Papers Relating to the Island of Nantucket, with Documents relating to the Original Settlement of that Island, Martha’s Vineyard, and other Islands adjacent, known as Dukes County, While under the colony of New York. Compiled from Official Records in the Office of the Secretary of State at Albany, New York. By Franklin B. Hough, Member of the Albany Institute.

Albany, New York: [Joel Munsell], 1856. 8vo, later half black morocco with marbled paper over boards, decorative gilt author, title, date and rules at spine. xviii, 162 pp., 3 pp with head-pieces and initial letters in red, folding map, 8.25” x 10.75”, tinted in light green.

Edition of 150 copies, printed for private distribution. A fascinating and handsomely printed collection of deeds, petitions, warrants, council minutes and other official documents concerning the land claims, settlements, quarrels, patents, etc. of the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. The papers are dated between 1641–1692 and frequently concern Thomas Mayhew, Tristam Coffin, and other original inhabitants of Nantucket. Wanackmamack Indian deeds and complaints are also included. The folding “Map of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard with the adjacent coasts” is attractively designed and printed on heavy stock. Depicted are Barnstable and Falmouth on the Cape, Buzzards Bay, Elizabeth Isles, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket with small islands in Nantucket Sound. In 1693, Nantucket was removed from New York jurisdiction to join Massachusetts—explaining the present Albany publishing connection.

Franklin B. Hough (1822–1885) was a physician, scientist and historian of New York state who is regarded as the father of American forestry. After being employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to compile the “Report Upon Forest,” Hough later served as the first Chief of the Division of Forestry in the USDA (the predecessor of the U.S. Forest Service). He was among the first to call attention to the depletion of forests in the U.S. and in 1885 he drafted the law which led to the preservation of the Adirondack forest. He often spoke on issues concerning forest preservation and authored a range of reports on the subject.

REFERENCES: Inventory of the Franklin Benjamin Hough Diaries, 1873–1883 at foresthistory.org

CONDITION: Good, head of spine chipped, hinges rubbed but still sound, extremities rubbed, a few light stains to edges of paste-downs, a few small brown spots to interior but generally clean and fresh.