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Item #336
1. [African-American Meeting & School-House.] A short history of the African Union Meeting and School-House, erected in Providence (R. I.) in the years 1819, '20, '21; with rules for its future government.. Providence: printed by Brown and Danforth, 1821.
SOLD
First edition, 8vo, (approx. 9¼" x 6"), pp. 32, untrimmed and stitched as issued; light faint stain to the lower inside corner of the text block; some light soiling, untrimmed fore-edges a little worn; a very good copy.
"That the Africans and their descendants are not only capable of acquiring the common rudiments of education, but the higher branches of science, the most plenary evidence could be adduced ... Although the natural equality of the Europeans and Africans has been repeatedly demonstrated, yet if there was even an injurious disparity inherent in the latter, it would not diminish, but rather enhance their claim to have their one talent cultivated to the utmost limits of which it is capable, in order to render them useful citizens."
The detailed account of the foundation and organization of this important early African-American church and school in Providence, the result of a committee of both African Americans and white Providence residents who secured a bequest from Moses Brown to found the Meeting House and school which eventually evolved in the Congdon Street Baptist Church. This work does much to suggest the propriety of educating African Americans, with the inclusion here of a substantial portion of Benjamin Banneker's 1791 letter to Jefferson on the intelligence of the Negro and Jefferson's reply.
Per the catalogue entry found on OCLC, "Authorship derived from inscription on copy in Moses Brown Papers Collection (MS 930), UMass Amherst Special Collections, and from the text of: A Memorial of Rev. Henry Jackson, D.D., late pastor of the Central Baptist church, Newport, R.I.
Afro-Americana, 2nd ed. Suppl. 27; American Imprints 6564; Sabin 80636.
2. A letter from Rev. B. R. Allen, to Theophilus Hutchings, Esq. and others. N.p., n.d. [Barrington?: publisher not identified, 1839.].
$350
Broadside (approx. 14" x 9"), text in a single column beneath the running head, signed in type by Allen at conclusion with the dateline, "Parsonage, March 30, 1839." Sheet slightly toned, previous folds, several marginal creases and tears (2 closed with archival tape on the verso - no loss); all else very good.
Involves a dispute within the United Congregational Society of Barrington over the use of the Parsonage. It had been purchased in 1816 by the Society "for the use and benefit of a minister settled in, and preaching to, the Congregational Society, in this Parish." Rev. Allen feels that he is satisfying both conditions and prefers not to move. Installed in 1838 he left the Society four years later, citing an inadequate salary.
The issue of the Parsonage continued to plague the congregation until 1851 at which time it was sold, after acrimonious debate. The house was subsequently moved and still stands, at 484 County Rd. in Barrington.
Not found in OCLC, American Imprints, or Bartlett.
3. [Allen, Charity, single woman.] Memorandum, that on the 27th day of April in the 21st year of Our Sovereign Lord George the Second ... personally appeared before me, Thomas Bowen ... Charity Allen of Rehoboth in the county of Bristol, single woman. Jeremiah Allen, yeoman or Black Smith, and Richard Tree, gentlemen; all of Rehoboth.... Taunton, [Mass.]: 1748.
$400
Pro-forma document (approx. 6¼" x 7½"), accomplished in ink in a neat and legible hand, concerning Charity Allen, a [single woman], evidently with child, and who, with her presumed father, a blacksmith, and one Richard Tree acknowledge themselves to be severally indebted to the King for [five pounds] (Charity) and [50 shillings] each (Jeremiah and Richard), "to be levied on their goods and chattels, lands or tenements, and in want thereof upon their bodies ... the condition of the above Written Recognizance is such that if" [above bounden Charity Allen] "shall personally appear before the Justices ... to be holden at" [Taunton] "in the County of" [Bristol] ... "on the" [second Tuesday of June next] ... "to answer to such matters and things as shall be objected against her on His Majesty's behalf," [and more especially for her being with child of a bastard child]."
I take this to be a subpoena, of sorts, obliging the pregnant Charity, together with her father, to appear before the court ... but why? Birth records for Rehoboth show Charity was born July 5, 1729 (so at the time she would have been almost 19), and that she gave birth to a boy named Jacob in June of 1748, the "reputed son of Thomas Peck and Charity Allen."
4. Bi-centenary of the burning of Providence in 1676. Defence of the Rhode Island system of treatment of the Indians and of civil and religious liberty. An address delivered before the Rhode Island Historical Society, April 10, 1876. Providence: Providence Press Co., printers to the state and city, 1876.
SOLD
First edition, 8vo, pp. 34; original green cloth stamped in gilt on the upper cover; very good and sound.
Parks 19: "Occasioned by the 200th anniversary of the burning of Providence during King Philip's War."
5. Three-page autograph letter signed to Richard Ward Esq., of Ward & Hoyt, New York. Providence: July 31, 1830.
$250
4to, on integral leaves; previous folds; fine and legible.
This letter concerns a dispute over land in Newark, Vermont. Allen writes to Ward to ask him to shed any light he can on a quitclaim deed his father conveyed in 1795, which at the time of this letter, served as the pretext for an effort to dispossess the heirs of Welcome Arnold, who appear to have acquired the land legitimately, and had paid taxes on it in the interval. (Around 1780, the lot had been subscribed for by Welcome Arnold in the name of Samuel Ward.)
In the wake of conflicting grants for portions of Vermont by the provincial governments of both New Hampshire and New York, the question of landownership in Vermont was for many years extremely vexed, and the situation attracted unscrupulous landjobbers, who exploited the amorphous situation for their benefit. As Allen writes "I fear that these landjobbers may have imposed upon your father by representing [this lot] to have been conveyed by him...." Michael Bellesiles' Revolutionary Outlaws, 1993 offers a lucid account of this problematic situation.
Allen (1795-1882) was a leading industrialist of his day. He graduated from Brown University at 18, and remained closely associated with the university throughout his life. He owned mills in Rhode Island, and held several patents related to textile production. In his combination of inventive spirit and civic involvement, Allen was much like Benjamin Franklin. He introduced important innovations in fire protection, fire-fighting, and fire insurance, and was an important, if paternalistic, industrial reformer in his creation of villages for his workers. He was also an enthusiastic historian, and for many years president of the Rhode Island Historical Society.
Allen's interest in this case stems from his marriage to Eliza Harriet Arnold, who was the daughter of Welcome Arnold. What is puzzling is the degree of concern Allen shows over a relatively small (320 acres) tract of land, in what is still a remote and wild corner of Vermont. According to Allen, at the news of this rival claim, he set out with his brother-in-law, Richard James Arnold, to investigate, taking about two weeks to complete the trip. Richard R. Ward, the grandson of Rhode Island Governor Samuel Ward, was a lawyer in New York City. A curious letter involving several of Rhode Island's most prominent families, demonstrating a strong allegiance to family possessions and relations.
6. Allyn Kellogg Ford Collection of Rhode Island documents. Providence, [et al.]: 1725-1840s.
$3,500
Thirty-one letters and documents in approximately 45 pages in all, some relating to prominent merchant traders; and many signed by prominent political figures. The collection of Allyn Kellogg Ford (1878-1964), a Minneapolis businessman, Minnesota president of the Sons of the American Revolution, a founder of the Minneapolis Better Business Bureau, and a charter member and secretary of the Minneapolis Rotary Club. This collection was sold en bloc in 2012 to benefit the Minnesota Historical Society. All letters and documents are on a single sheet unless otherwise noted. Condition overall is very good.
1) Manifest of the Cargo onboard the Brigantine Betsey of Providence, berthen On Hundreds and Seven 36/95 Tons by Register, John Arnold Master, being the Port or Place from whence she last visited. Providence, September 13, 1791. 1 p. Docketed on verso by Custom House, Jeremiah Olney, Collector on October 3, 1791. Sheet 8 x 13 in., folds, browning, slight tear at fold.
The brigantine Betsey was owned by Welcome Arnold (1745-1798), a Providence merchant and long-time business partner of John Brown. He also operated a rum distillery and was the brother of Thomas Arnold, a leader of the Providence Abolition Society and one of the men determined to prosecute Brown for illegal slave trading. The cargo shows diverse items to be consigned to Stephen Dexter and to James Johnson of New York; brandy, wine, oil, olives, stockings and silk gloves, cloth, etc.
2) Autograph letter signed by S. G. Arnold. N.d. Dear Anna... regretting that he is unable to dine with her. Ca. 1840s (?) Sheet 4.5 x 7 inches. 1 p, bright ink.
Samuel Greene Arnold, Jr. (1821–1880) was a United States Senator from Rhode Island. Born in Providence, he graduated from Brown University in 1841 and, in 1845, the law department of Harvard University, gaining admission to the bar that year. He was a lawyer and historian, and was trustee of Brown University from 1848 to 1880. After his time in the Senate he returned to historical research and was president of the Rhode Island Historical Society from 1868 to 1880 and author of the History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations published in 1859-60. The letter might date prior to his marriage in 1848 to Louisa.
3) Daniel Henry Barnes, autograph letter signed to Rev. David Benedict of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. New York, September 28, 1825. 8 x 10 inches, 2 pp. Folded with integral address. Small hole at wax seal and slight tears at folds. Legible ink.
Concerning ideas to promote the advancement of science which Benedict ultimately accomplished. Rev. Barnes suggests a visit to the Pawtucket Mechanic and Scientific Institution as a start and praises lyceums as important institutions. He promotes a wide scope of disciplines to reach a broad audience.
Baptist Rev. Daniel Henry Barnes was born in Canaan, New York, in 1785, and graduated from Union College in 1809 and later Baptist Theological Seminary. Never a preacher, in 1824, (at the writing of this letter) he was associate principal of the New York High School for Boys, an institution he is said to have originated. A naturalist by avocation, Rev. Barnes was one of the chief promoters of the New York Lyceum of Natural History, now the New York Academy of Sciences. He assisted Webster in the preparation of his dictionary, and also published several early papers on the Unionidce and Chitons, some of which have been named in his honor. Rev. Barnes died prematurely by a fall from a stage coach on October 27, 1828.
Rev. David Benedict (1779-1874) was a Brown University graduate and a published author of books, journals, and other religious press. He was also involved in setting up new churches and religious associations for education and philanthropy.
4) George R. Burrill, autograph letter signed, dated Providence, May 22, 1799, to John Hagadorn in South Kingstown, concerning music and the preacher Dehone of Bristol. Sheet 10 x 16 inches, folded in half with integral address. Docketed, wax seal.
5) Bill of Sale signed by "Geo. R. Burrill" as notary. Providence, February 12, 1801. Samuel W. Greene and John Barker, merchants and partners, sell the vessel Abigail to John Innes Clark of Providence. 8 x 13 inches, seal, bound at left with ribbon. 2 pp. Slight fraying at edges. Fine hand.
George R. Burrill (1770-1818) was a prominent Federalist and mayor of Providence. He writes an amusing letter to John Hagadorn (1747-1813), a lawyer, "Dear Hag": of songs "the Little Sailor Boy" (a ballad published in Carr's Musical Repository in 1798 and "Megen Oh" (from Mrs. Rowson). Of preacher Dehone: "Our ladies I think are not less enamoured with him than those of Newport... I do not wonder at their partiality for him. I hope the poor young fellow will not be run away with."
The bill of sale document is of interest since it was pertinent to a later U.S. Supreme Court case Clark's Executors vs. Carrington.
6) Ethan Clarke, autograph letter signed to His Excellency William Greene in Warwick concerning cargo on his sloop. Newport, October 28, 1783. 8.5 x 15 inches, folded in half with integral address; small hole at seal, no loss.
Ethan Clarke (1745-1833) served during the Revolution and later got into shipping (the West Indies mercantile company Clarke and Hammond) and became quite wealthy. He married Anna, daughter of Governor Samuel Ward. In this letter to William Greene (likely Governor William Greene 1731-1809 and possibly a client or partner), he mentions that he has potatoes on his sloop and asks if he should purchase barrels for them.
7) James Smith Colburn, autograph letter signed to Hon. Tristam Burges in Washington, D.C. Charleston, S.C., May 7, 1828. 10.75 x 16 inches, folded in half with integral address, 1 pp. Edges rough. Fine hand.
In this letter Colburn forwards Burges "the pamphlet of 'Hamilton'." James Smith Colburn (1780-1859) was born in Concord, Massachusetts, become a Boston merchant and was a partner with Thomas Otis in the merchant firm Otis & Colburn. They kept a London office which prospered from the start, making it possible, in May of 1799, for James to take in marriage Susan Lorimer, youngest daughter of a prominent London family. Sadly, she died on the voyage back to the United States and Colburn eventually moved to South Carolina.
Tristam Burges (1770–1853) was a U.S. Representative from Rhode Island and great-great-uncle of Senator Theodore Francis Green.
8) Receipt signed by Henry Dayton, Captain. Newport, February 18, 1782. 3.5 x 7.5 inches. 1 pp. Lightly browned.
Henry Dayton (1751-1792) was Recruiting Officer at Newport, in 1777 and 1781 and Captain of Light Infantry Corps in 1780. This is a receipt for wood to Benjamin Bourne, Rhode Island's first U.S. Representative in Congress.
9) James Fenner signed documents: all dated at Providence. [1] Autograph from 1791, 1.5 x 4 inches; [2] Writ of Clark & Nightingale vs. Richard Knight of Cranston for recovery of monies owed. October 24, 1791. 7 x 8 in., official seal; [3] Writ of George Robinson vs. Nathan Newell and Welcome Pigsley for monies owed. 6.5 x 8 inches.. December 5, 1796; [4] Writ of Brown & Ives vs. Nathan Willson for money owed by note. March 1797. 6.5 x 8 inches; [5] Writ of Amos M. Atwell, William Wilkinson, and Samuel W. Green, Managers of the First Congregational Meeting House Lottery vs George Streeter for non performance. Signed on verso by Nathaniel Searle, Jun. April 13, 1797. 6.5 x 8 inches, docketed on verso.
James Fenner (1771-1846) was an assemblyman in the late 1790s and Governor of Rhode Island beginning in 1807 and served until 1831.
10) Ray Greene signed documents: [1] Note regarding a petition of Ezra Luther to Hon. Judge Marchant. May 26, 1795. 8 x 13 inches, folded in half; [2] autograph letter signed to Benjamin Bourne concerning Federalism and a bill before the House. Philadelphia, July 6, 1798. 8 x 10 inches, 2 pp.
Born in Warwick, Rhode Island, Greene was a son of William Greene and Catharine Ray. His father was a governor of Rhode Island during the Revolutionary War, and his mother was a correspondent of Benjamin Franklin. Greene pursued classical studies and graduated from Yale College in 1784, then studied law, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Providence. He was Attorney General of Rhode Island from 1794 to 1797, and in the latter year was elected as a Federalist to the United States Senate. He was designated a district judge of Rhode Island by President John Adams, but, through a technicality, was not appointed.
Benjamin Bourne (1755-1808) was a lawyer, U.S. Congressman and jurist, of Bristol and Providence, R.I.
11) William Greene signed documents: [1] Docketed "Copy of three different lists as given to the Gen. appointed to take an estimate..." concerning list of "William Green Esq. of Warwick" estate. September 25, 1779. 8 x 12.5 inches. Folds, bright ink; [2] autograph letter signed to Judge Henry Marchant concerning non-payment of a debt by Ray Sands of Block Island. Warwick, March 7, 1787. 8 x 12 inches, 4 pp. Repair at fold. Bright ink.
The first document may describe his own estates. The second is an interesting and lengthy letter concerning a land sale of lots on Block Island for which he has to recover unpaid debt. Greene mentions that he has hurt his leg and may not personally be able to appear in court but that he will send his son to represent him.
William Greene (1731-1809) was born in Warwick to Governor William and Catharine (Greene) Greene. He spent much of his life in public service and also ran a farm in Warwick. Greene started in public service as a Deputy in the General Assembly in 1773. He was involved with Rhode Island's efforts during the Revolutionary War, first as a member of the Council of War and then as Governor. He also served as a Justice in the Superior Court. In 1762, he married Catharine, daughter of Simon and Deborah (Greene) Ray of Block Island and died in Warwick on November 29, 1809.
12). Jeremiah Olney, signed Ship's manifest. Custom House, Providence, October 20, 1792. 7.5 x 13 inches. Folds, previous repairs on verso with tape, showing through. Manifest of the cargo outbound on board Sloop Fanny, Tillinghast, Master, bound to New York. Also signed by John Tillinghast.
Jeremiah Olney (1749-1812) was collector for the district of Providence and also the Colonel of the First Rhode Island Regiment during the last years of the American Revolution.
13) Overing and Auchmuty to Hazard and Robinson in Charleston concerning sale of cargo. Providence, December 15, 1792. Sheet 8 x 11 inches, folded with integral address on verso, hole at seal. Letter showing trade relationship of some of the major Rhode Island shipping merchants. The firm of Hazard & Robinson sent this letter via ship to Charleston with Martin Benson, shipmaster, (connected to Brown, Benson and Ives) containing directions to sell a load of brandy for about $512. Overing and Auchmuty, who were related by marriage, ran a merchant firm out of New York.
In 1789, Rowland Hazard had in connection with his cousin, Stephen Ayrault Robinson, established a mercantile business in Charleston, South Carolina, under the firm name of Hazard & Robinson. As a consequence he spent much of his time in Charleston, though he did not make it his permanent residence. The firm had consignments of merchandise from the North, and in looking after these business connections Mr. Hazard made his headquarters at his father's house in Rhode Island. It was, however, in Charleston that he met and married his wife, Mary Peace, in 1793, and it is evidence that he still regarded South Kingston as his home that he brought his bride to his father's house. [History of Washington and Kent Counties, Rhode Island by J. R. Cole W. W. Preston & Co., New York, 1889].
14) Martin Page signed receipt from Welcome Arnold. Newport, Rhode Island, February 7, 1797. Docketed. Half sheet, 4.5 x 7.5 inches. Bright ink.
Martin Page received $1000 from Welcome Arnold for the cargo in his ship Minerva to be delivered to Jon. Arnold in Charleston. Sea captain Martin Page (1772-1867) of Providence was the son of Thomas Page. He began sailing as a cabin boy at age 12, and eventually worked his way up to captain, spending 48 years at sea. For 33 years, he was employed by the mercantile firm of Brown & Ives, mostly as a ship's master and supercargo.
"Welcome Arnold (1777-1821) was heavily involved in owning privateering vessels during the Revolutionary War, and lost over thirty of them. He subsequently made sure not to own any vessel outright, but to spread his ownership interest over many boats so as to lessen the risk. In 1788 Nicholas Brown and Welcome Arnold spent $25,000 to construct a rum distillery at Providence's Fox Point neighborhood. Apparently Welcome Arnold, like fellow Gaspee raider John Brown, dabbled in the triangle trade of rum for slaves for molasses for rum." [see "Papers of the American Slave Trade, Series A: Selections from the Rhode Island Historical Society"]. It's tempting to think this is a receipt for slaves. The Minerva was a known slave ship, and the receipt uses the phrase "cargo" without qualifiers, which often was a code of sorts for Africans. While I can find the Minerva on slavevoyages.org I cannot match either the dates or the captain, Martin Page.
15) Agreement to build a bridge over the Woonasquatucket River. Committee and signatories: James Petty, Richard Jackson, William Valentine, Stephen Olney, Elisha Angell. Providence, December 6, 1820. Sheets 8 x 10 inches, 4 pp.
An interesting document that describes a bridge to be built over the "Wanascatucket river," half by Providence men and the other half to be built by Elisha Angell and Stephen Olney of North Providence. The bridge was to be eighteen feet wide and covered with chestnut plank. Many bridges in the area had to be rebuilt after the Great Gale of 1815--although we do not know if this document refers to a rebuild or a new proposal. The tide from the Great Gale had free flow up the Woonasquatucket river nearly to Richmond's Print Works, and the marsh on both sides was fully flooded.
16) Rhode Island General Assembly--two petitions. [1] concerning Samuel Gorton's estate. Signed by Richard Waterman, Clerk. October 18, 1725. Half sheet 5 x 7.5 inches; [2] Petition of Stephen Brown and Nancy his wife. October 31, 1829. 8 x 11 inches, signed: Thomas Rivers, Clerk and Henry Bowen, Secretary.
Capt. John Greene's sister was the widow of Samuel Gorton. She had "insanity of mind" and apparently was incompetent to sell Gorton's land and estate. However, an addendum says "It is the opinion of this House that inasmuch as Mr John Greene (a relative by marriage) refuseth to act that the Town Council of Providence will nominate and empower the person to act... D. Updike." Samuel Gorton (1687-1723) was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Cardner) Gorton and the grandson of Samuel Gorton, the founder of Warwick.
The 1829 petition of "Stephen Brown and Nancy his wife setting forth that...Nancy is the sister of John Smith Carpenter, otherwise called John Carpenter, Jr, who sailed from this State in the privateer Blockade many years since and is supposed to be lost..." Stephen Brown begs to be appointed administrator of the estate.
17) John Rogers and Obadiah Brown vs. Josiah Hazard. Providence Inferior Court, June term, 1786. 7.5 x 13 inches, bound at left with string. 3 pp. Docketed. Edges slightly frayed.
The firm of Brown, Rogers and Brown, merchants of Providence, made a complaint against Josiah Hazard, merchant and ship master of Newport, for indebtedness of ?400 pertaining to the cargo of the Ship Union.
18) Gold S. Silliman autograph letter signed to Peter Ayrault, merchant in Charleston, South Carolina, concerning a debt. Newport, February 19, 1805. 13 x 16 inches, previous folds, 2 pp. Integral address, postmarked. Fore-margin a little erose with loss to two or three words.
Gold S. Silliman (1777-1868) was the administrator of the estate of Captain William Shaw and writes to Ayrault concerning an unpaid debt to Shaw before his death. Silliman was the son of Gold Selleck Silliman (1732-1790), a Yale University attorney and militia General during the Revolution. Gold, Jr. was a post master in Brooklyn.
The debt owed was by "Hazard & Ayrault." Rowland Hazard (1763-1835) entered a mercantile partnership in 1789 with his first cousin John Robinson Jr. of Charleston, South Carolina. Peter Ayrault was admitted to the partnership in 1794, which then became known as Hazard, Robinson & Co. By 1796, business was being transacted under the name of "Hazard & Ayrault" but this partnership was dissolved around 1803. Hazard continued financing merchant voyages for most of his life largely along the Atlantic coast and the Caribbean, with Charleston, New York and Rhode Island serving as hubs, and his cargo included everything from salt to spermaceti oil to cheese.
19) Henry Smith signed documents: [1] Henry Smith to William Shattuck regarding a bill. Providence, August 5, 1797. Signed with initials. 7.25 x 9 inches. Previous folds; [2] Henry Smith to (Capt.) Clifford Crowninshield. Providence, November 22, 1797. 9 x 14 inches, folded in half, 3 pp. Docketed. Few ink spots, slight edge wear; [3] Henry Smith to John Brown concerning monies owed. September 27, 1798. 7.5 x 9 inches. Signature ink smeared; [4] Henry Smith to (Capt.) Stephen Olney promising building stones. Providence, October 24, 1798. Witnessed by Benjamin Smith.
Colonel Henry Smith (1766-1818) was a Providence merchant. He was senior member of the Rhode Island Senate in 1805 and for a few years after served as acting governor of the state.
The letter to Capt. Crowninshield details "I hope ere you receive this you will have the ship & cargo delivered to you--I know that nothing in your power will be wanting & there cannot be the least grounds for its not being American property unless the Damned English & Damned French Rascals mean to plunder & rob on the Land & in their Courts of Justice as they do on the Seas." He also inquires of his promised gold watch & chain, set of silver plate and other silver and tea ware, as well as an Encyclopedia Britannica and Voltaire's complete works.
Smith's letter to John Brown (1736-1803) [the well- known merchant and acknowledged planner and leader of the attack on the Gaspee in 1772] is an interesting missive touching on difficulties in payment for his debt; " I offered the Geo. Washington to you, that you might not be a loser by me, when the Bank thot (sic) I was not worth a Copper...I had 4500 dolls by me when the Bank was going to break..." He appends a comment concerning some gossip: "... It has been told in your family that I have tattled disrespectfully of your daughters Abby & Sally & your son James--which I declare to be most malicious falsehood, & if there is a man that dare utter such a lie to my face I'll wrink his Nose--If a woman I have nothing to say--"
20) Daniel Tillinghast autograph letter signed to Benjamin Bourn in Philadelphia regarding disability of Capt. John B. Hopkins. Providence, February 12, 1796. Sheet 8 x 14 inches. Previous folds, integral address and docket on verso. Edge fraying, small holes at top and bottom, no loss.
Daniel Tillinghast (1732-1806) was a Colonel in the Revolution and afterwards operated a shop in Providence which imported goods, especially brandy. He was also a trustee of Brown University and served on the Committee of Safety for Providence. He married Lydia Hopkins and therefore was likely a relative of the: "Mrs. Hopkins and her friends having requested me to add my Testimony concerning the disability which was sustained by Capt. John B. Hopkins while in command of the Brig Cabot..." Essentially, Tillinghast approved the Captain's request of a pension.
Benjamin Bourne (1755-1808), Harvard lawyer, was the first Rhode Island Representative in Congress, elected to four successive terms before he resigned in 1796 to succeed Henry Marchant on the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island.
21) Lodowick Updike autograph letter signed to Benjamin Bourne in Bristol concerning a voyage of Capt. Cornel's. Newport, January 29, 1806. Sheets 8 x 10 inches, 2 pp. Folded with integral address, postmarked. Bright ink. The letter speaks of demands against Capt. Cornel's voyage to Havanna which cannot be satisfied since he did not make the trip. Updike hopes to settle any claims without a lawsuit.
Lodowick Updike (1774-1833) was born in North Kingstown. He was a warden of St Paul's Church and a business man (possibly in the merchant trade). Capt. Cornel is likely the Captain Walter Cornell who drowned near Newport in 1819.
7. [Almanacs.] A nice collection of 65 Rhode Island almanacs, as below. Providence & Newport: 1771-1832.
SOLD
West, Benjamin. The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1771. Providence: printed and sold, wholesale and retail, by John Carter, [1770], pp. [24]; Alden 436; Bartlett, p. 13; Drake 12829; Evans 11934;
Anderson, John. The Rhode-Island Almanack, or Astronomical Diary, for the year of our Lord, 1772. Newport: printed by Solomon Southwick, [1771], pp. [22], the last leaf wanting; stitching renewed; Alden, 464; Bartlett, p. 12; Drake 12833; Evans 11965;
Anderson, John. Anderson improved: being an Almanack, and Ephemeris, for the year of our Lord 1773. Newport: Solomon Southwick, [1772], pp. [30], the last leaf wanting, stitching renewed; original pictorial wrapper; Alden 485; not in Bartlett; Drake 12835; Evans 12310; “The prefaces to "Anderson's" almanacs for 1772-1773 indicate that he was a head of family in Newport or its vicinity who chose not to make his identity known. No family named Anderson is listed in the Rhode Island census of 1774, and no John Anderson is found in the Rhode Island vital records for the period. The calculations in the revived Anderson almanac for 1780 were by Benjamin West” (OCLC).
West, Benjamin. The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1773. Providence: printed and sold, wholesale and retail, by John Carter, [1772], pp. [24]; Alden 486; Drake 12836; Evans 12614
Anderson, John. Anderson improved: being an Almanack, and Ephemeris, for the year of our Lord 1775. Newport: printed by Solomon Southwick, [1774], pp. [32]; Alden 529; Drake 12841; Evans 13115;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar; or, an Almanack, for the year of our Lord 1781. Providence: printed and sold by Bennett Wheeler, [1780], pp. 24; Alden 814; Drake 12864; Evans 17069;
West, Benjamin. Bickerstaff’s New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1781. Providence: printed and sold, wholesale and retail, by John Carter, [1780], pp. [32]; Alden 810; Drake 12856; Evans 19446;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, and Rhode Island Register, for the year of our Lord 1782. Providence: printed by Bennett Wheeler, [1781], pp. [40]; sewn in is an octavo gathering of 16 manuscript pages, being the accounts of one David Wilcox for shoeing horses, buying molasses, leather for shoes, washing sheep, "dressing my beaver hat," etc., entries dated 1781-86, but mostly 1782; the last page contains a list of approx. 25 recognizable Rhode Island names: Tripp, Congdon, Palmer, Peckham, Potter, Loring, etc. Ownership signature at the top of the title page of Jeffrey Potter. This almanac is also notable for its containing the complete Articles of Confederation which had passed into law upon Maryland's agreement to ratify on March 1, 1781; Alden 850; Drake 12866; Evans 17432;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, and Rhode Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1784. Newport: printed and sold by Solomon Southwick, [1783], pp. [24]; Alden 941; Bartlett, p. 12; Drake 12875; Evans 18309;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, or the Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1785. Providence: printed by Bennett Wheeler, [1784], pp. [36]; Alden 978; not in Bartlett; Drake 12882; Evans 18881;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, or the Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1786. Providence: printed by Bennett Wheeler, [1785], pp. [24]; Alden 1002; not in Bartlett; Drake 12884; Evans 19377;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, or the Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1787. Providence: printed by Bennett Wheeler, [1786], pp. [24]; Alden 1036; not in Bartlett; Drake 12889; Evans 20139;
[West, Benjamin.] Wheeler's North-American Calendar or an Almanack, for the year of our Lord 1791. Providence: Printed and sold by Bennett Wheeler, [1790], pp. [24]; Alden 1194; Drake 12916; Evans 23073; "Attributed by Evans to Benjamin West, but the actual calculator was Nathan Daboll. The eclipse predictions are a briefer version of those in the New England Almanack and Gentlemen & Ladies Diary for 1791 (New London, Conn.), calculated by Daboll under his pseudonym of Edmund Freebetter. The astronomical and horological notes on the calendar pages are identical, with some omitted and a few added. The calculations for the moon are duplicated throughout. Those for the sun and tides and in some of the notes" (OCLC). The illustration on the title page is of the eclipse of April 3;
[West, Benjamin.] Bickerstaff, Isaac. New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1792. Providence: printed and sold, wholesale and retail, by John Carter, [1791], pp. [24]; Alden 1236; Drake 12918; Evans 23987; "Isaac Bickerstaff" is a common pseudonym in almanacs. Erroneously attributed by Evans to Benjamin West. The actual calculator appears to be Nathan Daboll;
Thornton, Elisha. The Rhode-Island Almanack, with an Ephemeris, for the year of our Lord, 1794. Warren, (R.I.): printed ... by Nathaniel Phillips, for Jacob Richardson, Esq; Newport, [1793], pp. [24]; Alden 1270; Bartlett, p. 13; Drake 12936; Evans 26257
[West, Benjamin.] Wheeler’s North-American Calendar, or an Almanack, for the year of our Lord, 1795. Providence: printed … by Bennett Wheeler, [1794], pp. [24]; Alden 1352; Drake 12945; Evans 28068; “Attributed by Evans to Benjamin West, but the actual calculator was Nathan Daboll. The eclipse predictions are identical, except for lacking the diagram, with those in his the New England Almanack and Gentlemen & Ladies Diary for 1795 (New London, Conn.). The astronomical and horological notes on the calendar pages are duplicated with some omissions and additions. The calculations for the moon are identical throughout, except that in Wheeler the October phases are repeated for November. The other calculations, including some in the notes, vary because of the difference in meridian between the two almanacs. Two impositions noted. One comprises two gatherings of six leaves, signed [A]6 B6; the other three gatherings of four leaves, signed [A]4 B-C4” (OCLC). Our copy is signed [A]4 B-C4.;
Thornton, Elisha, & Eliab Wilkinson. New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1796 ... The astronomical calculations by Elisha Thornton and Eliab Wilkinson, philom. Providence: printed … by Carter and Wilkinson, [1796], pp. [24]; Alden 1400; Drake 12949; Evans 29630; interesting annotations: "Made at Ned Anthony's press 211 barrels & one third of a barrel of cyder and beer"; "third sow piged the 3rd of May"; and, "Bought barrel of cyder of Amos Lockwood, 16th of July";
Thornton, Elisha, & Eliab Wilkinson. New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1797 ... The astronomical calculations by Elisha Thornton and Eliab Wilkinson, philom. Providence: printed … by Carter and Wilkinson, [1796], pp. [24]; Alden 1456; Drake 12954; Evans 31298; title leaf defective, with loss on recto and verso;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1800 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed … by John Carter, [1799], pp. [24]; Alden 1608; Drake 12963; Evans 36700;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1801 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1800], pp. [24]; Alden 1651; Drake 12969; Evans 36962;
Southwick, Remington. The Rhode-Island Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1802. Newport: Oliver Farnsworth, [1801], pp. [24]; American Imprints 1244; Drake 12980; the stitching is perished and the leaves bound with 2 pins;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1802 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1801], pp. [24]; American Imprints 996; Drake 12977;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1803 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1802], pp. [24]; American Imprints 2744; Drake 12982;
[Daboll, Nathan.] Wheeler’s North-American Calendar, and Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord 1803. Providence: printed … by Bennett Wheeler, [1802], pp. [24]; American Imprints 3547; Drake 12984; ownership signature of Benjamin C. Cushing, and with a number of annotations throughout, notably in the first five months of the calendar: “Lucy Harris came here to stay, Thursday, 27th Jany.”; “began to fodder poor hay out of new barn”; “set goos in barrel March 19,” etc.
Southwick, Remington. The Rhode-Island Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1803. Newport: Oliver Farnsworth, [1802], pp. [24]; American Imprints 2988; Drake 12983;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1804 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1803], pp. [24]; American Imprints 4722; Drake 12986;
West, Benjamin. The Rhode-Island Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1804. Newport: printed and sold by Oliver Farnsworth, [1803], pp. [22], lacking leaf [A2]; 2 other leaves with large portions excised, no thanks to Elizabeth Langley who let us know this is her copy many times over; American Imprints 4977; Drake12989;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1805 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1804], pp. [24]; American Imprints 6877; Bartlett, p. 12; Drake 12988;
West, Benjamin. The Rhode-Island Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1805. Newport: printed and sold by Oliver Farnsworth, [1804], pp. [24]; American Imprints 7191; Bartlett, p. 12; Drake 12987;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1806 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1805], pp. [24]; American Imprints 8978; Bartlett, p. 12; Drake 12992;
West, Benjamin. The Rhode-Island Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1806. Newport: printed and sold by Oliver Farnsworth, [1805], pp. [24]; American Imprints 9256; Drake 12993; “Except for the title page, the eclipse notes on p. [2], the tides column on the calendar pages, and the advertisement, this almanac is identical line for line with the Columbian Calendar: or Almanac, for 1806, by Remington Southwick, printed at Newport for the author (by Farnsworth)” (OCLC).
Southwick, Remington. The Columbian Calendar: or Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1806. Newport: printed for the author, [1805], pp. [24]; American Imprints 6051; Bartlett, p. 12-13; Drake 12990;
West, Benjamin. The Rhode-Island Almanac, for the year of our Lord, 1806... Newport: printed and sold by Oliver Farnsworth, [1805], pp. [24]; ownership signature on the first leaf of Anna Eliza Jenckes, and extensive ink notations by an early owner - possibly Jenckes - in the calendar noting snow storms, the killing of hogs, the sewing of oats, the selling of a sow, planting corn and flax, and other agricultural notes. American Imprints 9256; Drake 12993;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1807 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1806], pp. [24]; American Imprints 10958; Drake 12994;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1808 … by Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed by … John Carter, [1807], pp. [24]; American Imprints 13186; Drake 12995;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1809 … By Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed and sold by John Carter, [1808], pp. [24]; American Imprints 15711; Drake 12997;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1810 … By Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed and sold by John Carter, [1809], pp. [24]; American Imprints 18187; Drake 12998;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1811 … By Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed and sold by John Carter, [1810], pp. [24]; American Imprints 20847; Drake 12999;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1813 … By Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed and sold by John Carter, [1812], pp. [24]; American Imprints 26210; Drake 13001;
[Daboll, Nathan, & Benjamin West.] The New-England Almanack, or Lady’s and Gentleman’s Diary, for the year of our Lord Christ 1814 … By Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed and sold by John Carter, [1813], pp. [24]; American Imprints 29280; Drake 13002;
Daboll, Nathan. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1815 … By Isaac Bickerstaff. Providence: printed and sold by Brown and Wilson, [1814], pp. [24]; American Imprints 32642; Drake 13004;
Daboll, Nathan. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1816. Providence: printed and sold by Brown and Wilson, [1815], pp. [24]; American Imprints 35778; Drake 13005;
Daboll, Nathan. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1817. Providence: printed and sold by Hugh H. Brown, [1816], pp. [24]; American Imprints 38797; Drake 13007;
Daboll, Nathan. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1818. Providence: printed and sold by Hugh H. Brown, [1817], pp. [24]; 41974; Drake 13008;
Daboll, Nathan. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1819. Providence: printed and sold by Hugh H. Brown, [1818], pp. [24]; American Imprints 45532; Drake 13009;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1820. Providence: printed and sold by Hugh H. Brown, [1819], pp. [24], 4; American Imprints 49278; Drake 13011;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1821. Providence: printed and sold by Brown & Danforth, [1820], pp. [24], 4; American Imprints 3001; Drake 13013;
The Rhode Island Register and United States Calendar, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1821. Providence: printed and sold … by Brown & Danforth, [1820], pp. 96; American Imprints 3003; Drake 13014;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1822. Providence: printed and sold by Brown & Danforth, [1821], pp. [28]; American Imprints 6636; Drake 13015;
The Rhode Island Register and United States Calendar, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1822. Providence: printed and sold … by Brown & Danforth, [1821], pp. 96; American Imprints 6637; Drake 13016; with a very interesting folding table of free white men, free white women, slaves, and free colored persons;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1823. Providence: printed and sold by Brown & Danforth, [1822], pp. [28]; American Imprints 10104; Drake 13017;
The Rhode-Island Register and United States Calendar, for the Year of our Lord Christ, 1823. Providence: printed and sold (wholesale and retail) by Brown & Danforth, [1822], pp. 96; original drab paper wrappers (lightly wormed), cream shelf-back; spine perished but binding still sound. With 4 pages of holograph ship arrival notes, Bristol, R.I., 1823. Bristol was a shipping port dominated by the DeWolf family who engaged in the famous triangle trade, which exchanged New England goods for sugar and molasses used to make rum which was then used to purchase slaves in Africa. This almanac contains four pages of hand written ship arrival notes, in ink, possibly by someone connected with the triangle trade. The first entry: "Jan 1, 1823. sailed Ship Genl Jackson. Gonsolve, master, bound for Havana." One note reads: "Bristol, R.I. 10th of July. Hired of Husey Bradford for the sum of three months all the shed in rear of stores nos. 3 & 4, Long Wharf, @ 12 Dolls for the whole term commencing this day for Brig Jacob's cargo no. 4. Aug 13 ditto Chambers at 12 Dollars." The brig Jacob was captained at the time by Capt. Benjamin Eddy. He is known to have made many voyages to Cuba for sugar and was known to the DeWolfs. American Imprints 10106; Drake 13018;
The Rhode Island Register and United States Calendar, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1824. Providence: printed and sold … by Brown & Danforth, [1823], pp. 96; American Imprints 13944; Drake 13020;
West, Benjamin. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1824. Providence: printed and sold by Brown & Danforth, [1823], pp. [28]; American Imprints 13942; Drake 13019;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1825. Providence: printed and sold by Brown & Danforth, [1824], pp. [24]; American Imprints 17815; Drake, 13021;
The Rhode Island Register and United States Calendar, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1825. Providence: printed and sold … by Brown & Danforth, [1824], pp. 96; American Imprints 17817; Drake 13022; Bickerstaff, Isaac.
The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1826. Providence: printed and sold by Carlile & Brown, [1825], pp. [24], 12; American Imprints 22081; Drake,13023;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1827. Providence: printed and sold by Carlile & Brown, [1826], pp. [28]; American Imprints 25938; Drake, 13025;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1828. Providence: printed and sold by H. H. Brown, [1827], pp. [36]; American Imprints 30444; Drake, 13027;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1831. Providence: printed and sold by H. H. Brown, [1830], pp. [16], 17-24; American Imprints 3302; Drake 13034;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1831. Providence: printed and sold by H. H. Brown, [1830]. pp. 24; American Imprints 3304; Drake 13035.
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1832. Providence: printed and sold by H. H. Brown, [1831], pp. [28]; original drab wrappers; American Imprints 8977; Drake, 13036;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode-Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1833. Providence: printed and sold by H. H. Brown, [1832], pp. 24; American Imprints 14515; Drake, 13039;
Bickerstaff, Isaac. The Rhode Island almanac for the year 1839. Providence: published and sold by H. H. Brown, [1838], pp. 24; American Imprints 52651; Drake 13046.
8. [Almanacs.] Five Rhode Island almanacs, as below. Providence: 1779-1783.
SOLD
Anderson, John. Anderson revived. The North American calendar or, an almanac for the year of Our Lord 1780... Providence: printed and sold by Bennett Wheeler, [1779], pp. [24]; the title leaf and one other torn in half, the title with loss of 3 letters, the other without loss; worn, corners curled. Alden, 760; Drake 12852; Evans 16188;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar; or, an Almanack, for the year of our Lord 1781. Providence: printed and sold by Bennett Wheeler, [1780], pp. 24. Alden 814; Drake 12864; Evans 17069;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, and Rhode Island Register, for the year of our Lord 1782. Providence: printed by Bennett Wheeler, [1781], pp. [40]; this almanac is notable for its containing the complete Articles of Confederation which had passed into law upon Maryland's agreement to ratify on March 1, 1781; Alden 850; Drake 12866; Evans 17432;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, and Rhode Island Register, for the year of our Lord 1783. Providence: printed by Bennett Wheeler, [1782], pp. [32]; this almanac is notable for its containing the complete Treaty of Alliance between France and the United States; Alden 901; Drake 12869; Evans 17796;
West, Benjamin. The North American Calendar, and Rhode Island Almanack, for the year of our Lord Christ, 1784. Newport: printed and sold by Solomon Southwick, [1783], pp. [24]; Alden 941; Bartlett, p. 12; Drake 12875; Evans 18309.
Together in mid-19th century half black roan over marbled boards, gilt-lettered direct on gilt-paneled spine.
9. [American Revolution - Fourth of July Oration.] Rhode Island's early efforts in the Revolution. An address delivered before the Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati in the statehouse at Newport R.I. on July 4th, 1896 . [Central Falls: press of E. L. Freeman & Sons, 1896.
$100
First edition, 8vo, pp. 19, [1]; original printed orange wrappers; near fine. Parks 619.
10. [American Revolution.] A Rhode Island chaplain in the American Revolution. Letters of Ebenezer David to Nicholas Brown 1775-1778. Providence: Rhode Island Society of the Cincinnati, 1949.
$50
Edition limited to 900 copies, 8vo, pp. xxxi, [1], 82; frontispiece, folding chart, and 1 plate; near fine in original green cloth-backed green paper-covered boards.
Preface by Lawrence Wroth. Handsomely printed at the Anthoensen Press, Portland, Maine.
11. [American Revolution.] Speech of Mr. Burges, of Rhode Island, on the amendatory bills for relief of the survivors of the Revolutionary army. Washington, D.C.: printed by Gales & Seaton, 1827.
$75
First edition, 8vo, pp. 31, [1]; self-wrappers; stitched, as issued; some spotting and soiling; good or better.
Burges served as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, professor of oratory and belles lettres at Brown University, and as a U.S. Congressman.
Not in American Imprints; not in Bartlett (although many of his other addresses are); see Sabin 9235.
12. [American Revolution.] Dedication of the French Monument by the City of Providence ... comprising the historical record, oration, addresses, prayers, ode, and order of exercises, July 4, 1882, with photographic views. Providence: Providence Press Company, printers to the city, 1882.
SOLD
8vo, pp. [3]-43, [1]; 2 mounted albumen prints of the monument; original pictorial brown cloth stamped in gilt on the upper cover; very good.
The monument was erected in commemoration of the French soldiers who assisted the Rhode Island troops as well as the American cause during the American Revolution. Another version of this publication, with 18 mounted photographs, was also issued.
13. [American Revolution.] Revolutionary defences in Rhode Island. An historical account of the fortifications and beacons erected during the American Revolution, with muster rolls of the companies stationed along the shores of Narragansett Bay. Providence: Preston and Rounds, 1896.
SOLD
First edition, 8vo, pp. xvi, 161, [1], [10] ads; 2 folding maps, 12 plates (2 folding), other illustrations in the text; original red cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover and spine; about fine.
14. [American Revolution.] Gen. John Sullivan and the Battle of Rhode Island. A sketch of the former and a description of the latter [drop title]. [Providence: American-Irish Historical Society, 1902.].
$45
First edition, 8vo, pp. 32; self-wrappers, stitched, as issued; some soiling, else fine.
A summary from Wikipedia: "The Battle of Rhode Island ... took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and militia forces under the command of General John Sullivan had been besieging the British forces in Newport ... but they had finally abandoned their siege and were withdrawing to the northern part of the island. The British forces then sortied, supported by recently arrived Royal Navy ships, and they attacked the retreating Americans.
"The battle ended inconclusively, but the Continental forces withdrew to the mainland and left Aquidneck Island in British hands. The battle was the first attempt at cooperation between French and American forces following France's entry into the war as an American ally."
Parks 1190.
15. [American Revolution.] Rhode Island repudiation: or, the history of the Revolutionary debt of Rhode Island. In three chapters ... Second edition. Providence: Sayles, Miller & Simons, printers, 1855.
$75
8vo, pp. xvi, 208; 4 folding facsimiles plus another in the text; contemporary half red diced russia over marbled boards, gilt-lettered direct on spine; cracks in the spine, extremities worn, upper cover neatly rehinged; good and sound.
John Wilkes Richmond (1775-1857) was a prominent Rhode Island physician who is "chiefly remembered for his conspicuous endeavor, during the latter part of his life, to secure the payment of the Revolutionary debt of Rhode Island" which repudiated the debt in 1844 (DAB).
Parks 881 noting that the first edition was published under the title History of the Registered State Debt of Rhode Island. Bartlett, p. 232; Sabin 71148.
16. [American Revolution.] Revolutionary War letters of Thomas Russell, Jr., and other family materials. Newport, Providence, Philadelphia, et al.: 1746-1823.
SOLD
A collection of letters and documents bearing on the Russell family of Woburn, Massachusetts. The bulk of the material relates to Thomas Russell, Jr. (1758-1801). Thomas Russell was in school in Boston at the time of its occupation by the British in 1775. After the Battle of Bunker Hill, he (at the age of 16) and his sister Elizabeth came to Providence to live with his brother Jonathan Russell, a merchant dealing in imported goods. Thomas served as a clerk in his brother's shop until the British occupation of Newport in December of 1776 caused the business to close. Jonathan Russell was Captain of the Providence Cadet Company of militia, and Thomas served in this company as an Ensign until he received a commission from General Washington as an Ensign to Colonel Sherburn's regiment of Continental troops. The regiment was soon after ordered to garrison in the highlands of the Hudson, and passed several months at Fishkill.
1) One-page autograph letter signed (7¾" x 6" / 19 x 15 cm) dated "Fishkill, January 20, 1777," from Thomas Russell to Dr. Solomon Drowne, Revolutionary War surgeon from Rhode Island. This letter is probably mis-dated (i.e., should be 1778) since Russell was in Rhode Island on January 22, 1777 (see the next item), and when he wrote this letter he was writing in a hurry on the barracks floor. Solomon Drowne had graduated from Rhode Island College (now Brown University) in 1773, and had married Russell's sister Elizabeth in November of 1777 while serving as a regimental surgeon (he was in Sullivan's expedition upon Rhode Island, and "won the regard" of Lafayette, Rochambeau, and d'Estaing). The letter states that Russell's regiment arrived at Fishkill from White Plains on the 11th, that the men were to be inoculated against smallpox, that a fort was to be built near West Point (most likely Fort Arnold: see item four below), and that "a great number of southern officers have resigned." Russell's note, "please to burn after you have read it" was fortunately ignored. On the verso of the letter is a record of Dr. Drowne's treatment of a patient, one Ebenezer Windsor, for a tumor of the knee. This is an excellent example of late 18th century medical practice, as the course of treatment from January 23 to September 2, 1783 is fully described and (of course) billed.
2) Two-page autograph fragment (4" x 6" / 10 x 15 cm), containing "a morning return of Capt. [Jonathan] Russell's company quartered at Pawtuxet," dated January 22, 1777, detailing the distribution of the company ("present on parade," "On command," "On guard," "Absent without leave," etc.). On the verso is a note listing one ensign (doubtless this was Thomas Russell), one sergeant, and 12 privates as being "on command" to Warwick. In addition is a poem in Solomon Drowne's hand of ten lines about the lost virtue of politicians (citing classical examples), bearing the attribution "J. Fuller's, Gentlemen's Magaz[ine], 1738."
3) One and a half-page autograph letter signed (7" x 6" / 18 x 15 cm) dated "Providence, August 6, 1777" from Thomas Russell to Solomon Drowne, mentioning that "a body of the enemy landed at Boston Neck near Greenwich yesterday & made prisoners of three men and wounded two others. Our people keep up a smart fire on them & numbers were seen to fall ... I was at Warren yesterday but the rain hindered my seeing you at Bristol. I shall not come with your Regiment as I expect having the promise of a Commission in Col. Sherburn's regiment as soon as the state of Massachusetts Bay grants a bounty in addition to the Continental Bounty..."
4) One-page autograph letter signed (7½" x 6¼" / 19.5 x 16 cm) from Thomas Russell to Solomon Drowne, dated "Fort Arnold, West Point, May 4, 1778," referencing enclosed money owed to his brother-in-law to the amount of three pounds, eighteen shillings. On the verso is a very interesting text in Drowne's hand, entitled "The Creed of Every Good American." In full: "I believe that in every kingdom, state or empire, there must be, from the necessity of the thing, one supreme legislative power, with authority to bind every part in all cases, the proper objects of human laws. I believe that to be bound by laws, to which he does not consent by himself or his representative, is the direct definition of a slave. I do therefore believe, that a dependence on Great Britain, howsoever the same may be limited or qualified, is utterly inconsistent with every idea of liberty, for the defence of which I have solemnly pledged my life and fortune to my countrymen; and this engagement I will sacredly adhere to so long as I shall live. Amen."
5) One-page autograph letter signed (12½" x 7¾" / 31 x 20 cm) from Thomas Russell to Solomon Drowne, dated "Morris Town, February 7, 1780" discussing the burning of a courthouse in Newark by the British, and a surprise attack on a Major and twenty-five of his men at Elizabeth Town. Ensign Russell's soldierly qualities and abilities had attracted the attention of Brigadier-General Stark who offered him the position of Aide de Camp on his staff, which was accepted and the announcement was announced in Brigade Orders dated November 1779. While at Morristown the regiment was called on to participate in the Staten Island Expedition under Major General Lord Sterling of 15-16 January, 1780 in which, on account of the intense cold and deep snow, the command suffered greatly, and afterward resumed its station at Morristown. Russell also mentions the sufferings of the soldiers due to lack of provisions.
The letter takes up the first page, and the remaining three are covered with notes in Drowne's hand, mostly on political, religious, and historical subjects, and quotes from classical authors (e.g., Horace, Plautus, etc.). The Doctor was a literary man, and this is the best example in the collection of his penchant for filling every scrap of available paper with notes and quotes.
6) One-page autograph letter signed (12½" x 7½" / 31 x 19 cm) from Thomas Russell to Solomon Drowne dated "Morris Town, May 28, 1780." In it he says "I much approve of your determination to try your fortune on the sea; would advise you to enter on board a Privateer rather than a letter of marque, as in the former you rescue only yourself, in the latter you may be taken and of course must lose your effects." Drowne served briefly on the sloop of war Hope as a surgeon, something that many young men did at the time, in the hope of gaining prize money and improving their fortunes. Russell himself had served on the privateer Dean that same year, as testified by a letter in this collection (by Charles Potter - see below) containing a transcribed verbal account of one of Russell's shipmates, William Wilkinson (1760-1852).
7) One and a half-page autograph letter signed (9" x 7¼" / 23 x 18.5 cm) from Thomas Russell to Solomon Drowne, dated "Philadelphia, June 24, 1783." After mustering out of the army in 1781, Russell married Ann Handy (daughter of Charles Handy, of Newport), and moved to Philadelphia to work as a merchant. Upon his arrival in Philadelphia, he relates his hopes in this letter to his brother-in-law: "After my arrival here I was employed by Messrs. Hawes & Anthony, until the 10th inst. at which time I formed a pertnership with Mr. John D. Blanchard / son of Joshua of Boston," and that he and his new partners "have now opened a store with a large assortment of European goods by wholesale and retail. We are supplied by Messrs. Austin, Hopkins & Co. of this place, and they oblige themselves to receive any goods as we may wish to return at the price we have them, so that we fear nothing come the fall and much more, our sales are very good and doubt not but in a short time we shall find ourselves in a very good way."
8) One-page autograph letter signed (8¾" x 7" / 23 x 18.5 cm) from Thomas Russell to his sister Elizabeth, dated "Newport, July 2nd, 1785," covering incidental domestic matters. "Enclosed you have a gauze hankerchief [not present] which pleased to accept. I wrote mamma some time past that there was a vessel coming here from Boston & if she would ship your things I would find them to you..."
9) One-page manuscript insurance bond (8" x 6¼" / 20 x 16.5 cm), signed by Levin Handy on behalf of Handy & Russell, dated September 27, 1785, to the amount of $2,400 underwriting the sloop Charleston Packet and citing a charter party agreement formed on September 8th. Russell had returned to Newport in 1785 to enter into foreign commerce, and on the evidence of this document he was obviously partnering with his wife's family.
10) Manuscript receipt (2¼" x 8¼" / 5.5 x 21 cm), pre-dating the other documents by thirty years. dated July 1746, from Joseph Springer to John Brown of Newport: "to hire of my horse 9 days (to pursue a deserter) in his Majesty's Service," paying Brown £4 for the service.
11) One-page autograph letter signed with docket and address panel on verso (8¼" x 5¼" / 21 x 13 cm) and also predating the other documents by thirty years, a letter from "Jos. Russell" of Bristol to Samuel Vernon of Newport, dated April 19, 1746. Probably this is the Hon. Joseph Russell (1702-1780), a judge who became Associate Justice (1751-63) of the Supreme Court of the colony, and later its Chief Justice (1765-69). The letter asks Vernon to give a certain Captain Finney permits for his cargo.
12) One-page autograph letter signed (7¼" x 4½" / 18 x 12 cm) dated January 7, 1823. It is a sad letter, from William Russell (1739-1825) to Messrs. Potter & Russell, asking that they help him with his rent. He is 84 at this time (was born in 1739), and died unmarried in 1825. William Russell was a merchant partner with his brother Joseph (both half-brothers of Thomas Russell). Colonel William Russell had been a trustee of Brown University and had served in the Providence militia during the war of the Revolution. In fact, when General Lafayette visited Providence on August 23, 1824 (a year and a half after this letter was written), William Russell was among the veterans that received him in the Senate chamber, and (as reported by the Providence Journal): "The General shook the veteran's hands in a most affectionate manner, and in an annunciation that slightly marked a foreign accent, said he was extremely happy to take his old friend once more by the hand, as it recalled to his memory the delightful associations of his youth. Mr. Russell appeared at first scarcely to comprehend the scene, but in a moment, as if the whole had rushed upon his recollection, he exclaimed in a voice broken by age, and still more subdued by feeling: 'Oh my dear Marquis, how happy I am to see you once more. I remember well the time I served under you as a volunteer of Rhode Island!"
13) An original contemporary watercolor portrait of Charles Handy the father-in-law of Thomas Russell whose daughter Ann he married in 1783. In a fine period frame, obviously passed down through the family based on fractured notes on torn and brittle paper on the verso.
The rest of the material in the collection is of a secondary nature, but serves to shed more light on the Russell family and on Thomas Russell in particular. There are photocopies of twenty-one items which reside at the Rhode Island Historical Society and Brown University, and letters about Thomas Russell between Asa Bird Gardiner (1839-1919); Charles Potter who at length transcribes an account of Thomas Russell on the Privateer Dean in 1780 by one of Russell's shipmates, William Wilkinson; and Charles Howland Russell (1851-1921) the grandson of Thomas Russell. Additionally, there is a tintype portrait of Capt. Thomas Russell Jr. (n.p., n.d., 10 x 6.5 mm), and an early silhouette of Capt. Thomas Russell, ca. 1785-95. In all, the collection provides a fascinating miscellany spanning a century of one early American family's affairs."
Solomon Drowne, to whom several of the letters were written, was born in Providence in 1753 and graduated from Brown University in 1773. "After visiting Europe he returned to Providence and entered upon the practice of medicine. For several years he was a surgeon in the army of the Revolution. Ill health obliged him to move to the West, where he labored in his profession, in Ohio and western Pennsylvania for nine years. In 1801 he returned to his native state, and settled in the town of Foster, where he passed the remainder of his life in professional and agricultural pursuits. In 1811 Dr. Drowne was appointed Professor of Materia Medica and Botany in Brown University. Botany was his favorite study, and, besides lecturing to the students, he had private classes of citizens. He died in 1834, at the age of 81 years" (Bartlett).
17. [American Revolution.] One-page legal document concerning additional pay for service in the Revolutionary War. Providence: August 23, 1791.
$1,250
Folio (approx. 12" x 7½"); wax seal intact, signed by Sheldon, Leverett Green, Wheeler Martin (Justice of the Peace), and William Thurber, as witnesses; previous folds, very good.
William Sheldon, mariner, signed this legal document in 1791, turning over his rights to his Revolutionary War depreciation wages of £44/11s. to Isaac Pitman, a Providence merchant. "Depreciation wages" referred to the situation that occurred shortly after the close of the Revolutionary War when an attempt was made to obtain additional pay, on account of the depreciation of the currency, for soldiers serving in the Rhode Island Regiments.
A committee was appointed by the Rhode Island Legislature and a report made showing the "Depreciation Accounts," or the additional amount of pay to which each soldier was entitled. This report was accepted by the Rhode Island Legislature at the October session, 1785. No provision was made by the Legislature for the payment of these sums, which were apparently viewed as a claim on the Federal Government. From time to time an attempt was made to have Congress pass a bill appropriating money for the payment of these Depreciation Accounts. The last attempt appears to have been in 1834-5 when a bill was favorably reported in the House of Representatives, but failed to pass. Over time, a large number of the former soldiers assigned their interest in this "Depreciation Payment" to speculators who offered ready cash, for less than the face value, expecting to be able to collect the full amount in the future.
The document reads: "I Wm Sheldon of Troy in the county of Rensselaer in the state of New York mariner now residing in Providence in the state of Rhode Island. For a valuable consideration paid to me by Isaac Pitman Merchant of Providence...I hereby sell assign set over and transfer...a certain balance of wages and the interest...reported due to me...on account of the depreciation of my pay as a Soldier in the Late State regiment of Artillery commanded by Edward Robert Elliott..."
A short note also appears on the verso dated Providence, May 15, 1793. "For a valuable consideration I hereby sell and assign and transfer all my rights and title to the within depreciation unto Isaac Pitman. Witness Wm. Hall."
18. [American Revolution.] General return of provisions & stores issued by the several assistant commissaries to the troops in the Rhode Island Department from October 1779 to March 1780 inclusive. Providence & Philadelphia: March 31, 1780.
$3,200
Large folio manuscript (approx. 12½" x 36") on 3 conjoined sheets; neat, professional repair on the verso at several previous folds, else near fine.
Signed in the lower left corner by Charles Stewart, Esq., Commissary General of Issues, Philadelphia; and in the lower right corner by Solomon Southwick, D.C.G., dated Providence, March 31, 1780, "errors excepted."
The document is in tabular form with vertical columns listed for flour, bread (loaf and hard), salt beef, salt pork, fat cattle, dry fish, rice, beans & peas, roots, molasses, rum, soap, candles, salt, vinegar, neats tongues, hams, pickled fish, onions, sheep, coffee, and sugar, with monthly distributions for each, six months inclusive for the last quarter of 1779 to the end of the first quarter in 1780, in casks, barrels, half-barrels, pounds, bushels, gallons, kegs, quarts, bags, etc. A second table using the same criteria is underneath the first, and accounts for a General return of provisions & stores sent from one post to another in the Rhode Island Department.
On June 10, 1777, Congress passed a bill outlining how the army of the United States was to be supplied with provisions. One Commissary General and three Deputy Commissaries General of Issues were appointed by Congress, and the Deputy Commissaries General had the authority to appoint as many assistant Commissaries to act under them as necessary. Solomon Southwick, the Rhode Island printer, was acting here as a one of Deputy Commissaries General.
The Journals of Congress, June 10, 1777, article XXXII note: "That each deputy Commissary general of issues shall, from the monthly returns of the assistant commissaries, make out a general return for the district, specifying what remained in the magazines or stores at the last return; what has been received since; the number of rations and quantity of provisions issued, and what remains in store, distinguishing the several posts, places, magazines, and regiments of corps as aforesaid; one to be sent to the Board of War, one to the commander in chief, one to the commander of the department, one to the commissary general of purchases, and one to the commissary general of issues."
Solomon Southwick II (1731-1797) was the father of the erstwhile Newport (and later Providence) printer and newspaper editor, Solomon III. He also was a printer and the publisher of the Newport Mercury which he had purchased from the heirs of James Franklin. He was a member of the first graduating class of the College of Philadelphia (now the University of Pennsylvania). In 1778 he was appointed Deputy Commissary General, responsible for obtaining and distributing food, clothing and other supplies to Continental Army soldiers in Rhode Island.
19. Nautical reminiscences. By the author of 'A Mariner's Sketches.'. Providence: published by William Marshall. Hartford: W. Marshall & Co., 1832.
SOLD
12mo, pp. 216; original muslin-backed green paper-covered boards, printed paper label on spine; some fraying along the spine, pages 5-8 in photostat facsimile; flaws aside, a good, sound copy.
Elisha R. Potter's copy with his ownership signature at the top of the title page.
Not in Bartlett or Sabin. American Imprints 19050; Howes A-220.
20. [Anthology.] The companion: being a selection of the beauties of the most celebrated authors, in the English language. In prose and verse. Providence: printed by Nathaniel and Benjamin Heaton, for Joseph J. Todd ... at the sign of the Bible and Anchor, 1799.
$225
First edition, 16mo, pp. viii, [1], 10-280; contemporary full calf, gilt-decorated spine, red morocco label, blue sprinkled edges; spine rubbed, joints restored; good and sound.
Includes selections from Goldsmith, Ossian, Parnell, Gray's An Elegy Written in a Country Church-yard, and “The Fashionable Songs for 1798.”
Alden 1615, noting that the book was actually printed in Wrentham, (Mass.), and sold in Providence by Todd. Evans 35333; Sabin 15024.
21. Memorial addresses, on several occasions; delivered in the Senate of the United States. Providence: Sidney S. Rider, 1875.
$75
8vo, pp. 52; inserted engraved title page and 5 engraved portraits; original stiff printed brown wrappers; a little crack at the top of the spine, the plates lightly spotted; very good.
Addresses on Stephen Arnold Douglas; John R. Thomson; William P. Fessenden; Nathanael Greene and the Equestrian Statue of General Greene; Roger Williams; Jonathan Trumbull and Roger Sherman; The Chevalier de Ternay; Charles Sumner; and, William A. Buckingham.
22. [Anthony, Hezekiah.] Hezekiah Anthony. Born in Somerset, Mass. April 3, 1788. Died in Providence, R.I. December 29, 1883. [Providence: publisher not identified, 1884.].
$125
8vo, pp. 44; albumen frontispiece portrait; original tan printed wrappers; wrappers torn with loss at the top gutter.
Includes an obituary written by his daughter, Jane Anthony Eames (signed J. A. E.) in the Providence Journal, January 23, 1884; notes on the memorial service of January 27, a memorial address by the Rev. S. C. Brown, plus several pages of testimonials.
Anthony was a wholesale grocer and a cotton broker. For 50 years he served as a director of Union Bank.
23. The life and character of Miss Susanna Anthony, who died, in Newport, (R.I.) June 23, MDCCXCI, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. Consisting chiefly in extracts from her writings, with some brief observations on them. Compiled by Samuel Hopkins, D.D. Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Newport. Printed at Worcester, Massachusetts. Hartford: re-printed by Hudson and Goodwin, 1799.
$200
12mo, pp. 168; contemporary full sheep, red morocco label on spine; rubbed, but sound.
Wikipedia gives us the brief story: "Born in Newport, Rhode Island as the youngest daughter of a goldsmith, she was raised as a Quaker but converted to a Congregationalist in the midst of the First Great Awakening in 1741. Anthony never married and lived an uneventful life but her diary chronicles a complicated spiritual existence ... She penned more than a thousand pages of diary entries that were excerpted by pastor Samuel Hopkins ... She kept a daily account of her life until 1769 (or none following that date were preserved by the time of Hopkins' book) but of those only a single volume (covering November 1, 1748, to May 5, 1751) currently survives, owned by the Connecticut Historical Society. The most notable highlight excerpted by Hopkins was the account of her 1741 conversion written years later at the age of 28. Some of her many letters to Hopkins and others, most frequently her friend Sarah Osborn, were collected as Familiar Letters in 1807."
Evans; 35635; Sabin 32951; Trumbull 860.
24. [Architecture.] The architectural heritage of Newport, Rhode Island 1640 - 1915. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1952.
$75
First edition, 4to, pp. x, [4], 241, [3]; 230 "plates" on rectos and versos of 115 leaves; folding map; previous owner's bookplate; near fine copy in original green cloth, and a very good dust jacket.
25. [Architecture.] Early homes of Rhode Island ... Drawings by Helen Mason Grose. Photographs by Arthur W. LeBoeuf. Richmond, Virginia: Garrett and Massie, 1937.
$150
First edition, 8vo, pp. xviii, 480; 209 photographs and 79 drawings; fine copy in original red cloth stamped in gilt on spine, pictorial dust jacket with several short tears at the extremities.
26. [Architecture.] The White Pine Series of Architectural Monographs. Three issues relating to Rhode Island. Saint Paul: White Pine Bureau, 1917-22.
$75
All 4to, 16 pages each, all illustrated throughout, all in original printed wrappers, all printed at the DeVinne Press in New York.
1) Volume III, no. 5: The Bristol Renaissance. Introductory by Joy Wheeler Dow;
2) Volume VIII, no. 3: Newport ... An Early American Seaport. Introductory Text by Kenneth Clark,
3) Volume IX, no. 3: Providence and its Colonial Houses. Introductory text by Norman M. Isham.
27. Personal diary. Providence: late 1856 to Nov. 7, 1866.
$3,500
11 volumes, 32mo (each approx. 4½" x 3"), number of pages varies from approx. 128 to approximately 375 (well over 200,000 words); all in wallet-style black morocco bindings, all a bit rubbed and scuffed, one cover loose (but present) but generally very good and sound. All kept in a small but neat and legible hand.
Living during some of the most turbulent times in 19th century America, Armington (ca. 1789-1867) is an educated and observant man, though not prone to excessive commentary. Most of the observations he makes are brief - often just a sentence or two - short enough to fit into the constrains of the small volumes.
From Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island, p. 476 we learn that "Mr. Armington inherited the virtues of ... integrity and honor ... He possessed a mind of uncommon strength, united with a comprehensive judgment which he exercised on all questions of political or religious interest. After a careful and conscientious research of biblical lore he embraced Unitarianism at an early age and ever continued a faithful adherent to its principles. His rich stores of antiquarian knowledge and his carefully preserved records of local history and biography were ever ready as illustrative examples of his diligent inquiries. He was employed as an accountant for the period of nearly 40 years in the banking house of Brown and Ives, where by his energy, dignity of character and exactitude of business relations, he won a name which has become a proverb for truth and parody. He was a devoted husband and an affectionate father.”
Mr. Armington is diligent in recording the weather - nearly every day for this ten-plus year journal he recounts wind direction, makes comments on the temperature, records snow, rain, ice, and mud. He gives the comings and goings of his daughters Delia, Caroline, and Mary, his wife Lucy who apparently is of a sickly sort, often unwell. He notes his occasional dinner engagements, lectures he attends (a lectures on astronomy, abolition, a lecture by Rev. Beecher, etc.), and he quotes extracts from the Bible, attends funerals and burials of friends and relatives, makes assorted accountings of expenses, notes the books he has read, and comments on the slave-holding states and the Civil War: "Much delusion exists in our free and happy land by the secession from the union of some of the slave-holding states..." "A heavy and hard fought battle in Missouri with the rebels in which our army have to lament the loss of General Lyon their commander and much lamented by the whole country being one of our best and most loved commanders and only about 32 years of age."
He notes a substance he refers to as "Canadian Rat Killer & likewise for cockroaches and all bugs and vermin about a house & ship sold by Hall Druggist ... this powder is of a greenish hue in tin boxes..." He writes out a recipe for wine. And he pens a long and touching lament of his departed wife. His last entry, November 7, 1866 recounts his retirement from Brown & Ives. Less than a year later, he too has passed on.
28. [Arnold, Benedict, Governor.] The burying place of Governor Arnold. An account of the establishment, destruction, and restoration of the burying place of Benedict Arnold, first governor of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations . Newport: privately printed, 1960.
$45
Large 8vo, pp. 135, [5]; illustrated throughout; original decorative wrappers; fine.
Published in honor of a descendant of Governor Arnold, John Howard Benson, who supervised the restoration of the Arnold gravestones and presented the graveyard to the Preservation Society of Newport.
29. [Arnold, Frances Rogers.] Remarks made at the funeral of Frances Rogers Arnold, August 2d, 1865. Providence: Knowles, Anthony & Co., 1865.
$175
8vo, pp. 21, [3]; text within mourning border; original glazed black wrappers printed in silver; a lovely copy.
Frances was the wife of Samuel G. Arnold who died in 1826; he was the son of Welcome Arnold Green.
Not in OCLC.
30. Poems. By the late Josias Lyndon Arnold, Esq; of St. Johnsbury (Vermont) formerly of Providence, and a tutor in Rhode-Island College. Providence: printed ... by Carter and Wilkinson, and sold at their book-store, opposite the Market, 1797.
$100
First edition, 12mo, pp. xii, [1], 14-141, [3]; a few gatherings loose; contemporary full calf, red morocco label on spine half chipped away; a good copy.
Edited by James Burrill, Jr. who provides a 5-page biographical introduction.
Alden 1523; Evans 31753; Wegelin 7.
31. The spirit of Rhode-Island. A discourse delivered before the Rhode-Island Historical Society, on the evening of Monday January 17, 1853. Providence: George H. Whitney, 1853.
$35
First edition, 8vo, pp. 32; original printed salmon wrappers; light tidemark pervades at the lower corner; all else near fine.
Bartlett, p. 19; Parks 43; Sabin 2084.
32. [Arnold, Welcome.] The difference between an absolute and limited monarchy; as it more particularly regards the English constitution. Being a treatise written by Sir John Fortescue, Kt. Lord Chief Justice, and Lord High Chancellor of England, under King Henny VI. Faithfully transcribed from the MS. copy in the Bodleian Library, and collated with three other MSS. Publish'd with some remarks by John Fortescue-Aland, of the Inner-Temple, Esq. F.R.S.. London: printed by W. Bowyer in Whyte-Friars, for E. Parker ... and T. Ward, 1714.
$2,500
First edition, 8vo, pp. [16], lxxxii, [4], 148, [4]; title-page printed in red and black, Saxon alphabet on verso of final leaf, engraved headpieces and initials; 20th century full blindstamped paneled calf, red morocco label on gilt-paneled spine; last leaf loose (but present); very good.
This copy extensively annotated throughout by Welcome Arnold, a well-known merchant and ship owner from Providence during the 18th century; he was heavily involved in owning privateering vessels during the Revolutionary War. He is also supposed to have participated in the raid against the British ship Gaspee in Narragansett Bay in June 1772. Many of the annotations are in Old English; a 2-page manuscript index to words in the text is written by Arnold on the final flyleaf. This book shows Arnold to be an erudite and studious man with extensive commentary on English law, politics, and the Saxon language.
Alston III, 15: Originally written ca. 1470. Contains Old English glosses, with an index of words glossed ... The preface contains general remarks on the study of Old English."
33. [Arts & Crafts.] The arts and crafts of Newport Rhode Island 1640-1820. Newport: Preservation Society of Newport County, Pitt's Head Tavern, 1954.
$150
First edition, 4to, pp. [4], vii-xviii, 216, [3]; illustrated throughout; original green buckram, gilt-stamped spine; previous owner's bookplate; near fine.
Furniture, including cabinets, chairs, beds, desks, tables, etc., also clocks, fire screens, chests and bookcases, all made at Newport.
34. [Arts & Crafts.] The John Brown House loan exhibition of Rhode Island furniture, including some notable portraits, Chinese export porcelain & other items. Providence: Rhode Island Historical Society, 1965.
$50
First edition, 4to, extensively illustrated; slip with additional sponsors and errata laid in; fine in original brown cloth lettered in black and white.
35. Charter and By-Laws of the Atlantic De Laine Company with an act in relation to manufacturing corporations. Providence: Knowles, Anthony and Co., 1852.
$225
12mo, pp. 24; original brown printed wrappers; small sticker at the top outer corner of the front wrapper, bottom corner of front wrapper curled; all else about fine.
With the ownership signature of Henry J. Beckwith at the top.
The Atlantic deLaine Company, "for manufacturing and other purposes," was founded by Josiah Chapin, Charles T. James, Paris Hill, Joseph Carpenter, and George W. Chapin. The original Atlantic De Laine factory was located near the junction of Hartford, Plainfield, and Manton streets in Providence.
The company was founded in 1851 to manufacture delaine - a wool muslin, which was one of the earliest mass produced worsteds. The company went bankrupt in the Panic of 1873.
Not found in OCLC.
36. [Atlantic De Laine Company.] The bill in equity, Charles T. James, vs. the Atlantic De Laine Company, et al. T. A. Jenckes, Esq., for complainant. R. W. Greene, Esq., A. Payne, Esq., Jas. H. Parsons, Esq., for respondents. Providence: Knowles, Anthony & Co., printers, 1861.
$375
8vo, pp. 214; original printed front wrapper bound in contemporary quarter roan, gilt-lettered spine; spine rubbed and top of spine chipped; all else very good.
With the ownership signature of John A. Garner, the attorney for Lyman B. Frieze, one of the respondents
"The bill was originally filed by Charles T. James against the Atlantic Delaine Company, George W. Chapin, and Lyman B. Frieze; and, after the death of the complainant, it was revived by his administratrix. Its object is to obtain a cancellation of a release of James's interest in the capital stock of the company, together with a retransfer of the stock, and an account" (casetext.com).
The Atlantic deLaine Company, "for manufacturing and other purposes," was founded by Josiah Chapin, Charles T. James, Paris Hill, Joseph Carpenter, and George W. Chapin. The original Atlantic De Laine factory was located near the junction of Hartford, Plainfield, and Manton streets in Providence.
The company was founded in 1851 to manufacture delaine - a wool muslin, which was one of the earliest mass-produced worsteds. The company went bankrupt in the Panic of 1873.
Not found in OCLC.
37. [Atlas.] Atlas of the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. From actual surveys and official records. Philadelphia: D. G. Beers & Co., 1870.
SOLD
First edition, folio, pp. 135 [i.e. 133], [1]; 54 hand-colored plat maps (9 double-page) including a fine, large, hand-colored map of R.I., and a very large double-page folding map of Pawtucket which had only become a part of Rhode Island in 1862 after a prolonged border dispute between R.I. and Massachusetts; original brown cloth stamped in gilt on the upper cover; hinges cracked, top and bottom of spine chipped and cracked, with loss; good copy overall but the interior is clean and fine.
Shows political districts for each town and landowners outside urban areas, as well as ancillary maps of villages, index to towns and villages, tables of distances, subscribers' business directories, table of area and population by town, and list of post offices.
Not in Phillips.
38. [Atlas.] Atlas of the city of Providence, R.I. and environs. From official records, private plans and actual surveys. Philadelphia: G. M. Hopkins, 1882.
$1,500
First edition, folio (approx. 18½" x 14½"), index map to the whole plus 44 hand-colored maps, many double-page; rebacked and recased in quarter calf over original black cloth lettered in gilt on upper cover; last 3 or 4 maps with slight damage to the fore-margins, several maps with the small rubber stamp of Clarence F. Lamb, Registered Professional Engineer; the title page foxed and slightly stained, maps are largely fine and clean; ownership signature of Frank P. Arnold on title page.
A highly detailed atlas resembling insurance maps with building materials and types and footprints, fire hydrants, water pipes, sewer lines, steam railroad lines, and ward numbers. Maps 200 to 600 feet to the inch.
Phillips, A List of Maps of America (1901), p. 727
39. [Atlas.] City atlas of Providence Rhode Island, by wards ... From official records, private plans and actual surveys ... surveyed & published under the direction of G.M. Hopkins; assists. surveyors, H. W. Hopkins, Geo. W. Bromley; engraved by Edward Busch. Philadelphia: C. M. Hopkins, 1875.
SOLD
First edition, 3 volumes, folio, vol. I (1st - 3rd wards): pp. [4] plus 24 hand-colored or partially hand-colored plat maps, all but one double-page; vol. II (wards 5, 6, 8 and 9, including parts of Johnston and Cranston): pp. [2], plus 31 hand-colored or partially hand-colored plat maps, all but two double-page; vol. III (wards 4, 7 and 10), pp. [2] plus 24 hand-colored double-page plat maps; all in matching quarter black calf, gilt-stamped on upper covers; extremities scuffed and worn, but the bindings are sounds and internally clean.
Detailed information on many maps including businesses, fire hydrants, horse car lines, steam car lines, brick or stone buildings, frame buildings, lot numbers, house numbers, landowners, wharves, etc.
Phillips 2568.
40. [Avery - Cornell Murder Trial.] A fac-simile of the letters produced at the trial of the Rev. Ephraim K. Avery, on an indictment for the murder of Sarah Maria Cornell, taken with great care, by permission of the Hon. Supreme Judicial Court of Rhode Island from the original letters, in the office of the clerk of said court, by David Melvill of Newport, 1833. Newport: 1833.
SOLD
4to, pp. [18]; original wheat-colored printed wrappers, enclosing reproductions of 8 letters on 13 pages, printed on white, pink, and yellow paper; fine.
The facsimiles were produced by Pendleton's Lithography in Boston. Lengthy Note to the Reader inside the back wrappers, and Certificates on the outside back wrapper.
In December of 1832, the body of a young pregnant woman was found hanging at a Tiverton, Rhode Island farm. She was identified as Sarah Cornell, a worker in a textile factory in nearby Fall River, Massachusetts. Evidence implicated Methodist minister Ephraim Avery and the community was outraged that a man of the cloth had seduced and murdered an innocent mill girl. Avery was acquitted, but could not return to the pulpit, and eventually removed to Ohio.
American Imprints 17464; not in Bartlett; McDade 39.
41. Autograph document signed, being a statement of account between Stephen Ayrault and N. Marks. Newport: March 10, 1749/50.
$400
Approx. 5¾" x 6¼", previous folds, modest stain; very good.
Stephen Ayrault (1709-1794), a merchant of Newport, is purchasing over a six-month period, June 23, 1749 to January 11, 1750, one quire of "Cattridge paper," "post paper," "prayer books," "6 Shts. bills [of] lading," and "Lead," for £6.16.7½ ("errors excepted") from N. Marks.
Docketed and signed by both on the verso. Each of the four lines of purchases with dates and prices affixed.
42. The Rhode-Island literary repository, a monthly magazine. Conducted by Isaac Bailey, Esq. [wrapper title]. Providence: published by Robinson and Howland ... H. Mann & Co., printers, [1814].
SOLD
Volume I, no. 1 (April, 1814), 8vo, pp. 56; frontispiece portrait, original printed blue wrappers; light dampstain pervades the lower half of the textblock, moderate foxing, old library rubberstamp at the top of the front wrapper and on the backside of the frontispiece; all else very good. The back wrapper with Robinson and Howland ads on both recto and verso.
The fine and attractive portrait is of the late naval officer William Henry Allen of Providence, killed as a result of a battle between the Argus, under his command, and the British brig Pelican, in 1813. This portrait, accompanied here by a biography of Allen, was executed by [David?] Edwin. James Fenimore Cooper in his History of the Navy (1839) called Allen "one of the best officers of his class in the navy." The balance of the issue is taken up with miscellaneous prose and verse. The journal lasted but six issues, the last being published in April 1815.
American Imprints 32644 indicating that this journal lasted but one year only.
43. American naval biography. Providence: published by Isaac Bailey, near the Turk's Head, H. Mann & Co., printers, 1815.
$250
First edition, 12mo, pp. iv, [1], 5-257, [1]; contemporary and likely original full calf, red morocco label on spine; lightly rubbed, the text a bit foxed, else generally very good and sound.
Bailey was a Providence author and publisher and was the first husband of Jane Angell, grand-daughter of James Angell. The book is concerned almost wholly with the War of 1812, and presents memoirs of officers often not included in other compilations. Biographies of Thomas Truxton, Edward Preble, Alexander Murray, John Rodgers, Isaac Hull, Stephen Decatur, Jacob Jones, James Lawrence, William Bainbridge, John Barry, Nicholas Biddle, David Porter, Charles Morris, William Henry Allen, Oliver Hazard Perry, William Burrows, John Cushing Alywin, and Thomas MacDonough.
American Imprints 33904; Sabin 2732.
44. [Ballads.] A most tragical account of a woman's murdering a pedler, & then burning to death her own child. [On the same sheet with:] On the death of a young lady that was lately killed in Rhod-islan [sic] by a stone falling on her breast.. [Johnstown, N.Y.: publisher not identified, 1828.].
SOLD
Broadside (approx. 9¾" x 7¼"), text in triple column and within a typographic border; two small holes affecting 2 letters, trimmed to the border and lightly toned; all else very good. First line of the Rhode Island ballad: "Young people all I pray give ear."
We take the place of publication from the AAS catalogue entry. Their copy is attached to another broadside, which they assume was meant to be separated, and which shows Johnstown as the place of publication.
Not in American Imprints; OCLC locates the N.Y. Historical and Brown University copies only, to which we add AAS.
45. [Ballads.] Solomon's temple and Bruce's address to his army. Providence: printed and sold [by Henry Trumbull] at no. 25, High Street, Providence, where are kept constantly for Sale 200 other kinds of the most new and popular Songs and Ballads ... great allowance made to Shopkeepers, Pedlers, &c, who buy to sell again, n.d. [ca. late 1820s].
$500
Quarto broadside (approx. 10½" x 9¼"), text in double column beneath the running head; previous folds, some wear at the extremities and a few small stains; good or better.
Two poems with promotional paragraph from the publisher printed beneath the poems, across both columns, below a thin rule. Some uneven type-setting for the caption title of the second poem, adding to the charm of the printing.
Not found in American Imprints, OCLC, or Singerman.
46. [Banking.] The charter of Roger Williams Bank, in Providence. Providence: printed ... by Heaton and Williams, 1803.
$250
Small 8vo (approx. 6¾" x 4"), pp. 16; self-wrappers; text toned, title spotted and a bit chipped in the fore-margin; good and the stitching remains intact.
Drop title on p. [3] reads: At the General Assembly of the State of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, begun and holden at South Kingstown on the last Monday of October, A.D. 1803. An Act to Incorporate the Stockholders of the Roger Williams Bank. Signed in print on p. 16: "Samuel Eddy, Sect'y."
American Imprints 4990; not in Bartlett.
47. [Banks & Banking.] Rhode-Island Republican - Extra - Newport, Mar. 7, 1838. An abstract from the returns of the several banks in the state of Rhode Island, &c. as made to the bank commissioners; showing the condition of said banks at the close of business hours on Friday, February 2d, 1838.... [Newport: 1838.].
$750
Folio broadside (approx. 16¼" x 13¼"), 2 detailed tables each in 20 columns beneath the running head, plus a summary "Recapitulation" at the bottom. Dated Providence, February 14, 1838. A few short tears entering from the margins and occasional wrinkling; all else very good.
Returns for 21 named banks in Providence, and 41 named banks in the remainder of Rhode Island. Includes statistics in the following categories: Capital, Circulation, Debts due other Banks, Net Profits, Dividends unpaid, Deposites on Interest, Deposites not on Interest, Total amount due from the Bank, Discounts, Specie in Bank, Bills of other Banks, Balances due from other Banks, Stock in the Bank, Real Estate and other property, Total amount of resources of the Bank, Sum of present means, Sum of present Liabilities, Present means are to present liabilities, the Public indebtedness of the bank to the whole resources of the bank.
A fascinating look at banking in Rhode Island, just after the panic of 1837 and just ahead of the Dorr Rebellion, the latter a period of revolt pitting the political (landowner) superiority of Newport against the rising financial and population strength of Providence (as well as 150 years ahead of the devastating credit union crisis in Rhode Island of the early 1990s).
Not in OCLC or American Imprints.
48. [Banks & Banking.] Memorial to the Hon. General Assembly ... at their session to be holden on the last Monday in October, 1839, the undersigned, freeman of the town of Cumberland--respectfully represent--that at a meeting of delegates from different banks in this state, held in Providence ... it was recommended that the several banks of this state should suspend the payment of their debts; and ... that all, or nearly all of said institutions, have from that time to the present, utterly refused payment of all claims presented.... [Providence: publisher not identified, 1839.].
$475
Folio broadside (approx. 16" x 8½") text triple column under the running head; signed in type by Fenner Brown, Aaron White, Jr., "and four others," dated Cumberland, October, 1839 at the end of the third column; some light foxing at top; previous fold, near fine.
Remonstrating against the recommendation that Rhode Island banks suspend payment of debts and petitioning the legislature to pass a law requiring the banks to honor the paper currency they have issued. While the proximate cause of Dorr's Rebellion was the desire to replace an outmoded State Constitution, and in particular to broaden the franchise, the economic conditions caused by the Panic of 1837 provided fertile ground for "insurrection."
Brown was for a time a member of the Rhode Island Legislature and was narrowly defeated as a Democratic candidate for Congress in 1847. White was a close political ally of Thomas Dorr and one of the leaders of Dorr's Rebellion. According to an online article by Chaput and DeSimone, White was a proponent of black suffrage ("Strange Bedfellows," in Common-Place, Vol. 10, no. 2, Jan. 2010).
Five in OCLC: NY Historical, AAS, Library Co., Williams, and Brown; not in American Imprints.
49. [Banks & Banking.] Charter of the Continental Bank, Providence, R. I.. Providence: Knowles, Anthony & Co., printers, 1853.
$125
Small 8vo, pp. 8; self-wrappers, stitched, as issued; old sticker at top outer corner; very good. Signed in type at the end, "A. Potter, Sec'ry."
“The Continental Bank was incorporated as a state bank in 1853. It was located in the What Cheer Building, and had a capital of $200,000. The first directors were: Benjamin R. Almy, George A. Seagrave, Christopher T. Keith, Rhodes B. Chapman, S. S. Bradford, George W. Butts, Bailey W. Evans, Ezekiel Owen and Henry P. Knight ... In 1865 it was reorganized as the Fourth National Bank, its location remaining in the What Cheer Building until 1882, when the bank was removed to ... 65 Westminster Street" (Bayles, History of Providence County, I, 1891).
Not in OCLC and otherwise unlocated bibliographically.
50. [Banks & Banking.] Providence Institution for Savings Daily Statement Ledger. Providence: January 1860 - January, 1864.
$1,250
Folio ledger (approx. 12" x 17¾"), 350 pages; left-hand columns printed, remaining columns filled in ink; neat and very legible; contemporary full paneled calf, spine perished, a few leaves loose, but the binding remains sound.
Civil War era bank ledger which shows chronological daily entries of bank balances, for every banking day from Jan. 1, 1860 to January 11, 1864, mostly in the two million dollar-plus range. The bottom of each page shows " depositors account, interest account, surplus account."
The Providence Institution for Savings, familiarly known as "The Old Stone Bank," was founded in 1819, as one of the first mutual savings banks in the country. The founders and early officers were men who had vast interests in shipping, who imported commodities from the West Indies, the Far East and Russia. There is scarcely a name associated with Providence shipping that does not appear in the list of officers and incorporators of the Bank.
Moses and Nicholas Brown head the list, followed closely by Samuel Nightingale and Obadiah Brown, and Thomas Poynton Ives, who served the Bank as President from its incorporation in 1819, to 1835. Sullivan Dorr, father of Thomas Wilson Dorr, was elected president in October, 1835, but it does not appear that he accepted, or ever attended a meeting after his election. On this list of incorporators are also the names of Arnold, Green, Richmond, Hoppin, Tillinghast, Wilkinson, Goddard, Russell, Mauran and Peckham—all names familiar in the annals of Providence shipping. [ref: "Ships and Shipmasters of Old Providence." By Providence Institution for Savings, Walton Advertising and Printing Company, Boston, Mass. 1920].
The Providence Institution for Savings officially changed its name to Old Stone Bank in 1967, and, at its peak, had fourteen branches. Matters began to go badly for the bank in the 1980s, when it entered into an ill-fated deal with the federal government to reorganize the failed Rhode Island Federal Savings Bank. The government didn't hold up its end of the bargain and, in 1993, in the midst of the banking crisis, Old Stone was forced to close its doors for good. The corporation's assets were absorbed by Citizens' Bank in 1994, while its records went to the Rhode Island Historical Society.
51. [Banks & Banking.] Abstract exhibiting the condition of the banks of Rhode Island, on Tuesday, the 13th day of September, 1853. From the returns made to the General Assembly at its annual October session. Providence: Sayles, Miller & Simons, 1853.
$125
First edition, 8vo, pp. 29, [3]; bound with, as issued: Abstract Exhibiting the Condition of the Institutions for Savings in Rhode Island, on the First Monday of October, 1853, from the returns made to the General Assembly at its annual October session, Providence, 1853. Original printed green wrappers; fine.
Reports from 77 banks and 12 savings institutions, as delivered to the General Assembly.
AAS, R.I. Historical, URI, and Mass. Historical only in OCLC.
52. [Banks & Banking.] The Providence National Bank. One hundred and fiftieth anniversary 1791-1941. Providence: privately printed [by the Ackerman-Standard Press], 1941.
$35
8vo, pp. [6], 52, [2], xiii, [3]; 28 full-page illustrations including portraits of all the bank's presidents; original white cloth-backed printed blue paper-covered boards, the spine lettered in black; small spot on the front cover else generally fine.
53. [Baptists.] The first church in Providence, not the oldest of the Baptists in America. Attempted to be shown by S. Adlam, pastor of the First Church in Newport, R.I.. Newport: Cranston & Norman's Power Press, 1850.
SOLD
First edition, 8vo, pp. 28; original printed brown wrappers bound in; slightly later blue goat-backed blue cloth boards, gilt-lettered direct on spine; dampstain in the bottom margin of the title page and last three leaves, the whole lightly rubbed, else near fine.
Concerning the rivalry between Newport and Providence as to which had the first Baptist Church in America.
Bartlett, p. 10; Hammett, p. 6; Sabin 463.
54. [Baptists.] History of the General or Six Principle Baptists, in Europe and America: in two parts. Published under the patronage of the Rhode-Island Yearly Meeting. Providence: Smith and Parmenter, printers, 1827.
SOLD
8vo, pp. vii, [2], 10-367, [1]; errata slip tipped in after the final leaf; contemporary full sheep, old morocco label on spine (slightly chipped); rubbed and worn, but still a good, sound copy.
With a hand-cut silhouette bookplate, the subject identified as "Joseph Green farther [sic] of Sarah and Martha Green, etc. / Great great-grandfather of Howard / Florence / Irving / Earl / Evans."
American Imprints 29431; Bartlett, p. 170; Sabin 38122.
55. An apology for the true Christian divinity, as the same is held forth, and preached, by the people, called in scorn, Quakers ... The sixth edition in English.. Newport: James Franklin, 1729.
$2,800
First American edition of Barclay's seminal treatise, 8vo, pp. [12], 524 (i.e. 574), [32]; full contemporary and probably original paneled calf, spine with a number of hairline cracks, extremities rubbed and worn, corners showing, joints tender with gaps, title page slightly miscreased, but all in all a good, unrestored copy in a Rhode Island binding.
One of the first ten pieces of printing done in Rhode Island, and exclusive of almanacs and broadsides, just the fifth (the first printing in Rhode Island is the 1727 Almanac, also printed by James Franklin). On the verso of the terminal flyleaf in a bold hand: "Gemima Arnold's book."
James Franklin (1697-1735) was elder brother of Benjamin Franklin who taught him to print; but there was no love lost between the two. In 1723 Benjamin, tired of James's "harsh and tyrannical treatment," set out on his own for Philadelphia. "Though a brother," Franklin wrote in his Autobiography, "he considered himself as my master, and me as his apprentice, and accordingly expected the same services from me as he would from another, while I thought he demeaned me too much in some he required of me, who from a brother expected more indulgence."
"Barclay's great book, The Apology, is remarkable as the standard exposition of the principles of his sect, and is not only the first defense of those principles by a man of trained intelligence, but in many respects one of the most impressive theological writings of the century" (DNB)
Alden 11; Evans 3129; Hammett, p. 19; Sabin 3364.
56. [Barney, Susan Hammond.] Apologia de la Caridad personificada en Jesuchristo. Invitacion al verdadero Cristiano. Dedicada a Mrs. J. K. Barney [wrapper title]. Guanabacoa [i.e. Havana]: n.d., [1901].
$300
16mo, pp. 4 (approx. 6" x 4½"), original drab printed wrappers (toned); dedication slip tipped in prior to the first leaf and stating "edicion II."
Accompanied by a printed bifolium containing the poem "Otro Lamento" by Orozco y Etienne, dated 1903, and with 2 (likely authorial) corrections in ink to the text, the bifolium stitched together with 4 small broadside slip poems by the same poet, the first a tribute to the late President McKinley ("A MacKinley" [sic]); the second "El 10 de Octubre", imp. El Progresso; "En memoria del pundonoroso Capitan Don Federico Capdevila," imp. El Progresso; and, "Al Rev. H. B. Someillan," the first dated 1901, the second undated, and the last two dated 1903.
Susan Hammond Barney (a.k.a. Mrs. Joseph K. Barney, 1834-1922) of Providence, R.I. is the noted prison reformer, Christian writer, evangelist, and world traveler. She is one of the founders of the Prisoners' Aid Society of Rhode Island, and for many years was the President of the Women's Christian Temperance Union in Rhode Island. She is perhaps best known as the National Superintendent of Prison, Jail, Police, and Almshouse Visitation.
Only one entry in OCLC for Anastasio Orozco y Etienne: Emblema de las flores y de los colores en prosa y verso, Havana, 1882, held only at the University of Florida.
57. From slave to citizen. The story of the Negro in Rhode Island ... Foreword by Benjamin Crocker Clough. Providence: The Urban League of Greater Providence, 1954.
$100
8vo, pp. 76; 4 full-page illustrations from contemporary sources; fine in original printed gray wrappers.
58. Seventeenth report. Upon the registration of births, marriages and deaths in the state of Rhode Island for the year ending December 31, 1869. Providence: Providence Press Company, printers to the state, 1871.
$65
8vo, pp. viii, 94; vignette title page, tables throughout; original gray printed wrappers; near fine.
59. A history of the destruction of His Britannic Majesty's Schooner Gaspee, in Narragansett Bay, on the 10th June, 1772; accompanied by correspondence connected therewith; the action of the General Assembly thereon, and the official journal of the proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry appointed by King George the Third.... Providence: A. Crawford Green, printer to the state, 1861.
$275
Edition limited to 125 copies printed for private distribution, 8vo, pp. 139, [1]; recent half niger over marbled boards, gilt-lettered direct on gilt-paneled spine; ex-Missouri Historical Society with their stamp and release stamp on the title page; all else fine.
This copy with a presentation to the American naval officer "Commodore Geo. H. Preble with the regards of John Russell Bartlett, Providence, April 25, 1870."
Bartlett, p. 30; Howes B-199; Sabin 3740.
60. Bibliography of Rhode Island. A catalogue of books and other publications relating to the state of Rhode Island, with notes historical, biographical, and critical ... Printed by order of the General Assembly. Providence: Alfred Anthony, printer to the state, 1864.
$85
First edition, tall 8vo, pp. iv, [1], 6-287, [1]; original green cloth-backed red paper-covered boards, gilt lettering on spine; edges worn, covers rubbed, all else very good.
Not outdated. The historical, biographical, and critical notes are still very much valid and often contain information not readily available elsewhere.
61. Records of the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, in New England. Providence: A. Crawford Greene and Brother [later, Providence Press Company], 1856-1865.
$1,250
10 volumes, 8vo, original brown cloth, gilt-lettered spines; very good, sound set.
Covering the period 1636-1792.
Bartlett, pp. 29-30; Parks 825; Sabin 3748.
62. Eulogy delivered in the chapel of Brown University, on Mr. Ezra Bailey, member of the sophmore class, who died October 7, 1818. Providence: Miller & Hutchens, printers, 1818.
$100
8vo, pp. 16; original printed blue wrappers; title page with large torn corner affecting 3 letters, one internal leaf with tear in the fore-margin (no loss); all else good or better. Ad on the back wrapper for Miller & Hutchens.
Ira Moore Barton (1796-1867) was at the time a member of the senior class at Brown, who became an attorney, and whose papers are at AAS.
American Imprints 43243; Bartlett, p. 48; Sabin 3842
63. Rhode Island and the formation of the Union. New York: published for Columbia University by the Macmillan Co. [and] P. S. King & Co., London, 1898.
$40
8vo, pp. ix, [1], 11-220; fine copy in original brown cloth, gilt-stamped spine.
Issued as vol. X, no. 2 in the Columbia's Studies in History, Economics and Public Law series.
64. Genealogy of a portion of the Brown family; principally from the Moses Brown papers and from other authentic sources. Providence: press of H. H. Brown, 1851.
SOLD
First edition, 12mo, pp. 16; original printed blue wrappers; top corner of wrapper chipped away affecting the inscription (as shown below); mild dampstaining; all else very good.
Inscribed at the top of the front wrapper: "Sidney S. Rid[er] from the aut[hor] Henry H. Beckw[ith]."
Not in Bartlett or Sabin.
65. An American democrat. The recollections of Perry Belmont. New York: Columbia University Press, 1940.
$75
First edition, 8vo, pp. xvi, 705, [1]; portrait frontispiece and 27 plates; fine copy in a very good dust jacket.
This copy inscribed "To Mrs. George F. Ryan with the compliments of Perry Belmont, April 26, 1940."
Belmont, whose grandfather was Matthew Calbraith Perry, served four terms in Congress, two of them as chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. Mrs. Ryan was a Portsmouth, Rhode Island socialite.
66. Political equality: religious toleration from Roger Williams to Jefferson. New York & London: G. P. Putnam's Sons, The Knickerbocker Press, 1927.
$50
First edition, 8vo, pp. iii, [1], 149, [1]; fine copy in original blue cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover and spine, and a slightly chipped pictorial dust jacket.
67. The act of incorporation of the Benevolent Congregational Society, in the town of Providence, in the state of Rhode Island, &c. Together with the by-laws and rules of said society. To which is prefixed, a short account of the First Congregational Society in said town, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. Hitchcock. Providence: printed by John Carter, 1802.
$175
8vo, pp. [9], 10-19, [1]; original plain blue paper wrappers, the back wrap rather chipped in the gutter; very good.
First published in 1771. The Short Account through the tenure of David S. Rowland, is here extended through that of Rev. Enos Hitchcock who died the following year at the age of 59. Hitchcock served as Chaplin during the American Revolution, and was the author of several early American novels, including The Memoirs of the Bloomsgrove Family (1790) and The Farmer's Friend (1793), as well as numerous occasional publications.
The Benevolent Congregational Society became the First Unitarian Church of Providence whose fine building, designed by John Holden Greene and dedicated in 1816, still stands at the corner of Benefit and Benevolent Streets.
American Imprints 1863; Bartlett, p. 32; Sabin 66242.
68. Illustrations from the Berlitz method. [N.p. but possibly Berlin]: [Siegfried Cronbach?], [n.d. but ca. late 1870s - early 1880s.
SOLD
Black cloth-covered sheath (approx. 8" x 6"), with a label on the front reading "Illustrations for the Berlitz Method," the sheath containing 16 chromolithograph cards with a series of illustrations showing objects from daily life, such as principle pieces of furniture, clothing, flowers, table utensils, animals, birds, etc. These are likely keyed to a textbook which is not present, meant to teach children and adults alike the first principles of a foreign language by conversational means.
After immigrating from Germany in 1870, Maximilian Berlitz, took an opportunity giving language lessons in the United States. After few years of private tutoring, he joined the Warner Polytechnic College in Providence where he became a professor of French and German. Upon hiring a French-only speaking assistant, Berlitz realized that the traditional, "grammar-translation" teaching method was not as effective as incorporating the new language right away in conversation. From then on, he began to use a more immersive teaching in his lessons, and the Berlitz Method was born, his first school established in Providence in 1878.
69. The looking-glass for the mind, or, intellectual mirror, being an elegant collection of the most delightful little stories and interesting tales, chiefly translated from that much admired work, L'Ami des Enfans. A new edition, ornamented with cuts. Providence (R. Island): Carter and Wilkinson, and sold at their book and stationery store, opposite the Market, 1794.
$375
First American edition, 12mo, pp. [8], 252; lacking frontispiece, 37 woodcut vignette woodcuts by John Bewick, a few hand colored, duplicate hand-colored illustration of William and Amelia on front pastedown; full original calf, gilt-ruled spine with red morocco label; boards rubbed and bumped, text foxed with a few tears entering from the margins (no loss of letterpress), small wormhole in the bottom margin of the preliminaries; good and sound.
Alden 1354; Evans 26645, Hamilton 152; Welch 76.1.
70. [Berry Hill Press.] Flags of the Old State House Newport R.I.. Newport: Old State House Inc., n.d., [1942].
$350
Edition limited to 150 copies printed by John Howard Benson at the Berry Hill Press, 8vo, pp. [1] plus 8 french-fold pages with 24 color wood engravings of the flags; original red cloth-backed gray paper-covered boards printed in red, gilt-lettered spine; fine.
This copy with a nice inscription by Benson on the colophon beneath his signature: "This press copy is for Nancy Price without whose help in the work the book would not have been finished. J.H.B."
"The working drawings ... were made by Durr Freedley ... aided by the research of Howard M. Chapin...The text...is based upon notes prepared at the time the flags were made" (Foreword).
71. [Bible Society.] A statement respecting the Bible Society of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations; with an appendix: addressed to the publick by the board of trustees. Providence: printed by Miller, Goddard & Mann, 1814.
$150
First edition, 8vo, pp. 28; removed from binding and wanting wrappers; some toning; very good.
Contains the Constitution, balance sheet, lists of subscribers and donors, and officers, among whom Jabez Brown, Obadiah Brown, and Samuel Eddy. The first public meeting of the Society was held in August, 1813.
American Imprints 30909; Bartlett, p. 33; OCLC locates 5 copies, none in Rhode Island.
72. Three autograph documents relating to the canal, as below. Providence: 1825-27.
SOLD
1) Five-page "List of Affected Land Presented to the Court of Common Pleas, Providence, May Term 1825," in ink, 14" x 12", previous folds, some fading, chips at left margin, outside cover soiled at edges;
2) Waterman, Rufus. One-page "Claim for Value of Lot." Providence, February 28, 1826. 12½" x 8", in ink; previous folds, few small holes at folds, slight fading;
3) Watson, William R., Court Clerk. Three-page "Warrant to Canal Commissioners by Specialty Court of Common Pleas," September 3, 1827. Witnessed by Thomas Mann and William Aplin. 15½" x 12½", in ink, previous folds, small hole and some soiling at crease.
As industry grew along the Blackstone River in the nineteenth century, so did the desire for a canal to provide an inexpensive means of moving goods between Providence and Worcester. These documents show the estates affected and payments made for land impacted by the construction of the Blackstone Canal.
The first document refers to "The Blackstone Canal Company incorporated by the Hon. General Assembly...in the June session of 1823"; the beginning was to be "at Asa Bartlett's in Smithfield on the south side of the Bridge in Manns Ville and running as follows" (description of the course in rods). Among the named land owners are Jonathan Gully, Augustus Lapham, Samuel Hill, Wilbur Kelly, and others. Land owned by Brown and Ives was affected and last on the list were the heirs of Cyrus Cole.
In the second document Rufus Waterman states that if the canal utilizes his land on the west bank of the Moshassuck near the mill bridge it will be necessary for the corporation to pay him $2000. George Burton, Samuel Randall, and Stephen Steere were appraisers in this matter. The third document is addressed to the appraisers and asks that they be warranted to assess damages.
John Brown, a prosperous Providence merchant, first attempted to build a canal along the Blackstone River as early as 1796. While he obtained a charter in Rhode Island, Boston businessmen, concerned at the prospect of losing business to Providence, blocked his efforts in Massachusetts.
In the 1820's, General Edward Carrington, another prosperous Providence merchant, led a successful attempt to build the canal. One thousand Irish workers, skilled canal builders, were employed along the canal route, cutting granite for locks, digging the trench and building the tow path as the canal's progress approached Worcester. Opened in 1828, the canal utilized a series of 49 locks to move the barges up and down the 438 foot difference in elevation from Providence to Worcester. Problems, however, with freezing winter weather, insufficient water and competition with mill owners continually plagued its operations. It operated for less than twenty years before it was replaced by the Providence and Worcester Railroad.
73. Sir—You are hereby notified, that a meeting of the Blackstone Canal Company will be holden at the publick rooms in the Franklin-House, on the Tenth Day of May Next, at 10 o'clock A.M. for the election of Officers, and transaction of the necessary business of the Company [complete text]. Providence: April 27, 1825.
$175
Small broadside approx. 5" x 8", signed in type by Richard J. Jackson [and four others], as the Committee; old folds, one smudge, and a dust-stain along edge of lower corner. Still, a very good copy of an attractive specimen of typography.
The building of the Blackstone Canal was initiated by Providence merchants seeking to profit from trade in agricultural products. It had the effect, however, of stimulating the growth of the textile mills—though there were disputes with the Canal Co. over water rights--and other manufacturing in the Blackstone Valley, much as the Merrimack Canal did for the Lowell mills.
The canal was vigorously opposed by mercantile interests in Boston and eventually was rendered obsolete by the growth of the railway system in the 1840s. Today the entire Blackstone River Valley from Worcester to Providence has been designated a National Heritage Corridor.
Not in OCLC or American Imprints.
74. [Blackstone Canal.] Account of the proposed canal from Worcester to Providence, containing the report of the engineer: together with some remarks upon inland navigation. Published by order of the Committee for the County of Worcester. Providence: printed by John Miller, Journal Office, 1825.
$175
First Rhode Island edition (there was a Worcester edition issued in 1822); 8vo, pp. 16; self-wrappers; some toning, but generally very good. Old ownership sticker at the top of the title page.
Concerning a proposed canal from the headwaters of Narragansett Bay to Worcester, via the valley of the Blackstone River. The engineer for the proposed canal was Benjamin Wright. The assistant engineer was Holmes Hutchinson. "Remarks on Inland Navigation" (unsigned) occupies the last 7 pages.
Not in Rink. American Imprints 19361; Sabin 5700.
75. [Block Island.] Bardell fototone miniatures. Block Island. San Francisco: J. C. Bardell, 1923.
$45
Small die-cut printed sleeve (approx. 2½" x 3½"), containing 20 black & white photographic reproductions of sites, scenes, and sights of Block Island, Rhode Island.
Not found in OCLC although other Bardell souvenir products are.
76. [Block Island.] Block Island fact and fancy. N.p., n.d. [Providence: the author, 1932.].
$20
Only edition, 12mo, pp. 45, [1]; original blue stiff pictorial wrappers; generally fine.
77. [Block Island.] Five-page A.L.s. to Luella from Ralph. New Shoreham, Block Island: August 19, n.y., [ca. 1890s].
$75
8vo, 5 neatly written pages on three leaves; light toning, previous folds; very good. "Rough passage ... pulled into harbor ... came within half an inch of running onto the rocks ... nothing there but fish works and a smell ... the bay completely filled with boats ... during the gale of last night one schooner run on the reef & sunk ... left Derby yesterday morn, twas raining beautifully & if you ever saw a lot of wet rats you can imagine how we looked..."
78. [Block Island.] Block Island: a hand-book, with map, for the guidance of summer visitors, telling how to reach that pleasant little place of resort, and what to do on getting there: together with description and sentiment calculated to adorn an otherwise plain tale, and to excite the interest of the apathetic, yet without too widely departing from the strict truth. By "Ben Mush," staff correspondent of the Norwich Morning Bulletin. Norwich, Conn.: James Hall, 1877.
$275
16mo (approx. 5¾" x 4½"), pp. 50, xiv (ads); folding map; original printed gray wrappers; near fine.
Not in Parks.
79. [Block Island.] The Block Island "double-ender" [drop title]. [Providence]: Reprinted from the Rhode Island Historical Collections, October, 1923.
$175
8vo, pp. 7, [1]; 2 plates showing 6 illustrations; original printed wrappers;
Bound with: the entire issue of the Rhode Island Historical Society Collections, Vol. XVI, No. 4, for Oct. 1923, pp. 97-128; 3 plates showing 9 illustrations; original printed wrappers.
Together in a single volume of three-quarter green morocco over green marbled boards, gilt lettering direct on spine; spine sunned, else near fine.
Laid in is an original photo postcard of two Block Island double-enders, and an April 1927 issue of The Rhode Island Mariner reprinting the same article. This is the author's own copy.
80. [Block Island.] Block Island lore and legends. Block Island: F. Norman Associates, [1955].
$35
12mo, pp. [6], 93, [1]; map endpapers, illustrations from photographs; original pictorial green wrappers; light sunning, else fine.
Signed by the author and dated 1955, and with a letter from laid in from Mrs. Harold Madison commenting on the errors and asking the recipient to "make recommendations to help Mrs. Ritchie in the next edition."
81. [Block Island.] Historical sketch of Block Island. Newport: John P. Sanborn & Co., Mercury Office, printers, 1876.
$200
First edition, 8vo, pp. [2], 62; original printed tan wrappers; small library sticker at the lower left corner of the front wrapper, else generally fine.
Parks 1863.
82. [Booksellers.] Two-and-a-half-page autograph letter signed to P. Smith Thayer, Millville, Mass.. Providence: April 25, 1838.
SOLD
On integral leaves in ink (approx. 9¾" x 7¾"), address on p. [4], postmarked; bottom third of integral leaf missing, probably affecting end of text on p. 3 (signature on p. 1).
Martin Robinson was a bookseller and partner in business with Benjamin Howland selling books and stationery in Providence. Some receipts from his business in 1815 are at the RIHS. Robinson and Howland also started the newspaper, Rhode Island Literary Repository, an octavo monthly that lasted one year. In this letter of 1838, Robinson indicates to P. Smith Thayer (probably Preserved Smith Thayer 1808-1874 of Millville, Mass.) that he is interested in selling him 1700 volumes "well calculated for a circulating library and have been used as such in this city". It is not known if Thayer, one of the town's tax assessors, bought the volumes and Worcester county histories do not mention a library in the area before 1855.
Robinson was involved with the Providence Library Company, first formed in 1753, and the precursor to the Providence Athenaeum which moved into its Benefit Street location after 1837 (see Providence Patriot & Columbian Phoenix 3-28-1829) and this collection may have been culls from the Providence Library Company. "I send a catalogue as you request, but from those enumerated on it not far from 300 different works amounting to about 900 vols have been sold... I have been selling from this library at retail by the sett as wanted for about a month, but have now discontinued such sales, and am about closing the sales at auction either here or at Boston or N York." The remainder of the letter contains a sample set of conditions and a proposal for establishing a circulating library of 2000 volumes. It's possible some of that text is lacking, but the letter ends on an appropriate thought: "It is hoped that all, old, the young particularly, will embrace this opportunity to store their minds with useful reading."
83. [Botany.] A key to the wild flowers of Rhode Island. Providence: [H. L. Madison, 1915].
$25
Oblong 16mo (approx. 3½" x 5½"), pp. [2], 40; 1 page of composite illustrations; original green cloth lettered in gilt on the upper cover; cover with 2 or 3 small spots, else very good.
84. Rhode Island addresses 1877-1917. Providence: printed for private distribution [by the Palmer Press], 1920.
$150
8vo, pp. [8], 9-198; very good copy or better in original brown cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover and spine.
Bourn was a senator from Bristol in the R.I. Legislature 1876-83; governor of Rhode Island, 1883-85; and Consul General at Rome, Italy, 1889-93.
This copy inscribed "Hon. & Mrs. Ezra Dixon, from A.O. Bourn." Ezra Dixon (1849-1939) was a State Senator from Bristol and spent much of his life in the textile business. He was the founder of the Dixon Lubricating Saddle Company in Bristol, and later, after his death, Dixon Corporation, and later still, Dixon Industries.
85. One-page autograph letter to his wife, Hope. Philadelphia: January 26, 1792.
$1,250
Folio (approx. 12½" x 8"), approx. 24 lines and 200 words, in ink; previous folds and stains, one small hole affecting one word; good.
Born in Bristol, R.I., Bourn, as he signs himself here (or Bourne (again!), 1755-1808) at the time this letter was written was living in Philadelphia and serving as Rhode Island's first U.S. Representative in Congress where he served for three terms. Later he served on the United States District Court for Rhode Island, and later still, the United States Circuit Court for the First Circuit.
He misses his wife, Hope Child Bourn (1756-1811). "I have heard thru Mr. Eddy and my brother of your intended visit to Philadelphia, and of what I presume to be the motive, your longing for what my brother could not tell ... My resolution is fixed never to attend more than one session after the present, but I suppose there is no need of such a declaration on my part as very possibly my constituents and myself all will be perfectly agreed that my future services may be disposed with."
Bourn goes on to say he has bought "our little boy" a book titled The History of Sandford and Merton [a Philadelphia edition had been published in 1788] which he will forward "next week by Mr. Phillips." He closes with a touching sentiment: "God grant that you and I may be both blessed with the grace of self-denial during the residue of our separation, as I presume we have been since I left you..."
86. Day book. Newport: 1861-64.
$1,400
Tall, narrow folio (approx. 16" x 8"), 576 numbered pages accomplished in ink; original full reversed calf, black leather labels on spine; binding slightly skewed; overall very good; internally clean, neat, and legible.
George Bowen (1799-1879) was a Quaker merchant of Newport, who did brisk business in Newport from Bowen's Wharf, a wharf that exists to this day. His parents were Jonathan and Sarah (Shove) Bowen. His wife, whom he married later in life in 1854, was Cynthia Ingersoll Jones, who was born in China. The Newport City Directory of 1865 lists George Bowen as a ship's chandler on Bowen's Wharf. In 1871, he was also a director of the New England Commercial Bank in Newport and lived at 17 Pelham Street.
According to the Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware, which holds some of the George Bowen & Co. records between 1829-1898: "George Bowen founded a ship chandler's business in Newport, R.I., around 1829. By the 1850s the business had expanded to include the retailing of anthracite coal from Pennsylvania and fuel wood, which was sold primarily for domestic heating. The firm also did a general commission business under the rubric of George Bowen & Company. The ship chandler's business was gradually phased out beginning in the late 1870s, and the firm became exclusively a dealer in coal, wood, and kindlings. By the 1890s it was being carried out by agents for the heirs of George Bowen."
This very extensive day book lists thousands of transactions between Bowen and his customers, which included not only the local residents, but other concerns as well. With so many familiar names here it's hard to be comprehensive: James L. Hazard, William Littlefield, Isaiah Pitman, Thomas Goddard, George Mason, Benjamin Almy, George Coggeshall, Bowen Briggs, John D. Herreshoff, Clark Burdick, Mary Rodman, John Cottrell, Frederick Lawton, William Brownell, and many, many others. Notable are the many transactions with John LaFarge (1835-1910), the stained-glass artist who was working and studying in Newport at the time.
Other customers included a veritable fleet of ships: the sloops Pearl, Resolution, Congress, M. E. Wells, William P. Magnum; the schooners Golden Rod, Abby H. Brown, Zoe, Evergreen, Mexico, and the River Queen; the brigs Redwood and John Pierce; the bark Martha Anna; the steamboats Perry and Fanny, and many others. Other transactions were with local businesses and government entities such as the American Insurance Company, the City of Newport, the Third Rhode Island Cavalry, Wilson Manufacturing, Fall River Iron Works, the Quartermaster at Fort Adams, Lime Rock Light, and "U.S. for light boat at Brenton Reef."
Coal seems to be the big seller, but Bowen was also dealing in cord wood, sails, paints and varnishes, manila rope, putty, screws, linseed oil, oars, compasses, and even potatoes. The entries generally include the customers' names, the products purchased, and the cost of the goods.
87. A letter from Major William Bradford to the Reverend John Cotton written at Mount Hope on July 21, 1675, and containing an account of the operations leading up to an unsuccessful attempt to capture Metacom, alias King Philip, the Wampanoag chieftain. Providence: printed by S.P.C. for the Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1914.
$25
8vo, pp. [2], 16; tipped in facsimile; original blue paper-covered boards stamped in black on upper cover; spine ends slightly chipped; all else very good.
Bookplate of Roderick Terry.
Reproduced in facsimile and published for the first time from the original document preserved in the John Carter Brown Library for the members of the Society of Colonial Wars in the state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations assembled in a general court at Providence on December 30, 1914.
88. Small autograph document signed as a member of the Committee of Safety, and as Deputy Governor. Providence: Nov. 25, 1775.
$450
Approx. 3¼" x 6", in ink, and in a neat, legible hand; very good.
In full: "As one of the Committee of Safety I acknowledge to have received of Joseph Clarke General Treasurer, the Sum of five hundred and one pounds Lawfull for which I am accountable to the Colony. £ 501. [Signed:] William Bradford."
Docketed on the verso: "William Bradford Esq. as one of the Comm. of Safety £501. Entd. page 5th."
William Bradford (1729-1808) was the deputy governor of Rhode Island (elected Nov. 2, 1775 to 1778), a delegate to the Continental Congress, and later a U.S. Senator from R.I. where he was for a short time president of the U.S. Senate.
89. [Bristol - Warren Boundary.] Report of the commissioners on petition for change of boundary line between the towns of Warren and Bristol. Providence: Providence Press Company, 1873.
$425
8vo, pp. 20; self-wrappers, stitched, as issued; very good. Property owners at the northern edge of Bristol seek to change the boundary between the two towns so they would live in Warren, the downtown of which much closer than the downtown of Bristol.
Accompanied by a contemporary copy of the original manuscript petition of the Bristol residents, listing the names of 59 affected property owners, to the State of Rhode Island, a 7-page document outlining the argument, signed by the R.I. Secretary of State, Joshua M. Addeman, dated May, 1872, stating that "the said petition be continued to the next January session of the General Assembly, and that in the meantime the petitioners give notice of the pendency of the said petition with a copy of this order to be served on the town clerks of the towns of Bristol and Warren."
The petition was ultimately approved and that part of Bristol was annexed to Warren in May, 1873.
90. [Bristol Bicentennial - Prospectus.] Bi-Centennial of the town of Bristol. It having been decided to publish in book form the entire proceedings.... [Bristol?: Bi-Centennial Committee, 1880.].
$150
Broadsheet (approx. 6¾" x 6"), wood-engraved Bristol seal at the top of the recto, flanked by the dates 1680 / 1880; a bit of soiling on the verso, but generally fine.
A proposal to publish an octavo book of approximately 250 pages available as a pamphlet for 60 cents, in a cloth binding for $1, and in quarto size on tinted paper for $1.50 and to contain "much that has never appeared before in type ... The committee will be pleased to receive your subscription ... A prompt response is requested in order that the committee may determine the number of copies to be printed."
Accompanied by an invitation to the Bi-Centennial of the Town of Bristol, a bifolium of similar size and design as the above, printed on the first page only. "One pleasant and highly interesting feature of the day will be the reunion of the sons and daughters of Bristol. As one of them, you are cordially invited to be present, and unite with us in making the occasion worthy of the Town and its history." Signed in type, Le Baron B. Colt, later a U.S. Senator from Bristol, R.I. and the nephew of Samuel Colt, the arms manufacturer.
Neither the prospectus nor the invitation were found in OCLC.
91. [Bristol Bicentennial.] Bi-centennial of the town of Bristol. Friday, September 24, 1880. [Bristol?]: Bi-Centennial Committee, [1880].
$60
Broadsheet (approx. 14" x 6"), previous folds, else fine.
With the Order of Procession (starting on High St. and State St. at 10:00 a.m.) - five divisions in all, each with its marshall and attendant aids and bands, the Chief Marshall being Col. Samuel Pomeroy Colt, and exhibitions of relics and portraits at the town hall.
92. [Bristol County.] Summons to the selectmen of Swanzey, Massachusetts before the Grand Jury. Bristol: January 20, 1718.
$300
Octavo sheet approx. 7½" x 6", pp. [2]; official red wax seal of Bristol County; docketed on verso, Charles Church, Sheriff. Ink browned, some bleed through, otherwise very good.
At the time, the Rhode Island towns of Bristol, Warren, and Barrington were part of Bristol County, Massachusetts, and Bristol was the county seat. Swansea abuts Warren and parts of Barrington.
This document is a summons for the selectmen of Swanzey: "In his Majesties Name you are here by required to sumon the select men of Swanzey that they appear before the justices of our Lord the King ... on Tuesday the twelfth day of February next there to answer to a presentment of the Grand Jury exhibited against ye Town of Swanzey for not having a [animal] pound as the law directs..." in the Court of General Sessions held at Bristol County, and were further ordered "not to depart without license thereof faile not and make due return hereof."
Ebenezer Brenton, "clerk" of the town, signs this document. He was the son of William Brenton of Newport who purchased Mettapoisett, as it was then called, now known as Gardiner's Neck, in Swansea, from Philip, chief sachem of Mount Hope [i.e. King Philip]. Ebenezer Brenton inherited this land in 1693 and promptly sold it to Samuel Gardiner.
The docket on the verso of this document is signed by Charles Church, Sheriff, dated Feb. 9, 1718/9, and summons by name William Sudbury, Pallatiah Maxson, William Chase, and William Anthony, all selectmen of Swanzey.
Members of Grand Juries at the time were "paneled," or selected and appointed, by the Governor and Assistants for an annual term of office, to hear charges made on oath of suspected criminal conduct by persons living in the Colony. The Grand Jury would issue a "presentment" to the General Court (a statement on oath by a jury of fact within their knowledge) if it believed it had evidence that someone could be tried for a crime. If the crime was capital, the accused had to be sentenced by the General Court; lesser offenses could be decided by the Court of Assistants. The office was an important one. Refusal to serve on the Grand Jury meant a fine of 10s for each Court missed during the year of office, or 40s if a juror refused to attend any meetings at all during the year.
93. Sanitary directions for the management of typhoid fever. Issued by direction of the Town Council. [Providence]: printed by J. A. and R. A. Reid, n.d., [ca. 1894].
$375
Broadside (approx. 12" x 9½"), previous folds, several old tape repairs on the verso; good or better.
Not in OCLC.
94. [Bristol Sestercentennial.] 250th anniversary celebration of the settlement of the town of Bristol, Rhode Island. Program of events, September 6, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27. [Bristol?: publisher not identified], 1930.
$15
Bifolium (approx. 8½" x 5½"), a few pock marks on the front, otherwise near fine.
The six-day celebration included a "Regatta Day," "Anniversary Sunday," "Founders' Day," "Old Home Day," "Civic Day," and "Governor's Day."
95. [Bristol Sestercentennial.] 250th Anniversary of the town of Bristol, Rhode Island. September 6-21-24, 25-26-27. 1680-1930 [wrapper title]. [Bristol?: publisher not identified], 1930.
$45
4to, pp. 58; illustrated throughout; original pictorial wrappers; very good.
Numerous ads for local businesses. Includes a history of the town by W. H. Munro, a section on leading industries, and a Bristol Pageant.
96. [Bristol Tricentennial.] Bristol. Three hundred years. Providence: Franklin Graphics, 1980.
$100
Edition limited to 1000 hardbound copies (this no. 536); 4to, pp. 236; illustrated throughout; original pictorial green cloth stamped in gilt on upper cover and spine; spine a little sunned, else near fine.
A plethora of advertisements at the back. Historical sketches, boatbuilding, venerable Bristolians, Mount Hope Bridge, hurricanes, the Fourth of July celebrations - accounts of all things famous in Bristol.
97. [Bristol Tricentennial.] Bristol. Three hundred years. Providence: Franklin Graphics, 1980.
$45
4to, pp. 236; illustrated throughout; original pictorial green wrappers in gilt on upper cover and spine; spine and edges a little sunned, else near fine.
A plethora of advertisements at the back. Historical sketches, boatbuilding, venerable Bristolians, Mount Hope Bridge, hurricanes, the Fourth of July celebrations - accounts of all things made famous in Bristol.
98. [Bristol.] Colt Farm. Bristol, R.I. [wrapper title]. Bristol: Bristol Phoenix Job Department, n.d., [ca. 1917].
$125
12mo, pp. 52; frontispiece portrait of Col. Samuel P. Colt; numerous illustrations throughout including much livestock; fine in original embossed ivory wrappers printed in green.
With 400 acres and 2 miles of waterfront on Narragansett Bay, Colt Farm, once actually a farm, is now a magnificent state park in Bristol.
Not in OCLC
99. [Bristol.] The dedication of the Rogers Free Library at Bristol, R.I., January 12, 1878. Providence: Sidney S. Rider, [Providence Press Company, printers], 1878.
$85
8vo, pp. 52; wood-engraved frontispiece of the library; original printed blue wrappers, the front wrapper with slight loss at the lower gutter and several other minor chips; all else very good.
Inscribed to William J. Miller, Esq. from J. L. Diman, professor at Brown University, and the deliverer of the dedicatory address which takes up the better part of the pamphlet.
100. [Bristol.] The history of Bristol, R.I. The story of the Mount Hope lands, from the visit of the Northmen to the present time.... Providence: J. A. & R. A. Reid, printers and publishers, 1880.
$200
First edition, 8vo, pp. 396; wood-engraved frontispiece, 6 wood-engraved plates, plus other wood engravings in the text; original brown cloth gilt-stamped on upper cover and spine; light wear, front hinge starting, previous owner's' bookplates; very good.
This copy inscribed: "For the Honorable Edward L. Leahy with the compliments of B. M. MacDingall, Sept. 2, 1929." Leahy at the time was administrator of state taxes for Rhode Island. Later, he was a United States Senator from Rhode Island and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island.
"Containing accounts of the Indian wars, the character and lives of the early settlers in Bristol, the events of the Revolution, the privateers of the War of 1812, details of the commerce of the port, and sketches of its distinguished men."