17th Century Document Relating to Boston Cabinetmaker, Henry Messenger

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Vander Sande Collection | Session I | March 1...

By Brunk Auctions

Mar 12, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-03-12 10:00:00 2025-03-12 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Vander Sande Collection | Session I | March 12, 2025 https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/brunk/vander-sande-collection-session-i-march-12-2025-17333
Featuring fine and rare Pilgrim century furniture, including a paneled oak valuables cabinet from the Mason-Messinger shop; works by North Shore cabinetmakers and joiners such as James Symonds of Salem, Thomas Chase of Newbury, and Thomas Dennis of Ipswich; Boston furniture including a Japanned Queen Anne high chest; decorative arts including 17th-century British ceramics, Nottingham carved mugs, Wrotham, Elers, Ralph Simpson, British Delft, Staffordshire, Westerwald, needlework jewelry caskets, mezzotints, and a rare Boston shell-framed coat of arms. Brunk Auctions support@brunkauctions.com

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• Lot Description

  circa 1680, deed of sale between parties William Clough and Henry Messenger, and his heirs and assigns, also Daniel and Mary Matthews, retained wax seals, framed, overall 21 x 31-1/2 in. 

  Provenance: Collection of John B. and Marie-Teresa Vander Sande, Newbury, Massachusetts

  Note: Henry Messenger (working dates, 1640-1681) and his wife Sarah, were residents of Boston prior to the year 1640. He was the first known proprietor, as appears by the Book of Possessions, of the land on which now stands the building owned and occupied by the Massachusetts Historical Society, and a part of that now covered by the Boston Museum. His house and garden were bounded on the west by the street leading to the common, now Tremont street; on the north by land of Richard Crychley; on the east by land of Major Sedgewick; and on the south by land of Thomas Scottow and the burying place.

  He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in 1658; a freeman in 1665; and by trade a joiner. His will was dated March 15, 1672, and his signature, written in the old style, is quite distinct. He probably died in 1681, as his property was appraised (at £496 9s 6d), April 30th, of that year. He leaves his estate to his wife, with power to divide it as she may choose among her children, with the exception of his eldest son John, to whom he bequeaths "Five shillings and no more, for reasons best known to myself."

• Provenance

  Collection of John B. and Marie-Teresa Vander Sande, Newbury, Massachusetts

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• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.00 %
• Condition
  good overall, foxing, fading, wear and losses at periphery and fold intersections