Law miscellany. 1782-1788

A lawyer's commonplace book of New Hampshire cases. Contains summaries of cases covering such topics as trespass, witnesses, injuries, bailbonds, and counterfeit money. Possibly kept by Jonathan Sewell.

Judge's notes on cases heard in Lincoln County (Maine), 1788-1789?

Includes notes and summaries of witnesses' testimony on cases involving contracts and land disputes. One pamphlet bears note "Lincolns. July 7th 1789. Pownalboro. Supreme Court." Pownalborough Court House is in Dresden, Maine, which succeded from Pownalborough. In 1804, the town Pownalborough was renamed Wiscasset.

A catechism geographicall, historical and chronologicall 1719

Notebook of unlined pages with paper marbled cover holding a handwritten copy of Tutor Flynt's "Catechism" likely copied by Harvard student John Wolcott in 1719. The volume lists questions and accompanying answers on various academic subjects. On the last page, the inscription "John Wolcott [the name is crossed over] his geography, 1719" indicates Wolcott (1702-1747), a member of the Harvard class of 1721, copied the book.

Poems copied by James Diman, ca. 1730-1733

Small pamphlet-sized notebook containing handwritten transcriptions of three poems copied by James Diman, likely in the early 1730s. The notebook contains "The Catholic Remedy. to ye Tune of To all you Ladies, not at land &c.," "Father Ab--y's Will. Col. Sweeper Camb: Dec. 1731," and "The Poet's Lamentation for ye Loss of his cat, w'ch he used to call his Muse" copied from the London Magazine, November 1733. The "Catholic Remedy" begins "You Peope who desire to mend / your Desperate Estate..." and includes the note, "Made upon A--D--'s goving over to take orders. The note refers to the voyage of Addington Davenport (Harvard AB 1719) to England join the priesthood of the Church of England in 1730. "Father Ab--y's Will" begins "To my dear Wife, / My joy and Life..." and was a humorous poem published in 1731 after the death of Harvard College Sweeper Matthew Abdy, and attributed to Jonathan Seccombe (Harvard AB 1728). The "Poet's Lamentation" begins "Oppress'd with Grief, in heavy strains I mourn..." and was written by Joseph Green (Harvard AB 1726) as a parody of a psalm composed by Mather Byles (Harvard AB 1725). Pages 10-12, holding part of "Father Ab--y's Will" are missing, and pages 13-15 are no longer attached to the item.

Letter from James Winthrop to William Bentley, 1788 February 27

Two leaves containing a one-page handwritten letter from Winthrop to Bentley that mentions Rev. John Prince (1751-1836) and briefly discussing the state of Winthrop's microscope and five volumes presented to Harvard that were printed in Calcutta, India.

Letter from James Winthrop to William Bentley, 1788 May 21

Two octavo-sized leaves containing a one-page handwritten letter from Winthrop to Bentley briefly mentioning some books and an upcoming inspection of library books.