I. Sermons, 1709-1724

This series contains seventeen handwritten sermons composed by Nicholas Sever and delivered in the Boston area between 1709 and 1722. Following the completion of his Master's degree at Harvard in 1704, Sever preached in towns around New England including Haverhill in 1709, Dover, New Hampshire (where he was ordained in 1711 and remained until 1715), and in Cambridge as part of his duties as a Harvard Tutor between 1716 and 1728. During these years, Sever also filled in for ministers in nearby parishes. Sever's sermons reflect these engagements, and he occasionally noted the dates and locations where the sermons were delivered in the margin of the first page of the sermon.

Student notebook of Jonathan Trumbull, 1724-1725

The bound notebook contains academic texts copied by Harvard student Jonathan Trumbull in 1724 and 1725. The volume includes transcriptions of Harvard Instructor Judah Monis' Hebrew Grammar, Tutor William Brattle's Compendium of Logic, and Fellow Charles Morton's Natural Logic.

Addresses given by Adam Winthrop, 1724-1727

This small notebook with marbled paper covers contains three Latin addresses delivered by Adam Winthrop during Harvard College ceremonies: the valedictory oration on Class Day, 1724, the "Oratio Salutatoria" at the 1724 Commencement, and the "Oratio Gratulatoria" which closed the exercises of the 1727 Commencement. The last page of the volume is signed "Adam Winthrop Jun'r."

Mr. Vaughan's case, March 2, 1724

Opinion (or brief or judgement?) delivered in a case involving a claim by the Colony of New Hampshire to a proprietory right in a ferry running between Portsmouth and Kittery (then in Massachusetts) on the Piscataqua River. The ferry was started in 1684 by John Woodman and conveyed by franchise to Colonel Vaughan by Governor Dudley in 1708. Vaughan died in 1724 and the patent passed to his estate. The town of Portsmouth laid claim to the ferry. Read concluded that this action was not well founded since the ferry is not being operated by possession but by franchise and that, furthermore, New Hampshire does not have complete power over the ferry because Massachusetts has power of franchise on the Kittery end of its route.

Commonplace book of Benjamin Penhallow, 1721-1724

This leather-bound volume contains excerpts copied by Benjamin Penhallow from books he read while he was a student at Harvard in the 1720s. The volume contains extracts from two texts: Johanis Henrici Alstedii's (John Henry Alsted / Johann Heinrich Alsted) Geometria Domini, and the anonymous text "The Legacy of a dying Father; bequeath'd to his Beloved Children, or Sundry Directions in Order unto a well Regulated Conversation," from 1724 (originally published in 1693-4). The last page of text in the volume contains the hymn "The Sacred Content of Praise" first published in 1734, and added after Penhallow's death.

Sermon notes compiled by Solomon Prentice, 1724-1726

Leather top-bound volume containing notes kept by Solomon Prentice on sermons he attended between April 1724 and December 17, 1726, while he was an undergraduate at Harvard College. The volume contains one-to-two page entries on specific sermons and provides the biblical text and related questions and conclusions.

Deed of sale, 1724 April 20

Deed between grantor John Bradish and grantee Andrew Bordman for property bordering the Cambridge Commons. The deed is also signed by Hephzibah Bradish.

Deed of sale, 1724 April 20

Deed between grantor Jonathan Wyeth and grantee Andrew Bordman for Cambridge property bordering the highway leading into Westfield. The deed also includes the mark of Hephzibah Wyeth.

Deed of sale, 1724 July 4

Deed between grantors Joseph Hastings and Daniel Hastings and grantee Andrew Bordman for property on Cambridge Rocks. The deed also includes the marks of Elizabeth Hastings and Abigail Hastings.

Counter bond, 1724/5 January 22

Handwritten counter bond between Samuel Whittemore and Andrew Bordman, securing Whittemore's loan from Nathaniel Hancock and James Reade.

[Indenture of Anthony Blount & John Jones to the Trustees of Hopkinton], 1724 March

Handwritten indenture between grantors Anthony Blount and John Jones, and the Trustees as grantees for a parcel of land originally included in Mr. Savill Simpson's farm.

Observations Medical & Chirurgical by John Perkins, 1724-1774 (inclusive)

Volume kept by Dr. John Perkins (1698-1781) from 1724 to 1774 recording observations on various diseases and medical conditions illustrated with cases from Perkins's practice in Boston, Massachusetts. The cases ranged from epileptic fits, various fevers, and rheumatism to melancholy. His treament methods were standard for the era, mainly prescribing vomits, purges, and spirits, and bleeding patients. Also includes a section listing contradictory opinions among prominent medical writers such as Dutch physician Herman Boerhaave and English physician Thomas Sydenham. An index is located at the end of the volume. Perkins likely began compiling the book in 1765. It contains cases dating from 1724 to 1774.