Chautauque Land Office
Westfield May 17, 1838
Dear Henry
The man, Root, who refused to do any
thing in regard to his land, has been in
and agreed take his land before the 1st of Jan
or find a man to take it at original price
interest & cost – upon an advance of $20.
The agreement is in writing – but not such
as to vitiate the judgement we have in the
ejectment suit – so that this stormy fellow
gives us a calm till Christmas & then we
can if need be send the sherriff to put him
off. – I am convinced however that he has
no other desire than to keep the land – and
he is only kept from giving a Bond till
now by a pride, that he is fast disappear-
ing.
But we have a harder case. – The old man & his son that refused to sign his
mortgage – & his son – The Thorps – refused
to plead to the chancery notice – & were
yesterday taken through here on an

[left Margin] Dixson

x

Person

Name: Abram Dixon Birth: 1787-07-23 Death: 1875-04-19

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has instructions to settle the Thorp case – I regret that it
was not allowed to lie till your return – know nothing of the
arrest till they
were here – or I
should have advised
against it.
-But all
the world
here think
it a clear
case of justice
& are glad
to see these
men punished.

attachment, on their way to Rochester or
Lockport to appear before the Chancellor.
More ignorant, obstinate perverseness I never
knew! I saw at once the probability that
these stubborn men must land in prison
& strove with them – sent others – kept them
the night in town, to cool their tempers &
give vent to the fumes of whiskey – but all
to no purpose – I requested Mr Dickson
to write Orlando Hastings to mention to
any opposing counsel that might be
employed, that we were now as we had
ever been, willing to adjust the matter
by a written contract for payment
ten years. – and they are gone!
Considering that your business
will likely detain you a few days long-
er in the City – & you will be required
to stop a little while at Auburn on your
return – I have not thought it likely
that you would wish to see me here
before the last of June. and as there
are few customers coming in now
and I can, as I suppose be spared

from the business, as well at this as at
any season of the year – & as I think
my health will be probably be bene-
fitted by it, I have concluded, as I
mentioned in a previous letter to set off
some time next week for 4 weeks
Owego be to be about four weeks –
I shall endeavour to leave things
so that the best attention shall be given
to the business, the case admits of – I mean
in regard to the writing up of the
business.
The settlement of Tew's Bill of
Recording – the collection of the little
balance due us from the Lumbermans
Bank – the adjustment of the period
beyond which no corrections of errors will
be allowed by the H. L. Co. – & many other
things here require your attention – and
if your business brings you here while
I am absent, I shall regret that I
was not better advised so that I might
have stayed. – But you will I think
find things in a plain shape & the

cash & cash entries, easy to be under-
stood.
Your Grateful Brother
B. J. Seward
Wm H. Seward Esq.
Care Am. L. In. & Trust Co.
New York City
Single
WESTFIELD NY MAY 21
B.J. Seward
May 17. 1838.
The Thorps case returned and settled