Thacher-Channing Family Papers

Returned from Carolina.

Regarding the retreat to Crown Point from the Quebec Campaign, smallpox.

Account of the sudden death of their mother; Solomon Williams dismissed from preaching and has settled in Northampton.

Great scarcity of provisions in the country; "the French have been down to Charlestown and Clarmont and all Round here after grain. . ."

Josiah's sick child is still living.

Plagued by ill health; wishes to leave the area as soon as he can, having come there too poor: "People in this country depend greatly on raising cattle, it being a good grass country, but I have no cattle. I have lost as much as two good cows since I came up here and I could say many things more were i to see you..."

Death of sister Lydia; will leave her place in the spring, rather than winter.

Irritation that Stephen has not accepted his advice on college and suggests he put himself in a position to care for himself.

Requests assistance from his father's estate to pay for college bills.

Has returned to school; illness.

Has spent time with his aunt, who still lives

Peter has written that Polly is nearly gone with consumption.

"We live in an age, wherein Christianity is dispised and infidelity rears her turpid head, and seems to threaten the banishment of the religion of Jesus from many places. The prophecies are, I think, remarkably fulfilling at the present day, wars, and rumors of warsm and sickness, in divers places. And these are just the beginning of sorrow. All these things are to prepare the way for the glorious millennial state."

Looking back on collegiate life as it is ending: "The four years at College are said to be the happiest a man of education enjoys. Perhaps it is true; but happy or not happy, few I believe are sorry to end it. Liberty is sweet. But to call a Collegiate life slavery is a burlesque on the word. The idea is no where but in the student's affected brain. I never found it much of a confinement, but I am glad it is through. I wish to begin life, although it is said to be hard. Many are the cares of life, but I know there is some fruit among the thorns."

Health is better.

Finds himself in a similar situation as Thacher, teaching school.

Life at college continues

"You, I suppose, are preparing for the important employment of the desk. It is, indeed, a great and arduous work especially at the present when infidelity makes rapid progress and threatens to overwhelm the languishing sparks of true religion. . . I think it imprudent, and improper, for a student in divinity, to attend balls, and assemblies. You may, perhaps, call me superstitious, but I am confident I am not. We read of but one dance in the N. testament, and that took off the head of John, and, probably, sent Herod to everlasting perdition."

Life at Yale

"Your call for a settlement [of his father's estate] is not Disagreeable to me. . ."

Suicide of Yale graduate Benjamin Heyward; comportment in life; new fashion in coats

People of Chicopee have voted 20 pounds to supply their pulpit and wish to engage Thacher for five or six Sundays.

RE: settling accounts with Stephen.

Letter of introduction for Stephen Thacher.

Opportunities for a parish in the region.

Letter of introduction for Stephen Thacher.

Letter of introduction for Stephen Thacher.

Letter of support for Stephen Thacher steeking a teaching position in Boston.

Letter of support for a teaching position in Boston.

Letter of recommendation as teacher.

Has received the money he sent to her through Peter.

Letter of recommendation as teacher.

Appointing Thacher as keeper of a private school in town.

Letter of introduction for Thacher as a teacher after his position in Boston did not work out.

Glad to have introduced Thacher to the people of Barnstable.

On attempts to help land a teaching position for Stephen.

Written after deciding not to employ a teacher for the next year.

Relating news of Mr. Bangs' inquiries after Thacher's suitability for a ministerial position in Vermont. . .. "When the sun dimmed, He and the Decon entered into a very warm political discussion. The Deacon advocated Republicanism; and the person who called himself your uncle, advocated Federalism. He said every Jacobin was a devil, brassed Jeff[erson] up hill and down...."

Seeking correspondence.

Thanks to Thacher for sending a copy of his July Fourth oration on civic freedom: Republicans have taken the political lead in Maryland.

Letter of introduction for Samuel Fessenden.

Has nominated Thacher to fill vacancy as postmaster at Wells.

Postmaster has accepted the oath as modified by Thacher.

Has moved to the banks of the Susquehanna.

Mr. Patten, a trader at Kennebunk, is a master of most instruments of music.

Sorry to hear of the death of Thacher's uncle Josiah.

"Mr. Holmes has not only ceased to support the federalists but has actually joined himself and his talents to the cause of the people. You will therefore be safe in treating him with confidence. . ."

Stephen Thacher offers sale of property in Kennebunk for law office or country trader (1811) and announces establishment of school in Kennebunk (1817)

Family news.

Apologizes for his eccentric uncle, who has been that way for years; indebtedness to his uncle, etc.

News of death of Samuel Thacher.

Sending transcriptions of the epitaphs on the graves of Stephen's parents and sister ;the English are blockading the harbor and taking their 'coasters'

Account of cousins in the city to whom Thacher wishes to distribute money.

Thanks Stephen for the advice; is in the army.

The search for Mrs. Manwaring led him to the almshouse, however she had been discharged in 1814 and had not yet been located. Has been teaching himself Greek; "It is inspiring what a complete death has taken place as to the rage of Party Politics. Our rectors can not govern us in Peace, and the many bugbears that were about to swallow up our naion are proved to have been but phantoms: the national insolvency, the madness of Congress, the British omnipotence, the Essex Junto, and Hartford Convention together with the dissolution of our union! all have vanished as a Dream when man awakes!!!"

Concern over delays in his appointment as collector at Passamaquoddy

Informing Thacher he has been nominated to Collector at Passamaquoddy.

Congratulations of appointment as collector at Passamaquoddy.

Advises Thacher to remain entirely quiet in fulfilling his office espite the clamor of opponents.

Long discourse of impact of Maine separating from Massachusetts.

Long analysis of the Missouri question: "Extend this principle beyond the Mississippi, into the interminable regions of the West, and in a few years they will send us twenty more, so that instead of the Free Men governing the slaves, the slaves will virtually govern the free men; Whenever we talk of Restricting them as to their slaves, they call them their 'property' and when we speak of Representtion, they call them ;people,' each one hadn 3/5th of a voter,,,:

Still making long speeches on Maine and Missouri in Congress: "All virtuous and good men who are not slave-holders who have spoken or written upon the subject are loud in their execrations against their conduct. I am very happy to find that your opinion coincides on this subject so fully with my own: We have for a time trembled at the responsibility which rested upon us: not dancing to become instrumental in extending and perpetuating slavery in the interminable regions of the West, and yet recoiling at the thought of voting indirectly, at least, against the independence of Maine..."

Eastport business.

On machinations to remove Thacher as collector at Passamaquoddy.

On the Tariff Bill.

Warning to look out for those who would entrap him, despite the decision not to proceed further in the case against Thacher without further evidence

The Sec. of Treasury plans to do nothing further in Thacher's case unless new charges or evidence are produced.

Family news.

Has requested the President to inquire into Thacher's work as collector for Passamaquoddy.

On appointment of Asher Ware to district judge.

On investigation into Thacher's conduct as collector.

On Thacher's nomination and appointment to a second term as collector at Passamaquoddy.

Assurance that Thacher will be reappointed collector.

Thacher's nomination has been confirmed.

Thanks Day for his support; pride in Yale classmaters' achievements.

Parish in Lubec.

Family history; Hartford Female Seminary and Miss Beecher.

On research into Thacher's family history.

Would be grieved at Thacher's removal from office.

After inquiries, believes Thacher is safe in office.

Will not be able to visit; enjoys life in Springfield.

Politics in Washington; Jacksonian party; the Indian question; Henry Clay.

Teaching school.

Thoughts of family and home: "five years ago this place resounded only to the yell of the Savage -- it is the location of a Choctaw village. But the change has been rapid in every direction are extensive Plantations, attention being given wholly to the culture of cotton..."

Written at age 11 for the Juvenile Debating Club.

Including copy of letter from A. Mazzanghi

Demopolis has a delightful climate and healthy/

Family history.

News of family and friends.

Cousin Peter has died.

Wishes Thacher would visit.

Hannah Lewis moved from Barnstable to Hyannis and has since died; great changes in town since Thacher kept school there.

Family news.

Family news.

Visit to cemetery in Chillmark to view family graves; family history.

Account of his visit to Lebanon, Conn.

On fiftieth anniversary of their graduation from Yale.

Vignetted image of infant Elizabeth (b. 1892), daughter of Harvard historian Edward Channing.

Portrait of Ellen Fuller Channing, sister of Margaret Fuller, and wife of the poet William Ellery Channing. The image has apparently been rematted up into whole-plate size. Based on stylistic similarities the image has tentatively been ascribed to Southworth and Hawes, who also photographed both William Ellery Channing and Edward Tyrell Channing.