Bond, Robert, 2 autographed letters signed to John Winthrop; East Hampton, Conn., 1651 March 8-March 10

Correspondence regarding advice Winthrop had given to Bond's family, and requesting he remit instructions for treating an illness of a neighbor's children.

Letter to Rev. Dr. John Lathrop from John Davis accompanying report relative to commons, June 2, 1807

Accompanies report dated May 19, 1807.

College Book 4, 1686-1750

Regular recording of Corporation meetings began in College Book 4, which includes minutes from July 23, 1686 through September 5, 1750. Its spine title reads "College Book 4 & 5" due to a nineteenth century labeling error. The creation of College Book 4 was precipitated by the English Court of Chancery's October 1684 judgment, which annulled the Royal Charter of the Massachusetts Colony and seemed to render the College Charter of 1650 – and with it the Corporation and Board of Overseers – defunct. In May 1686, Joseph Dudley (Harvard AB 1665) received a commission as the President of the Council of New England, and on July 23, 1686, Dudley and the Council met in Boston to create a provisional College governing board led by Increase Mather as Rector of the College and John Leverett and William Brattle as Tutors. The "Rector and Tutors" mirrored in purpose if not in name the Corporation's "President and Fellows," and the agreements of President Dudley and the Council creating the new governing board comprise the first entry in College Book 4. In June 1692, a new act of incorporation for Harvard College was passed in the Massachusetts Legislature and signed by the Governor. The Charter of 1692 merged the functions of the Board of Overseers and the Corporation into one Corporation consisting of the President, Treasurer, and eight Fellows. As the Corporation created by this 1692 act (and modified in later versions of the Charter) grew unwieldy, its members met less frequently. As a result, the Faculty (known until 1825 as the "Immediate Government") assumed more responsibility in managing the College's daily operations and addressing student discipline. On December 6, 1707 the Massachusetts General Court restored the Charter of 1650, thus reestablishing the Board of Overseers and the Corporation as the governing bodies of Harvard College. The changes in name and composition of the Harvard Corporation between 1686 and 1707 are documented in the proceedings recorded in College Book 4.

Deed of sale of property, Hingham, Massachusetts, 1686

Deed acknowledging Sprague's sale of land in Hingham to Israel Fering. Signed by Sprague, Nathaniel Beale, Sr., and John Parsens, Jr.

Andrewes, Will, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; New Haven, 1 side (2 pages), 1652 January 24

Correspondence describing a distemper he was suffering from and requesting Winthrop send him medicine and instructions for taking it.

Andrewes, William, 2 autographed letters signed to John Winthrop; Hartford, 1653 January 11-May 9

Correspondence thanking Winthrop for care he had given to Andrewes' daughter Abigail at his New London home and providing directions for delivering her home. He later writes asking Winthrop send medicine after she developed a cough and pain in her back and left side.

Bliss, Nathaniel, 1622-1654, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Springfield, Mass., 1 side (2 pages), 1652 December 21

Correspondence regarding an illness Bliss was suffering; he writes that the medicines Winthrop had given him were ineffective and he has been suffering fits. The letter, which was finished in an unknown hand, reports further symptoms had developed, including headache and blindness, and requests Winthrop again send instructions for taking the medicine he originally sent Bliss, and any other medicine he would recommend.

Clark, John, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Saybrooke [sic], Conn., 1 side (2 pages), undated

Correspondence regarding a vomit Winthrop prescribed to Clark's wife, and the lack of improvement of her symptoms, which she believed were possibly caused by chest worms.

Fitch, James, 1622-1702, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Saybrooke [sic], Conn., 1 side (2 pages), 1652 April

Correspondence requesting medicines from Winthrop for his stomach ailment, and for a neighbor who was suffering from edema.

Fuller, Robert, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Rehoboth, Mass., 1 side (2 pages), 1652 September 29

Correspondence seeking advice from Winthrop about an illness that afflicted his children's heads and caused hair loss, and his sister's case of worms.

Gerrard, Joseph, autographed letter signed to John Winthrope [sic]; Saybrooke [sic], Conn., 1 side (2 pages), undated

Correspondence requesting Winthrop send Gerrard a purge and other medicine to treat a urinary condition.

Goodwin, Will, 2 autographed letters signed to John Winthropp [sic]; Hartford, Conn., 1652 February 24-February 26

Correspondence requesting a consultation with Winthrop regarding an illness of his daughter. He also asks Winthrop send his wife medicine for her edema.

Hovey, Daniel, 1642-1695, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Ipswich, Mass., 1 side (2 pages), 1656 August 13

Correspondence relaying the progress of Hovey's stomach ailment after he took medicine prescribed by Winthrop, and further symptoms he was suffering, including chest pains. Hovey asks Winthrop for advice on additional action he should take to ease his symptoms.

Montague, Abigale, autographed letter signed to John Winthrop; Hadley, Mass., 1 side (2 pages), 1663 July 19

Correspondence about her seven-year-old daughter, who was suffering from inflammation and discharge from her eye, in which Montague requests Winthrop's advice on whether sarsaparilla root or English barley boiled with herbs would be an effective treatment. Montague adds a postscript about her own health, writing she has a "thick rotten fleame rising out of my stomach" but no cough.

Odell, Richard, 2 autographed letters signed to John Winthrop; Southampton, Long Island, 1652 November 16-1653

Correspondence concerning an illness, which Odell believed was palsy or the King's evil (scrofula), that afflicted his five-year-old daughter. Odell writes that her symptoms included loss of speech and feeling in her right side, and a throat blockage, and he requests advice from Winthrop on the course of treatment the family should pursue. Odell writes again in 1653 thanking Winthrop for the ointment and electuary he had prescribed for the child. Her symptoms had persisted, however, and he requested further advice. Odell adds several lines regarding rumors of an insurrection of a Native American tribe, inquiring if Winthrop has any information regarding "how matters stand & between the Dutch & the English."