HETTY GREEN
HETTY GREEN (1834-1916). Often called "The Witch of Wall Street", Green was an American businesswoman who became the richest American woman of the Gilded Age. However, she was also known for being extremely miserly. DS. 8 ½" x 11". 4pgs. November 5, 1884. New York. A partly printed business document signed "Hetty H R Green" and "Edward R Green". The Greens, both successful financiers, sold a parcel of land in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The document is fully engrossed in another hand. The document states in part: "Know all men by these presents that We Hetty H. R. Green, formerly of New Bedford in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in her own right and Edward H. Green, husband of said Hetty, in the right of his wife in consideration of Eight hundred Dollars, and other good & valuable consideration paid by Francis Hathaway and Horatio Hathaway of New Bedford County of Bristo Commonwealth of Massachusetts the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby remise, release, and forever quitclaim unto the said Francis Hathaway and Horatio Hathaway five undivided twenty fourth parts of two certain lots of land situation in the west side of Fifth Street in said New Bedford, bounded & described as follows ?" Hetty Green signed documents are quite rare, and this one is in very good condition.
NEW YORK LOYALIST ARCHIVE
(NEW YORK IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION). 1778. A pair of rare New York Loyalists documents. Both are orders for the Queens County Militia, a Loyalist force that fought for the British in the American Revolutionary War. Queens County is the modern-day borough of Queens. The orders gave from Archibald Hamilton, Commander of the Queens County Militia and were sent to Major Kissam of the same force. ADS. 2pgs. May 1, 1778. Innerwick, [Queens County, New York]. An autograph military document signed "Arch Hamilton" as Commander of the Queens County Militia. "Governor Tryon has been pleased to make the following promotions in the Regmt. Of Queens County militia whereof Gabriel G. Ludlow Esqr. is Colonel. John Wooley Junr. Esqr. to be Captain of a Company in the room of Stephen Thorne Esqr. who has leave to resign upon account of his health. Edward Throne gentleman to be first Lieut. Robt. Sutton gent. to be second Lieut. and Joseph Thorne gentleman to be Ensign in said Company. Any Soldier of Queens County ? who neglects or refuses his Guard to be fined five pounds for every offense the Capt has to take care that this order is strictly put in execution. For neglect of smaller dutys they are to be fined twenty shilling for every offense, the Cap ? to be answerable that this order is complied with. Arch Hamilton Cols Commandr Queen County militia". Governor Tryon was William Tryon (1729-1788) was a British colonial governor of New York. The document is in fine condition. Document. 2pgs. June 6, 1778. Innerwick, [Queens County, New York]. A contemporary copy of a military order, with two added autograph lines by Archibald Hamilton, sent to Major Kissam. "Orders for the Militia of Queens County. The Captns and Officers of the Regt. of Queens County Militia are immediately to Meet and Settle the Number of Fascines each Company must make to furnish One Thousand for the use of his Majestys [sic] Works at Brooklyn, they are likewise to furnish one thousand Pickets or Palisades between seven and eight feet long sharpened at one end from four and five to six inches diameter either round or iglit, and two thousand Sod Pins about one foot or fifteen inches long sharpened at one end and about half an inch or three quarters of an inch in diameter. They must be as expedient as possible that His Majestys [sic] Service may not be retarded, the Fascines and Pickets are to be carried and delivered at Brooklyn by the Waggons [sic] of the County Gratis, the Drivers will be Allowed fatigue rum; The reason of this alteration by order of His Excellency Governor Tryon is owing to the working Partys [sic] not having carried Provisions with them tho positively ordered, the Fascines and Pickets are to be cut from Rebel Woods, or from the Woods of those who have been in Rebellion as may be most convenient for dispatch; Colonel Hamilton earnestly recommends it to the Captains and Officers to be very attentive to this duty as he is determined to fine those who are backward or neglectfull [sic] in a most exemplarily manner, Major Kissam to be answerable that the Companies ? Arch Hamilton Colonel Command: Queens County Militia To Major Kissam of the Queens County Militia a copy?". Hamilton added two autograph lines to the bottom of this document. "The fascines are to be from eight to ten feel long and tied together with three or four others, cut square at one end with four pins to." Fascines and pickets were both used to create defensive structures. The document is in good condition with some repairs and a large ink stain across the bottom of the verso.
CARIBBEAN TRAVEL JOURNAL)
(CARIBBEAN TRAVEL JOURNAL). Diary. 101 pages. The Caribbean. [c. 1908-9]. The handwritten journal belonging to C. B. Benson of Hudson, New York. The diary recounts Benson's experience on an organized cruise group visit to Caribbean locations such as St. Thomas, Puerto Rico, Kingston [Jamaica], Caracas [Venezuela], Panama City [Panama], Port of Spain [Trinidad], and Martinique. Benson records his experiences in each location, including his impressions of the town, the locals, sights he visited, and local travel. He visited forts, a school, churches, a mill, a sugar plantation, and Carnival celebrations. Benson took his tour during the era of colonial rule, the attitudes of which infuse both his experiences and observations. Based on his mention of an earthquake in Kingston, Jamaica taking place a year or two before, he travelled in 1908 or 1909. "?St. Thomas, where we arrived about 6 A.M. mid morning Jan, 26 is one of the Virgin group and we found her framed and frescoed in the principal churches. Columbus, in 1493, gave the group of 100 islands, rocks and?which comprise the group. St. Thomas is 13 miles in length and 3 miles in width at its broadest. And I guess we walked the length of it speaking broadly and in the abstract at this distance.The heat of the tropical sun also takes its toll and blurs our ideas of time and distance somewhat. The town of Charlotte Amelia contains 13000 inhabitants - merchants and black babies and they are all dressed in their Sunday best to receive us properly.Thursday morning at 8 we went ashore at Porto [sic] Rico.Returning thro the village streets we stopped at the market place and noticed the display of fruits in baskets, a couple of men seated on low stools with blacks in front of them.a native woman?was entertaining us, in the middle of the road with a dance.When passing the island of Haiti.'Do you know why we do not stop at the Island of Haiti'? 'No'? There are cannibals there, there are so many fat people aboard you would lose your wife,' At St Thomas, the American council held open house and received some of us, who dared to invade this solitude,.An hour's railroad ride, which was made interesting by stops at every little?and station where the bare legged boy with the oil gun in hand squirted oil?bearings [sic] of the cars and engine. As it was, before the 17 miles came to an end, the rear axle of the parlor car so called because it had leather covered reclining seats, caught fire. But when this happened we were nearly at the end of our journey, and we were not delayed much. At the sugar plantation where we detrained, we found we had some distance to walk down?to the sugar mill. As there was no path and the sticky wet ground to soil, made worse by the heavy rain of the night before.A sugar mill is never a clean place.The process is somewhat intricate, but way he likened to the process of brewing.The cane piled up in the yard is boiled in a number of vats, then is run off with barrels, and in a black and solid state in shipped to the Refineries at New York. The fiber of the cane is then hardened and dried and is fed to the furnaces to boil?cane. After return to the town San Juan we visited the shops. Walked out to the fort at the entrance of the harbor. The town is excellently policed, and paved in the principal streets with telegram blocks.As this day was Thursday we concluded that every day was wash day for the native women and girls, who, for want of other diversions, spend most of their time in this form of dissipation. Even the balconies of the main public street filled with traffic, of street cars, carriages and drays had their fill of wash, some of which are found laying in the street, having been carried down by the wind. No one had appropriated it as yet; and we did not add it to our collection of souvenirs. At the officers quarters I applied for a permit of the officer of the day to enter the fort, 'San Cristobal' the fort, commanding the entrance to the harbor.The fort was like most forts. The high tower gave a commanding view of the town and harbor. Then we visited the Governor's Palace. In the Reception Room hanging on opposite sides facing each other are life sized oil paintings of McKinley & Cleveland. In the garden were some large palms, tropical ferns, a fountain, &.Jan 29. early in the morning, we were at Kingston, in Jamaica. The channel is narrow and tortuous, but well? Taking a local pilot, we soon?opposite it?of three vessels, one of which was the Princess Louise that was caught in the hurricane here three years ago and?the larger of the three vessels, was trying to pick up the light from the light house which had been blown down. This destruction of the hurricane.After driving about a mile thru the city, the destruction to the buildings & pavements made by the earthquake here a year or two ago, half of the city seems to be in ruins and no attempt has been made apparently to rebuild & restore the city. Thousands of lives were lost here at that time, which did immense damage to the fruits. Most of the uninhabitable part of the island belongs to the United Fruit Company, a Boston Corporation, who ships immense quantities of bananas from Port Antonio. Owing to recent destruction by fire of Hotel Litchfield, our stop at the port of San Antonio and stay of night at the Hotel was omitted. An excursion across the island by train to Mandeville was arranged in its place.The town of Colon in its principle streets are paved with brick and appear clean. We noticed many buzzards. The air was clear and there was a delightful cool breeze blowing.We stopped at all of the stations going to Panama, and noted the wonderful impressions made by the Sanitary Commission. The well ventilated and screened houses. The plan for disposal of garbage, the open drainage, the cleared lands?But, of course, the facts are here - bug and drain - all working to the mutual exclusion of some ideas, to the American white employers. Therefore, after a few months, they
MEXICO)
(MEXICO). ALS. 1pg. 6" x 8". December 5, 1766. Tlayacapan [Mexico]. An autograph letter signed "Nicolás Morquecho" addressed "To our most Reverend Priest Señor and my very dear friend Gerónimo". Morquecho wrote: "The day has come for you to honor me with your arrival, to do us the favor of christening your godson. My friend Juan Francisco de Ariza has now come from Mexico [Mexico City] and today is the day we have set to baptize our son. I hope that you will fulfill your promise, which you made to me eight days ago. The delay [of the baptism] is due to my friend, who has now arrived. We are waiting now for your arrival, by the time, or before, the sun sets. I will be delighted to find you enjoying the excellent health that my heart desires for you on this day. I offer all that I have, hoping that you will let me know of anything you desire, so that I, with great affection, can best serve you. With this, praying that you will oblige me with this favor, knowing your importance, May you be able (to fulfill your word), December 5, 1766 Your friend and mentor, who kisses your hand and through Christ loves you, Nicolás Morquecho". The verso states "To our Most Reverend Priest Señor and Beloved Brother, my highly esteemed Godfather Brother Gerónimo". The paper has a few small, round insect holes and the top margin has darkening.
WILLIAM WHITE
WILLIAM WHITE (1748-1836). White was the Bishop of Pennsylvania and the Chaplain of the Senate. ALS. 1pg. December 10, 1813. Philadelphia. An autograph letter signed "Wm. White". On behalf of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, White wrote to Founding Father Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), thanking him for donating a book to the university. "Sir, At a late Meeting of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania there was laid before them the letter which you did them the Honour to address to them, and accompanying a late Work on Physiology by Richard Saumarez Esq of London. The official President of that Board, is the Gouvernor of the Commonwealth; whose distant Residence presents his Attention to the Concerns of the Institution. In Consequence of this, the Trustees instructed me, being Chairman of the Meeting, to express their Thanks for the valuable Present; & for your polite Attention, Sir, in the Transmission of it. I am, Sir, with great Respect, Your very humble Servant, Wm. White". Richard Saumarez (1764-1835) was a British surgeon. A docket in Elbridge Gerry's handwriting is affixed to the verso; it was done on a separate slip of paper and glued to the White letter. The letter is in very good condition with toning throughout and remnants of an adhesive on the uneven right edge of the verso.
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1840)
(PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION OF 1840). ALS. 2pgs. November 18, 1840. Cincinnati, Ohio. An autograph letter signed "J Burnet" by Ohio lawyer and politician Jacob Burnet (1770-1853). It is addressed to James Dunlap of Pittsburg. Burnet replies to Dunlap's letter stating his concerns about Pennsylvania politics in light of the recent 1840 Presidential election, in which William Henry Harrison defeated Martin Van Buren. Harrison would die only a month into his Presidency. Mentioning a "schism" at one point, Burnet seems to anticipate the national divide that would eventually lead to the American Civil War, although this may have referred to economic issues rather than the question of slavery: "Dear Sir I have received your letter of the 12th inst and read it with interest. The matter it contains?the view you have taken of the state of parties in Penna are highly interesting, and are certainly entitled to serious consideration. The mixture of parties, of which you speak, as having taken place in the late struggle, can not, as you observe?There is reason to fear, that when the cause which?the union, the fruits of which we have just gathered, shall warn so often at, the repelling principle?will throw the parts from each other, as far as they win, before the conflict began, unless something can be done, to effect such a permanent combination, as you refer to. I confess I now have understood the theory of party?as they have existed in, and have agitated your state, or the principles on which they have been found, or by which they are?I can however easily?schism, may be the result of such an injudicious course on the part of the?you are anxious to prevent. It would give mow me great pleasure to be instrumental in preventing the wit you depict so strikingly, were it in my power. I was known unequal to the task, because I have no claims to the confidence of the General, beyond those of his friends generally, not because in addition to this, I could not point him to the parties, or the persons, as to whom he ought to be on his guard. A frank communication from a confidential friend in Penna, who understands the whole subject, would receive the attention it deserves. An intelligent Penna?can communicate the specific information necessary to show him the danger and the mode of avoiding it. Advice or caution in a care like this, to have its proper influence, should come from the power of information. Your views on the subject of claims, founded on services, rendered in the late political contest, are precisely those I entertain, and express on all occasions, and I have reason to believe, the General looks on the subject though the same medium, and views it in the same light. If our motives have been patriotic, our labor has been done for the country, and success is our only legitimate reward. If they have been personal they are not praiseworthy, and ought not to be rewarded. I am confident that president elect views the matter in that light, and that he does not feel personal obligations to any body, on account of no part taken in the contest. If this be not so, I have very much misunderstood his character. Yours very respectfully J Burnet". The letter is in very good condition with a loss to the back page that does not affect any content. A reminder of the eternal contention and controversy in American political elections.
ROBERT CROMEK
ROBERT CROMEK (1770-1812). Cromek was an English engraver, art dealer, and editor. AM. 5pgs. N.d. N.p. A series of three traditional Scottish poems and songs written out by editor and printer Robert Cromek. The poems include "There's nane o'them a' like my bonnie Lassie" and "The Lowlands of Holland". For example: "The Lowlands of Holland My love he built a bonny ship & set her on the sea, With seven score good mariners to bear her company. There's three score of them is sunk & three score dead at sea, And the lowlands of Holland has twined my love & me. My love has built another ship & set her on the main, And nane but twenty mariners all for to bring her hame. But the weary wind began to rise, the sea began to roll, My love then and his bonny ship turn'd widdershins about. There shall neither?on my head nor comb come in my hair, And shall neither coal nor candle light shine in my bower mair. Nor will I love another one until the day I die, For I never lov'd a love but one & he's drown'd in the sea. Oh hold your tongue my daughter dear, be still & be content, There are mair lads in Galloway, you heen nae fair lament. O! there is none in Galloway, there's none at a' for me, Fer I never lov'd a love but one, & he's drowned in the sea. Note I have heard the two first lines of this verse sung differently an elderly Yorkshire Lady where it seems this Fragment, with a great number of old Scottish ballads, non lost, were popular when she was young. Ed. 'No boif shall e'er come on my head, nor comb into my hair, No fire light, nor candle bright shall see what beauty's there.'". "The Lowlands of Holland" refers to sailors getting pressed into the British Navy against the Dutch. The manuscripts are in very good condition.