[Americana] [Law] Blackstone, Williammentaries on the Laws of EnglandFirst American Edition of Blackstone's Famous Legal Treatise, with Three Associations to the American RevolutionAmerica: Printed for the Subscribers, by Robert Bell, Philadelphia, 1771-72. In four volumes. First American Edition. 8vo. (viii), ii, (vi), 485; (viii), 520, xix; (viii), 455, (i), xvii; (xxii), (viii), 436, vii, (i), (xxxix) pp. From the libraries of John Chandler (1754-1801)--son of subscriber, Joshua Chandler, Esq of New-Haven, Connecticut (1728-87)--and signed by him on front free endpaper in Volume I, and dated 1774; Worcester, Massachusetts Patriot soldier, Timothy Bigelow (1739-90), signed by him on front free endpaper of each volume, and dated by him in Volume I, Nov 1784; Colonel Benjamin Hichborn (1745-1817), cousin and associate of Paul Revere, lawyer, Massachusetts state senator, and signed by him on front free endpaper of Volume II, with his name additionally written in another hand to same, as well as on verso of rear blank. Illustrated with two engraved plates (one folding), small paper repairs. Period-style full mottled brown calf, stamped in gilt, red and green morocco spine labels; all edges trimmed; marbled endpapers; scattered soiling and foxing to text; scattered small repairs; scattered marginalia.A fascinating and scarce first edition of Blackstone's influential legal treatise, from the libraries of three individuals connected to the American Revolution: a young New Haven lawyer whose family was divided in loyalty to King and Revolution; an early and ardent Massachusetts Patriot soldier present at the Revolution's major battles; and an eminent Massachusetts lawyer, and cousin of Paul Revere.John Chandler had recently graduated Yale University in 1772, and was studying to be a lawyer when he signed and dated the first volume of this set. His father, Joshua Chandler, was a subscriber to this edition and a respected businessman and politician in New Haven and, like his son, graduated Yale and studied law, and likely gifted the set to John. When Revolutionary fervor swept New Haven in the mid 1770s, John, unlike his father and many brothers who held Loyalist sympathies, sided with the cause of independence.In April 1775, Joshua was serving in the Connecticut General Assembly, and was recently elected to serve on the 18-manmittee for Public Safety in New Haven, when his Loyalist sympathies became known and he was arrested. He was imprisoned in North Haven until 1779 when the British Army--with the aid of his son, William--invaded New Haven under British General William Tyron. "Like many of his relatives in the country who held offices in the colonies under the King, he [Joshua] was loyal to the mother country; and when New Haven was invaded by the British troops under Major Gen. Wm. Tyron on Monday, at noon, 5th July, 1779, while the whigs were celebrating their independence from the mother country, they were piloted in by two of th