Julia T. Livingston, of Babylon LI claim - Jan 2, 1945
- 2nd hand
106 West Main st.
Babylon, N.Y.
Jan. 2, 1945
Dear Cousin:-
Your letter was received and it is interesting that there is a renewal of the Livingston-Moore
controversy about the Christmas verses. Your father searched for evidence and my father, too,
was deeply concerned that the Livingston claim might be brought to light.
I venture to say that when our ancestor wrote those charming little verses, he thought but little
further about them. It was to entertain his children. There were seven of them, as you know. He
was accustomed to writing letters and jingles in the same anapestic measure. Curious, is it not,
that the fame of a great theologian should rest upon a few rhymes that he probably did not write.
It seems strange, too, that when the lines first appeared in print over Clement Moore's name, the
children of Major Henry Livingston did not enter a protest. It has been said, however, that they felt
sensitive about disputing any claim made by Mr. Moore. He was in the Episcopate(?). They were
all loyal to the Church.
My father's cousin, Gertrude Thomas, wrote very pretty little verses. I think I sent them to you
in the packet.
I am returning your clippings as you may wish to pass them on to others.
Also, you will find enclosed a letter to my father from your grandfather. He wrote
interestingly. Keep it in your archives, if you wish, and if I care to see it again will ask for it.
My father was named "Henry" after the Major.
One afternoon, of late, as I was waiting for my train in Brooklyn Station, a number of boys, off duty
from the Navy, were rollicking around having fun among themselves. On the train coming home, I
thought out the following:-
Jingle
Five jolly tars, they catch the eyes
Of all the girls in town.
They've sailed the seven seas, they have,
They've seen the world around.
Five jolly tars are we, hooray,
We sail the briny deep,
Where white-cap WAVEs are reck'ning us
A tryst with SpARS to keep.
This is to amuse you in a leisure moment.
Brother joins me in wish a New Year of health and happiness to you and yours.
Sincerely
Julia T. Livingston
To
Lt. Stephen Thomas U.S.N.R.
55 Livingston Ave.
Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.
Sidney Montgomery Livingston (1796-1856) + Joannah Maria Holthuysen (1804-1862)
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