The Olden Time Series, Vol. 1: Curiosities of the Old Lottery | Page 5

put them in a way to realize that, or another sum of less magnitude, in the course of September next, when the rich Wheels of Hatfield Bridge Lottery will begin to move.
--> Tickets will rise on the first of September to 5.50--Prize Tickets exchanged. (1807)
In 1776 the Continental Congress endeavored to raise a large sum by means of a lottery. On the first of November of that year the following Resolve was passed,--"That a sum of money be raised by way of lottery, to be drawn at Philadelphia." A committee was then empowered to manage this lottery, and agents were appointed in the several States to sell the tickets. From causes difficult now to explain, the drawing, which was to have taken place in 1777, was postponed from time to time, until finally, it is said, the whole scheme proved a failure. Many of the adventurers being large losers, much bad feeling was produced towards the Government. The design was to raise the money in the way of a loan. There were four classes of tickets, a hundred thousand in each,--$10, $20, $30, and $40; in all $10,000,000. In Lossing's "Field-Book of the Revolution," from which we derive this account, may be seen a copy of one of these lottery tickets. Probably the people were too poor at that time to furnish the requisite sum of money, and so the tickets did not sell readily; or the lottery may have been badly managed.
Congregational Churches used to raise money by lottery, as appears by the following advertisement in the "Columbian Centinel," May 5, 1792,--
NEWPORT LOTTERY TICKETS.
--> _A few TICKETS, in the Newport Congregational Church Lottery, which commences drawing the 10th instant, may be had at No. 61 LONG-WHARF if applied for immediately. May 5._
* * * * *
At a town meeting held in Salem, Mass., on Dec. 28, 1789, "George Williams, Esq., General Fisk, and Joseph Sprague, Esq., were chosen a Committee to estimate the expense of clearing out the Channels in the North and South rivers; and to prefer a petition to the General Court for the grant of a Lottery to aid the town in so beneficial an undertaking." We believe this project was never carried through; but we are of opinion that some residents of Salem would now welcome even a raffle, if in that way their North River could be purified, as at present no other method seems so likely to succeed, judging from the controversy which has been going on in that city for several years without effecting any result.
The "Massachusetts Centinel," May 22, 1790, notifies the "_Friends of Science_" that "a few ... Williamstown Free-school Lottery Tickets ... may be had of the Printer."
MARBLEHEAD, APRIL 3. The highest Prize in the State Lottery was drawn by a number of Females: About thirty were joint possessors of that fortunate number and five others: The highest share in them did not exceed one dollar, and the lowest was nine pence, expressive of the different abilities of the concerned; by which circumstance, the property of the prize is most agreeably divided: It has excited a smile in the cheek of poverty, nor diminished the pleasure of those in easy circumstances.
Massachusetts Gazette, 1786.
* * * * *
Providence Street-Lottery.
CLASS 3d.
THE Managers present the public with the following SCHEME of a LOTTERY, granted by the Hon. General Assembly of this State, at their January Session, A.D. 1795, for raising a Sum of Money to defray the Expences of Finishing, in a durable Manner, a Street at the North End of this Town.
This being the great Continental Thoroughfare and Post Road, and much frequented at all Seasons by Persons on Foot and Horse-Back, and by Teams and Carriages, merits the greatest Attention to its Improvement from Town and Country.
The old Road was crooked and inconvenient, the new Street is Streight, and secured in such a Manner as to be passed in Carriages at all Times with Ease and Safety.
The Utility and Necessity of this work, so obvious to every one, and the great Chance to Adventurers, there being only about Two Blanks to a Prize, induce the Managers to rely on the Patronage of the Public, for a rapid Sale of the Tickets.
5340 Tickets, at TWO DOLLARS each, are 10,680 Dollars, to be paid in the following Prizes, subject to no Deduction.
Dolls. Dolls. 1 Prize of 1000 is 1000 1 300 300 1 200 200 4 100 are 400 10 50 500 20 30 600 40 20 800 50 10 500 100 6 600 1482 3 4446 ---- ---- 1709 Prizes, 9346 3631 Blanks, 1334 ---- ---- 5340 Tickets, at 2 Dolls. each, is 10680
To commence drawing the 1st June next.
TICKETS may be had by applying to the subscribers; and the Prizes paid on demand. Prizes not demanded within six months after