Thomas Arnold letter book

Collection — Box: Multi-Collection Box

Identifier: 086-02

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of a single bound volume titled “Letter Book, No. 2, Commenced [illegible] 1796”. The volume contains copies of business correspondence from June 6, 1794 - Dec. 29. 1826 consisting of letters from Thomas Arnold to various business associates. The bulk of the correspondence relates to shipments of agricultural trade along the East Coast and the market for assorted trade goods including wheat, hemp, lime, cheese, barley, flour, indigo, and coffee.

Some of the more frequent correspondents include Underhill and Buckley, Spencing and Spalding, his brother Jonathan Arnold, Francis Bull and Samuel Dexter. Toward the end of the volume, many of the letters are written by his son James Arnold on behalf of Thomas Arnold.

Dates

1794 - 1825

Creator

Arnold, Thomas, 1751-1826 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

PPL believes this collection is in the public domain. Users of this item are responsible for determining copyright restrictions.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Arnold (1751-1826) was a lawyer with varied business interests. He was the son of Obediah Arnold and Abigail Smith and the younger brother of Welcome Arnold and Jonathan Arnold (who is a correspondent). He was an early graduate of Brown University and a member of the Society of Friends. He was active in the anti-slavery movement through the Providence Abolition Society which worked to enforce abolition of slavery through legal intervention. He married Mary Brown, the daughter of Obadiah Brown and had two children, Anna (1779-1865) and James Arnold (1781-1868). He lived in Smithfield, North Providence and is buried in Lincoln, RI.