Browse Items (46 total)
-
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 21 January 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis announcing the birth of a son - Meriwether Lewis Clark. He reports how Julia and the baby are doing. He also reports on paying for a midwife for his enslaved woman Easter, who he has punished for bad behavior. He lists some other of his enslaved people he has punished and worries that Jonathan will think he has become a severe master, but he assures him he has not. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 2 January 1809
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis reporting domestic and local news. Shares how Julia is faring and describes the new quarters they have moved to. He expresses his frustrations with his enslaved persons, relating his opinion of African Americans in general (at least enslaved ones). -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 17 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis describing an incident in which John Sullivan overreacted in a meeting with officials and ruined his chances for a lucrative position. Clark returns to the topic of York, stating he had intended to punish him but Meriwether Lewis persuaded him to hire him out in Kentucky instead. Clark hopes he will learn the error of his ways and must "give over that wife of his" in Kentucky. His wife was enslaved by someone else in the Louisville area. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 10 December 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis continuing a discussion of a planned partnership in a store between himself based in St. Louis and Jonathan's son John Hite Clark based in Louisville. He also further discusses estate matters and difficulties stemming from their late brother-in-law Charles M. Thruston. He regrets the falling out between him and York. He does not agree with York that he deserves to be freed. Julia again requests sage from her "Kentucky mother." Clark has been in council all day with a forty-man Winnebago delegation from the Upper Mississippi. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 and 24 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan a lengthy letter from St. Louis regarding foreign affairs, politics, Native American affairs, and land investment and resources such as lead mining and salt springs. He has placed some of his enslaved people and one indentured person Ben Gee/McGee (formerly enslaved) to work in various ways or what he intends to do regarding them, including York and Scipio. Discusses selling land owned by their brother George and some William owns and some of the proceeds benefitting George. Reviews prices of livestock and goods locally and reiterates his desire to enter into business with his nephew John. Reports on the state of Julia's health and Meriwether Lewis' plans to go to Philadelphia to finish the expedition history. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 9 November 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis discussing his frustrations with his enslaved African Americans York and Scipio. He reports on conditions in St. Louis, various individuals, and investments in lead mining and saltmaking in the region. Reports that Meriwether Lewis was installed as master of the local Masonic lodge.Tags Enslaved people; lead; Letters; masonry; Meriwether Lewis; Missouri; salt; stocks; William Clark; York -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 5 October 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis relating news about the fort [Fort Osage] he has built up the Missouri and a treaty he negotiated with the Osage nation. He is overwhelmed with official business. He very much wants to engage in mercantile business with John Hite Clark. He reviews possible opportunities in St. Louis for John Sullivan who is there. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 1 October 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis that he has just returned from the Fire Prairie where he built a fort [Fort Osage]. He was ill the entire time. Introduces George Shannon who was wounded in a skirmish with the Arikara and consequently lost a leg. Shannon is going to attend school in Lexington [Transylvania University] so he can get educated and make a living. He is a man of fine character. He is on the government payroll and Clark will continue to pay him so he can pay for school and board until the Secretary of War orders payment to stop.Tags Arikara; Education; finance; government; health; illness; Letters; Lexington; Missouri; Native Americans; William Clark -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 August 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis regarding land business. They are anxiously awaiting the arrival of John Hite Clark - and in a postscript reports he has just arrived. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 21 July 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis about business and missing family. He shortly will be traveling up the Missouri River with about 80 militia to build a fort [Fort Osage]. He has been much pestered by Native American affairs, and four of these American Indians being on trial for murder. He lists work that his enslaved people are doing and states that almost all of them have been "troublesome" and he has been "obliged" to whip most of them. Their behavior/attitudes have improved since. Julia asks that "old mama Clark" send her some dried garden herbs, especially thyme and sage, as none is to be gotten in St. Louis. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 2 July 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan that they have arrived in St. Louis. On the way, his enslaved woman Nancy [half sister of York] lost her child, and Ben [possibly formerly enslaved by Clark family] his horse. He has hired out most of his enslaved people. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 6-7 June 1808
Clark writes his brother Jonathan while on his boat at the mouth of the Tradewater River traveling down the Ohio River, moving to St. Louis. He has visited their brother Edmund in that neighborhood. Tells of his enslaved woman, Philes, dying. Continuing the letter on June 7, he reports that Dr. [Richard] Brown's courtship of Ann Anderson has failed. He has sent York and some of his other enslaved persons overland with Joseph Charles to Kaskaskia. He has received word that Lieutenant Nathaniel Pryor is waiting for him with about twenty men and two boats at the mouth of the Ohio to assist their ascent of the Mississippi.Tags boats; death; Enslaved people; Letters; love; Military; Mississippi River; Missouri; Ohio River; romance; William Clark -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 9 September 1807
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, while conducting a major archaeological fossil dig at Thomas Jefferson's request. He describes what has been unearthed so far and mentions their brother George Rogers Clark being drunk but "more thoughtfull to day." -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 22 January 1807
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from Washington, D. C., reporting on activities there and his flattering treatment in wake of the successful return of the expedition. He reports he has discussed the Burr Conspiracy with President Jefferson and expresses his own shock at Burr's attempt at such a scheme and misjudgement of the American people. He concludes by intimating that he might return to Louisville engaged as he has an "object in mind." -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 24 September 1806
Clark follows up his letter of 23 September with a personal letter mentioning that they will be traveling east to Louisville via Vincennes with a delegation of Mandan Indians, with which Meriwether Lewis will continue on to Washington, D. C. They will be detained for a time in St. Louis wrapping up expedition business and discharging the men. Clark specifically requests that Jonathan have his 23 September letter published. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 23 September 1806
Clark's letter to his brother Jonathan was written with the intent of announcing the Corps of Discovery's succcessful return from its expedition to the Pacific Ocean and was intended for publication. Clark summarizes the expedition's activities since leaving Fort Mandan in April 1805, reaching the Pacific and wintering there, and arriving in St. Louis on their return the day this letter is dated. -
Letter from William Clark to his brother, April 1805
Letter from William Clark to his brother talks of sending his journal to the President and the Secretary of War, documenting his voyage and discoveries. Includes note stating he has included with the letter: one shirt worn by the Mandan Indian women, a few pairs of moccasins, some Mandan "legins", hides from several different animals, corn, tobacco seeds, a Mandan pot, and more, from the western country. He sends compliments from Meriwether Lewis to him and his lady. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 3 May 1804
Clark writes a letter of introduction to his brother Jonathan for Pierre [Peter] Chouteau who is leading a delegation of Osage Indians to Washington. He stresses how cooperative Chouteau has been concerning not only official matters but also personally to himself and Meriwether Lewis. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 25 February 1804
Clark writes his brother Jonathan from St. Louis reporting on his health, the land business back home, preparations for the Upper Louisiana Territory to be officially turned over to the United States, and interactions with Captain Amos Stoaddard, who is representing the U. S. in the ceremonies. -
Letter from William Clark to Jonathan Clark, 16 December 1803
William Clark writes to his brother Jonathan from the Corps of Discovery's first winter camp, reporting on events since parting with him below the Falls of the Ohio. He reports on an illness he has suffered, occurences at Fort Massac, the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, Kaskaskia, and establishing winter quarters at Wood River.