Collection number: MC 266
Size: 1 box
(0.16 cu.ft.)
About The Frost Family
George F. Frost was born in New Castle, New Hampshire in 1720. He was a seaman from roughly 1740 until 1760, eventually sailing his own sloop, “The Flying Fish.” Frost married “a widow Richards of London” and lived in Rye, New Hampshire. In 1764, following her death, Frost married Margaret Weeks Smith, widow of Ebenezar Smith of Durham, New Hampshire. The Frosts moved to Durham and occupied the Smith Garrison at Lubberland. The senior Frost remained in Durham until his death in 1796. Frost served as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1777, 1778, and 1779. George Frost, Jr. (1765-1841) was the eldest of four sons born to George and Margaret Frost. In 1797, he married Margaret “Peggy” Burleigh, daughter of James and Mehitable Burleigh of Newmarket, New Hampshire. Frost was a merchant, farmer and local magistrate. He served as a state representative for Durham in 1807 and in 1825 was appointed postmaster of Durham.
About the Frost Family Papers
The Frost Family Papers include one manuscript account book, c.1750-1794 and 10 manuscript documents belonging to George Frost, Jr. The account book likely belonged to John Magrath of Cork, Ireland. It contains a few of his notations and signatures, along with his hand written will and testament, c. 1751. It apparently became the property of George F. Frost, who initially used it keep maritime accounts of his merchant travels to Newfoundland, Boston, and England, roughly 1751-53. He also included copies of five detailed letters to Royal Tyler, 1752-53, about voyages to Newfoundland on his sloop, “the Flying Fish.” The remainder of the account book, is filled with domestic accounts Frost kept after relocating to Durham, New Hampshire, roughly 1771-1794. In addition to the sale and purchase of domestic goods and credit accounts, Frost recorded payments to local women who produced textiles, cheese, and other goods. Frost did business with John Sullivan, Alexander Scammell, and Wentworth Cheswell, among others. The 10 unbound items relate to the business and writing of Frost’s son, George Frost, Jr. These includes affidavits related to the theft of a horse by the notorious Henry Tufts, an indenture, land surveys, a deposition regarding a mill fire, and Frost’s local history writings.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [Folder], [Box], Frost Family Papers, 1750-1821, MC 266, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Purchased: Carmen Valentino, June 2015 (Accession number: 2015.13)
Collection Contents
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Account book, c. 1750-1794 | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Affidavits related to horse theft, allegedly by Henry Tufts, (Three items.)1792-1793 | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Land surveys, (Two items.)1810-1811 | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Indenture for services of Henry Dearborn, aged eight years, ten months, (One item.)1811 | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Deposition regarding sawmill fire, April 1821, (One item.) | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Letter regarding Durham church history, August 21, 1821 | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Manuscript article on the history of Durham, 1821 | |
