Sunday, August 3, 2014

1854 Autograph Album/Journal of Emily Taylor of Norwich, Massachusetts; Student at Westfield State Normal School


1854 autograph album that Emily Taylor of Norwich, Massachusetts, a village in the town of Huntington, Massachusetts, kept while she was a student at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Masschusetts.


Read about the history of Westfield State Normal School, now known as Westfield State University, here.   The first signer in the album was John W. Dickinson, presumably the John W. Dickinson who would become principal at Westfield State Normal School from 1856-1877.  Emily left a note: "Married".  I'm not sure whether John was a fellow student or instructor.  If still a student in 1854, he must have been an impressive graduate, as he would become principal of the institution only two years later.


The album is approximately 8" x 6-3/4" and contains the sentiments of over 100 of Emily's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical surname list and alphabetical list of signers, with any personal information they gave, appear at the end of this post.   In addition, someone, presumably Emily, left occasional notes on pages, such as "Dead" or "Married".

Many pages contain up to four signatures, while some left full page or multiple-page sentiments.   Additionally, some pages contain transcriptions, presumably by Emily herself, of passages of literature and history.  One of these transcriptions was a facing page set about "faith", dated January 24, 1861.



From online research, hopefully correct:  [corrections and additions welcome!]

Emily Taylor was born 12 September 1837 at Huntington, Massachusetts, the daughter of Horace and his first wife, Mary Polly (Clark) Taylor, who died 6 November 1844.   Horace married widow Mary T. (Ranger) Burt on 29 October 1846 at Southampton, Massachusetts.

The 1860 Census of Huntington, Massachusetts, lists father Horace, stepmother Mary, Emily and Emily's full siblings, brother Alfred and sister Mary.  Interestingly, all three of Horace's children were shown to be teachers.

Emily Taylor's cousin, Ellen Sophia Pomeroy signed a page.  She was the daughter of John Pomeroy and wife Sophia (Taylor) Pomeroy, who was a sister to Emily's father Horace Taylor.  Ellen Sophia Pomeroy would marry Ferdinand F. French, son of Abraham and Olive French, at Boston, Massachusetts, on 14 January 1868.


Ellen's older sister, Cynthia Pomeroy of Chesterterfield, Massachusetts, also inscribed a page, which she shared with Sarah J. Taylor, presumably also related to album owner Emily Taylor, as she gave her residence as Chester, Massachusetts, which is where Emily's father Horace Taylor was raised.  Emily added the note "Married" to Sarah J. Taylor's inscription.  Cynthia Pomeroy would marry Roswell D. Merritt, son of William and Elizabeth Merritt, at Cumming, Massachusetts, on 4 July 1860.


Sadly, Emily Taylor did not enjoy a long life of teaching or marriage; she died on 20 July 1862 at Huntington, Massachusetts and is buried with her parents at Norwich Bridge Cemetery at Huntington, Massachusetts.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surnames in the album

Ayres     [2]
Baker
Bates
Bliss
Boutelle
Boyd
Brewer     [2]
Brooks
Burbank     [3]
Burbank
Bush     [2]
Caldwell
Carlton
Carpenter
Chamberlin
Chaney
Chase
Childe
Church
Clapp
Clark
Coker
Coleman
Crouch
Cummings
Dayton
Dickinson
Dow
Durant
Ellery     [2]
Ely
Fairbank
Foote
Gates
Gaylord
Gilbert
Gleason
Gray
Greene     [2]
Greenough
Halladay
Holder
Horton
Howe
Hutchinson
Jacobs
Johnson     [2]
Keyes
Lamberton
Lane
Loomis
Loring
Madbury
Martin
Martyn
Miller     [3]
Miner
Moseley
Newman
Newton
Norcross
Nutting
Parsons
Pepper
Phelps
Pomeroy     [2]
Powers
Root
Rose
Rude
Sanderson
Sawyer
Sears
Shepard
Simpson
Southworth
Tate
Taylor     [2]
Thomas
Thurston
Tobey
Twiss
Upson
Utley
Viets
Walker
Weld
Wells
Whipple
White
Wilmarth
Woodbury
Wright

Signers in the album   [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.l

A
  • Anna E. Ayres of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Emma Cummings and Martha L. Boutelle
  • Martha D. Ayres of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Caroline E. Church and Nancy W. Shepard
B
  • Maria L. Baker of Lancaster, New Hampshire
  • Annis C. Bates of Southampton, Massachusetts; shared the page with Malah B. Gaylord
  • Hattie A. Bliss of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mary Viets
  • Martha L. Boutelle of Leominster, Massachusetts; shared the page with Emma Cummings and Anna E. Ayres.
  • Henry J. Boyd of Southampton, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Masschusetts, on November 11, 1854
  • George H. Brewer of Stockbridge, Massachusetts; not sure of initial or surname; shared the page with Francis J. Fairbank and H. F. Lane
  • Mary A. Brewer of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School in 1854.
  • Louisa L. Brooks of Ashby, Massachusetts; shared the page with Addie E. Utley
  • H. H. Burbank of Lancaster, Massachusetts; possibly Hosea Herbert Burbank, born 13 October 1833, son of Samuel Walton Burbank and Hannah (Ball) Burbank.  Shared the page with Otis C. Norcross and William H. Coleman
  • Jennie E. Burbank of Lancaster, Massachusetts [middle initial might be C]; shared the page with Ora A. Carlton
  • Myra S. Burbank of Lancaster, Massachusetts, signed on November 8, 1854. "I will not forget 'Emily'."; shared the page with Catherine Simpson
  • Eliza P. Bush of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mariett P. Bush; Eliza J. Ellery; and Sarah E. Ellery
  • Mariett P. Bush of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Eliza P. Bush; Eliza J. Ellery; and Sarah E. Ellery
C
  • Lucius P. Caldwell of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School on June 28, 1854
  • Ora A. Carlton of Lunenburg, Massachusetts; shared the page with Jennie E. Burbank
  • Hannah Carpenter of Ware, Massachusetts; can't read middle initial; shared the page with Celinda Jacobs; Abbie D. Twiss; and Sarah E. Howe
  • Charlotte A. Chamberlin of Templeton, Massachusetts, signed on Monday, November 13, 1854; shared the page with Anna F. Tobey; and Ellen E. Upson
  • Mary L. Chaney of Potsdam, New York; shared the page with Kate Gilbert; Mary J. Southworth; and Mary T. Dayton
  • Mary C. Chase of Springfield, Massachusetts, signed on November 14, 1854; shared the page with Ellen C. Hutchinson
  • F. L. Childe or F. L. Childs of Springfield, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, in June 1854; shared the page with Nathan B. Holder
  • Caroline E. Church of Great Barrington, Massachusetts; shared the page with Martha D. Ayres and Nancy W. Shepard
  • Almin B. Clapp of Southampton, Massachusetts; presumably Almin Barnes Clapp, born 28 October 1830, son of Almin and Roxana Atkins (Barnes) Clapp; shared the page with W. H. Wells
  • Melissa P. Clark of Russell, Massachusetts; shared the page with Jimmy Horton
  • Charles P. Coker of Newburyport, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mary H. Thurston; and H. Ellen Tate
  • William H. Coleman of Cheshire, Massachusetts.  Shared the page with H. H. Burbank and Otis C. Norcross
  • Emily E. Crouch of Russell, Massachusetts; shared the page with Sarah M. Johnson
  • Emma Cummings of Townsend Harbor, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on June 24 [no year written].  Shared the page with Anna E. Ayres and Martha L. Boutelle
D
  • Mary T. Dayton of Westfield, Massachusetts, signed in June 1854; shared the page with Kate Gilbert; Mary J. Southworth; and Mary L. Chaney
  • John W. Dickinson of Westfield, Massachusetts, presumably the John W. Dickinson who became principal of Westfield State Normal School in 1856 and held the position until 1877.  Emily's note: "Married"
  • Eleanor E. Dow of Charlton, Massachusetts. Note: "Married to Turner Sanderson", who also signed a page in the album.  She shared the page with Helen V. White and Carrie M. Durant
  • Carrie M. Durant of Northampton, Massachusetts; shared the page with Helen V. White and Eleanor E. Dow
E
  • Eliza J. Ellery of Gloucester, Massachusetts; shared the page with Eliza P. Bush; Mariett P. Bush; and Sarah E. Ellery
  • Sarah E. Ellery of Gloucester, Massachusetts; shared the page with Eliza P. Bush; Mariett P. Bush; and Eliza J. Ellery
  • Lizzie A. Ely of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Susie M. Martyn and Christina Whipple
F
  • Francis J. Fairbank of Ashburnham, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School on June 29, 1854; shared the page with George H. Brewer and H. F. Lane
  • Francis M. Foote of Great Barrington, Massachusetts; shared the page with Adaline Gates; and Mary W. Newton
G
  • Adaline Gates of Richmond, Massachusetts; shared the page with Francis M. Foote; an d Mary W. Newton
  • Malah B. Gaylord of Westfield, Massachusetts [note added by album owner Emily Taylor: "Married"]; shared the page with Annis C. Bates
  • Kate Gilbert of North Brookfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mary J. Southworth; Mary T. Dayton; and Mary L. Chaney
  • Margaret A. Gleason of Westfield, Massachusetts
  • Charlotte N. Gray, or Charlotte N. Geery, of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mary M. Greene; and Sarah T. Walker
  • William B. Greene of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Daniel Rude
  • Mary M. Greene of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Charlotte N. Gray or Charlotte N. Geery; and Sarah T. Walker
  • T. C. Greenough of Deerfield, Massachusetts, or J. C. Greenough. There was a James Greenough who was later a principal at Westfield State Normal School.  He shared the page with Turner J. Sanderson.
H
  • Elisa C. Halladay of Westfield, Massachusetts
  • Nathan B. Holder of Berlin, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School on June 29, 1854; shared the page with F. L. Childe or F. L. Childs
  • Jimmy Horton of 29 Jay Street, N?; could be NH or NB or ?; possibly Northampton, Massachusetts?  Penciled note, presumably of album owner Emily Taylor: "To Melissa". I wasn't able to find a marriage between a Melissa P. Clark and a James Horton.  Jimmy shared the page with Melissa P. Clark
  • Sarah E. Howe of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts; shared the page with Hannah Carpenter; Celinda Jacobs; and Abbie D. Twiss
  • Ellen C. Hutchinson of Montgomery, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mary C. Chase
J
  • Celinda Jacobs of Thompson, Connecticut; shared the page with Hannah Carpenter; Abbie D. Twiss; and Sarah E. Howe
  • Caroline H. Johnson of South Williamstown, Massachusetts; shared the page with Sarah J. Loring; Elizabeth M. Root; and Annie Woodbury
  • Sarah M. Johnson of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, signed on November 9, 1854; shared the page with Emily E. Crouch
K
  • Mary Jane Keyes of Berlin, Massachusetts; shared the page with Philenie E. Powers [presumably Philena E. Powers.]
L
  • Fannie M. Lamberton of Newington, Connecticut. Her sentiment took up two facing pages; above, the left facing page.
  • Possibly H. F. Lane; if so, could be Hosea Foster Lane, born 7 February 1831, son of Francis and Susanna Lane. He became an educator so could very well have attended Westfield State Normal School.  Shared the page with Francis J. Fairbank and George H. Brewer 
  • Maria H. Loomis of Westfield, Massachusetts, signed at Normal Hall on November 11, 1854; presumably at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Elnora A. Rose
  • Sarah J. Loring of Great Barrington, Massachusetts; shared the page with Elizabeth M. Root; Caroline H. Johnson; and Annie Woodbury
M
  • M. A. Madbury of Charlton, Massachusetts; shared the page with A. G. Parsons.  Emily's note: "Married".
  • James L. Martin, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, and drew an intricate sketch.
  • Susie M. Martyn of South Attleboro, Massachusetts; presumably Susan M. Martyn.  She shared the page with Lizzie A. Ely and Christina Whipple
  • George F. Miller of Westfield, Masschusetts
  • Edwards Miller, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 21, 1854
  • Emma B. Miller of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Flavia Isabella Moseley
  • Louise H. Miner of Clinton, Massachusetts, signed on October 26, 1854 [not sure of middle initial]; shared the page with Julia A. Pepper
  • Flavia Isabella Moseley, signed at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 22, 1854; shared the page with Emma B. Miller
N
  • Burt Newman of Great Barrington, Massachusetts
  • Mary W. Newton of Northampton, Massachusetts; shared the page with Adaline Gates and Francis M. Foote
  • Otis C. Norcross of Upton, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on June 30, 1854.  Shared the page with H. H. Burbank and William H. Coleman
  • Adelia M. Nutting of Leverett, Massachusetts; shared the page with Lucie S. Woodbury; and Mary E. Sears
P
  • A. G. Parsons of North Yarmouth, Maine, signed at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 15, 1854; shared the page with M. A. Madbury
  • Julia A. Pepper of Ware, Massachusetts; shared the page with Louise H. Miner
  • Mary G. Phelps of Westfield, Massachusetts
  • Ellen S. Pomeroy, "your cousin". Ellen Sophia Pomeroy was the daughter of John Pomeroy and wife Sophia (Taylor) Pomeroy, who was a sister to Horace Taylor, father of album owner Emily Taylor.
  • Cynthia Pomeroy of Chesterfield, Massachusetts; presumably the Cynthia Pomeroy who was the daughter of John and Sophia (Taylor) Pomeroy. Sophia was a sister to album owner Emily Taylor's father Horace Taylor and a sister to signer Ellen Sophia Pomeroy.  Shared the page with Sarah J. Taylor
  • Philenie E. Powers of Greenwich, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 8, 1854. Philena E. Powers, daughter of Stephen and Rebekah Powers.   She shared the page with Mary Jane Keyes.
R
  • Elizabeth M. Root of Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Sarah J. Loring; Caroline H. Johnson and Annie Woodbury
  • Elnora A. Rose of Granville, Ohio, signed at Normal Hall on November 11, 1854; presumably at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Maria H. Loomis
  • Daniel Rude of Chester, Massachusetts, signed on November 14, 1854; shared the page with William B. Greene
S
  • Turner J. Sanderson of Lunenburg, Massachusetts.  Emily's note: "Married".   [Another signer was Eleanor E. Dow of Charlton, Massachusetts - a note left by album owner Emily Taylor indicated that Turner and Eleanor later married.]  He shared the page with T. C. Greenough. 
  • Wilbur F. Sawyer of Harvard, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Jerome Wilmarth
  • Mary E. Sears of Greenwich, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 10, 1854; shared the page with Adelia M. Nutting; and Lucie S. Woodbury
  • Nancy W. Shepard of Westfield, Massachusetts, signed in June 1854; shared the page with Caroline E. Church and Martha D. Ayres
  • Catherine Simpson of York, Maine. "The Casket is being read by Miss Carpenter".  She shared the page with Myra S. Burbank
  • Mary J. Southworth of West Townsend, Massachusetts; shared the page with Kate Gilbert; Mary T. Dayton; and Mary L. Chaney
T
  • H. Ellen Tate of Newburyport, Massachusetts; presumably Hannah Ellen Tate, born about 1835 at Rockland, Maine, daughter of William and Mary B. (Hall) Tate and future wife of Abel Washington Chase. In 1852 she was a student at Putnam Free School at Newburyport, Massachusetts; shared the page with Mary H. Thurston and Charpes P. Coker
  • Emily Taylor of Norwich, Massachusetts, signed in June 1854; album owner
  • Sarah J. Taylor of Chester Village, Massachusetts. Note of album owner Emily Taylor: "Married"; presumably a paternal relative of album owner Emily Taylor.  Sarah shared the page with Cynthia Pomeroy
  • George N. Thomas of Pittsfield, Massachusetts
  • Mary H. Thurston of Kailua, Sandwich Islands, Hawaii; shared the page with Charles P. Coker; and H. Ellen Tate
  • Anna F. Tobey of Boston, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 15, 1854; shared the page with Charlotte A. Chamberlin; and Ellen E. Upson
  • Abbie D. Twiss of Charlton, Massachusetts; shared the page with Hannah Carpenter; Celinda Jacobs; and Sarah E. Howe
U
  • Ellen E. Upson of Westfield, Massachusetts, signed at Normal Hall on November 21, 1854, presumably at Westfield State Normal School, at Westfield, Massachusetts. Note added by album owner Emily Taylor: "Dead". Ellen Eliza Upson, daughter of Willis and Harriet (Allyn) Upson, was born 7 February 1836 at Westfield, Massachusetts, and died 22 December 1854, also at Westfield.  She shared the page with Charlotte A. Chamberlin and Anna F. Tobey
  • Addie E. Utley of Chesterfield, Massachusetts [note added by album owner Emily Taylor: "Dead"; shared the page with Louisa L. Brooks
V
  • Mary Viets of Westfield, Massachusetts; not sure of surname; shared the page with Hattie A. Bliss
W
  • Sarah T. Walker of Marshfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Charlotte N. Gray or Charlotte N. Geery; and Sarah T. Walker
  • Ezra B. Weld of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, signed at Westfield State Normal School at Westfield, Massachusetts, on November 8, 1854; shared the page with Ebenezer Wright
  • W. H. Wells; shared the page with Almin B. Clapp
  • Christina Whipple of Westfield, Massachusetts; she shared the page with Lizzie A. Ely and Susie M. Martyn
  • Helen V. White of West Springfield, Massachusetts; shared the page with Carrie M. Durant and Eleanor E. Dow
  • Jerome Wilmarth of Hopedale, Milford, Massachusetts; shared the page with Wilbur F. Sawyer
  • Annie Woodbury of Charlton, Massachusetts; shared the page with Sarah J. Loring; Elizabeth M. Root; and Caroline H. Johnson
  • Lucie S. Woodbury of Leverett, Massachusetts; shared the page with Adelia M. Nutting and Mary E. Sears
  • Ebenezer Wright of Norwich, Massachusetts; shared the page with Ezra B. Weld



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