Lincoln Letters

Letter of January 21, 1861, from E. J. Blackshear to Mrs. Pittman (Page 1 of 4)

Series: N2005-0, Box 11, Folder 5.

Lincoln Letters

Lincoln Letters

Letter of January 21, 1861, from E. J. Blackshear to Mrs. Pittman

As the first half of the letter deals only with family matters, the transcription begins near the end of the second page, which is where E. J. Blackshear begins to discuss the secession crisis. Georgia seceded on January 19 and its secession convention delegates signed the state’s ordinance of secession on January 21, the day Blackshear began his letter.

Additional: E. J. Blackshear (Edward Jefferson Blackshear) was married to Mary Jane Pittman, who was the sister of John D. Pittman. The Blackshears lived at Froglevel, a plantation in Laurens County, Georgia. E. J. Blackshear was a successful businessman, county judge, and state senator in Georgia. Mary Jane Blackshear died in 1852 as a result of complications following the birth of her fourth child, Edward Jefferson Jr. After Mary's death, E. J. Blackshear corresponded regularly with Mary's mother, Martha Pittman of Marianna, Florida.

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