Henry Family Papers
Scope and Content
The Henry Collection is composed of eight folders of family correspondence, 1827-1888, the bulk of which span 1861-1868; and over 150 letters from soldiers in the Civil War, 1861-1865, the bulk of which span 1861-1862. Of special note are Hugh Henry's Civil-War-era letters. Written between 1862-1865 to his mother from various places in the South, these letters describe the travel of his regiment, camp life, and encounters with Confederate soldiers. Most of the other letters reflect the day-to-day cares of the writers. This collection will be of interest to researchers of the Civil War, as well as those studying general family life in the mid-nineteenth century.
Dates
- 1827-1888
Creator
- Henry Family (Family)
Access:
Collection is open for research.
Publication Rights:
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Curator of Manuscripts.
Henry Biography
Hugh Henry, father of Hugh H. Henry, came to Chester, Vermont, before 1780. He eventually married Susan Dodge. They had four children: Mary, Susan, Elizabeth and Hugh H. Henry. Letters by Elizabeth, Elizabeth's husband, Laurence Bigelow, and Hugh H. appear in the collection.
Hugh H. Henry was born in Chester on October 18, 1814. He was educated at Dartmouth College (class of 1833). He married Sarah Henry and produced ten children. Hugh H.'s letters to Sarah appear frequently in the collection, as well as mentions of some of their children.
Hugh H. was prominent in town and state politics. He was Chester's representative in the state legislature (1839, 1841-1843, 1861) and a state senator (1864). He was a Democratic candidate for Congress. He served as the president of the Vermont Valley Railroad for 19 years until his death in Chester on December 18, 1869.
One of Hugh H.'s children was Hugh, born on March 23, 1838. He was educated at the Chester and Deerfield academies. He was admitted to the Vermont Bar in May of 1862. In May of 1863, he was mustered for service as a quartermaster sergeant of the Union Army. He eventually rose to the rank of second lieutenant. After the Civil War, Henry was a lawyer and insurance salesman. He also represented Chester in the Vermont legislature at various times and was a Windsor County senator as well.
Sources:
Aldrich, Lewis and Frank Holmes, eds. History of Windsor County. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason and Co., Publishers, 1891.
Dodge, Prentiss. Encyclopedia, Vermont Biography. Burlington, VT: Ullery Publishing Co., 1912.
Extent
1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Henry Collection is composed of eight folders of family correspondence, 1827-1888, and over 150 letters from soldiers in the Civil War, 1861-1865.
Shelf location
Library Research Annex; contact uvmsc@uvm.edu for access.
- Title
- Guide to the Henry Family Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processor: Elizabeth A. Allen.
- Date
- 1998
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the University of Vermont Libraries, Special Collections Repository
Silver Special Collections Library
48 University Place, Room B201
Burlington Vermont 05405 U.S.A. US
(802) 656-2138
(802) 656-4038 (Fax)
uvmsc@uvm.edu
