Boston Globe

[RJNorton]

Wasn't Isabel only 16 at the time?

Right, Gene. From Rhodehamel and Taper's book:

"In the spring of 1864, during his triumphant starring engagement at the Boston Museum, John Wilkes Booth met a sixteen-year old Boston girl named Isabel Sumner."

The authors feel Booth was the one "most smitten."

[JMadonna]

It's appears to be nothing more than a love letter. He requests of her to never let anyone see his letters. Booth's next surviving letter to her was on Aug. 26th. when he was laid up in NYC with erysipelas at Edwin's home.

Here's a link to the letter in the Taper/Rhodehamel book - It's on pages 115 - 116
http://books.google.com/books?id=x-5t8Zd...el&f=false

After reading that I find myself wondering if Isabel's father could have been Booth's quinine source and the letters were just a cover for letting him know that the shipment was ready.

Ridiculous, of course, but a fun possibility.

[J. Beckert]

What was her father's occupation? If I remember correctly, he was some kind of merchant.

[JMadonna]

What was her father's occupation? If I remember correctly, he was some kind of merchant.

Yep.