John Henry to Samuel Alexander

Letter

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

John Henry to Samuel Alexander

Entry/Object ID

2021.8

Description

Letter from John Henry to Reverend James W. Alexander. Includes a clipped signature of Patrick Henry's mounted to the letter at the bottom. Dated November 7, 1838, Charlotte County. Top and bottom right corners are torn away. Red wax seal partially intact on reverse.

Transcription

Charlotte November 7. 1838. Dear Sir, I enclose you my Father's Signature, agreeable to promise, cut from an old paper relating to private business. All his papers & letters of a public nature are deposited with the Young men's Debating Society of Lynchburg & I expect that I have not in the house, some letter of an interesting nature containing his signature to send to you. I am yours Sir with very great Regard Reverend James Alexander | John Henry [Attached clipping in Patrick Henry's hand] P. Henry Seal [Reverse] Brook Neal Va. 10th Novbr. 1838 Containing Patrick Henry's autograph Reverend James Alexander Maie | Charlotte Court House Va

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

8 in

Length

10 in

Provenance

Notes

This letter was written by John Henry (1796–1868), youngest son of Patrick Henry, to Reverend James Waddel Alexander (1808–1859). Reverend Alexander was born in Louisa County, Virginia. He graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1820 and then studied divinity at Princeton Seminary. His first ministry following his ordination by Hanover Presbytery was in the Presbyterian Church of Charlotte Court House, Virginia. This is where he likely met John Henry, who owned Red Hill at that time. Alexander then moved to Trenton, New Jersey, where he served that congregation from 1829–1832. On June 18, 1830, Alexander married Elizabeth Clarentine Cabell (1809–1885), daughter of Dr. George Cabell Jr. (1774–1827) and Susannah Wyatt. George Cabell Jr. is a son of Col. Nicholas Cabell (1750–1803). Nicholas's brother, Col. John Cabell (?–1815), bore Dr. George Cabell Sr. (1766–1823) who served as Patrick Henry's doctor and was present for Henry's death in 1799. This makes Elizabeth Clarentine Cabell a cousin to George Cabell Sr. His longest single service was as the Professor of Rhetoric and Latin Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey between 1833 and 1844. Because of a renewed desire for pastoral ministry, he accepted a call in 1844 to the Duane Street Church in New York City where he continued until 1849. He returned to Princeton that year to serve briefly as the Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government in the seminary. However, he once again yearned to serve a congregation and took the opportunity to return to New York City to be the minister of Fifth Avenue and Nineteenth Street Church. Hoping to relieve an illness, Alexander took time from his church and visited Red Sweet Springs, Virginia, where he died on July 31, 1859, at the age of 55. His body was returned to Princeton to be buried near his father. Alexander had been honored during his lifetime with a D. D. by both Lafayette College in Pennsylvania in 1843, and Harvard University in 1854. It is not known what letter John Henry cut his father's signature from, nor is anything known about the Young Men's Debating Society of Lynchburg. Purchased by PHMF from James Cummins, Bookseller on February 2, 2018.