Wilma Frances Minor letters

[Houmes]

(08-16-2012 05:53 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  The fraudulent Wilma Frances Minor letters between Ann Rutledge and Abraham Lincoln have been mentioned in a couple of threads. I decided to do a search for examples of these letters and came upon a few.

Here is a sample of Abraham writing to Ann:

My Beloved Ann:
...I am borrowing Jacks horse to ride over to see you this coming Saturday. cutting my foot prevents my walking. I will be at your pleasure to accompany you to the Sand Ridge taffy-pull. I will be glad to hear your Father's sermon on the Sabbath. I feel unusually lifted with hope of relieving your present worry at an early date and likewise doing myself the best turn of my life. with you my beloved all things are possible. now James kindly promises to deliver into your dear little hands this letter. may the good Lord speed Saturday afternoon.
affectionately A. Lincoln


Here is a sample of Ann writing to Abraham:

my hart runs over with hapynes when I think yore name. I do not beleave I can find time to rite you a leter every day. stil I no as you say it wood surely improve my spelling and all that... I dreem of yore ... words every nite and long for you by day. I mus git super now. all my hart is ever thine.

The late autograph and manuscript dealer, Charles Hamilton, authored a book in 1996 (Great Forgers and Famous Fakes ) with a 37 page chapter on Lincoln forgeries. Several of these pages (with photographs) review the story of the Lincoln-Rutledge letters and it's fascinating reading.