Five dollar bank note [Santa Claus bank note]

More Info from Koehlerlegal Issued by the Howard Banking Company, Boston, Mass., on 23 August 1857 7.2 cm x 17.5 cm Boston: printed by New England Bank Note Co.
Engraved by Rawdon, Wright, Hatch & Edson, New York
Serial no. A 764 Haxby no. MA-246-C8a

Issued in the 1850s by the Howard Banking Company, this five dollar bill featuring Santa Claus actually functioned as legal tender. Unlike today, when the federal government issues all of the paper currency for the United States, private banks held that responsibility from the close of the American Revolution until 1861. Now called "obsolete bank notes," the bills varied in design from bank to bank and were often quite colorful. The issuing institutions typically used stock images provided by the companies that engraved and printed the currency.

Santa Claus Illustrations

 

A number of banks made use of Santa Claus illustrations in the 1850s the most logical being the St. Nicholas Bank of New York City. The Santa who graces this Howard Banking Company bill is descended from Sinter Klaas, a traditional figure brought by Dutch settlers to New York in the 17th century. He went through several significant metamorphoses in America, including features added by Washington Irving in his Knickerbocker History (1809) and the 1822 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ("Twas the Night before Christmas"), attributed to Clement Moore.

 "Santa Claus" Novelty Bank Note

Lyman B Phelps Allen Bird Club President

From Archives and Allen Bird Club Also see Phelps Group on Facebook Please click link to read article by George C Kingston

Thursday, July 30, 1970  Paper: Springfield Union (Springfield, MA)

Allen Bird Club soars to 100th anniversary
THE TRAILS OF RICE NATURE PRESERVE

Levi Whiting Phelps

Levi Whiting Phelps was born April 29, 1821 and baptized in the First Church there July 15, 1821. He was the son of Peter Phelps and Mary Newell Phelps. Peter Phelps (son of John Phelps and Achsah Whiting Phelps) was born in Lancaster, July 16, 1774, baptized July 24, and died in Lancaster, March 7, 1847. Peter married Mary Newell in Boston, May 30,1805, Mary was born in Scituate, Massachusetts, May 27, 1784. He passed away March 7 1847. For more info check out Historical Commission Ayer 

Levi W Phelps received his education in the public schools. When he was ten years old he became a farmer's apprentice to Nathaniel Thayer, the leading citizen of Lancaster. He left Mr. Thayer's house when he was fifteen, and was employed on a farm in Sterling during the following two years. The next three years he spent in Leominster, Massachusetts, where many of his relatives have settled, and while there learned and followed the trade of carpenter. He established himself in business in Pepperell, Massachusetts, and became the owner of a saw and planing mill. In 1854 he moved to Ayer, Massachusetts, continuing to have a lumber mill in that town, and at the age of ninety-two years he still carried on his business, although his son and partner had the larger part of the responsibility. He owned one of the most prominent, successful and influential business men in the town. In politics he is a Republican and he was a member of the lodge of Free Masons. He is an active member of the Unitarian church, in which he has held all the important offices from time to time, and to'which he has been a liberal contributor. He is a benevolent public-spirited citizen. He married, January 15, 1853, Thirza Wright, born in Pepperell, March 1, 1833, died April 22, 1905, daughter of Franklin and Amanda (Ames) Wright, of Pepperell.
Children:
Emma Augusta, born in Pepperell, March 1, 1854; married Daniel W. Fletcher, and has children:
Ethel, married Ira W. Dwinnell; Howard, married Beatrice Robbins; Frank and Doris.
Ella Francis, born October 26, 1855. She was book-keeper for her father
Lena May, born November 2, 1863; married George M. Moore.
Albert McCallister, born at Ayer, November 9, 1866; carries on lumber manufacturing business, associated with his father; married August 26, 1881, Annie C. Morrison, daughter of Charles and Mary (Cox) Morrison; has one daughter, Bertha M., born January 1, 1900; He was Republican and attends the Unitarian church.

From Groton Historical Series:
BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: Sect. 1. Luther F. Potter, Nathaniel P. Smith, Simeon Ames, their associates and successors, are hereby made a corporation, by the name of the Groton Hotel Company, for the purpose of erecting, in the town of Groton, buildings necessary and convenient for a public house, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the liabilities, duties and restrictions, set forth in the forty-fourth chapter of the Revised Statutes.
Sect. 2. Said corporation may hold such real and personal property, as may be necessary and convenient for the purposes aforesaid, not exceeding in amount twenty thousand dollars: provided, that no shares in the capital stock of said corporation shall be issued for a less sum or amount, to be. actually paid in on each, than the par value of the shares which shall be first issued. And if any ardent spirits, or intoxicating drinks of any kind whatever, shall be sold by said company, or by their agents, lessees, or persons in their employ, contrary to law, in any of said buildings, then this act shall be void. [Approved by the Governor, May 2, 1850.]In the spring of 1852, a charter was given to Benjamin Webb, Daniel D. R. Bowker, and their associates, for the purpose of forming a corporation to carry on a hotel at the Massapoag Springs, in the eastern part of this town; but the • project fell through. It was to be called the Massapoag Spring Hotel, and its capital stock was limited to $30,000. The Act was approved by the Governor, on May 18, 1852; and it contained similar conditions to those mentioned above in regard to the sale of liquors. In the spring of 1859, an Act was passed by the Legislature, and approved by the Governor on April 1, incorporating Abel Prescott, Harvey A. Woods, Levi W. Woods, Stephen Roberts, and Levi W. Phelps, their associates and successors, under the name of the Groton Junction Hotel Company, for the purpose of erecting a hotel at Groton Junction, now known as Ayer. The capital of the Company was limited to $15,000, but the stock was never taken. These enterprises are now nearly forgotten, though the mention of them may revive the recollections of elderly people.

Dartmouth College and Phelps family

Davenport Phelps was in Piermont NH till 1792. He owned 130 acres of land, what is now Piermont Village, then called Phelps Farm. Episcopalian minister, and settled at Geneva, in the State of New York, and died there before 1816. He marrued Catherine, the daughter of Doct. Gideon Tiffany of Hanover New Hampshire.His father, Hon. Alexander Phelps, was a graduate of Yale and an influential man. His Grandfather Wheelock was the first president of Dartmouth College. His father was instrumental in moving the Indian School to Hanover. Well known friends of the Chief Tecumseh

Alexander Phelps, son of Nathaniel Phelps, of Hebron, Conn., was born Jan 6, 1723-24; graduated at Yale College, 1744; prepared for the ministry, and preached a while, but is said to have been later a lawyer. His letters show that he adhered to the English Church. He was a tutor at Yale 1747-49; member of the Connecticut Colonial assembly eleven sessions, between 1754 and 1762; and twice appointed judge of probate pro tern. He was also lieutenant-colonel of militia in 1766. See More info on Dartmouth Phelps

                                                                     

Theodora Wheelock was born on 23 May 1736 at Lebanon, New London Co., CT. She was the daughter of Eleazar Wheelock (photo above) son of Deacon Ralph and Ruth (Huntington) Wheelock and Sarah Davenport widow of Captain William Maltby of New Haven, Connecticut. Sarah Davenport was daughter of John Davenport and Martha Gould.

Children of Eleazer Wheelock and Sarah Davenport:

•  Ruth, married Rev. William Patten, D.D., of Halifax, Mass.
•  Theodora married Alexander Phelps, son of Capt. Nathaniel Phelps and Abigal Pinney, on January 9 1751/52 Hebron, Co., CT.  
• Theodora Wheelock married 2nd John Young on April 27 1777 Hanover, NH. Theodora Wheelock died after 1811 at Piermont, NH.
• Rev. Ralph, who graduated at Yale College in 1765
  
  Children of Theodora Wheelock and Hon. Alexander Phelps

• Sarah Phelps  b. 15 Jul 1753
• Rev. Davenport Phelps + b. 12 Aug 1755, d. 27 Jun 1813
• Theodora Phelps b. 8 Sep 1757
• Alexander Phelps b. 2 Sep 1759
• Lucey Phelps b. 17 Mar 1762, d. 14 Apr 1767
• Emelia Phelps b. 14 Jun 1764
• Eleazar Wheelock Phelps b. 16 Oct 1766, d. 12 Oct 1818
• Ralph Rodolphus Phelps b. 21 Mar 1772, d. 23 Mar 1849 weighed at birth 16.J pounds (Mass. Gazette, April 13, 1772)

Colonel Phelps died April 19, 1773, age  49 (N. H. Gazette, April 30,1773). He is spoken of as "a gentleman of a liberal education, who had sustained several offices of trust in Connecticut, which he discharged with fidelity." Jointly with Colonel Morey he appears in December, 1771, as agent for the town of Oxford before the General Assembly of New Hampshire.
From History of Dartmouth 
Wheelock's Diary, June 18, 1778.

Hanover, at a special meeting, April 2, chose Jonathan Freeman her delegate, and appointed a committee of six1 to determine his instructions. At a later meeting (May 25), they joined with him two associates, Capt. John House and Ensign Nathaniel Wright, and again adjourned to the next Saturday to settle the instructions. How they were settled we know not.

We have no record of the meeting at Lebanon, but we know from collateral circumstances that the union was there accepted. Orford (whose delegate was Wheelock's grandson, Davenport Phelps), at a special meeting the first Wednesday of June, "veted nem. con. that they accede and agree a union with the State of Vermont, agreeable to the doings of the above convention at Lebanon."

"Colonel Wyllis and Esquire Ledyard," of Hartford, were among Dr. Wheelock's legal advisers in 1768, and probably at this period. June 7,1769, we find Dr. Wheelock addressing Governor Wentworth as follows:

"I have been making some attempt to form a Charter, in which some proper respect may be shown to those generous benefactors in England who have condesceilded to patronize this school, and I want to be informed whether you think it consistent to make the Trust in England a distinct corporation, with power to hold real estate, etc., for the uses and purposes of this school." But the impress of Governor Wentworth does not appear till a somewhat later period. August 22,1769, Dr. Wheelock informs him that he is about to present him a " rough draught" of a Charter, for an "Academy," adding this somewhat significant postscript: "Sir, if you think proper to use the word College instead of Academy in the Charter, I shall be well pleased with it."

 Alexander Phelps

Dr. Wheelock's son-in-law, Mr. Alexander Phelps, and Rev. Dr. Whitaker seem to have been the principal agents to confer with Governor Wentworth in regard to the Charter.

October 18, 1769, he gives his views at length, in a letter to Dr. Wheelock, advising some amendments. Proposing some additions to the Board of Trust, he says: "The nomination of the Provincial officers I strongly recommend, though I do not insist upon. It was indeed resolved on my side that the Governor should be one" of the Board. "That I did not mention any other than the Governor can by no means be preclusive. Neither did I so intend it. The three provincialofficers will be a natural defense, honor and security to the institution."

The following letter indicates that Governor Wentworth had eminent legal counsel:

"Rev. Sir: I have had an opportunity of conferring with Colonel Phelps on the affair of the College proposed to be erected here. You 'll find some alterations in the scheme and draft of the Charter; they are supposed to be amendments, and I think they, to say the least, will not be impediments. I cannot stay to enumerate them ; the Charter will show them and the Colonel will be able to explain the grounds and reasons of them. I have spent some considerable time with the Governor to form the plan in such a manner as will make it most beneficial, and to prevail on him to make such concessions as would suit the gentlemen with you. I am apt to think the plan will be more serviceable as it now stands than as it was before.

I shall be glad to serve the cause, and have persuaded Colonel Phelps to communicate it before the finishing stroke, though it will cost him another journey. I have only to add that I am, with great esteem,

"Your most obedient humble servant,

William Parker.

"portsmouth, October 28, 1769."

Edward E Phelps Faculty 1879

Prof. Edward Elisha Phelps, M.D. LL.D., died at his residence in Windsor, Vt., on Friday, Nov. 26, 1880. He was born in Peacham, Vt., April 24, 1803. In 1822 we find him in attendance on his first course of medical lectures, at Dartmouth Medical College. He was for two years a student in medicine with Prof. Nathan Smith, then a resident of New Haven, Conn., but early in life settled in Cornish, N.H., and at Hanover. He graduated in Medicine at Yale, in the class of 1825. More info on Edward E Phelps

     William Phelps Kimball Thayer School at Dartmouth