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Shadrach Osborn papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 1035

Scope and Contents

This collection is composed almost entirely of business papers of Shadrach Osborn, a general merchant of Southbury, Connecticut, and of his son, who was a sheriff of New Haven County. Included are miscellaneous financial papers such as receipts, orders, and so forth, and an account book listing primarily invoices for purchases by Osborn from wholesale suppliers.

Three letters written by Erastus Osborn from New Haven are also included in the collection. The first describes a "town-and-gown" riot in April of 1812, and the other two, written in January of 1824, describe the discovery of a body stolen by Yale medical students from the West Haven graveyard.

Dates

  • 1765-1838

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection are in the public domain. There are no restrictions on use. Copyright status for other collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Arrangement

The papers are arranged chronologically.

Extent

1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1035

Abstract

Correspondence and financial papers of Shadrach Osborn, a general merchant of Southbury, Connecticut, who was also active as a commissary during the Revolutionary War. Also included are the records of his business associate, Truman Hinman and his son, Erastus Osborn, who was sheriff of New Haven County. An account book for purchases from wholesale suppliers covers the period 1783-1792. The three letters in the papers are from Erastus Osborn. One dated 1812 describes a town-gown riot in New Haven, Connecticut and two written to his father in January 1824 report the discovery of a body stolen by Yale medical students from the West Haven, Connecticut burying ground.

Biographical / Historical

Shadrach Osborn was born on April 14, 1747, in the parish of Southbury, Connecticut. Little is known of his early life. During the Revolutionary War, he purchased and issued commissary departments. At the end of the war, Osborn was appointed a state purchaser of provisions for the army. He died on August 27, 1838.

Title
Guide to the Shadrach Osborn Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Janet Elaine Gertz
Date
September 1982
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours