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Inventory of the Rumsey Family Papers,
86m01 Inventory of the Rumsey Family Papers, 1804-1843 Archives Staff Special Collections Special Collections Kentucky History Center Kentucky Historical Society 100 W. Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 USA Phone: (502) 564-1792, ext.4470 Fax: (502) 564-4701 URL: http://history.ky.gov/ Kentucky Historical Society 1986 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, April 2000. ENG Inventory of the Rumsey Family Papers, 1804-1843 Contact Information Special Collections Kentucky History Center Kentucky Historical Society 100 W. Broadway Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 USA Phone: (502) 564-1792, ext.4470 Fax: (502) 564-4701 URL: http://history.ky.gov/ Processed by: Staff Date Completed: 1986 Encoded by: Apex Data Services Copyright 1999 Kentucky Historical Society. All Rights Reserved. Rumsey Family Papers, 1804-1843 86M01 Rumsey Family 1 box, .5 c.f. Fair --> Kentucky Historical Society. Special Collections & Archives. Frankfort, Kentucky 40601-1931 Access at KHS only. Use microfilm, transcriptions or images when available. For microfilmed copies see Clift number(s): 0154, 0815-18 Permission for commercial use must be requested from the Kentucky Historical Society. Special Collections. [Identification of item], Rumsey Family Papers, 1804-1843, 86M01,Library Special Collections and Archives, Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort. James Rumsey (1743-1792), a native of Maryland and later a resident of Virginia, was an inventor who is sometimes credited as the originator of the steamboat or navigation by steam. His son was Dr. Edward Rumsey, who lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Dr. Rumsey's sons, James D. Rumsey, and Edward Rumsey (1796-1868) lived in Hopkinsville and Greenville, Kentucky. The latter was an U.S. Congressman from 1837 to 1839 and was a member of the Whig party. These are the papers of the Rumsey family of western Kentucky. The materials include a draft of a legal document appointing James Johnson of Baltimore as agent and attorney to prosecute claims relating to the original inventions of the first James Rumsey. There are also two land agreements, one-dated 1809 and the other 1813, for land in western Kentucky belonging to Dr. Rumsey. Correspondence includes an 1804 letter by creditors to Dr. Rumsey, a letter to the latter from his son-in-law, James Weir, in Greenville concerning personal and local news as well as questions about Dr. Rumsey's plans to put a steamboat into operation, and three letters by the Edward Rumsey who served in Congress. These letters include an 1835 letter to his brother accounting for his profits and losses as a merchant in Greenville and a letter as a Congressman in 1837 concerning a prospective appointment to West Point that he would have the right to fill and the work of Congress in general, particularly regarding the Bank of the United States question. Some business documents such as receipts and promissory notes are also present. A transcript of a murder trial pertaining to the death of Milton I. Cartwright is also included. The person accused of the crime apparently was Thomas Wadlington. No date or place is given and no obvious connection to the Rumseys is indicated, beyond provenance notes stating the material belonged to the Rumsey family papers. Arrangement: Collection is arranged by subject. County: Warren; Christian; Muhlenberg Rumsey family - Archives Land titles - Registration and transfer - Kentucky Legislators - United States Inventors - Kentucky - 19th century Merchants - Kentucky - Muhlenberg County - 19th century Rumsey, James, 1743?-1792 Container List 1 1 Dr. Edward Rumsey 1 2 James Rumsey (1743-1792) 1 3 Edward Rumsey (1796-1868) 1 4 James D. Rumsey 1 5 Milton I. Cartwright 1 5 Transcriptions / Images