Transactions

    1937–1942

    Transactions of The Colonial Society of Massachusetts

    Annual Meeting, November, 1937

    THE Annual Meeting of the Society was held at the Algonquin Club, No. 217 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, on Monday, November 22, 1937, at a quarter after seven o’clock in the evening, the Recording Secretary, Augustus Peabody Loring, Jr., in the chair.

    The Editor was designated Recording Secretary pro tempore.

    With the consent of those present, the reading of the records of the last Stated Meeting was omitted.

    The Corresponding Secretary reported the death on August 29, 1937, of Charles Franklin Thwing, an Honorary Member; and that on September 28, 1937, of John Franklin Jameson, a Corresponding Member.

    The Corresponding Secretary reported the receipt of letters from Mr. Verner Winslow Crane and Mr. James Alexander Williamson, accepting their election to Corresponding Membership in the Society; and from Mr. George Gregerson Wolkins, accepting his election to Associate Membership.

    The Annual Report of the Council was read by Mr. Stephen W. Phillips.

    Report of the Council.

    DURING the year the Society has held its three usual meetings: in December, at the house of Mr. Augustus P. Loring, Jr.; in February, by invitation of Mr. James M. Hunnewell, at the Club of Odd Volumes; in April, by invitation of Mr. Allyn B. Forbes, at his house in Cambridge. These meetings, as the printed Transactions indicate, have fully maintained the Society’s standards.

    The Society has elected the following members:

    Resident:

    • Jerome Davis Greene
    • Henry Rouse Viets
    • Bentley Wirt Warren

    Corresponding:

    • James Alexander Williamson

    Associate:

    • Henry Joel Cadbury
    • Howard Mumford Jones
    • George Gregerson Wolkins

    During the past year the Society has lost by death five of its members:

    William Crowninshield Endicott, Resident, 1893, died November 28, 1936; one-time Treasurer of the Society, on more than one occasion its genial host. His pride in his family heritage made him always conscious of an obligation to preserve the best of the past for the future.

    James Parker Parmenter, Resident, 1918, died January 14, 1937. A worthy judge and a man well versed in the history and literature of early New England.

    Elihu Root, Honorary, 1910, died February 7, 1937. A man who by his integrity, learning, and public-spiritedness left his stamp on his times.

    Charles Franklin Thwing, Honorary, 1933, died August 29, 1937. A distinguished son of New England who, like the early settlers of a century and a half ago in the Western Reserve, spread by his own example the best traditions of New England culture.

    John Franklin Jameson, Corresponding, 1898, and at the time of his death on September 28, 1937, the senior Corresponding Member of the Society. A noted scholar whose learning, tempered with wit, was generously at the disposal of all his fellow workers. The debt to him of American historical scholarship cannot be measured.

    The Society still lends its financial support to the New England Quarterly, a periodical which continues to furnish a useful outlet for work on New England history and literature.

    The Treasurer submitted his Annual Report as follows:

    Report of the Treasurer

    In accordance with the requirements of the By-laws, the Treasurer submits his Annual Report for the year ending November 13, 1937.

    Statement of Assets and Funds, November 13, 1937

    ASSETS

    Cash:

       

    Income

    $12,524.69

     

    Loan to Principal

    10,864.05

    $1,660.64

    Investments at Book Value:

       

    Bonds (Market Value $101,690.00)

    $96,145.59

     

    Stocks (Market Value $45,468.75)

    45,407.94

     

    Mortgages

    10,500.00

     

    Savings Bank Deposit

    3,100.45

    155,153.98

    Total Assets

     

    $156,814.62

    FUNDS

    Funds

     

    $144,189.48

    Income:

       

    General Income

    $12,524.69

     

    Martha Rebecca Hunt Fund Income

    100.45

    12,625.14

    Total Funds

     

    $156,814.62

    Investments as of November 13, 1937

    BONDS

    Book Value

     

    $5,000

    Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Company General 4’s, 1995

    $4,728.01

     

    5,000

    Bell Telephone Company of Canada First 5’s, Series B, 1957

    4,062.50

     

    5,000

    Canadian Pacific Railway Equipment Trust 5’s, 1944

    3,872.50

     

    5,000

    Central New England Railway Company First 4’s, 1961

    3,512.50

     

    5,000

    Central Pacific Railway Company First and Refunding 4’s, 1949

    3,762.50

     

    5,000

    Chester Water Service Company First 4½’s, 1958

    3,375.00

     

    5,000

    Chicago and Western Indiana Railway Company Consolidated 4’s, 1952

    3,640.00

     

    5,000

    Chicago Junction Railways and Union Stock Yards Company Mortgage and Collateral Trust Refunding 5’s, 1940

    3,762.50

     

    5,000

    Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company Refunding and Improvement 4½’s, Series E, 1977

    3,726.76

     

    $5,000

    Commercial Credit Company Debenture 3¼’s, 1951

    $4,963.28

     

    5,000

    Grand Trunk Western Railway Company First 4’s, 1950

    4,607.03

     

    5,000

    Indianapolis Power and Light Company First 5’s, Series A, 1957

    4,593.75

     

    5,000

    Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company First Refunding 6’s, Series A, 1946

    5,000.00

     

    5,000

    New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad 4% Stock Trust Certificates, 1948

    5,175.00

     

    5000

    Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company First and Refunding 4’s, Series A, 1961

    4,105.00

     

    5,000

    Southern California Edison Company First and Refunding 3¾’s, Series B, 1960

    5,075.00

     

    5,000

    Texas Electric Service Company First 5’s, 1960

    4,437.50

     

    2,000

    Tide Water Associated Oil Company Debenture S. F. 3½’s, 1952

    2,015.51

     

    5,000

    Toledo Edison Company First 5’s, 1962

    4,881.25

     

    2,500

    United States Cold Storage Corporation First 6’s, Series A, 1946

    2,500.00

     

    4,000

    United States Cold Storage Corporation First 6’s, 1945

    4,000.00

     

    5,000

    Virginian Railway Company First and Refunding 3’s, 1966

    5,212,50

     

    5,000

    Western Union Telegraph Company 5’s,1960

    5,137.50

     

    Total Bonds

     

    $96,145.59

    STOCKS

    50 shares American Telephone and Telegraph Company

    $8,593.63

     

    50 shares Consolidated Edison Company of New York Common

    3,077.50

     

    100 shares Electric Bond and Share Company $6.00 Preferred

    10,600.00

     

    50 shares E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company

    2,683.75

     

    50 shares First National Bank of Boston

    1,750.00

     

    1 share First National Bank of the City of New York

    1,544.81

     

    240 shares General Electric Company Common

    5,719.50

     

    50 shares Insurance Company of North America

    1,963.75

     

    40 shares Radio Corporation of America Common

    0.

     

    5 shares Travelers Insurance Company

    $2,225.00

     

    50 shares United States Cold Storage Corporation 7% Preferred “A”

    6,750.00

     

    50 shares United States Cold Storage Corporation Common

    105 shares Wickwire Spencer Steel Company Common V. T. C.

    500.00

     

    Total Stocks

     

    $45,407.94

    First Mortages on improved property in Greater Boston

    $10,500.00

     

    Deposit in Warren Institution for Savings

    3,100.45

    13,600.45

    Total Investments

     

    $155,153.98

    Composition of Funds, November 13, 1937

    Publication Fund, established in 1893 by gift of $100 from Quincy Adams Shaw: composed of sundry small gifts and portions of the Income which were added from year to year. Income only to be used for Publications

    $10,000.00

    General Fund, established in 1893: composed of Admission Fees and Commutations added to Principal, Gains on Sales of Securities, etc. Income only to be used for Current Expense

    32,169.57

    Benjamin Apthorp Gould Memorial Fund, established in 1897 and 1898 by subscriptions in his memory. Income only to be used

    10,000.00

    Edward Wheelwright Fund, established in 1900 under his will without restriction as to use

    20,000.00

    Robert Charles Billings Fund, established in 1903 under his will. Income only to be used for Publications

    10,000.00

    Robert Noxon Toppan Fund, established in 1904 by a gift in his memory from his widow. Income only to be used

    5,000.00

    Robert Charles Winthrop, Jr., Fund, established in 1905 under his will. Increased by $2,000 in 1924 under the will of Elizabeth Winthrop. Income only to be used

    5,000.00

    Andrew McFarland Davis Fund, established in 1908 by a gift from him to be added to the permanent publication funds. Income only to be used

    2,000.00

    William Watson Fund, established in 1916 under his will without restriction as to use

    1,000.00

    George Vasmer Leverett Fund, established in 1920 under his will. Income only to be used for Publications

    30,000.00

    Martha Rebecca Hunt Fund, established in 1923 under the will of Henry H. Edes as the “Henry H. Edes Bequest” to accumulate until it reached the sum of $3,000 when it would become a permanent fund to be known as the Martha Rebecca Hunt Fund. Income only to be used for special purposes

    $3,000.00

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund, established by sundry subscriptions from 1923 to 1925. To accumulate until it reaches the sum of $10,000. Income only to be used for Publications

    6,019.91

    George Nixon Black Fund, established in 1929 under his will without restriction as to use

    10,000.00

    Total Funds

    $144,189.48

    Changes in Principal of Funds

    Total Funds, November 14, 1936

     

    $142,513.07

    Add—Additions to Special Funds:

       

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund

     

    340.75

    Add—Additions to General Fund:

       

    Admission Fees

    $70.00

     

    Profit from Sale of $5,000 New England Telephone and Telegraph Company First 5’s, Series A, 1952

    1,265.66

    1,335.66

    Total Funds, November 13, 1937

     

    $144,189.48

    Income Cash Receipt and Disbursements

    Balance, November 14, 1936

     

    $12,917.76

    RECEIPTS:

    Interest

    $5,148.06

     

    Dividends

    2,798.00

     

    Annual Assessments

    770.00

     

    Sales of the Society’s Publications

    20.00

     

    Total Receipts of Income

     

    8,736.06

       

    $21,653.82

    DISBURSEMENTS:

    Editor’s Salary

     

    $1,000.00

     

    Services to Editor

     

    250.00

     

    Secretarial Expense

     

    100.00

     

    Stenographic Expense

     

    100.00

     

    For Publications:

         

    Volume 32

    $2,945.37

       

    “ 33

    30.00

    2,975.37

     

    New England Quarterly

     

    $3,000.00

     

    Annual Dinner

     

    450.95

     

    Notices and Other Expenses of Meetings

     

    78.50

     

    Accounting Services

     

    125.00

     

    Storage on Stock

     

    413.54

     

    Accrued Interest on Securities Purchased

     

    61.41

     

    Fire Insurance

     

    38.16

     

    Rent of Safe Deposit Box

     

    22.00

     

    Contribution to Writings on American History

     

    50.00

     

    Repairing Cobb Manuscripts

     

    60.00

     

    Postage and Mailing

     

    43.63

     

    Collection Charges

     

    .82

     

    Stationery

     

    19.00

     

    Interest on Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund added to Principal

     

    340.75

     

    Total Disbursements of Income

       

    $9,129.13

    Balance of Income Cash, November 13, 1937

       

    $,12,524.69

    Principal Cash Receipts and Disbursements

    Loan to Principal, November 14, 1936

     

    $10,436.67

    RECEIPTS:

    $5,000 New England Telephone and Telegraph Company First 5’s, Series A, 1952

    $6,140.66

     

    Admission Fees

    70.00

     

    Transferred from Income to Principal:

       

    Henry H. Edes Memorial Fund, Income

    340.75

     

    Total Receipts of Principal

     

    $6,551.41

       

    $3,885.26

    DISBURSEMENTS:

    $5,000 Commercial Credit Company Debenture 3½’s, 1951

    $4,963.28

     

    2,000 Tide Water Associated Oil Company Debenture S.F. 3½’s, 1952

    2,015.51

     

    Total Disbursements of Principal

     

    $6,978.79

    Loan to Principal November 13, 1937

     

    $10,864.05

    James M. Hunnewell

    Treasurer

    Report of the Auditing Committee

    The undersigned, a Committee appointed to examine the accounts of the Treasurer for the year ended November 13, 1937, have attended to their duty by employing Messrs. Stewart, Watts and Bollong, Public Accountants and Auditors, who have made an audit of the accounts and examined the securities on deposit in Box 1052–E in the Union Safe Deposit Vaults.

    We herewith submit their report, which has been examined and accepted by the Committee.

    Bentley W. Warren

    Allston Burr

    Auditing Committee

    The several reports were accepted and referred to the Committee of Publication.

    On behalf of the committee appointed to nominate officers for the ensuing year the following list was presented; and a ballot having been taken, these gentlemen were unanimously elected:

    • President Samuel Eliot Morison
    • Vice-Presidents Hon. Arthur Prentice Rugg
      • Chester Noyes Greenough
    • Recording Secretary Augustus Peabody Loring, Jr.
    • Corresponding Secretary Dr. James Lincoln Huntington
    • Treasurer James Melville Hunnewell
    • Registrar Robert Dickson Weston
    • Member of the Council for Three Years Richard Mott Gummere

    Mr. Wilberforce Eames communicated the following note, which was read in his behalf by Mr. Jones:

    Discovery of a Lost Cambridge Imprint

    John Eliot’s Genesis, 1655

    IT has been my good fortune to discover and trace to its present location one of the lost Cambridge imprints of exceptional importance, John Eliot’s Indian translation of The First Book of Moses Called Genesis, printed by Samuel Green at Cambridge in 1655. This was the first portion of the Bible in Indian to be printed, eight years before the completion of the Bible of 1663, and no copy of it was known to be extant.

    The book is a quarto of sixty-four unpaged leaves, A–Q in fours. Like many small books and pamphlets of that period, it has no separate title-page. At the top of the first page is a large headpiece made up of a border and several lines composed of typographical ornaments, below which is the caption title in four lines: The||First Book||of Moses Called||Genesis. The lower part of the page begins with Chapter I. The first nineteen chapters have the English interlined above the Indian in small italic letters; the remaining chapters are in Indian alone.

    At the end of the last chapter, on the final page, are the words: “So endeth Genesis, All prayse be given unto the Lord J E S U S Amen.” Below this is an apology, in five paragraphs of small type, for the imperfections of the printing. The second, third, and fourth paragraphs and the first sentence of the fifth paragraph relate to the forms of certain letters used to express Indian sounds. The first paragraph and the remaining part of the fifth read as follows:

    Such English as may have occasion to look upon this Impression, are intreated to consider. That some defects there be in the work which could not be helped for want of letters or tipes, wherewith the press cannot suddainly be furnished. Which hath put us upon the using of some unsuitable Characters, though we endeavoured to fit them in the best manner we could. . . .

    No doubt there be many defects in the work, but the Lord is mercyfull to pitty our weaknesses, and to bless our poor indeavours, for the good of their soules, who are glad to heare the WORD of GOD, speaking in their own language to them.

    In a letter to Thomas Thorowgood, dated August 16, 1655, Eliot wrote: “Genesis is printed and we are upon Matthew, but our progress is slow, and hands short.” More than three years later, on December 28, 1658, in a letter to Mr. Richard Floyd, he remarked: “Yet those pieces that were printed, viz. Genesis and Matthew, I had sent to such as I thought had best skill in the language, and intreated their animadversions, but I heard not of any faults they found.” Fuller references will be found in my long article on John Eliot contributed to James C. Pilling’s Bibliography of the Algonquian Languages, also issued separately as Bibliographical Notes on Eliot’s Indian Bible.

    Someone may wish to ask the question, How was the book found and located? It happened in this way. Among the books in my own library was the catalogue of books in the library of William Marsden, author of the History of Sumatra (London, 1783, 1784, 1811) and other oriental books. The title-page reads: Bibliotheca Marsdeniana Philologica et Orientalis. A Catalogue of Books and Manuscripts (London, 1827). The collation of the book is: quarto, pp. (4), 308, (1). It is in two parts: first, authors; second, subjects arranged mostly under language headings; two columns to each page. The heading “America (North),” on pages 143–145, attracted my attention. There were included such works as Wood’s New Englands Prospect (1634); Roger Williams’ Key into the Language of America (1643); Eliot’s Indian Bible (1685); Claesse’s Mohawk Prayer Book (1715); Colden’s History of the Five Indian Nations (1727); and, half way down the first column on page 144, the following title:

    The First Book of Moses called Genesis, in the Algonkin language of North America. (Cambridge in Virginia) 4to. (Title wanting)

    A strange title surely. What could it be? My first thoughts were: Was it possibly the long-lost edition of Eliot’s Genesis (1655), or only a fragment from the Bible of 1663? Second, what became of Marsden’s library? Was it sold in London by auction and dispersed like most other libraries? I had to wait for an answer to these queries.

    Some time later, when leisure was found to do so, a search was begun for the Marsden library. The first definite information, by date of publication, was found in the Dictionary of National Biography (xxxvi. 207): “Marsden’s collection of oriental books and manuscripts he presented in 1835 to King’s College, London.” The next step was to find the book and have it examined. So when one of my associates in the New York Public Library informed me of his intended visit to London, I requested his help. His report on the finding and the examination of the book convinced me that it was really John Eliot’s Genesis of 1655. A photostat of the whole book was ordered and finally received, and in this way the discovery of a lost Cambridge imprint was happily completed.

    After the meeting was dissolved, dinner was served. The guests of the Society were Mr. George P. Baker, Mr. George T. Goodspeed, the Reverend Robert H. Lord, and Mr. Daniel B. Updike.

    After the dinner Mr. Chauncey Brewster Tinker of New Haven addressed the Society and its guests

    First Page of John Eliot’s Genesis

    Last Page of John Eliot’s Genesis