Thursday, February 15, 2007

New York Gathering of Men of the Revolution

Searching GenealogyBank's database of newspaper, I came across a notice for a reunion of Revolutionary War veterans in the New-Hampshire Patriot and State Gazette for August 28, 1845.

In that month, George Washington Park Custis, adopted son (and grandson) of President George Washington visited New York City. There was a reception at the house of Alderman Peters attended by "the friends and companions in arms of the great Washington." At that time, photography was still a relatively novel invention, but it's quite possible that some of the attendees sat for a daguerreotype portrait before their death.

The following individuals were at the reunion. Their ages at the time (if known) are in parentheses. Not all were veterans. Some were well-known in New York while others were children of veterans.

Major Popham (93)
John Battin (93) of New York City
Major General Van Buren of Staten Island
Judge Miller
Judge Lynch
Thomas Lyell, Rector of Christ Church
William Mandeville
George B. Thorp
Elisha Whittlesey of Ohio
James M. Crane of Virginia
Samuel L. Waldo
Dr. John W. Francis
Isaac T. Hopper
Homer Curtis of Mount Vernon, Ohio
Jacob Hays
Dr. James E. Maney
Thomas Morris (born in 1771)
Teunis Quick (born in 1767)
A.S. Norwood (born 1770)
Philip Schuyler
Gilbert Smith (born 1772)
Sylvanus Miller
James Black of Newark, New Jersey
W. Vermilye
Joseph Weeks
Cornelius Bogert
R. Cheseborough
John W. Mulligan
Daniel B. Tallmadge
J.M. Matthews
A.L. Underhill
J.D. Beers
Judge Ogden Edwards
Geroge F. Hopkins
George Coggill

These are the only individuals named in the article, but according to the report about two hundred men who had served in the American Revolution came to pay respects to Custis.

If you know of any images of these men, please contact me at photodetective@gmail.com.

Thank you for your help!

Friday, February 2, 2007

Finding the Missing

There are three categories of images for this project.

  • In the missing pile are newspaper mentions of pictures that once existed or engravings drawn from daguerreotypes. I'm looking for the original image or at least a photographic copy of them.
  • On the positive side are all the found pictures. By contacting historical societies and libraries, I've been able to locate photographs of vets, their wives/widows and their kids. Each and every one of these discoveries is a pleasant surprise. In a few cases, I've been able to attach tentative identifications to previously unidentified images.
  • Then there is my wish list. In this category are photographs I hope were taken and are just mislaid.This includes those last living vets and their wives.
If you can help me locate photos, please send me an email at photodetective@gmail.com