Primary Source / Item: private records
(Image courtesy of Massachusetts Historical Society)
This image from microfilm is of a journal kept by Jonas Clarke of Lexington. Clarke was a beloved minister, who had the ability to influence the thinking and convictions of his congregation. Interleaved within his almanac he noted a running account of the development of the political crisis with entries like "News of Repeal of Stamp Act arrived" and "Rejoicing at Boston," "Stamp Act Repealed."
These private records are manuscripts generated by individuals. Likely places to find these materials are your town historical society or town library. Also, the internet allows for easy checking for private records at various larger repositories, such as the American Antiquarian Society, and the Harvard University Archives. A general internet search under a particular family name often yields manuscript finds.
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