Item 29a: Letter from Louis Marie De Noailles to M[atthias]. Hollenback, 1793 November 8

Item — Box: 12, Folder: 69a

Staff Only

Letter from Louis Marie De Noailles to M[atthias]. Hollenback, 1793 November 8

Dates

Created: 1793 November 8

Creator

Louis Marie de Noailles, 1756-1804 (Person)

Access:

All series and subseries within this collection are open for research, with the exception of a few files within the Academia series that are restricted. The Academia series contains financial and sensitive institutional records from Wilkes College, and financial report records from Princeton University that will remain restricted for 80 years upon creation.

Extent

1 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Type of Material:

Letter

Condition Note:

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Measurements:

Fair

Measurements:

9 ½ in. x

Description:

Item 33a and 33b are housed together, as they are both concerned with the French Azilum. The French Azilum was a planned settlement built in 1793 in Bradford County, Pennsylvania for French refugees fleeing the French Revolution and slave uprisings. Both creators Louis Marie De Noailles (Item 33a) and Antoine Omar Talon (item 33b) were heavily involved in the settlement's affairs and created the Asylum Company, which only consisted of them and John Keating. For context on this particular letter, Louis Marie De Noailles was of royal blood, coming from a family of aristocrats. However, once the French Revolution broke out and was not going the way De Noailles was expecting he fled to America on his own accord. He, along with his step brother Marquis de Lafayette, were French officers who volunteered to come to America and serve under George Washington in the American Revolution.Matthias Hollenback was a judge and businessman, who opened trading posts along the susquehanna river, his most prominent post being Tioga Point. Matthias played a prominent role in shipping supplies to the French Asylum as it was being built and after it was settled. Thus why there is communication between Noailles and Hollenback in this letter. The letter’s contents consist of Noailles wishing to meet with Hollenback in Wilkes-Barre after a missed attempt of seeing one another a few days prior. To read more on the establishment of the French Asylum see here.

Transcription:

Dear Sir I received the letter you favourished me with on Friday I was unhappy enough to miss you at Wilkes barre where I arrived few hours after your departure. I shall proceed to day to Standing Stone and be back on next Saturday morning the 16th to Wilkes barre. I will spend the evening in the town and go to Philadelphia early Sunday morning seventeen. I hope I shall meet you at Wilkes barre. I wish you will do the greatest diligence that I may have a consideration with you on our business. believe me dear sir your most obedient and humble servant. Vis. Noailles

{back} Viscount De Noailles Letter Novr. 8.th 1793 The Asylum Company

To M. Hollenback