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1744.08.15 — Indenture document for Timothy Buggy, August 15, 1744
The first part of the document has Oliver, Warham, and Eliakim Smith assert their legal legitimacy as the “select men and overseers” representatives of the “poor” people who sign themselves into indentured servitude in Hadley, Massachusetts. The next…
1745.07.29 — Bill of Sale for Zebulon Prutt, July 29, 1745
This document, dated July 29, 1745, is a bill of sale between Jerusha Chauncey of Hadley and Moses Porter of Hadley. Chauncey has agreed to sell his African- American slave, Zeb, who is approximately fourteen years old, to Porter, in return for 150…
1770.03.30 — Bill of sale for Cesar, March 30, 1770
In this short bill of sale, William Williams of Massachusetts Bay sells an 18-year-old enslaved Black man named Cesar to Charles Phelps Jr. of Hadley. Williams charges Sixty-Five Pounds Thirteen Shillings & four pence for the sale. He specifies that…
1776.02.15 — Charles Phelps Sr. to Charles Phelps Jr., February 15, 1776
This document, dated Feb 15th, 1776 was sent from N. Marlborough, Massachusetts by Charles Phelps Sr. to his son Charles Phelps Jr. in Hadley, Massachusetts. Mr. Phelps proposes to his son that his son send to him an enslaved man, Cesar, for the…
1787.08.31 — Charles Phelps to Moses Porter Phelps, August 31, 1787
Charles Phelps is writing to his son, Moses Porter Phelps, who is currently enrolled at Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The letter is dated August 31, 1787. He sends a bond via Mr. White of Watertown and instructs Moses to deliver the…
1787.09.22 – Charles Phelps Jr. to (Moses) Charles Porter Phelps, Sept. 22 1787
This letter was sent from Charles Phelps to his son, Moses Charles Porter Phelps on September 22cd, 1787. At the time, Moses was a student at the University of Cambridge, and his father lived in Hadley. Phelps begins the letter by letting his son…
1787.12.11 — Charles Phelps Jr. to Moses Charles Porter Phelps, December 11, 1787
Father Charles Phelps sends a letter to his son Moses Charles Porter Phelps at his college in Cambridge (Harvard University). He explains that the family has not heard from their son in some time, and offers him an opportunity to send a letter back…
1789.06.01 — Charles Phelps to Moses Charles Porter Phelps, June 1, 1789
Charles Phelps is writing to his son Moses while he is in college, informing Moses he hopes he is doing well and learning as well as behaving. Charles also suggests Moses write in his free time and not play cards. Charles goes on to inform Moses that…
1789.08.28 — Charles Phelps to Moses Charles Porter Phelps, August 28, 1789
A letter from Charles Phelps to his son Moses Phelps, which begins with Charles gently chastising Moses for failing to write and leaving the family to learn he had arrived at school safely from Mr. Houses who brought Moses a horse. The letter then…
1798.09.05 — Promissory note for Charles Phelps, September 9, 1798
This promissory note from September 1798 certifies that Charles Phelps paid a three dollar tax on his chaise, a two wheel carriage pulled by one horse. Abel Whitney, the Collector of Revenue, is stating that Charles Phelps’ duty was to be paid off by…