Item 20: Letter from Le Ray de Claumont to Joseph Kingsbery, 1821 February 14.
Item — Box: 12, Folder: 60
Dates
- Created: 1821 February 14.
Creator
- James, Leray D., 1760-1840 (Person)
Disclaimer for Name and Subject Authorities
Some of the name and subject authority tags have been assigned by educated guessing and estimation of persons and subjects by region, age, profession, and familial relationships. They have been thoroughly researched by using primary and secondary sources available digitally, and named in each description, or in some cases linked directly to the person tag.
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
Type of Material:
Letter
Condition Note:
Poor. Paper is severely stained and the paper is thin and brittle, resulting in tears.
Measurements:
9 ¾ in. x 8 in.
Description:
This letter was written by Jacques-Donatien Le Ray De Chaumont, known as James Le Ray in America, who traveled over to the North Country with hopes of collecting back his family's fortune. His father of the same name, was the single largest financial supporter of the American Revolution from France, even surpassing the French Government’s monetary aid. James le Ray was sent by his father to America to regain the family's loan. However, though pleading with the American Government, he only gained back partial compensation with the help of Benjamin Franklin. Once married to Grace Coxe, James Le Ray gained his American citizenship, and believed he could regain his family fortune by investing in land in Northern New York. Eventually, Le Ray became “land poor” and this led him to seek out others to help him manage his estate. Among these people were Nicholas Biddle and James Kinsbery who are involved in this letter. Nicholas Biddle was an American Financier and at the time of this letter being written was heavily involved in the banking system, holding the presidential position for the Second Bank of America. Joseph Kingsbery was the local agent in active management of the lands of Bradford. In this letter Le Ray writes about his affairs in finding settlers for his lands in New York and his regrets for selling his lands in Bradford.
Location:
New York.
Transcription:
New York, 14 Feby 1821
[front]
Joseph Kingsbery Esqr Since I wrote you relative to Mr. Biddle, I have been presented by traveling and by a pressure of business from writing to you more in detail. The fact is that wishing to raise some money upon that land which has been heretofore a source of heavy expenditures I preferred to have transmit it to Mr. Biddle under certain conditions, to giving a mortgage which would have presented sales &c. My object us at present to sell the whole and I can do it at a very low price which may be considered as a great sacrifice, but which is not one in reality, as it will enable me to reinplace [sic] that track by one adjoining mine which I can have on very good terms, by the particular situation of it with regard to me. I have for that purchase spoken to persons who are to look out for Purchasers in the State of Penna & Maryland, and preserve to you my dear sir the eastern states: Mr. Biddle was to write to your to go there to get settlers, and I presume he has done it.I remind him again of it today. {Letter From Le Ray De Clamount to his agency Joseph Kingsbery noble of Penna lands to Mr.Biddle }
[back]
I enclose a letter which you may share if you think proper. If a sale takes place through your sale procurement I will allow you a commission of 5% to be paid you out of the first proceeds of such sale. Your letter of the 11th of January was forwarded to me here, You say you are waiting anxiously for an answer to your last . The last one I had of you is that of the 27 november I can not examine fully the accounts contained in both of those till my return which will be soon I should have a cause of regret in selling my lands in Bradford. That of losing my intercourse with with regard to them but I hope that we might yet find something to do together in procuring settlers from New England for my lands in New York. Your Obdt Sert [sic] [obedient servant] Le Ray De Chaumont
[Page 2]
Sentry City & G } 37 Of July 17 } ------------------- Joseph Kingsbery Esqr
Athens Penna
Joseph Kingsbery Esqr Since I wrote you relative to Mr. Biddle, I have been presented by traveling and by a pressure of business from writing to you more in detail. The fact is that wishing to raise some money upon that land which has been heretofore a source of heavy expenditures I preferred to have transmit it to Mr. Biddle under certain conditions, to giving a mortgage which would have presented sales &c. My object us at present to sell the whole and I can do it at a very low price which may be considered as a great sacrifice, but which is not one in reality, as it will enable me to reinplace [sic] that track by one adjoining mine which I can have on very good terms, by the particular situation of it with regard to me. I have for that purchase spoken to persons who are to look out for Purchasers in the State of Penna & Maryland, and preserve to you my dear sir the eastern states: Mr. Biddle was to write to your to go there to get settlers, and I presume he has done it.I remind him again of it today. {Letter From Le Ray De Clamount to his agency Joseph Kingsbery noble of Penna lands to Mr.Biddle }
[back]
I enclose a letter which you may share if you think proper. If a sale takes place through your sale procurement I will allow you a commission of 5% to be paid you out of the first proceeds of such sale. Your letter of the 11th of January was forwarded to me here, You say you are waiting anxiously for an answer to your last . The last one I had of you is that of the 27 november I can not examine fully the accounts contained in both of those till my return which will be soon I should have a cause of regret in selling my lands in Bradford. That of losing my intercourse with with regard to them but I hope that we might yet find something to do together in procuring settlers from New England for my lands in New York. Your Obdt Sert [sic] [obedient servant] Le Ray De Chaumont
[Page 2]
Sentry City & G } 37 Of July 17 } ------------------- Joseph Kingsbery Esqr
Athens Penna
Creator
- James, Leray D., 1760-1840 (Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Wilkes University Archives Repository
Contact:
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu
84 W South St.
Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 US
570-408-2000
570-408-7823 (Fax)
ask.archives@wilkes.edu