The Commissioners of the Alms-House vs ... [With 3 Other Titles].
Includes "A Remarkable Case of Bastardy" with a Black Defendant Whistelo, Alexander, Defendant. The Commissioners of the Alms-House, vs. Alexander Whistelo, A Black Man; Being a Remarkable Case of Bastardy, Tried and Adjudged by the Mayor, Recorder, And Several Aldermen, Of the City of New-York, Under the Act Passed 6th March, 1801, For the Relief of Cities and Towns from the Maintenance of Bastard Children. New York: Published by David Longworth, 1808. 56 pp. [Bound Wiith] Walker's Hibernian Magazine: Or, Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge. For February, 1800. [Dublin: Printed by Richard Gibson, 1801?]. 65-128 pp. Complete, pp. 113-128 bound before pp. 65-112. With two copperplate illustrations. [And] Walker's Hibernian Magazine: Or, Compendium of Entertaining Knowledge. For June, 1802. [Dublin: Printed by Richard Gibson, 1803?]. 321-384 pp. With two copperplate illustrations, one of which is bound at the beginning of the volume. [And] Impartial. [Benson, Egbert (1746-1833)]. Cases and Queries Submitted to Every Citizen of the United States, And Especially the Members of the Administration and of Both Houses of Congress, As Deserving to be Impartially Considered by Them. New York: Published by E. Sargeant, 1809. 24 pp. Octavo (8-1/4" x 4-3/4"). Contemporary or near-contemporary three-quarter sheep over marbled boards, gilt fillets and lettering piece to spine. Rubbing and light wear to boards and extremities, some tears to paper of boards, fading to spine, which has a chip at head, corners bumped and somewhat worn, hinges cracked (before first and after final leaves), ownership signatures (of P.F. McMillan, dated 1896, and J. Fensley) to front free endpaper, small later book label (of Mrs. H.W. Patton) to rear pastedown. Moderate toning to interior, light foxing and faint dampstaining in a few places, small scorch marks to final leaf of Whistelo trial with minor loss to text. An interesting collection. $1,500. * This collection of titles includes an account of the trial of Alexander Whistelo, a Black New Yorker working as a coachman for a local doctor, for bastardy (i.e. failure to support a biological child). Whistelo had a relationship with a mixed-race woman, Lucy Williams. When she had a child, Whistelo supported her, but as the child grew older and presented with "every appea.
Price: $1,500.00
Book number 73825