University of Delaware Library

Special Collections Department

Rush Family Papers

1789-circa 1898
(bulk dates 1820-1860)

Manuscript Collection Number: 314
Accessioned: Gift of the Moyerman Family, 1972.
Extent: 0.75 linear ft.
Content: Correspondence, typescripts, receipts, bank books, wills, and deeds.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: February-March 1995 by J. Andrew Armacost.

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Table of Contents

Biographical Note Scope and Content Note Series Outline

Contents List

 Box -- Folder -- Contents


1         Series I.  Rush Family Papers
          This series contains material authored by, or related
          to, individual members of the Rush family.

          Series I.1.  Dr. Benjamin Rush and Julia Stockton Rush

     F1   Papers of Dr. Benjamin Rush, 1789-1813
          Preserved are five receipts spanning the years 1782-1813, 
          one letter (Apr 30, 1789) from Wallis & Keen
          concerning Dr. Rush, and a letter from Thomas Fitzsmons
          to Dr. Benjamin Rush, June 19, 1790.  

     F2   Papers of Julia Stockton Rush, 1816-1848
          Included is one receipt dated May 11, 1816 from Paul
          Williams and Co.  Included as well are four letters one
          of which is a letter of introduction from Edward P. Fry
          on behalf of maestro Antonio Baroli.  Three letters
          from her children are preserved, one from Anne Emily
          Rush Cuthbert (1799-1850) postmarked from Montreal, and
          two from her twelfth child Samuel Rush (1785-1859).  An
          additional letter not listed below is preserved only in
          fragments. 

          1837 Jul 5     Anne Emily Rush Cuthbert      to   JSR
          1840 Jul 14    Samuel Rush                   to   JSR
               Jul 31    Samuel Rush                   to   JSR
          1848 Mar 7     Edward P. Fry for A. Baroli   to   JSR

1         Series I.  Rush Family Papers  (cont'd)

          Series I.2.  The Family of Richard Rush
               Richard Rush (1780-1859)was the third child of Dr.
               Benjamin Rush and Julia Stockton Rush.  

     F3   Estate and papers of Richard Rush, 1808-1835
          Contains one 1808 vellum deed (removed to oversized)
          concerning land at 6th and Prune street in
          Philadelphia, and three letters.  One letter written in
          London in 1819 concerns the arrival of General
          Cadwalader, and a second letter is a dinner invitation
          from the English diplomat David Urquhart (1805-1877). 
          The last letter of 1835 requests a midshipmens warrant
          for his son Madison Rush Mahlon Dickerson (1770-1853),
          Secretary of the Navy.  

          1819 Jul 13    Richard Rush   to   [unknown]
          1824 Dec 8     David Urquhart to   Richard Rush
          1835 Aug 3     Richard Rush   to   Mahlon Dickerson

          Attributed to the estate of Richard Rush is a published
          history of the title to the farm of Dr. Benjamin Rush
          called Sydeham.  The history covers the years 1692-1860, 
          and has been updated to 1861 with handwritten
          additions pertaining to the dispersal of Richard Rush's
          property by his sons.

          Brief of title, to lots of ground, situate on the west
          side of fifteenth street, in the twentieth ward of the
          city of Philadelphia.  Philadelphia: T.H. Town, 1860.

     F4   Papers of Benjamin Rush, 1864-1877
          Benjamin Rush (1811-1877) was the first child of
          Richard and Catherine Murray Rush.  This folder
          contains two letters to J.H. McCalla dated 1863 and
          1864, the second of which refers to General Cadwalader. 
          The third letter is undated and from captain Joseph S.
          Biddle regarding the funeral of Madison Rush (d. 1856). 
          Included as well is an announcement of Benjamin Rush's
          funeral in 1877.

         [1856 Jul 20]   Joseph S. Biddle    to   Benjamin Rush
          1863 Oct 29    Benjamin Rush       to   J.H. McCalla
          1864 Oct 22    Benjamin Rush       to   J.H. McCalla


1         Series I.  Rush Family Papers (cont'd)
          Series I.2.  The Family of Richard Rush (cont'd)

     F5   Will of Madison Rush, 1856
          Madison Rush (1821-1856) was the seventh child of
          Richard Rush and Catherine Murray Rush.  This folder
          preserves a handwritten copy of his will made out in
          1856 and registered April 29, 1857.

     F6   Papers of Richard H. Rush, 1856
          Richard H. Rush (1825-1893) was the ninth child of
          Richard Rush and Catherine Murray Rush.  This folder
          contains a page of calculations related to a curve in
          the Germantown Railroad between 20th and 21st streets. 
          The leaf is numbered thirteen and dated September 3,
          1856.


          Series I.3.  James Rush (1786-1869) papers 
               James Rush was the eleventh child of Dr. Benjamin
               Rush and Julia Stockton Rush.  

     F7   Papers of James Rush, 1816-1855
          Contains three receipts from 1816-1817, and a notebook
          which, according to the inscription, was used by J.
          Rush from September to November 1855 for revisions to
          the fifth edition of his book entitled The Philosophy
          of the human voice.  

     F8   Estate papers of James Rush, (d. 1869)
          Contains a volume inventorying items from the estate
          sold to family members including a set of blue silk
          furniture from the breakfast room and a set of
          "Egyptian" china.  Preserved as well are printed copies
          of:

          The Last will and testament of Dr. James Rush of the
          city of Philadelphia.  Philadelphia: Collins, 1869. 
          (removed to be cataloged with printed material)

          Provisions of the last will and testament of Dr. James
          Rush, relating to the Library Company of Philadelphia. 
          Philadelphia: Collins, 1869.  (removed to be cataloged
          with printed material)


1         Series I.  Rush Family Papers  (cont'd)

          Series I.4.  Benjamin Rush (1791-1824) papers
               Benjamin was the tenth child of Dr. Benjamin Rush
               and Julia Stockton Rush

     F9   Papers of Benjamin Rush, 1824-1825
          Included is one letter from Benjamin Rush's brother
          Samuel Rush that was sent aboard the ship Clothier
          commanded by captain John Phillips to Benjamin Rush who
          was then in Canton, China.  Preserved as well are three
          letters of introduction from 1824, when Benjamin Rush
          relocated to the city of New Orleans to establish the
          firm of Rush and Ralston.  One of these is to George
          Washington Campbell (1769-1848) former United States
          Senator and Secretary of the Treasury who was then
          living in Nashville.  Another is from William Chandler,
          of the Philadelphia firm Chandler-Price, which were
          pioneers in the New Orleans trade.

          1819 Jun 2     Samuel Rush    to   Benjamin Rush
          1824 Sep 30    W. Chandler    to   Joseph Fowler
               Oct 4     Robert Ralston to   L.T. Hobson & Co.
               Oct 10    Alex Sorman    to   G.W. Campbell
          1825 Mar 23    J.R. Latimer   to   Benjamin Rush


2         Series I.5.  Samuel Rush (1785-1859) papers
               Samuel Rush was the twelfth child of Benjamin Rush
               and Julia Stockton Rush.  

     F10  Correspondence and receipts, 1824-1849
          Includes receipts from 1824-1832, which include a bill
          for the coffin of his first son James Rush (1829-1831). 
          Preserved as well is correspondence spanning the years
          1837-1849, from Samuel Rush's nephew James Cuthbert
          (1800-1842), fellow Philadelphia lawyer William Henry
          Dillingham (1789-1854), and Joshua York of Pittsburgh.

          1837 Nov 3     Joshua York         to   Samuel Rush
          1840 Apr 6     W.H. Dillingham     to   Samuel Rush
               Oct 6     James Cuthbert      to   Samuel Rush
          1845 Apr 25    Samuel Rush         to   S.W. Carmel
               Aug 18    John Guest for
                         Edward G. Guest     to   Samuel Rush



2         Series I.  Rush Family Papers  (cont'd)
          Series I.5.  Samuel Rush (1785-1859) papers (cont'd)

     F11  Choctaw Commission correspondence and papers, 1844-1850
          Includes legal material, and a page of portraits made
          in  November 1845.  Preserved as well is correspondence
          related to General George S. Gains (1784-1873), who
          negotiated the removal, T. Hartly Crawford (1786-1863),
          Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Thomas L. McKenny
          (1785-1859) Superintendent of Indian Affairs, William
          B. Lewis (1784-1866) Second Auditor to the Treasury and
          a close associate of President Andrew Jackson, J.J.
          McRae enrolling and disbursing agent for the removal of
          the Choctaws, and Charles Fisher (1786-1849) former
          U.S. congressman and author of the 1844 book Choctaw
          claims.  

          1844 Jun 24    J.J. McRae          to   Samuel Rush and
                                                  G.S. Gains
               Sep 4     Samuel Rush         to   T.H. Crawford
               Oct 16    Choctaw Commission  to   T.H. Crawford
          1845 Feb 21    William B. Lewis    to   Samuel Rush
               Jun 12    Charles Fisher      to   Samuel Rush,
                                                  G.S. Gains, and
                                                  Tyler
          1850 Jul 8     L.M. McKenny        to   Samuel Rush

     F12  Receipts, 1844-1849
          Includes receipts for the West Chester Railroad
          Company; the City Hotel, Washington, D.C.; Wright and
          Brothers umbrellas; subscriptions to the newspaper 
          Union of Washington, D.C.; and the jeweler Perry
          O'Daniel.

     F13  Material related to John R. Poizat, 1849
          Samuel Rush appears to have acted as an intermediary in
          a real estate sale from Robert Mercier of West Chester
          to John R. Poizat of Philadelphia.  Included are legal
          notes, signed agreements, as well as the following
          correspondence:

          1849 Sep 7     John R. Poizat      to   Samuel Rush
               Sep 11    Samuel Rush         to   John R. Poizat
               Sep 12    Samuel Rush         to   John R. Poizat
               Sep 12    John R. Poizat      to   Samuel Rush
               Sep 21    John R. Poizat      to   Samuel Rush
               Sep 24    Samuel Rush         to   John R. Poizat

2         Series I.  Rush Family Papers  (cont'd)
          Series I.5.  Samuel Rush (1785-1859) papers (cont'd)

     F14  Correspondence, 1850-1856,  and n.d.
          Includes correspondence with his children, his friend
          E. Clapp, and fellow lawyer J. Williams Biddle (1821-1856). 
          Preserved as well is a letter from Washington
          Townsend (1813-1895) requesting S. Rush to present an
          ode at the public dedication of the Oaklands cemetery
          in West Chester, and a letter from the Fame Fire
          Company of West Chester requesting S. Rush to present a
          lecture at their regular meeting.  

          1849 Jun 26    E. Clapp            to   Samuel Rush
          1850 Sep 14    E. Clapp            to   Samuel Rush
               Oct 30    E. Clapp            to   Samuel Rush
               Nov 20    J. Williams Biddle  to   Samuel Rush
               Dec 7     J. Williams Biddle  to   Samuel Rush
          1851 Jan 2     E. Clapp            to   Samuel Rush
               Jul 12    Samuel Rush         to   Sister
               Oct 10    William Rush        to   Samuel Rush
               Oct 22    William Rush        to   Samuel Rush
          1853 Sep 28    William Rush        to   Samuel Rush
               Oct 5     William Rush and
                         Julia W. Rush       to   Samuel Rush
               Oct 31    Washington Townsend to   Samuel Rush
               Dec 14    W. Worthington, Jr.
                         Henry Fleming, Jr.
                         Cyrus P. Painter
                         of the Fame Fire Co.to   Samuel Rush
          1854 Nov 2     William Rush        to   Samuel Rush
          1856 Jul 21    Samuel Rush         to   Sister
          n.d. Aug 22    B. Rush (1811-1877) to   Samuel Rush
          n.d.           W.D. Jones          to   Samuel Rush

     F15  Bank books, 1848-1856
          Contains two consecutive volumes recording his balance
          in the Bank of Chester County.

     F16  Receipts, 1850-1851, and n.d.
          Includes receipts for the West Chester Railroad
          Company, the clothier Bennett & Co., and the
          Pennsylvania Fire Insurance Company.


2         Series I.  Rush Family Papers  (cont'd)
          Series I.5.  Samuel Rush (1785-1859) papers (cont'd)

     F17  Papers related to William Rush, 1845-1853
          Preserves W. Rush's report cards from the West Chester
          Academy, one letter from Julia W. Rush and two from
          Samuel Rush.  Includes as well copies of Euclid's
          theorems Samuel Rush made for W. Rush March 14, 1851.

               1845 Mar 13    Julia Rush     to   William Rush
               1851 Apr 11    Samuel Rush    to   William Rush
               1853 Apr 13    Samuel Rush    to   William Rush

          Legal Material
          This collection generally relates to Samuel Rush's
          tenure as Deputy Attorney-General for Philadelphia
          County and Recorder of the city of Philadelphia.  

     F18  Records of court cases, Oct 1839 and Feb 1840
          These pages numbered 1-12 and 85-90, and covering
          October 23-28, 1839 and February 19-26, 1840, contain
          lists of litigants, and court decisions.

     F19  Records of court cases, May 10-Jul 9, 1841
          These pages numbered 1-76, contain lists of litigants,
          some testimony, and court decisions.  Indexed.

     F20  Papers related to legal matters, 1835-1850
          Contains notes related to an 1835 estate case, a draft
          of a deposition made November 1845 related to the
          notebooks of Dr. Benjamin Rush, and other legal
          material.

2         Series I.  Rush Family Papers  (cont'd)

          Series I.6.  Unidentified Rush material
          Ten items from Series I of the Rush Family Papers could
          not be specifically related to individuals in the
          family.  In most cases this is the result of letters or
          receipts being addressed merely to Mr. or Mrs. Rush.

     F21  Unidentified Rush material, 1790-1876
          Includes an April 25, 1790 invitation to meet the
          friends of Henry Hobart (1775-1830) at the King's head
          in the Market-Place seemingly addressed to Richard Rush
          who would only have been ten years of age.  This may in
          fact be an invitation to Dr. Benjamin Rush, who
          according to his Commonplace Book, knew Henry Hobart. 
          Included as well is a sheet detailing expenses related
          to architectural improvements to properties associated
          with the Rush estate.  It is unclear which Rush this
          estate was associated with, but the architectural firm
          involved was that of Collins and Autenrieth.  Included
          as well are two letters from an unidentified Sibyl to
          her father one of which is dated October 17, 1872, and
          an invitation to a Mr. Rush for the twenty-fifth
          wedding anniversary of William and Mary Lippincott.  


3         Series II.  Material about the Rush Family

          Series II.1.  Dr. Benjamin Rush in the opinion of his
               revolutionary contemporaries, a reply to the
               interested prejudice of a recent writer  
               This handwritten manuscript authored by Alexander
               Biddle (1819-1899) replies specifically to the
               publication of President Reed of Pennsylvania: a
               reply to George Bancroft and others, published in
               1867.  In subject, both this manuscript and the
               1867 book to which it responds, contribute to the
               controversy that surrounded the publication of
               George Bancroft's ninth volume of his History of
               the United States, published in 1866.  This
               annotated MS contains paginated and unpaginated
               pages in what may represent various stages of
               revision.  As described in F22 the text was
               corroborated with extracts of letters.  

     F22  Title page and unpaginated text
          These leaves may represent a previous draft of the
          document that appears in F23 or a different section of
          the final work.  Each Page bears significant
          annotations and revisions.    Title page includes an
          epigraph from Romans 2:1.

     F23  Text pages 1-4, 4, 6, 10-11, 16-27
          These pages are inconsistently paginated and may
          represent fragments of various versions.  The pages
          bear numerous revisions throughout.

     F24  Letter extracts related to Dr. Benjamin Rush, pp. 1-10
          Pages one and two reproduce letters published in Thomas
          Jefferson Randolph ed.  Memoir, correspondence, and
          miscellanies, from the papers of Thomas Jefferson, 
          Vol. 4. (Charlottesville, Va: F. Carr and Co., 1829).

     F25  Letter extracts related to Dr. Benjamin Rush, pp. 11-19
          Page 17 contains an extract from Eli K. Price, Memoir
          of Philip and Rachel Price, (Philadelphia: Printed for
          Eli K. Price and Philip M. Price, 1852).  


          Series II.2.  Copied Letters
               These handwritten pages preserve letters formerly
               in the possession but unpublished by Alexander
               Biddle.  They consist of letters from John Adams
               to Dr. Benjamin Rush during the period 1810-1813.

     F26  Pages [1]-30, containing letters from 1810-1812

     F27  Pages 31-64, containing letters from 1812-1813


3         Series II.  Material about the Rush Family (cont'd)
          Series II.3.  Anonymous Biography of Dr. Benjamin Rush

     F28  Biography of Benjamin Rush
          Anonymously authored typescript describing the life of
          Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Annotated 10pp.  This was published
          in John Welsh Croskey comp., History of Blockley: A
          History of the Philadelphia General Hospital from its
          inception, 1731-1928, (Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 1929),
          526-532.  


          Series II.4.  Typescripts related to Alexander Biddle
               This series preserves partial typescripts for both
               volumes of Alexander Biddle's publication of Dr.
               Benjamin Rush's letters.  Each volume o the two
               volume set bore an individual title.  

        Volume I,   Old Family Letters: copied from the originals
          for Alexander Biddle, Series A.  

     F29  Pages A-62 to A-89, and A-133 to A-139
          These pages correspond to published pages 57-83, and
          125-132.  

     F30  Pages A-157 to A-191
          These correspond to published pages 148-182.  

     F31  Pages A-331 to A-342, A-350 to A-364, and B-1 to B-2.
          These pages correspond to published pages 308-318, 324-337.  
          The pages in the B series appear not to have been
          published, they record letters to Dr. Benjamin Rush
          from John Quincy Adams, June 15, 1812; and from Samuel
          Adams April 14, 1785.

          Volume II, Old Family Letters relating to Yellow Fever,
          Series B.

     F32  Pages [1]-28, 62-63, 71-82, and 80-82.  
          These pages correspond to published pages 3-31, 65-67,
          74-82, and 83-86.
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