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Rhode Island Documents 2

WILLIAM ELLERY (1727-1820). Lawyer, Patriot Activist, Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Represented Rhode Island in the Continental Congress for most of the Revolution, where he was on the Committee of Commercial and Naval Affairs. Collector of Customs for his native Newport 1790-1820, after rebuilding his home, which had been destroyed by the British. Large 16" by 13" descriptive list of the six-man crew of the brig Hiram, dated February 10, 1812. The point of this document is to certify the nationality of the sailors, since the British were actively seizing American merchant ships at sea and impressing their crews into the Royal Navy. This practice was a direct cause of the War of 1812, which broke out four months after this document was signed. Signed with a flourish by Ellery two times as Collector.

A document signed by Arthur Fenner, Governor of Rhode Island, 1796. This appoints one David Relph as an ensign of the First Company of Infantry in the town of Scituate and is signed "A.Fenner in the lower right.

  1803 Legal Deed,Land in Barrington, RI

Manuscript deed from Nathaniel Martin, Yeoman, to Nathaniel A. Martin of Barrington, Rhode Island for 1/4 acre at $200.00. It is signed and sealed by Nathaniel Martin. It measures 15 1/2" x 12 1/2".

Formal appointment of "Ebenezer Cole" (b. 1715 Warren, R.I.) to the Office of Justice of the Peace in the town of "Warren" in the county of "Bristol" in the said Colony (R.I.), are hereby in the Name of his Most Sacred Majesty George the "second", King of Great Britain. "Given under the hand and seal of the Colony (Seal / Upper left hand corner) on the fifth Day of May, 1758 and in the thirty first year of his said Majesty's Reign." This document was prepared and signed by "Thomas Ward" (lower left corner) Secretary of the Colony. The most notable signer is "Stephen Hopkins" in the lower right.  (1) He was a signer of the "Declaration of Independence" Aug. 2, 1776 (2) "He was a member of the naval committee and greatly assisted in the creation of a navy." He was born in Providence, R.I. and Laid out the Town of Providence in 1731, at the age of just 24 years. He served many positions in colonial government in Rhode Island. He died in Providence, R.I., April 13, 1785. 

This is a deed between Calvin Martin and George Gladding, both of Barrington, Rhode Island, for 7 acres of land in Barrington. It is signed and sealed by Calvin and Jerusha Martin.

NO PICTURE Colonial document, dated 1768. It measures approx. 7 x 9 inches and is entirely hand written. ...”Darius Lobdell of Dutchis County in ye province of Newyork for and in consideration of ye sum of twenty pounds lawful money of ye province of New york to me in hand paid before ye” (Misspellings and all. Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie) is in New York State.) ....”Delevery here of by James Colvin of Covintry in Rhod Island Government.....” it continues ......”To James Colvin to his hairs and asigns........right of Land in ye town of Danby........in witness where of have hereunto set my hand & seal this 17th day of June in ye 6th year of his Majesties Rign AD 1766.....” The document is signed by Darius Lobdell and witnessed by Jephthah Hawley and Saml Dams. This back of the document has three different legal statements. The first states the “I James Colvin Do hereby sign over the within (?) unto Luther Colvin of Coventry.....8 day of April AD 1767. The second “ Rutland County July the 10 Day 1786 Personley appered Darius Lobdell the Signer and Sealer of this within Deed and acknoliged the same to be his one volentery act and deed before me...” signed by Justice of the Peace Wm Brimbley. Third reads “ July 10th 1786 Received this deed of record...signed by Jacob Eddy Town Clerk.

1785 Colonial Shipping Document
Large 13 x 17 Colonial shipping document partially printed being an agreement of the seamen aboard the Brig Queen of France out of Newport Rhode Island under the Captaining of Aaron Sheffield destined for Richmond Virginia and then to Ireland, with a manuscript table of the crew (each crewman has signed their name including Capt. Sheffield) their wages, rank, and time on board

Partially printed Writ of arrest for a John Brand of Westerly in Kings County, Rhode Island for the non-payment of due on a note to Samuel Ward. Interesting Colonial document mentions George III on top line and refers on bottom line to ninth year of his reign. Signed by the Clerk of Court. Paper seal with an embossed K

Inventory of the Estate of Samuel Ward, Governor of Rhode Island and Continental Congressman who presided over the Committee of the Whole in the decision to appoint George Washington as Commander in Chief. Had he not died of smallpox in March of 1776, he would have been a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

There were eleven 7 x 15 manuscript ledger pages (5 printed both sides) outlining the inventory of his home. Each line item is valued for estate purposes. On the last page, Joseph Crandal logs in the recording date of May 10, 1776.