Catharine Livingston (1775-1808) +(1793) Arthur Breese (1770-1825) [Uncle of S.F.B. Morse]
         Rear Admiral Samuel Livingston Breese (1794-1870) +(1825) Frances Stout + Emma Lovett
         Sarah Breese (1795-1879) +(1817) Barent Bleecker Lansing (1793-1853) +(1855) James Platt
                  Brig.General Henry Livingston Lansing (1818-1889) +(1838) Catharine Gibson (1820-1897)
                                    ... 2nd great grandparents of Mary S. Van Deusen
                                    [Mary S. Van Deusen worked with Don Foster to prove Henry's authorship]
                  Manette Antill Lansing (1820-1888) +(1848) Charles Walker Morse (1823-1887) [Son of S.F.B. Morse]
         Elizabeth Breese (1797-1890) + (1816) William Malcolm Sands (1788-1866)
         Catharine Walker Breese (1798-1886) + (1820) Capt. Samuel Griswold (1796-1830)
         [Catharine Walker Breese told her grandchildren that Henry wrote the Christmas poem,
         and that it got to Moore's home by way of a governess]
                  Cornelia Platt Griswold (1821-1902) +(1835) William McLean Goodrich (1808-1891)
                  [Cornelia Platt Griswold knew governess story from Henry's son Edwin]
                                    Cornelia Griswold Goodrich (1842-1902)
                                    [Cornelia Griswold Goodrich worked for 40 years to prove Henry's case]
                                    [Cornelia Griswold Goodrich: 11-25-1886,   12-6-1886,   1-3-1900,   Undated,   5-1920,   5-21-1920,   5-31-1920,   6-9-1920]
                                    Mary Willis Griswold (1850-1918) + Edward L. Montgomery
                                    [Mary Willis Griswold Montgomery collected her generation's documents and passed them on to WS Thomas]
                                    [Mary Willis Griswold Montgomery: 3-3-1917,   3-3-1917,   Undated]
                                    Anne Livingston Goodrich (1851-1902)
                                    [Anne Livingston Goodrich was first to collect witness memories of Henry's authorship]
                  Sarah Elizabeth Griswold (1822-1901) +(1848) Samuel Finley Breese Morse (1791-1872)
         Illinois Chief Justice Sidney Breese (1800-1878) +(1823) Eliza Morrison [Illinois Archives Henry papers]
Henry Welles Livingston (1776-1778)
Henry Welles Livingston (1778-1813)
Cornelia Livingston (1780-1794)

Charles Patterson Livingston (1794-1847) +(1826) Eliza Clement Brewer (1798-1878)
[Charles and Eliza BOTH heard Henry read the poem as his own, abt 1808-1810. Both told their children the story many years before Moore took credit for the poem (1844). In 1859, Eliza was shown a copy of the poem and learned of Moore's claim. She was adamant that a mistake had been made. Charles kept a Poughkeepsie newspaper copy of the poem in his desk drawer and read it to people. This copy hasn't been found, but might well have been the 1828 Poughkeepsie version.]
                  Jane Patterson Livingston (1829-1909) +(1850) Lester Samuel Hubbard (1807-1875)
                  [Jane Livingston taught her children that her grandfather had written the poem.
                  It was Jane who found the book with Moore's claim and brought it to her mother.]
                                    Charles Livingston Hubbard (1851-1904) +(1877) Jennie Matilda West (1855-)
                                                                        Marion Livingston Hubbard (1882-1977) +(1877) Jennie Matilda West (1855-)
                                                                        [Learned Henry wrote poem from her grandmother Hubbard.]
                                    Jeanne P. Livingston Hubbard (1856-1945) +(1878) Commodore Robert Denig (1851-1924)
                                    [Jeanne Hubbard Denig related to WS Thomas the first hand stories she had heard from her grandmother]
                                    [Jeanne Hubbard Denig: 3-12-1917,   3-13-1917,   3-14-1917,   3-25-1917,   12-23-1918,   10-2-1920,   12-13-1920,                                                                                    [Jeanne P. Livingston Hubbard: 1-3-1921,   5-4-1932,   undated,   undated]

Sidney Montgomery Livingston (1796-1856) +(1829) Joannah Maria Holthuysen (1804-1862)
[Sidney heard his father read the poem as his own, and told his children that many years before Moore made his claim. Sidney discovered Moore's claim in 1862. Sidney found the original manuscript of the poem among his father's papers, and gave it eventually to his brother Edwin (bad move!)]
                  Lavinia Clarkson Livingston (1835-1934) +(1863) Martin Rubin Haugan
                  [Lavinia Livingston told WS Thomas that her father and Aunt Susan believed Henry wrote the Christmas poem]
                  [Lavinia Livingston Haugan: 3-12-1917,   3-22-1917]
                  Henry Livingston of Babylon LI (1837-1906) +(1861) Augusta Carrl (1839-1884)
                  [Henry Livingston was the first to publish Henry's claim in his own newspaper. He corresponded with
                  Cornelia Griswold Goodrich, and told her that his father had had the manuscript of the poem, had given it to Edwin,
                  and that the poem had burned in a fire in WI. Babylon LI Henry believed that Moore's claim had been made by mistake,
                  without Moore's knowledge.]
                  [Henry Livingston of Babylon LI: 1-10-1900]
                                    Julia Thompson Livingston (1864-aft1945)
                                    [Her father tried to prove Henry's claim. Thinks family didn't challenge Moore out of loyalty to the Church.
                                    Gave W. Stephen Thomas:
                                             Mrs. Griswold letter about Christmas poem;
                                             small brass writing box;
                                             books belonging to Henry]
                                    [Julia Thompson Livingston: 10-22-1942,   1-2-1945]

Edwin George Livingston (1798-1863)
[Received original manuscript of poem from brother Sidney. Took it to WI when he went to live with Sister Susan. The manuscript burned in one of their house fires about 1854. He told his nieces the governess story.]

Jane Patterson Livingston (1800-1870) +(1830) Rev. William Barber Thomas (1797-1876)
                  Gertrude Fonda Thomas (1833-1936)
                  [Seems to know whatever she knows from Jeanne Denig, rather than from her mother Jane. When she finds the poetry
                  manuscript book that Aunt Susan thought had burned in a fire, she gives it to her nephew, WS Thomas, rather than
                  letting Susan's daughter know it still exists.]
                  [Gertrude Thomas: 1-22-1905,   10-18-bef1909,   10-23-1912,   Unknown,   Unknown,   2-26-1917,   2-28-1917,   3-30-1917,   7-8-1920,  
                           10-13-1920]
                  Henry Livingston Thomas (1835-1903) +(1904) Ellsie Frank (1870-)
                  [Writes a letter quoting the Christmas poem in 1851, before the Livingston family learns of Moore's claim to the poem.]
                  [Henry Livingston Thomas: Dec-15-1851,   Sep-17-1900]
                                    William Sturges Thomas (1871-1941) +(1870) Alice Rebecca Phinney (1831-1897)
                                    [Becomes the "new" generation interested in taking up the quest. Gathers materials in from every relative
                                    he can find. (Tries to force the Library of Congress to give him a Revolutionary War commission because he's
                                    the oldest son of the oldest son, and all the family would want him to have it. The Library says no way.)
                                    Receives Susan's poetry manuscript book from his aunt Gertrude. Gets several people to write widely read
                                    articles on the controversy, thus achieving more than any other descendant had been able to do. He, himself,
                                    writes an article on Henry Sr.]
                                    [William Sturges Thomas: May-18-1920,   5-31-1920,   7-26-1920,   8-7-1920] See Also NYHS Thomas Papers
                                                      William Stephen Thomas (1909-2002) +(1942) Katharine Cornesh (1909-)
                                                      [Because of his efforts to gain publicity for Henry, a First Day Cover is created naming Henry as
                                                      author, and the President of Vassar, Henry Noble MacCracken, becomes an advocate. He gives a
                                                      talk on Henry Jr. for the Dutchess County Historical Society.]
                                                                        Stephen Livingston Thomas (1950-) + Karen
                                                                        [Makes the Henry material he's inherited available to Don Foster and Mary Van Deusen
                                                                        in the hope of achieving the dream his father and grandfather could never finish. Has
                                                                        given a talk on Henry for Locust Grove.]
                  Archdeacon William Reed Thomas (1843-1913) + Louisa Eldridge (-1913)
                                    Rev. Harold Livingston Reed Thomas (1877-abt1941)
                                    [Told his parishioners that the reason he was so convinced that Henry was the author of the poem was
                                    because the names of the reindeer were the names of the horses in Henry's stable.]
                  John Thomas (-1902) + Margaret Hannah Bouton
                                    Helen Electa Thomas (1880-) + Howard Lane Blackwell (1876-)
                                    [Helen Electa Thomas: May-25-1920]

Elizabeth Davenport Livingston (1805-1886) +(1836) US Supreme Court Justice Smith Thompson (1768-1843)
+ Judge Richard Ray Lansing (1789-1855) [brother of Barent Bleeker Lansing, husband of Sarah Breese]
[Corresponded with Annie Griswold about Henry having written poem. "It was accepted in our family..." Eliza was too young to have heard him recite it to Charles, Sidney and Eliza. Knows her brother [Sidney] found the original manuscript in Henry's papers.]
[Elizabeth Davenport Livingston Thompson Lansing: 3-4-1879]

Susan Catherine Livingston (1807-1889) +(1846) Abram Gifford Gurney (1809-aft1880)
[Corresponded with her sister Eliza about Henry's authorship. She moved to Wisconsin, and brother Edwin lived with her family. There were several fires, and in one the original manuscript of the Christmas poem burned. She told Sidney's children that Henry had written the poem.]
                  Jeannie Livingston Gurney
                  [She didn't know about the manuscript, but she believed that the book of poetry owned by her mother had burned.
                  Actually, the book was inside of a desk that Jeanne sent her Aunt Gertrude Thomas. Gertie found the book,
                  and gave it to her nephew WS Thomas. No one told Jeanne that they had the book.
                  Susan knew from Jeanne Denig that Charles Livingston had heard his father read the poem.]
                  [Jeannie Livingston Gurney: 10-5-1920,   10-28-1920]

Helen Platt Livingston (1802-1859) +(1853) Wakeman Bradley (1783-1865)
Catharine Breese Livingston (1809-1814)

"We have as you see, no actual proof, no mss, only the actual eye-witnesses of the birth of this charming poem on the spot and at the time I indicate, and I am sure 5 people out of a family could not have been so positive were there not truth in the assertion."

10 Jan 1900    Henry Livingston of Babylon LI to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"My father, (Sidney Montgomery) as long ago as I can remember, claimed that his father (Henry, Jr.) was the author: that it was first read to the children at the old homestead below Poughkeepsie, when he was about eight years old, which would be about 1804, or 1805."

22 Jan 1905    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"Please tell Mary dear, that Uncle Charles was the oldest of the family and the one who always said he remembered well, when his father came from his little "Den" with the newly written poem in his hand, and read it aloud to the family, of which Charles was the only one old enough to remember.

"I think Uncle Charles was born in 1794, and was probably 8 or 10 years old at the time he heard his father read the poem- Still he may have been older or younger - of course I know nothing about that."

18 Oct bef 1909    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"Cousin Jeannie Hubbard xx I have been visiting this autumn - says she has heard her father tell of just where his father sat when he wrote this famous poem, and after it was finished, of his emerging from his retirement, and reading it to the assembled family."

23 Oct 1912    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"Uncle Charles - according to his daughter, Cousin Jennie Hubbard - remembered perfectly when his father brought up the freshly written paper from his Sanctum, with the ink still wet upon it, and read it aloud to his family. Now if the poem was written in 1800, Uncle Charles was only six years old, and we can hardly trust to the memory of so young a youngster. But allowing him to have been eight then it was published in 1802.

"None of the other children remembered anything about it. So of course they were all very young."

12 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Pelletreau says it was written in 1822. Grandmother Livingston said she knew the poem before that date. She was born in 1800."

13 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"William S. Pelletreu in his article written in 1897 to prove that Clement C. Moore was the author of "The Night before Christmas" states it was written in 1822. Eliza Brewer at this time was twenty-two years of age, yet she always maintained she had heard the poem read by Henry Livingston himself, which she was yet a child, & she had been familiar with the verses before 1822."

25 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"It is a curious coincidence that Grandfather Livingston & his son Edwin employ in their respective poems the words "visions" "hoof" & "lustre." An unusual grouping of perfectly ordinary words, however. Back in Edwin's brain sang the words "While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads," & so he wrote "The visions of gaiety, cheering the morn". Read the letter of Edwin several times & I am sure you will be convinced that he was familiar with "The Visit of St. Nicholas" in 1821!"

28 Feb 1917    Gertrude Thomas to WS Thomas
"Well dear -- "dear Git" often heard her Mother say that the Night before Christmas was exactly in her father's style - but she did not know whether he wrote it or not- Uncle Charles being the only one old enough to remember. Uncle Charles settled "way out west" in Painsville. So far from Mother - who lived in Duanesburgh-Schenectady - or Po'keepsie - That in the years after I was born - they never saw each other but once - when of course the "Night before Christmas" was not given a thought - much less talked about.

"Besides you know in those bygone days it had not reached the zenith of its popularity - or become of so much importance. As to the time when I first heard it -- I cannot remember anytime before I knew it. So I have always known it!! Mother used to repeat it delightfully and I think father did too - though I am not perfectly sure about that."

Unknown    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"Uncle Charles used to take pleasure in reading this poem to his friends, and telling them that it was composed by his father - he also remembered the very time when his father wrote it - and brought it out of his sanctum to read to the family - Uncle Charles being the only one of the children old enough to appreciate it in the least - or remember anything about it."

23 Dec 1918    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Clement Moore did not write the "Night Before Christmas." Your grandfather Henry Livingston wrote it. I was brought up to believe this statement. My grandmother has repeatedly told me all about it- and of having heard it read by Major Henry himself as by himself.

"My grandmother, Eliza Clement Brewer Livingston, knew her father-in-law, Major Henry Livingston all her llife and was on intimate terms with the family from her childhood- she lived with her grandparents Mitchell at "Russ Plass"{ the estate adjoining the Livingstons. She told me that Major Henry wrote verses all the time, & always at New Year, an address that was published in the Poughkeepsie paper- "Donder & Blitzen" was a familiar expression of his- He wore a night cap in winter & his wife tied her head up in a 'kerchief.

"Great grand mother Jane Paterson was very original I have been told. She probably would tie her head up in a 'kerchief if other people wore close night caps- She was quick & lively and did things her own way."

2 Oct 1920    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"My proof that H.L. wrote the poem is the "say so" of my grandmother Livingston who lived with us until 1878 when she died. She was Eliza Clement Brewer, and lived with her mother & her parents, the Mitchells in the house called "Russ Plass", later bought by Judge Smith Thompson. My grandmother grew up with the Livingston children & was much at Locust Grove. She said that everybody knew that H.L. wrote the poem, & when she was a child she had been invited to spend Christmas with the Livingston children & grandfather had read the poem to them -- as his own. My mother said that her father always told or read the poem as having been written by his father. My mother grew up believing it, and taught us to believe it, and grandmother always said "There is no question about it-- There has simply been a mistake!" But with it all, we have no written proof."

4 May 1932    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Of course Henry Livingston wrote the "Night Before Christmas." Grandmother said he did & others Knew, remembered all about it. She lived "next door", literally next estate.

"Any how, she played constantly with the Livingston children & she & her husband, my grandfather, were sweethearts from child-hood."

"I remember my brother Charles took the poem home with him, he was then living in Ohio, and I have an indistinct idea that he intended to have it published, but I am not at all sure on that point, so don't like to assert it as fact."

3 Jan 1900    Cornelia Griswold Goodrich to Henry Livingston of Babylon LI
"His son Edwin Livingston had the original poem in manuscript and prized it very highly but it was destroyed in a fire when out West with all his household articles.

"We could find no paper in which it was published altho' all his children remember its having been published in a Po'keepsie paper at that time, between 1780 and 1800. They think the paper was called [WST: Error] "The Po'keepsie Gazette" tho it may have been the Knickerbocker Mag;"

10 Jan 1900    Henry Livingston of Babylon LI to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"He [Sidney Montgomery] had the original manuscript, with many corrections in his possession, for a long time, and by him was given to his brother Edwin. Edwin's person effects were destroyed when his sister Susan's home was burned at Kaskaskia, Wis., about 1847 or 8.

"I think the poem was first published in the Knickerbocker Magazine early in this century, but whether the author's name was attached or not I do not know. The Magazine is on file in the Astor Library, & some time I mean to hunt it up- If I find it as I expect I will certainly inform you."

22 Jan 1905    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"Please tell Mary dear, that Uncle Charles was the oldest of the family and the one who always said he remembered well, when his father came from his little "Den" with the newly written poem in his hand, and read it aloud to the family, of which Charles was the only one old enough to remember. It was published in the "Poughkeepsie Eagle". Uncle Charles kept the old paper as an especial treasure, and often read the poem to friends.

"After his death - some years after - the paper disappeared, and cousin Jeannie Hubbard - his daughter - cannot remember the date of the paper. If any one knew that, it might settle the claim entirely."

18 Oct bef 1909    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"She [Jeannie Hubbard] also remembers the old Poughkeepsie paper in which it was printed- and how often her father would bring it out with pride, and read it to a circle of friends assembled in their cozy parlor. She feels pride - as sure of the authorship of the poem, as she does of her own existence- Still there is nothing to prove it in a court of justice."

Unknown    Gertrude Thomas to Mary Goodrich Montgomery
"As to the authorship of "The Night before Christmas", I know absolutely nothing, except, that my Mother's eldest brother, Charles (Doctor Livingston), who came to Ohio to live, and after his marriage settled in Painesville, always told his family, that he remembered perfectly when his father wrote it, and showed them the old Poughkeepsie paper (The Eagle, I think) in which it first appeared. This paper was highly prised and always kept by him in a particular corner of a certain drawer in his bookcase, and the drawer (I think) kept locked. After my uncle Charles died and the home in Painesville was broken up, some of the furniture was sent to the home of his eldest daughter - Mrs L.S. Hubbard of Sandusky. The bookcase now has a place in her house, and for many years the treasured paper lay safely in its corner in the drawer, but finally - she knows not how, or when - the paper disappeared, and with it every clue has gone. I supposed the poem was written very much earlier than 1822, and if we had the paper, it (the data) could be proved by that - but alas - it has gone beyond recall, and the family of Clement C. Moore, hold it in proud possession."

Unknown    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"Oh if that old Poughkeepsie paper could be found! but I don't suppose there is the shadow of a chance for that. But of one thing we are certain it was published in the Poughkeepsie paper - and we know that Uncle Charles, Mother's oldest brother had that paper in his possession up to the time of his death - and cousin Jeannie Hubbard (his daughter) had it long afterward. She feels dreadfully about its loss - but it has utterly disappeared. I know I have told you before how Uncle Charles used to take pleasure in reading this poem to his friends, and telling them that it was composed by his father"

28 Oct 1920    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Our house burned in 1854. I never heard of any trunk that belonged to my Uncle, that burned. Though I know mother had writings of her fathers that burned.

"I never heard of - or saw, any paper with it in, that Uncle Charles had. And if there had been such a paper I feel sure Cousin Jeannie Hubbard would have had it. And I would have seen it. She often talked about this. And said her father, Uncle Charles, believed his father wrote it. Said he could remember when a boy, his father reading it to the family, with the ink yet wet on the paper.

"I never heard of the original manuscript of the Christmas poem. What Uncle Charles remembered was in Grand Father's writing."

28 Oct 1920    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Mother always said she knew nothing about it. Whether her father wrote "The Night before Christmas" or not. Only she said it was just his style of writing."

3 Mar 1917    Mary Goodrich Montgomery to WS Thomas
"The little incident connected with the first reading of the "Visit of St. Nicholas" was related to me by my grandmother, Catherine Walker Griswold, who was a daughter of Catherine Breese, the eldest daughter of Henry Livingston. As I recollect her story, there was a young lady spending the Christmas holidays with the family at "Locust Grove" on Christmas morning. Mr. Livingston came into the dining room, where his family and their guests were just sitting down to breakfast. He held the manuscript in his hand, and said that it was a Christmas poem he had written for them. He then sat down at table, unfolded the manuscript, and read aloud to them "The Visit of St. Nicholas"

"All were delighted with the verses, and the guest, in particular, was so much impressed by them that she begged Mr. Livingston to let her have a copy of the poem. He consented, and made a copy in his own hand which he gave to her.

"On leaving Locust Grove, when her visit came to an end, this young lady went directly to the home of Mr. Clement C. Moore, where she filled the position of Governess to his children.

"The above is all that I remember positively as having been told me by my grandmother.

"There are two further details which I think were a part of the story, although I am not so sure of my recollection of them as of the above main facts. One is that the young lady was either a Canadian or an English woman (I am inclined to think the former) and that other is that, on leaving Locust Grove, she went to join Mr. Moore's family in one of the Southern states.

"I heard this spoken of by Mrs. Griswold after I had reached years of discretion (20 years). [About 1870, based on Mary's birthdate about 1850] She spent the latter years of her life at my father's home at Poughkeepsie, where she died in 1881."

14 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"I once heard a legend that a young lady - either a guest or a sort of governess - was in the Livingston family, and upon leaving she took with her a copy of "The Night Before Christmas" & it was thus introduced to the Moores.

"I think Miss Butler of Troy was a very indiscreet young lady to publish another's poem without permission. Mr. Pelletreau says she did so & Dr. Moore did not like it a bit! It was not until 1862 that Dr. Moore gave an autograph copy of the verses, now preserved by the New York Historical Society."

10 Jan 1900    Henry Livingston of Babylon LI to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"The question of the authorship of the poem "The Night Before Christmas" was never brought up, to my knowledge, until after 1862, when it was published and credited to Clement C. Moore. Moore was then a very old man, and died the same year. It does not appear, however, that he ever laid claim to the authorship, and it is said he was displeased at first when it was attributed to him!"

13 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"It was a surprise to them when they first saw the verses published under the name of Clement C. Moore. My grandmother said the mistake should be corrected, as Henry Livingston was the author of the verses."

14 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"In 1859 a paper covered edition of it was put upon the market & it was then grandmother Livingston saw it & was indignant that it was not attributed to its author, Henry Livingston!

"Commodore has tried in various Philadelphia libraries to find a copy of Dr. Moore's verses published in 1844 but without success. I expect you can find it in New York."

23 Dec 1918    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"My mother was greatly excited when the first edition of the "Night Before Christmas" was published in the name of Clement C. Moore- She bought a copy & brought it to my grandmother, who calmly said "Some one has made a mistake- Clement Moore did not write the "Night Before Christmas." Your grandfather Henry Livingston wrote it."

4 May 1932    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Grandmother was greatly exercised when the first printed Xmas copy appeared (I have it.) and said there was a mistake that should be rectified. That Henry Livingston wrote the verses.

"This is my only proof. The word of my stately, truthful, dependable grandmother, Eliza Clement Brewer Livingston. I could go on -- but enough -- "

xx 12 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"A few years ago I was much interested in trying to prove that the Night Before Christmas was written by Henry Livingston. I had letters from my mother, your father, & all the others of that generation. All bore testimony to the pleasant tradition & belief that their grandfather had written the verses."

"My mother said that her grandfather used the "Dunder & Blitzen" as familiarly as some other people say "Great Scott!" etc etc etc!"

14 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"You know Nellie Goodrich tried to prove he wrote the Xmas poem, but gave it up for lack of proof."

23 Dec 1918    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Commodore says "The Night Before Christmas" will ever be a Shakespeare-Bacon sort of affair. He also said the Livingston claim should be given publicity- Why not print that a belief exists among the descendants of Henry Livingston that he wrote the verses - start the ball rolling."

28 Oct 1920    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Jean Denig has always been greatly interested. And she thinks it was Grand Father, instead of Clement C. Moore, who wrote it. I feel that we, the family, can think what we please about it. But I fear Mr. Moore will have to have the credit. Though I am just as sorry as you are about it."

18 Oct bef 1909    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"As for any pleasant incidents regarding the old home- I think you know every thing which might be of interest in the xx. Of course you told him how your great-grandmother fell down that deep cold well [at Locust Grove], when a little child, was bouyed up by a butter firken lid which had been lost down the well the day before)- And was finally saved by Sally-- a strong, tenderhearted servant woman, who strode the well, picking her way down by the projecting stones and finally saved the little darling."

28 Feb 1917    Gertrude Thomas to WS Thomas
"I enclose the little poem which we read when here & wish Grandfather had happened to sign his name at the bottom. But I have heard another say that he very seldom signed his name to anything he wrote for the papers - and I suppose in this little home jingle he did not think of it."

14 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"It was always maintained in the Livingston family that Henry Livingston wrote verses. Are there any existing to prove it? "

14 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"If Guy Livingston has the Livingston family bible, I think there is a poem in that composed by Major Henry on the birth or the death of one of his children. But this is only a "think" on my part. It is vague in the back of my brain."

8 Jul 1920    Gertrude Thomas to WS Thomas
"as to Grandfather's knowledge of French I know nothing. As to general subjects - I have often heard my Mother and aunts speak of his wonderful memory and his great fund of information.

"Mother used to say- 'he was a perfect Encyclopedia' 'at home on any & every subject, and no question was too hard for him to answer'."

2 Oct 1920    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"I will write Jeannie Gurney. Her mother, (Aunt Susan) was the last of Henry Livingston's children. The Gurney's were burned out two or three times, so much may have been lost. I am sending you to read, the last letter I have in my possession written by Henry Livingston. Please return it. I wish to keep it as it is congratulation upon the birth of my mother's eldest sister [Eliza] who didn't live long. I have a letter written by his wife, our great-grandmother. She was chatty, but neither a good penman nor a good speller. I have heard that she was too full of life & activity to care to bother about such stupid things as spelling and conventional letter writing."

18 Oct bef 1909    Gertrude Thomas to Cornelia Griswold Goodrich
"I have hunted through the archives - but find very little of any general interest- Nothing in fact that I think Mrs. Lansing wrote xx. I xx send you one little :Rebus" however, on the name of "Nanny Crooke"

Unknown    Gertrude Thomas to Mary Goodrich Montgomery
"You say Mary dear that you have heard that I have other poems of Grandfather's written in the same style. This is a mistake - I have nothing in the least similar - only some little "acrostics" and complimentary verses to ladies, which in his day were so fashionable, and even these, I fear I will not find again, when books and belongings are unpacked; for many things and even treasured ones, are apt to disappear after a moving."

28 Feb 1917    Gertrude Thomas to WS Thomas
"I enclose the little poem which we read when here & wish Grandfather had happened to sign his name at the bottom. But I have heard another say that he very seldom signed his name to anything he wrote for the papers - and I suppose in this little home jingle he did not think of it. Nellie G. is very anxious to have some poems of Grandfather's - but I have told her that I had nothing to send - I forgot entirely about this. If you see her again please show it to her - and she can make a copy of it if she wishes to."

3 Mar 1917    Mary Goodrich Montgomery to WS Thomas
"I enclose also a few inches of Catherine Livingston's wedding gown and a letter from her husband, Arthur Breese, to his father in law on the occasion of the death of his son.

"would you find any interest in a "Statement of title to Dominick's Hook" which, apparently, seems vested in one Samuel Bayard - a little matter of 60 acres in the heart of the City? It is also in Prof. Morse's handwriting dated 1833."

14 Mar 1917    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"I have at home a little verse upon the death of a child, said to have been written by him."

30 Mar 1917    Gertrude Thomas to WS Thomas
"Well what do you think I have found and am going to send you? The "Small book" of poetry which Aunt Sue thought was burned up in their first fire! And in that is Nancy Crooke. Of course in G. Father's own handwriting. The poems are mostly Rebuses which I suppose were greatly in fashion about the 1780s.

"How this book of Aunt Sue's came here I do not know but you see I was correct in feeling sure that I had seen the Nancy Crooke Rebus- Although I thought it was an acrosticd as Nellie G. entitled it. Of course A Visit from St. Nick if written by Grandfather was written a number of years after these contained in the little book which I am sending you. This book was in the top of dear Aunt Jeannie's bookdcase which stands on the bureau in my room. I do not think there is anything in that which could clinch the authorship of "A Visit etc - still such as it is I send to thee. You need not return it to me - just keep it - with love. And please show to Nellie." "I gave Rob the letters I had of Grandfather's.

"Rob said he gave me back the letters to send to you. I do not remember it. At any rate those letters bore no reference to poetry and threw no light on the authorship of the classic verses.

"If Guy Livingston has the Livingston family bible, I think there is a poem in that composed by Major Henry on the birth or the death of one of his children."

4 Aug 1920    Major Robert L. Denig, Jr. to WS Thomas
"Such Livingston letters that I have so far found I am sending you by registered mail, will look about for some others and if I locate them will send them on."

7 Aug 1920    WS Thomas to Major Robert L. Denig, Jr.
"I thank you for your letter and the bundle of ancient family letters in which I find much of interest. I am making copies of parts of them and when this is done shall return them to you at your present station unless I receive other instructions from you."

2 Oct 1920 Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"Possibly he hasn't made up his mind yet what to do about his letters. One hates to let such interesting relics pass out of one's hands absolutely.

"I am delighted that you suggested a photograph of the chessman and it will be a pleasure to help you that much. You might use the picture in your historical article. Of Henry Livingston's actual personal belongings I possess, besides the chessmen, his pair of wine decanters and his engraving of George and Martha Washington and the Curtis children.

"We had in this house also his tall clock and the family Bible. The clock, my mother willed to my niece, Mrs. Harold Crosskill, now living in University Heights. She hasn't taken it away & it is still in Sandusky. I was sorry to see it go out of the house, but my brother would have had it, so my mother gave it to his eldest child. The Bible went to my mother's eldest brother & eventually to Guy Livingston now living in Cleveland. He has said that the Bible is to go to my son Robbie. The Bible was in this house until I was quite grown up. I believe that there are some verses in it written by Henry L-- upon the death of a child. I have seen them somewhere, and I think they were in the Bible.

"I will write Jeannie Gurney. Her mother, (Aunt Susan) was the last of Henry Livingston's children. The Gurney's were burned out two or three times, so much may have been lost. I am sending you to read, the last letter I have in my possession written by Henry Livingston. Please return it. I wish to keep it as it is congratulation upon the birth of my mother's eldest sister [Eliza] who didn't live long. I have a letter written by his wife, our great-grandmother."

28 Oct 1920    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"I have an old book with Uncle Edwin and Aunt Helens names in it. I will send you that, though you may not care much for it. I have an old decanter that belonged to grandfather Livingston. It is not large. And of white glass. I will send you that, as soon as I can get a small wooden box to put it in."

5 Oct 1921    Jeannie Gurney to WS Thomas
"And wish I could help you to find letters, or any writings, of grandfather Livingston. But I have nothing, and do not know who has.

"Mother had a blank book in which grandfather had written a number of his poems. And oh how often I have wished for it. But it was burned when our house burned in 1869. I have an old book that belonged to Grandfather, and his name is written in it. I don't think the book is of much account, but if you would like it, I will send it to you."

3 Jan 1921    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"I am sending you the Paterson letter, so you may read and make a copy if you like."

4 May 1932    Jeanne Hubbard Denig to WS Thomas
"I did not know about great-grandfather Henry Livingston's snuff box.

"I am delighted to have a photograph of it.

"Please be assured of my many thanks and appreciation.

"The picture of Henry Livingston in the "Kodak" I sent to you is a pen & ink sketch made by my sister Katharine from a portrait.

"She made it when I was in some foreign country, and I do not know from whose portrait she copied it.

"My impression is that it belonged to great aunt Susan and ultimately to her daughter, Jeannie Gurney.

"I know that Katharine went more than once to visit Jeannie's near Oconomowoc.

"When Jeannie died she gave many of her belongings to some of her friends in Oconomowoc.

"To my daughter Grazia she gave a silver cream pitcher that had belonged to our great-grandmother Jane Paterson Livingston.

"I am sure the portrait belonged to her.

"Where is it now?

"The chessmen were made by Henry Livingston while he was in the army.

"Jeannie Gurney gave them to me, and I have given them to my son Robert.

"The snuff box is beautiful. I hope some day to see it.

"We had the hall clock with their four balls - ornament, not a sign! Mother gave the clock to my brother Livingston. It now belongs to his oldest daughters, Millicent Hubbard Crosskill, 25 Fifth Avenue, New York. The clock, however, stands here in her mother's house.

"The decanters in the "Kodak" were Henry Livingston's very own. No doubt he enjoyed them, which he could not do were he here now!"