Collection Summary
Harman Blennerhassett
Papers
1755-1866
1755-1866
MSS50633
Blennerhassett, Harman,
1765-1831
500 items
3 containers
1.2 linear feet
3 microfilm reels
English
Collection material in
English
Manuscript Division, Library of
Congress
Washington, D.C.
Lawyer, planter, and
scholar. Correspondence, journals, articles for the Ohio Gazette, memoirs, and
legal and financial papers, chiefly 1795-1831, relating, in part, to the trial
of Aaron Burr for treason, the indictment of Blennerhassett for conspiracy with
Burr, and the subsequent misfortunes experienced by the Blennerhassett family.
Includes MS. volume attributed to Harman Blennerhassett (1801-1854).
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Anglesey, Henry William Paget, Marquis of, 1768-1854--Correspondence.
Blennerhasset, Dominic, 1799- --Correspondence.
Blennerhassett family.
Blennerhassett, Harman, 1764-1831.
Blennerhassett, Harman, Jr., 1801-1854. Harman Blennerhassett, Jr., manuscript volume.
Blennerhassett, Joseph Lewis--Correspondence.
Blennerhassett, Margaret, approximately 1778-1842--Correspondence.
Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836--Trials, litigation, etc.
Clay, Henry, 1777-1852--Correspondence.
Cox, Nathaniel--Correspondence.
Emmet, Robert, 1792-1873--Correspondence.
Langley, John--Correspondence.
Lewis, Joseph S.--Correspondence.
Lewis, Mordecai, 1748-1799--Correspondence.
Mullins, Thomas--Correspondence.
Nolte, Vincent, 1779-1856--Correspondence.
Peel, Robert, 1788-1850--Correspondence.
Tyndall, Joseph--Correspondence.
Wheatley, Richard S.--Correspondence.
Woodbridge, D. (Dudley)--Correspondence.
Subjects
American newspapers--Ohio.
Trials (Treason)
Occupations
Lawyers.
Plantation owners.
Scholars.
Provenance
The papers of Harman Blennerhassett, lawyer, planter, and scholar,
were purchased by the Library of Congress in 1900.
Processing History
The papers of Harman Blennerhassett were arranged and described by
Nancy L. Hayden prior to microfilming by the Library of Congress
Photoduplication Service in 1973. The finding aid was revised by Patrick Kerwin
in 2001.
Related Materials
A microfilm of the Blennerhassett Papers is located at the
Ohio Historical Society in Columbus. A collection of
Blennerhassett Family Papers is also located at the Campus
Martius State Museum, Marietta, Ohio.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of Harman
Blennerhassett is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The papers of Harman Blennerhassett are open to research. Researchers
are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many
collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these
items for research use.
Microfilm
A microfilm edition of these papers is available on three reels.
Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for
purchase or interlibrary loan. To promote preservation of the originals,
researchers are required to consult the microfilm edition as available.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the
following information: Container number, Harman Blennerhassett Papers,
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1765, Oct. 8
Born, Hampshire, England
1790
Admitted to bar in Ireland
1790
1796
Traveled in Europe
1796
Married Margaret Agnew
1798
Established residence on Backus Island, Wood Co., Va., later
the center of Aaron Burr's activities
1805
First encounter with Aaron Burr, Marietta, Ohio
1805
1806
With Aaron Burr, developed conspiracy to separate western
states from the Union and to invade Mexico
1807
Indicted for treason in Richmond, Va., but released after
failure to convict Aaron Burr on a count of nolle
prosequi
1810
1816
Cotton planter in Louisiana
1819
1822
Practiced law, Montreal, Canada
1831, Feb. 2
Died on the Isle of Guernsey, England
Scope and Content Note
The papers of Harman Blennerhassett (1765-1831) span the years
1755-1866 and consist of journals, business and family correspondence, legal
and financial papers, and miscellaneous material. The trial of Aaron Burr for
treason, the indictment of Blennerhassett for conspiracy with him, and the
subsequent misfortunes experienced by the Blennerhassett family are revealed in
Blennerhassett's three-volume journal, 20 July-20 Nov. 1807, his correspondence
with his wife, Margaret Agnew Blennerhassett (died 1842), and a manuscript
volume attributed to his son, Harman Blennerhassett (1801-1854).
Other correspondents include Henry William Paget, the Marquis of
Anglesey, Dominic Blennerhassett (born 1799), Joseph Lewis Blennerhassett,
Henry Clay, Nathaniel Cox, Robert Emmet, John Langley, Joseph S. Lewis,
Mordecai Lewis, Thomas Mullins, Vincent Nolte, Sir Robert Peel, Joseph Tyndall,
Richard S. Wheatly, and Dudley Woodbridge.
Arrangement of the Papers
This collection is arranged by type of material.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm74050633]
Container List
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 15,903
Container
Contents
1
1
Journal,
1807, 20 July-20 Nov.
1807, 20 July-20 Nov.
(3 vols.)
1
1
Journal entitled "Account of a
Voyage down the Ohio and Mississippi,"
1807
1807
1
1
Correspondence
1
1
1795-1820
1795-1820
(4
folders)
2
2
1822-1866
1822-1866
(4
folders)
2
2
Legal and financial papers,
1755-1862
1755-1862
(3
folders)
3
3
Miscellany
3
3
Legal brief on behalf of
Blennerhassett,
1807
1807
3
3
Manuscript and printed matter
relating to charges against Aaron Burr and Blennerhassett,
1806-1807, 1831
1806-1807, 1831
3
3
“Memoir on the Views and
Capacities of the United States,”
1822
1822
3
3
Volume attributed to Harman
Blennerhassett (1801-1854),
undated
undated
3
3
“Querist,” (pseudonym for
Blennerhassett) material and other writings,
1804-1806, 1861
1804-1806, 1861
3
3
St. Paul’s Masonic Lodge;
diploma; list of correspondence; fragments,
1809-1822, n.d
1809-1822, n.d