Jun 12 at 12:00 PM - Sale 2708 -
/

Sale 2708 - Lot 147

Estimate: $ 800 - $ 1,200
(NEW HAMPSHIRE.) Papers of three generations of the Bill family of Gilsum, NH (cousins of Joseph Smith). Several hundred items, 1.3 linear feet; generally minor wear. Various places, 1814-1909
Request Condition Report Set Alert for Similar Items

Additional Details

These papers relate to David Bill (1795-1887) of Gilsum, NH, a farmer and militia captain; his son Daniel Wright Bill (1822-1909) of Gilsum, a colonel in the state militia; and his daughter Lucy Mahala Bill Loveland (1851-1910).

The collection includes hundreds of personal letters addressed to family members, many of them still folded in their original envelopes. One of the earliest letters is from David Bill to his father Samuel after being mobilized for the War of 1812, in camp at Portsmouth, NH, 1814. A group of 4 letters to David Bill is from early Illinois settlers Edmund and Hubbard Brown, 1839-1840. A worn 17 March 1839 letter is postmarked from Dixon's Ferry, IL. Their 11 March 1840 letter is from Chicago and discusses the early phases of the presidential election: "I think that you would have ben very glad to have seen the election day, for to see the Whigs a riding around the streats with a long boat drawn by six hosses, and in it a band of music. . . . Next fall I think their expectations will be realized in the election of Mr. Harrison." It bears an inked "Chicago Mar 12 Ill's" postmark and a manuscript "25" on the address panel.

Both David Bill and son Daniel were active in Gilsum affairs, both in the militia and other roles. Included are several tax and poll lists compiled by David Bill, 1826-1832 and undated, plus one listing "Amount of maple sugar made in the town of Gilsum," arranged by school district. From Daniel we have numerous militia notices and various commissions signed by several New Hampshire governors, 1844-1906. The lot includes 4 of Daniel W. Bill's annual diaries, from 1878, 1882, 1904, and 1907.

From Lucy Mahala Bill, we have her 1868 pocket diary written in the year of her 17th birthday; and the 19 September 1867 issue of a manuscript magazine she edited, "The Evening Star: a weekly journal published by the members of the Marlow Debating Club."

Photographs include a daguerreotype portrait of Joseph Smith's first cousin David Bill and his wife Lucy Dort Bill (illustrated); 7 other cased images, most of them captioned; and 18 other loose photographs.

Printed ephemera in the collection includes: "History of Turkey, for the Amusement & Instruction of Little Tarry-At-Home Travellers." 19 pages including wrappers. 4 in OCLC; none at auction since Swann in 1979. Bennington, VT: Darius Clark, 1828.

"The Way to Be Good and Happy." 16 pages. Wendell, MA: J. Metcalf, 1828.

"The Boston Picture Books." 16 pages showing the early kings of England. Boston: Munroe & Francis, undated.

Ledyard Bill. "History of the Bill Family." 367, [1] pages. New York, 1867.

"Militia Laws of the State of New Hampshire." 13 pages. Concord, NH, 1850.

"Report of the Adjutant General." 16 pages. Concord, NH, 1852.

"Miscellaneous Concert and Musical Melange, Mr. Dexter." Letterpress broadside, 17 x 10½ inches; quite worn and torn, a performance of "Patriotic, Sentimental and Comic Songs." Place and date not filled in.

David Bill (1795-1887) was a first cousin of Joseph Smith (1805-1844), founder of the Mormons. Their mothers Lydia Mack Bill (1764-1826) and Lucy Mack Smith (1776-1856) were sisters. We have not read through every letter, but have found no direct references to Joseph Smith's close relatives in a quick search. However, we do find discussion of one early Mormon convert, David Dort (1793-1841), David Bill's brother-in-law. An 18 April 1841 letter from Eli Dort shares the news of David Dort's passing "from a friend in Illinois. . . . He died the 10th March 1841 with a full assurance that he had made his peace with God. . . . He expressed a great anxiety that we all should receive the truth and be prepared for death. . . . He has been in all the Mormon scerges and has been driven from hous and home a number of times, so I expect he had not mutch property." A letter from brother-in-law Vestus Chapin dated 8 July 1841 notes in passing "Brother David Dort died last winter in Ill. amongst the Mormons." Also included is a letter from David Dort before he joined the Mormons, dated Rochester, NY, 27 May 1827.

Papers of David Bill's father Samuel Bill are offered separately as lot 134. That lot includes a letter from Joseph Smith's grandmother Lydia Mack and other relevant papers.

Also in This Catalogue