Dec 27, 2003
Charlie Glendinning

Dec 27, 2003

Dear Mary:

What a wonderful site! I was looking up information on my 5G-Grandfather, William Livingston and (don't ask me what route I took) came upon your site. Reading about all the forensics concerning the search for the real author of "A Visit From St. Nicholas," was pretty exciting. My connection to William comes from my mother's side of the family. Up until the turn of the century, our family had kept a chest full of correspondence from the likes of Thos. Jefferson, Phil. Livingston, Geo.Washington, etc., But my great-grandfather, Livingston Emery, who happened to be an alcoholic, burned everything except one envelope with Washington's signature on it and a ledger that listed all the correspondence as well as a description of the contents of each letter.

It's exciting to think that the author of one of the most beloved poems of all time IS ALSO related to me! Thank you for all the work you have put into your geneologies... being able to read stories about my ancestors is MUCH more interesting than looking at names on a chart.

Sincerely,

Charlie Glendinning

Dec 19, 2003
Mel Livingston

Dec 19, 2003

Dear Cousin Mary,

Last night, I was viewing the Christmas presentations from all of the music groups in the Binghamton City School System.

Before the start of each presentation, they had a Christmas Scene with the name and author of each presentation. I am glad I hung on until the end, because tha last presentation was by the Rod Serling Theater Drama Group from Binghamton High School. It was labled "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Major Henry Livingston. What a thrill to see this recognition. They did a great job reciting it too. Thanks to all your great work, the true author of "A Visit From Saint Nicholas" is finally being recognized. Rod Serling was a graduate of Binghamton Central High School, the forerunner of Binghamton High School.

Happy Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Your cousin Mel [Livingston]

Nov 17, 2003
Stephen H Burt

Mary:

In browsing your site I found the discussion of the origins of The Night Before Christmas. I have several connections to this item. For the last 100 plus years our family has maintained the tradition of reading the Poem aloud to each other on Christmas Eve. The tradition was started by the Reverend Charles Hardy Walker and his new wife Helen Charlotte Warren in 1890 and was continued by there children, my Grandmother Kathleen walker Miller and her brother and sister Rev. George warren walker and Helen Charlotte Walker, neither married. They would even, when separated for the holidays read it over the phone. I have kept the light burning on this by giving each nephew/neice a copy of the book when they marry including in the dedication the origin of the tradition. The Reverend Charles Hardy Walker was born as were his children in Utica, NY. He was the son of George Walker and Anna Gird. Anna Gird was quite a poet, etc., and also published some works. Rev. Charles Walker was the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Troy, NY for over 30 years.

An other connection is the fact that I live in Poughkeepsie and am familiar with the Morse Estate and of course all the Livingston names.

I was wondering what Dutch families you have? I have many including Schuyler, Miller, Muller, Staats, Van Schaick, Wendel, Winne, Clute, Morrel, Groesbeck etc.

Steve.

Oct 2, 2003
Jeffery L. Schatzer

Mary:

I have just completed reading "Author Unknown" and a host of other books surrounding the legend of Santa Claus and the individuals who have contributed to the legend. I have also read through most of your web site. And, I wanted to let you know that I will do all that I can to further awareness of the true authorship of "Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas."

By way of introduction, my name is Jeffery L. Schatzer. For many years, I have done my best to portray the image of Santa Claus at, what I believe to be, a high level of professionalism. I am a student of the history of the legend of Santa Claus and have gathered historical materials from the likes of Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, professor emeritus of anthropology from Ball State University. Dr. Schwartz has traced the history of the legend from its very origins through Europe and to the United States. In particular, Dr. Schwartz has tied together many of the myths and related legends that have helped to create the body of the legend so many million of people enjoy to this day.

I fancy myself a writer on my favorite topic, that of Christmas. My work has been featured in Land's End Christmas catalogues and I will be publishing my first Christmas book in 2004.

For many years, I have included a recitation of "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as a component of my portrayal. In particular, I use its wonderful references to teach and further understanding of the legend. The poem also beautifully explains some of the wonderful mysteries of the legend. For example, in my view, it nicely explains the concept of reindeer flight. I use the poem to explain to children that reindeer truly don't fly. Rather, they jump. So, it only looks like they fly. In the poem, the sound being made by the approaching sleigh comes from the ground..."when out on the lawn there arose such a clatter." Then, as the coursers (I love that word) approach the house they jump to the rooftop..."as dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, when they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky."

I have delighted audiences for many years with the words and explanations behind this wonderful poem. I have also fancied myself as a student of the history of the poem. Thanks to you and thanks to Professor Foster, I have an even stronger command of the history of this work.

Please know that I will do all that I can to further awareness and understanding of the true authorship of this work. From what I've read about your great-great-great-great-great grandfather, he was my kind of man.

Kind regards,

Jeffery L. Schatzer

Apr 14, 2003
Joyce Potter

Dear Mary,

Sarah Welles, was my 4th Great Grand Aunt. Noah Welles and Abigail Woolsey were my 5th Great Grandparents.

I was honored to know my Great Grandmother, Edith Anna Louise Welles. Besides being great at cards, she loved to recite poetry. She also loved to talk about when she was young. I have a CD now, that I can listen to of her voice. So to me, she is just steps away. She left us in 1970.

Edith was a very proper lady. She believed in having tea twice a day. And always expected people to be dressed in the right attire when coming to the dinner table.

When I saw the poem to Sarah. I thought of her. Being that I am the keeper of the books and pictures, I have several that shows their home and life style, in Ann Arbor, Mich. I also have lots of history that was past down to me. Infact, it was the reason I got involved with the genealogy. If you would like to view a small portion of what I have, here is a link to my site. http://geocities.com/jep92107/countryside.html

I would love to talk about the Welles families and relative families. The information she sent me includes: Ann Lord, Thomas Stanton, Thomas Prentice, Abigail Woolsey, and more. I was thrilled to see a picture of Abigail.

Hope to hear from you.
Respectfully, joyce potter

Dec 23, 2001
Kevin Orlin Johnson

Dear Mary:

You'll be glad to know that during this holiday season, whenever the question of the Visit from St. Nicholas comes up in a radio or newspaper interview, I've been setting the record straight about Major Harry.

It was of particular interest to listening audiences in South Africa and on the BBC in London.

Merry Christmas!

Sincerely yours,

Kevin Orlin Johnson, Ph.D.
Dallas

Nov 7, 2000
Gary W. Clendennen

7 November 2000

Dear Prof. Foster:

I am writing after having read in a Japanese weekly edition of the N.Y. Times an article by David D. Kirkpatrick entitled: "Did Scholar Hijack A Christmas Poem?" (29 Octer, p.8).

The photocopy above is from a book given me in my childhood by The Rev. Father Harold Livingston Thomas, a family friend of whom I have several wonderful memories and a unique over-all opinion that can't be improved upon. He served at the Holy Comforter Church, which was in my neighborhood. amd where I was for a time altarboy. I clearly remember his telling me that Moore stole the poem from his ancestor, and he also mentioned that the evidence was destroyed in a fire in the Troy newspaper office. All of this you know already, although the current article mentions no fir.e

Over the years I have heard many wild claims (such as Abner Doubleday's having learned baseball from two Hungarian army officers), but this one was the only one I believed: Father Thomas was either correct, or was misinformed, but he didn't make this up.

While I regret that I can add nothing to your research (except applause), I would be very grateful if you could help me learn more about Father Thomas.

Sincerely yours,

Gary W. Clendennen

Oct 31, 2000
Edward W. Nicholson

Oct 31, 2000

Dear Professor Foster,

I was very much interested in the articles printed in the International Herald-Tribune in their october 28-29 edition and in the article in the New York Times on October 29, 2000.

My interest stems especially from the fact that I am a collateral descendant of Henry Livingston, Jr. He was the younger brother of my ancestor, Gilbert Livingston and their daughters married, successively, Smith Thompson, a Justice of the US Supreme Court.

It has long been believed in our family that Henry Livingston, Jr. actually wrote the famous poem and apparently it was this belief that led Mary Van Deusen, another of Henry's descendants, to seek your assistance in resolving the question.

I thought your utilization of computer-generated comparisons of the known writings of Henry Livingston and Clement Moore with the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" was particularly significant in establishing that it was extremely unlikely that Moore could have written the poem but that the similarities with poems in Henry Livingston's letters were striking. The Kansas City Times article states that the original manuscript for this poem was lost when his granddaughter's home in Waukesha, WI burned down so it may never be possible to establish conclusively that Henry Livingston Jr. was, indeed, the author. But your study and the available evidence certainly points strongly toward this conclusion. The publication of the article in the Kansas City Times didn't generate broad comment or discussion as far as I know and I hope that these recent articles in national and international newspapers will have greater effect.

Sincerely,

Edward W. Nicholson