1687-1891
Guide to the Collection
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.
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.
Detailed Description of the Collection
On microfilm, P-347
Part I, 1687-1835
Papers relating to the Wendell family of Boston, in particular Jacob Wendell (1691-1761), a prominent Boston merchant, and to the firm of Jacob, John, and Jacob Wendell. Consists of business correspondence, accounts, and receipts; papers relating to his role as a member of the Massachusetts commissioners to treat with the Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) at Albany, N.Y. (1744-1745); and the development of Pittsfield, Mass., including manuscript plans for lands there. Also included are letters of James Noyes, founder of Yale, most written to his son Joseph; and Federalist documents related to John Quincy Adams' attack of the Hartford Convention leaders during his 1828 re-election campaign. Some items are also stored in the oversize box.
Most items are individually described in the MHS manuscript catalog. All items appear on the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, Upham microfilm (P-347). Most are filed as part of the large chronological sequence of papers, reels 20-45, however a few items appear on reel 12, Wendell family papers, 1716-1815. Consult the index in the published guide to the microfilm edition for specific reel numbers.
Jacob Wendell account book, 1740-1744
Contains accounts and receipts relating to the building of the snow (ship) Prince of Orange.
On microfilm, P-347, reel 12:142.
Jacob, John, and Jacob Wendell receipt book, 1741-1750
On microfilm, P-347, reel 12:168-394.
Jacob Wendell account book, 1716-1760
Consists of accounts, 1716; accounts of the estate of Mercy Oliver, 1717-1730; accounts of the estate of William Brattle, 1718-1730; letterbook pages, 1715-1716; and daybook accounts of Jacob, John, and Jacob Wendell, 1748-1760.
On microfilm, P-347, reel 12:4-123.
Part II, 1756-1891
Papers of the Wendell family of Portsmouth, N.H., in particular those of John Wendell (1731-1808) and George W. Wendell (b. 1771), including letters and bills relating to trade in Portsmouth; papers relating to Wendell's real estate interests in Saville (later Wendell and now Sunapee), N.H., including deeds and other legal documents; and bonds and other documents relating to loans issued by Wendell. There is also a series of letters between Anna Elizabeth Wendell and Frances G. Whidden.
A few items are individually described in the MHS manuscript catalog. All items appear on the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, Upham microfilm (P-347). Most are filed as part of the large chronological sequence of papers, reels 25-66. Consult the index in the published guide to the microfilm edition for specific reel numbers.
Part IIIA, 1721-1835
The bulk are papers of John Wendell (1731-1808) of Portsmouth containing primarily accounts and receipts to Wendell, including estate accounts, and a few papers relating to the proprietors of Trecothick (now Ellsworth), N.H.
All items are filed as part of the large chronological sequence of papers, reels 21-45, on the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, Upham microfilm (P-347). Consult the index in the published guide to the microfilm edition for specific reel numbers.
Not on microfilm (Part IIIB)
John Wendell (1731-1808) accounts, 1746-1835
Includes accounts, cancelled notes, and receipts of Wendell, primarily in Portsmouth, N.H.
According to the guide to the microfilm edition of the Papers relating to the Quincy, Wendell, Holmes, and Upham (P-347), these records were not filmed because they contained "large numbers of cancelled notes, receipts, etc. from and to the same persons which duplicate items that were chosen for filming [in Part IIIA]."
Accounts of Samuel Pray of Portsmouth, N.H., 1827-1839
Papers related to the First Church of Cambridge, 1717-1788
Consists of papers relating to the ministry of Nathaniel Appleton (1693-1784), including his acceptance of the call (1717), minutes of meetings, petitions, marriage certificates, and documents relating to the call of Timothy Hilliard (1747-1790) as Appleton's colleague in 1783. All items are individually described in the MHS manuscript catalog.
Papers on the relations between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 1732-1749
All items are individually described in the MHS manuscript catalog.
Most items are printed in the Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Vol. 44 (1910-11), pp. 189-212.
Brief chronology of Wendell, Mass., 1714-1849
Unidentified ledger, 1810-1816
[Jacob Wendell] daybook, 1813-1828
[Samuel Pray] daybooks, numbered set #1, 24 Dec. 1832-2 Nov. 1833
The volume is divided into seventeen parts.
24 Dec. 1832-12 Jan. 1833
25 Dec. 1832-19 Jan. 1833
19-28 Jan. 1833
28 Jan.-16 Feb. 1833
16 Feb.-4 Mar. 1833
5-20 Mar. 1833
21 Mar.-6 Apr. 1833
6-30 Apr. 1833
30 Apr.-11 May 1833
13-25 May 1833
27 May-13 June 1833
14-26 June 1833
27 June-19 July 1833
19 July-24 Aug. 1833
26 Aug.-5 Oct. 1833
7-26 Oct. 1833
29 Oct.-2 Nov. 1833 (loose)
[Samuel Pray] daybooks, numbered set #2, 4 Nov. 1833-4 Feb. 1836
In 15 parts in 2 cases; extra tall.4 Nov.-27 Dec. 1833
28 Dec. 1833-14 Mar. 1834
17 Mar.-12 Apr. 1834
14 Apr.-31 May 1834
2 June-10 July 1834
10 July-20 Sep. 1834
22 Sep.-8 Nov. 1834
8 Nov. 1834-5 Jan. 1835
3 Jan.-12 Feb. 1835
12 Feb.-17 Mar. 1835
18 Mar.-20 May 1835
20 May-28 July 1835
28 July-7 Sep. 1835
8 Sep.-23 Nov. 1835
23 Nov. 1835-4 Feb. 1836
[Samuel Pray] daybooks, numbered set #3, 2 Jan.-1 Nov. 1837
4 vols. cased together; extra tall.[Vols. 1-6 missing]
2 Jan.-13 Feb. 1837
13 Feb.-2 May 1837
2 May-12 July 1837
12 July-1 Nov. 1837
Oversize box
Contains items removed from Parts I-III and papers on the relations between Massachusetts and New Hampshire. There is a note to this effect at the correct place in the collection for each document removed to oversize. Oversize items removed from the sections on microfilm appear in correct chronological order on the microfilm.
Preferred Citation
Wendell family papers, Massachusetts Historical Society
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.