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(RHODE ISLAND). LIPPITT, CHRISTOPHER. Christopher Lippitt Papers. 1774-1822. $1,450.00

 

1. Christopher Lippitt Esq Acct. from Rufus Hopkins settled 1774 (docketed). Signed Rufus Hopkins, Scituate, February 3, 1779. Sheet 15.5 x 13 in. folded in half, 4 pp. to. Browned, previous multiple folds, small holes at folds, no loss. Ink bright.

2. Furnis Account Settled with Capt. Hopkins 1783; docketing on one oblong 4to page, ink, with about eight (8) entries.

3. Inventory of an Agreement (of Life Estate) by and between Katherine Lippitt and Christo. Lippitt (docketed). December 1, 1779. Signed and sealed by Katherine Lippitt and Christopher Lippitt. Witnessed by Phebe Wails and Charles Lippitt. Sheet 12.25 x 16 in., folded in half 3 pp. to. Browned at folds, ink slightly faded.

4. Agreement Between the Lippitt Factory Com & Christopher Lippitt Respecting Agency (docketed). Signed and sealed by Christopher Lippitt, Charles Lippitt, Benj Aborn, George Jackson, Amasa Mason, Willm H Mason.�? April 2, 1810. Sheet 10 x 16 in., folded in half, 2 pp. to. Folds, lightly browned, ink. Fine.

5. Lippitt, Christopher (signed CL) Autobiographical Sketch.�? Sept. 4, 1822. Torn sheets 5 x8 in. 6pp. Watermarked paper. Legible Ink.

6. The New England Almanack or Lady?��s and Gentlemen?��s Diary... 1802. by Isaac Bickerstaff, Esq. printed at Providence (R.I.) by John Carter, opposite the market. Christopher Lippitt?��s hand written name at top and bottom of cover. 20 pp. Bound at spine with thread. Browned, slight edge fraying.

A fine collection of documents including a first (?) draft of the original autobiography of Christopher Lippitt given by him to the Rhode Island Historical Society at its inception in 1822.

The Lippitt family were prominent and wealthy early industrial era Rhode Island cotton manufacturers and politicians. Their textile interests were started in 1809 by brothers Christopher (1744-1824) and Charles Lippitt (1754-1845), sons of Christopher and Katharine (Holden) Lippitt. In 1809, the Lippitt brothers, along with Benjamin Aborn, George Jackson, Amasa Mason, and William Mason organized a cotton mill under the name the Lippitt Manufacturing Company. The company grew into a major cotton manufacturer during the 19th century, with several succeeding generations becoming involved in its financially successful operations and administration.

The first document, an account of Christopher Lippitt?��s with Rufus Hopkins, shows a long list of�? purchases made between May 9, 1774 and October 29, 1776 (resolved by Rufus Hopkins errors excepted in 1779). Items shown are foodstuffs, sewing items and cloth, molasses and rum, and so on. There are references to ?��Mother?��, ?��Brother?��, your Negroe boy, Peleg Williams, Thomas Watson, and Charles Watson, David Nightingale, and others.�? Rufus Hopkins (1727-1813)�? was the son of Stephen Hopkins (1707?��1785)�? who signed the Declaration of Independence. Rufus Hopkins was employed in managing the Hope Furnace for almost 40 years; it produced pig iron and, during the Revolution, cannon and ball. The Lippitt family owned the land that was sold to the owners of Hope Furnace in 1785.

The third document is an agreement between Christopher and his mother Katherine to provide her with a life estate and interests in their property�? after the death of her husband Christopher, Sr. She was to get part of the homestead farm in Cranston as well as part of its orchards, timber, parts of the barn and stable. The agreement is specific as to what was to happen on washing day and baking day and ?��she is to find and make use of her own wood whenever she does business in said kitchen?��. It even specifies what doors she is to go in and out of.

The fourth document is between Charles Lippitt, Benjamin Aborn, George Jackson, Amasa Mason and William Mason on the one part, and Christopher Lippitt on the other part ?��that he will faithfully and to the best of his skill and ability at all times from the first day of April Inst. for the period of one year, act as Superintendent and Agent for the Lippitt Manufacturing Company...?�� He was to give an accounting every six months and is signed by all the parties involved.

The autobiographical sketch is likely the original draft of the one presented to the Rhode Island Historical Society at their general request for such items in 1822. Interestingly,�? Benjamin Cowell, in his Spirit of '76 in Rhode Island published in 1850, wrote: ?��A few hours ago we had an autobiographical sketch of Col. Lippitt put into our hands, which he had prepared at the request of some of his relatives, written in his plain and unostentatious style, commencing with his early life. This sketch we were obliged to part with, and to use as evidence after his death in the prosecution of some claims of his family on government, on account of his military services in the Revolutionary war. We regret this, as this sketch would have been very interesting to our readers." (P. 303. Proceedings of the Rhode Island Historical Society. Pub. by Rhode Island Historical Society, 1872).

However, the RIHS claims accession #1823.5 [Lippitt Family Papers Mss 538] to be the Christopher Lippitt Memoir and currently states on their website that ?��The 1822 Christopher Lippitt memoir is the earliest known manuscript donation to the RIHS that can still be identified in the collection.?���? So, somehow, they must had reacquired either it or a copy.�?�?�?�?�?�?�?

In the Revolutionary War Christopher Lippitt (1744-1824) was a colonel; he fought at White Plains, Trenton, Princeton; he became brigadier general of Rhode Island militiamen and became a Rhode Island Representative to Congress after the federation.

An excerpt from his autobiography (presumably the one held by the RIHS) states: ?��While I was with General Washington he gave me a brevet command of Brigadier General over a brigade. Soon after I returned home, I was appointed Brigadier-General of the militia of the county of Providence, and was in that command at the battle on Rhode Island, and was again a member of the General Assembly, and continued a member and in the command of Brigadier till after the peace, A. D. 1783. Soon after, a revolution took place in this State that dismissed me from all public life. But before this dismissal happened. I had been appointed Judge of the Supreme Court, and received my commission, but for various causes refused to be engaged, until the next session of the Assembly another was chosen in my room. I was also chosen to go as delegate to Congress and I refused.?�� This was published in its entirety in Proceedings of the Rhode Island Historical Society, 1878. Our copy shows the same quote.

"Isaac Bickerstaff" is a common pseudonym in almanacs. The prefatory observations, the eclipse notes, and the notes on the calendar pages in this series from 1800 are identical or nearly so with those in the corresponding issues of Nathan Daboll's New England Almanac (New London, Conn.), indicating Daboll's authorship. The publishing firm of West and Carter severed relations with the 1781 issue of The New-England Almanack. The title was published thereafter by John Carter under the Isaac Bickerstaff pseudonym, with which Benjamin West is often identified. Advertised in the Providence Gazette for Oct. 24, 1801. Worldcat notes 24 pages, so our copy may be short two short leaves..�? [Shaw & Shoemaker 996. Drake, Almanacs, 12977].