Federal Period
1793 Privateer & General Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. & Other Noted Historical Selectmen of Salem, Massachusetts Approval of Retailers of Spiritous Liquors for the Town
(SELECTMEN OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS). Signed by: Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. (General and Privateer); Edward Norris (Shipmaster); Jonathan Waldo (Important Salem Apothecary) and Jacob Sanderson (Historic Salem Cabinetmaker).
July 10, 1793-Dated Federal Period, List of 15 Approved Retailers of Spiritous Liquors in the Town of Salem, MA. by four Selectmen, including being Signed by (General) Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. (Son of the first Elias Hasket Derby (1739-1812), who was a wealthy merchant who became one of the first American millionaires through Trade with China and the far east, who's Ship "Grand Turk" was the first New England ship to enter China for trade), Very Fine.
In this official Manuscript Document, four Selectmen of Salem, Massachusetts sign their names approving a Resolution allowing fifteen men as Retailers of Spiritous Liquors: "as persons of Sober Life and Consecrations suitably qualified & provided for the exercise of such an employment and firmly attached to the Constitution and Laws of this Commonwealth." This unusual historic "Spiritous Liquor" related autographed document is 2 pages, measures about 12.5" x 7.5" and has some minor pinhole loss at two fold intersections, all of which is well away from the Signatures of the Selectmen including Signed by:
1. General Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. (1766-1826), He was a colonel of the Salem militia, and served in the War of 1812; was responsible for fitting out the Privateers of Salem that preyed on the British during that War of 1812; when General Lafayette came to Derry, NH on 1 September 1824 he stayed with General Derby at his house on Lane Road.
2. Edward Norris, See Book titled: "Edward Norris, Shipmaster from Salem" by William Charles White, pub. 1967;
3. Jonathan Waldo (1756-1817) was an important Salem Apothecary who served as a Major of the Salem Militia during the American Revolution and the major administrator of the restoration of the renamed Fort Pickering (previously Fort William); and
4. Jacob Sanderson, the guiding genius Salem Cabinetmaker, as noted in the September 1939 issues of "American Collector" magazine.
Curiously, on the list presented, a woman named Elizabeth W. was included as the sixteenth "Retailer", but her name was crossed out. A remarkable original period document signed by four highly important historic figures as the "Selectmen of Salem".
Elias Hasket Derby is a famous historic name known from Salem, Massachusetts and its Merchant and Naval history. The first Elias Hasket Derby (1739 " 1812) was a merchant who became one of the first American millionaires through trade with China and the far east.
Elias Hasket Derby's ship "Grand Turk" was the first New England ship to enter China for trade. His mansion in Salem is now a museum house, and it is across the street from the famous Derby Wharf. He married Elizabeth Crowninshield, had ten children, and his grandson was the Elias Hasket Derby III who gave the lecture described below.
General Elias Hasket Derby, Jr. was born in Salem, Massachusetts on 10 January 1766, and removed to Londonderry in 1815 (soon after this Derry split from Londonderry, New Hampshire). He died there on 16 September 1826 and is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery. He had followed his father's footsteps into trade, but was a financial failure, after a trade voyage to Brazil and London from 1809-1811.
He was a Colonel of the Salem militia, and served as an officer in the War of 1812. He was responsible for fitting out the Privateers of Salem that preyed on the British during that war. After the war he removed to Derry and had a 400 acre estate on Lane Road where he raised merino sheep. The house is no longer standing.
When General Lafayette came to Derry on 1 September 1824 he stayed with General Derby at his house on Lane Road. He was married to Lucy Brown, and had six children, including the author of the lecture Elias Hasket Derby (1803 " 1880).
The Derby family papers are in the collections of the Phillips Library, under the auspices of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts.