Guide to the Cilley Family Papers, 1820-1923
Gift of Jonathan Cilley Tibbitts, Jr., January 2022.
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Jonathan Cilley (1802-1838) was a skilled orator, lawyer, and United States Representative from Maine (1836-1838). He was born on July 2, 1802 in Nottingham, New Hampshire, and educated at the Atkinson School and Bowdoin College (Class of 1825). Cilley was invited to begin a law career by John Ruggles, a lawyer in Thomaston, Maine, who needed a clerk to oversee his law office while he was working in the state legislature. In 1828, Cilley opened his own law practice in Thomaston, and in 1829, he married Deborah Prince. Cilley served in the Maine legislature from 1832 to 1836 and was Speaker of the House from 1835 to 1836. From 1837 until his death in 1838, Cilley served as a Democratic representative from Maine in the United States House of Representatives. Cilley died on February 24, 1838 from a gunshot wound sustained in a duel with U.S. Representative William Graves of Kentucky. Jonathan and Deborah had five children, three of whom lived to adulthood: Greenleaf (1829-1898), Jane Nealley (1831-1836), Bowdoin Longfellow (1833-1834), Jonathan Prince (1835-1920; Bowdoin College Class of 1858), and Julia Draper (1837-1909).
Deborah Prince Cilley (1808-1844) was the daughter of Hezekiah Prince and Isabella Coombs. She was born on July 8, 1808 in Thomaston, Maine, and educated at a private school in Wiscasset. She was a neighbor of John Ruggles, for whom Jonathan Cilley clerked. Following Jonathan's death, Deborah struggled with both grief and illness, especially tuberculosis, but remained closely connected with both the Prince and Cilley families. She died on August 14, 1844.
Jonathan Prince Cilley (1835-1920) was the youngest son of Jonathan and Deborah Prince Cilley. He was born in Thomaston, Maine, on December 29, 1835. He practiced law briefly in Thomaston before joining the 1st Maine Cavalry in 1861. During the Civil War, he was promoted to Major in 1862, to Lt. Colonel in 1864, and to Bvt. Brig. Gen. in 1865. Following the war, he practiced law in Rockland frp, 1865 to 1919, and also served in the Maine legislature in 1867. He died on April 6, 1920.
Correspondence, photographs, legal and financial papers, speeches and writings, and other materials documenting the family and descendants of U.S. House of Representative Jonathan Cilley. The collection includes materials about four generations of Bowdoin College graduates: Jonathan Cilley, Class of 1825 (1802-1838); Cilley's son, Jonathan Prince Cilley, Class of 1855 (1835-1920); Cilley's grandson, Jonathan Prince Cilley, Jr., Class of 1891 (1869-1894), and Cilley's great-grandson, Jonathan Cilley Tibbitts, Class of 1922 (1899-1988).
Hundreds of letters document the deep connection and interpersonal relationship between Jonathan Cilley, his wife Deborah, and their children, Greenleaf, Jonathan Prince, and Julia. There is also correspondence and related materials from Jonathan Cilley's time at Bowdoin College (1821-1825), as a lawyer in Thomaston, Maine, as a democratic member of the Maine House of Representatives (1831-1836), and as U.S. Representative for Maine (1836-1838). Later letters from and to Deborah document her hardships, illnesses, and abiding love for her family life following Jonathan Cilley's murder.
Jonathan Prince Cilley's correspondence span from his childhood to his time at Bowdoin College (1854-1858), during which he exchanged letters with and received advice from then President Franklin Pierce (Bowdoin Class of 1824), to his time fighting for the North during the Civil War.
The collection also includes numerous additional materials related to these individuals, especially Jonathan Cilley. There are legal documents related to his law practice and various lawsuits he was personally involved in; newspaper articles and other papers regarding his 1838 duel with William Graves in which Cilley died; his silhouette album of Bowdoin's Class of 1825, and his wallet including receipts. The collection also includes Deborah Prince Cilley's commonplace books and poems and Jonathan Prince Cilley's Bowdoin College class album from 1858 and materials related to his service for the Union during the Civil War.
Many other members of the Cilley family are represented in the correspondence, photographs, and other documents.
Transcriptions of the majority of the correspondence prepared by Eve Anderson, Thomaston Historical Society, are available.
This series is both the bulk and the heart of the Cilley family collection. There are more than four hundred letters documenting four generations of the Cilley family, especially Jonathan Cilley, his wife Deborah, and their son Jonathan Prince Cilley. There are also letters with many members of the Prince family, with Jonathan Cilley's mother, and with family and friends. Topics are far-ranging, from the inner workings of a close-knit New England family to the professional duties of Jonathan Cilley while serving in the United States House of Representative. An amble number of letters relate to Cilley's death in a duel in 1838 and the aftermath for Deborah and his young children. Other letters show a fond relationship between Jonthan Prince Cilley while a student at Bowdoin and then President Franklin Pierce (Bowdoin Class of 1824)--the President offered to loan young Cilley money and he declined, but did accept Pierce's invitation to visit the White House. Later letters relate to Grace Cilley Tibbitts genealogical research, including letters from Jonathan Cilley's classmate, Horatio Bridge.
1820-1823
1824-1825
1826
1827
1828
1829-1830
1831-1832
1833
1834
1835
1836
1837 (1 of 2)
1837 (2 of 2)
1838 (1 of 3)
1838 (2 of 3)
1838 (3 of 3)
1839
1840 (1 of 2)
1840 (2 of 2)
1841
1842-1843
1844
1846-1852
1854. Letters to/from Jonathan Prince Cilley while at boarding school in New Hampshire
1855. Letters from Nellie Bates to Jonathan Prince Cilley while he was a student at Bowdoin.
1855. Letters from Jonathan Prince Cilley to Julia Cilley while he was a student at Bowdoin.
1855-1857. Letters from Pres. Franklin Pierce to Jonathan Prince Cilley while he was a student at Bowdoin.
1856 (1 of 2) Letters with Jonathan Prince Cilley while he was a student at Bowdoin.
1856 (2 of 2). Letters with Jonathan Prince Cilley while he was a student at Bowdoin.
1857. Letters with Jonathan Prince Cilley while he was a student at Bowdoin.
1859
1860
1861
1862 (1 of 2)
1862 (2 of 2)
1863-1867
1892. Horatio Bridge letters re: Class of 1825 silhouettes
1898. Account of Cilley-Graves duel by "Uncle George"
Undated
Transcripts of letters between Jonathan Cilley and Deborah Cilley compiled by Grace Cilley Tibbitts. 1937
Contains biographical documents from the Cilley family, including phrenological reports, receipts, newspapers and clippings covering the Cilley-Graves duel and its aftermath, diplomas and certificates, poetry written for various Cilley family members, a school paper by Greenleaf Cilley, and Deborah Prince Cilley's commonplace books.
Bowdoin College ephemera, 1891-1904
Certificate from United States to Jonathan Prince Cilley conferring brigadier general status via brevit, 1866 Apr 9
Commonplace book by Deborah Prince Cilley, undated
Commonplace book by Deborah Prince Cilley?, undated
Deed from Deborah Prince Cilley to Georges Insurance Co., 1840 Nov 6
Diploma from Bowdoin College to Jonathan Cilley, 1825
Diploma from Bowdoin College to Jonathan Cilley Tibbitts, 1923
Funeral oration for Jonathan Cilley. Typed transcript of 1838 publication.
"Journal of the Bowdoin College Scientific Expedition to Labrador, June, July, Aug., and Sept. 1891, of Jonathan Prince Cilley, Jr. on the A. Schr. 'Julia A. Decker,' Capt. M. P. Spear." Original manuscript journal from which "Bowdoin Boys of Labrador" was published in 1923.
Newspaper article about Jonathan Prince Cilley, undated
Newspapers: The Age, 1838 Mar 5
Newspapers: Christian Mirror, 1837 Jan, 1838 Mar
Newspapers: Eastern Argus, 1834 Jan
Newspapers: The Globe (Washington, DC), 1838 Aug
Newspapers: Maine Enquirer, 1833 Sept
Newspapers: The Orb, 1836 Oct
Newspapers: The Recorder, 1838 Mar-May, 1843
Phrenology character of Ellis Lazell
Phrenology report on Deborah Prince Cilley
Poems. Manuscripts. 1846, undated
Promissory note signed by Deborah Prince Cilley 1840 Oct. 30
Resolution from the State of Maine regarding Jonathan Cilley's death, 1838 Mar.
"School and College Catalogues." Bound volume of misc. New England preparatory and college catalogues, including Bowdoin, and pasted in images.
"School and College. Exercises and souvenirs." Bound volume of misc. New England preparatory schools ephemera, including Bowdoin. Also includes Jonathan Prince Cilley. Jr.'s term bills and letter of admission.
School paper entitled Winter by Greenleaf Cilley, undated
Wallet of Jonathan Cilley
Wallet of Jonathan Cilley--26 receipts found within
This series contains materials related to the legal and political work of Jonathan Cilley. There are documents related to three legal cases in which Jonathan Cilley was involved. In Cilley v. Todd, Cilley accused Todd of libelous statements printed in the Eastern Argus newspaper. In Estate of Jonathan Cilley v. John Ruggles, John Ruggles brought a suit against Cilley's estate after his death claiming that Cilley owed him money. McCobb v. Watts concerned fee payment for the vessel Catharine on the island of Monhegan. The three legal cases are particularly notable in their overlap of participants: McCobb, Ruggles, and Hezekiah Prince. The series also includes a small amount of material related to Cilley's time in the state and national legislature, especially draft speeches.
Cilley v. Todd: court proceedings, Lincoln County, St. George, Maine
Cilley v. Todd: depositions, complaint, and other documents
Cilley v. Todd: trial notes
Cilley v. Todd: trial notes, three volumes and one partial transcript
Estate of Jonathann Cilley v. John Ruggles: depositions, 1839 Nov 1
Law practice accounts
Law practice promissory notes, receipt, and summon
McCobb v. Watts: correspondence
McCobb v. Watts: depositions
McCobb v. Watts: plea by Fessenden
Speech on the 50th anniversary of the United States, ms.
Speech on education, mss. drafts
Speech on morality in public office, ms. draft
Speeches to House of Representatives, mss. drafts
Speech of Emerson Etheridge of Tennessee, printed copy
This series contains images of the Cilley family in a variety of formats, including Daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, cabinet cards, silver gelatin prints, and engravings. There are also photographs of landmarks such as the Cilley-Graves duel site at Bladensburg Dueling Grounds in Maryland and the Cilley Tomb in Thomaston, Maine.
Burley, Bejamin. Modern photographic reproduction of undated painting or drawing
Burley, Elizabeth Ann Cilley. Modern photographic reproduction of undated painting or drawing
Cilley, Carey Lazell, three tintypes, including one with infant, undated
Cilley, Deborah Prince. Modern photographic reproduction of undated painting or drawing
Cilley, Greenleaf (or Jonathan Prince Cilley). Cabinet card, undated.
Cilley, Greenleaf (or Jonathan Prince Cilley). Modern reproduction of undated photograph
Cilley, Greenleaf and Jonathan Prince Cilley. Cased Daguerreotypes, undated
Cilley, Jonathan. Cased Daguerreotype reproduction of undated lithograph.
Cilley, Jonathan. Lithograph, undated
Cilley, Jonathan and Deborah Prince Cilley. Cased ambrotype reproductions of undated paintings
Cilley, Jonathan Prince. Modern photographic reproduction of undated photograph
Cilley, Jonathan Prince, when brevit brigadier general. Steel engraving.
Cilley, Jonathan Prince (middle) with two unidentified young men. Silver gelatin print and laser print reproduction.
Cilley, Jonathan Prince, Jr. Carte de visite, 1875
Cilley, Jonathan Prince, Jr. at high school graduation. Cabinet card, 1887
Cilley, Jonathan Prince, Jr., Grace T. Cilley, and Warren Lazell?, tintype, 1874 Aug 14
Cilley, Julia Draper, Jonathan Prince Cilley, and Greenleaf Cilley. Modern reproduction of undated Daguerreotype
Cilley, Malvina. Cabinet card, undated
Cilley, Malvina. Modern photographic reproduction of undated photograph
Lazell, Fanny. Ferrotype, undated
Prince, Hezekiah. Modern photographic reproduction of undated painting
Prince, Isabella Coombs. Modern photographic reproduction of undated painting
Tibbetts, Grace Cilley. Modern photographic reproduction of 1920 silver gelatin photograph
Tibbetts, Grace Cilley with Jonathan Cilley Tibbitts, photograph, 1900
Tibbetts, Grace Cilley with Jonathan Cilley Tibbetts and Walter Farrow Cilley Tibbetts. Modern photographic reproduction of ca. 1903 photograph
Tibbetts, Grace Cilley with Jonathan Cilley Tibbetts, Jonathan Prince Cilley, Walter Farrow Cilley Tibbetts, and Walter Greenough Tibbetts at the Tibbetts home in Alameda, CA. Silver gelatin prnt, 1917
Unidentified woman (Deborah Prince Cilley?). Modern photographic reproduction of undated painting
Unidentified men (Jonathan Prince Cilley, Jr. and another man?) at the Cilley monument in Nottingham Square, New Hampshire, silver gelatin photograph, undated
Bowdoin College Class of 1825. Jonathan Cilley's copy of class silhouette album, 1825
Bowdoin College Class of 1825. Jonathan Cilley's copies of loose silhouettes, ca. 1825
Bowdoin College Class of 1858. Jonathan Prince Cilley's copy of class photograph and authograph album, 1858
Cilley family tomb, Thomaston, Maine. Three silver gelatin photographs, undated
Field where Graves-Cilley dul occurred. Silver gelatin photograph, undated
Field where Graves-Cilley dul occurred. Modern photographic reproduction of undated silver gelatin photograph
House (Cilley family in Thomaston, Maine?). Three photographs, undated.