The Counting House collection, 1700-[ongoing].

ArchivalResource

The Counting House collection, 1700-[ongoing].

Manuscripts, maps, books, photographs, and other records, of the Counting House, a 160 year old restored factory building, now the repository of Old Berwick Historical Society, South Berwick, Me., reflecting the history of South Berwick and its dual character as an early mill town, dating from 1634 when America's first water-powered machinery was installed by English carpenters, and as a trading center, connected by the region's unique gundalow system to the world's shipping markets. Includes letter (1816) written by Tobias Lear, a member of George Washington's cabinet from Portsmouth, N.H.; ledgers of local merchants; newspapers, published in southwestern Maine and eastern New Hampshire; technical drawings, photographs, and models of gundalows, documenting the Piscataqua Estuary's unusual craft; two deeds (ca. 1700) transferring Great Works River mill properties to South Berwick's early settlers; Massachusetts court writs (1773-1881), two involving litigants from Arundel and Wells when Maine was still part of Massachusetts; and records of the Old Berwick Historical Society.

ca. 1500 items.

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 7340418

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Old Berwick Historical Society (South Berwick, Me.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64v79rx (person)

Counting House (South Berwick, Me.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sn66vg (corporateBody)

Washington, George, 1732-1799

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6r31qfk (person)

George Washington (b. Feb. 22, 1732, Westmoreland County, Va.-d. Dec. 14, 1799, Mount Vernon, VA) was the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. Washington came from a family of farmers and landowners. He had little education but showed an aptitude for mathematics. He used this talent to become a surveyor. At 15, Washington took a job as assistant surveyor on a team sent to map the Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia. In his early 20s, Washington joined the Virgin...

Lear, Tobias, 1762-1816

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sp0zz0 (person)

Lear became George Washington's private secretary in 1785 and for seven years was a member of the official family at Mount Vernon. After his first wife's death he married Frances Bassett Washington, who was Martha Washington's niece and the widow of George Washington's nephew George Augustine Washington. He later married another niece of Martha's, and served in a number of consular positions. 1762, Sept. 19 ...