Aristarchus Champion papers

File — Box: 1

Identifier: 2019-012

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This collections contains legal documents, business documents, and letters relating to Aristarchus and father Henry Champion. The legal documents relating to Aristarchus and Henry Champion date from 1806-1830. The other documents relate to Aristarchus Champion and his business and estate, and they date from 1831-1892 with some undated material.

The collection contains letters, deeds, bills and invoices, receipts, and other business documents. They relate to the business and estates of Henry and Aristarchus Champion in Connecticut, Ohio, and Western New York.

Dates

Creation: 1806-1892

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use in any current or future manifestations must be obtained in writing from the Rochester Public Library Local History and Genealogy Division.

Biographical Note

Aristarchus Champion was born in Westchester, Connecticut on October 23, 1784 to General Henry Champion and Abigail Tinker. His twin brother was named Aristobulus. His paternal grandparents were Colonel Henry and Deborah (Brainard) Champion of Westchester, and his maternal grandparents were Sylvanus and Abigail (Olmstead) Tinker of East Haddam. Both General and Colonel Henry Champion participated in the Revolutionary War.

Aristarchus graduated from Yale College in 1807 and studied law, but later took over management of his father's estates in both Ohio and Western New York. He settled in Rochester, New York in 1826 and invested further in real estate. The wealthiest citizen of the young village and, later, city, Aristarchus was a benefactor of religious and philanthropic effects. He served as Vice President of the American Bible Society from 1844 until his death and as President of the American Home Missionary Society from 1858 to 1860. He was also a benefactor of Yale College, specifically in the creation of the professorship of the Pastoral Charge in the Divinity School in 1839.

Aristarchus never married and left most of his property to religious and charitable societies, particularly the American Bible Society and the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, when he died on September 18, 1871.

Extent

0.60 Cubic Feet (One legal-size letter box.) ; 15 x 7 x 10

.6 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Arrangement

This collection consists of one box arranged in a single series.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Found in Document Case 15; prior history unknown.

Bibliography

“Aristarchus Champion.” FindAGrave. Accessed March 16, 2019. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107539866/aristarchus-champion.

Dexter, Franklin Bowditch. Bibliographical Sketches of Graduates of Yale College History Vol. VI. New Haven, CT: Yale University [1912]: 97.

“Henry Champion (general).” Wikipedia. Accessed March 16, 2019. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Champion_(general).

“Henry Champion Papers, 1719-1862.” OCLC WorldCat. Accessed March 16, 2019. https://www.worldcat.org/title/henry-champion-papers-1719-1862/oclc/384268198.