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Finley, John B. letter, December 10, 1862, Lewis County, Kentucky to Lyman Draper.
Draper Manuscripts [Calendars and documentary series] (Samford, N.C.: NYT
Microfilming Corp. of America, 1981; 5E21.
Canaan Lewis County December the 10, 1862
Dear Sir, I received your letter on the 6 of this month requesting to inform you of my father's
birth as to his birth I have no recollectin of it. I was in the South for the last 20 years before his
death, he died on the ninth day of May 1839 aged ninety three years. 2nd. There is tombstones to
his grave, it is in West Union, Ohio, Adams County. 3rd. My father was married to Jain Blair of
Faggs Manor State of New Jersy, my mother died on the 8th of July 1840 aged 83 years. My
father was married about the commencement of the war. 4. I may be mistaken about York Town,
but at Stoney Point I am not mistaken, my father said that General Wayne requested General
Washington to give him seven hundred choice men and he would take the Point, my father was
one of them, he also made them take the flints out of their guns. They stormed the Point about
twelve o'clock at night. Wayne was the first man on the walls, his watchword here now my brave
boys Remember the Paoli. My father was at the Battle of Trenton for I heard my grandfather say
that something happened that made it necessary for my father to ride between the two lines of the
enemy, and he had a restless night of it never expected to see him alive again. My father was
acting as Adjutant at that time. As to Captain Brady, I have seen him at my father's house in
Westmoreland, County Pennsylvania. I think he lived at Greenleaf the County seat of
Westmoreland, if I am not mistaken. He was Deputy Surveyor for the State under my father. As
to John Finley who was with Boone, he was my grandfather's brother's son. He was born in
Virginia on the James River. I am of the opinion he was killed at the battle of the Lower Blue
Licks. As to what my father was President of was near Elizavill Flemming County, Kentucky. He
then moved back to Ohio near West Union where he first moved from, and where he died in full
assurance of the faith of immortal glory. As to old papers, I think they were all lost by
carelessness of my brother's children. I remain your etc, and may the choisest of heavens blessing
be with you.
J.B. Finley
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