%eadnotat; ]> ellsw1868.xml William Wolcott Ellsworth Papers A Guide to the William Wolcott Ellsworth Papers at the Connecticut Historical Society Compiled by NHPRC Project Staff EAD conversion sponsored by grant funding from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Grant # 98-101 Connecticut Historical Society

1 Elizabeth Street Hartford, CT 06105

August 1999 Collection Overview US/CTH/ELLSW/1868 Connecticut Historical Society William Wolcott Ellsworth Papers. 1844 -- 1869 William Wolcott Ellsworth Collection consists primarily of William Ellsworth's professional correspondence, created after Ellsworth's retirement from national and Connecticut political life, and his return to the practise of law. 2 boxes; 35 folders; 0.75 linear feet Manuscript stacks Related Material

An index of catalog cards is available to aid access to this collection and material in other collections. Access is through writer, recipient and date. The card catalog is located in the library reading room. The reader is also directed to the Print Room and Museum for non-documentary materials.

Microfilm copy available.

Scope and Content

Collection consists largely of letters written to William Ellsworth in a professional capacity as lawyer. The correspondence was written or received in the last twenty years of Ellsworth's life after his retirement form political life and his return to the poractice of law. Principal correspondents include: G. & C. Merriam, Chauncey Goodrich, Norman White, Henry Jones, W. G. Webster, and Henry Trowbridge.

Organization

Materials have been ordered and placed into a single series, Correspondence, series based on form.

Correspondence Arrangement

Correspondence is arranged chronologically within the series.

Holographs; holographs, signed. Chauncey Allen Goodrich Henry Jones Charles Merriam George Spring Merriam Henry Trowbridge W G Webster G. & C. Merriam (Springfield, Mass.). Biographical Sketch

William Ellsworth was born in Windsor, Connecticut on November 10, 1791, to Chief-Justice Oliver Ellsworth. He and his twin brother, Henry Leavitt Ellsworth, prepared for college with Nathan Johnson. The brothers graduated from Yale in 1810 and entered law training at Litchfield Law School.

Upon completing his formal law studies, William Ellsworth went to Hartford to train with Judge Thomas Scott Williams. In 1813 he was admitted to the bar, and on September 14 of that same year, he married Emily, the eldest daughter of Noah Webster.

When Judge Williams went to Congress in 1817, Ellsworth was given charge of his mentor's law office. Ten years later, Ellsworth accepted a professorship of law at Trinity College in Hartford, and he would hold this position until his death. In 1829, Ellsworth himself was elected to Congress and he remained there until 1834, when he resigned of his own accord. In 1838, however, he returned to politics as governor of Connecticut, a post he held for four years.

When Ellsworth had tired of politics, he returned to his law practice, and in 1847 was made an associate judge of the state supreme court. He held this position until in 1861, he had to retire because of his age. He died in Hartford on January 15, 1868.

Series list Series 1: Correspondence Series 1: Correspondence 1844 -- 1869 2 boxes ELLSW/1868 -- I & II Series consists mainly of professional correspondence, written or received after Ellsworth's return to the practise of law Folder I.A Archives Control File. Folder I.1 Correspondence concerning such men as Henry White, W.G. Webster, Henry Jones, and Henry Trowbridge. 1844-1849 Folder I.2 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, Henry Trowbridge, and Henry Jones. January - April 1850 Folder I.3 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, Chauncey Goodrich, and Norman White. May 1850 Folder I.4 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, Norman White, and Henry Jones. June 1850 Folder I.5 Correspondence concerning such men as George Cooledge, W.G. Webster, Henry Jones, and Henry Trowbridge. Juny - August 1850 Folder I.6 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, Chauncey Goodrich, and Norman White. September - December 1850 Folder I.7 Correspondence concerning such men as Henry Jones, W.G. Webster, R.S. Baldwin, and Henry Trowbridge. January - May 1851 Folder I.8 Correspondence concerning such men as Henry Jones, Henry Trowbridge, W.G. Webster, Chauncey Goodrich, G. & C. Merriam, and Henry White. June - December 1851 Folder I.9 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, George Morrison, and Chauncey Goodrich. January - February 1852 Folder I.10 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, W.B. Smith, and W.G. Webster. March - May 1852 Folder I.11 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, Henry Trowbridge, and Chauncey Goodrich. June - December 1852 Folder I.12 Correspondence concerning such men as Henry Trowbridge, W.G. Webster, Henry Jones, and John Terhune. January 1853 Folder I.13 Correspondence concerning such men as George Cooledge, Henry Jones, and Chauncey Goodrich. February - September 1853 Folder I.14 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, G. & C. Merriam, and W.G. Webster. October 1853 Folder I.15 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, W.G. Webster, and George Cooledge. November - December 1853 Folder I.16 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, W.C. Fowler, and Henry Trowbridge. January - March 1854 Folder I.17 Correspondence concerning such men as Henry Trowbridge, G. & C. Merriam, and W.C. Fowler. April 1854 Folder I.18 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, W.C. Fowler, and W.G. Webster. May 1854 Folder I.19 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, G. & C. Merriam, and Chauncey Goodrich. June - October 1854 Folder I.20 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, Henry Jones and W.G. Webster. November - December 1854 Folder I.21 Correspondence concerning such men as Alfred Blackman and G. & C. Merriam. 1855 - March 1856 Folder I.22 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam. April - July 1856 Folder II.1 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, G. & C. Merriam, and Norman White. August 1856 Folder II.2 Correspondence concerning such men as W.G. Webster, Norman White, and G. & C. Merriam. September 1-15, 1856 Folder II.3 Correspondence concerning such men as Norman White, G. & C. Merriam, and Chauncey Goodrich. September 16-30, 1856 Folder II.4 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich and G. & C. Merriam. October 1856 Folder II.5 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam and Norman White. November - December 1856 Folder II.6 Correspondence concerning such men as Chauncey Goodrich, G. & C. Merriam, and W.G. Webster. January - February 1857 Folder II.7 Correspondence concerning such men as Alfred Blackman, G. & C. Merriam, Chauncey Goodrich, and Charles Tracy. March - April 1857 Folder II.8 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam. May - July 1857 Folder II.9 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam and Charles Tracy; includes two drafts of an Act of Congress. August - December 1857 Folder II.10 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam. 1858 Folder II.11 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam. 1861 Folder II.12 Correspondence concerning such men as G. & C. Merriam, Chauncey Goodrich, Henry White. 1862-1869 Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Use Restrictions

Use of the material requires compliance with the Connecticut Historical Society's Library Regulations.

Preferred Citation

"Item, Collection Title (Collection Code -- box #. Folder #), at the Connecticut Historical Society".

Processing Details

EAD instance compiled by NHPRC project staff in August, 1999. EAD finding aid was created in XML using NoteTab Pro. Tansformation to HTML was effected through application of XSL (WD19981216) using James Clark's processor, XT.

Accruals

The collection is open, but additional material is not expected.

Accession Register Accession # Date Source Details