Charles Taylor Collection
Collection of historical documents compiled by Charles Taylor, author of the 1882 town history of Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Includes Court of Common Pleas cases, deeds, estate papers, indentures, land surveys, sheriff’s writs, town history reference documents, Samuel Rossiter’s financial papers, and genealogical research papers for over 40 families.
Series 1. Court of Common Pleas Cases
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1784-1815
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This series contains the final award of 34 cases. Most involve the debt of farmers in Great Barrington and surrounding towns; thirteen occur in the years between 1784-1787 and provide some of the background for the events leading to Shays’ Rebellion. Arranged chronologically. |
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Ives v. Curtis
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1784
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Box 1:1
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Goodrich v. Harlbut
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1784
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Box 1:2
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VanDeusen v. Sprague
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1784
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Box 1:3
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Mansfield v. Burghardt
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1784
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Box 1:4
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Hickock v. Bush
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1784
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Box 1:5
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VanDeusen v. Herrick
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1784
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Box 1:6
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Gilbert v. Fitch
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1784
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Box 1:7
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Totten v. Younglove
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1785
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Box 1:8
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Fitch v. Messenger
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1785
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Box 1:9
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King v. Lard
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1785
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Box 1:10
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Smith v. Fitch
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1785
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Box 1:11
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Laverge v. Bryan
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1786
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Box 1:12
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King v. Ingersoll
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1787
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Box 1:13
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Brunson v. Hopkins
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1789
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Box 1:14
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Brunson v. Palmer
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1789
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Box 1:15
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Canfied v. Baker
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1790
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Box 1:16
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Cooper v. Darby
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1791
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Box 1:17
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Cooper v. Lombard
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1791
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Box 1:18
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Lombard v. Gregory
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1792
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Box 1:19
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Pepoon v. Sergeant, et al
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1793
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Box 1:20
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Ensign v. Noble
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1794
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Box 1:21
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Brimsmaid v. Van Deusen
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1795
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Box 1:22
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Hogeboom v. Darby
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1797
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Box 1:23
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Chadwick v. Gregory
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1798
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Box 1:24
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Chapin v. Clark
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1799
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Box 1:25
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Hogeboom v. Hubbard
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1799
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Box 1:26
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Hill v. Daley, et al
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1800
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Box 1:27
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Broom, et al v. Dewey
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1801
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Box 1:28
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Rossiter v. Hopkins and Ransom
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1802
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Box 1:29
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Rynders v. Pierce
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1802
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Box 1:30
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Van Deusen v. Hogeboom
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1803
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Box 1:31
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Pitkin v. Buber
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1810
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Box 1:32
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Kilborn v. Morse
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1815
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Box 1:33
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Commonwealth v. Pitkin
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n.d.
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Box 1:34
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Series 2. Deeds
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1741-1865
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Containing about 80 property transactions, this series reflects sales principally from 1790 to 1840. In particular, the documents here reflect the prodigious land acquisition of Samuel Rossiter (36 transactions), Thomas Ives (20), and George Pynchon (11), and the declining property holdings of some of the early families, including the Whitneys, Roots, and Hopkins. Arranged chronologically. |
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Sales
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1741
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Box 2:35
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Sales
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1765-1767
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Box 2:36
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Sales
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1773-1777
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Box 2:37
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Sales
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1783-1786
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Box 2:38
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Sales
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1790-1794
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Box 2:39
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Sales
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1795-1797
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Box 2:40
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Sales
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1798-1799
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Box 2:41
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Sales
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1800
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Box 2:42
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Sales
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1801-1803
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Box 2:43
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Sales
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1806-1810
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Box 2:44
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Sales
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1811
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Box 2:45
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Sales
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1812
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Box 2:46
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Sales
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1813
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Box 2:47
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Sales
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1814
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Box 2:48
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Sales
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1815-1816
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Box 2:49
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Sales
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1817-1818
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Box 2:50
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Sales
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1819
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Box 2:51
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Sales
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1820-1821
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Box 2:52
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Sales
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1822-1824
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Box 2:53
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Sales
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1826
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Box 2:54
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Sales
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1827-1829
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Box 2:55
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Sales
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1831-1832
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Box 2:56
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Sales
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1837-1840
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Box 2:57
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Sales
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1843-1865
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Box 2:58
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Sales
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n.d.
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Box 2:59
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Series 3. Estate Records
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1755-1811
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Shown here are scattered estate inventories, wills, and executor’s expenses for seven estates. Of particular interest are the documents of 3 Ingersoll family estates, and the detailed will and inventory of Hewitt Root. Arranged alphabetically by name. |
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David Ingersoll
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1755
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Box 2:60
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Israel Ingersoll
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n.d.
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Box 2:61
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Peter Ingersoll
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1789
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Box 2:62
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Hewitt Root
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1788-1792
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Box 2:63
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Stephen Sibley
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1809-1811
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Box 2:64
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Moses Stocking
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n.d.
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Box 2:65
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Isaac Van Deusen
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1809
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Box 2:66
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Series 4. Indentures
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1798-1827
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Most of the more than 50 indentures here reflect the farm leasing activities of Thomas Ives and are interesting for the detailed description of the terms of the lease. Several of the later indentures show the increased activity of Samuel Rossiter in this area. Of particular interest is the 1812 case of Kasson Freeman (folder 81), in which Thomas Ives had great difficulty in forcing Freeman to adhere to the terms of the indenture; and the beginnings, in 1808, of Ives’ leasing of carding machines to Dudley Woodworth. Arranged chronologically. |
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Isaac Van Deusen
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1798
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Box 3:67
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Parin Batchellor, John Eldridge, Isaac Preston
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1799
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Box 3:68
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Melanston Foster, Levi Ormsby, Marson Whiting
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1800
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Box 3:69
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Richard Francis, Ormsby, Andrew Hollenbeck
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1803-1805
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Box 3:70
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Aaron Phelps, Benjamin Rogers, Ethel Jones
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1806
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Box 3:71
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Martin Richmond, Joseph Buel
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1807
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Box 3:72
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Jabez Jones, Palmer Utley, Jared Selley, Dudley Woodworth
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1808
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Box 3:73
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Jones, Daniel Pixley, John Kennedy, Jonathan Turner, Samuel Barstow, Utley
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1809
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Box 3:74
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Barstow, Kennedy, Aaron Otis, Nicholas Hearse
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1810
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Box 3:75
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Hollenbeck, Otis, Woodworth, Samuel Billings, Barstow, David Boardsley, John Burghardt
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1811
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Box 3:76-77
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Otis, Woodworth, Hollenbeck, Billings, Barstow, Lewis Goram, James Reese, Con Mooney, Dan Weed
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1812
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Box 3:78-80
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Kasson Freeman
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1812
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Box 3:81
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Seeley, Weed, Billings, Barstow
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1813
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Box 3:82
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James Humphrey and S. Rossiter
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1815
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Box 3:83
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Sylvester Burt
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1827
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Box 3
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Series 5. Land Surveys
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1792-1860
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Many of the surveys in this series were commissioned by George (between 1813-51) and Walter Pynchon (between 1792-1839) for their extensive holdings in the town. Arranged alphabetically by name. |
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John Ashley
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n.d.
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Box 4:84
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John Burghardt
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1793
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Box 4:85
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P. Chapin
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n.d.
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Box 4:86
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W. Deland
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n.d.
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Box 4:87
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Greene and Walker
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n.d.
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Box 4:88
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Hopkins family
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1824
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Box 4:89
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Ives family
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1833
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Box 4:90
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John Kellogg
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1792
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Box 4:91
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Leavenworth family
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1831
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Box 4:92
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Morris Loomis
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n.d.
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Box 4:93
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George Pynchon
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1813-1851
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Box 4:94
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Walter Pynchon
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1792-1839
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Box 4:95
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Josiah Smith
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1860
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Box 4:96
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R. Taylor
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1845
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Box 4:97
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S. Trobridge
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1845
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Box 4:98
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David Wainwright
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n.d.
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Box 4:99
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Whiting family
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1810-1831
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Box 4:100
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Unidentified
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1791-1858
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Box 4:101
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Series 6. Sheriff’s Writs
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1743-1869 (bulk 1801-1827)
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Included in this series are a large number of writs addressed to sheriff Ezra Kellogg for failure to pay creditors, coinciding with the first major American economic depression (1817-21). Evident in these documents is the increasing propensity of town residents to pursue their neighbors for even small amounts of money. Also evident are the increasing numbers of actions against artisans, reflecting the changing nature of the town’s economy. A list of names mentioned in this series is included in folder 102. Arranged chronologically. |
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Writs & List
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1743-1744
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3 items
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Box 4:102
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Writs
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1801-1816
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3 items
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Box 4:103
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Writs
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1817
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22 items
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Box 4:104
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Writs
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1818
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2 items
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Box 4:105
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Writs
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1819
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6 items
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Box 4:106
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Writs
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1820
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3 items
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Box 4:107
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Writs
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1821
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9 items
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Box 4:108
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Writs
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1822-1827
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15 items
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Box 4:109
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Writ
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1869
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1 item
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Box 4:110
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Series 7. Town History Documents
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1731-1904
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Series 7 contains an array of documents covering events and institutions in the town’s history, including correspondence (July 9, 1776) warning certain people to put down their arms and a 1754 court case involving a false alarm about an Indian raid. Among other subjects covered are the riparian rights of mill sites, roads, bridges, town buildings, militia duties, school expenses, Revolutionary War reimbursements, and some correspondence. Arranged alphabetically by subject. |
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Committee of Correspondence notice
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1776
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Box 5:111
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Complaint vs. Militia Delinquents
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1812
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Box 5:112
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Correspondence–Thomas Ives
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1789-1795
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Box 5:113
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Correspondence–Thomas Ives
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1804-1811
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Box 5:114
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Correspondence –G. Kindale
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1770
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Box 5:115
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Correspondence –Mary Pynchon pension
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1846
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Box 5:116
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Correspondence –Samuel Rossiter
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1819
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Box 5:117
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Correspondence –Peter Van Ness
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1769
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Box 5:118
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Court cases
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1754-1755
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Box 5:119
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Duty on carriage
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1799
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Box 5:120
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Fire at Isaac Pixley’s
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1787
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Box 5:120a
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Highway plan
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1764
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Box 5:121
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Iron bridge
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1867
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Box 5:122
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Militia appointment
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1794
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Box 5:123
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Mill Claims vs. Proprietors
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n.d.
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Box 5:124
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Minutes of Bear Town roads
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1792-1797
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Box 5:125
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Miscellaneous receipts
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1777-1821
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Box 5:126
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Muddy Brook Settlers
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1770-1870
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Box 5:127
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Newspaper clippings
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1883-1904
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Box 5:128
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Petition against assigned road from Stockbridge to Great Barrington
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1810
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Box 5:129
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Petition against the Sheffield Turnpike
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1805
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Box 5:130
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Petition Against Town Officers
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n.d.
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Box 5:131
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Petition of Peter Nusted
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1800
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Box 5:132
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Pluma Sumner Obituary
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n.d.
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Box 5:133
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Power of Attorney–David Ingersoll
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1731, 1741
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Box 5:134
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Proprietors Records–Land Distribution
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1734-1793
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Box 5:135
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Protestant Episcopal Church
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n.d.
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Box 5:136
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Revolutionary Soldier Tombstones
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1895-1896
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Box 5:137
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Revolutionary War reimbursements
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1782
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Box 5:138
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School Expenses
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1814-1880
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Box 5:139
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School House Shares
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1810-1819
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Box 5:140
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Sheriff’s Auction
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1807
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Box 5:141
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Simon’s Rock
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1898
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Box 5:142
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Stories and Anecdotes
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n.d.
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Box 5:143
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Town Hall
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1874-1876
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Box 5:144
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Town History notes
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n.d.
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Box 5:145
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Town House
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1837-1845
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Box 5:146
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Town Meetings
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1761-1811
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Box 5:147
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Voters’ Register
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1818
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Box 5:148
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Washington Benevolent Society
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1812
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Box 5:149
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Water Company
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1865-1868
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Box 5:150
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Willard Family
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1738-1819
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Box 5:151
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Series 8. Samuel Rossiter Financial Records
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1790-1821
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(oversize flat box)
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Included here are a series of documents concerning the debt, assets, and eventual insolvency of Rossiter in 1799. Rossiter rebounded from this to amass considerable holdings in Great Barrington by 1815 (see, in particular, series 1, 2, 4, and 6). Arranged chronologically. |
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Documents relating to Indentures, Insolvency, and Estate
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1790-1821
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Box 6:152-154
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Series 9. Charles Taylor Genealogical Material
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1877-1901
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This series consists of correspondence, documents, and notes, compiled by Great Barrington historian Charles Taylor concerning local families. Arranged alphabetically by family name. |
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Bacon
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1899
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Box 7:155
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Barnaby
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n.d.
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Box 7:156
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Bement
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1894
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Box 7:157
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Bronson
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1900
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Box 7:158
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Crittendin
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1897-1898
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Box 7:159
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Daniel-Thompson
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n.d.
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Box 7:160
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Danks
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1891
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Box 7:161
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Day
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1898
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Box 7:162
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Dersey
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1897-1898
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Box 7:163
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Farmer
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1893
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Box 7:164
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Foote
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1894
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Box 7:165
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Gay
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1896-1897
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Box 7:166
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Gilbert
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1893
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Box 7:167
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Gregson
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n.d.
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Box 7:168
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Gridley
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1895
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Box 7:169
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Hyde
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1877
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Box 7:170
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Ingersoll
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1893
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Box 7:171
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Ives
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1895-1900
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Box 7:172
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King
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1894
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Box 7:173
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Kinne
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1898-1899
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Box 7:174
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Leavenworth
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1879-1880
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Box 7:175
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Peyer
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1899
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Box 7:176
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Pier
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1898-1899
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Box 7:177
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Pixley
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1901
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Box 7:178
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Plummer
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1897-1898
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Box 7:179
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Porter
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1877-1900
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Box 7:180
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Posell
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1893
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Box 7:181
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Pynchon
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1896
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Box 7:182
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Ransom
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1891
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Box 7:183
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Rossiter
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1898
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Box 7:184
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Sutliffe
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1897-1899
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Box 7:185
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Talcott
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1897
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Box 7:186
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Taylor
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1888-1901
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Box 7:187
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Turner
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1879-1897
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Box 7:188
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Van Deusen
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1898
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Box 7:189
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