Friday, April 8, 2016

1887-1888 Autograph Album of Ransom C. Pingree of New London, New Hampshire; with Many Inscriptions at Parker House Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine


1887-1888 autograph album owned by Ransom C. Pingree of New London, New Hampshire, with many of the inscriptions acquired at the Parker House at Kennebunkport, Maine.


The album measures approximately 7-3/4" by 5" and contains the sentiments of 30 of Pingree's friends, some of whom mentioned schools, such as F.S.S. and Northfield Seminary.  I wonder if many of the inscribers were attending a conference at Kennebunkport or perhaps were working at the Parker House, shown below.


Lillian E. Smith of Denmark, Maine, inscribed a page at the Parker House on September 18, 1877.


An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear at the end of this post.


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

There were several men by the name of Ransom C. Pingree with ties to New Hampshire and Maine.   Find more information on the Pingree family here.  It's interesting to note that many online trees have the different men confused.
  1. Ransom C. Pingree, born February 15, 1826 at New London, New Hampshire, the son of Jeremiah and Sarah (Dole) Pingree.  He married Martha Bearce of Old Town, Maine, and had five children with her, two of whom died young and one well before his time.  Ransom was a noted businessman at Lewiston, Maine; he died November 14, 1908.
  2. Ransom C. Pingree, born April 1, 1864; died August 8, 1865; son of the Ransom C. Pingree noted above.  He died young and therefore is ruled out as the album's owner.
  3. Ransom C. Pingree, a nephew of the elder Ransom C. Pingree noted above, was born August 17, 1860, son of Nathan and Mary (Sargent Pingree).   He was a farm laborer at New London, New Hampshire, and died on August 27, 1910.  I don't believe he married.
  4. The Ransom C. Pingree mentioned as a member of the Class of 1906 at Harvard College, with an address of Haverhill, Massachusetts
By 1887, the first Ransom C. Pingree mentioned would have been living at Lewiston, Maine, unless he had moved to New London, New Hampshire, for a short period.  The most plausible Ransom seems to be the third choice, but perhaps a reader will have more information.

The two inscribers who mentioned Northfield Seminary in Massachusetts were Nellie E. Ryan of Colchester, Connecticut and Louise White.  They both had excellent handwriting and were perhaps part of the faculty rather than students.



Surnames in the Album

?LLaughlin/LoughlinRRideout
BBoothbyLothrop [2]Rosefield
BowenLynchRyan
BurnsMMartinSSeco
CCurtinMathewsShearid
DDayMeserveSmall
DillonNNicholsSmith
DwinellNortonWWells
GGhenPPingreeWhite
GilliganPowers
HHodge


Inscribers in the Album
  • Emily, inscribed on August 23, 1888; friend
A
  • Abner Boothby, Jr. of Kennebunk, Maine, inscribed on September 4, 1887
B
  • A. C. Bowen of Nashua, New Hampshire; alternatively, might be R. C. Bowen
  • Katie E. Burns, from or inscribed at Boston, Massachusetts, on August 27, 1887
C
  • Agnes H. Curtin of Mt. Auburn, Massachusetts, inscribed at Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 9, 1888 at Annex 101
D
  • Miss Effie Day and Miss Rose Lothrop of Rockland, Maine, inscribed at the Annex, presumably at the Parker House Hotel at Kennebunkport, Maine, during the season of 1887
  • Jennie Dillon of Boston, Massachusetts, inscribed at Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 20, 1888
  • Edith V. Dwinell of Georgetown, Massachusetts, inscribed at the Parker House as Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 30, 1887
G
  • Lettina M. Ghen of Cape Porpoise,  Maine, inscribed at the Parker House at Kennebunkport, Maine, on September 17, 1888; Lettina May Ghen
  • Lizzie Gilligan of Boston, Massachusetts, inscribed at Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 20, 1888
H
  • Arthur H. Hodge of South Duxbury, Massachusetts, inscribed at Kennebunkport, Maine, in the summer of 1887
L
  • Sadie M. Loughlin, or Sadie Laughlin, of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, inscribed on August 30, 1887
  • Effie L. Lothrop of Rockland,  Maine, inscribed at Annex No. 12, Parker House, Kennebunkport,  Maine, September 11, 1887
  • Miss Rose Lothrop of Rockland, Maine, and Miss Effie Day, inscribed at the Annex, presumably at the Parker House Hotel at Kennebunkport, Maine, during the season of 1887
  • Maggie F. Lynch of Cambridge, Massachusetts, inscribed at Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 10, 1888
M
  • Louis Martin of Kennebunkport, Maine, inscribed on September 8, 1888
  • H. H. Mathews of Portland, Maine, inscribed at the Parker House at Kennebunkport, Maine, on August 23, 1887 [no sure of last digit]
  • Lutie T. Meserve of Kennebunkport, Maine, inscribed at the Parker House on August 21, 1888
N
  • Ella M. Nichols of Newport, Vermont
  • Rosie A. Norton of Roslindale, Massachusetts, inscribed at August 25, 1887
  • Ransom C. Pingree of New London, New Hampshire, inscribed on August 23, 1887.  He was the album owner.
P
  • Mary Powers, inscribed at the Parker House at Kennebunkport, Maine, on September 19, 1887
R
  • Martin L. H. Rideout of August,  Maine, inscribed at Kennebunkport, Maine, on September 2, 1888
  • M. C. Rosefield of New Bedford, Massachusetts; possibly Matilda C. Rosefield
  • Nellie E. Ryan of Colchester, Connecticut, inscribed at Northfield Seminary on August 24, 1887
S
  • Meanbec Seco of Topsham, Maine, inscribed at F.F.S.; presumably a school or seminary
  • S. L. Shearid of Anderson, South Carolina, inscribed on August 28, 1888; possibly Samuel L. Shearid
  • Charles P. Small, clerk at the Parker House, inscribed in 1888
  • Lillian E. Smith of Denmark,  Maine, inscribed at the Parker House at Kennebunkport, Maine, on September 18, 1877
W
  • Nettie Wells of Cambridge, Massachusetts, inscribed at Annex 11, Parker House Hotel, Kennebunkport, Maine
  • Louise White of Northfield Seminary, Massachusetts, inscribed on August 24, 1877

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