| Booth Papers consisting of letters of Reverend Bartholomew Booth and land records of John Booth.
The collection is primarily composed of letters and papers related to the Reverend Bartholomew Booth, (1732-1785) and his son John. Rev. Booth was an innovative educator with a school in Liverpool. With the patronage of wealthy women of the Valens family, he and they emigrated to the colonies in 1773, and opened a school, first in Frederick County at the Forest of Needwood, and later in Washington County at Delamere. Many of his pupils were sons of leading figures of the day, with connections to important Revolutionary War figures. Letters from Dr. James Craik (6), Robert Morris (9), Richard Henry Lee (10,13), Sam Washington (11) and particularly (12) from Maj. Benedict Arnold focus on the education of their sons at Rev. Booth's rural institution. Dr. Craik refers to his imminent departure i.e. he is "going to take a campaign with my old friend Gen'l Washington as Adjutant Director General of the Military Hospital for the middle district." Robert Morris' letter takes note of an application Booth has made to "your legislature" and notes that he knows Gov. Johnson and "will address him on the subject." Sam Washington's letter notes his desire to send his son, currently attending school in town, to Booth's institution because of concerns about "vice and immorality." Benedict Arnold's letter sending his sons to school a good distance from home came a month after his marriage to the 18-year old Peggy Shippen. In it he alludes to monetary issues, but also makes the interesting statement "as the fortunes of any man in this country are uncertain, I wish my sons to be educated in such a manner that with providence and industry they may acquire a fortune in case they are deprived of their patrimony." Letter 7 from John Luckett (possibly a student) written at "Maryland Camp" as they are about to "join our Virginia Militia At head Quarters" is a request for swords from himself and a Thomas Noland, and his promise to return them "Provided we are not killed nor taken prisoners." Of particular interest is Letter 14, from Col. Walter Stewart to Rev. Booth dated October 6, 1780, less than two weeks after Arnold's treason was revealed. Stewart's 2nd Pennsylvania regiment was rushed from Tappan, NY, to nearby West Point to reinforce the garrison there after Benedict Arnold's treachery was discovered. It contains a description, with vivid epithets, of Arnold's betrayal of the American cause, and of the capture of Andre.
Other documents in the collection relate to the disposition of property after the death first of Rev. Bartholomew in 1785, and in 1788 his sons Robert and William (the eldest), who evidently were lost at sea on a voyage to England. A copy of William's will (16) features the prescient introduction ".and being about to take a voyage to England and well aware of the dangers and perils I shall be expos'd to, do make this my last will and testament." It also includes a bequest to Maria Valens. Efforts to clear up issues relating to these deaths resulted in an act from the Maryland General Assembly, a draft of which is part of the collection (18). |
