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

Loan of money by Juan Perez de Aguirre to Maria de Urieta (free woman of African descent), guaranteed by Juan de Vargas. [In Spanish. No translation.]

"Joan the wife of Jo:Stowe of Hull sworne sayth that she knoweth Purnell the wife of Jo:Bartoll & did come over in the shippe with her, & she sayth that her carriage was vere light, & havinge her Cabin near this attestant, she did once or twice rise in the night from her children & they would crye in her absence; & she was verye familiar with the Boatswain & would oft. sitt drinking tobacco wth him: & this is the worst that this Attestant did see or knowe by her."

Official document, with seal [Iin Swedish. No translation].

Warrant for issuance to Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) of taxes and money for the use of the "Citty port and Garrison of Tanger." [Gift of Enid Gosling in the name of John Gwynne Gosling and John R. G. Gosling.]

Confirmation of a warrant granted by the Duke of York for Thomas Beckford to become slopseller to the Royal Navy. Also signed by Samuel Pepys. Includes a note dated June 26, 1662, pasted on the verso, "D of Y- For ye delivering of all books and papers relating to ye victualing into ye hands of Saml Pepys Esqr." [Gift of Enid Gosling in the name of John Gwynne Gosling and John R. G. Gosling.]

Dunham's last will and testament, bequeathing all property to his wife, Hannah, "to her proper use & dispose for the benefit of her and my two children," Hannah and Mehetabel. Docketed on verso by Nathaniel Morton (1613-1685).

"Respecting the disbursements and charge of the Late Indian warr." Provides financial details and land agreements between New England colonies following the fighting with Native Americans in King Phillip's War. [Original in Gold Star Collection]

Deed transferring ownership of land on eastern shore of Maryland to Hooper for 3000 pounds of tobacco. Includes Wroughtons' "marks."

Personal letter to his wife commenting on the birth of their son and his desire for her to join him in Charlestown. Notes household difficulties without her. Discusses merchant affairs, such as the shipment of goods to Jamaica, purchasing a plantation, and other financial matters. "My Dear I am come into a Country where great improvem[en]t may be made of Money, & if I had yo'r Fortune in my Hands or 1/2 or 1/3 of it, I cou'd make more Advantage of it here (w'th God's Blessing) in a few Years than my Lord chancellor can do w'th putting it out at Interest whilst we live." Acknowledges difficulties of living in the southern colonies. Briefly mentions the sale of wine in South Carolina. Addressed to Burrell Massingberd.

Upset by the handling of their affairs in chancery, and the Lord Chancellor's decrees that were prejudicial to his wife's interests. Has been offered a new plantation on the Cooper River within ten miles of Charleston. Describes the plantation in detail. He would purchase it if he believed his wife had enough money. "...you must know that tho a small Plantation may & will maintain a Family very handsomly; so that they shall want for nothing (provided they have Slaves proportionable to manage it w'ch must always be understood) yet it will not raise an Estate in a great many Years, nor then neither, w'thout great Frugality." Notes the profitability of cattle.

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.