Logan & Lincoln to George W. Hawley, 18 April 18421
Springfield, April 18 1842Mr G. W. HawleyInclosed are the papers in your case, which together with your property and credits
must be delivered up to the assignee at once—2 We have written the letters and sent them to your distant creditors according to
the rule— You must give the personal notices to your creditors residing in your own
county— Your cash account with us stands as follows—
3
| To your credit. | State Bank | $ | 10—00 |
| " | Shawneetown | 10—00 | |
| 20—00 |
Of this we have expended of state Bank $6.00 leaving on hand $4—00—
Of the Shawnee, wh we have expended for these papers $3—00, for postage on your letter 37½ cents; for
70 day publication $4.00. in all $7.37½ leaving on hand $2.62½—
yours &c—[etc.]Logan & Lincoln<Page 2>
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| 2.62 |
| 4.00 |
| 6.62 |
SPRINGFIELD IL.
APR[April]
19Mr G. W: Hawley.DixonLee countyIllinois
APR[April]
19Mr G. W: Hawley.DixonLee countyIllinois
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70
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G. W. Hawley
G. W. Hawley
One day from date
we or either us promise
G. W. Hawley
One day from date
we or either us promise
1Abraham Lincoln wrote and signed this letter. He also authored the address on the
back page, which was folded to create an envelope.
2In 1841, the U.S. Congress responded to the Panic of 1837 by passing the first bankruptcy legislation in American history. Beginning on February
1, 1842, Illinoisans could apply for bankruptcy relief in the U.S. District Court
in Springfield. Logan & Lincoln participated in at least 72 bankruptcy cases during
1842 and 1843. They filed bankruptcy petitions for debtors and their lawyers from
throughout the state, including for Hawley, who resided in Dixon, Illinois. The court
declared Hawley bankrupt, but it is unknown whether he was discharged of his debts.
“An Act to Establish a Uniform System of Bankruptcy throughout the United States,”
19 August 1841, Statutes at Large of the United States 5 (1856):440-49; Sangamo Journal (Springfield, IL), 20 May 1842, 1:4; 15 July 1842, 3:5; Daniel W. Stowell et al.,
eds., Papers of Abraham Lincoln: Legal Documents and Cases (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2008), 1:99-100; In re Hawley, Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org/Details.aspx?case=137812.
Autograph Letter Signed, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (Springfield, IL).