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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Mike Lusby, SCRC Staff.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Custodial History:
This collection was formerly identified as Mss. Acc. 2009.264.
Collection was held by Harriet Houstater. After her death, her sister Sarah Houstater owned it.
Preferred Citation:
Houstater Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase.
Processing Information:
Accessioned and minimally described in June 2009 by Ute Schechter, Warren E. Burger Archivist. Arranged and described by Michael Lusby, SCRC Staff, in September-October 2009.
Biographical Information:
Henry F. Houstater was born on June 24, 1837 in Cambria TWP, Niagara, NY and died October 29, 1862 in Sandy Hook, Washington, MD. He was buried at Mount View Cemetery, Pekin, Niagara, NY. His father was Jacob "Isiah" Houstater, born August 4, 1802 and his mother Belinda Gould, born February 2, 1809 in NY.
On September 18, 1861, he enlisted, at Lockport; mustered in as private, Battery M, 1st Regiment, Light Artillery, October 14, 1861, to serve three years. He was appointed corporal, October 14, 1861; sergeant, February 6, 1862; and died, October 29, 1862, at Sandy Hook, Maryland. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party.
Scope and Contents
Papers of the Houstater Family, primarily of Henry Houstater (1837-1862) and Harriet (Hattie) Houstater (1842-1931) of New York State. The collection was held by Harriet Houstater. After her death, her sister Sarah Houstater owned it.
The collection includes the papers of Henry F. Houstater, a Democrat who enlisted in the Union Army in 1861. It also contains the papers of several Houstater family members. Henry F. Houstater's papers (1840s-1862) include political speeches and literary manuscripts written before the Civil War. During the war, Henry wrote and received several letters and he also wrote several political essays and produced a handwritten newspaper, the Camp Barry Herald.
Other family members' papers consist of correspondence and financial documents.
Arrangement of Materials:
Organized into two series: Series 1: Houstater Financial Documents and Series 2: Houstater Correspondence and Writings; Newspapers; Envelopes.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- New York (State)--Social life and customs
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Niagara County, NY
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Sources
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- New York (State)--Social life and customs
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Niagara County, NY
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives
Container List
This series contains Houstater family bills, bonds, deeds, mortgages, taxes, wills and related documents.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 1 id60381
Bills, Receipts and Related Records1862-1931Scope and Contents
Various bills related to the Houstaters including a receipt for the transport of Henry's Houstater's body as well as an itemized bill for his funerary expenses.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 2 id60377
Bonds1859-1923Scope and Contents
Several bond documents related to the Houstater family including Harriet Houstater's own Bond paperwork.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 3 id60375
Deeds and Land Surveys1836-1943Scope and Contents
Documents related to lands owned by the Houstaters (Jacob Houstater and Martin Wolfe).
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 4 id60382
Mortgages and Payments1862-1944Scope and Contents
Mortgages for the Houstaters and receipts of payment. Includes Jacob Houstater and Harriet Houstater as well as families related to the Houstaters.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 5 id60376
Taxes and Payments1842-1935Scope and Contents
City documents regarding the Houstater's taxes. Many tax receipts from Jacob Houstater's property are included dated 1842-1888.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 6 id60373
Wills and Related Records1857-1938Scope and Contents
Contains several wills of family members Jacob Houstater, Chauncey Keep, Frances E. Lord and Genevieve Pike. Some are official legal documents and one is handwritten.
Contains letters and writings from various members of the Houstater family as well as their envelopes. Also includes several newspapers held by the family from the Civil War Era.
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 7 id60383
Correspondence1857-1906Scope and Contents
Letters, telegrams and postal cards from Henry Houstater at Camp Barry to his family and letters to him during the Civil War are included. The telegram with the news of Henry's death to the family is available. Harriet Houstater also wrote a love letter entitled "What Hattie Thinks of Billy."
- Mixed Materials Box: 1 folder: 8 id63974
Removed Envelopes1862-1906Scope and Contents
Contains the envelopes that held the letters contained in this collection.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 1 id60387
Henry Houstater's WritingsundatedScope and Contents
Many of these do not include dates. This folder contains various political essays with a clearly Democratic affiliation. One expressed dissatisfaction with the election of Lincoln and called for the election of Stephen Douglas.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 2 id60386
Camp Barry Herald1861-1862Scope and Contents
The Camp Barry Herald was a small paper produced by Henry Houstater. The pieces included are handwritten and feature news from the Civil War, poetry and art. One article recounts the death of a comrade in battle. Another imagines what United States would look like with Union victory and Lincoln's death.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 3 id60384
Newspapers1862-1864Scope and Contents
Newspapers collected by the Houstaters during the Civil War. The majority are affiliated with the Democratic party. Newspapers include: 1862 Lockport Daily Union (issues dated March13, March 28, April 7, April 9, September 8, October 1, November 18); Niagra Democrat and Union from 1864; and two 1862 issues of the Lockport Chronicle.
- Mixed Materials Box: 2 folder: 4 id63975
Removed Envelopes Continued1862-1906Scope and Contents
Removed envelopes continued.