[Letter presenting Judge Lowell's Eulogy of Governor Bowdoin, 1791]

One leaf containing an unsigned draft of a letter presenting John Lowell's published eulogy of Governor James Bowdoin to the recipient by the order of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The eulogy had been delivered by John Lowell on January 26, 1791.

Letter from Joseph Willard to John Lowell, 1799 January 17

One folded leaf containing a handwritten letter from President Willard to lawyer John Lowell of Roxbury, Mass. describing the papers accompanying the letter that relating to "the College business with the General Court."

[Letter from Joseph Thaxter to Revd Charles Lowell], 1820 February 13

2-leaf handwritten letter describing the rebellion. Includes twentieth century typewriten transcription.

Lists of books granted to Harvard by the Massachusetts General Court, ca. 1778

The books listed were sequestered from "Cox & Berry's Collection" (British booksellers Cox and Berry) and from Province House, home to the royal Governors of the Massachusetts Bay Colony prior to the American Revolution. To the left of each book's title is a number indicating how many copies of that title were received.

List of books donated by Francis Bernard, Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, undated

Bracketed annotation made by John Langdon Sibley in Feb. 1842: "The books on this & the three succeeding pages, I find on examination, to have been given by Gov. Bernard." On the fourth page, presumably also in 1842, Sibley wrote: "This is a list of donations by Gov. Bernard, & not by Hollis."

Midwife's testimony, Bristol Co. Massachusetts, 1727

Manuscript testimony, dated April 11, 1727, regarding the declaration of the paternity of a child out of wedlock born to Charity Caswell, probably in January of 1727. Signed by midwife Mary Crossman; also by Sarah Dean and Elizabeth Caswell.

Letter from Daniel Upton to James Savage, 1799 September 29

Daniel Upton wrote this letter from Machias, Maine on September 29, 1799; it is addressed to James Savage, who was then a freshman at Harvard College. In the letter, Upton advises Savage to study ardently, avoiding the temptation to procrastinate. He thanks Savage for having sent him a copy of "Mr. Lowell's oration" and sends greetings to a Mr. Holbrook and Mr. Jones. He also passes along the fond wishes of those in Machias who know Savage, including John Cooper and his wife, Phineas Bruce and his wife, and Hannah Bruce (Upton's future wife). Upton explains that he is writing the letter in a hurry because he is sending it on board with Captain Merryman, who is about to set sail, presumably for Boston.

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.

Notes of cases decided in the Superior and Supreme Judicial Courts of Massachusetts from 1772 to 1789: taken by the Hon. William Cushing, one of the judges during that period and most of the time Chief Justice

Notes of cases taken by Judge William Cushing during his tenure on the Massachusetts superior and supreme courts. (Formerly MS 2141.)

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).

Notes on cases in Boston, 1784-1790

Notes on various cases, including cases of burglary, debt, fraud, libel, receiving stolen goods, and one case of attempted murder of an infant by his mother.

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.

Precedents book of Massachusetts law, 1775

A commonplace book kept by Parsons outling various legal issues including getting a negro with child, slander, deceit, bills of exchange, debt,assault and battery, quantum meruit by a physician, ejectment, covenant, and liberty of the yard. Many of these topics include also forms of declaration.