Here are four letters that I have finally transcribed electronically. The first was written in 1899 by Frederick Gleason Sacket to his brother Frank; the next two were written by Charles Weygant to Frank Sackett of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1903. The final one is the 1907 cover letter that went out to subscribers to THE SACKETTS IN AMERICA. The internal comments in square brackets are my comments or editorial additions to the letters. Wendy ============================== [LETTER 1--entirely handwritten] Knox, Pa., Sep. 10, 1899 Dear Brother Frank, Your letter of 6. was a very welcome visitor to us last evening. In regard to the matter pertaining to the Sacket family Genealogy, I have succeeded after a long search in finding a sketch I drafted hurriedly while in O[hio]. I think during Mother's & O. M.'s [their brother Orsemus] lifetime. I had layed [sic] it away in my old trunk so carefully that it took me a long time to find it. As you will see, a part of it is from the historical records. The balance from matters related at time by our folks & data then at hand to refer to, and from my own recollection of faterh's telling us in earlier life. Some brief memorandas of incidents in his life sufficient to recall that which expected to bring out in full at future time when could get at it & complete the whole history in readable shape: as well also a portion of Mother's with it. This was simply a sketch for future use; but have never had time to complete it & don't know as ever will, but hope to sometime. Possibly may be able to this winter. There are some inacuracies [sic] which will correct in rewriting, if ever do. I will mail it to you in the crude state as it is and from this all you can furnish to the parties, of whom you write, such names & dates &c. as you think best. Also to the other Man Sacket of whom we have heretofore talked in relation to this matter. If you wait for me to do it, am afraid it will never get done, as seems I have less time each year for anything of this nature. I think there will be but little danger of its getting lost in transit & you can return to me again when through with it. If can ever get time to do it, I think with this and what I have heard related by our father & mother I can make quite a complete and to us interesting history of it. There are many little incidents to be brought in connection with this sketch that are to us worth preserving. I suppose in the main all this man Jas. D. [Sackett?] will want is the origin--or the birthplace of Grandfather to gather with names of all following. Of course the original location may aid somewhat in tracing out the lineage & relation-ship, if any. This is a matter I am very much interested in & am greatful [sic] to you for the interest taken & trouble you have been to in trying to secure the much desired information. Now as to other matters in your letter. We have rec'd no particulars as yet as to Corvis [Gray's] death, only a message sent on Sunday--a week ago now--It rec'd on Monday eve. while at supper at Hotel in Clarion--being there on jury. Funeral Tuesday at 9. a.m. Of course could not get there any way if had been free to go. But as it was could neither of us get away. Wish we could have been there. When I was in O[hio] this summer & parted with Corvus--I some-how felt never would see him again & I think he felt the same too. Hope Mary [their sister, widow of Corvus] will be sustained during these trying times. God alone in His goodness & mercy can do this. Suppose she will have Merle [her son] live with her. Sorry we could not have been at the re-union-- Glad you could be there & hope may be for many more. One thing I forgot is in regard to the book you mention. Think you better keep track of the matter & when the new book is complete will at least between us get one. The fish scale of which you write failed to materialize on opening. Suppose you omitted enclosing it. Would be much pleased to have it of course. Just rec'd a long good letter from Lucy [another sister] in which she also sends piece of wood from Abraham Lincoln's car [Possibly refers to a railway car? Not sure.] I have more of those scale & do not remember of ever having seen the fish. We have had a great deal of warm weather here this season, but upon the whole one of the finest & most even summers I ever experienced in the eastern states. As a result there has been a most bountiful harvest of all products. From this on I am dreading winter. Am thankful to our Heavenly Father for this beautiful season and that you with us all here have been so favored with health thus far. During past two months I have put is an unusually hard time of both mental & physical labor. Nearly all the time on the go from 4 in the morning till 10 & 11 at night. Been laying gas line to Callensburg [Penn.] & country about there & intervening. I organized the company, chartered and stocked it & had all responsibility of laying & besides doing much of the work & much to do yet. I learn but little of special interest about the O[hio] well. Talk with the parties here frequently about it. For some reason your letter was unusually slow in reaching here this time. Do you remember Simon Beck & Anson Peters & Ole Olson who used to have some wells about here? Some out between here & Egypt & Knights -- in the hollow in the woods. Peters is P.M. here and Beck has a number of wells about here: Some on each past of old Egypt farm since Hess & Co. divided it. Bech had one son, very small when you were here-- is married now & is soon going to Cin[cinnati]-- to take a course in medicine. They are a nice family & think you would like them. I gave him your office address & presume he will call on you. He being a stranger there you could likely favor him in way of information a good deal without great inconvenience of time. I hope you will excuse me for all seeming negligence in our correspondence, for I believe if you could only know my situation in regard to the demands on my time you could better understand. We are all usually well and all wish to be remembered to you. May [Fred's daughter] often speaks of you. Yours truly, F. G. Sacket ==================== [LETTER 2; typewritten letter. At this point, Weygant connects Skene to Capt. Richard's grandson Richard] Newburgh N.Y. April 18, 1903 Mr. F.J. Sackett Box 522, Cincinnati, Ohio Dear Sir:-- The information containd in your favor of 16th inst leads almost to a final and complete solution of the problem with which we have been wrestling. Turning to the official records of "Connecticut Men in the War of the Revolution" I find that Skene Douglas of "N.Milford" enlisted on Jan 23, 1780, for a term of three years in Capt.Samuel Comstocks Company of Second regiment of Connecticut Line commanded by Colonel Heman Swift. That nearly two years later, viz:-- On Dec 31 1781 he was paid in full for one years service last name, and was still serving in same regiment. Now it is certain that "N.Milford" means New Milford. These facts together with the previously mentioned record of his drawing a pension as Skene Douglas Sackett who served in Connecticut regiment but had removed to Ohio all accord with other statements contained in your records and the very pertinent explination [sic] as to his enlistment xxxx and other data from the son of Gerry Sackett, which you enclose. "The Family Record" is a monthly publication which I had printed during the year 1897. Without waiting for an order from you I will send you a complete set. If you want to keep them send me One Dollar[;] if not return them. If you will turn to page 76 you will find a partially completed table of your ancestral line from (2) John Sackett of New Haven, your Pilgrim ancestor, down to (547) Richard Sackett, the oldest son of (542) Capt Richard Sackett and Marjery L. Sleade, who prior to 1750 became a resident of New Milford and was undoubtedly the grandfather of Skene Douglas Sackett. On the same page you will find a partial record of Capt Richard Sackett's Official and public acts. On page 138 you will find a more nearly completed genealogical table covering same generations and some extracts from Capt Richards will. The line of (547) Richard Sackett is not traced in The Family Record, but we have learned that he had two sons and two daughters viz:-- 949. Richard Sackett 950. Reuben Sackett 951. Nelly Sackett 952. Elisabeth Sackett He may have had other sons and daughters. What is left for us to find out in order to complete the line of descent from John of New Haven to yourself is the name of the son of (547) Richard who was the father of Skene Douglas. If the son of Gerry Sackett can give any other items of family history or tradition, no matter how trivial, I wold like to have them. I am of the opinion that the last mentioned Richard Sackett will prove to be the father of Skene Douglass, but he may have been the son of Reuben or another brother of whom we now have no record. I will mail with this a letter to the clerk of the County of Litchfield, Conn asking him to inform me what if any records are on file or recorded there relating to any of the Sacketts of New Milford which antedate the close of the War of the Revolution, and if so about what it will cost to have them copied. Yours very truly Chas. H. Weygant [handwritten signature] ================================ [LETTER 3--typewritten letter] Newburgh, N.Y. May 12, 1903 Mr. F.J. Sackett Box 522, Cincinnati, O. Dear SIr:-- Yours of 8th inst, enclosing $2., as stated, received. i mailed you this A.M. set of The Family Records for 1897, and can furnish additional sets if required. In reply to my letter of inquiry the Justice of Probate of Litchfield wrote as follows: "In this state will are kept in the several Probate Districts which do not include the whole County. The will of Jonathan Sackett of Kent in this county was admitted to probate in this District Oct. 6.1773 --Copy $1. The Will of Ann Sackett of Kent admitted to Probate Nov. 12, 1778 --Copy 50 cents. No other Sackett Wills between 1742 and 1800:--" I sent for both of these wills, or rather copies of them, and while they contained much of interest to me in other connections, they revealed nothing which threw any light on Skene Douglass Sackett line. I think New Milford is in Litchfield Probate District, but am not certain. But we will find the desired missing link without doubt before we give up the search, as I am sending out orders for copies of Wills in the various Probate Districts of both Connecticut and Massachusetts, filed previous to the year 1800, and am in correspondence with several interested and intelligent members of the family residing in those states whose line are now for the first time being traced. Do not understand me as implying that I am doing this altogether on your account. Years ago I became convinced that the only Sacketts that ever migrated to this country from Europe were the families of the colonists Simon & John who came here in company with Roger Williams in 1631. It follows that every Sackett now in the country whose name has not been acquired by adoption, is a lineal descendant of the one or the other of these worthies. I am preparing for publication in substantial book form a history of the Family which I desire to make as nearly complete as possible. I want it to be historically valuable, and as interesting and reliable as any work of the kind ever published in America. It will be placed in the hands of the printer just as soon as possible after a sufficient number of subscriptions, at $5. per copy can be secured to warrant the undertaking from a financial statement. The plan of the work is very different from that pursued in The Family Record. It is arranged in two parts. The first is composed on Geneological [sic] tables and notes of reference, arranged by Generations rather that separate family lines, but so numbered as to be readily traced from generation to generation. The second part will be composed of Biographical and authentic data so arranged that the reader may trace the narratives from son to father and from father to son without difficulty. Of course we heartily welcome and greatly appreciate assistance in any form coming from interested parties and will see to it that all those who like yourself have placed us under obligations are given due credit. Nothing has been published since The Family Record of 1897 except pamphlet covering a single family line[,] the data for which was taken mainly from The Family Record as far as the Sacketts were concerned. I have some extra copies of this and will gladly send you one if you care for it. I will keep you informed of anything new relating to your ancestors. Yours very truly Chas. H. Weygant [handwritten signature] ============================ [LETTER 4--printed flyer in form of a letter] Newburgh, N. Y., March 22, 1907 To Descendants of the Colonists Simon and John Sackett: The manuscript of my history of The Sacketts of America: Their Ancestors and Descendants, which was begun three-quarters of a century ago, is at last in the hands of the printer. The first instalment [sic] of proof sheets has been corrected, and extra copies of the first printed form have been ordered and will be inclosed. These pages will give you a correct understanding of the main features of the book, which will contain 500 pages, in attractive and substantial binding. Simon and John Sackett, who came to New England in the Winter of 1630-31, are, as far as known, the progenitors of the entire Sackett-Sacket clan in America. In tracing their descendants we have followed both the male and female lines. That some of these have stopped short of present generation is due mainly to the fact that persons who could furnish the desired data, have neglected to answer our letters of inquiry. If every person in the United States and Canada of Sackett descent, would send us the names of their parents, grand-parents and great-grand-parents, we would unquestionably be able to continue their ancestral lines, in nearly every instance, back to one or the other of the colonists mentioned. We would like to bring every line traced down to its latest born member, and by arrangement with the printer, will be able to add to our manuscript any records relating to the last three generations, which may be mailed to us promptly on receipt of this circular letter. The subscription price of the book has been fixed at $5.00. To those to whom this amount seems excessive we have only to reply that if we received $25.00 for each and every copy we are having printed it would not reimburse and compensate us for amount of money paid out and time expended in producing it. If you have not already subscribed we would be glad to add your name to our list. A prompt reply will be appreciated. Yours very truly, C. H. WEYGANT.