Waldron Papers, 1730-1753

Title:

Waldron Papers, 1730-1753

Creator:

Waldron, Richard, 1694-1753

Accession / Call Number:

1833.002

Object ID:

1833.002

Date:

1730-1753

Physical Description:

2 boxes ; 0.63 linear feet

Scope and Content:

The correspondence with Jonathan Belcher (1682-1757), governor of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, 1730 to 1741, and of New Jersey, 1746 to 1757, gives a detailed account of all the affairs of the province. The first letter, written from England in 1730, tells of Belcher's appointment as governor. In subsequent letters there are official instructions to Waldron as secretary, combined with unofficial instructions to Waldron as friend and private agent, candid comments on events, and much vilification of everyone who opposed the governor. From 1741 to 1743, there are comments on New Hampshire affairs and plans, which did not materialize, for Waldron to become agent for the new towns west of the Merrimack River, claimed by Massachusetts in the boundary dispute with New Hampshire. The correspondence dropped off when Belcher was in England and was resumed to some extent when he was made governor of New Jersey. Waldron hoped that Belcher could use his influence to have Governor Benning Wentworth dismissed. Letters written by a clerk and signed by Governor Belcher. About half of these letters have been either printed in full or calendared. See New Hampshire Provincial Papers, IV: 866-880; and Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, 6th Series, Vols. VI & VII, Belcher Papers. There are 31 letters, February 6, 1729/30 to August 30, 1731; 115 letters, April 14, 1735 to September 17, 1739; and 18 letters August 8, 1743 to August 9, 1753, which have not been published. The case of Governor Belcher (Volume 1, page 5), 7 pp. folio, is a statement of Governor Belcher's justification followed by a long refutation. See Library for photostat copy of Case of Andrew Wiggin vs. Jonathan Belcher, 11 November 1739; also for photostat copies of material on the Massachusetts-New Hampshire boundary dispute. Transcripts of Governor Belcher’s letters to the Board of Trade, 1731-1741. Copied from volumes in the Public Record Office, London. (977.8 G786bw) See the finding aid for a list of correspondents in this collection.

Subjects:

Correspondence , Governors , Massachusetts--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 , New Hampshire--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 , New Jersey--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 , Politicians , Politics and government

Locations:

Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
New Jersey

People:

Belcher, Jonathan, 1682-1757 , Waldron, Richard, 1694-1753 , Wentworth, Benning, 1696-1770

Organizations:

Richard Wibird & Co.

Credit Line:

Gift of Richard-Russell Waldron.
New Hampshire Historical Society purchase.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Collection

Finding Aid Link:

RS68479_Waldron_Papers_1833.002.pdf