18th Century

• Account Books
• Deeds
  
• Letters
  
• Miscellaneous Documents
  
• Religion
  
• Revolutionary War
  
• Wills

Account Books

This collection of 12 account books span the years 1703-1861, though the bulk dates are 1771-1802. The account books were used to keep track of payment for such goods and services as laying brick, shoeing horses, weaving, rent, and making coffins. A few of these account books make reference to the property of Northampton women. For each account book, the finding aid lists the individual who kept the book, its dates, and a general description of the material contained in each book.

Persons included

Clark, Ezra (1762-1802)
Clarke, Anna L. (1786-1861)
Cook, Caleb (1791-1838)
Cowles (?) (1727-1735)
Pomeroy, Quartus (1774-1790, 1795-1801)
Taylor, Abigail (1771-1802)
Taylor, Lemuel (1771-1802)
Taylor, Rebecca (1771-1802)
Wilder, Shubael (1791-1794)
Wright, John (1703-1761)
Wright, Solomon (1787-1810)
Tavern and Ferry (Bridge St.)

Deeds

Deeds date from 1709-1799. For each deed, the finding aid lists the type of deed, the grantor, the grantee, and the date it was executed. Where applicable, the date of the copy is also indicated, though most deed are originals. For other deeds and legal documents from the same period, see Miscellaneous Documents--18th Century.

Items/Persons included:

Alvord Family
Alvord, Ebenezer
Alvord, Gad
Alvord, Job
Alvord, John
Alvord, Joseph
Alvord, Thomas
Baker, Abner
Baker, Hollister
Baker, John
Biglo, John, Jr.
Clapp, Solomon
Clark Family
Clark, Elihu
Clark, Justin
Clarke Family
Cross, Daniel
Davis, Jacob
Fitts Family
French, Ebenezer
Graves, Silas
Hancock, John (of Boston)
Hinckley, Samuel
Kingsley, Abigail
Kingsley, Moses
Lyman, Elias
Lyman, Gad
Parsons Family
Parsons, Benjamin
Parsons, Ebenezer
Pixley, Noah
Pomeroy, Quartus
Russell, Hezekiah
Wright Family

Letters

The letters collection contains mainly personal correspondence. The finding aid lists each letter individually with author, recipient, and date where known. For most letters, there is also a brief description of content. Thematically, letters show accounts of town gossip, broken marriages, general disputes and condemnations, and personal events such as births, deaths, and church happenings. There are 43 letters in the collection dating from 1700-1798.

Items/Persons included:

Clark, Joseph (29 letters by, 1 letter to)
Cooke, Lydia (9 letters from Joseph Clark)
Dwight, Timothy (president, Yale College, 1 letter)
Pomeroy, Seth (2 letters)
Williams, John (2 letters)
Yale College

Miscellaneous Documents

This collections of 84 documents contains promissory notes, financial documents, receipts, writs, bills, certificates, minutes, warrants, and commissions. Also included are letters, deeds, and account books that are not grouped within their respectively named collections, but mostly consist of various legaland financial documents. The finding aid lists each document individually and includes involved parties and date where known. Subjects included:

account books
contracts and indentures
correspondence
deeds
essays
legal documents
memoranda
plans
receipts
surveys
worm book

Religion

This collection surveys the religious climate in Northampton in the 18th century. There are seven documents on religious subjects, including four sermons, two essays and one poem referring to "dark day" printed as a broadsheet. Dates range from 1778-1795. Items/Persons included:

Clarke, Joseph
Easthampton Congregational Church
Hampshire County
Kirkland, Anna
Lyman, Dr. Joseph
Preston, Rev.
Williston, Payson

Revolutionary War

The documents within the Revolutionary War Collection illustrate how the war affected the lives of certain Hampshire County individuals. Also included are genuine war documents such as general orders, discharge papers, notes on service, and an oath of allegiance. There are 23 documents with dates ranging from 1775-1800. The finding aid consists of an item-level description of all documents.

Items/Persons included:

Appointments
Bruce, Abijah
Dickinson, Nathaniel
Discharge Papers
Gates, General
Henry, Andrew
Hinds Family
Legal Documents
Letters, 18th Century
Militia
Pomeroy, Capt. Daniel
Putnam, General
Starr, Thomas
Thayer, Ahaz
Warrants
Washington, George

Wills

Historic Northampton holds two wills from the 18th century. The first belonged to Samuel and Sarah Baker of Northampton, dated February 9, 1793. The second is the Last Will and Testament of Joseph Hawley of Hadley, May 17, 1775 (?).

Items/Persons included:

Baker, Samuel and Sarah
Hawley, Joseph

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