Minute book, 1778-1780

Bound volume of minutes detailing weekly, quarterly and annual meetings of the Society. Minutes record attendance and election of officers and members, deaths and funerals of members, fines, requests for admission and for relief, rulings on admissions and relief, changes of bylaws and fees, with quarterly reports of separate accounts of town and country members. There are periodic references to current events, such as the loss of records and destruction of the city in the fire of 1778 (necessitating reconstruction of some records), the military impact of the Revolutionary War on some members and meetings, etc. Minutes also include information on commissioning a portrait of Miles Brewton (p. 46); gift of an antique chair (p. 156); and use of engraver Thomas Coram for certificates (p. 194). The place of the meeting is usually mentioned with the amount due for the food and drink; with one reference (p. 202) of use of the Exchange building and need for rum, cigars, benches, etc.