Correcting History

[Laurie Verge]

For years, I have thought that Henry and Clara Rathbone and their children moved to Germany in 1882, when he was given a post at the U.S. Consul in Hanover. I stated such in a recent issue of the Surratt Courier in announcing the death of their great-granddaughter.

I received the following e-mail and follow-ups from Society Life Member Seward Osborne that will have us correcting our history:

Hello,

Having just received the January, 2013 issue of The Surratt Courier, I read with regret the passing of Mrs. Bettina Rathbone Hartley Tierney.
It is mentioned that Henry Reed Rathbone served "as a U.S. Consul" in Germany. This is often in print but is entirely inaccurate. After Henry resigned from the United States Army, he never again held a US government position of any kind! He was never a Consul to any country.
It was Henry's brother Jared L. Rathbone, who was appointed Consul General of Paris on May 18, 1887.

Kind regards,
Seward R. Osborne

Mr. Osborne – Thank you so much for pointing this out. I believe that the original source of the information may have come from a Mr. Frank Rathbun, who in 1982 was editor of a quarterly newsletter published by the Rathbun Family Association. In July of that year, he supplied us with an article for our newsletter on the early connections between the Rathbones/Rathbuns in Kentucky and Indiana.

At the conclusion of the article, Mr. Rathbun stated that “The Rathbones had gone to live in Germany after the major had been appointed to a post in the U.S. Consul General’s office at Hanover by President Cleveland.” I know that many sources state the same thing. If you could supply us with a brief documentation of your information, I would like to add it to the files in the James O. Hall Research Center at the museum.

Thank you and best wishes for a wonderful New Year.



Dear Laurie,

Please call me Seward. I am a 100% disabled veteran and not one big on formalities.
In a letter from the General Services Administration, National Archives and Records Service, Washington, D.C. dated April 11, 1961, from James B. Rhoads, Archivist in Charge, Foreign Affairs Branch, I quote: "Although several letters (62 pages) recommending Henry Rathbone for appointment to various consular posts are among the appointment records, 1877-85, there is no record of his having received any appointment under the Department of State."
Additionally, according to State Department records, Jared Lawrence Rathbone, Henry's brother, was appointed by President Cleveland, May 17, 1887, as Consul General to Paris. He held this position for four years, and later was decorated by the French government as officer of the Legion of Honor for special services rendered to France.
I think, in my last email I mistyped his date as May 18th.
It is my earnest hope that this, once and for all, will set the record straight regarding Henry Reed Rathbone.

Kindest regards,
Seward