had retired from the position with the hope of having it assigned to Major John Taylor. Since the Senate recently rejected Taylor, Shepherd requests that he be reinstated to the collectorship "...if it is the pleasure of the President & Senate to reinstate me." Shepherd comments that he did not solicit the position, but rather was appointed by the President without his knowledge of having been chosen as a candidate. Before his appointment he had recommended Taylor because "I know him to be a man of honor and integrity, and that he had engaged his Bondsmen who were abundantly able to make up my deficiency."

Varnum, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradley), 1751-1821
Shepherd, Thomas, fl. 1814

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