Abraham Lincoln in New Bedford, Massachusetts

[Linda Anderson]

I visited New Bedford this weekend and was told that Lincoln had visited the city. I did a little research and found this article published in 2009. It's interesting that Lincoln is described as having "sad eyes" even in 1848.

The author of the article, Deacon James N. Dunbar, writes, "But what I learned that day was that Lincoln as a member of Congress had actually visited New Bedford to make a political speech, as well as another in Taunton, as he toured Massachusetts from September 12 to 21 in 1848 stumping in support of General Zachary Taylor, the Whig candidate for president.

"What was even more interesting was that while as youngsters we had learned how Lincoln grew up in a log cabin in Illinois, his connection to Massachusetts dated to 1637, when his English ancestor, Samuel Lincoln — actually his great-great-great-great-grandfather — arrived in the new colony and settled in Hingham on Cape Cod where he was employed as a weaver. Many of Samuel Lincoln’s descendents remained in Hingham for generations."

http://www.anchornews.org/news/february_...2009_4.php

[RJNorton]

Very interesting, Linda. I found a photo of Joseph Grinnell's home in New Bedford (which I believe is still standing). Looks a little like where Vicki and I live, only smaller.

[Linda Anderson]

You have a nice house, Roger! You must have a wonderful library.

Here's a link to the New Bedford Preservation Society's County Street Walking Tour. Grinnell House is #7.

http://www.nbpreservationsociety.org/doc...20Tour.pdf

[RJNorton]

Linda, I found it a little curious that they mention John Quincy Adams once stayed there but no mention of Abraham Lincoln. Could there be some doubt Lincoln actually stayed there? Maybe I am reading too much into Lincoln not being mentioned. Ralph Gary, whose book on Lincoln's travels is outstanding, writes that Lincoln did indeed stay there.

[Linda Anderson]

I don't know why the article doesn't mention Lincoln, Roger, but I do know that John Quincy Adams was born in Braintree, Mass., now Quincy, which is just 50 miles north of New Bedford. Maybe the writer was going for the local angle.

[LincolnMan]

(12-17-2013 02:12 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  I visited New Bedford this weekend and was told that Lincoln had visited the city. I did a little research and found this article published in 2009. It's interesting that Lincoln is described as having "sad eyes" even in 1848.

The author of the article, Deacon James N. Dunbar, writes, "But what I learned that day was that Lincoln as a member of Congress had actually visited New Bedford to make a political speech, as well as another in Taunton, as he toured Massachusetts from September 12 to 21 in 1848 stumping in support of General Zachary Taylor, the Whig candidate for president.

"What was even more interesting was that while as youngsters we had learned how Lincoln grew up in a log cabin in Illinois, his connection to Massachusetts dated to 1637, when his English ancestor, Samuel Lincoln — actually his great-great-great-great-grandfather — arrived in the new colony and settled in Hingham on Cape Cod where he was employed as a weaver. Many of Samuel Lincoln’s descendents remained in Hingham for generations."

http://www.anchornews.org/news/february_...2009_4.php

Nice background on Lincoln's heritage. I wonder if Lincoln knew about his lineage as described? Probably not?

[RJNorton]

(12-18-2013 05:32 PM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Nice background on Lincoln's heritage. I wonder if Lincoln knew about his lineage as described? Probably not?

Bill, I am not sure he knew about Samuel Lincoln, but he did have some knowledge. While in Congress he wrote to a distant relative who was living in Hingham:

**********************************************

Mr. Solomon Lincoln Washington,
Dear Sir: March 24- 1848

Yours of the 21st. is received. I shall not be able to answer your interrogatories very fully; I will, however, do the best I can. I have mentioned that my grandfather's name was Abraham. He had, as I think I have heard, four brothers, Isaac, Jacob, Thomas, and John. He had three sons, Mordecai → , Josiah, and Thomas, the last, my father. My uncle ← Mordecai → , had three sons, Abraham, James, and ← Mordecai → . Uncle Josiah had several daughters, and an only son, Thomas. My father has an only child, myself, of course.

This is all I know certainly on the subject of names; it is, however, my father's understanding that, Abraham [,] ← Mordecai, and Thomas are old family names of ours. The reason I did not mention Thomas as a family name in my other letter was because it is so very common a name, as to prove but little, if any thing, in the way of identification.

Since I wrote you, it occurred to me to enquire of Gov. McDowell, who represents the district in Virginia, including Rockingham, whether he knew persons of our name there. He informs he does; though none very intimately except one, an old man by the christian name of David. That he is of our family I have no doubt. I now address him a letter, making such enquiries as suggest themselves; and, when I shall receive an answer, I will communicate to you, any thing that may seem pertinent to your object. Very truly yours

A. LINCOLN

[Eva Elisabeth]

I read he met Mordecai. Did he also meet Josiah?

[RJNorton]

(12-19-2013 06:48 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I read he met Mordecai. Did he also meet Josiah?

Eva, yes, one time. In a letter to Jesse Lincoln of Tennessee dated April 1, 1854, Lincoln wrote:

"I often saw Uncle Mordecai, and Uncle Josiah but once in my life; but I never resided near either of them."

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks Roger! Wow, that was prompt and precise! (And your knowledge is as always amazing!)

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Eva, but full credit goes to William E. Barton for this one. I was looking at the letters Lincoln wrote on this topic in Barton's The Lineage of Lincoln when you asked the question. The answer was right there in front of me.

Barton seems annoyed with anyone who had implied Lincoln had no interest in the topic. He writes, "These letters completely refute the statement that Abraham Lincoln had no interest in his own ancestry, and gave himself no concern to know the facts regarding it."

[Rob Wick]

(12-20-2013 04:56 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Thanks, Eva, but full credit goes to William E. Barton for this one. I was looking at the letters Lincoln wrote on this topic in Barton's The Lineage of Lincoln when you asked the question. The answer was right there in front of me.

Barton seems annoyed with anyone who had implied Lincoln had no interest in the topic. He writes, "These letters completely refute the statement that Abraham Lincoln had no interest in his own ancestry, and gave himself no concern to know the facts regarding it."

Roger,
One of the most interesting aspects of Tarbell's life was her constant battle with Barton over Lincoln's ancestry, especially the illigetimacy of Nancy Hanks. Their letters to each other were pointed, but polite.

Best
Rob

[RJNorton]

Thanks, Rob. I have Abraham Lincoln and His Ancestors (Bison Books edition of In the Footsteps of the Lincolns), and it's readily apparent in chapter 7 that Ida accepted Caroline Hitchcock's research and rejected Herndon and Barton. Personally I have always accepted that Herndon told the truth about Lincoln telling him his mother was illegitimate. I think you once mentioned Ida began to change her mind on Hitchcock's research as time passed.

[Rob Wick]

She did, Roger. Tarbell could rarely say anything negative about someone, even in private letters, but she admitted to one of her correspondents that Hitchcock likely was wrong. All her life she wanted someone to do a genealogy for Nancy Hanks like the one Waldo Lincoln did for the Lincoln family, but until Aden Baber came along long after her death, no one took her up on it.

Best
Rob