Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823

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Congregational clergyman; botanist; one of the founders of the Ohio Co. which colonized the Ohio River Valley; member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

From the description of Manasseh Cutler letter to Benjamin Lincoln [manuscript], 1783 May 18. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 191118377

Cutler (Yale University, B.A. 1765 and Harvard, A.M.1770) was appointed minister of Ipswich Hamlet in 1771. He published a botanical paper in the first volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1785, and also kept detailed notes on plants in an effort to improve upon the Linnaean system. Cutler never completed the revised work he intended to publish. He was also active in politics; and served as a member of Massachusetts General Court, 1800, and U.S. Congressional representative, 1800-1804.

From the description of Botanical papers of Manasseh Cutler, 1782-1808 (bulk). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122610801

Manasseh Cutler worked as a clergyman and botanist.

From the guide to the Manasseh Cutler papers, 1777-1790, 1777-1790, (American Philosophical Society)

Land agent for the Ohio Company of Associates.

From the description of Journals, 1787-1807 / Manasseh Cutler. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 19743962

Clergyman, U.S. Congressman from Massachusetts, 1801-1805

From the description of Letter : Washington, to [Jedidiah] Morse, Charlestown, Mass., 1802 Dec. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 22341685

Manasseh Culter graduated from Yale in 1765. In October 1768 he decided to study for the ministry, in November 1769 he left Edgartown and returned to Dedham to continue his divinity studies with his wife's father, Rev. Thomas Balch. He received a master's degree from Harvard in July, 1770, and he was appointed minister of Ipswich Hamlet in 1771. During the Revolutionary War Culter seved at intervals as an army chaplain and began to study medicine. His medical studies led to an interest in botany. He prepared a major botanical paper titled: An account of some of the vegetable productions naturally growing in the part of America botanically arranged, which was published in the first volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Science, 1785. Cutler was dissatisfied with the Linnaean arrangement which he had used in his account and in 1783 began making detailed notes on plants he saw in an effort to find some better system. He continued making these notes for many years, but he was never able to complete the revised work he intended to publish. Most of his notebooks survive but his herbarium which was said to be extensive was destroyed by fire. He served as a U.S. Congressional representative, 1800- 1804.

From the description of Botanical papers of Manassah Cutler, 1782-1808 (bulk). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 40290541

Manasseh Cutler was a clergyman and botanist.

From the description of Letters, 1777-1790. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122523679

From the description of Letters, 1787-1806. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122489527

From the guide to the Manasseh Cutler papers, 1787-1806, 1787-1806, (American Philosophical Society)

Manasseh Cutler was born in Killingly, Connecticut on May 3, 1742. He was educated at Yale and graduated in 1765. The following year he taught school in Dedham, Massachusetts where he met and married Mary Balch. The couple moved to Edgartown, Massachusetts where Cutler took over the merchant business of his wife's aunt's deceased husband. A source claims he studied for the bar examination and was accepted. Another source claims he was awarded a master's degree from Yale in 1768.

In October 1768 he began studies for the ministry and returned to Dedham in 1769 to continue divinity studies with his wife's father, Reverend Thomas Balch. He became the minister at Ipswich Hamlet (now Hamilton, MA) in 1771. He kept this post, with interruptions, until his death.

During the American Revolutionary War, Cutler served as an army chaplain and began the study of medicine. His medical studies led to an interest in botany. He was elected a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences at its first meeting in January 1781. He kept notes on his botany projects for many years. A fire destroyed his herbarium, but most of his notebooks survived.

Cutler was also interested in archaeological remains, particularly the mounds of Ohio. He proposed theories regarding their age and purpose. He also made estimates of the elevation of the White Mountains on a trip there in 1784.

Cutler played a key role in the founding of Ohio University. At the close of the Revolutionary War, he participated in drafting the Ordinance of 1787 and personally applied to Congress for the grant of land on which to place a university.

Cutler was awarded an LL.D. by Yale in 1791 and for a brief period he was active in politics, being elected as a member of the Massachusetts General Court in 1800 and serving as a representative to the United States Congress from 1800 to 1804. He died on July 28, 1823 in Hamilton, Massachusetts.

From the guide to the Manasseh Cutler papers, 1761-1849, (Ohio University)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Manasseh Cutler Papers, 1763-1837. Peabody Essex Museum
referencedIn Sillen, J. Walter. Manasseh Cutler. Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn U.S. History mss., 1612-1977 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Seymour, George Dudley, 1859-1945. George Dudley Seymour papers, 1684-1944 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Commonplace-book of Manasseh Cutler, 1762 June 10. Library of Congress
creatorOf Manasseh Cutler Journals, 1787-1807 Western Reserve Historical Society
creatorOf Manasseh Cutler papers, 1787-1806, 1787-1806 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Papers 1803-1871 Ohio History Connection, Ohio Historical Society
referencedIn Wellcome Historical Medical Society selected letters, 1731-1871, relating to American medicine, 1731-1871 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Meteorological records, 1754-1865. Houghton Library
creatorOf Manasseh Cutler papers, 1761-1849 Ohio University
referencedIn American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Records of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1775-1800 (inclusive). Harvard University, Medical School, Countway Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives. Record Group IIa, 1743-1806 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Rafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel), 1783-1840. Letter, 1806 May 20, Palermo [to] Manasseh Cutler. Lloyd Library & Museum, Lloyd Library
creatorOf Manasseh Cutler papers, 1777-1790, 1777-1790 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Read, Nathan, 1759-1849. Nathan Read Papers, 1709-1914. Peabody Essex Museum
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Letters, 1777-1790. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Baldwin, Loammi, 1745-1807. Papers, 1768-1872 Houghton Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Letters, 1787-1806. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Botanical papers of Manassah Cutler, 1782-1808 (bulk). Harvard University, Botany Libraries
referencedIn Autograph File, C Houghton Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Manasseh Cutler papers 1761-1849. Ohio University, Alden Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. [Manasseh Cutler botanical notebooks] [microform] Ohio University, Alden Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Letter : Washington, to [Jedidiah] Morse, Charlestown, Mass., 1802 Dec. 15. George Washington University
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Papers, 1712-1886. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Wellcome Historical Medical Society. Selected letters, 1731-1871, relating to American medicine. American Philosophical Society Library
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Manasseh Cutler letter to Benjamin Lincoln [manuscript], 1783 May 18. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Dyer, Albion Morris,. Scioto land purchase documents, 1787-1788. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Botanical papers of Manasseh Cutler, 1782-1808 (bulk). Harvard University, Gray Herbarium
referencedIn George Dudley Seymour papers, 1684-1944 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Documents : concerning a land dispute in Ohio : typescript, 1910. Houghton Library
referencedIn American Philosophical Society Archives, 1743-1984 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Papers, 1776-1822. Ohio University, Alden Library
creatorOf Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820. Papers, 1776-1865. Library of Congress
referencedIn Dawes, Carlos Burr. [Miscellaneous material relating to the Dawes and Cutler families, Manasseh Cutler, and the Dawes Arboretum]. Peabody Essex Museum
creatorOf Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823. Journals, 1787-1807 / Manasseh Cutler. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
creatorOf Ohio Company (1786-1796). Ohio Company records, 1787-1800, bulk 1787-1793. Newberry Library
referencedIn Baldwin, Loammi, 1745-1807. Papers, 1768-1872 Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Academy of Arts and Sciences. corporateBody
associatedWith American Philosophical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Badger, Joseph, 1757-1846. person
correspondedWith Baldwin, Loammi, 1740-1807 person
associatedWith Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815. person
associatedWith Belknap, Jeremy, 1744-1798. person
associatedWith Collin, Nicholas, 1746-1831. person
associatedWith Cutler, Ephraim. person
associatedWith Cutler, Rufus Putnam, 1815-1877. person
associatedWith Cutler, Temple, 1782-1857. person
associatedWith Dawes, Carlos Burr. person
associatedWith Dexter, Aaron. person
associatedWith Dyer, Albion Morris, person
associatedWith Lincoln, Benjamin, 1733-1810, person
associatedWith Morse, Jedidiah, 1761-1826. person
associatedWith Muhlenberg, Henry Ernst, 1753-1815. person
associatedWith Noyes, Belcher, 1746-1791. person
associatedWith Ohio Company. corporateBody
correspondedWith Ohio Company (1786-1796) corporateBody
associatedWith Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. person
associatedWith Peck, William Dandridge, 1763-1822. person
associatedWith Rafinesque, C. S. (Constantine Samuel), 1783-1840. person
associatedWith Read, Nathan, 1759-1849. person
associatedWith Sargent, Winthrop, 1753-1820. person
associatedWith Seymour, George Dudley, 1859-1945. person
associatedWith Sillen, J. Walter. person
associatedWith Stiles, Ezra, 1727-1795. person
associatedWith Stokes, Jonathan, 1755-1831. person
associatedWith Swartz, Olof, 1760-1818. person
associatedWith Swartz, Olof Peter, 1760-1818. person
associatedWith Thorndike, Israel. person
associatedWith Tuckerman, Edward, 1817-1886. person
associatedWith United States. Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith Vaughan, Samuel, 1762-1827. person
associatedWith Wellcome Historical Medical Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Wright, W. Lloyd (William Lloyd), 1876-1950, person
associatedWith Yale College (1718-1887) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
England
Europe
United States
Massachusetts--Hamilton
United States
Massachusetts
Connecticut--New Haven
United States
Massachusetts--Ipswich
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Massachusetts
New York (N.Y.)
Ohio
Marietta (Ohio)
Hamilton (Mass.)
Subject
United States
Animals
Botanists
Botanists
Botany
Botany
Botany
Botany
Botany
Congregational churches
Clergy
Clergy
Clergy
Clergy
Clergy
Universities and colleges
Commonplace-books
Correspondence
Cutler, Manasseh, 1742-1823
Inventories of decedents' estates
Marietta (Ohio)
Meteorology
Natural history
New York (N.Y.)
Ohio Company
Philadelphia (Pa.)
Physicians
Plants
Plants
Real property
Real property
Science and technology
Sermons
Sermons
Sermons
Travelers
Travelers
Weather
Zoology
Zoology
Zoology
Zoology
Occupation
Plant collectors
Activity

Person

Birth 1742-05-13

Death 1823-07-28

Americans

English

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