1829 Willard Maps of United States History (Set of 4 maps)

This is a set of four maps from Willards History of the United States issued in 1829. These four maps, part of a series of 10 maps, depict the history of the United States from 1578 to 1692. The first map, from 1578, covers the eastern coast of North America from Florida north to Canada. The Mississippi River and the Red River is identified. Sir Humphrey Gilbert’s Patent is color-coded in pink. The map also notes the tracks of various ships and explorers including Columbus, Cabot, Verrazano, Commodore Ribault of France, Pedro Melendes, etc. An inset illustrating Queen Elizabeth signing for Sir Humphrey Gilbert, ‘The first patent granted by an English Sovereign to lands within The territory of the United States, 1578’, is included in the top left quadrant.

The second map focuses on the Colony of Virginia in 1620 and extends from Port Royal Entrance north as far as Quebec. This map also notes, with color-coding, the patents granted to the De Monts, the London Company and the Plymouth Company, with some patents overlapping. Important rivers are also noted. Several ships are noted sailing towards the coast with the year and patronage noted. Some of these include H. Hudson in 1609, R. Gilbert in 1607, Pilgrims in 1620, ships sent by Sir Walter Raleigh, A Dutch ship with negros from Africa purchased by the Colony of J. Town, etc. An illustrated inset in the top left quadrant depicts ‘The Pilgrim Land at Plymouth on the 22nd of Dec, 1620’. Another inset depicts the ‘Places near the Mouth of the Hudson visited by the Dutch’, and includes Manhattan Island, Staten Island and Sewanhachy or Island of Shells (modern day Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island).

The third map in the series extends from St. Marys north to Quebec and focuses on the region in 1645, depicting Virginia, New England and Carolina. Here we can see smaller territories and colonies identified, including New Sweden, Province of Maine, N. Hampshire, Laconia, United Colonies, Pavonia, New Netherlands, Maryland, Colony of Connecticut, Plymouth Colony, and others. Patents granted to Lord Baltimore and Heath’s patent is noted. The track of the ship of Swedes and Fins sent by the King of Sweden in 1607 is also noted. An illustrated inset in the top left shows the four provinces of the New England Confederacy. Another inset in the lower right identified the ‘places mentioned in history of the Pequod War’.

The fourth map, depicts the same geographical area in more detailed as it existed in the 1692. Several more place names are identified and detailed. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and clearly identified. Important and emerging cities and towns, rivers, bays, harbors, capes etc. of the time are noted. Lake Erie or Oswego and Catarqui or Ontarion Lakes in their speculative forms are identified. The route of William Penn’s ship is marked with a notation ‘Penn arrives Oct. 24th 1682’. An illustrated inset depicts ‘Massachusetts receives a new Charter, including Maine and other large Territories, by the arrival of Sir Wm. Phipps’. An inset in the lower right notes the ‘places mentioned in the History of King Philip’s War’.

These maps accompanied Emma Willard’s History of the United States, meant for school children learning history and geography. All maps are engraved and printed by Samuel Maverick and published by White, Gallaher and White’s, 1829 edition of A Series of Maps to Willard's History of the United States, Or, Republic Of America. Designed For Schools And Private Libraries.