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Preferred Citation

Lybrook Family Letters, 1834-1867, Accession #11087-a, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These letters were purchased by the University of Virginia Library from Timothy H. Bakken, Clarendon Hills, Illinois, on August 9, 1994.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of six letters, 1834-1843, and 1867, all written to Henley C. Lybrook, Cassopolis, Cass County, Michigan Territory, by his sister Nancy, his father John, and his brother Philip Lybrook, of Giles County, Virginia.

Nancy Lybrook, January 16, 1834, refers to Henley's mercantile business; their brother John, who lives in Carroll County, Indiana, about four miles from the Wabash River; the meteoric phenomenon on November 12, 1833; the death of the [county ?] clerk, David French; and the rumor of the engagement of the daughter of James White of Doe Creek to John Dukes, Jr.

John Lybrook, his father, writes on May 15, 1836, an account of the trial (and trials) of Mr. Sleeth who was accused of putting in a false claim by Mr. Singleton representing the War Department; his acquittal and the continued harassment by Singleton who has been preventing the war veterans from drawing their back pay; Nancy has a fourteen month old daughter to Mr. Sleeth, named Ann Elizabeth; Colonel Snidow received his back pay but the applications of himself, Jacob Snidow, and Isaac Chapman were rejected; mentions old Henry Lybrook (1755-1837) a soldier during the Revolutionary War; and mentions two slaves by name, Rachel and Jim.

Four of the letters were from his brother Philip Lybrook, also of Giles County, and discuss family affairs and local happenings. The earliest letter from Philip, November 8, 1839, mentions a visit from their brother John for two weeks; discusses details about their father's estate which the executors are eager to finish up, asking Henley what he and Catharine wants done with their share of the money, and offering to lend it out for them at interest for nine months; complains that Mr. Sleeth has not answered his letters concerning the estate; his brother John thinking of moving to the Iowa country and buying a new tract of land; and refers to the death of Uncle Henry Lybrook.

The next letter, April 22, 1842, refers to the announcement of Henley's marriage in the newspapers; supplies many details concerning the trial and acquittal of Dave Lucas for the murder of Peter in Philip's yard last fall; Philip's concern for his own safety and his property while Lucas was living at Jacob Snidow's and passed by his house three or four times a week; the murder of a peddler from Floyd County, Virginia, last March 19, [1842], who was last seen in the company of Dave Lucas; the upcoming trial of Lucas for the murder of the peddler; the actions of Bill B. Hutchenson, who tried to prevent the discovery of the body of the peddler during the search; and his suspicions concerning William H. Snidow, formerly of Christiansburg, who benefited from the death of old John Chapman (in one of Snidow's fields) to the tune of $30,000.

In his next letter, October 31, 1843, Philip expresses hope that the times will be better since the Whigs managed to get a tariff law through the House last session and apologizes for getting into a "political strain"; cannot assist Beltzer because he has the care of a household of twenty people plus Sally as well, the interest on her money pays only about half of her board; discusses other business affairs; relates the story of "our spurious wealth," consisting of the trial of Elijah Summerfield, son-in-law to old Gasper Link, who was indicted for passing two counterfeit five dollar gold pieces in Pearisburg; the gold pieces were apparently created by Gasper Harless, the son-in-law of old Jacob Snidow, who went to see a Mr. Mullins on the Sandy River for advice on making his coins complete and secure from detection while they were being used by Summerfield.

The last letter from Philip, March 7, 1867, was written upon the news of the death of his brother John and he notes that only three of the family remains, Henley, himself, and their sister Betsy [Atkins ?] in Boone County, West Virginia; lists several of their acquaintances who have apparently died since communication was interrupted by the Civil War, including old George Snidow and his son George, Christian Snidow, Guy D. French, William H. Snidow, Frederick Williams, William Porterfield, John Albert, P.N. Snidow (killed in the Valley of Virginia campaigns), and Uncle Henry Chapman (1779-1865); two young men had amputations during the war but their lives were spared, youngest son of James Albert and James P. Snidow; furnishes the movements of William since the war; and begs his brother to come and see him one more time.

Philip also writes about the conditions in the South following the Civil War, "We are in a bad condition here in the South. I suppose it will not be long until we will be placed under military control. I believe the bill has passed both houses of Congress to that effect the amendment of the Constitution will follow which will make universal suffrage legal with exception of our best and most accomplished men, we will if this arrangement is carried out as they intend, our legislators and officers of all descriptions will have to be of the Negro race or deserters who they call loyal men, if we have any. ...... I could not take what they call the test oath. I was opposed to the war but was compelled to furnish meat, bread, and hay, to the Southern army. I had to do it or have my property pressed and now I have to stand in ranks with the sufferers."