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What follows is a list of Early American New England records from the manuscript holdings in the Department of Special Collections, University Libraries of Notre Dame.
JOHN DINSMORE PAPERS. 1782-c.1920 (bulk 1782-1822). 716 manuscripts, many partly printed; 1 newspaper. The personal papers and court records of the Rockingham County, New Hampshire farmer, innkeeper, and justice of the peace John Dinsmore, Jr. (16 January 1759-15 April 1814). Dinsmore (or Dinsmoor) was born in Windham, Rockingham County, the son of John Dinsmore (1721-1793) and Martha McKeen (1723-1803). The elder Dinsmore was a man of local influence, serving Windham as clerk, town meeting moderator, and selectman; he was also a justice. The younger Dinsmore passed most of his life at Windham, on the original family estate, before removing (c.1807) to the village of Londonderry, Rockingham County, where he kept an inn. He was twice married, to Susannah Bell (1759-1807) and Mary Rogers. The greater part of the Dinsmore collection, some 550 items, consists of Rockingham County court records, retained by Dinsmore during his years as a member of the judiciary. These records range in date from January 1797 to November 1813. The majority are partly printed writs of execution issuing from minor civil suits, signed by Dinsmore in his capacity as justice. Most bear endorsements, and calculations of damages and court costs. There are also a small number of papers pertaining to criminal cases. Other, less extensive series in the collection include: land records (21 items, including 10 deeds to parcels of land acquired by John Dinsmore); financial records (50 items, mostly account sheets and receipts); records issuing from Dinsmore's position as a proprietor of the Londonderry Turnpike (42 items, mostly receipts, 1805 to 1810); and papers relating to the settlement of Dinsmore's estate (44 items, 1814 to 1822). These latter include inventories of Dinsmore's real and personal estate, and an estate ledger kept by the executor, Dinsmore's eldest son, James (1788-1872). MSN/EA 0503-1 to MSN/EA 0503-170. [Finding Aid] BOSTON & PROVIDENCE RAILROAD CORPORATION CORRESPONDENCE. 1832-1912 (bulk 1832-1859). 354 letters, postal cards, and pieces of ephemera. The Boston & Providence Railroad was incorporated in 1831 and completed in 1835, with a line between Park Square, Boston and Providence, Rhode Island. It was one of the first railroads in New England chartered for public use. The most substantial part of the collection consists of 127 pieces of incoming business correspondence to officials of the B&PRR, 1832 to 1846. Topics touched upon include financing, land acquisition, line construction, and other legal and financial matters. An additional 65 pieces of correspondence dating from 1847 to 1859 pertain primarily to the Taunton Branch of the B&PRR and the New Bedford & Taunton Railroad. MSN/EA 1506-1 to MSN/EA 1506-76. [Finding Aid] JACOB HAYWARD LAND DEED. 1796. 1 document, partly printed. A deed of sale recording the transfer of three parcels of land from Jacob and Elizabeth Hayward to Seth Thayer. Jr., for the sum of £60. The parcels are located in Milford, Worcester County, Massachusetts. With endorsements. MSN/EA 1504-1. WRIT OF ATTACHMENT AGAINST ABRAHAM JOSLYN. 1801. 1 document. A document written and signed by Ware, Massachusetts town treasurer William Anderson, directing the sheriff of Hampshire County to attach the estate of Abraham Joslyn for debts owed to the town, stemming from Joslyn's work as tax collector in the year 1799. MSN/EA 1502-1. ISAIAH THOMAS, JR. RECEIPT. 1810. 1 document. A receipt signed by Charles Wheeler for Isaiah Thomas Jr. of Worcester, Massachusetts, acknowledging payment of $40.00 from William Gran for two cows. MSN/EA 1501-1. TURNPIKE ACCOUNT SHEETS. 1810-1834. 2 documents, partly printed. Annual account sheets for two Connecticut turnpike companies, showing debits (including interest on outstanding stock, repairs, and wages) and credits (tolls collected). A sheet for the Goshen and Sharon Turnpike shows accounts as of 1 May 1810; a sheet for the Hartford and New Haven Turnpike shows accounts as of 1 May 1834. MSN/EA 1503-1-F2 to MSN/EA 1503-2-F1. MEDWAY (MA) SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2 MINUTES BOOK. 1825-1869. 1 vol., 21 cm., 138 leaves, with 173 pages of manuscript. Minutes of the meetings of the residents of School District No. 2 in Medway, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 5 September 1825 to 1 March 1869. The entries, typically made by the district clerk for the given year, record matters like the election of district officials; the state of the budget; plans for the construction and maintenance of facilities, and so on. There are also copies of warrants, certificates of oath, and other legal records associated with school district business. MSN/EA 1505-1-B. WILLIAM HOLMES DISABILITY CERTIFICATION. 1826. 1 document. A certification of the wounding of Thomas Holmes of the New London, Connecticut artillery company, by an accidental discharge during a ceremony honoring the memories of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. MSN/EA 1500-1. RECORD BOOK OF THE FREE TEMPERANCE SOCIETY OF TURNER, 1833-1836. 1 vol., 26 cm., with 14 pages of manuscript. Contains the constitution, membership, and meeting minutes of a Maine temperance society. MSN/EA 10006-01.
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