Early American Studies Primary Works, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries

"Eight electronic monographs prepared and posted online and published by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries. These are 8 works out of about 1,100 collected in various series. All are full-text, searchable, and free-access, and are primary works involving some aspect of Early American studies. Scholars, researchers, and students are encouraged to browse, download, print, excerpt, save, etc.," Prepared by Paul Royster, Coordinator of Scholarly Communication, UNL Libraries
The following list is alphabetical by author; underlined blue text is hotlinked to the document’s cover page, where it can be downloaded. The whole archive is online at http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/etas/

A Declaration of the Sad and Great Persecution and Martyrdom of the People of God, called Quakers, in New-England, for the Worshipping of God (1661), Edward Burrough and Paul Royster , editor

Appeal to the Wealthy of the Land, Ladies as Well as Gentlemen, on the Character, Conduct, Situation, and Prospects of Those Whose Sole Dependence for Subsistence Is on the Labour of Their Hands (1833), Mathew Carey and Paul Royster (transcriber & depositor)

Marvellous Things done by the right Hand and holy Arm of God in getting him the Victory (1745), Charles Chauncy and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

A Lecture on the Railroad to the Pacific [1850], Calvin Colton and Paul Royster (editor)

Milk for Babes. Drawn Out of the Breasts of Both Testaments. Chiefly, for the Spirituall Nourishment of Boston Babes in Either England: But May Be of Like Use for Any Children (1646), John Cotton B.D. and Paul Royster , editor

Gods Promise to His Plantation (1630), John Cotton and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

An Astronomical Description of the Late Comet or Blazing Star; As it appeared in New-England in the 9th, 10th, 11th, and in the beginning of the 12th Moneth, 1664. Together with a Brief Theological Application thereof. (1665) An Online Electronic Text Edition., Samuel Danforth and Paul Royster (editor)

Samuel Danforth's Almanack Poems and Chronological Tables 1647-1649, Samuel Danforth and Paul Royster (transcriber & editor)

A Brief Recognition of New-Englands Errand into the Wilderness: An Online Electronic Text Edition, Samuel Danforth and Paul Royster (transcriber & editor)

The Cry of Sodom Enquired Into; Upon Occasion of the Arraignment and Condemnation of Benjamin Goad, for His Prodigious Villany. (1674) An Online Electronic Text Edition., Samuel Danforth and Paul Royster , editor

A Charge on the Rise of the American Empire (1776), William Henry Drayton and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

A Relation of the Indian War, by Mr. Easton, of Rhode Island, 1675, John Easton and Paul Royster (editor)

The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucke (1784): An Online Electronic Text Edition, John Filson and Paul Royster (Editor)

Notes Geographical and Historical, relating to the Town of Brooklyn, in Kings County on Long-Island. (1824) An Online Electronic Text Edition., Gabriel Furman and Paul Royster (transcriber & depositor)

"Introduction" and "Notes" to 1845 Gowans edition of Daniel Denton's A Brief Description of New-York (1670), Gabriel Furman, Daniel Denton, and Paul Royster (Transcriber & Depositor)

Relation of the Pequot Warres (1660), Lion Gardener and W. N. Chattin Carlton , editor

An Address to the Slaves of the United States of America, Buffalo, N.Y., 1843, Henry Highland Garnet

The Past and the Present Condition, and the Destiny, of the Colored Race (1848), Henry Highland Garnet and Paul Royster (edited by)

The Confessions of Nat Turner (1831), Thomas R. Gray, Nat Turner, and Paul Royster (Depositor)

An Address on Success in Business (1867), Horace Greeley and Paul Royster (depositor)

An Address to the Negroes in the State of New-York (1787), Jupiter Hammon and Paul Royster (editor)

A Brief and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1588), Thomas Hariot and Paul Royster , editor

The Life and Spiritual Sufferings of That Faithful Servant of Christ Jane Hoskens, a Public Preacher among the People Called Quakers (1771), Jane Fenn Hoskens and Paul Royster, editor

The Remarkable Adventures of Jackson Johonnet, of Massachusetts (1793), Jackson Johonnet and Paul Royster , editor

God Arising and Pleading His People’s Cause ; or The American War in Favor of Liberty, Against the Measures and Arms of Great Britain, Shewn to Be the Cause of God (1777), Abraham Keteltas and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

The Negro Christianized. An Essay to Excite and Assist that Good Work, the Instruction of Negro-Servants in Christianity (1706), Cotton Mather and Paul Royster , editor

Theopolis Americana: An Essay on the Golden Street of the Holy City (1710), Cotton Mather and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

The Wonders of the Invisible World. Observations as Well Historical as Theological, upon the Nature, the Number, and the Operations of the Devils (1693), Cotton Mather and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

A Brief History of the Warr with the Indians in New-England (1676): An Online Electronic Text Edition, Increase Mather and Paul Royster (editor)

An Earnest Exhortation To the Inhabitants of New-England (1676), Increase Mather and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

New Yorke Considered and Improved A.D. 1695, John Miller, Victor Hugo Paltsits, and Paul Royster (Depositor)

LABOR: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PROSPECTS [1848], Robert Dale Owen and Paul Royster (edited by)

The Selling of Joseph: A Memorial (1700), Samuel Sewall

Phaenomena quaedam Apocalyptica ad aspectum Novi Orbis configurata. Or, some few lines towards a description of the New Heaven (1697), Samuel Sewall and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

Connecticut Soldiers in the Pequot War of 1637 (1913), James Shepard

The Church’s Flight into the Wilderness: An Address on the Times, containing Some very interesting and important Observations on Scripture Prophecies (1776), Samuel Sherwood A. M. and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

A Description of New England (1616): An Online Electronic Text Edition, John Smith , Captain & Admiral and Paul Royster , editor

The Kingdom, the Power, & the Glory: The Millennial Impulse in Early American Literature: General Introduction, Reiner Smolinski , Editor

The Life and Surprising Adventures of Mary Ann Talbot, in the Name of John Taylor (1809), Mary Ann Talbot and Paul Royster (transcribed and edited by)

Newes from America; Or, A New and Experimentall Discoverie of New England; Containing, A Trve Relation of Their War-like Proceedings These Two Yeares Last Past, with a Figure of the Indian Fort, or Palizado, John Underhill and Paul Royster , editor

A True Relation of the Late Battell fought in New England, between the English, and the Salvages: With the present state of things there. (1637), Philip Vincent [P. Vincentius] and Paul Royster , editor

The Journal of Major George Washington (1754), George Washington and Paul Royster , editor

God’s Controversy with New-England (1662, 1871), Michael Wigglesworth and Reiner Smolinski , Editor

An Oration on the Abolition of the Slave Trade; Delivered in the African Church in the City of New-York, January 1, 1808, Peter Williams Jr. and Paul Royster (Editor)

MASSACHUSETTS: or The first Planters of New-England, The End and Manner of their coming thither, and Abode there: In several EPISTLES (1696), John Winthrop; Thomas Dudley; John Allin; Thomas Shepard; John Cotton; Joshua Scottow; and Paul Royster, Editor of the Online Electronic Edition

Samuel Danforth, A Brief Recognition of New-Englands Errand into the Wilderness: An Online Electronic Text Edition
A classic example of the New England jeremiad or election sermon, delivered in 1670, published in 1671.

Samuel Danforth, The Cry of Sodom Enquired Into; Upon Occasion of the Arraignment and Condemnation of Benjamin Goad, for His Prodigious Villany. (1674) An Online Electronic Text Edition.
Young Goad was sentenced to death for committing bestiality—specifically copulation with a mare—this is the first published execution sermon in America.

John Easton, A Relation of the Indian War, by Mr. Easton, of Rhode Island, 1675
Easton was deputy governor of Rhode Island; his account of the start of King Philip's War puts much of the blame on the English of Plymouth and Massachusetts.

Mary Ann Talbot, The Life and Surprising Adventures of Mary Ann Talbot, in the Name of John Taylor (1809)
An important document in the history of cross-dressing, transvestism, male impersonators, and women soldiers. Although she served in the British army and navy, her travels included New York and Newport, RI.

Increase Mather, A Brief History of the Warr with the Indians in New-England (1676): An Online Electronic Text Edition
Influential contemporary account of King Philip’s War, between the English colonists in New England (and their Native allies) and the Wampanoag, Naragansett, and other Indian nations of the region, beginning in 1675. Some explanatory notes have been added (at the end), along with a bibliography, and a note on the textual history of the work, the editorial rationale employed, and a list of all emendations. (PDF format - 931 K) 103 pages, 2 illus.
Gabriel Furman, Notes Geographical and Historical, relating to the Town of Brooklyn, in Kings County on Long-Island. (1824) An Online Electronic Text Edition.
Description: One of the earliest compilations of historical documents (with commentary) about an American city, in this case Furman's native Brooklyn. It is an invaluable source of information on the early Dutch and English settlements of Brooklyn, Flatbush, Bushwick, New Lotts, Canarsie, Bedford, New Utrecht, Jamaica, and New Amsterdam, and their controversies with one another and with the Governors of New York and the crown of England. (PDF format - 238 K) 117 pages.
The Christian Commonwealth: or,The Civil Policy Of The Rising Kingdom of Jesus Christ. (London, 1659). By John Eliot.
The first book banned in America; a call "to put Christ on the throne of England"; by the so-called "Apostle to the Indians." (pdf file, 292 K; 66 pp.)
A Brief Description of New-York: Formerly Called New-Netherlands (London, 1670). By Daniel Denton.
The first English description, and a promotional tract to encourage immigration. (pdf file, 204K; 31 pp. w/ 1 ill.)
Old Mens Tears for Their Own Declensions (Boston, 1691). By Joshua Scottow.
Popular jeremiad tract by a Massachusetts merchant (it was reprinted 4 times 1715-1769). (pdf file, 175 K; 25 pp.)
A Narrative of the Planting of the Massachusets Colony Anno 1628. (Boston, 1694). By Joshua Scottow.
Expansion of the above tract to include a history of wars, witches, disasters, etc. (pdf file, 316 K; 66 pp. w/ 1 ill.)
A two Years Journal in New-York: And Part of its Territories in America (London, 1701). By Charles Wolley.
The Anglican chaplain for the New York garrison, 1678-1680; his reminiscences and descriptions of Indian and Dutch manners. (pdf file, 870K; 57 pp. w/ 2 ills.)
The Constitutions of the Free-Masons. An Online Electronic Edition
The first Masonic book printed in America, published by Franklin the year he became Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania. (Philadelphia, 1734). By James Anderson; edited by Benjamin Franklin. (pdffile, 1 Mb; 102 pp. w/ 1 ill. & numerous ornaments)
De Bestiis Marinis, or, The Beasts of the Sea (St. Petersburg, 1751; English translation 1899). By Georg Wilhelm Steller.
The first (and only) description from life of Steller's Sea Cow, a giant manatee rendered extinct by 1768; from Bering's 2nd voyage. (pdf file, 832 K; 89 pp. w/ 9 ills.)
David Cusick’s Sketches of Ancient History of the Six Nations (Tuscarora Village, 1828). By David Cusick.
Very early (if not the first) account of Native American history and myth written and published in English by an Indian. (pdffile, 326K; 49 pp. w/ 4 ills.)
August 14, 2007