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ALS as a Tennessee congressman, one page both sides, 8 x 9.75, February 6, 1829. Addressed from “Washington City,” a handwritten letter to prominent Virginia lawyer John Wickham, one of the few Loyalists to rise to prominence following the American Revolution. Crockett discusses a financial obligation owed to Wickham and his efforts to resolve it through land interests in Tennessee and Kentucky, noting complications arising from prior claims and expressing his intention to repay the debt, potentially using western lands as security. The letter, in full (spelling and grammar retained): “I Received a letter from you concerning a note you will hold on me and I imediately wrote to Colo Lambert on the subject. I had wrote to the Colo with a hope that he could Recant one contract and I informed him that the land was covered by a treasury claim in the name of William Reynolds of Ten Thousand acers and belongs to Green Clay of Ky and his is the oldest date when I found this to be its situation I wrote to Colo Lambert last summer – the situation and I have made no calculations of Paying the note and in fact I have not got the money I had to Build a mill and a Cotton gin which I had to expend all the money I could Raize tho I have told Colo Lambert that as he cannot get my note that I know no other way then to let the note ly until next session than I will pay the note and intrest and will pledge my honor not to Decieve you at that time if life lasts for I have no opposition Mr. Miller has declined who – was a candidate for a while I am to commence Suit for the land and if I gain it I will be Satisfyed and if not Colo Lambert will Satisfy me here after tho I would much Rather not be ingaged in law.” Crocket adds a short postscript, which he signs with his initials, “DC.” It reads: “I have conversed with Colo Lambert and he informed me that he never Received my letter.” In fine condition. Accompanied by custom-bound presentation folder and an engraved portrait bearing a facsimile signature.
Written from Washington in early 1829, this letter dates to a pivotal moment in Davy Crockett’s political career, as he looked ahead to his reelection later that year. Elected to Congress as a Jacksonian in 1827, Crockett secured reelection in August 1829, though his growing opposition to Andrew Jackson—particularly over the Indian Removal Act—soon placed him at odds with his party and contributed to his defeat in 1830. He returned to Congress in 1832 but was again unseated in 1834. After these political setbacks, Crockett set out for Texas in hopes of reviving his fortunes, only to meet his death in March 1836 at the legendary Battle of the Alamo.
The Western Americana auction of Jochen Zeitz.
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