Series:
1 Z (Volume 1)Most numerous are letters of Peck (1789-1858) and Reynolds (1788-1865). More than two dozen letters by Peck, 1842-1857, and notes taken in an interview range widely over historical, literary, religious, and contemporary topics, including reminiscences of Daniel Boone in Missouri, George Rogers Clark and his alleged romance with Teresa de Leyba in 1779; comments on pro- and anti-slavery factions among Kentucky Baptists, and Peck's friendship with black minister J.B. Meachum.
Reynolds' letters, 1853-1865, include references to the Black Hawk War during his Illinois governorship, Democratic personalities such as James Buchanan and Stephen A. Douglas, and national issues, such as slavery, abolitionism, and the Civil War.
The papers also include legal documents of James Piggott, and reminiscences of Indian attacks on St. Louis (1780) and Fort Jefferson (1781), and a few original papers of James Piggott. Among the latter are a military order (1776), a letter to him by John Edgar (1797), and several legal documents; one acknowledged as heirs four children born out of wedlock, another certified the marriage of Jacob Judy (Joudy) and Elizabeth Wit, and others concerned a lawsuit between Piggott and William Biggs. One of Menard's letters related the hunting exploits of Alexis Doza (b. c. 1760) of Kaskaskia.
Other persons and families on whom there are biographical or genealogical references in this volume include William Biggs and his first wife Rachel; John Edgar; James Lemen, Sr. (1760-1823) ; John Moredock and the Moredock and Huff families; and Joseph and Benjamin Ogle. Many allusions to George Rogers Clark occur throughout the correspondence.
