Subject: Americana, Whaling, Revolutionary War, Quaker History Provenance: Direct family transcription by grandson William Logan Rodman Scale: 100+ handwritten pages Location: Local pickup available in Vinnin Square / Swampscott, MA
This is a rare, comprehensive manuscript transcription of the Autobiographical Memorandum of William Rotch (1734–1828), a towering figure in American maritime history. Meticulously prepared for the family record by his grandson, William Logan Rodman, this 100+ page volume serves as the primary source for the "ROTCH PROJECT".
Cabinet Card Frontispiece: The inside front cover features a striking profile portrait mounted on a card background, presenting with the character of a small cabinet card.
Family Script: The memoir is written in a legible 19th-century hand, accompanied by a handwritten "Wm Rotch" signature beneath the portrait.
Complete Narrative: Spanning over 100 pages, this document provides the unabridged account of Rotch’s life and diplomacy, far exceeding the brevity of common abstracts.
This memoir offers a first-person perspective on some of the most pivotal moments in the late 18th century:
The "Bayonet Incident" (1775): Rotch’s personal account of refusing to sell weapons for war and his subsequent defense of Quaker neutrality before the Massachusetts Court.
Global Diplomacy: Detailed narratives of his negotiations with William Pitt the Younger in England and his historic 1791 appearance before the French National Assembly.
1792 Abolitionist Boycott: Crucial documentation of the family’s principled decision to boycott West Indian sugar and molasses in protest of slavery.
The Birth of New Bedford: An insider's view of the strategic relocation of the whaling industry from Nantucket to New Bedford.
As a core artifact of the ROTCH PROJECT, this manuscript includes genealogical records and the transcriber’s own attestation. The document is in condition, showing the authentic character of a mid-19th-century family record.
CONDITION: Acceptable used antique condition. Original boards, but front board is separated. Inside cover includes original frontispiece portrait of William Rotch. Family lineage is on first page, prior to title page. Handwriting is extremely legible and readable. Pages are remarkably clean for a journal of this time period. See the photos.