0512----1853 Rev Obadiah Brown Wash DC + Newark NJ - cane heirloom letter Bruen

0512----1853 REV OBADIAH BROWN WASH DC + NEWARK NJ - CANE HEIRLOOM LETTER BRUEN Historic 1853 letter concerning Reverend Obadiah Brown considered to be one of the first settlers of Newark NJ. Later became a very well known Clergyman of Washington DC.  There is a lot of important research online. This letter was penned by William D. Bruen of Broad Street, New York City, dated Jan 4, 1853, and sent to William Brown of Washington DC. The name Brown and Bruen appear to be interconnected (and interchangeable) in this family.  During research I have seen it numerous times. So we have William Bruen writing to William Brown, whose middle name is Bruen. The complete letter is transcribed below, but the main focus concerns a valuable, sacred cane that belonged to Reverend Brown of Washington who was the father of the letter's recipient William Brown of DC.  Obadiah recently passed away and Mr. Bruen of NYC would like to have the cane to add to his family treasures.   Sounds like it's time to lawyer up and let the court battle begin. Mr. Bruen makes a reference to seeing the notice of Obadiah's death in the Jan 1st (1853) issue of the New York Herald. The exact clipping to which Bruen refers is shown below (see image).  Apparently Rev. Obadiah Brown died on May 1, 1852. William Bruen himself died not long after this letter (October of 1854) in Newark NJ. The letter is in good condition with a couple of tears that do not interfere with the content. PLEASE NOTE:   Research materials are digital only and cannot be included with the sale of the letter. New York January 4 1853 Doctor Wm B.H. Brown Washington DC Although I have not the pleasure of your acquaintance at the same time we are relatives + I take the liberty of introducing myself to you. In looking over the Herald of the 1st issue in the list of Deaths of Prominent men the past year I noticed the Death of your Father which is the first that I am aware of his decease. My object in writing is to ask of you a very great favor. There is an old cane in the family that originally belonged to Obadiah Brown. ( +  now in your possession) that I have looked upon as being something almost sacred. Now if you have no particular desire to retain the cane in your possession I should like to be the owner of it. I have some things that belonged to him + the most to be prized amongst them all would be the old cane.  As you know was one of the first settlers of the town of Newark and his homestead has been in the family to the present day. Last summer I purchased the homestead from my brothers and now I have possession of the old place which I am improving by erecting a large stone front dwelling (where I should be most happy to see you) which I intend to occupy as (Page 2) Long as I live + hope that my children may keep it during the generation after me. As before said I should like to be the owner of the old cane. I should love to take it into my hands + walk with it over the same grounds (it's old homestead) that the old gentlemen did near 200 years ago. It would be bringing it back again to its old home + should you feel disposed to let me have it I should price it as one of the most valuable pieces of my household + the most sacred relic of the family. Please let me hear from you on the subject + oblige. Yours most respectfully William D. Bruen No. 80 Broad St. New York * * * * * * * * * *