Special Collections:  Letter from the Draper Manuscripts; John B. Finley, 1862

Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Carmen Finley

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Finley, John B. letter, December 10, 1862, Lewis County, Kentucky to Lyman Draper. 

Draper Manuscripts [Calendars and documentary series] (Samford, N.C.: NYT Microfilming 
Corp. of America, 1981; 5E21. 

Canaan Lewis County December the 10, 1862 

Dear Sir, I received your letter on the 6 of this month requesting to inform you of my father's birth as to his birth I have no
recollectin of it. I was in the South for the last 20 years before his death, he died on the ninth day of May 1839 aged ninety
three years. 2nd. There is tombstones to his grave, it is in West Union, Ohio, Adams County. 3rd. My father was married to
Jain Blair of Faggs Manor State of New Jersy, my mother died on the 8th of July 1840 aged 83 years. My father was married
about the commencement of the war. 4. I may be mistaken about York Town, but at Stoney Point I am not mistaken, my father
said that General Wayne requested General Washington to give him seven hundred choice men and he would take the Point,
my father was one of them, he also made them take the flints out of their guns. They stormed the Point about twelve o'clock at
night. Wayne was the first man on the walls, his watchword here now my brave boys Remember the Paoli. My father was at
the Battle of Trenton for I heard my grandfather say that something happened that made it necessary for my father to ride
between the two lines of the enemy, and he had a restless night of it never expected to see him alive again. My father was acting
as Adjutant at that time. As to Captain Brady, I have seen him at my father's house in Westmoreland, County Pennsylvania. I
think he lived at Greenleaf the County seat of Westmoreland, if I am not mistaken. He was Deputy Surveyor for the State
under my father. As to John Finley who was with Boone, he was my grandfather's brother's son. He was born in Virginia on the
James River. I am of the opinion he was killed at the battle of the Lower Blue Licks. As to what my father was President of
was near Elizavill Flemming County, Kentucky. He then moved back to Ohio near West Union where he first moved from, and
where he died in full assurance of the faith of immortal glory. As to old papers, I think they were all lost by carelessness of my
brother's children. I remain your etc, and may the choisest of heavens blessing be with you. 

J.B. Finley