Letter from James Winthrop to William Bentley, 1805 March 27

Two folio-sized leaves containing a two-page handwritten letter from Winthrop to Bentley with miscellaneous information about Winthrop's Nautical Almanack collection of and a list of Roman coins.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Sophronia Willard, Lancaster, Massachusetts, October 18, 1805

Willard describes his current job working at Harvard, where he is paid “to keep order in one of the buildings.” He mentions that he can attend medical lectures free of charge, and refers to a preacher, Mr. Parker, a former classmate of Willard’s. He explains that he is currently with his brother Solomon, who is ill, and that he is living in the College House, where he resided his first year of school.

Letter from Samuel Willard, Exeter, New Hampshire, to William Willard and Katherine Willard, Petersham, Massachusetts, November 25, 1805

Willard describes his usual daily routines relating to teaching at Philips Academy and his plans to leave Exeter.

Warrant, 1761 November 20

Photostat of a royal warrant for Andrew Bordman's appointment as Justice of the Peace for Middlesex county, signed by A. Oliver, secretary and witnessed by Francis Bernard.

Letter from Fisher Ames to Deborah Ames Shuttleworth, 1805 August 27

One folded sheet containing a two-page letter from Fisher Ames in Dedham, Mass. to his sister "Debby" in Windsor, Vermont. Ames provides updates on the health of his children and individuals in the community, and discusses the summer heat, including mention of the likelihood of dysentery, and his attendance at "Mr. Montagu's Church," referring to the Dedham Episcopal Church presided over by Reverend William Montague.

William Blair Townsend letter and receipt books, 1743-1805, bulk 1744-1777

The collection consists of two volumes, which date from 1743 to 1805, spanning his whole career as a merchant. Volume one is a letter book containing Townsend's business correspondence from November 23, 1743 to December 12, 1774. Most of the letters were written to American (many in North Carolina) and British (predominately in London) merchants. His earliest letters document his efforts to establish himself as a trader. Over time his letters turn to illustrate the common problems faced by many merchants: damaged goods, overpriced goods, embargos, and high freight costs. Particularly enlightening are his comments on the challenges of doing business throughout the French and Indian War and the years leading up to the American Revolution. He most frequently corresponded with London merchants Champion & Hayley, Lane & Booth, Lane Son & Fraser, Harrison & Ansley, and Leeds merchant Samuel Elam. In addition he frequently corresponded with Eliakim Palmer, colonial agent and merchant in London, as well as Dr. Walley Chauncy of North Carolina. He dealt in a wide variety of goods including molasses, rum, tar, medicines, pitch, saddles, tallow, hides, skins, pickled beef and pork, and wine. The letters also document Townsend's involvement in the slave trade through his occasional purchases of slaves.

Sharḥ Kitāb al-Durr al-aʻlá : manuscript, 1805

Written in one column, 21 lines per page, in black and red ink.

Hādhihi risālat al-ʻIqd al-thamīn fī sharḥ al-ḥadīth al-musalsal bi-al-Dimashqīyīn / taʼlīf al-Shaykh al-Imām al-ʻĀlim al-ʻĀmil al-Shaykh Ismāʻīl al-ʻAjlūnī : manuscript, [1749 or 1750]

Ownership statements on f. 1r signed ʻAlī al-ʻImādī, 1175 AH [1761 or 62 AD]; Ḥāmid al-Bakrī, 1192 AH [1178-9 AD]; Muḥammad ibn Saʻīd ibn Amīn al-Munayyir (or: al-Munīr), Jumādá al-Thānī 1243 [1827-8]. On fly leaf [1]: Muḥammad Saʻīd ... al-Ḥusaynī al-Dimashqī, Rabīʻ al-Awwal [1]282 [1865]; Muḥammad Abū al-... al-Ḥusaynī al-..., 17 Jumādá al-ūlá 1317 [1899];.

Risālah fī al-farāʼiḍ : manuscript, 1761 or 2

Title supplied by cataloger.