The Proceedings of the Court convened under the Third Canon of 1844, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, December 10, 1844, for the Trial of the Right Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, D.D., Bishop of New York; on a Presentment made by the Bishops of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia

Episcopal Church. Diocese of New York

Published by D. Appleton & Co, New York, 1845

About this Item

333, [1] p.; 22 cm. Contemporary half red morocco with five spine compartments between raised bands with gilt-tooled decoration. Gilt-tooled title in second compartment, "Bishop Onderdonk's Trial," with blind-tooled decoration in remaining compartments. Maroon cloth over boards. All page edges speckled. Marbled endpapers. Imprint includes: Philadelphia: George S. Appleton. Without the 16 pages of publisher's advertisements found in some copies. The official account of the trial of the Rev. Benjamin Tredwell Onderdonk (1791-1861) on charges of immorality and impurity, by the court of bishops of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Small oval paper label at head of spine. Small label at lower edge of front fixed endpaper reading: "From the Library of Herbert Boyce Satcher." Tipped in, on the second blank leaf following the front endpapers, is a portrait of Onderdonk engraved by W.L. Ormsby from a photograph by Brady. Tipped in on 2 blank pages following the text is a report of Bishop Onderdonk's funeral in 1861. Having been convicted of 6 counts of lewdness, based on the testimony of various women who had rejected his advances, the bishop had been suspended from his post. The author of the account of his funeral viewed him as "an innocent person visited with the severest punishment." Gift inscription at head of title page: "For John McKeon Esq with cmplnts of David Graham." Added to that an inscription indicating that it had been purchased at the sale of A. Oakey Hall's estate. Tipped in on the first blank leaf following the front endpapers is an autograph letter from David Graham to A. Oakey Hall, esq., about another case. Inscriptions in pencil on the front free endpaper indicate that David Graham was the counsel for Onderdonk's defense; at foot of the page: "The Episcopal Church Bishop Richter." David Graham (1808-1852) was an English lawyer who spent part of his career in the United States. John McKeon (1808-1883) was an American lawyer who served as New York County district attorney from 1846 to 1850. Abraham Oakey Hall (1826-1898) was an American lawyer who served as mayor of New York City from 1869 to 1872. Herbert Boyce Satcher was the vicar of St. Aidan's Parish in Cheltenham, Pa. from 1924 to 1958. In Very Good- Condition: edges rubbed; minor loss at head of spine; front hinge weak; the blank leaf with the tipped-in portrait is detached but present; minor foxing; otherwise, clean and tight.

Seller Inventory # 004505

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Proceedings of the Court convened under the Third Canon of 1844, in the City of New York, on Tuesday, December 10, 1844, for the Trial of the Right Rev. Benjamin T. Onderdonk, D.D., Bishop of New York; on a Presentment made by the Bishops of Virginia, Tennessee, and Georgia
• Publisher: D. Appleton & Co, New York
• Publication Date: 1845
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good -
• Seller catalogs:
  • Biography & Autobiography
  • Law
  • Religion & Philosophy