Western Reserve Historical Society Library

Today I looked through a set of Oviatt family documents dated 1756 - 1876 at Western Reserve Historical Society library. They are on microfilm because the originals are stored in "the vault" somewhere. Included are:

• a draft of a resolution from the Congregational Church of Richfield 1846 condemning slavery
• The organizational charter of The Sabbath School May 9, 1847.
• A copy of the deed for the northwest quadrant of Richfield from Benjamin Tallmadge to the Oviatts;
• Either a short contract or a very elaborate receipt between John Brown and Heman Oviatt 1846
• A couple of short business letters from JB
• A description of the Richfield Town Reunion 1880

There is also a faded document that is pretty much impossible to read on the microfilm but the annotation says it is a "copy of JW Weld deposition in the case of Old John Brown".

I am up trying to decipher the handwriting from these bad copies of already fuzzy microfilms. I don't think there will be any stunning new revelations here. But I am glad to find our people in Richfield formulating their abolitionist stance:

"...Resolved - that there appears to us a strange inconsistency in the action of the Ecclesiastical body to which most of our ministers belong inasmuch as they declare slavery to be sinful and yet take no measures for disciplining ministers or members for this sin...... "

In other words, they are getting tired of just talking. They are especially angry about hypocrisy. They are moving towards doing something. This is 1846. Fourteen years before the start of the Civil War.

Then of course later John Brown went from being a stealth abolitionist and underground railroad conductor to actual fighting against slavery and leading a raid at Harper's Ferry. The juxtaposition of a deposition for his trial with his everyday business letters just makes me think. Average, ordinary people - going about their work - just trying to make a living - but at the same time, standing up for what's right. Not letting the status quo dictate to them.

This is something that girls should be able to read about when they come to Crowell Hilaka. This stuff all happened right there in Richfield - and especially because the whole camp was at one time Oviatt land.

I transcribed the letters below. Looks like a lawyer is coming after JB asking about the ownership of some land. And someone else hasn't paid a debt.

If anyone else want to look at the source material, it's microfilm 777 Oviatt Family Papers WRHS

Akron 28th [????] 1845

Darius Lyman Esq

[???]

The deed from Aaron Clark [ transfer ? ] to Augustus Baldwin [in the deed referred to? ] it is for land included in the Mortgage. Brown, & Thompson's addition to Franklin Village does not include all the land intended to secure Oviatt. The amount in Village & in farming land as near as I can tell I gave to Cap't Oviatt more than a year ago with the map I had, & I doubt not he has them yet. Without those [papers?] I could not be [????} about the number of acres in each. The addition includes some Lots sold before the date of the mortgage, & marked on the map. I lent to Capt. O. without it I cannot [?] them out. The addition includes ( I think) 2 of the reservations in my deed from Haymaker [?] one to himself and one to Mrs. Warner; I can think of no more that are incorporated in it. The addition was laid out on township lots eleven & twelve. The exact amount of land included in Village or left for farming I cannot well determine but I suppose the statement I made out for Esq Weld & gave to Capt O to be nearly correct

Respectfully Yours

John Brown

Springfield [ Mass ? ] 7th Sept 1848

Marvin Oviatt Esq

[draft?]

Yours of the 1st. inst returning my order on the McClellands is received. I do not wish this note given to Mr. Perkins but I would rather you would write to McClellands that unless they take care of their note immediately you will put it in a way of being collected. The prospect of sales is good & I think we shall begin to realise soon on wool but at present have not & we have to pay about $1000 per week for frieght bills.

Respectfully Yours, John Brown