Commonplace book of John Holyoke, 1662 - May 1663

This unbound commonplace book was kept by John Holyoke during 1662 and 1663. The volume contains chiefly religious quotations and sermon notes (possibly of sermons preached by Holyoke himself), in English, Latin and Greek. Both ends of the volume were used to begin writing: the front page reads “Johannes Holyoke, adjunctu occupatu, May-1663” and the rear page reads “Johannes Holyoke [illegible] 1662.” The texts do not follow a straight tête-bêche model, where one text is upside down in relation to the other; rather, the texts change direction several times within the volume. The volume also includes part of letter sent to Holyoke’s grandfather Pynchon, September 16, 16?? [date illegible], as well as a series of alphabetically arranged quotations.

Record of cases before the magistrate of Agawan, Springfield, Massachusetts, 1638-1702

Contains a record of cases before magistrate William Pynchon from 1639 to 1650. Notes are continued by his son, John, from 1652 to 1701. Included also are a record of marriages (1665-1702), a list of freemen, and a record of freemen meetings (1660-1696).

Letter from James Winthrop to William Bentley, 1784 May 17

Two octavo-sized leaves containing a two-and-a-half-page handwritten letter from Winthrop to Bentley discussing Alexander Pope and mythology, and a brief criticism of John Moore's A view of society and manners.

Letter from William Winthrop to William Bentley, 1810 November 24

Two octavo-sized leaves with a two-and-a-half-page handwritten letter from William Winthrop to Bentley responding to a request to return a book, speculating about the identity of Harvard graduate Peter Cutler (Harvard AB 1698), and questioning Bentley about the interests of "F. Moore," likely referring to Francis Moore (1782-1856).

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.