In this exhibit, the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections has selected items from their extensive collection of family papers and institutional records to pay tribute to students past and present. View Exhibit
Pictured below is a 1761 petition signed by fifty-seven residents of Rehoboth, Massachusetts asking town and county officials to forbid one Nehemiah Bickworth from performing smallpox inoculations in town. The transcription is provided below.
Transcription
Rehoboth March ye 16th 1761
To messures Thomas Bowen Danl Carpenter and Aaron Kingsley Justices of ye peace for the County of Bristtoll & the Select men of the town of Rehoboth Gentlen. These are to inform your Honour that there is a man named Nehemiah Bickworth Lately Come to this town in order as we have bin Informed to sett up the practice of Inocolation: which we apprehend will be of very Ill Concequince to the town in Generall, and a practice which hath been hitherto Rejected in this province and also in the Neighbouring Government and which we hope will Like wise be Discountenanced by your selves and in order there to wee the Subscribers Desire your honours would Take Some Speedy meathod that the sd Nehemiah Bickworth may be Emediatley sent or Carried out of town for wee are some of us fairfull whether the practice if not already begun, will Commince in a very short time.Gentlen. your Compliance here in will oblidge your Humble Petitioners.
* Possibly John Elice, whose wife Eunice died in Rehoboth in 1749.