Salem, MA, Pioneers Sign Mariner Wills, Documents; Mansion Paid For With Bribe

Offering seven early Massachusetts documents, six from Salem, different sizes, most approximately from 9 ½ x 14 ½ and 7 ¾ x 12, dated from 1812 to 1823, and signed by several early Salem pioneers, including JOSHUA UPHAM (1784-1858) and his wife Mary.  Upham was born in Saugus and died in Salem. He was a master mason, a self-taught chemist who became superintendent of Salem Laboratory Company, and deacon of the First Baptist Church of Salem.  Upham built several major buildings in Salem, including Stephen White’s house in 1811, a mansion which White bought with bribes from Russell Sturgis on behalf of his involvement in creating the Second National Bank of the United States.  President Andrew Jackson was against renewing the bank’s charter, which was a major controversy at the time. Upham also built the Old Town Hall, Pickman-Derby Block, Pickman Building, Judge Story House and Lawrence Block. 

Several of the documents are signed by DANIEL APPLETON WHTE (June 7, 1776-March 30, 1861), who was a teacher in the late 18^th century and a Latin tutor at Harvard from 1799-1803.  He was admitted to the Bar in 1804 and practiced law in Newburyport, MA. He moved to Salem, MA, in 1817, where he was elected judge of the probate of Essex County, a position he held for 38 years.  He was author of a “Eulogy on George Washington,” “Eulogy on Nathaniel Bowditch,” and “New England Congregationalism in its Origin and Purity.”

Two of the documents are the last will and testaments of two seamen, Christopher Darlin and Peter Ceder Wall, both written in 1812, both have been witnessed by EZEKIEL SAVAGE (1760-1837), who studied at Harvard, was a merchant in Boston, moved back and forth from Boston to Salem, and became a magistrate in Salem, where he was known as Squire Savage. On February 22, 1800, he delivered A Eulogy on General Washington at St. Peter’s Church in Salem. From 1812-1814, he represented Salem in the General Court (legislature).  Three of the documents are for probating estates.  One is a land document. 

Expected toning, folds and one document contains foxing.  The wills have wear at folds with several holes. Edge wear. Seals intact.

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