Burlingham family letters, 1863

Summary

Creator:: Burlingham, Horace, 1835-1876
Abstract:: This collection is comprised of two letters (six pages) to Horace Burlingham, who had fled to Canada as a deserter from the 9th New York Infantry Regiment (Hawkins Zouaves) during the American Civil War. His father Waterman, mother Amanda, and sister Mary Burlingham wrote joint letters to Horace in 1863, from their farm at Edmeston, New York. Waterman filled five pages of the letters, expressing relief that his son made it over the border, updating him on the status of other deserters from the area, sharing his knowledge of Provost Marshall Cole's area of jurisdiction and methods, and offering related advisement. Waterman discussed Horace's wife Loverna and their daughter Theressa, who remained in Edmeston. He criticized Loverna's penchant for "new notions, and Castle Building" and her poor household management, and he recommended that she not join Horace in Canada. He also thought this was a good opportunity to teach Horace how to write letters (specifically capitalization) and provided details about laborers, agricultural product prices, and farm machinery. Horace's sister updated him on friends and family relationships, including the features of a newborn or infant baby. His mother added a note to let Horace know that she never forgets him.
Extent:: 2 items
Language:: English
Sponsor:: James S. Schoff Civil War Collection
Authors:: Collection processed and finding aid created by Cheney J. Schopieray, June 2023

Background

Scope and Content:

This collection is comprised of two letters (six pages) to Horace Burlingham, who had fled to Canada as a deserter from the 9th New York Infantry Regiment (Hawkins Zouaves) during the American Civil War. His father Waterman, mother Amanda, and sister Mary Burlingham wrote joint letters to Horace in 1863, from their farm at Edmeston, New York. Waterman filled five pages of the letters, expressing relief that his son made it over the border, updating him on the status of other deserters from the area, sharing his knowledge of Provost Marshall Cole's area of jurisdiction and methods, and offering related advisement. Waterman discussed Horace's wife Loverna and their daughter Theressa, who remained in Edmeston. He criticized Loverna's penchant for "new notions, and Castle Building" and her poor household management, and he recommended that she not join Horace in Canada. He also thought this was a good opportunity to teach Horace how to write letters (specifically capitalization) and provided details about laborers, agricultural product prices, and farm machinery. Horace's sister updated him on friends and family relationships, including the features of a newborn or infant baby. His mother added a note to let Horace know that she never forgets him.

Please see the box and folder listing below for detailed information about each letter in the collection.

Biographical / Historical:

Horace Burlingham was born on March 14, 1835, to parents Waterman and Amanda Burlingham. By 1850, the Burlinghams worked as farmers at Edmeston, New York. Horace married Loverna (sometimes spelled Lavernia or Laverna) by 1855 and they had at least two children, Theressa M. (1858-1944) and Mary J. (1867-1914).

Shortly after Antietam, November 8, 1862, Horace Burlingham enlisted at Edmeston and mustered into the 9th New York Infantry Regiment (Hawkins Zouaves, aka New York Zouaves, aka Little Zouaves, aka Zoo-Zoos) on December 26, 1862. He received a $200 bounty for a nine-month enlistment. Sometime before mid-April 1863, Burlingham deserted and fled to Canada.

At some point between 1863 and 1865, Horace Burlingham returned to Edmeston, where he worked as a laborer for the family of Hiram and Emily Wright. Horace, Loverna, and their two daughters moved to nearby Burlington area in the early 1870s. Horace Burlingham died on April 30, 1876, and was buried in the Burlington Flats Cemetery, Otsego County, New York. Loverna Burlingham continued to live in Otsego County, keeping house with her daughter Mary at Burlington Flats until at least until 1880.

Acquisition Information:

2022. M-7719.1 .

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically.

Rules or Conventions:

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

Subjects

Click on terms below to find any related finding aids on this site.

Subjects:: Blue collar workers--United States--History--19th century.
Farmers--New York (State)--Otsego County.
Husband and wife--United States.
Military deserters--United States.
Parent and child--United States--History--19th century.
Parents-in-law--Family relationships--United States.
Formats:: Letters (correspondence)
Names:: United States. Provost Marshal General's Bureau (New York : Western Division)
Burlingham, Amanda, 1810-1877.
Burlingham, Mary J., 1847-1891.
Burlingham, Waterman, 1800-1880.
Places:: Canada--History--19th century.
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Desertions.

University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

Address:

Using These Materials

Summary

Background

Subjects

Contents

Using These Materials

Collection

Navigate the Collection

Total components	3
Last indexed	2023-08-08

University of Michigan William L. Clements Library

Address:

Burlingham family letters, 1863

Using These Materials

Summary

Background

Related

Bibliography

Subjects

Contents

Using These Materials

Collection