1853 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED [ALS] BY NOTED QUAKER AND STATIONMASTER OF THE COUDERSPORT PA UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

On offer is an original manuscript letter handwritten by an important local Quaker reformer and Underground Railroad figure John S. Mann [1816-1879] who was a Quaker lawyer, born in Chester County, Pennsylvania. He was a teacher, but moved to Coudersport in 1841. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1842. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 1866-1868, 1871; School Director 1858-1872, Coudersport Burgess 1862-1865; and Editor of the Potter Journal 1874-1879. Mann was the Underground Railroad "Stationmaster" for Coudersport which was an important stop on the route used by escaping slaves. Both his home and the building where his wife's bookstore was located were used to hide slaves. The latter even had a secret room. His son Arthur said as a young boy it was "not uncommon to find a colored person at the breakfast table". This letter dated Nov 8, 1853 concerns settlers on the owner's lands addressed to 'Dear Sir' [but most likely to John Keating, elderly land owner of much land in Potter County, Pennsylvania]. Mann was an agent for John Keating [1760-1856] an Irish-French immigrant who bought 200,000 acres in northern Pennsylvania in 1796 and began selling it the next year. "Coudersport Nov 8, 1853 Dr Sir On my return I went to your lands, as you suggested, and made contracts with those settlers which had not already entered into contract. I succeeded in obtaining a contract with all but two and one of them was willing to do so, but his improvement had been sold at sheriff's sale, and the purchaser did not live in this county. The other one refused to contract and says he will hold by possession…. I am satisfied he cannot and I think Mr. Harwick [?] ought to take his lot at his own risk, as I can furnish you a purchaser who will take his contract, and not ask you to guarantee the possession of any of the lots. It took me so long to get over the tract that I am unable to make out a statement of the amount due on the old contracts, and so I enclose thirteen of them herewith. Will send the new contracts by next mail, together with a draft of the tracts, showing the amount and location of the lots sold, Yours truly Jno S. Mann". A receiving notation gives Mann's name again. Fold tear at top center, overall G.