Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 91
image_0 image_1 image_2
Mary Lincoln 2x Signed Handwritten Note Inviting Abram Wakeman for Drive to Soldier’s Home
Mary Lincoln 2x Signed Handwritten Note Inviting Abram Wakeman for Drive to Soldier’s Home
image_0 image_1 image_2
Description:

Mary Lincoln
Washington, DC, May 3, [1864]
Mary Lincoln 2x Signed Handwritten Note Inviting Abram Wakeman for Drive to Soldier's Home
AN

Mary Lincoln invites friend and New York City Postmaster Abram Wakeman to join her, Mrs. Haight, and Miss Haight on a drive to the Soldier's Home. The Haights were probably Sarah Burgoyne Haight and Clara L. Haight, the wife and teenage daughter of former Congressman Edward Haight of New York.

Wakeman used his connections with Mrs. Lincoln to advance his political career as part of the William H. Seward – Thurlow Weed political machine in New York politics, and Mrs. Lincoln relied on Wakeman to aid her in dealing with New York creditors when she overspent.

MARY LINCOLN, Autograph note twice signed within the text as, "Mrs Lincoln," and "Mrs L." To Abram Wakeman, May 3, [1864], [Washington, DC]. 2 pp., 4" x 2.5". Very good.

Complete Transcript
Mrs & Miss Haight of N.Y. accompany Mrs Lincoln, in a drive to the Soldier's Home, this morning at 12 o'clock & Mrs. L. would be pleased to have Mr Wakeman accompany them. May 3d

Historical Background
An act for the creation of the United States Military Asylum passed Congress in 1851, and commissioners selected sites for four branches in 1851 and 1852, including one in the District of Columbia, four miles north of the Capitol. They ultimately selected a farm purchased from banker George W. Riggs and an adjacent parcel to form a 225-acre site for the establishment of a military asylum for disabled soldiers who had served in the army.

In 1857, President James Buchanan and his official family, including Secretary of War John B. Floyd spent the summer at the Military Asylum. Buchanan was the first of four presidents who spent the summer at the Military Asylum, renamed the Soldiers' Home in 1859, to escape the city's summer heat and illnesses, especially malaria.

President Abraham Lincoln and his family spent the summers of 1862, 1863, and 1864 at the Soldiers' Home. While resident there from mid-June until early November 1862, Lincoln worked on the final draft of his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.

Mary Lincoln (1818-1882) was born into the prominent Todd family in Lexington, Kentucky. Educated at female academies and boarding schools, she learned to speak French fluently and studied literature, dance, drama, and music. She was very well-educated for her time, place, and gender. In November 1842, she married Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois, and they had four sons. She supported her husband's political ambitions, becoming First Lady in 1861. Because she was from a border state, with several of her relatives supporting the Confederacy, Mary Lincoln was the object of suspicion in the press. Although she was responsible for hosting many social functions, her extensive spending to renovate the White House also drew complaints from a nation at war and from her husband. However, she also visited wounded soldiers in Washington hospitals, taking them fruit and flowers and writing letters home for them. Prone to severe headaches and depression, she suffered the loss of three of her four sons and was present when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre. After leaving the White House, she lived in Chicago, where her son briefly had her committed to a sanitarium in 1875. After being declared competent to manage her own affairs in 1876, she spent the next four years traveling in Europe and living in Pau, France. She later returned to Springfield, where she died in her sister's home.

Abram Wakeman (1824-1889) was born in Connecticut, completed college preparatory studies, and taught school while studying law. He was admitted to the bar in 1847 and practiced in New York City, where he became involved in several banks, railroads, and insurance companies. He served in the New York State Assembly as a Whig (1850-1852) and in Congress as a Republican (1855-1857). He helped found the Republican Party in 1855. President Abraham Lincoln appointed him as Postmaster of New York City (March 1862-September 1864) and Surveyor of the Port of New York (September 1864-March 1869). He also developed a friendship with Mary Lincoln and exchanged frequent letters with her. When her shopping incurred a large debt with New York City retailers, Wakeman aided her in refinancing her obligations so President Lincoln would not learn of it. Later in his career, he was one of the principal developers of Coney Island as a resort and amusement park area and made a substantial profit from selling his interest in the late 1870s.

Edward Haight (1817-1885) was born in New York City and worked at a countinghouse early in life. In 1838, he joined a dry goods importing business. In 1839, he married Sarah Louisa Burgoyne (1815-1892) of Charleston, South Carolina. They had seven children between 1840 and 1855, including Clara L. Haight (1845-1923). He was a director of the National Bank of New York. In 1856, he organized the Bank of the Commonwealth of New York City and served as its president until 1870. He was elected as a Democrat to Congress and served as a War Democrat from 1861 to 1863. In 1862, he was an unsuccessful candidate of the Union Party for reelection. After 1870, he was in business with his son Edward Haight Jr. in the brokerage firm of Haight & Company.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.

  • Dimensions: 4" x 2.5"
  • Medium: AN

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house world-wide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses that proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with a signature required option, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third-Party Shipping Option: If a third-party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third-party. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third-party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third-party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third-party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

July 16, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000