Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1861-01-31
@(Elistellaneps Artifles,
Pedigree of Hannibal Hamlin.
From the Charleston Mercury.

TOT Gue UeHuI Vi all CouCeiuCo VIC Poo'
lish the following letter relating to the ped
igree of the Black Republican Vice-Presi
dent elect of the Northern States. 1t came
to us through the hands Of a gentleman,
who vouches for the truth of the writer, a
gentleman of New Hampshire. Its state
meuts but confirm the assertions of one of
Hamlin's colleagues of the House of Rep
resentatives, from Maine, in former years,
who then assured the Hon. r. B. Rhett
that Hamliu had negro blood in his veins,
and that one of his children had kiuky
hair. Hannibal and Scipio are both favor
ite names on the plantation. Doubtless
this Hannibal inherited his classic appella.
tion from an imported ancestor dubbed
Hannibal by his owner. We have been
informed Of a desire, on the part of some
Alabamians, to purchase the title and to
fetch him down to Alabama But as he is
only one. ne.sixteenth negro, be is entitled, by
our own laws, to be whitewashed, and
therefore, as these gentlemen might loose
their money and their trouble, we would
respectfully advise against the plan. Be.
sides, it would be crlel to his constituent
cy of the Northern States. "Ephraim is
joined to his idols; let him alone"
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Oct. 20, 1860.
DEAR SIR On ny return to this place,
after an absence of tel days, found your
letter of the 9th inst, making inquiries
respecting Senator Hamlin's pedigree,
which l hasten % answer. I was told by
Hon. John Burnham, of Hancock County,
Maine, who was many years member OF
our State Senate and Executive Council,
that che knew Hannibal HamHn's ances'
try well, having lived, in early life, in their
immediate neighborhood. He said that
his great grandfather aoas a mnlatto, and
married French woman (Canadian) fol
his wife. I have very distinct recollec
tion of his remarks, and have quoted bis
exact words. My father, who was soldier
in the Revolutionary army under Generals
Sullivan and Green, at Rhode Island, Of
ten told me that he knew Hannibal Ham
Inns grandfather, Captain Eleazer Ham,
I'm, who, at that time and place, command
ed company of megros, mulattos ana
Indians He once heard the Inspector ot
the regiment inquire of Captain Hamltn
"hop many blacks, besides himself: he had
in his company?"
1t is not true, as some of the Republican
papers represent, that the grand father E.
lenzer HamHn, served the country faith
fully during the Revolutionary War. My
father said be embezzed the money he re-
ceived for paying his men, and after steal
ing quantity of wine and Other necessa
ries provided for the sick and wounded
sold them, pocketed the money, and left
the army in disgrace.
The father of Hannibal Hdmlin lived
where Hannibal was born, within quarter
of mile Of my residence in Paris, Maine
The father was Federalist of the Hartford
Convention stamp, and had brother named
Africa Hamlin. 1t is a current repor,
in that neighborhood, that servant girl
once heard an uncle of Hannibal Hamlin,
while looking at him in the cradle remark,
{" For Gods sake, how long will this
damn black blood remain III oar family"
The above facts are all that have come tc
my knowledge, and have stated them cor
rectly. But you mistake, fear, the senti
ment of Pennsylvania and the Free North
Fred Douglass and Dred Scott would com
mand still stronger vote in the Free
States.