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Start Over Collection Thomas Thistlewood papers, 1748-1792

Reading Notes and Other Papers 5.51 Linear Feet

Series III, Reading Notes and Other Papers, consists of twenty volumes, most in Thistlewood's hand. The papers in this series contain Thistlewood's notes on his reading of European philosophy, literature, science, medicine, and botany and lists of his books and book collection, alongside accounts and other papers, including inventories by Thistlewood of his slaves; lists of moveable property and game; and miscellaneous papers. Volumes include Mr. Richard Beckford's Instructions for overseers of sugar plantations; a scribal volume of navigational problems; and a volume containing items relating to Jamaica, including poems and council meeting minutes.

  1. Yale University -Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
  2. Thomas Thistlewood papers, 1748-1792

Thomas Thistlewood papers, 1748-1792 9.26 Linear Feet

Thistlewood, Thomas, 1721-1786

The papers consist of diaries, weather journals, commonplace books, reading notes and other material documenting the life, work and intellectual interests of the Jamaican plantation overseer and slaveowner Thomas Thistlewood. This highly detailed record of his activities as an overseer and later owner of numerous slaves contains information on his criteria for the purchase and sale of slaves, methods of assigning work, allotment of provisions, the illness and death rate among them, and detailed descriptions of Thistlewood's brutal methods of physical punishment for any infraction.

  1. Yale University -Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library