Who is this lady?

[Steve Whitlock]

(07-02-2021 06:03 PM)Anita Wrote:  Roger, thanks for posting the Tuckerman papers and album images. Steve, thanks for finding them!!

Sorry for my delay in replying. I've spent the past two days at medical appointments.

Steve, excellent sleuthing! Based on the images and Mary Benjamin's letter, it is likely that Tuckerman wrote the description of Lincoln's bloody deathbed sheet relic signed with his initials, found among his papers. However, as we know there is nothing in Tuckerman's writing or anywhere else stating that he had the entire sheet or that he cut a piece from it. Nor does he give an account of when and how he came by the relic.

As you were able to confirm, Tuckerman was not in Washington at the time of Lincoln's death nor did he ever claim to be. What puzzles me is why Mary Benjamin states he was present. The other mystery is who gave Mary the album and papers?

Steve ans Roger, I agree with you. The provenance just isn't there to to confirm the sheet fragments come from the Petersen House Lincoln deathbed sheet.

Anita,

My guess would be that Mary Benjamin ASSUMED that Tuckerman got the sheet himself; therefore, he must have been in D.C. at Lincoln's deathbed.