Photocopy of letter to Secretary of State Seward, from President of Rutgers College Theodore Frelinghuysen. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3K9370H
DescriptionThis letter commends William McCoy, a fellow townsman. It is dated August 2nd, 1861.
The original is in the Miss Emma A. McCoy papers from 1861-1940, located in the New Brunswick Free Public Library.
William H. Seward (5/16/1801~10/10/1872) served as the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. He was a contender against Lincoln for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination in 1860, but became a loyal member of Lincoln’s cabinet in the years that followed. There was an attempted assassination on Seward the same night that Lincoln himself was assassinated; he was stabbed repeatedly in the face and neck, but recovered.
Theodore Frelinghuysen (3/28/1787~4/12/1862) served as NJ Attorney General, US Senator and mayor of Newark, NJ. Ran for Vice President alongside Henry Clay. He was the 7th President of Rutgers College between 1850 and 1862.
William McCoy was likely a relative of Emma A. McCoy, among whose papers this letter was found. Emma Augusta McCoy (1861~1940) was a school supervisor, connected with public schools in Somerset and Middlesex Counties for decades, a member of many women’s clubs and a supporter of women’s suffrage.
Transcript:
New Brunswick
August 2nd, 1961
The Hon.
William H. Seward
Secretary of State of NJ
Dear Sir,
My friend townsman Mr. McCoy of the Rappleyea (sp?) company dropped a line to you on their behalf. And I give it with pleasure as they are gentlemen in business here of excellent character and worthy of the confirmation of the government.
Very Respectfully,
Your obedient servant
Theodore Frelinghuysen
Organization NameNew Brunswick Free Public Library
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