Object Details
- Description
- A ink and paper handwritten geography assignment made on February 13, 1799 by Marvel Hancock of the Wrentham School in Wrentham, Massachusetts. The assignment consists of text about the size of the United States surrounded by circles containing the names of the 16 states in the Union-the original thirteen colonies plus Vermont, Kentucky, and Tennessee- as of the time of the assignment. The text demonstrates uncertainty about the actual size of the country at the time, which is likely because of having laid claims to unexplored or uncharted land. The states listed starting at the top and going clockwise around the center text are: North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania/ New York, New Jersey, Connecticut/ Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Kentucky/ Vermont, Georgia, South Carolina
- Marvel Hancock was the son of Keziah and Phillip Hancock. He was born December 4, 1772 in Wrentham and died January 25, 1838 in Wrentham. He would have been 26 when the georgraphy assignment was done, so he probably was the schoolmaster. He appears to have never married and left his estate to his brother Samuel and his numerous nieces and nephews.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- date made
- 1799
- Credit Line
- Gift of Dr. Richard Lodish American School Collection
- Physical Description
- paper (overall material)
- ink (overall material)
- handwritten (overall production method/technique)
- Measurements
- overall, framed: 14 3/4 in x 18 in x 1 in; 37.465 cm x 45.72 cm x 2.54 cm
- assignment paper: 12 1/2 in x 15 1/4 in; 31.75 cm x 38.735 cm
- Object Name
- geography assignment
