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TABLE OF CONTENTSInventory |
Guide to the Joseph Wickham Case Papers
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Descriptive Summary | ||
| Creator | Case, J. Wickham (Joseph Wickham) | |
| Title | Joseph Wickham Case Papers, | |
| Dates: | 1832-1870 | |
| Abstract: | Joseph Wickham Case Papers contain general correspondence received, volumes and financial records related to Mr. Case's travel and work at the Town Clerk of Southold. | |
| Extent: | 1 box, .5 cubic feet | |
| Identification: | C-3 | |
| Location: | The material is located in the Archives at Queens Library. | |
Historical/Biographical Note
J (Joseph) Wickham Case was born at Cutchogue in the town of Southold on October 18, 1806, the son of Moses and Lydia Case. A brief biographical sketch of Mr. Case is found in Munsell's History of Suffolk County (1882), and from it we learn that he taught school as a young man not only on Long Island but in other sections of New York State and in South Carolina.
In 1831, Mr. Case made a voyage to Europe where he spent a year mostly about the shores of the Mediterranean. In 1839, he was elected to the State Assembly from the first district of Suffolk County. Mr. Case held several political offices such as County Clerk and County Treasurer. By profession, however, he was a surveyor, and it was he who laid out many areas of the Village of Greenport.
A student of history, he will also be remembered as the individual who wrote the extensive explanatory notes accompanying the documents published in the work, Southold Town Records (1882). He himself copied these town records. Judging from some of the papers herein, he was also called upon to administer the estates of several individuals. Mr. Case probably died sometime in the late 1890s.
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Scope and Content Note
The General Correspondence Received series is not an extensive series at all (ca. 30 items). One or two letters written by Mr. Case are also found herein. Many of the earlier dated letters were written by various individuals living in the city of Marseilles, France. The 1863 letters are from a Lucy V. Wheeler, from the town of Colchester. No particular subject is indicated In this correspondence.
The Miscellaneous Volume of Historical Notes series contains a volume though paged up to 429 has the first 52 pages torn out, and carries no identification. Apparently, it came into Mr. Case’s possession when he occupied the position of Town Clerk of Southold. Apparently, it is a working draft of the work by Charles Benjamin Moore titled Town of Southold Long Island, Personal Index Prior to 1698… which was published in 1868. It is also possible that Mr. Case used the volume when he was preparing his explanatory notes for his Southold Town Records, or may even have contemplated updating Moore’s work. Since, however, this volume does not contain many notes or sentences which appear in Mr. Moore’s work as finally published, it is also possible that as stated above, the volume simply contains Mr. Moore’s drafts and that it came into Mr. Case’s hands at the death of Mr. Moore. About 20 or 30 loose notes, letters or documents were originally inserted at various pages in the volume. Some of the letters or notes have the name of Mr. Case written on them. These loose items have now been placed in envelopes.
The Papers Referring to Darling. Albertson and Rose Co. series of about 35 documents are either receipted bills received by Mr. Case, or to a lesser extent, letters addressed to him, all dealing with the firm of Darling Albertson and Rose Co., Manhattan Produce Commission Merchants. Perhaps one or two of the letters are also personal in nature.
The series Papers Referring to The Estate of Captain Freeman H. Smith contains documents relating to the estate of Captain Smith. Sometime around 1855 of 1856, Freeman H. Smith of the Town of Southold, Captain of a whaling ship, died at sea, leaving his wife Agnes and their children, Arthur W., Frederick H., Alice H., and Elizabeth M.E., as his survivors. On Nov 29, 1856, Judge Abraham Rose, appointed Case, who was a friend of Smith, administrator of the latter’s estate (letters of administration signed by Judge Rose is among the papers in this collection). The papers in this series then, are those dealing with this aspect of Mr. Case’s career. Evidently, he administered the estate for several years, for the papers extend from 1855 to 1867. The papers consist largely of accounts or receipts, plus several letters. Occasionally, a legal document is also included. All items filed chronologically.
The records in the Papers Referring to the Estate of William J. Wheeler series of 8 documents are the result of Mr. Case’s appointment as executor of the estate of William J. Wheeler of Greenport. According to a document in the Papers Referring to The Estate of Joshua P. Youngs series dated Feb 24, 1863, J. Wickham Case was appointed executor of the will of Joshua P. Youngs. Evidently, some litigation may have been involved in this administration, and this small series (ca.6 Items) presumably refers to this litigation.
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Arrangement
They are grouped in the following series:
| General Correspondence Received 1832-1863 | |
| Miscellaneous Volume of Historical Notes ca. 1868 | |
| Papers Referring to Darling Albertson and Rose Co 1851-1857 | |
| Papers Referring to the Estate of Captain Freeman H. Smith 1855-1867 | |
| Papers Referring to the Estate of William J. Wheeler 1850s-1860s | |
| Papers Referring to the Estate of Joshua P. Youngs 1863-1870 |
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Creator of item, date of item (if known), identification of item, if a photograph its control number. The Joseph Wickham Case Papers, Archives at Queens Library, Queens Borough Public Library.
Access Restrictions
Open for research without restrictions. Manuscripts are only available in the Archives at Queens Library, please call (718) 990-0770 for hours. Manuscript users will be required to complete the division's Manuscript Usage Form and deposit their photograph identification or Queens Borough Public Library card with a staff member. The identification will be returned to the user after she/he has returned the material. Manuscript users will deposit all their personal items behind the reference desk. Manuscript users must use the division's loose sheets of paper for note taking. To reiterate, no pen of any type is permitted. Paper and a pencil are available upon request. Manuscript users may be required to use special handling procedures depending on the conditions of the material.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the:
- Archives at Queens Library
- Queens Borough Public Library
- 89-11 Merrick Boulevard
- Jamaica, NY 11432
- Phone: (718) 990-0770.
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Access Points
Subject Names:
- Case, J. Wickham (Joseph Wickham)
Subject Places:
- Suffolk County (N.Y.)
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Inventory
[The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.]
