ASSOCIATE JUSTICE SAMUEL NELSON - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 05/27/1857 - HFSID 46454

SAMUEL NELSON
Samuel Nelson, a Justice of the Supreme Court, wrote this letter in 1857 to thank the recipient for a letter after he had suffered a head injury.
Autograph letter signed "S. Nelson". 3 pages, 4½x7¼, one sheet folded, front and verso. Cooperstown, New York, May 27, 1857. Addressed to "Mr. Stoughton". In full: "My dear Sir, Your favor of the 25th is recd. and I am under very great obligation to you and Mrs. S. for the inquiry after my hurt. It occurred the evening I arrived at fort plain at the public house, Mr. Bowen. The night was especially dark, and a passage way to a cellar was unpro-tected over which I passed falling some three feet my head brought against the opposite wall- it was the side of the head near the crown that struck, cutting to the skull, and bruising badly- but the wound has healed rappidly [sic] and I am now almost well-there was no depression, or other serious injury except the cut and bruises. My own conveyances had met me in fort plain and I reached home the next day without diffi-culty. Present my best regards and also Mrs. Nelsons to Mrs. S us truly & sincerely your friends". Nelson (1792-1873), who had made a name for himself as an attorney, was a circuit judge (1823-1831) and Associate (1831-1837) and Chief Justice (1837-1845) of the Supreme Court of New York before being appointed as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by President Tyler in 1845. Serving until resigning due to illness in 1872, Nelson was involved in the historic Dred Scott case, and he was appointed by President Grant to serve on the joint high commission that arbitrated the Alabama claims in 1871. Lightly toned. Fold creases through signature. Lightly toned. Pencil note (unknown hand) on verso (no show through). Otherwise in fine condition.