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FRANCIS SCOTT KEY JR. (1806-1866) was the son of Francis Scott Key, author of the national anthem. 3 pp, 6 ½ x 8, writing to H.M. Morfit, an attorney in Washington, DC, March 25, 1855, seeking to resolve a military land grant for "Henry." The Henry he references is likely his son, Henry Harwood Key, a Midshipman Third Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during the Mexican War. In part, ".Henry does not wish to ask Baston to enclose for him without first securing.the slightest possibility of ever being obliged to pay it for him in case of his death or any other accidents. He therefore wishes to place in Baston s hands the application for the land warrant of 160 acres of land he is entitled to, to give Baston the power to get the land warrant. Baston can then keep the warrant for the six months and if Henry pays. the $120 in six months out of his pay, Baston can then return the land warrant to Henry and if anything should occur to present Henry from paying.in six months Baston would have the land warrant to sell and pay the debt. In this I think Henry very right. We have been disappointed in getting the papers for his application for his warrant. poor Baston is in such deep distress.Henry s claim to the land warrant of 160 acres is founded on being a Midshipman in the Navy during the Mexican War and being attached to the U.S. Steam Frigate Mississippi, Commodore Perry s flagship at the bombardment of Vera Cruz and also in many other captures on the coast of Mexico. He was in the gulf and Mexican war for eight or nine months. You will find his name recorded at the Navy Department as a Midshipman and stationed there as I have stated during that time. He has never received any other land warrant and comes in for this 160 acres under the law that passed last session of Congress. You do not know how very much you will oblige us all if you will attend to this form and send me the papers as soon as you can by mail to Poolesville Montgomery County, MD.F.S. Key" FRANCIS SCOTT KEY JR. attended the U.S. Naval Academy. While there, he married Elizabeth Lloyd Harwood on April 5th, 1826. Harwood was a first cousin through his mother s side of the family. HENRY MASON MORFIT was born between 1790 and 1800 and died in 1865. During the summer of 1836, President Andrew Johnson sent Morfit to investigate the condition of the new Republic of Texas. While Morfit studied law in Virginia, he was too young to be admitted to practice and instead went aboard a ship owned by R. Cary Jennings as a representative to London. The ship sailed from Norfolk, VA on November 5, 1810. His ship was boarded by the French privateer Alexandria on Dec. 21, 1810. Morfit was a prisoner of the French at Dunkirk. He escaped to England and was permitted to leave England on April 10, 1814. Morfit was admitted to practive law before the Circuit Court in the District of Columbia on October 15, 1835. Stray pencil notations added by a previous collector. Small attachment holes in the center from being placed in a storage folder. Everything we sell is guaranteed authentic forever to the original buyer. We also offer a 30-day return policy. If you discover a problem or are dissatisfied with an item, please contact us immediately. Our goal is to please every customer. We are pleased to be members of The Manuscript Society, Universal Autograph Collectors Club, The Ephemera Society, the Southern New England Antiquarian Booksellers and the Preferred Autograph Dealers and Auction Houses. [P 266].
Seller Inventory # FRN-SCT-KEY-JR1
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