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COLLECTION Identifier: UAII 27.40

Records related to the charges against and defense made by Nathan Prince

Manuscript copy of Joseph Mayhew's complaints against Nathan Prince, Oct. 31, 1740 and Nov. 4, 1740 Digital

Scope and Contents This is a manuscript copy of meeting minutes concerning fellow Tutor Joseph Mayhew's complaints against Nathan Prince. The minutes are written in a small paper-bound volume whose cover bears these inscriptions: "Oct. 31, 1740. Mr. Mayhew's complaint vs. Mr. Prince to the President and Tutors, Recd 14 Sept. 1741 of a Freshman, seal'd up;" "Acco of Mr. Mayhew's complaint of Mr. Prince contained in the Pres't & Tut's Book;" and "To the Honble Mr. Foxcroft, Chairman of the Committee of the...

Deposition of Abraham Hill against Nathan Prince, Nov. 1, 1740 Digital

Scope and Contents

Abraham Hill (A.B. 1737) claimed that Prince had come to his College chamber "smoaking a pipe of Tobacco" the previous summer and asked numerous unusual questions. Hill also testified that Prince had accused fellow Tutor Daniel Rogers of being someone who "never did know what a scholar was" and Tutor Henry Flynt of having been "superannuated long ago." This deposition was attested by Justice of the Peace Trowbridge.

Complaint of Harvard President and Tutors against Nathan Prince, submitted to Governor William Shirley and the Board of Overseers on Jan. 29, 1741, Jan. 29, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents President Edward Holyoke and Tutors Henry Flynt, Joseph Mayhew, and Thomas Marsh accused Prince of "sundry crimes & misdemeanors" and "sundry evil actions," including weakening and undermining the College government, showing contempt towards his fellow Tutors and towards Hollis Professor John Winthrop (who he claimed "knew no more of Philosophy than a Brute"), and making insulting remarks on numerous occasions. Prince was accused of calling others "Fool, Rogue, Rascal, Puppy &c." and...

Letter from Daniel Rogers to Edward Holyoke about Nathan Prince, Nov. 20, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents

Rogers wrote this letter from Ipswich, Massachusetts, apparently in response to Holyoke's request for information about Prince. Rogers claimed to have seen Prince "disguised with Drink" and described Prince's calling him "a sorry Puppy."

List of further "instances of crimes and misdemeanors" allegedly committed by Nathan Prince (3 copies), Nov. 26, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents

These three copies are not identical. One copy, which appears to be the original, is signed by Edward Holyoke, Henry Flynt, Joseph Mayhew, and Thomas Marsh. A note on the verso of one copy indicates that it was intended for delivery to Prince. Among many other things, the President and Tutors accused Prince of having said "in a Town meeting at Cambridge [...] that [Edmund Trowbridge] had not the manners to give him a pair of gloves at his Uncle's funeral."

Deposition of Andrew Eliot against Nathan Prince, Nov. 26, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents

In this deposition, Eliot describes Prince's anger at John Winthrop's selection as Hollis Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy, which he believed was done "to vex and torture" him. Eliot claims that Prince said: "they have chosen that Boy Winthrop professor, I could teach him his A. B. C. in the Mathematicks, they want to get me away from College."

Notebook containing Nathan Prince's defense against the first articles of accusation against him, Nov. 26, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents

A penciled notation on this notebook's cover indicates that the handwriting is of Thomas Prince, Nathan's brother. Informally titled "An Heavenly Interposition of a Storm & Tempest," this notebook details Prince's point-by-point responses to the accusations against him. Prince also includes lists of each accusation and those making the accusation; he appears to have believed there was a conspiracy against him.

William Brattle's testimony against Nathan Prince, Nov. 27, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents

Brattle claims to have heard Prince say, in regard to Henry Flynt, that "he hop'd to have an opportunity to stomp upon his grave" and that fellow Tutor Daniel Rogers was "a Cursed Fellow, Ignoramus, Blockhead, and that he was not fit to be admitted a freshman."

Notebook containing Nathan Prince's defense of himself before the Overseers, Dec. 24, 1741 Digital

Scope and Contents

"Prince's Defence of himself before the Overseers" is written on the cover in ink. "Papers relating to Mr. Prince's iniquities" is written in pencil, in a different hand. This volume, similar to the one in folder 9, records at great length Prince's responses to the accusations against him.

Letter from Nathan Prince to Edward Holyoke, Feb. 22, 1741/2 Digital

Scope and Contents

In this letter, Prince informs Holyoke of his desire to appeal the Board of Overseers' decision to dismiss him. Prince also asserts his belief that, until his appeal is considered, he should continue to perform his duties as Tutor and that the Corporation has no legal authority to fill a vacancy which does not exist.

John Lovell and Jeremiah Allen's statement regarding their visit to Nathan Prince, accompanying Edward Holyoke, July 12, 1742 Digital

Scope and Contents

Lovell and Allen accompanied Holyoke to Nathan Prince's lodging in Boston, to personally inform him that the Board of Overseers had voted for his dismissal and that his belongings had been removed from his chamber and were being stored in town until he chose to claim them.

Nathan Prince's pledge of indemnity towards Henry Prentice and Mary Prentice, ca. 1742 Digital

Scope and Contents

Although the context of this document is not entirely clear, it appears that the Prentices were responsible for storing Prince's belongings – recently removed from his Harvard chamber – until he could claim them. These included his "wearing linnen," "wearing cloathe & five or six papers," and "five or six books."

Paper wrapper formerly used to bundle records related to Nathan Prince, undated Digital

Scope and Contents Recto of wrapper reads: "Oct. 31, 1740 to June 24, 1742. Papers relative to the charges against & defence made by Nathan Prince in 1741. Examined & done with." Verso reads "Hon. President [Josiah] Quincy." These annotations suggest that the records in this collection were consulted by Quincy, who served as Harvard's President from 1829 to 1845. It is likely that he used them when writing his two-volume History of Harvard University,...