# Primary Sources on Copyright - Record Viewer
Sample registrations, various states (1790-1800)

Source: Library of Congress, Rare Books and Special Collections: Maine, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts records; National Archives, Atlanta Facility: North Carolina records; National Archives, Northeast Facility: Vermont records.

Citation:
Sample registrations, various states (1790-1800), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

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Chapter 1 Page 1



DISTRICT OF MAINE - TO WIT:

                                                                                                DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE

      BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the fourteenth day of August A.D. 1790
and in the fifteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America,
Samuel Freeman of said District, has deposited in this office, the title of a
book, the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, to wit:

"The Columbian Primer, or the School Mistresses Guide to Children in their
first steps: Learning. Part I. Containing words of one & two syllables.
With an Appendix, containing Sundry Matters which Children may be taught
to say by Heart. By Samuel Freeman, Esquire."


      In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of
learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during
the times therein mentioned."

                                                                                                H. Sewall, Clerk of the District of Maine.
____________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT OF MAINE - TO WIT:

                                                                                                DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE

      BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the sixth day of December A.D. 1791
and in the sixteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America,
Rev. Elijah Kellogg of said District, has deposited in this office, the title of a
book, the right whereof he claims as proprietor in the words following, to wit:

"A Discourse to Children. By the Reverend Moses Hemmenway, D.D."

      In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of
learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during
the times therein mentioned."

                                                                                                H. Sewall, Clerk of the District of Maine.


Chapter 1 Page 2



DISTRICT OF MAINE - TO WIT:

                                                                                                DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE

      BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the ninth day of April A.D. 1792
and in the sixteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America,
John Gardiner of said District, has deposited in this office, the title of a
book, the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, to wit:

"The Speech of John Gardiner Esquire, delivered in the House of Representatives
on Thursday the 26th of January 1792; on the Subject of the Report of the Committee
appointed to consider the Expediency of repealing the Law against Theatrical Exhi-
bitions, within this Commonwealth."


      In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of
learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during
the times therein mentioned."

                                                                                                H. Sewall, Clerk of the District of Maine.
____________________________________________________________________

DISTRICT OF MAINE - TO WIT:

                                                                                                DISTRICT CLERK'S OFFICE

      BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-fifth day of October A.D. 1792
and in the seventeenth year of the Independence of the United States of America,
Samuel Freeman of said District, has deposited in this office, the title of a
book, the right whereof he claims as author in the words following, to wit:

"The Probate Auxiliary: or a Director & Assistant to Probate Courts, Executors,
Administrators & Guardians. Being the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
respecting the estates of Testators, Intestates & Wards - Carefully collected: Together
with a comprehensive alphabetical index to the same. To which are added a variety of
Forms for the use of Probate Courts, & such persons as may have business to transact therein."


      In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States, entitled "An Act for the encouragement of
learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts and books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during
the times therein mentioned."

                                                                                                H. Sewall, Clerk of the District of Maine.


Chapter 1 Page 3



№. 1.

District of Pennsylvania, to wit:
      Be it remembered, that on the ninth day of
June, in the fourteenth year of the independence of
the United States of America, John Barry, of the said
District, hath deposited in this office, the title of a book,
the right whereof he claims as author, in the words follow-
ing, to wit: "The Philadelphia Spelling Book,
arranged upon a plan entirely new, adapted to the ca-
pacities of children, and designed as an immediate
improvement in spelling and reading the English
Language. The whole being recommended by several
eminent teachers, as the most useful performance
to expedite the instruction of youth.      By John
Barry, Master of the Free School of the Protes-
tant Episcopal Church."
in conformity to the act
for the encouragement of learning, by securing the
copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the authors and
proprietors of such copies during the times therein men-
tioned."

                                                Sam Caldwell Clerk of the
                                                District of Pennsylvania
_____________________________________________________

№. 2.

District of Pennsylvania, to wit:
      Be it remembered, that on the fifteenth day
of June on the fourteenth year of the independence of of
the United States of America, Thomas Wignell of
the said District, hath deposited in this Office, this Title


Chapter 1 Page 4


Title of a Book, the right whereof he claims as pro-
prietor, in the words following to wit: "The Con-
trast, a Comedy: in five acts: written by a citizen
of the United States; performed with applause
at the Theatres in New York, Philadelphia and
Maryland; and published/under an assignment
of the copy-right/by Thomas Wignell.


Primus ego in patriam
Aonio - deduci vertice musas.
                                          Virgil.*
      (Imitated)
First on our shores I try Thalia's powers,
"And bid the laughing, useful maid be ours."

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United
States, entitled, "An act for the encouragement
of learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts
and Books, to the authors and proprietors of
such copies, during the time therein mentioned."

                                                Sam Caldwell Clerk of the
                                                District of Pennsylvania

_____________________________________________________

№. 3.

District of Pennsylvania, to wit
      Be it remembered, that on the seventeenth day of
June, in the fourteenth year of the independence of the
United States of America, John Churchman, [XX]
[XXX] of the said district, hath deposited in this of-
fice, the title of a Book, and the title or dedication of a
Chart, the right whereof he claims as Author, the title
of the Book being on the words of following, to wit:

"An Explanation of the Magnetic Atlas,
or Variation Chart, hereunto announced; pro-
jection on a plan entirely new, by which the
Magnetic Variation on any part of the
Globe may be precisely determined, for any
time, past, present, or future: and the varia-
tion and latitude being accurately known,


_________

*) Lat. "I was the first, Aonio, to bring the Muses into our country" - an ironical
adaptation of some famous verses from Virgil's Georgics. These words
are spoken in the prologue of Royall Tyler's play "The Contrast" (1787).


Chapter 1 Page 5



1

            District of Massachusetts, to wit: ~

[1790]

Be it remembered that on the tenth day of July
in the fifteenth year of the Independence of the United
States of America, the Revd. Jedidiah Morse of the said
District hath deposited in this Office the titles of two books
the right whereof he claims as Author;       of one in the word
following, to wit: "The American Geography; or a view
of the present situation of the United States of America
illustrated with two Sheet maps; one of the southern
the other of the Northern States, neatly & elegantly engra-
ved & more correct, than any that have hitherto been
published - to which is added a concise abridgement
of the Geography of the British, Spanish, French & Dutch
Dominions in America, of the West Indies, of Europe, Asia
& Africa"
And of the other in the words following, to wit;
"Geography made easy; being an abridgement of the
American Geography; - to which is added a geogra-
phical Account of the European settlements in America
& of Europe, Asia & Africa; illustrated with eight neat m-
aps & cuts - calculated particularly for the use & improv-
ement of Schools in the United States - by Jedidiah Morse
A.M. Minister of the Congregation in Charlestown near
Boston"
In conformity to the Act of the Congress of the
United States entitled "An Act for the encouragement
of learning, by securing the Copies of Maps Charts &
books to the Authors & proprietors of such Copies dur-
ing the times therein mentioned -

                                                N. Goodale Clerk of the
                                                District of Massachusetts


Chapter 1 Page 6



2

District of Massachusetts To wit; ~

            Be it remembered that on the thirteenth
day of September in the fifteenth year of the Independence
of the United States of America, Isaiah Thomas of the said
District, hath deposited in this Office, the title of a Book, the
right whereof he claims as Proprietor, in the words following
to wit: "The New England Farmer; or, Georgical Dictionary
containing a compendious account of the ways & methods
in which the most important Art of Husbandry, in all
its various branches, is, or may be practised to the greatest
advantage in this country. By Samuel Deane A.M. Fellow
of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences"
- In conformity
to the Act of the Congress of the United States, intitled "An
Act for the encouragement of learning by securing the copies
of Maps, charts & books to the Authors & Proprietors of such co-
pies, during the times therein mentioned"

                                                N. Goodale Clear of the District of
                                                                        Massachusetts


            District of Massachusetts, To wit; ~
Be it remembered that on the seventh day of October
in the fifteenth year of the Independence of the United
States of America, Isaiah Thomas & Eben[ezer] T. Andrews
of the said District, have deposited in this Office, the
title of a book, the right whereof, in Rhode Island, New
Hampshire & Massachusetts, they claim as Proprietors,
in three parts, in the words following, to wit, "The Ameri-
can spelling book; containing an easy standard of
pronunciation. - being the first part of a grammatical
institute of the English language; - And of part the second
a grammatical institute of the English language,
comprising an easy, concise & systematic method of educa-
tion designed for the use of English Schools in America;



Chapter 1 Page 7


District of North Carolina.----

Be it remembered that on the 4th day of March
in the Twentieth Year of the Independence of the
United States of America Jonathan Price and [John Strother] of the
said District has deposited in this Office the Title
of a "Chart of the Sea Coasts from Cape Henry to
Cape Pomayn, and of the Inlets Sounds and Rivers
of North Carolina to the Towns of Edenton, Washington,
New Bern and Wilmington"
, also the Title of a
Map of the State of North Carolina, agruable to its
present boundaries both from Actual Survey" by the
said Jonathan Price, and John Strother.
__________________________________________________________

Be it remembered that on the fourth day of May
in the twentieth year of the Independence of the
United States of America James H. Green of the said
District has deposited in this Office the Title of a
Book as follows: "Green's Annual Pocket Ledger -
Requisite for the Gentleman Merchant and
Planter"
.- - - - - - -

Be it Remembered that on this Seventh day of
January in the year of Our Lord One Thousand
Seven hundred and Ninety Eight and Twenty
second year of American Independence Samuel Sawyer
of the said District has deposited in this Office the
Title of a Book, entitled a "Journey to Lake
Drummond"
.


Chapter 1 Page 8


Fifth Circuit of the United States North Carolina
                                                                  District

Be it Remembered that on the            day
of            in the Year of our Lord one thou-
sand eight hundred and two, and in the twenty
sixth Year of American Independence François
Xavier Martin & Robert Ogden have deposited
in this Office the Title of the following Books
[      ] "A Treatise on Obligations considered in a
Moral and Legal View translated from the
French of Pothier"
In two Volumes" also
"Historical Memoirs of Stephanie Louise
De Bourbon Conté"
also "Letters of
Adelaide De Sancerre to Count De Nance"

_________________________________________________

Be it Remembered that on the thirtieth day of July
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and two and in the twenty seventh year of American
Independence John Louis Taylor Esquire of the
District of North Carolina deposited in this office
the Title of the following Book [???] "Cases deter-
mined in the Superior Courts of Law & Equity in the
State of North Carolina by John Louis Taylor"



Chapter 1 Page 9



Copy Rights.
__________




Chapter 1 Page 10



District of Vermont
to wit ---

      Be it remembered, that
on the twenty first day of
January in the seventeenth
year of the Independence of
the United States of America
the Honourable Nathaniel
Chipman of Rutland in the
said District Esquire hath
deposited in this office the
title of a book, the right
whereof he claims as author
in the words, letters, and figures
following, to wit,

"Reports and Dissertations
            in two parts
                  Part 1.
Reports of Cases determined in



Chapter 1 Page 11


the Supreme Court of the
State of Vermont, in the years
1789, 1790, and 1791.
                  Part II.
      Dissertations on the Statute
adopting the Common Law
of England, the Statute
of Conveyances, the Statute
of Offsets, and on the Nego-
tiability of notes; -
with an appendix con-
taining forms of special
pleadings in several cases;
forms of recognizances; of
Justices' records; and of
Warrants of Commitment.

By Nathaniel Chipman
Late Chief Justice
"


In conformity to the act of


Chapter 1 Page 12


of the Congress of the United
States, entitled "An act
for the encouragement of
Learning, by securing the
copies of maps, charts, and
books to the authors and
proprietors of such copies
during the times therein
mentioned."

Frederick Hill
Clerk of the District of
Vermont ----




Chapter 1 Page 13


      District of Vermont, to wit,
Be it remembered, that
on the ninth day of May, [in
the year] one thousand seven
hundred and ninety three, in
the seventeenth year of the
Independence of the United
States of America the Honour-
able Nathaniel Chipman
of Rutland, in the said Dis-
trict Esquire, hath deposited
in this office, the title of a
book, the right whereof he
claims as author, [--in the
right whereof he claims
as author--] in the words
following, to wit,
      "Sketches of the
Principles of Government
by Nathaniel Chipman



Chapter 1 Page 14


Judge of the Court of the
United States for the
District of Vermont"


In conformity to the act of
the Congress of the United
States entitled, "An act for
the encouragement of
learning, by securing the
copies of maps, charts, and
books, to the authors and pro-
prietors of such copies, during
the times therein mentioned."

Frederick Hill
Clerk of the District
of Vermont



Chapter 1 Page 15


      District of Vermont to wit

Be it remembered, that on
the twentieth day of August
in the nineteenth year of
the independence of the
United States of America
Samuel Williams of the
said District hath deposited
in this office the title of a
book, the right whereof he
claims as author in the
words following, to wit,

"The natural and civil
history of Vermont.
By Samuel Williams LL.D.
Member of the Meteorological
Society in Germany, of the
Philosophical Society in
Philadelphia, and of the Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences in
Massachusetts."



Chapter 1 Page 16


In conformity to the act
of the Congress of the United
States, entitled, "An act
for the encouragement of
Learning, by securing the
copies of maps, charts, and
books to the authors and pro-
prietors of such copies, during
the times therein mentioned."

Frederick Hill, Clerk
of the District of Vermont



Transcription by: Megan Wren

    

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