1.   Historical note

2.   Scope and content

3.   Provenance

4.   Processing note

5.   Inventory

6.   Subjects


    List of finding aids

    R.I.H.S. Library page

    R.I.H.S. home page

 Thomas Sessions Family Papers

 Providence merchant and farmer

 Papers, 1784-1926. Bulk 1790-1845.

 Size: 3.75 lin. ft.

 Catalog number: MSS 712

 Processed by: Rick Stattler, August 1995 and April 2001


©Rhode Island Historical Society

Manuscripts Division

 


Historical note:


            Darius Sessions (?-1809) of Providence was Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island from 1769-1775, and a prominent merchant. His son Thomas (1769-1845) became active with him in business around 1790. They formed the partnership of Darius Sessions and Son. Thomas also invested as a part-owner of the sloop Nancy, which journeyed to St. Croix in 1795. Thomas served as an officer in the Providence regiments of the militia from 1797 to 1806, reaching the rank of Colonel.

            After the death of his father, Thomas Sessions went into business by himself. He owned several ships engaged in the coastal trade, most notably the sloop Henry, which he purchased in 1810 from Thomas L. Halsey, and sold in 1816 to Joshua Bicknell. This ship undertook several trips to the south, mostly under captains Elisha Barlow (from 1810-1812, and 1813-1815) and Anson Potter (from 1812-1813). Providence merchant Caleb Allen was a partner of Sessions in this venture for a time. During this time, Sessions was also a partner in the Providence Manufacturing Company, textile manufacturers.

            Sessions married a daughter of prominent jurist Henry Marchant, and had several children, including Henry, Darius (1794- ), Elizabeth Bicknell and Frances (1800-1870), who married Samuel J. Cole (1803-1873). Cole was the owner of a large farm estate on the east side of Providence, near today's Cole and Sessions Streets.

            Samuel and Frances Cole had three surviving children: Cyrus (1835-1886), William M. (1837- ), and Washington L. (1841-1911). Washington remained on the estate, where he farmed and operated a milk delivery service. He married Martha Stalker (1848-1916), daughter of Scottish-born mule spinner Duncan Stalker (ca. 1811- ). They had at least six children, including Francis S. (1873-1964) and Jessie L. (1875-1948).

            A cousin of Martha's, Archibald "Clam Bake Archie" Stalker (?-1902) was renowned as "the only man in New York who can prepare a genuine Rhode Island clam bake." His heirs were his cousins Ophelia Stalker (1853- ) and Sandford D. Stalker of Wrentham (1839-1913). Sandford's estate in turn was resolved by his nephew Francis S. Cole.


Bibliography:

Cole, E.B. Descendants of James Cole of Plymouth, 1908.

1850 U.S. Census, Warwick, p. 123 (Stalker family)

1900 U.S. Census, Rhode Island, E.D. 14, page 16 (Cole family)

1900 U.S. Census, Massachusetts, E.D. 1087, page 18 (Stalkers)

Providence directories, 1898-1903

Rhode Island Cemetery Database


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Scope and content:


            Most of these papers relate to the mercantile activities of Thomas Sessions. The years 1810-1816 are particularly well documented by correspondence and shipping records, but there are various account books and files of accounts settled which cover his entire career. There are very few personal papers of Thomas Sessions in this collection. There is very little material on the Providence Manufacturing Company, other than one extensive weaving list from 1811.

            The remainder of the collection is miscellaneous in nature, and deals with the families of Thomas Sessions' descendants, including all of the persons referred to above. Of particular interest are ten letters written by Sandford Stalker to his sister Mary (ca. 1835-?) at 14 Howell St., Providence, while serving on board the U.S.S. Cincinnati and U.S.R.S. Great Western during the Civil War. One mentions an effort to send money home to Providence: "i sent Six Hundred Dollars...by an Officre an he decamp with it all and nothing has benn herde of him since but i am in hopes they will kech him." Another document is the 1859 testimony of Mary Abbott Fenner, a 93-year old spinster, who explains in great detail the Fenner and Abbott family lines, and the history of the town meeting house lot.

            The Washington Cole milk sales journals are of particular interest. It lists the many houses that were on Cole's delivery route on the Providence's East Side from 1889 to 1901, as well as the quantity delivered. In the rear of the later book are accounts with his laborers, who are mentioned only by their first names and the designation "Portuguese."

            This collection contains no material relating to Darius Sessions' career as Lieutenant Governor, or to the Revolutionary War. The only Darius Sessions material, other than in partnership with his son, relates to his estate.


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Provenance:


            The bulk of this collection was a gift of Florence B. and Francis S. Cole, descendants of Thomas Sessions still living on his original East Side land, in 1992. It has been integrated with a similar, though much smaller, collection of Thomas Sessions papers donated by Ada Holding Miller in 1963 and Madeleine A. Sessions in 1969.

            Washington Cole's milk sales journals were purchased from What Cheer Antiques in 2001, who had it on consignment from Lawrence DePetrillo. Cole's name does not appear in the journals. However, the same shop also offered other ephemeral items in Cole's name for sale, and the Providence directories suggest that Cole was the only milk dealer who resided in the area of the East Side suggested by these delivery routes. There seems to be little doubt that this was Cole's book.


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Processing note:


            When these papers were donated, the bulk of them were still organized under Thomas Session's filing system. They were folded, usually registered in Sessions' hand, and wrapped in brick-like bundles. Many of the records had been disturbed from this arrangement, due to curious descendants, and the depredations of vermin, and were scattered about in great disarray. An effort has been made to maintain (and restore) the original order to the extent practical. The large numbers of "accounts settled" bundles, for example, are kept as a separate file, though with the loose papers it was sometimes difficult to distinguish between this and other files. Those files that were found wrapped and untouched are labeled "complete" on the folders, while those compiled from loose papers are marked as incomplete.

            In addition, an effort was made to distinguish between the two accessions of material. They are generally kept in separate folders, and the older accession marked as "accn x", except the militia papers, in which three newer items are marked and interfiled with the old system.

            A large body of material relating to Peleg Angell of Scituate was found in the later accession. No clues were found to indicate any relation between him and the Sessions-Cole family. This material was separated to form MSS 959, the Peleg Angell Papers.


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Inventory:


Subgroup 1: Thomas Sessions


Correspondence:

Box 1, folder 1. Letters received, 1803, 1812

Box 1, folder 2. Letters received, 1-9/1813 (mostly August and September)

Box 1, folder 3. Letters received, 10-11/1813

Box 1, folder 4. Letters received, 12/1813

Box 1, folder 5. Letters received, 1814

Box 1, folder 6. Letters received, 1815-1816 (all from J. Bicknell); 1824, undated

Box 1, folder 7. Letters received, 1823-1825; 1836

Box 1, folder 8. Letter copies sent, 1817, 1819. See also folder 26a.

Box 1, folder 9. Letter copies sent, 1825, 1827

Box 1, folder 10. Letter copy book, 5/10/1813 - 7/22/1814


Documents:

Box 1, folder 11. Deeds, mortgages, leases, 1796-1809

Box 1, folder 12. Deeds, mortgages, leases, 1810-1825

Box 1, folder 13. Deeds, mortgages, leases, 1826-1845

Box 1, folder 14. Leases, 1833-1834

Box 1, folder 15. Home insurance, 1821-1828

Box 1, folder 16. Home insurance, 1821-1835

Box 1, folder 17. Militia papers (orders, commissions, etc,) 1798-1805

Box 1, folder 18. Mount Vernon Lodge accounts, 1800-1802

Box 1, folder 19. Writs and warrants, 1810-1817

Box 1, folder 20. Providence Manufacturing Company, 1811-1817

Box 1, folder 21. Darius Sessions estate, 1795-1809

Box 1, folder 22. Thomas sessions estate, 1845-1846

Box 1, folder 23. Misc. documents: Power of attorney from Thomas Halsey, 1804

                         Memo from William Marchant re mortgage, undated

                         "List of shanties, rents and terms", 1836

Box 1, folder 24. Misc. documents: Agreement with John Pitman, 1843

                         Power of attorney from Joshua Bicknell Jr. 1817

                         Testimony on waste water, 1834

                         Sale of pew at Benevolent Cong. Church, 1813

                          Sale of share in turnpike company, 1812

                         Bond to Martha Miller, 1825

                         Sale of sloop Henry from Caleb Allen, 1812

                         Bond, Darius Sessions to Elizabeth. Bicknell, 1822

                         Draft of will of Mary Sessions, ca. 1825?


Shipping records:

Box 1, folder 25. Sloop Nancy, 1795

Box 1, folder 26. Sloop Henry - Crew lists 1812-1813; bill of sale, 1810

Box 1, folder 26a. Sloop Henry - Letters to captains, 1810-1816

Box 1, folder 27. Sloop Henry - Elisha Barlow receipts, 1810-1815

Box 1, folder 28. Sloop Henry - Miscellaneous receipts, 1810-1815

Box 1, folder 29. Sloop Henry - Ship repair accounts, 1814-1819

Box 1, folder 30. Miscellaneous ships, 1794-1825

Box 1, folder 31. Miscellaneous ships, 1822-1823

Box 1, folder 32. Marine insurance, 1810-1815

Box 1, folder 33. Marine insurance, 1825-1826


Account books:

Box 1, folder 34. Expense books / cash books, 1812-1827

Box 1, folder 35. Expense books / cash books, 1828-1835, 1842

Box 1, folder 36. Milk books / Account books, 1824-1828

Box 1, folder 37. Account books, 1791, 1802

Box 1, folder 38. Misc. volumes:

                        Memo books, 1815, 1820; team expenses, 1808; rye and coal book, 1814

Box 1, folder 39. Account book fragments

Box 1, folder 40. Inventory, 1790-1799

Box 1, folder 41. Inventory, 1800-1815

Box 5 (oversized), folder 2. Cash book fragments, 1789-1792

Box 5 (oversized), folder 3. Waste book, 1789-1790

Box 5 (oversized), folder 4. Waste book, 1798-1799

Box 5 (oversized), folder 5. Waste book, 1806-1808

Box 5 (oversized), folder 6. Waste book, 1809

Box 5 (oversized), folder 7. Waste book, 1809-1813


Accounts settled (loose)

Box 2, folder 1. 1790, 1795 (3 it.)

Box 2, folder 2. 1796

Box 2, folder 3. 1797

Box 2, folder 4. 1798

Box 2, folder 5. 1799

Box 2, folder 6. 1800 (Jan.-Feb. only)

Box 2, folder 7. 1801

Box 2, folder 8. 1802

Box 2, folder 9. 1803

Box 2, folder 10. 1804

Box 2, folder 11. 1805

Box 2, folder 12. 1806

Box 2, folder 13. 1807

Box 2, folder 14. 1808

Box 2, folder 15. 1809 (water-damaged)

Box 2, folder 16. 1809

Box 2, folder 17. 1809-10 (Darius Sessions estate)

Box 2, folder 18. 1810

Box 2, folder 19. 1810

Box 2, folder 20. 1811

Box 2, folder 21. 1811

Box 2, folder 22. 1812

Box 2, folder 23. 1813

Box 2, folder 24. 1813, loss by the storm

Box 2, folder 25. 1814

Box 2, folder 26. 1815

Box 2, folder 27. 1816 (only Jan.-June)

Box 2, folder 28. 1817

Box 2, folder 29. 1818-1819

Box 2, folder 30. 1820

Box 2, folder 31. 1821 (none 1822-1823)

Box 2, folder 32. 1824

Box 2, folder 33. 1825

Box 2, folder 34. 1826

Box 2, folder 35. 1827

Box 3, folder 1. 1828

Box 3, folder 2. 1829

Box 3, folder 3. 1830

Box 3, folder 4. 1831 (none 1832-1833)

Box 3, folder 5. 1834

Box 3, folder 6. 1835

Box 3, folder 7. 1836 (none 1837)

Box 3, folder 8. 1838

Box 3, folder 9. 1839

Box 3, folder 10. 1840 (none 1841-1843)

Box 3, folder 11. 1844

Box 3, folder 12. 1845

Box 3, folder 13. Notes paid, 1810-1813

Box 3, folder 14. Notes paid, 1813-1819

Box 3, folder 15. Notes paid1820-1839

Box 3, folder 16. Uncollected notes, 1784-1812

Box 3, folder 17. Miscellaneous financial, 1790-1808

Box 3, folder 18. "Old unsettled accounts" (incoming and outgoing) 1799-1810

Box 3, folder 19. Highway accounts, 1804-1809

Box 3, folder 20. Bad debts, 1808-1816

Box 3, folder 21. Receipts and orders, 1808-1817

Box 3, folder 22. Miscellaneous financial, 1809-1819

Box 3, folder 23. Miscellaneous financial, 1809-1819

Box 3, folder 24. "Notes of hand and due bills" 1810-1837; "Old accts", 1810-1828

Box 3, folder 25. Miscellaneous financial, 1820-1829

Box 3, folder 26. Miscellaneous financial, 1820-1829 and 1835

Box 3, folder 27. Milk memorandum, ca. 1825

Box 3, folder 28. Milk accounts, 1832

Box 3, folder 29. Miscellaneous financial, 1830-1843

Box 3, folder 30. Miscellaneous financial, undated



Series 2: Sessions Family


Anna M. and Rebecca Sessions

Box 3, folder 31. Receipts, 1891-1896


Darius Sessions II

Box 3, folder 32. Commonplace book, ca. 1850, w/ fam. record


Henry M. Sessions

Box 3, folder 33. Deeds, 1845

Box 3, folder 34. Letters from Thomas Sessions, 1823, 1825

Box 5 (oversized), folder 1. Plat map, 1849


Mary Sessions

Box 3, folder 35. Notes paid, 1836


Rebecca C. Sessions

Box 3, folder 36. Cash book, 1878-1890


Miscellaneous Sessions

Box 3, folder 37.

            Darius Sessions II, deed to railroad, 1847

            Letter, D.R. Staples to Miss Sessions, 1890

            Receipts of Mary Sessions, 1874-1875 (2)

            Indenture of Sessions to Cole family, 1837

            Receipt to Miss Sessions, 1874

            Receipt to heirs of Mary Sessions, 1880

            Unidentified inventory, ca. 1880

            Exhibition at the Kent Academy, 1807 (list including Darius Sessions II)

            Anna Sessions building inspection certificate, 1898

            Sarah Sessions Walden funeral account, 1916



Series 3: Stalker Family


Archibald Stalker (of N.Y.C.)

Box 3, folder 38. Clambake clippings, undated, and miscellaneous, 1873-1902


Duncan Stalker

Box 3, folder 39. Receipts, 1848-1867


Ophelia Stalker

Box 3, folder 40. Correspondence, 1896-1904


Sandford D. Stalker

Box 3, folder 41. Miscellaneous, 1905-1922

Box 3, folder 42. Pension and Civil War, 1861-1909

Box 3, folder 43. Letters written in Naval service, 1864-1865


Miscellaneous

Box 3, folder 44. Stalker family miscellany, 1873-1928



Series 4: Miscellaneous Families

Box 3, folder 45. Religious commonplace book, unidentified, undated, very fragile

Box 3, folder 46. Letters, Ray G. Greene from George G. Hopkins, 1851

Box 3, folder 47. Sermon by Edward S. Remington, undated

Box 3, folder 48. Testimony and petitions regarding "Providence Town House Lot", including testimony on Abbott and Fenner genealogy by Polly Fenner. 1859-1861.

Box 3, folder 49. Miscellaneous: Inventory of estate of Jeremiah Dexter, 1808

            Will of Samuel Jackson, 1806

            John Whipple's memorandum from gaol book, 1806

            Daily labor log of Newport ___, 1794

            Power of attorney, Cato Vernon of Newport to Cato Mumford of Providence, 1795

            Memorandum from Theodore Foster re same, 1798



Series 5: Cole Family


Frances S. Cole

Box 4, folder 1. Estate, 1871; letters from Mary Sessions, ca. 1864


Francis S. Cole

Box 4, folder 2.

            Canceled checks, 1911-1913

            Scholfield's Commercial College receipts, 1869

Stalker farm receipts, 1922-1923

Box 4, folder 3. Correspondence, 1904-1926

Box 4, folder 4. Sandford Stalker estate, 1913-1914

Box 4, folder 5. Brown University reunion, 1902


Jessie L. Cole

Box 4, folder 6. Miscellaneous, 1913-1921


Martha (Stalker) Cole

Box 4, folder 7. Miscellaneous, 1915-1916


Samuel L. Cole

Box 4, folder 8. Letters received, 1850-1858

Box 4, folder 9. Receipts, etc., 1849-1869


Washington L. Cole

Box 4, folder 10. Letters received, 1881-1909

Box 4, folder 10a. Milk / farm sales journal, 1889-1891

Box 4, folder 10b. Milk sales journal, 1898-1901

Box 4, folder 11. Receipts, etc., 1861-1911

Box 4, folder 12. Highway receipts, 1895-1902

Box 4, folder 13. Canceled checks, 1902-1904

Box 4, folder 14. Canceled checks, 1905-1909

Box 4, folder 15. Canceled checks, 1910-1911

Box 4, folder 16. Canceled checks, estate, 1911-1912


Cole family

Box 4, folder 17. Deeds, 1849-1926

Box 4, folder 18. Unidentified account book, 1888-1889

Box 4, folder 19. Miscellaneous unidentified


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Subjects:


Abbott Family

Allen, Caleb

Barlow, Elisha

Cincinnati (naval vessel)

Clam bakes

Cole, Washington L. (1841-1911)

Cole Family

Farms - Rhode Island - Providence

Fenner, Mary Abbott (1766-?)

Fenner Family

Foster, Theodore

Frost & Rogers

Great Western (naval vessel)

Greene, Ray G. Of East Greenwich.

Henry (sloop)

Ladd, William

Marchant, Henry

Marchant, William

Merchant marine - Rhode Island - Providence

Merchants - Rhode Island - Providence

Milk trade - Rhode Island - Providence

Nancy (sloop)

Portuguese Americans - Rhode Island - Providence

Potter, Anson

Providence, R.I. - Commerce

Providence Manufacturing Company

Providence Town House Lot

Remington, Edward S.R.

Second Regiment of Providence, Rhode Island Militia

Sessions, Darius & Son

Sessions Family

Stalker, Sandford D. (1839-1911)

Stalker Family

Textile industry - Rhode Island - Providence

United States - History - War of 1812

United States - History - Civil War (1861-1865)




Index to the Thomas Sessions Correspondence

Includes all letters in box 1, folders 1 through 10, and 26a.

Does not include correspondence in the papers of family members.


Adams, Joseph

            1827: 1 copy sent


Barlow, Elisha

            1813-1814: 7 rec'd

            1810-1813: 9 copies in Sloop Henry file


Bicknell, Joshua Jr. Of Savannah

            1815-1816: 10 rec'd


Brattel, James Of Pawtuxet

            1814: 1 rec'd


Brewer, John of Providence

            1813: 1 rec'd


Bucklin, John C. Of Baltimore.

            1813: 1 rec'd


Bucklyn & Olyphant Of Baltimore

            1814: 1 rec'd


Carpenter, Willet Of North Kingstown, RI

            1813: 1 rec'd


Case, Benjamin W.

            1814: 1 rec'd


Channing, E.

            Undated: 1 rec'd


Channing, Henry

            1813-1814: 2 rec'd


Currie, James

            1813: 14 rec'd

            1813: 2 in letter book


Curtis, Joseph

            1813: 2 rec'd


Dean, John Of Newburyport

            1813: 1 rec'd


Dinnies, J.C. Of N.Y.

            1813-1814: 4 rec'd

            1813: 1 in letter book


Frost, Isaac

            1813: 2 rec'd



Frost & Rogers Of N.Y.

            1813-1814: 18 rec'd

            1813-1814: 6 in letter book


Hoppin, B. & C.T.

            1825: 1 copy sent


Jones & Harris

            1813: 1 rec'd


Jones and Rathbone

            1813: 1 rec'd


Ladd, William

            1813-1814 and undated: 14 rec'd

            1814: 1 in letter book

            1817, 1819: 2 letter copies


Loomis, Lebbeus Of N.Y.

            1812: 1 rec'd


Marchant, Henry

            1814: 4 rec'd 


Marchant, William

            1813-1814; 12 rec'd


Marcy, Edward

            1803: 1 rec'd


Munson & Barnard Of Boston

            1813: 1 rec'd


Patten, C.J.

            1823-1825: 7 rec'd


Potter, Anson

            1813: 7 in letter book

            1812-1813: 3 copies in Sloop Henry file


Potter, Rouse T. Of Newport

            1813: 1 rec'd


Pratt, Peter

            1836: 1 rec'd


Rhodes, Charles

            1816: 1 copy in Sloop Henry file


Rogers, Charles W.

            1813: 3 in letter book


Sessions, Darius II

            1813: 16 rec'd


Sessions, Henry M.

            1823: 1 rec'd

            Also 9 letters, Thomas Sessions to Henry Sessions, in ser. 2.


Sheffield, J.B. Of New London

            1813: 1 rec'd


Stanton & Spilman Of Boston

            1813: 1 rec'd


Throop, William Jr.

            1812: 1 rec'd


Tillinghast, Nicholas. Of Cumberland.

            1813: 1 rec'd


Townsend & Dunbar

            1813: 1 in letter book


Townsend & Rogers

            1813-1814: 10 rec'd

            1814: 2 in letter book


Waterman, Nathaniel Of Providence

            1813: 1 rec'd


West, John L. Of Richmond.

            1813: 1 rec'd


Westcott, Thomas

            1813: 4 rec'd


Whitney & Dorr Of Boston

            1814: 1 rec'd



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RIHS1822