Asa Hosmer notebooks

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: MSC-257

Staff Only

Content Description

The collection consists of two notebooks, one of which contains copies of letters written to his wife describing the cruelties, the intolerable conditions and the brutality of guards. He also wrote letters to Ludyah Robinson, esq, May 27-30, 1832. There are copies of letters to Mrs. Hosmer from Asa M. and from Stanford Robinson, June 3, 1882, who told her of her son's death; and a letter from James Price to Ludyah Robinson, May 30,1822.

The second notebook contains "a partial history" of the final days of Asa Hosmer and his son, Asa M., based on letters received by his wife and daughter, Sophia Robinson. This account was written by a 20th century descendant and covers the period from 1816 to the 1850s.

Dates

Creation: 1818-1832

Creator

Hosmer, Asa (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Access is open to all researchers, unless otherwise specified.

Conditions Governing Use

Material in this collection is in the public domain, unless otherwise noted.

Biographical Note

Asa Hosmer was a Connecticut sea captain. He was in command of a fleet of privateers commissioned by General Simon Bolivar to prey on Spanish vessels when he was captured by the Spanish and imprisoned in Havana, Cuba. Through the offices of Bristol, RI merchant Senator De Wolf, he was released after five years and returned to Connecticut to recuperate.

He and his son Asa M. then journeyed to Honduras where they fought against the Spanish. He and his son were rewarded with a grant of land from the Miskito Indians and settled there. Asa M. was killed in 1832 during an insurrection by the Spanish and Asa lived until the 1850s.