Martha's Vineyard Museum
A Finding Aid to the Richard L. Pease Papers
Table of Contents
- Summary Information
- Biography/Historical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Administrative Information
- Related Materials
- Controlled Access Headings
- Collection Inventory
- Series I. Personal Papers
- Series II. Correspondence
- Series III. Research Notes
- Series IV. James Athearn Jones
- Series V. Publications
- Series VI. Addition to Collection
Descriptive Summary
| Repository | Martha's Vineyard Museum Gale Huntington Research Library 59 School Street P.O. Box 1310 Edgartown, MA 02539 (508) 627-4441 |
|---|---|
| Call Number | RU 327 |
| Creator | Pease, Richard L., 1814-1888 |
| Title | Richard L. Pease papers |
| Date | 1802-1888, undated |
| Extent | 6 boxes + 1 oversize box + 5 oversize folders (3.465 cubic feet) |
| Language | The materials are in English. |
| Abstract | The Richard L. Pease Papers are a mix of personal papers, copies of government records and research materials. The research papers primarily consist of transcriptions of town, church, and court documents. The collection also includes publication drafts and several manuscript journals kept by Pease on a variety of subjects, including daily life, poetry, observations on politics, and helpful “how-to” tips from the 19th century. |
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use and Reproduction Restrictions
Requests to reproduce material from this collection should be directed to the library's staff. Reproduction fees may apply.
Preferred Citation
Martha's Vineyard Museum, RU 327, Richard L. Pease Papers.
Acquisition Information
Gifts of Miss Charlotte A. Pease in 1923 (Accession no. 1923.153; 1923.155), Mrs. Josepha S. Nevins in 1923 (Accession no. 1923.154; 1923.156; 1923.157; 1923.158; 1923.159), Mr. William J. Rotch in 1923 (Accession no. 1923.160), Lawrence Atwood from the Estate of Laura M. Pease (Accession no. 1932.015), Mr. and Mrs. Arthur B. Hillman in 1942 (Accession no. 1942.016), Butler C. Robinson in 1971 (Accession no. 1971.058), and Kathleen V. Rowland and Margaret V. Kelly in 1993 (Accession no. 1993.075). The immediate source of acquisition and date of accession for the rest of the material is unknown.
Publication Information
Martha's Vineyard Museum
Gale Huntington Research Library59 School Street
P.O. Box 1310
Edgartown, MA 02539
(508) 627-4441
Revision Description
Addition to the Collection; Addition of Series VI: Additions to collection, [CJ], August 2015
Processing Information
Finding aid prepared by Julia Novakovic. Revised by Insley Julier in November 2012 and completed by Lara J. Ullman in March 2015. Finding aid was machine-encoded by Nathaniel Janick in March 2015.
Creation of this finding aid was sponsored by the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.Related Materials
Related Material
See also, RU 332, Harriet M. Pease Collection.
Controlled Access Headings
Family Name(s)
- Pease family
Genre(s)
- Articles
- Circular letters
- Correspondence
- Diaries
- Essays
- Galley proofs
- Notebooks
- Publications
- Research notes
Geographic Name(s)
- Chilmark (Mass.)
- Edgartown (Mass.)
- Gay Head (Mass.)
- Tisbury (Mass. : Town)
Personal Name(s)
- Jones, James Athearn, 1791-1854
Subject(s)
- Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)--Biography
- Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)--Genealogy
- Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)--Guidebooks
- Martha's Vineyard (Mass.)--History
Biography/Historical Note
Richard Luce Pease was born on August 31, 1814, in Edgartown, Massachusetts, to Isaiah Dunham Pease (1786-1862) and Polly (Luce) Pease (1785-1837). Richard had six siblings: Harriet D. (1812-1882), Sylvanus L. (1816-1874), Isaiah Dunham Jr. (1819-1888), Sprowell (1821- ), Polly Luce (1824-1897), and Eliza Ferguson (1831-1852). On January 18, 1836, Richard L. Pease married Mary West Pease (1811-1903), a distant cousin, in Eddgartown. The couple had two daughters: Maria Thurston (1836-1913) and Harriet Marshall (1840-1907).
Pease held many positions throughout his life including: teaching school in Edgartown for about 20 years, acting as the Marshall for the Federal Census of 1850, the county as Registrar of Probates and Clerk of Courts for Dukes County from April 1853-March 1855, a State Representative, the Commissioner of Indian lands, the Presidential Elector in 1868, and the Edgartown Postmaster from 1877-1885. He supported the Whig Party and was active in the government.
Richard L. Pease was a genealogist and historian. He wrote a biographical memoir of James Athearn Jones, a scholar and novelist, for the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Pease belonged to the Webster Historical Society of Boston and was a corresponding member of the Albany Institute. In his spare time, Pease transcribed many volumes of Martha's Vineyard town records and collected information on Vineyard families with the intention of writing an inclusive history of Martha's Vineyard from its beginnings up through the late 19th century. He died while compiling the material for his book. Charles E. Banks later used much of Pease’s research to create his own version of Martha’s Vineyard history. Richard L. Pease died on September 2, 1888, in Edgartown.
Scope and Content Note
The Richard L. Pease papers are a mix of personal and public documents dating from the 1850s until his death in 1888. His personal papers include family letters, receipts, and awards. The extensive collection of research notes is primarily transcriptions of town, church, and court documents. The collection also includes publication drafts and several manuscript journals kept by Pease on a variety of subjects, including daily life, poetry, observations on politics, and helpful “how-to” tips from the 19th century. Of note is Richard L. Pease’s handwritten copy of the 1850 Federal Census, for which he was the Marshall.
Arrangement
Material has largely been maintained in the order in which it was arranged by the original processor. It is unknown whether this order is original. Additional Richard L. Pease material discovered in the archive has been integrated into the collection using the original organization schema. Note that in Series III. Research Notes the dates listed are not the dates of the material researched but rather are the dates that Richard L. Pease created the documents.
- Series I. Personal Papers, 1810-1888, undated
- Series II. Correspondence, 1835-1885, undated
- Series III. Research Notes, 1834-1888, undated
- Subseries A: Church Records, 1850-1866, undated
- Subseries B: Town Records, 1834-1888, undated
- Subseries C: Land Transactions, 1858-1877, undated
- Subseries D: Court, County, State, Genealogical and Miscellaneous Records, 1837-1888, undated
- Series IV. James Athearn Jones, 1820-1880, undated
- Subseries A. James Athearn Jones Correspondence and Published Works, 1820-1848, undated
- Subseries B. Research and Article on James Athearn Jones, 1820-1880, undated
- Series V. Publications, 1866-1888, undated
- Series VI. Additions to Collection
Collection Inventory
Series I. Personal Papers, 1810-1888, undated Scope and ContentSeries I contains personal papers, including manuscript journals of Pease's poetry, recipes, and other collected information. The series also includes small notebooks, receipts, notices, and announcements related to the school where Pease taught; correspondence and other documents associated with Pease's official role in the Dukes County Court; and genealogical material about the Pease family. In addition, a bound manuscript notebook contains the minutes of the Whig Citizens of Edgartown which includes the association's constitution and a member list, Worth family genealogical information, and transcriptions of 17th and 18th century records found in the office of the Clerk of the Courts in Edgartown. ArrangementMaterials are arranged by record type and therein chronologically. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Journal, 1835 | 1 | 1 | ||
Journal, 1837-1848 | 1 | 2 | ||
Journal, 1840- 1847 | 1 | 3 | ||
Manuscript Notebook on Various Topics, undated | 1 | 4 | ||
Notebook: Transcription of 1819 Letter from Rev. Joseph Thaxter to his son Leavitt Thaxter, Esqr.; Transcription of Sermon Preached by Rev. Allen Gannett at Captain Noah Pease’s Funeral in 1841, 1863 | 1 | 5 | ||
Papers, 1810, 1823-1859 | 1 | 6 | ||
Papers: Political Speech Addressed to Members of the Whig Party, 1848 | 1 | 7 | ||
Papers: “A Talk with Mr. Joseph Vinson”, 1853 December 13 | 1 | 8 | ||
Papers, 1870-1886, undated | 1 | 9 | ||
Papers: Article or Essay “Quanaimes or Quansoo”, circa 1870-1888 | 1 | 10 | ||
Pease Family Genealogy: Correspondence, 1885, undated | 1 | 11 | ||
Pease Family Genealogy: Miscellaneous Notes, undated | 1 | 12 | ||
Pease Family Genealogy: Salem Land Records, undated | 1 | 13 | ||
Pease Family Genealogy Chart, undated | OS GEN 5 | 17 | ||
Series II. Correspondence, 1835-1885, undated Scope and ContentSeries II contains the personal correspondence of Richard L. Pease. Among the documents is an 1851 letter from his cousin who went to California for the Gold Rush, as well as letters supporting a memorial of Edgartown schoolmaster Levitt Thaxter. Other letters include notes to the editors of newspapers, letters to or from relatives, and other casual missives. Some of Pease's professional correspondence is located in Series I Personal Papers. ArrangementThe material is arranged chronologically. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Incoming Correspondence, 1835-1877, undated | 2 | 1 | ||
Outgoing Correspondence, 1841-1885, undated | 2 | 2 | ||
Series III. Research Notes, 1834-1888, undated Scope and ContentSeries III is divided into four subseries: Church Records; Town Records; Land Transactions; and Court, County, State and Miscellaneous. Pease carefully transcribed church, town, and land records in the course of his research and this series largely consists of these annotated transcriptions. The series also includes his research notes. Additionally, court, county, and state record transcriptions can be found in subseries D. Court record transcriptions can also be located in a bound manuscript notebook on various topics in Series I. ArrangementThe subseries are arranged topically. | ||||
Series III.A. Church Records, 1850-1866, undated Scope and ContentSubseries A includes transcripts of church records and personal notes of Richard L. Pease on religion. ArrangementThe material is arranged chronologically. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Transcribed Church Records of Tisbury from 1760-1784, 1850 July | 2 | 3 | ||
Notes on Religion, 1854-1866, undated | 2 | 4 | ||
Series III.B. Town Records, 1834-1888, undated Scope and ContentSubseries B contains handwritten copies of Martha's Vineyard town records, with the most complete accounts being about Tisbury, Edgartown, and Chilmark. The documents include information on wills, deeds, taxes, town meeting minutes, births, marriages, and deaths. Some county records pertaining to taxes are filed in this series, while other county records may be found in subseries D. ArrangementThe material is arranged alphabetically by folder title. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Chart Titled “Edgartown First Comers”, undated | OS GEN 4 | 36 | ||
County Tax Records on Martha's Vineyard from 1730-1836 (transcriptions), circa 1835-1886 | 2 | 5 | ||
County Tax Records on Martha's Vineyard from 1844-1860 (transcriptions), circa 1860 | 2 | 6 | ||
“Extracts from Records of Tisbury” from 1670-1809 (transcriptions), undated | 2 | 7 | ||
Lists of Dukes County Deeds and Wills from the 1600s, undated | 2 | 8 | ||
Martha's Vineyard Town Documents from 1664-1699 (transcriptions), 1886-1887 | 2 | 9 | ||
Martha's Vineyard Town Documents from 1700- 1720 (transcriptions), undated | 2 | 10 | ||
Martha's Vineyard town documents from 1733- 1783 (transcriptions), undated | 2 | 11 | ||
“Memo of Documents in Town Records of Edgartown” from 1641-1717 (transcriptions), undated | 2 | 12 | ||
Notebook of Tisbury Marriages from 1645-1834, circa 1834-1888 | 2 | 13 | ||
Notes on Birth Statistics from the 1850 Census, undated | 2 | 14 | ||
“Pease Collection: Marriages and Deaths on Island – 1680-1880, Records Copied by Richard L. Pease (Envelope #3)” Folder 1 of 2, undated | 3 | 1 | ||
“Pease Collection: Marriages and Deaths on Island – 1680-1880, Records Copied by Richard L. Pease (Envelope #3)” Folder 2 of 2, undated | 3 | 2 | ||
Records of Deaths in Edgartown from 1761-1827, Transcribed from Rev. Joseph Thaxter’s Records, 1851 December 18 | 3 | 3 | ||
Records of Town Officers in Tisbury and Chilmark from 1671-1849 (transcriptions), circa 1837 | 3 | 4 | ||
“Report on Streets and Highways” of Edgartown, 1852 April | 3 | 5 | ||
Transcribed Wills from 1690-1727, undated | 3 | 6 | ||
Transcriptions of Assorted County Records from 1664-1699, undated | 3 | 7 | ||
Transcripts of Colonial Vineyard Records from 1649-1672, undated | 3 | 8 | ||
Series III.C. Land Transactions, 1858-1877, undated Scope and ContentSubseries C includes transcriptions of land transactions from the 17th through the 19th centuries; of note is the folder of deeds to Indian Lands. ArrangementThe material is arranged alphabetically by folder title. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Deeds and Claims to Property at Quanaimes, Quansoo, Takemmy, Watcha, Christiantown, etc. from 1664-1804 (transcriptions), undated | 3 | 9 | ||
Land Grants to the Mayhew Family from 1641-1703 (transcriptions), undated | 4 | 1 | ||
Land Transactions and Miscellaneous Records from 1642- 1877 (copied from record books), undated | 4 | 2 | ||
Land Transactions from 1641- 1837 (transcriptions), undated | 4 | 3 | ||
Land Transactions from 1641- 1837 (transcriptions), undated | 4 | 4 | ||
Land Transfer Notes from 1669-1891 (copied from record books), undated | 4 | 5 | ||
Lists of Houses Built, Moved, and Ownership, circa 1858 | 4 | 6 | ||
Miscellaneous Papers Regarding Land Transactions and Bounds, 1877, undated | 4 | 7 | ||
Notes About Property Ownership from 1663-1688, undated | 4 | 8 | ||
Proprietor’s Records (Edgartown) from 1641-1663 (transcriptions), undated | 4 | 9 | ||
Proprietor’s Records from 1676-1839 (transcriptions), undated | 4 | 10 | ||
Quotations Regarding the Purchase of “Indian Lands” in New England, undated | 4 | 11 | ||
Report by the Commission Appointed by Governor Henry Gardner to Resolve the Dispute over the Boundary Line Between the Indians of Gay Head and the Inhabitants of Chilmark, March 9, 1855 (transcription), circa 1855 | 4 | 12 | ||
“Report of the Commissioner Appointed to Complete the Examination and Determination of All Questions of Title to Land and of All Boundary Lines Between the Individual Owners at Gay Head”, 1871 | 4 | 13 | ||
Statement Regarding Parsonage Land in Gay Head, 1868 November 14 | 4 | 14 | ||
Town Records Relating to Town Boundaries (transcriptions), undated | 4 | 15 | ||
Series III.D. Court, County, State, Genealogical, and Miscellaneous Records, 1837-1888, undated Scope and ContentSubseries D contains transcripts of records of the court, county, the General Court, genealogical information, and other miscellaneous documents. Some transcribed records of the court are found in the manuscript notebook on various topics located in Series I. ArrangementThe material is arranged alphabetically by folder title. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
1850 Census - Richard L. Pease’s handwritten copy, circa 1850 NoteThe 1850 Census was the first to record the names of every person in a household and an individual’s place of birth. | OS 1 | |||
Address to Members of the American Institute of Instruction on the Occasion of an Excursion to Gay Head, 1884 July 8 | 4 | 16 | ||
Copies of Original Papers Collected by Richard L. Pease, 1866, undated | 4 | 17 | ||
Copy of a Pamphlet by Experience Mayhew Regarding Wampanoag Indians written on June 2, 1720 (handwritten copy), 1879 November 15 | 4 | 18 | ||
Court, County, State, and Miscellaneous Documents, 1837-1869 | 4 | 19 | ||
Court, County, State, and Miscellaneous Documents, 1885-1888 | 4 | 20 | ||
Court, County, State, and Miscellaneous Documents, undated | 4 | 21 | ||
Genealogical Notes on Revolutionary War Soldiers from Massachusetts, undated | OS GEN 4 | 35 | ||
Genealogical Research Notes, 1848-1849, undated | 4 | 22 | ||
Genealogical Research Notes, 1866, undated | 4 | 23 | ||
Genealogical Research Notes about the Allen, Butler, and Robinson Families, circa 1884 | 4 | 24 | ||
Genealogical Research Notes about the Mayhew Family, undated | OS GEN 4 | 37 | ||
Gravestone Inscriptions from Martha’s Vineyard Cemeteries, 1882 | 5 | 1 | ||
List of Elected Officials from 1832-1872 on Martha’s Vineyard, undated | 5 | 2 | ||
Lists of Methodists and Nantucket Proprietors. Sons of the American Revolution Application, circa 1880s | 5 | 3 | ||
“Memo from Index to Books of Original Documents. Mass. Secy’s Office”, 1853 | 5 | 4 | ||
“Memoranda. Historical, Genealogical, and Miscellaneous.”, undated | 5 | 5 | ||
Portions of Several Massachusetts Historical Society Publications Bound Together, 1802-1834 | 5 | 6 | ||
Research Material on Martha’s Vineyard History Obtained from the State of New York’s Records of Colonial Manuscripts and Deeds, 1851 | 5 | 7 | ||
Research Notes About Wharves on Martha’s Vineyard, circa 1849 | 5 | 8 | ||
Research Notes and Transcriptions of Documents from 1630-1833 from the Massachusetts Archives, 1852, undated | 5 | 9 | ||
Research Notes and Transcriptions of Documents from 1665-1692 from New York, 1887 December 21 | 5 | 10 | ||
Research Notes and Transcriptions of Documents from 1602-1773 from Various Sources, undated | 5 | 11 | ||
Research Notes on Deaths and Other Statistics from 1765-1840 on Martha’s Vineyard, after 1846 | 5 | 12 | ||
Research Notes on Native American Genealogy, circa 1870s, undated | 5 | 13 | ||
Research Notes on Native American Genealogy - Chappaquiddick, undated | 5 | 14 | ||
Research Notes on Native American Genealogy - Martha’s Vineyard, undated | 5 | 15 | ||
Research Notes on Population Figures Copied from Census, undated | 5 | 16 | ||
Survey of Land Plots and Survey of Burial Ground of William Dunham, 1877 March-April | OS GEN 4 | 34 | ||
Transcription of Norton Family Account Book from 1762-1829 (kept by Francis Norton), 1880 November 23 | 5 | 17 | ||
Series IV. James Athearn Jones, 1820-1880, undated Scope and ContentSeries V is divided into two subseries: James Athearn Jones Correspondence and Published Works; and Research and Article on James Athearn Jones. ArrangementThe subseries are arranged topically. | ||||
Series IV.A. James Athearn Jones Correspondence and Published Works, 1820-1848, undated Scope and ContentSubseries A includes original correspondence and printed matter created by James Athearn Jones. ArrangementThe material is arranged chronologically. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
James Athearn Jones’ Correspondence, 1820-1825 | 6 | 1 | ||
James Athearn Jones’ Correspondence, 1826-1829 | 6 | 2 | ||
James Athearn Jones’ Correspondence, undated | 6 | 3 | ||
James Athearn Jones’ Correspondence from 1827 (copies and transcriptions), undated | 6 | 4 | ||
Printed Circular Letters Advertising Goods Sold at the Store of James Athearn Jones, 1837, 1839 | 6 | 5 | ||
“A Biographical Memoir of the Late Ichabod Norton, Esq.” by James Athearn Jones, 1848 | 6 | 6 | ||
Series IV.B. Research and Article on James Athearn Jones, 1820-1880, undated Scope and ContentSubseries B contains Richard L. Pease's research notes and manuscript about James Athearn Jones. Specifically there is a manuscript draft of the article about James Athearn Jones, corrections, and a galley proof, as well as correspondence with the New England Historic Genealogical Society. For Peases’s article on Jones see, “James Athearn Jones,” Memorial Biographies of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vol. II, Boston: New England Genealogical Society, 1882, p. 204-222. ArrangementThe material is arranged alphabetically by folder title. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
“Bonaparte; with The Storm at Sea, Madaline, and Other Poems.” New York: Haly and Thomas, 1820 NoteThis was given to Clarissa Smith by James Athearn Jones. Richard L. Pease borrowed it from her in 1880. | 6 | 7 | ||
“Bonaparte; with The Storm at Sea, Madaline, and Other Poems.” Transcription by Richard L. Pease, 1880 | 6 | 8 | ||
Copies of Verses from “The Storm at Sea” by James Athearn Jones, circa 1879 | 6 | 9 | ||
Correspondence between Richard L. Pease and the New England Historic Genealogical Society Relating to a Biographical Sketch of James Athearn Jones, 1871-1880 | 6 | 10 | ||
Genealogical and Research Notes About James Athearn Jones, 1838, undated | 6 | 11 | ||
Manuscript Draft: “James Athearn Jones” by Richard L. Pease, circa 1871-1880 | 6 | 12 | ||
Printer’s Proof of “James Athearn Jones” by Richard L. Pease, circa 1879 | 6 | 13 | ||
Series V. Publications, 1866-1888, undated Scope and ContentThis series contains published works by Richard L. Pease, as well as a proposal for a complete history of Martha’s Vineyard up to the 1890s. ArrangementMaterials are arranged chronologically. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
“A Guide to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket” by Richard L. Pease and Sumner Myrich: Partial Manuscript, before 1876 | 6 | 14 | ||
“A Guide to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket” by Richard L. Pease and Sumner Myrich: Production and Legal Deposit, circa 1876 | 6 | 15 | ||
“A Guide to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket” by Richard L. Pease and Sumner Myrich: Research Notes, circa 1870-1876 | 6 | 16 | ||
“A Guide to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket” by Richard L. Pease and Sumner Myrich: Research Notes on Nantucket and Muskeket, 1876 | 6 | 17 | ||
Newspaper Articles Written by Richard L. Pease, 1866, 1876, 1888 | 6 | 18 | ||
Pease, Richard L. and Sumner Myrich. “A Guide to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. With a Directory of the Cottage City.” Boston: Rockwell and Churchill, 1878 | 6 | 19 | ||
Proposal for “Martha’s Vineyard: Its History and Its Annals, 1602-1887”, circa 1887 | 6 | 20 | ||
Series VI. Addition to Collection, 1814, 2005, undated Scope and ContentThis series contains materials found in an archival survey of the Martha's Vineyard Museum related to Richard L. Pease. The materials include research notes, court records, and transcriptions used and created by Richard L. Pease. ArrangementMaterials are arranged by form. | ||||
| Box | Folder | |||
Dukes County Court correspondence, 1827, 1887 | 6 | 21 | ||
Dukes County Court record transcriptions, undated | 6 | 22 | ||
Vineyard Gazette research notes, undated | 6 | 23 | ||
Genealogical notes and transcriptions, 2005, undated | 6 | 24 | ||
Daggett family genealogical notebook, after 1814 | 6 | 25 | ||
Priscilla Freeman journal transcription, undated | 6 | 26 | ||
Notes on Dukes County and its towns, 1843 May | 6 | 27 | ||
Probate record signed Richard L. Pease, 1853 | 6 | 28 | ||