United States History Commons^™

Order To Choose Juror For Grand Jury And Petit Jury, Worcester, Massachusetts, 1765., George William Frederick

Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Manuscript and Ephemera Collection

This record orders the selection of jurors from the "good and lawful men" of Worcester to serve on the Grand Jury and Petit Jury at the Court of General Sessions of the Peace. February 15, 1765. On the verso a handwritten notice enumerates the men chosen for each jury.

Indenture Signed By Silas Deane, Silas Deane

Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Manuscript and Ephemera Collection

Silas Deane was a member of the Continental Congress. The document is a lengthy description of a lease entered by Deane, Administrator of the estate of Deacon Silas Deane of Groton to Humphrey and Solomon Avery. The lease included 200 acres of land, part of which was then in dispute.

Letter From Francis L. Lee To Mr. Stuart, Francis Lightfoot Lee

Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Manuscript and Ephemera Collection

Francis Lightfoot Lee writes to W. Stuart requesting the services of his carpenter.

South Carolina Colonial Writ Signed By Charles Hill, Charleston, May 8, 1722., George William Frederick, Charles Hill

Broadus R. Littlejohn, Jr. Manuscript and Ephemera Collection

This writ or warrant deals with a case of trespass with damages of 50 pounds sterling.

An Arrow Against Profane And Promiscuous Dancing Drawn Out Of The Quiver Of The Scriptures, Increase Mather

Electronic Texts in American Studies

When a dancing master arrived in Boston in 1685 and offered lessons and classes for both sexes during times normally reserved for church meetings, the Puritan ministers went to court to suppress the practice. Increase Mather (1639-1723) took the leading part, writing and publishing this tract, which compiles arguments and precedents for the prohibition of “Gynecandrical Dancing, [i.e.] Mixt or Promiscuous Dancing, viz. of Men and Women … together.” These justifications were certainly shared with the court, which found the dancing master guilty, fined him £100, and allowed him to skip town.

Mather’s tract on dancing is an overwhelming compendium …