Docket and fees book / 1791-1797

Records of cases heard in the Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas (Middlesex Co.) in Cambridge, Mass., and the New Hampshire Inferior Court of Common Pleas (Hillsborough Co.) in Amherst, N.H and matters brought before justices of the peace. Records identify the litigants, with some notes on fees and settlements; many of the cases concern debts. Justices of the peace include: Israel Atherton (Lancaster, Mass.); Samuel Dana (Amherst, N.H.); Joshua Longley (Shirley, Mass.); Nathaniel Paine (Worcester, Mass.); James Prescott (Westford, Mass.); Jeremiah Stiles (Keene, N.H.); William Swan (Groton, Mass.); Sampson Tuttle (Littleton, Mass.); and Henry Woods (Pepperell, Mass.).

Ledger book of a court clerk, 1768-1773

Ledger book of Isaac Rindge, chief clerk of the court of common pleas in New Hampshire, listing charges to various individuals for writs and fines.

Papers of Theophilus Parsons, 1778-1811

Bill to Timothy T. Ford for legal services performed from September 1778 to June 1779; letter to Judge Thomas Dawes regarding a probate case (1802); Parsons' report and opinion in the case of the proprietors of the Kennebec Purchase v. Boulton, et al. (1807); a statement of facts in the case of Brooks v. Dorr (1807); a note to Joseph Allen regarding a case (1810); and a letter to Foster regarding the Massachusetts Circuit Court of Common Pleas (1811).

Motion for change of venue in the case of the Inhabitants of Massachusetts Bay Colony v. Charles Paxton, October 1761

A motion that the case not be tried in Suffolk County, on the grounds that the judges and jurors were residents of the colony. Pratt was attorney to Paxton, an attorney and commissioner of customs, who had incurred a debt to the Colony.

Lawyer's case book containing notes of cases adjudged and determined in the courts of Delaware, 1793-1796

Lawyer's case book containing notes on cases before the Delaware Supreme Court and Delaware Court of Common Pleas. Contains information on the cases and judgements.

[ Deed of sale] 1705

Deed of sale in fee simple absolute of land in Boston to Abigail Brightman.

Alphabetical catalog of Harvard College graduates through 1767, 1767

This hard-bound manuscript catalog alphabetically lists the men who graduated from Harvard College between 1642 and 1767. It is believed to be the first such list compiled. Entries contain each graduate's surname (in English), given name (in Latin), year of graduation, and occasional additional information. Francis Foxcroft (A.B. 1712) compiled the catalog. Entries for those who graduated between 1764 and 1767 have been added at the end of each alphabetical section.

Papers of William Merchant Richardson, 1797-1806

The collection contains a four-page handwritten poem titled "Invention" composed by graduate William Richardson for the 1797 Harvard College Commencement, and an 1806 letter of introduction written by Richardson. The rhyming poem begins, “Long had creations anthem peal been rung…” and contains classical references, and mentions scientists and philosophers including Voltaire, Franklin and Newton. The poem is accompanied by a one-page handwritten letter of introduction for lawyer Benjamin Ames (Harvard AB 1803) written by William M. Richardson to Reverend William Jenks (Harvard AB 1797). The letter is dated November 10, 1806.

Docket books and fee book, 1791-1806

Consists of 7 notebooks and 1 account book. Notebooks list cases heard before the Massachusetts Court of Common Pleas for Middlesex and Worcester counties and the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (March 1794-Sept. 1797; Sept. 1800-March 1802; June 1805-September 1806) and before the New Hampshire Court of Common Pleas for Hillsborough and Merrimack counties (March 1798-March 1805). The account book includes cases from Sept. 1791-July 1797.

Town law journals from Concord, Mass., 1798-1839

Seven manuscript journals written by Abiel Heywood (Justice of the Peace, town clerk, and chairman of the board of selectmen, Concord, Mass.), Nathan Brooks, William Parkman, and John L. Tuttle containing criminal records, defaulted cases, and civil actions.

Records, 1790-1805

Contains a variety of material relating to cases before the courts of common pleas in Kent, New Castle, and Sussex counties. One file deals exclusively with cases regarding slaves. Most likely kept by Rodney but some materials attributed to Wilson's Red Book.

Miscellaneous legal documents, 1751-1840

Subpoenas for the sheriff of Philadelphia County to individuals to serve for actions relating to trespass on a case, ejectment, and replevin of three negro slaves.

Oratio valedictoria: [Delivered at Harvard Commencement, 1736, before Ew. Belcher &c. With copy on blue paper.]

The notebook contains the original six-page manuscript of the valedictory address composed in Latin by graduate Edward Winslow at the 1736 Harvard Commencement enclosed within 19th century blue notebook paper on which a second handwritten copy of the address is written. The original text includes edits and struck-through words.

Letter from William Prescott to Oliver Prescott, 1782 October 19

Two-page handwritten letter from Harvard undergraduate William Prescott to his classmate, Oliver Prescott, that chiefly describes, in florid language, the discipline received by John Rowe (Harvard AB 1783) and others from College officers for disorderly behavior.