Guide to the Roger Howell Document Collection, 1689-1887
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Howell Document Collection, George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, Bowdoin College Library, Brunswick, Maine.
The George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives, like all archives and special collections libraries, is the creation of human beings who have collected, organized, and described things in ways that reflect personal, cultural, societal, and institutional biases. Although we strive to preserve and present collections in a manner that is respectful to the individuals and communities who create, use, and are represented in the collections, we acknowledge that our systems are neither neutral nor perfect. We encourage you to let us know if you encounter materials, descriptive language, or practices that are offensive or harmful, particularly those for which inadequate context or warning is offered. We are committed to modifying and updating our descriptive practices to use respectful and inclusive terminology and appreciate your help in this work. We look forward to supporting you in your research and learning together.
Though the compiler is unknown, the collection was acquired by Roger Howell, Jr. (Bowdoin 1958; President of the College 1969-1978). A portion of the collection documents the colonial era of York County, Maine, and neighboring towns, and illustrates the lives of members of the community, including William Pepperrel and the Hill family. Other materials in the collection include appointments signed by many of the 19th century governors of Maine, letters or documents signed by some of the first secretaries of the United States Treasury, and the signatures of four of the nation's first seven presidents.
The collection includes the signatures of four of the first seven presidents of the United States: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, and Andrew Jackson [two signed in office]. Other materials consist of military and commerce documents from 1785 to 1847, including shipping documents, appointments, and legal notes, mostly from Maine and Massachusetts. Notable names include: James Bowdoin, Henry Clay, Sam Adams, William Shirley, Patrick Henry, and John Hancock. Also included are appointments signed by all but seven of the men who served as governor of Maine before 1887. There are letters or documents written and/or signed by seven of the first thirteen secretaries of the United States Treasury, including Alexander Hamilton. Additionally, there is material from colonial York County, Maine, concerning local militias, commerce, and legal cases. The collection was exhibited at one time; historical and contextual notes created for the display accompany each item.
This series contains material relating to colonial York County, Maine. Much of the series relates to John Hill, William Pepperrell, their families, and other members of the community.
Arranged chronologically.
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1689 Aug 23, Maine: Thomas Danforth to John Hill (ms. legal note)
1691 Apr 6: Deposition signed by Samuel Wheelwright re: horse stabbing; Samuel Hatch and William Hoft [?] mentioned
1693 Apr 20: John [Gorrisly ?] to John [Hill?] re: soldiers
1693 Aug 3: Francis Hooke to [? Hill; ? Rogors; ? Wheelwright]
1693 Oct 3: signed by John [Wimroll ?], re: letters of administration granted to Capt. John Hill on the estate of his father, Roger Hill
1699 Mar 14: Richard Earl of Belmont, Boston, re: to protect the Indians under King William the Third while they become obedient [printed proclamation]
1710 Jun 18, Boston: J[oseph] Dudley to John Wheelwright, Ichabod Plaisted, William Pepperell, re: appointment of above men as justices of court [signed by Dudley for Queen Anne; cosigned by Joseph Addington]
1716 Aug 22, Kittery: Receipt signed by William Pepperrell [mentions Francis Ditty Jotham]
1726 May 5, Bay of Carlisle: Bill of Lading: signed by Richard Jordan, re: goods of Thomas Harper
1737 Mar 7: Elihu [Gunnison ?] to [William] Pepperrell, re: lending of goods
1739/40 Mar 13, Wells: Deposition signed by John [Hover ?], re: William Booker, John Lester and a plea of debt for schooling
1744 Feb 21, Kittery: William Pepperrell to John Hill, re: the support of Hill's soldiers in Berwick
1744 May 17, Boston: Military appointment: signed by W[illiam] Shirley, re: appointment of John Hill as Captain of the first regiment in York County; also signed by [G. Williard?] for King George II
1747 Jul 15, Kittery: William Pepperrell to John Hill
1754 Jun 17, [York?]: Noah Emery to John Hill, re: [Samuel Gatchel], [William Stanley], [Moses Wittum] and a charge of trespass
1754 Sep 28, Boston: Military appointment: signed by William Shirley, re: appointment of John Hill to be major of the first regiment in York County; also signed by [G. Willard?] for King George II
1759 Mar 29, Boston: Printed proclamation signed by Thomas Pownall, re: seamans' wages
1760 Apr 30, Massachusetts: Printed form signed by John Brown and Joseph Coffin, re: Oaths and Declaration to become Justice of the Peace for the County of Essex, signed John Hill and Rich Cutt to certify the above for King George II
[1765 Sep 11, Boston]: Printed form signed by A. Oliver for George III, re: appointement of John Hill as Judge for the Probate of Wills and for the Pr. form: signed by A. Oliver for granting letters of appointment; also signed by Francis Bernard
This series contains various shipping and legal documents and appointments. The material dates from 1785-1847 and is mostly from Massachussets and Maine. Notable individuals include: Sam Adams, Henry Clay, James Bowdoin, John Hancock, and Patrick Henry.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1785 Jun 11, Salem: Ship register: signed by John A Avery, Jun[ior], re: permit for George Osborn; also signed by Thomas Cushing and Joseph Hiller [printed form]
1786 May 19, Salem: Ship register signed by John Avery, Jun[ior], re: permit for John Felt; also signed by James Bowdoin and Joseph Hiller [printed form]
1787 Aug 10, Richmond: Land deed signed by P[atrick] Henry, re: land deed for Henry Crutcher et al.
1788 Aug 5, Salem: Ship register signed by John Avery, Jun[ior], re: permit for John Fisk; also signed by John Hancock and Joseph Batchelor
1816 Sep 20, Massachusetts: Military appointment: signed by John Brooks, re: appointment of John Rollins to Captain; also signed by Alden Bradford and John Geoth [verso]
1819 Feb 18, Massachusetts: Certificate of appointment signed by John Brooks, re: appointment as coroner, Benjamin J. Herrick; also signed by Alden Bradford
1838 Jun 29, Concord, New Hampshire: Commissioner appointment signed by Isaac Hill, re: appointment of William C. Allen as Commissioner for Maine; also signed by Josiah Stevens, Jr., and Nicholas Emery
1794 May 12, Boston: Appointment signed by Samuel Adams, co-signed by John Avery, re: appointment to Senate of Josiah Stearns
1797 May 25: Passport for Joseph Pitman signed by Thomas Auldjo [with ms. note]
1803 Jun 4, Salem: Promissory note signed by George Crowninshield, re: transfer to son ten shares by the Salem bank
[1804?]: Petition H[enry] Clay to Fayette Circuit, re: note on John South's debt to Isaac Gray
1815 Feb 11: Passport signed by G.[G.?], re: granted to W.[F.?] Allen of Boston
1842 Feb 10, Salem: Permit for exporting signed by J. Miller, re: goods to be exported
1847 Apr 14: Note signed by [?] Johnson, re: buying and selling corn
[?] Aug 27: Custom declaration signed by William Gray, District of Salem and Beverly, re: duties paid at custom house on imported and exported goods
This series contains documents signed by seven of the first thirteen secretaries of the United States Treasury, including Alexander Hamilton.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1791 Feb 19: Birth certificate: signed by Alexander Hamilton, re: to Nathaniel Appleton for credit for Elbrige Gerry
1779 Nov 18, [New York?]: Oliver Wolcott, Jr. to Collectors of the customs, re: foreign currency [printed note]
1811 Mar 4, [Washington]: Albert Gallatin to the Collector of Customs for the District of Salem, re: the act concerning commercial intercourse between the U.S., France and Great Britain
1823 Feb 5, Washington: A.J. Dallas to William R. Lee, re: treasury notes
1823 Feb 5, Washington: [William H.] Crawford to William R. Lee, re: requesting monthly schedule of liquidation bonds
1831 Oct 8, Washington: Louis Lane to Collectors, re: Collector's quarterly accounts [printed note]
1838 Oct 2, Washington: Levi Woodbury to James Miller, re: granting permission for new sails [?]
This series contains documents with signatures of all but seven of the governors of Maine prior to 1887.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1820, Portland: William King, re: appointment of Robinson Palmer to Justice of the Peace; also signed by Arthur Ware
1825 Feb 5, Portland: Albion Parris, re: appointment of Benjamin Jones Herrick to Coroner; also signed by A. Nicholas (not filed)
1828 Feb 7, Portland: Enoch Lincoln, re: appointment of Mark Dennet to Justice of the Peace and of the Quorum; also signed A. Nichols
1831 Dec 14, Portland: Jonathan G. Hunton, re: appointment of Gamaliel E. Smith to Coroner; also signed by Edward Russell
1839 Sep 11: John Fairfield, Military appointment re: William C. Allen to Brigade Major; also signed by A.B. Thompson and A.R. Nichols
n.d., Portland: Samuel [E.] Smith, re: Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Roscoe G. Greene
1835 Mar 20, Augusta: Robert P. Dunlap, re: appointment of Benjamin J[ones] Herrick to Sheriff; also signed by R[oscoe] G. Greene
1841 Feb 26, Augusta: Edward Kent, re: appointment of Hiram H. Hobbs to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Samuel [?] Benson
1843 Mar 9, Augusta: Edward Kavanagh, re: appointment of Nathaniel S. Littlefield to Justice of the Piece and Quorum; also signed by Philip C. Johnson
1844 Jun 20, Augusta: H[ugh] J. Anderson, re: appointment of Benjamin J[ones] Herrick to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Philip C. Johnson
1849 Jun 26, Augusta: John S. Dana, re: appointment of William Hammond to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Ezra B. French
1852 Mar 30, Augusta: John Hubbard, re: appointment of Benjamin J[ones] Herrick to Public Administer; also signed by John G. Sawyer
1853 Feb 1, Augusta: William G. Crosby, re: appointment of Robinson Palmer to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Alden Jackson
1855 Oct 10, Augusta: Anson P. Morrill, re: appointment of Sewall C. Strout to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Alden Jackson
1856 Feb 26, Augusta: Samuel Wells, re: appointment of Ehpraim C. Spinney to Coroner; also signed by Caleb R. [Ayer?]
1857 Feb 22, Augusta: H[annibal] Hamlin, re: appointment of Charles E. Weld to Justice of the Peace
[1857 Oct 10], [Augusta]: Joseph H. Williams, re: appointment of Nathaniel S. Littlefield to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Alden Jackson
1858 Nov 2, Augusta: Lot M. Morrill, re: appointment of Benjamin J[ones] to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Noah Smith
1861 Dec 14, Augusta: Israel Washburn, Jr., re: appointment of James S. [Wiley?] to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Joseph B. Hall
1863 Feb 18, Augusta: Abner Coburn, re: appointment of Edwin C. Townsend to Justice of the Peace; also signed by Joseph B. Hall
1865 Dec 28, Augusta: Sam[uel] Cony, re: appointment of Benjamin J[ones] Herrick to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Ephraim Flint, Jr.
1867 Dec 27, Augusta: J[oshua] L. Chamberlain, re: appointment of George A. Hammond to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by J.N. [Cuchman?]
1873 Feb 25, Augusta: Sidney Perham, re: appointment of Elliot King to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Alden Jackson
1875 Jan 22, Augusta: Nelson Dingley, Jr., re: appointment of William Hammond to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by Alden Jackson
1876 Nov 15, Augusta: Seldon Connor, re: appointment of David E. Hastings to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by J.O. Smith
1879 Feb 22, Augusta: Alonzo Garcelon, re: appointment of J.K. Hammond to Notary Public; also signed by P.A. Sawyer
1880 Feb 25, Augusta: Daniel E. Davis, re: appointment of Ephraim C. Spinney to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by J.O. Smith
1882 Aug 15, Augusta: Harris M. Plaisted, re: appointment of Ira S. Locke to Justice of the Peace and Quorum; also signed by S.J. Chadbourne
1883 Feb 21, Augusta: Frederick Robie, re: appointment of George F. Emery to Notary Public; also signed by S.J. Chadbourne
1887 Mar 13, Augusta: Joseph R. Bodwell, re: appointment of J.F. Walker to Notary Public; also signed by S.J. Chadbourne
This series contains the signatures of four of the first seven American presidents: Thomas Jefferson (1790), John Adams (1798), John Q. Adams (1824), and Andrew Jackson (1831). All signatures are on printed form documents; the signatures of John Adams and Andrew Jackson were made while in office.
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1790 Jul 15, New York: Thomas Jefferson, An Act for the Temporary and Permanent Seat of the Government of the United States (printed)
1798 Jul 2: John Adams, Salem, passport for ship given to Timothy Wellman, Jr. (also signed by Timothy Pickering, Edward Pulling, and countersigned by Joseph Hiller)
1824 Sep 8: J.Q. Adams, order to Josiah Brigham (printed bank draft)
1831 Jan 5, Washington: Andrew Jackson, land deed for Lewis Thompson and Ira Merrill (also signed by Elijah Pr. form land deed: signed by Andrew Hayword)
This series contains two newspaper clippings (1750, 1876); a copy of the Declaration of Independence (1841); and a facsimile of an expunged resolution of the United States Senate (1837).
Arranged chronologically.
No restrictions.
1750 May 1: "The Boston Gazette," and "Weekly Journal" (printed newspapers)
1837: Expunged Resolution of the U.S. Senate, Washington (facsimile)
1841: Declaration of Independence, Massachusetts (printed copy)
1876 Mar 17: from the "Boston Daily Advertiser" (documents relating to "The Evacuation Day of 1776")