Thomas Wistar (1765-1851)

Letters are primarily from Thomas Wistar and almost exclusively to family, and mostly to his son, Thomas Wistar Jr. offering solicitous advice, concern for health, business. I. Letter writers include: John Cox, Richard Vaux, Catherine Wistar and Thomas Wistar. Highlights include: Wistar, Catherine (Kitty) to "Tommy" Wistar. Pennsbury, 1784 2/24. [author of book she read apparently thinks he is another (Laurence) Sterne; wants to read The Vicar of Wakefield] Wistar, Thomas to Brother. Philadelphia, 1784 2/2. [has visited (Anthony) Benezet and S(amuel) Emlen; death of Joseph Fox; extraordinary fire described; devastation of the icy river] Wistar, Thomas to Father. 1789 3/21. [sends garden seeds and graft of the butter pear tree] Wistar, Thomas to Son. 1831 6/4. [boarding horses as a profitable business; meeting on subject of improving the condition of the descendants of African Americans] Wistar, Thomas to Peter Bedford. Philadelphia, 1839 9/2. [thinks Friends should submit ideas for publication about the Society to a group appointed by the Society, rather than publishing at will] Wistar, Thomas to Son. n.d. [banks have suspended issuing silver and City Council has issued small notes to lessen difficulty in trade; failures at New York (banks?) exceed 300] Wistar, Thomas to Son. n.d. [sorry he has lost his house, but it could be worse] II. Thomas Wistar diary One-page entry for June 28, 1839