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.
Biographical Note
Scope and Content Note
Series Outline
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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