COLLECTION GUIDES

1687-1891

Guide to the Collection


Collection Summary

Creator: Wendell family
Title: Wendell family papers
Dates: 1687-1891
Physical Description: 3 document boxes, 3 narrow boxes, 2 vols. in cases, 38 vols. (in 6 extra-tall cases), and 1 oversize box
Call Number: Ms. N-128
Microfilm Call Number: P-347, 67 reels (microfilm) (Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, Upham papers)
Repository:
Massachusetts Historical Society
1154 Boylston StreetBoston, MA 02215library@masshist.org

Abstract

This collection consists of papers of the Wendell family of Boston, Mass. and Portsmouth, N.H., primarily the business papers of Jacob Wendell of Boston and John and George W. Wendell of Portsmouth, but also family correspondence and accounts and daybooks of Samuel Pray of Portsmouth.

Collection Description

The bulk of the Wendell family papers were microfilmed in 1977 as part of the "Papers relating to the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes and Upham Families (hereafter Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, Upham) at the Massachusetts Historical Society" (P-347). The microfilm edition contains the papers of the four related families at the Historical Society; individual items related to the families taken from other collections at the Historical Society; and papers of the four families then in the personal collection of Hugh Upham Clark of Arlington, Virginia. Hugh Upham Clark donated his collection to the Massachusetts Historical Society in 1978.

The Guide and Index to the Microfilm Edition of the Papers relating to the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, and Upham Families at the Massachusetts Historical Society together with the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes and Upham Family Papers in the Collection of Hugh Upham Clark of Arlington, Virginia (Boston: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1977) contains an introduction to the project, an explanation of the arrangement of the film, a reel list, and an extensive index to the items in the collection referring readers to reel and page numbers. Jacob Wendell's letterbook, 1715-1716, for example, is found at 12:4 (reel 12, page 4) of the microfilm. In addition to the index, many of the items in the Wendell family papers have been individually cataloged in the MHS manuscript catalog.

The box list below is divided into two sections: papers on microfilm (P-347) and those not on microfilm. Users should request materials on film by reel number; consult this guide, the index and reel list in the guide to the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, Upham microfilm, and the MHS manuscript catalog for more specific information. Original documents can be retrieved by the box numbers as listed below.

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Acquisition Information

Part I and Papers related to the First Church of Cambridge were the gift of Mrs. Edward Jackson Holmes, 1954. Parts II and III were the gift of Mrs. Barrett Wendell in 1921. Vol. 2 (receipt book, 1741-50) was the gift of Henry Winchester Cunningham and Stanley Cunningham in 1923. Vol. 3 (Jacob Wendell account book, 1716-1760; extra tall) was the gift of Bernhard Knollenberg in 1958. The papers related to the Massachusetts and New Hampshire boundaries, 1732-1749 were the gift of Barrett Wendell in 1910.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

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Preferred Citation

Wendell family papers, Massachusetts Historical Society

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Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848.
Appleton, Nathaniel, 1693-1784.
Noyes, James, 1640-1719.
Pray, Samuel.
Wendell, Anna Elizabeth.
Wendell, George W., 1771-
Wendell, Jacob, 1691-1761.
Wendell, John, 1703-1762.
Wendell, John, 1731-1808.
Whidden, Frances G.

Organizations:

First Church (Cambridge, Mass.).
Jacob, John, and Jacob Wendell (Boston, Mass.).
Prince of Orange (Snow).

Subjects:

Account books.
Commerce--Massachusetts--Boston.
Commerce--New Hampshire--Portsmouth.
Congregational churches--Massachusetts--Cambridge.
Ellsworth (N.H.)--History.
Indians of North America--Treaties.
Iroquois Indians--New York (State).
Iroquois Indians--Treaties.
Massachusetts--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.
Merchants--Massachusetts--Boston.
Merchants--New Hampshire--Portsmouth.
New Hampshire--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.
Pittsfield (Mass.)--History.
Real property--Massachusetts--Pittsfield.
Real property--New Hampshire--Ellsworth.
Real property--New Hampshire--Sunapee.
Real property--New Hampshire--Trecothick.
Shipbuilding--Costs.
Sunapee (N.H.)--History.

Collection processed by Brenda Lawson, July 1996.

Revised 23 Aug. 2021

Encoded by Michael Rush, Nov. 2002

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