Corlis Family Papers, 1757-1852

Held by The Filson Historical Society 

Creator:  Corlis Family 

Title:  Papers, 1757-1852 

Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department. 

Size of Collection:  .66 cu. ft. 

Location Number:  Mss. A C799a 

Scope and Content Note 

Collection includes correspondence, business records, ship records, legal records, and miscellaneous papers of John Corlis, a Providence (R.I.) merchant and later a farmer in Bourbon County (Ky.)  

Correspondence, 1791-1852, discusses Corlis’s merchant business and international trading efforts in Providence (R.I.); his family’s move to Bourbon County (Ky.) in 1816; family matters and daily routines; their efforts to establish and manage a farm in Bourbon County; and business transactions John Corlis maintained with the Brown and Ives firm in Providence.  

Business records include invoices, insurance claims, ledgers, and correspondence regarding the voyage of the Hazard from Providence to Liverpool and Amsterdam in 1801; and routine business papers, 1809-1834, regarding his efforts as a merchant in Rhode Island and later as a farmer in Kentucky.  

The remainder of the collection includes legal records, 1757-1833; miscellaneous material; a business ledger, 1797-1803, regarding Corlis’s merchant business in Providence; and a family Bible, including genealogical information on the Corlis, Russell, and Respess families. 

Folder List 

 

Folder 1 

5 Nov. 1791: Corlis and Olney, New York to Francis Macay, n.p. ALS, 2 pp. folio. Letter includes a letter to Joseph and William Russell.  

30 Jan. 1809: [John Corlis ], Providence to Oliver Kane, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 p. folio.  

10 Feb. 1809: Oliver Kane, Providence to John Corlis, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 2 pp. quarto.  

10 July 1809: J[ohn] C[orlis], Providence to Oliver Kane, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

16 Feb. 1809: Oliver Kane, Providence to John Corlis, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

16 Feb. 1809: [John Corlis ], Providence to Oliver Kane, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 2 pp. folio.  

4 April 1809: Elias Kane, Providence to John Corlis, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

6 June 1809: J[ohn] C[orlis], Providence to Elias Kane, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 p. quarto.  

10 June 1809: Elias Kane, New York to John Corlis, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

14 June 1809: J[ohn] C[orlis], Providence to Elias Kane, n.p. [New York]. AL, 1 p. quarto.  

18 June 1816: John Corlis, Jr., Bourbon County, Ky. to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 2½ pp. quarto. 

19 June 1816: Mary Ann [Corlis], n.p. [Bourbon County, Ky.] to [Susan Condy Russell] Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3¼ pp.  

1 July 1816: Edward Randall, Pittsburgh to John Corlis, Cranston, Rhode Island. ALS, 3 pp. folio.  

4 July 1816: Otis Ammidon, Philadelphia to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

12 July 1816: Otis Ammidon, Philadelphia to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

21 July 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3 pp. folio. Very badly faded.  

24 July 1816: Daniel Hart, Pittsburgh to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

29 July 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3 pp. folio.  

1 Aug. 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3 ¼ pp. folio.  

8 Aug. 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], [Bourbon County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 2¾ pp. quarto.  

9 Aug. 1816: Mary Ann [Corlis], Lexington to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3½ pp. quarto.  

12 Aug. 1816: Joseph R. Corlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3½ pp. quarto.  

24 Aug. 1816: Mary [Ann Corlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Susan C[ondy] [Russell] Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3½ pp. quarto.  

1 Sept. 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 1 ¾ pp. folio.  

6 Sept. 1816: John Corlis, Jr., Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3½ pp. quarto.  

8 Sept. 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 7½ pp. folio. 

22 Sept. 1816: G[eorge] W[illiam] R[ussell] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3 pp. folio. 

27 Sept. 1816: John Corlis, Jr., Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Charles Corlis, Providence. ALS, 3¼ pp. quarto. 

 

Folder 2 

Nov. 1816: Susan C[ondy] Corlis, Providence to John Corlis, Philadelphia. ALS, 2¼ pp. quarto.  

11 Jan. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, Providence. ALS, 3¾ pp. quarto.  

12 Jan. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Stephen Tripp, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ¼pp.folio.  

19 May 1820: John Corlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Martin Blake, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

31 Jan. 1820: [John Corlis ], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ¼pp.quarto. Copy.  

31 Jan. 1820: John Corlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 4 pp. quarto. Copy.  

3 Feb. 1820: [John Corlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to James Burrill, n.p. AL, 1 p. folio.  

3 Feb. 1820: John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. to Samuel Boyd, N[ew] York. ALS, 1 p. folio.  

3 Feb. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Lexington, [Ky.] to Martin Blake, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ½ pp. quarto.  

23 Feb. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ½pp.quarto.  

22 Mar. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Clark [County], K[entuck]y River to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 3¼ pp. folio. 

24 Mar. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ½ pp. quarto. 

25 Mar. 1820: [John Carlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to [Brown and Ivest n.n. [Providence]. AL, 4 pp. quarto. Copy. 

27 Mar. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Horace Learned, n.p. AL, 1 p. quarto. 

27 Mar. 1820: John Carlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Talcott and Bowers, n.p. ALS, 1 p. quarto. Letter is damaged along right margin. 

3 April 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2 pp. quarto. 

17 April 1820: John Carlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Caleb Fellows, n.p. ALS, 3 pp. quarto. 

18 April 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Stephen Tripp, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 3½ pp. quarto. 

21 April 1820: John Carlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Bradford and Carlis, n.p. [Centerville, Ky.]. ALS, 2 pp. folio. 

22 April 1820: Bradford and Carlis, Centerville, [Ky.] to John Carlis, n.p. [Bourbon County, Ky.]. ALS, ¾ p. folio. 

22 April 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 p. folio. 

23 April 1820: John Carlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Stephen Tripp, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 4 pp. folio. 

 

Folder 3 

10 May 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ½pp.quarto.  

20 May 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2½ pp. quarto.  

24 May 1820: John Carlis, Louisville to Talcott and Bowers, n.p. [New Orleans]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

28 May 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. 

1 June 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis), Bourbon [County, Ky.] to I-Io.race Learned, n.p. A.LS, 2¼ pp. quarto.  

1 June 1820: J[ohn] Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. to Talcott and Bowers, n.p. [New Orleans]. ALS, 2¾ pp. quarto.  

4 June 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Stephen Tripp, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2 pp. folio.  

4 June 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL,¾ p. folio.  

5 June 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Lexington to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL,½ p. quarto. 

2 July 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 p. quarto.  

2 July 1820: John Corlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Tristam Burges, n.p. [Washington, D.C.]. ALS, 2 pp. quarto.  

22 July 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ½pp.quarto. 

13 Aug. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Caroline M. Burrough, n.p. AL, 2¼ pp. folio. 

29 Aug. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 p. 

29 Aug. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Osborne and Bowers, N[ew] Orleans. AL, 1 p. folio. 

30 Aug. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Gillman and Ammidon, n.p. [Philadelphia]. AL, ½ p. folio. 

6 Nov. 1820: [John Corlis], New York to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 3½ pp. folio. 

16 Nov. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], New York to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2 pp. quarto. 

17 Nov. 1820: John Corlis, New York to Stephen Tripp, n.p. [Providence]. ALS, 1 ¼ pp. quarto. 

29 Nov. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], New York to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2 pp. quarto. 

1 Dec. 1820: [John Corlis], New York to Osborne and Bowers, n.p. [New Orleans]. AL, 2 pp. quarto.  

3 Dec. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], New York to Stephen Tripp, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2½ pp. quarto.  

6 Dec. 1820: Brown and Ives, Providence to L[ ebbeus] Loomis, New York. AL, 3 pp. It is an extract copy of a letter to Loomis.  

7 Dec. 1820: John Corlis, Patterson to L[ebbeus] Loomis, n.p. [New York]. ALS, ½ p. quarto.  

11 Dec. 1820: [John Corlis], New York to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 3½ pp. quarto.  

19 Dec. 1820: J[ohn] C[orlis], New York to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 ½ pp. quarto.  

26 Dec. 1820: John Corlis, Philadelphia to Josiah Keene, Providence. ALS, ¾ p. quarto.  

 

Folder 4 

15 Feb. 1823: Stephen Tripp, Providence to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 1 p. quarto. 

22 Mar. 1823: Otis Ammidon, Philadelphia to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 1 p. folio. 

22 April 1823: Frederick McKee, Wheeling, Va. to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 3 pp. quarto. 

27 June 1823: David Allan, Wheeling, [Va.] to John Corlis, Paris, Ky. ALS, 2 pp. octavo.  

24 July 1823: Neal and Allan, Wheeling [Va.] to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 1 ½ pp. octavo.  

28 July 1823: Brown and Ives, Providence to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 2¼ pp. quarto. 

8 Aug, 1823: Otis Ammidon, Philadelphia to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 2 pp. quarto.  

11 Oct. 1823: Frederick McKee, Wheeling, [Va.] to John Corlis, n.p. [Bourbon County, Ky.]. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

22 Oct. 1823: Otis Ammidon, Philadelphia to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 3 pp. quarto.  

20 Dec. 1823: Bowers and Osborne, New Orleans to John Corlis, Bourbon County, Ky. ALS, 1 p. quarto.  

2 Mar. 1830: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to F Respess, n.p. AL,¾ p. quarto.  

2 Mar. 1830: F. Respess, Cool Spring to J[ohn] Corlis, [Bourbon County, Ky.]. ALS, 1 p. octavo. 

2 June 1831: Harriet H[ayley] Corlis, Paris, Ky. to John Corlis, Providence. ALS, 1 ¼ pp. folio.  

16 June 1831: J[ohn] C[orlis], n.p. [Bourbon County, Ky.] to Crocker and Richmond, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 1 p. quarto. 

1 July ca. 1831: Sarah Halsey, n.p. [Providence] to [John Corlis], n.p. [Bourbon County, Ky.]. ALS, 1 ½ pp. octavo. 

Aug. 1831: J[ohn] C[orlis], Cincinnati to Brown and Ives, Providence. AL, 2 pp. quarto.  

21 Dec. 1831: John Corlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Thornton and Lathrop, n.p. ALS, 1 p.  

March 1832: Mary Ann [Corlis Bradford], n.p. to John Carlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.]. ALS, 2 pp. quarto.  

7 Aug. 1832: J[ohn] C[orlis], Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Brown and Ives, n.p. [Providence]. AL, 2 pp. folio.  

19 Oct. 1833: John Carlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.] to Otis Ammidon, n.p. [Philadelphia]. ALS, 2 pp. folio.  

15 June 1849: S[usan] C[ondy] R[ussell] R[espess], Glen Cottage to [Jesse D.H. Corwine ], n.p. ALS, 6 pp. quarto. 

3 Mar. 1852: Jesse [D.H. Corwine], Richmond, [Ky.] to Susan C.R. Resness􀀂 Florence, Ky. ALS, 3¾ pp. quarto.  

7 Sept. 1852: Susan [C.R. Corwine, Richmond, Ky. to [Susan C.R. Respess], n.p. [Florence, Ky.]. ALS, 1 ½ pp. quarto. 

 

Folder 5 

Undated: Mary Ann [Corlis], n.p. to John Corlis, Bourbon [County, Ky.]. ALS, ¾ p. quarto. 

Undated: Su[san C.R. Corwine], Richmond, Ky. to [Susan C.R. Respess], n.p. [Florence, Ky.]. ALS, 2 pp. 

 

Folder 6: Business records: Hazard (Ship), Correspondence, 1801, 1803. 

Folder 7: Business records: Hazard (Ship), Records, 1801. 

Folder 8: Business records: Hazard (Ship), Ledger, 1801-1805. 

Folder 9: Business records, 1809-1832. 

Folder 10: Business records, 1833-1834, 1850. 

Folder 11: Legal records, 1759-1833. 

Folder 12: Miscellaneous. 

Folder 13: Ledger, 1797-1803. 

Folder 14: Corlis family Bible.