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Lot 123: Alexander Hamilton Signed Letter

Currency:USD Category:Everything Else / Other Start Price:NA Estimated At:1,000.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Lot  123: Alexander Hamilton Signed Letter
<b>Autographs</b><hr><b>Alexander HamiltonÕs Widow Struggles Financially</b>

<b>(ALEXANDER HAMILTON), ELIZABETH SCHUYLER HAMILTON.</b>
Autograph Letter Signed 'E. Hamilton,' July 18, 1813, no place, 9' x 6.25', Choice Extremely Fine. Addressed to Mr. Henery, Counselor at Law, Albany, regarding her strained financial situation. In part: 'The embarrassment with wich [sic] I am under for a few hundred dollars obliges me to request you will inform me what are your expectations as to giving Mr. Murray a title to that part ...Mr. Green has a right to, he refuses making me a payment untill that Business is compleated... my embarrassment is very great. Some little difficulty has arisen... respecting the house on one of the Lotts... they wont pay me four or five hundred dollars, also when you write let me know whether Mr. Churches Lotts sold well, as I have some in the same situation.' The letter is matted with the separated address leaf and an engraving of Elizabeth Hamilton and housed in a gilt 16' x 24.5' frame. Not viewed out of the frame. We find only one letter by Elizabeth Hamilton listed in American Book Prices Current in over a decade. Very attractive and ready for display.

Alexander Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler on December 14, 1780. She was the daughter of General Philip Schuyler, and the Schuylers were one of the most distinguished families in New York. The Hamiltons had eight children. When Alexander Hamilton died, as the result of his duel with Aaron Burr, he left behind many debts. He had never taken advantage of many opportunities to enrich himself, even refusing the army pension to which he was entitled. Nine years after his death, his widow still struggled with the reduced financial circumstances in which she was left.