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Jonathan Dayton family papers, 1764-1892

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Summary

Creator:
Dayton family
Abstract:
This collection is made up of correspondence, documents, and other items related to New Jersey politician Jonathan Dayton; his son-in-law, Oliver Hatfield Spencer; and Spencer's son-in-law, William Nelson Wood. The materials concern politics, finances, property, genealogy, and other subjects.
Extent:
3 linear feet
Language:
English
Authors:
Collection processed and finding aid created by Stephanie DeFouw and Meg Hixon, August 2012

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection is made up of 3 linear feet of correspondence, documents, and other items related to New Jersey politician Jonathan Dayton; his son-in-law, Oliver Hatfield Spencer; and Spencer's son-in-law, William Nelson Wood. The materials date between 1764 and 1892, and they concern politics, finances, property, genealogy, and other subjects. The collection is arranged into groups of Jonathan Dayton papers, Oliver Hatfield Spencer papers, William Nelson Wood papers, and Spencer and Wood family papers.

The Jonathan Dayton Papers are divided into 3 subseries. The Jonathan Dayton Correspondence subseries is made up of Dayton's incoming (over 310 items) and outgoing (approximately 55 items) letters between 1780 and 1824. Dayton corresponded with family members, professional acquaintances, and political figures. Many of the early letters pertain to Dayton's congressional service, national and local politics, and personal matters. A group of 14 letters from 1807 concern the Burr Conspiracy and its effects on Dayton, who was imprisoned in connection with the incident. Some of Dayton's correspondents discussed Native American relations and the Northwest Territory. Others provided family news from Cincinnati and commented on legal and financial issues.

The Jonathan Dayton Financial Documents (15 items, 1774-1830) consist of receipts, accounts, and account books, pertaining to real property, taxes, and other financial matters. The 2 account books (1792-1793 and 1823) concern shipping costs, livestock, debts, and real property. A copy of Gaine's New-York Pocket Almanack for 1775 contains an unidentified writer's manuscript notes and financial records kept between 1775 and 1779.

The Jonathan Dayton Legal Documents (76 items, 1764-1821) include deeds for property in New Jersey, contracts, records pertaining to court cases, and other items.

The Oliver Hatfield Spencer series , divided into subseries of Correspondence (5 items) and Documents (13 items). Letters to Spencer, dated 1820-1821, concern his claims against the estate of "Mr. Evans." Other items, dated between 1802 and 1856, include certificates, deeds, Spencer's will, receipts, and a military commission. These documents relate to Spencer's medical career, his work for the New Orleans Board of Health and the Medical Board of the State of Louisiana, and his memberships in the Medical Society of Philadelphia and the Chemical Society of Philadelphia. Three later items pertain to his estate.

The William Nelson Wood series includes Correspondence (19 items) and Estate Documents (41 items). James Cook informed Wood of his brother's death in a letter dated February 21, 1831. The bulk of the remaining correspondence, written from 1853-1854, concern the estate of Clement Wood, a resident of England. Two letters by Luigi Palma di Cesnola (June 27, 1864, and July 7, 1864) report the death of Wood's son Oliver during the Civil War and discuss the Battle of Trevilian Station. A subseries of Estate Documents consists primarily of claims made against Wood's estate following his death in 1865.

The Spencer and Wood Family Papers (153 items) consist of letters, documents receipts, genealogical notes, autographs, an invitation, and an essay related to the descendants of Jonathan Dayton, Oliver Hatfield Spencer, and William Nelson Wood. Correspondence, Documents, and Receipts include incoming and outgoing letters related to members of the Dayton, Spencer, and Wood families, often concerning family news and legal affairs. The series includes Genealogical Materials for the Dayton, Williamson, Halstead, Spencer, and Ogden families. Eighty-seven Autographs cut from letters include signatures and handwriting of prominent individuals in the late 18th and early 19th century. The final items in the collection include an essay description of Jesus Christ (with an 1847 song "The Hieland Laddies' Farewell" written on the back) and a vellum invitation for Edward Meeker Wood to attend The General Society of the Cincinnati and the Sons of the Revolution commemorative event for the death of George Washington, held on December 14, 1899.

Biographical / Historical:

Jonathan Dayton was born in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, on October 16, 1760, the son of Colonel Elias Dayton and Hannah Rolfe. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) in 1776 and joined the Continental Army shortly thereafter, attaining the rank of captain while serving with the 2nd and 3rd New Jersey Regiments in New York. After the war, Dayton represented New Jersey at the Constitutional Convention, in the United States House of Representatives (1791-1799), and in the United States Senate (1799-1805); he was Speaker of the House from 1795 to 1798. In 1807, Dayton was indicted for treason in connection with the Burr Conspiracy. Following his acquittal, he returned to New Jersey, where he served in the state assembly from 1814-1815. He died in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, on October 9, 1824.

Jonathan Dayton's daughter Hannah married Oliver Hatfield Spencer (1781-1824) in 1813. Spencer served as a United States Army surgeon during the War of 1812.

William Nelson Wood was born in New Jersey on December 22, 1805, the son of James Wood and Elizabeth Meeker. He lived in Morristown, New Jersey, where he helped found the Morris & Essex Railroad Company and the Morristown Gaslight Company. He later became president of the Morris County Bank. In February 1837, he married Mary Gibbons Spencer, the daughter of Oliver Hatfield and Hannah Dayton Spencer. They had at least ten children: Ella, James, Anna, Oliver Spencer, J. Dayton, William Nelson, Edward Meeker, Mary, Eliza, and James. The elder William Nelson Wood died on July 25, 1865.

Edward Meeker Wood was born in Morristown, New Jersey, on March 1, 1853, the son of William Nelson Wood and Mary Gibbons Spencer. He became a lawyer and held local political offices in New Jersey. He died on September 11, 1906.

Acquisition Information:
1974-1996. M-1654, M-1756, M-1834, M-1839, M-2976.3, M-3260 .
Processing information:

Cataloging funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). This collection has been processed according to minimal processing procedures and may be revised, expanded, or updated in the future.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series and subseries:
  • Series I: Jonathan Dayton Papers
    • Subseries I: Correspondence
    • Subseries II: Financial Documents
    • Subseries III: Legal Documents
  • Series II: Oliver Hatfield Spencer Papers
    • Subseries I: Correspondence
    • Subseries II: Documents
  • Series III: William Nelson Wood Papers
    • Subseries I: Correspondence
    • Subseries II: Estate Documents
  • Series IV: Spencer and Wood Family Papers
    • Subseries I: Correspondence
    • Subseries II: Documents and Receipts
    • Subseries III: Genealogy
    • Subseries IV: Autographs, Invitation, and Essay

Each series and subseries is arranged chronologically, with undated items placed at the end.

Rules or Conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Contents

Using These Materials

Info for Visitors

How to Request

Ordering Reproductions

Download PDF Finding Aid
RESTRICTIONS:

The collection is open for research.

USE & PERMISSIONS:

Copyright status is unknown

PREFERRED CITATION:

Jonathan Dayton Family Papers, William L. Clements Library, The University of Michigan

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Collection

Jonathan Dayton family papers, 1764-1892
Total components 40
Last indexed 2025-02-09