June 1 '70

Dear friend,

You remember that Margaret BlydenburgBlydenburgh, Margaret

Margaret Blydenburgh (c. 1789-1862) of Durham, New Hampshire, daughter of Rev. John Blydenburg, lived in her father's house and taught Sunday School in her hometown. She was an anti-slavery supporter, had a sizeable estate of $8000 upon her death. She gave $1000 to William Lloyd Garrison, some to Dartmouth College, and the rest to Wendell Phillips, FD, and others "in trust for the benefit of indigent and aged negroes, once slaves, and for the dissemination of anti-slavery doctrines, leaving nothing of value to her nieces and nephews. The will was contested (Everett S. Stackpole and Lucien Thompson, History of the Town of Durham New Hampshire [n.d.] 1: 207, 343; Will of Margaret Blydenburgh, enclosed in William Woodman to Frederick Douglass, 23 October 1865; Boston Liberator, 2 Jan. 1863; Springfield Daily Republican, 2 Mar. 1865). of N. Hamp left to Garrison me Pilsbury & yourself as trustees the residue of her estate after certain legacies were paid—this ought to have been some $2000—But the will being contested, it used up all the funds & now the Executor pays over $457 1/2 & the sum due us

I have Expended $200 from my own pocket in upholding the will; eight years ago the will provides that the funds shall be used in abolishing slavery—helping fugitives slaves or lecturing—& further that in case if any dispute among the trustees the first named Garrison shall have deciding voice—

Now Garrison & I think that I should be paid my advance $200—(of course without interest? which would be 96$) then that the $257 or $258 dollars left be devoted to aiding necessitous blacks here who have been slaves. Do you consent to this.

Please let me know your opinion—& suggest any other use if you object to
this,

Yours truly,

Wendell Phillips