Abraham Lincoln in New Bedford, Massachusetts

[Rob Wick]

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