24. Images Tell Stories - Part 2

A 1789 Letter that defines - "Images Tell Stories"

One of the greatest pieces of Family History that I came across, were 2 Photographic Negative Glass Plates and the story of a letter on how it managed itself to Australia.
On these 2 Glass Plates, sat 2 pages of a letter that was photographed, most possibly by my 3 x Great Grandfather and professional photographer - Frederick John Hasler.

I am estimating the date of these Glass Plates, to be around from 1869 (min) till about 1920 (max).
However, I would suspect they may be closer to about 1872-1891.

The letter was dated:  July 29th, 1789 & came from New York - USA.
The writer, in his own handwriting, was 1st President George Washington.
It was addressed to Sir Edward Newenham (6th GGF) and was written by George, only 3 months into his Presidency. I gather it may have been written at Washington's Residence in Newburgh - New York.

It is about General Montgomery's Widow being introduced into Ireland after her husband's death in Battle, as General Montgomery was Irish-born. And hoping that Mrs. Montgomery could be "taken care of" during her visit to Ireland.

(© Brett Fitzgerald)

 

Originals and copies of their communication can be viewed here :
www.loc.gov/search/?q=newenham
This original differs from the copy, only by the way it's laid out.
The original transcribed/copy letter is @ the Library of Congress :
memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=mgw2&fileName=gw...

This image taken by me, is an actual photograph, of the 2 Glass Plates, to bring the image "out". (© Brett Fitzgerald)
And has been certified as a "genuine copy".

Sir Edward was an Irish Politician in the House of Commons in the mid to late 1700s and made his acquaintances with George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay & Marquis Lafayette. There is a lot of documented history between these people (in letters)

This letter has traveled the world, initially sent from Newburgh, NY to Ireland then was sent to France for a Grandson's keeping. But as the Napoleonic Wars were raging in France, the mail was not getting through.
It was sent back to Ireland, with an unknown destination. It somehow ended up in the Jersey Islands.
It then turned up in Australia in 1856 aboard one of Sir Edward's Grandson - Henry Hood Newenham. It was then passed down to a son/daughter who advertised a story about its authenticity.
As time went on, the letter created a few family squabbles, then it was put to auction in the 1930s.
Where a collector bought it and gave it back to the USA, where it resides in a Library today.