Gilbert, Jr., John and Samuel Livingson, sons of Gilbert Livingston of Kingston, were all young lads when they went to sea and had spent none too much time in school. The sons of their brother, Henry, at Poughkeepsie had better educational advantages, as is shown by 2 letters written by the Rev. Chauncey Graham. Mr. Graham, a New Englander, was pastor for some thirty years of the English-speaking Presbyterian congregation at Brinckerhoffville, Dutchess County, and conducted there a school also. Judged by his evident intelligence, his interest in good books and his desire for his pupils' improvement in the rudiments of grammar and Latin, it is clear that Mr. Graham's acquirements were superior to the Dutchess County average and that the sons of Henry Livingston were in good hands.

Henry Livingston Esqr in Poghkeepsie

Mr. Livington
Sir
I've Sent you your Son and hope he will be ready fro a Return by the 25th of this Instatnt May and in the Mean Time pray that he may exercise himself in his Accidence, to review it and I don't care how much he writes, tho he will easily make a Writer-- I should be glad you could send to New York for Beza's Latin Testament, & a Jersey College Latin Grammar, both to be had at Mr. Parkers the Printers -- for he has lost his Latin Grammar. -- I design Next Week for New England, God Willing, and hope to be ready for my School again by the Time appointed--

I've Sent you up your Tragedies, that I borrowed, for which I heartily thank you. I've also Sent you to peruse the piece you Desired about the Church of England--

I might add did not Time forbid, but Concluding with proper Regards to your self and Spouse from me and mine, I remain your Sincere Friend, most obedient and Very humble Servt Chaun. Graham.
Rumbout May 2. 1752.

To Henry Livingston Esqr at Poughkeepsie. pr your Children.

Hond. Sir
I Send you the Courses of my Land-- Mr DuBois and I have each of us drawn a plan of the Land and found it fell short of Sixty Acres, which we have rectified, and I have a plan of it: So that I need not trouble Mr. Livingston to draw a plan please to draw the Deed as Soon as may be with Convenience. Consideration 5[pounds] or 10[pounds] pounds: a Deed of Gift, the Land warranted in the fullest maner to me &c for ever, without any Exception-- I have sent you the Consideration on the paper enclosed upon which the Land was given, and if the form is legal please to insert in the Deed as it Stands; but if the form is not Legal, express the Things Contained in a Legal form. I would by all means have it drawn unexceptionable, So that there never may be a flaw picked in it afterwards-- please to draw it on good parchment-- and send back the courses with the Deed-- the Contents are (allowing Two Acres & 33 perches for the Road) 60 Acres , 2 Roods, 3 Perches-- as may appear on the enclosed Paper under the Courses-- it must be dated Feb. 1. 1749/50

My Parents from New England being with us, Salute your Self and Spouse, In which my wife and I heartily concur.

I am Hond. Sr, in the greatest Haste
Your humble Servant To Command
Chauncey Graham

I send pr your
Children a Deed
from father Van Wyck
for Record--
May 3d. 1755.

Hope the Children will play Sufficiently in their fortnight assigned please to send the Courses of Mr Isaac Adriances Land for which you wrote the Lease & Release of 49. 1/2 Acres--

Mr. Graham speaks of loaning Henry Livingston a book treating of the Church of England, a subject which may have interested them about that time because of public discussion of the affairs of Kings (now Columbia) College, New York. William Livingston (supposedly identical with William Livingston, "the Presbyterian lawyer" so called, who was Governor of New Jersey 1776-1790) wrote the following undated but able and feeling protest to his cousin at Poughkeepsie in regard to ecclesiastical and collegiate questions.