Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

Grants power of attorney to Lincoln. Signed by Samuel Sewall, Jr., and Jane Green.

"A General Plan Of a Penitential Hospital for the Employing and Reforming Lewd Women." Notes that the lack of employment drives women to "that abominable Course of Life." Imprisoning the women "is to expose them to the same Temptations afresh." Warns against sending them to the colonies before reformation, comparing it to sending plague victims "to the unspeakable mischief of the people there, and the scandal of the Christian Religion." Recommends the construction of a house next to a church to supervise, employ, and reform the women, including through prayer and mortification.

Heartily sorry for affairs in Massachusetts Bay: "Learning & good manners have been travelling westward severall thousand years, & ‘tis a pitty methinks they should Journey on & goe to the westward of New England by our driving away the hopefull young men to the Colony of Connetticut. I don't know any candidates for the ministry that will equall Mr. Adams & Mr Cuttler, when we have lost." Siege of Douai has caught the French by surprise. "We shall in all probability kindle such a fire in France as will burn to the foundations of it." Quarrelling at home over Dr. Henry Sacheverell (1674?-1724): "The Clergy, Women & the Mobb are almost universally on his side... Many People christen their children Sacheverell, beleiving it will engage a blessing upon their posterity, whilst with equall extravagance many people call their Dogs by that name. ‘T is well this Parliament has a year longer to set, for were there to be a new election now, it might make a Civil War." Includes a note on Dummer on the verso, dated April 3, 1841.

Memorandums and Inspections on a towns' inhabitants, many of which are women. Written by three different people reporting on inhabitants possibly involved in immoral or criminal conduct or suffering from poverty. Notes women living without their husbands and those suspected of having "fowle disease." Mentions people's housing and its condition. Notes those believed to be idle. Includes a reference to a man and his wife who "keep an Indian Woman" and a woman who "lives alone (save a Negro woman sometimes with her)." Notes a mixed-race man married to a Native American.

Moodey and the Church of Christ at York recommend Margaret Hilton to the Church of Christ at Manchester following her removal there. "We Comit her to ye Watch &c Beseeching you to Receive her in ye Lord, as becometh Saints." Includes notes written by a descendant. "She probably united with the church at York, after being driven from Moscongus 1696 by the Indians." Verso includes a note from J.B. to Moodey, dated Boston, April 24, 1717, requesting prayers.

Provides details of a recent survey of Arrowsic Island, Maine, noting it contains less acreage and meadowlands than expected. Also includes financial accounts between Edward Hutchinson and the "Co. of the 15 Year Scheme" from January 1741 to August 1760, signed by Joshua Winslow.

Bill of lading, with printed illustration of a sailing ship. "Shipped by the Grace of God in good Order and well Conditioned, by Jona[than] Belcher." Shipment of "flower" from Boston to Piscataqua. "And so God send the good Ship to her desired Port in safety. Amen."

Asks Clark, a bookseller, to pay the bearer upon delivery of a "Steel Seal" cut with a coat of arms. Includes a pen and ink illustration of the coat of arms.

Certification of Josiah Marshall to teach grammar school, as Samuel Hunt (1681-1730) and Timothy Ruggles (1685-1768) examined his education and character. Selectmen Samuel Sprague and John Briggs note that the town has agreed to hire Marshall "to be our schoolmaster to Teach Chilldren to Read Wright Cipher and Latten."

Contract apprenticing 8-year-old Mary Sears of Bridgewater to learn to "sew, spin both woolen and Linein" and to learn to read and write under Joseph Staples of Yarmouth. "She shall not commit fornication, nor contract matrimony with in the said term." Witnessed by Nath[anie]l and Abigail Otis.