Records of the Town of Tisbury, Mass.: Beginning June 29, 1669, and Ending May 16, 1864

Extended Description and Notes

Title on spine is "Tisbury's Town and Proprietors' Records." One of 500 copies. Spine tanned, a little age darkening, small scratch and a little scuffing on bottom right of rear board but otherwise volume is complete, tight, unmarked and wholly sound. This unique work was meticulously deciphered, arranged and recorded over many years as a labor of love by William S. Swift (1861-1936), civil engineer and surveyor and longtime town clerk of Vineyard Haven, and Jennie Cleveland, assistant town clerk. The Records provides an extraordinary look into the daily lives of Americans (who were not Americans when these records began) from the 17th to the 19th century. It details the real-life problems, concerns, attitudes, and solutions that concerned America from colonial times to the Revolutionary War ("...the unhappy State of the Province in general and of Said County [Dukes} in Particular." p. 206) through to the Civil War, and provides insights into British colonial and American life unobtainable elsewhere. Taxation, representation, qualifications of electors, jury selection and trials, support of the poor, voting procedures, cattle diseases, disputes of all sorts, road and bridge maintenance and construction, collection and disbursement of Town funds, etc. With preface by Charles E. Banks, the eminent historian of Martha's Vineyard.

Bookseller

Setton Book Collection (US)

Bookseller's Inventory #

243

Title

Records of the Town of Tisbury, Mass.

Author

Swift. William S

Format/Binding

Stamped black cloth, title and subtitle in gold on spine, town seal in gold on front board

Book Condition

Used - Very Good+

Quantity Available

1

Edition

First

Binding

Hardcover

Publisher

Wright and Potter Printing Company

Place of Publication

Boston

Date Published

1903

Pages

841 pages

Size

6 3/4" x 9 3/4"

Weight

0.00 lbs

Keywords

Colonial American records, town town meeting records, 17th century Massachusetts 18th century Massachusetts 19th century Massachusetts civil records

Bookseller catalogs

Eclectic Americana;

Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:

Tight

Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.

Poor

A book with significant wear and faults. A poor condition book is still a reading copy with the full text still readable. Any...

Spine

The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....