CIRCULAR. / THE UNDERSIGNED HAVING AGREED TO ACT AS A COMMITTEE IN BEHALF OF THE SOCIETY AND CONGREGATION OF COLORED PEOPLE / WORSHIPPING IN THE CHURCH IN DEVOE STREET, NEAR UNION AVENUE, BROOKLYN ...

(NY?): The committee, (1856). Broadside on blue paper, 10 x 8 inches, printing ten paragraphs with the head in a small display type; signed in type: "George Hall, Mayor, Brooklyn; William Wall ...; S.S. Jocelyn ...; R.G. Thursby ...; J.B. Silkman ...". Folded (several small breaks, resulting in the loss of a few letters). Very good. (Item ID: 39133)

$600.00

Canvassing circular seeking to raise funds to construct a new church for the African-American congregation, including a history of the group's church building travails since its formation in 1830. "Beginning with eight or nine worshippers, they have gone on yearly increasing, till from 250 to 300 meet every Sabbath ... and a Sabbath School of 50 scholars has been gathered." On the verso is a full-page autograph letter in pencil, signed by R.G. Thursby [July 1865], written on behalf of John Smith "(colored)" to Charles G. Havens, seeking relief for Smith and his wife. This broadside is not recorded on OCLC.