Halsey O. Merriman to Abraham Lincoln, 28 January 18481
Peoria Jany 28. 1848Hon. A LincolnDr SirI send enclosed some papers for a Dutchman and his wife of this place to get the requisite
Way Bills to travel in Germany & other foreign parts, from the proper foreign functionaries– As he is desirous of
starting as soon as he gets the papers to keep him out of Calabouso,2 it is hoped you will lose no time in this matter–
I know so very little about the matter of passports, that perhaps these foreigners
will laugh a little at the shape of the Documents but I happen to know a little more
on the subject than any one else here, if they laugh I will laugh at their natives in these parts & get my pay in that way–3
All straight in Illinois
Yrs[Yours] TrulyH. O. Merriman<Page 2>
PEORIA Il.[Illinois]JAN[January] 30
FREE
A. LincolnMember of CongressWashington D. C.<Page 3>
[ certification
]
01/27/1848
01/27/1848
| State of Illinois | } | SS:[Scilicet] |
| Peoria County |
Christopher F. Koch being first duly sworn deposes and says that he is together with Rosina Koch his wife are about to visit the Kingdom of Würtemberg, Germany the country of their and each of their nativity– That affiant was born in the Town
of Emmingen, in the Said Kingdom of Würtemberg in the Year 1809– And will be 39. years of age
on the 14th day of June A.D. 1848– That affiant has lived in the United States of America ever
since the Year 1834– and in the County of Peoria aforesaid ever since the Year 18384, and is now a naturalized citizen of the United States– That affiant together with
his said wife will probably visit before his return to the Said United States the
various States of Germany, the Kingdoms of France & Great Brittain, and in the Kingdom of Holland–, That affiant intends to be absent from the United States from about the first day
of April next for about the space of one Year, & then to return to Said County of
Peoria and prays the requisite pass ports for the purposes aforesaid–
Subscribed & sworn to this 27th Day of January A.D. 1848 before me
Christopher F. KochRalph Hamlin Notary Public Peoria Co Ills[County Illinois]5<Page 4>
[ certification
]
01/27/1848
Notary Public Peoria Co Ills6
01/27/1848
| State of Illinois | } | SS: |
| Peoria County |
Rosina Koch being first duly sworn deposes and says that she is the wife of Christopher
F. Koch, and about to visit with him the Kingdom of Würtemburg in Germany– and various
other European Powers as stated in his affidavit, That affiant was born in the City
of Ludwigsburg in the Kingdom of Würtemberg aforesaid in the Year 1800, and will be is about forty eight Years of age– That she emigrated to this Country in the Year
1833, and has ever since that time resided in the United States of America, and in
the County of Peoria aforesaid ever since the Year 1838, and was in the last named
Year married to said Christopher and desires the requisite passports for the purposes
aforesaid
Subscribed & sworn to before me this 27th day of January A.D. 1848
Rosina KochRalph HamlinNotary Public Peoria Co Ills6
<Page 5>
[ certification
]
01/27/1848
Notary Public7 seal
01/27/1848
| State of Illinois | } | SS: |
| Peoria County |
I, Ralph Hamlin Notary Public within and for the County of Peoria aforesaid do hereby
certify that on this 27th day of January ^A.D. 1848^ personally appeared before me, Christopher F. Koch & Rosina Koch his wife, with whom
I am and have from the Year 1838 been well acquainted, and severally made oaths in
due forces of Law that the Statements contained in their said affidavits hereto annexed
or foregoing are true in substance and in fact– That [Said?], and I further certify that Said Christopher is about Thirty Nine Years of Age, a
German by birth and speaks the English Language imperfectly about five and one half
feet high straight figure, and rather full round person florid complexion, Blue Eyes,
Large nose and bald on crown of head– and I further certify that said Rosina is about
47, or 48 Years of Age About five feet six inches high, portly figure dark complexion,
dark brown or hazel colored eyes– and I further certify that I have been acquainted
with said Rosina & Christopher as aforesaid in said County of Peoria & they represent
that they are about to visit Europe and be absent [from?] about one Year, which statements I believe to be true, and would recommend
<Page 6>
that the necessary and proper passports be given them to enable them to visit the
several European Countries as they may desire–
Given under my hand and Notarized seal at my office in the City of Peoria in the County
of Peoria in the State of Illinois and of the United States of America this the 27th day of January in the Year of Our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Eight
Ralph HamlinNotary Public7 seal
1Halsey O. Merriman wrote this letter, including the address on the second sheet, which
was folded to form an envelope.
2Misspelling of the Spanish word “Calabozo,” meaning jail or prison.
Merriam-Webster, Spanish Central, accessed 16 December 2019, http://www.spanishcentral.com/translate/calabozo.
3Local and state authorities and notaries public, as well as the secretary of state,
issued passports in the United States until 1856 when, because foreign governments
refused to recognize passports issued by local authorities, Congress restricted issuance to the U.S. Department of State.
Abraham Lincoln responded to this letter on February 16.
L. J. Meyer, “Passports,” Dictionary of American History, rev. ed. (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1976), 5:225; “An Act to Regulate the
Diplomatic and Consular Systems of the United States,” 18 August 1856, Statutes at Large of the United States 11 (1859):60-61.
5Merriman wrote the text of this certification. Ralph Hamlin and Christopher F. Koch
signed their respective names.
Autograph Letter Signed, 6 page(s), Box 26 (formerly in Volume 51), RG 59, Entry 508: Records of the Passport Division and Field Offices, Record of the Passport Division, 1790-1917, Passport Applications, 1795-1812, 1830-1831, 1833-1905, NACP.