Autograph album with inscriptions from 1864 to 1878 that belonged to Frances R. Swett, "Fannie", of Eastport, Maine.
The album contains many inscriptions from the Seabrook, New Hampshire, area, where the family presumably had kin, as well as inscriptions of men serving aboard vessels in the U.S. Navy and Revenue Cutter Service.
The album measures approximately 8-1/2" by 7" and contains numerous engravings throughout, plus the sentiments of nearly 100 of Fannie's relatives and friends from Maine, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.
Surnames in the Album
Vessels mentioned in the album:
- Schre, possibly the abbreviation for a schooner
- U.S.S. Tioga - at least 2 inscribers
- U.S. Rev. Service Mahoning, which, once taken over for Civil War duty, was renamed the U.S.R.C. Levi Woodbury
- U.S.S. Powhatan
- U.S. Rev. Cutter Ashuelot
- Steamer New England of the Eastern Express Company
From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and additions requested:
Frances Swett, "Fannie", was born August 24, 1847 in Maine, the daughter of Nathaniel Fosdick Swett, who died during the Civil War, and Catherine May Wright, who were born in Maine and Nova Scotia respectively. Nathaniel's father, Captain John Swett, was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, which may have been a factor in the number of inscribers from nearly Seabrook, New Hampshire.
I've seen several middle initials for Fannie in records, but most point to her name as Frances R. Swett. Fannie's birth date came from her son Donald's application to the Sons of the American Revolution.
Fannie had several siblings, at least three of whom inscribed pages in her album. Fannie's brother Jefferson Monroe Swett inscribed two pages, one individually and one with his wife Emily Jane (Munson) Swett and children Katie Wright Swett and Millidge Grassie Swett.
Brothers Jefferson Monroe Swett and George Washington Swett, who would marry Malvina Folsom, inscribed a page with several others, who included:
- Allen Lowe Kerr
- William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George")
- C. Hillman
- A. F. McAvenney [not sure of surname]
- Frank H. Tuck
Fannie's sister Nellie May Swett inscribed two sentiments, one on the page shown below, and another on the inside back cover. Nellie would marry Wilford Fisher Alexander.
On November 26, 1868, Fannie married Civil War veteran Walter Foster Bradish, son of Martin Bradish and Louisa Ann (Gilson) Bradish. Walter was born in 1844. He inscribed a page in his future wife's album at Eastport, Maine, on August 22, 1864.
Fannie and Walter raised, I believe, 7 children at Eastport, Maine. Sadly, Fannie was one of many people who died in the 1906 Atlantic City train wreck, when a train went off a drawbridge between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Walter died in 1921. Fannie and Walter are buried, with most of their children, in Hillside Cemetery at Eastport, Maine. Walter's second wife Helen Marinda (Spoor) Bradish, "Rinnie", is also buried in Hillside Cemetery.
If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.
Sources
- Bulletin - Sons of the American Revolution, Volume 16, Issue 4
- Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900
- United States Census of Union Veterans and Widows of the Civil War, 1890
- U.S. Censuses
- Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918
- Maine, State Archive Collections, 1718-1957
- FindaGrave.com
- "Green as ever". The inscriber's surname or give name may have been Green
- Alice; inscribed in August 1864. Fannie's cousin
- Schre, possibly an abbreviation for Schooner by an officer of the vessel; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on September 1, 1864
- C. P. Mae or C. P. Mac? [perhaps abbreviated]
- B. R. C. Shared the page with Pat, who inscribed a page at Eastport, Maine in 1866
- Pat; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on December 8, 1866. Shared the page with B.R.C.
- Unsigned; inscribed in December 1866
- W. or M. or ?; inscribed on April 27, 1867. Shared the page with Walter F. Bradish, who was presumably Walter Foster Bradish, who would marry album owner Frances R. Swett, "Fannie", in 1868.
- A. or A. J. P.
- J. E. C. or J. E. U. or J. E. ?
- B. H. A.
- William H.
- Lou M., or Lois M. Fannie - Remember the Summer of 1870 and 1871. May it soon, very soon, be repeated." Shared the page with Jennie S. Scott
- Fannie - Remember the Summer of 1870 and 1871. May it soon, very soon, be repeated
- Jennie. "This C.L. means Charles [Lewis or Levin]" Shared the page with Lewis C. L. Morris
- Dr. G. F.
- Daniel B. Bellows
- Walter F. Bradish of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on August 22, 1864. Presumably Walter Foster Bradish, who married album owner Frances R. Swett, "Fannie", on November 26, 1868. Shared the page with someone whose initial was M or W
- Charles L. Bridge, or Charles S. Bridge, of Cambridge, Massachusetts; member of the Class of 1869 at Harvard University. Perhaps Charles Lee Follen Bridge.
- A. P. Brown of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on March 19, 186x - not sure of last digit. Presumably Abigail Perkins (Leavitt) Brown, wife of Newell Brown, with whom she shared the page.
- C. S. Brown; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on December 12, 1864
- Frank Brown of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on March 18, 1866
- J. H. Brown, or I. H. Brown, of Boston, Massachusetts; inscribed on March 14, 1865
- John N. Brown of Seabrook, New Hampshire. There's something rubbed out and the name U.S. Grant beneath it [doesn't look like his signature]
- Newell Brown of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on March 19, 1866. "Born 94". Shared the page with his wife Abigail Perkins (Leavitt) Brown
- Spring, Brown & Patterson; inscribed on April 2, 1865 and updated by Brown on July 28, 1865
- Harry Bucknam of Eastport, Maine
- Frank N. Chapman of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on December 5, 1866
- Henry A. Chase of U.S.S. Tioga; inscribed on August 28, 1865
- James I. Christie, Messenger, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. Presumably James Ira Christie of Dover, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C.
- Marie Clapp; can't decipher middle initial. Shared the page with Will Hill. There were a Marie Clapp and William T. Hill living at Calais, Maine, during the era of this album.
- William P. Cook of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on February 20, 1865
- T. H. Dearborn of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on September 30, 1865
- C. Martha A. Dowe; inscribed at Seabrook, New Hampshire, on January 1, 1866
- H. Maria Dowe; inscribed at Seabrook, New Hampshire, on January 1, 1866
- Nick Fessenden; Class of 68 at Bowdoin College; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on August 20, 1865. Possibly the Nicholas Fessenden who was the son of Dr. Hewett C. Fessenden of Eastport, Maine.
- W. P. Fessenden of Little Blue, Farmington; inscribed on December 7, 1867. Little Blue was the nickname of the Abbott School at Farmington, Maine. Presumably William P. Fessenden, son of Dr. Hewett C. Fessenden
- Samuel J. Gallagher of Calais, Maine; inscribed on August 17, 1864
- Clara R. Gardner; presumably the Clara R. Gardner of Eastport, Maine
- Willie P. Gleason of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on December 23, 1867
- Harry Grassie; not sure of surname; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on April 13, 1866. A Harry Grassie attended the New Hampton Literary and Theological Institution at New Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1864. He gave his residence as Washington, D.C.
- Otis William Greene of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on September 29, 1865
- Ned L. Hamer or Hawe or Howe; not sure of surname; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on October 2, 1867
- Will Hill; middle initial might be T. Shared the page with Marie Clapp. There were a Marie Clapp and William T. Hill living at Calais, Maine, during the era of this album.
- C. Hillman. On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- Alfred Hornsby of the U.S. Rev. Service Mahoning [presumably the vessel that was renamed the Levi Woodbury and used in the Revenue Cutter Service off Maine and Massachusetts. Shared the page with siblings Grace Leopold Perkins; Harry Hayden Perkins; and Jessie Chase Perkins.
- Eliza B. Janvrin of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, inscribed on March 17, 1866
- Stephen Keogh of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service at Eastport, Maine. Shared the page with Fannie O. Patterson.
- Allen Lowe Kerr. On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- Daniel E. Knox of the U.S. N.; aboard the U.S.S. Powhattan [should be U.S.S. Powhatan]; inscribed on August 2, 1865
- Abbott A. Locke of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed in October 1865
- C. Thomas Locke of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 9, 1865
- James B. Locke of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on 10/4/65
- John W. Locke of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 4, 1865. Shared the page with Mollie Stark.
- S. Helen Locke of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on December 9, 1865
- Anna Mabee; inscribed on September 4, 1864. Presumably Anna Mabee of Eastport, Maine
- A. F. McAvenney [not sure of surname]. On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- Royal W. Merrill of Cambridge, Massachusetts; inscribed on February 15, 1866 at Seabrook, New Hampshire. "The best thing I can say for myself is that I am a member of the class of '69 Harvard College..."
- Edgar C. Michener of Eastport, Maine; mentions Sioux City, Iowa on September 9, 1876 and December 6, 1887. Presumably Edgar moved to Sioux City, Iowa.
- Lewis C. L. Morris of New York "Remember our dance, July 26, 1871". Shared the page with Jennie
- Federico A. Munoz, "Fred", of Montevideo, South America; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on September 9, 1871
- Frank S. Paine of Eastport, Maine; not sure of middle initial. Possibly Frank Sturges Paine
- Harlan P. Parsons; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on December 1, 1864
- Fannie O. Patterson; inscribed on December 8, 1866
- Fannie O. Patterson. Shared the page with Stephen Keogh of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service at Eastport, Maine
- Spring, Brown & Patterson; inscribed on April 2, 1865 and updated by Brown on July 28, 1865
- Fulton Peavey of Sioux City, Iowa; inscribed on September 9, 1876
- Alice Perkins; who wrote her name backwards; inscribed on Friday, August 26, 1864. She was a daughter of Joshua Chase Perkins and Eliza L. (Hayden) Perkins. Alice would marry Samuel Wright Goulding
- Caroline A. Perkins of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 2, 1865. She did an applique of ferns over her painting of roses
- Grace Leopold Perkins; research shows her at Calais, Maine, daughter of Joshua Chase Perkins and Eliza L. (Hayden) Perkins. Shared the page with her brother Harry Hayden Perkins; her sister Jessie Chase Perkins; and Alfred Hornsby
- Harry Hayden P., age 6 [so this would have been about 1864]; research shows him at Calais, Maine, son of Joshua Chase Perkins and Eliza L. (Hayden) Perkins. Shared the page with his sisters Grace Leopold Perkins and Jessie Chase Perkins and with Alfred Hornsby
- Jessie Chase Perkins; research shows her at Calais, Maine, daughter of Joshua Chase Perkins and Eliza L. (Hayden) Perkins. Shared the page with her sister Grace Leopold Perkins; her brother Harry Hayden Perkins; and with Alfred Hornsby
- Mary C. Philbrick of Seabrook, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 6, 1865
- Addie G. Pike; inscribed at Calais, Maine, on August 22, 1864
- James B. Russell, Act Ensign, of the U.S.S. Tioga of New Bedford, Massachusetts
- Charley Bayley Sanborn; inscribed at Seabrook, New Hampshire, on January 9, 1866
- Mary A. Sawyer; inscribed at Calais, Maine, on August 19, 1864
- Sallie Sawyer; inscribed on August 20, 1865. Middle initial possibly W or N or ?. "A Calais Gadder" "Maine Street forever, Stoddards Never!"
- Jennie S. Scott of Worcester, Massachusetts
- William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"). On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- Spring, Brown & Patterson; inscribed on April 2, 1865 and updated by Brown on July 28, 1865
- W. H. S?, possibly W. H. Spring, of Boston, Massachusetts; inscribed on April 2, 1865
- Mollie Stark; inscribed on October 5, 1865. Shared the page with John W. Locke
- Horace Stassell or Horace Stafsell or Horace ?, of U.S. Rev. Cutter Ashuelot of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on June 28, 1865
- Emily Jane Swett; Emily Jane (Munson) Swett, wife of Jefferson Monroe Swett. Shared the page with her husband Jefferson Monroe Swett; her daughter Katie Wright Swett; and her son Millidge Grassie Swett.
- Frances R. Swett, "Fannie", of Eastport, Maine; album owner
- George W. Swett; Fannie's brother George Washington Swett. On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- Hiram F. Swett of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on February 20, no year written - unless it was rubbed out, as there is an area below that appears to be rubbed. Fannie's cousin Hiram Favor Swett; son of Fannie's father's brother Frederick Augustus Swett
- J. M. Swett, "Your affectionate Brother"; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on June 27, 1878. Jefferson Monroe Swett. Shared the page with his daughter Katie Wright Swett; his son Millidge Grassie Swett; and his wife Emily Jane (Munson) Swett
- J. M. Swett; Fannie's brother Jefferson Monroe Swett. On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- Katie Wright Swett, daughter of Jefferson Monroe Swett. Shared the page with her father Jefferson Monroe Swett; her sister Katie Wright Swett; her brother Millidge Grassie Swett and her mother, Emily Jane (Munson) Swett.
- Millidge Grassie Swett, son of Jefferson Monroe Swett. Shared the page with his father Jefferson Monroe Swett; his sister Katie Wright Swett; and his mother Emily Jane (Munson) Swett.
- Nellie M. Swett of Eastport, Maine; inscribed on April 7, 1870. Nellie May Swett was Fannie's younger sister, who would marry Wilford Fisher Alexander about 1874
- Nellie M. Swett. Fannie's sister Nellie May Swett, who would marry Wilford Fisher Alexander. Her name appears on the inside back cover.
- M. V. Thomas of the U.S. Navy; inscribed in 1865
- Frank H. Tuck. On a page entitled "Old Centennial himself per "Effort"; dated July 4, 1876. and shared with George W. Swett; Allen Lowe Kerr; William Herbert Sinnott (alias "George"); C. Hillman; A. F. McAvenney (not sure of surname); Frank H. Tuck; Jefferson Monroe Swett
- John L. Tyler
- Edw. H. Weston; inscribed at Eastport, Maine, on December 10, 1864
- Emeline A. Weymouth
- Jennie W. Weymouth of Calais, Maine; inscribed on August 17, 1864
- Thomas Whittemore, Jr. of Tufts College, College Hill, Massachusetts
- Charles G. Winchester of the Steamer New England of Eastern Express Company; inscribed on February 20, 1865, "the day that the news was received of Charlestown being taken". Hopefully Charles survived the partial burning of the New England in April 1865.
- M. H. Woodbury, or W. H. Woodbury. Possibly M. Henry Woodbury. Shared the page with Nellie J. Woodbury. Presumably the children of Dr. Mark Rice Woodbury and wife Susan (Burns) Woodbury
- Nellie J. Woodbury of North End, Eastport, Maine. Shared the page with M. H. Woodbury or W. H. Woodbury. Presumably the children of Dr. Mark Rice Woodbury and wife Susan (Burns) Woodbury
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