Guide to the Jacob Spicer (1717-1765), New Jersey Provincial Assembly Member Papers 1737-1846 MG 59
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 1737-1846 The New Jersey Historical Society Finding aid encoded by Julia Telonidis. August 2005. Production of the EAD 2002 version of this finding aid was made possible by a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Finding aid written in English. Biographical NoteJacob Spicer, the only child of Sarah (d. 1742) and Jacob Spicer (1668-1741), was born in Cold Spring Inlet, Cape May County, New Jersey in 1717. Jacob married Judith Hughes (d. 1747), the daughter of Humphrey Hughes, and together they had four children: Jacob, Sylvia, Sarah, and Judith. After his wife’s death, Spicer married Deborah Leaming (d. 1787), the widow of Christopher Leaming. Jacob Spicer owned lands in Cape May and Cumberland Counties, New Jersey; New York; and North Carolina. Like his father before him, Jacob represented Cape May County in the New Jersey House of Assembly from 1744 until his death in 1765. He was also a prominent merchant and farmer who traded with settlers, most often in Philadelphia, but also in New York, Long Island, Rhode Island, Nantucket, and North Carolina. Return to the Table of Contents Scope and Content NoteThe diary, written by Jacob Spicer from 1755 to 1756, discusses his business and political affairs. A handwritten and typescript copy of selected passages of a different Spicer diary (ca.1758-1762) is included in this collection. During the period covered in the diary, Spicer spent 29 days in Philadelphia printing the proprietary laws of New Jersey. Other notations indicate the sale of land by locals and types and values of goods Spicer sold. Spicer sold steer and cows; raccoon, muskrat, and otter skins; rum and a number of dry goods. The correspondence includes copy letters written by Spicer, a letterbook kept in his hand, and typescript copies of the letters in the book from October 1764 to July 1765. The correspondence deals mainly with the British and colonials’ attack on the fortress of Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1745. There are also many letters relating to other political matters and some from and to some very notable figures including King George II of England (1683-1760), William Pitt (1708-1778), and William Shirley (1693-1771), Governor of Massachusetts. The topic of discussion in these letters revolves around the attack on Louisbourg. There is also some correspondence regarding fighting with the French near the Monaghela River in Pennsylvania in 1755. The copies of the correspondence include family histories that were written in 1846. The acts, accounts, and sketch folder contains an account for the New Jersey contingent of the forces planning an attack on Canada in 1746. There is also a sketch made by Jacob Spicer titled “A Plan of the City and Harbour (sic) of Louisbourg on the Island of Breton in America.” An 1807 power of attorney from Samuel Jones, Jacob Spicer’s son-in-law, appointing David Pugh to be his attorney is also in this folder. RestrictionsAccess RestrictionsThere are no access restrictions on this collection. Photocopying of materials is limited and no materials may be photocopied without permission from library staff. Use RestrictionsResearchers wishing to publish, reproduce, or reprint materials from this collection must obtain permission. The New Jersey Historical Society complies with the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code), which governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions and protects unpublished materials as well as published materials. Return to the Table of Contents Return to the Table of Contents Related MaterialManuscript Group 41, Samuel Smith (1720-1776) Papers Return to the Table of Contents Administrative InformationPreferred CitationThis collection should be cited as: Manuscript Group 59, Jacob Spicer Acquisition InformationDonated by Mrs. J. McKesson in 1936. Return to the Table of Contents Container List
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