APS Members Bibliography

Bernard Romans (352)

Election date: 1774

Bernard Romans (c. 1720–c. 1784) was a cartographer, naturalist, army officer, and a member of the American Philosophical Society, elected in 1774. He was born in the Netherlands and moved to England to study botany, mathematics, and engineering. Around 1757 the British government sent him to America as a junior surveyor. By 1768, he was Principal Deputy Surveyor of the Southern District of British North America. During this time, he produced maps detailing hitherto unrecorded Floridian waterways and what is perhaps the first chart of the Florida coastline. He relocated to New York in 1773 to promote his future publication, A Concise Natural History of East and West Florida. While in the city, the Marine Society elected him as a member and he made contributions to the Royal American Magazine. In 1775, he published the only volume of A Concise Natural History before setting off to build fortifications on the Hudson river for the war effort. His feud with the crown over his pension fueled his joining the revolutionary cause. He resigned from duty shortly thereafter over a dispute regarding whether he was actually a colonel (he insisted he was). The next year he joined the Pennsylvania Artillery and then served under General Horatio Gates. He resigned again in 1788, but not before being court-martialed but ultimately acquitted of some charges regarding his involvement in his men’s misconduct. He intended to return to battle two years later, departing for Charleston before being captured at sea by the British. It is disputed where he was held for the remainder of the war, but in 1784 he supposedly set sail for Philadelphia with a large sum of money and then vanished. It is thought someone robbed, murdered, and threw him overboard. (ANB, DNB)

Member(s): Bernard Romans

352.001

Annals of the troubles in the Netherlands from the accession of Charles V. Emperor of Germany : in four parts : a proper and seasonable mirror for the present Americans : collected and translated from the most approved historians in the native tongue.

Creator(s):

Romans, Bernard, approximately 1720-approximately 1784 (Author)

Publication:

Hartford: Printed by Watson and Goodwin, for the author, [1778-1782.]

Subjects:

Netherlands -- History -- Wars of Independence, 1556-1648.

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

Sabin 72991 | Evans 16059 | Evans 17707

APS Subjects:

History

Editions:

1x 1778-1782 (Hartford)

Editions Note:

One edition, which is dedicated to Jonathan Trumbull. The work extends to 1629 only.
No more published.

Holding Note: APS holds one copy, but the Library has v.1 only. View Holding

Member(s): Bernard Romans

352.002

The compleat pilot for the gulf passage : or directions for sailing through the Gulf of Florida : or new Bahama channel, ... by Capt. Bernard Romans, Capt. W. Gerrard de Brahm, surveyor general for the Southern district of North America : Capt. Hester, Capt. Bishop, ...

Creator(s):

Romans, Bernard, approximately 1720-approximately 1784 (Author)

Publication:

London: printed for Robert Sayer and John Bennett, 1779.

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

Sabin 72995 | Sabin 72996 | Sabin 72997

APS Subjects:

Cartography

Editions:

1x 1779 (London), 1x 1789 (London), 1x 1794 (London), 1x 1796 (London), 1x 1797 (London), 1x 1799 (London), 1x 1800 (London)

Editions Note:

At least seven editions, all in London: 1779, 1789, 1794, 1796, 1797, 1799, and 1800.

Holding Note: APS does not own this text. Help the APS acquire this item.

Member(s): Bernard Romans

352.003

A concise natural history of East and West Florida : containing an account of the natural produce of all the southern part of British America, in the three kingdoms of nature, particularly the animal and vegetable : likewise, the artificial produce now raised, or possible to be raised, and manufactured there, with some commercial and political observations in that part of the world; and a chorographical account of the same : to which is added, by way of appendix, plain and easy directions to navigators over the bank of Bahama, the coast of the two Floridas, the nort of Cuba, and the dangerous Gulph Passage : noting also, the hitherto unknown watering places in that part of America, intended principally for the use of such vessels as may be so unfortunate as to be distressed by weather in that difficult part of the world : by Captain Bernard Romans : illustrated with twelve copper plates, and two whole sheet maps. Vol. I.

Creator(s):

Romans, Bernard, approximately 1720-approximately 1784 (Author)

Publication:

New York: Printed for the author, [1775]

Subjects:

Record Source:

ESTC

References:

APS Subjects:

Natural History | Cartography

Editions:

1x 1775 (New York), 1x 1776 (New York)

Editions Note:

Two editions, both in New York: one in 1775 and one in 1776. Per ESTC: "Most plates engraved by Romans. The "two whole sheet maps" of East and West Florida mentioned in the title were not issued with this work, but were eventually published separately in 1781. Cf. Library of Congress. Maps and charts of North America and the West Indies 1750-1789. Washington, 1981, p. 352. The second volume was not published. Dedicated to John Ellis. "List of subscribers to this work."--p. i-viii. "A list of subscribers, whose names were too late to be prefixed to the work."--p. [344]." Sabin has an extensive annotation about the rarity and import of the work, see 72992.
Via the APS copy: "Printer tentatively identified as Hugh Gaine from evidence of type ornaments and Onderdonk paper."

Holding Note: APS holds one copy, with a signature 2B ff. with Onderdonk watermark of "Hamstead H OGR" in double circle and was presented by John Vaughan. View Holding