A Guide to the Nicholas Cresswell Journal, 1774-1824
Manuscript Number MS 61.2
A Collection in
the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library

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John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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USA
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Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

© 2002 By the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred Citation

Nicholas Cresswell Journal, Manuscript MS 61.2, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Acquisition Information

Purchase, 1961.

Alternative Form

Also available on microfilm (M-1556). Also available as a published work: The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, 1774-1777.

Descriptive Summary

Repository: John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Manuscript number: MS 62.1
Title: Nicholas Cresswell Journal, 1774-1824.
Extent: 4 v.
Language: English
Creator: Nicholas Creswell;1750-1804.

Scope and Content Information

Journal made from rough notes taken during Creswell's trip to America, 1774-1777. While traveling, he visited or lived in Barbados, Maryland, Virginia, western Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Philadelphia, and New York. Often, there are lengthy observations on the towns he visited, frontier techniques and customs, and the social customs of both Indians and whites. The journal is especially valuable for detailing the growth of the Revolutionary movement. Among the many people mentioned are Capt. Buddecomb, Capt. George Clark, Capt. [Christopher] Gist, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, John Neville, and George Rice.

Biographical/Historical Information

Nicholas Cresswell (1751-1804), of Derbyshire, England, came to America hoping to acquire land and settle permanently, but personal difficulties, the uncertain state of affairs, and the Revolutionary War, caused him to return to England.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Index Terms

Persons:
Cresswell, Nicholas, 1750-1804.
Buddecomb, Captain.
Clark, George Rogers, 1752-1818.
Gist, Christopher.
Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799.
Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826.
Neville, John, 1731-1803.
Rice, George.

Subjects:
Frontier and pioneer life.
Indians of North America--Social life and customs--18th century.

Geographical Names:
Barbados--Description and travel.
Kentucky--Description and travel--Early works to 1800.
Maryland--Description and travel--Early works to 1800.
New York (State)--Description and travel--Early works to 1800.
Pennsylvania--Description and travel--Early works to 1800.
Virginia--Description and travel--Early works to 1800.
United States-- History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775.