Wednesday, September 3, 2014

1884-1896 Autograph Album of Mary Burt of Essex, New York


1884-1896 autograph album that was given to Mary Burt of Essex, New York, by her mother Nancy Lenora (Farr) Burt at Christmas in 1884.  They may have lived in the Whallonsburg section of Essex, as several of the signers did.

See another post that features the 1854-1886 autograph album of Mary's mother, Nancy Lenora (Farr) Burt.


Among the approximately 80 signers are many members of the Farr and Burt families of New York and Vermont, along with family members who had moved to the Midwest.  Be aware that there may be mistakes in the family history below.  If you find a mistake or mistakes, please let me know.


Mary's greeting to her future well-wishers:


The album measures approximately 6-3/4" x 4" and contains the sentiments of about 80 of Mary's relatives and friends, a few of whom signed group pages as well as individual pages.  Mary's maternal great uncle, Volney A. Farr, may have signed three pages, on one of which he signed in 1885, he gave his age as 67.

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

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

Mary Burt was born March 4, 1871 at Essex, New York, the daughter of John and Nancy Lenora (Farr) Burt.  Mary's mother didn't sign a page other than the presentation page, but Mary's father, John Burt, signed a page on January 10, 1886.  Mary added a note: "Died March 11, 1892".


One signer indicated that she was Mary's grandmother.  Since John Burt's mother, Susannah (Sherman) Burt had died in 1886, and the page was signed on April 1, 1890, I believe the signer was Nancy L. (Farr) Burt's mother Martha (Fales) Farr.


Mary may have attended a Normal School, as three signers mentioned E.N.S.  I looked for an Essex Normal School but didn't find one.  The school might have been an Eastern Normal School somewhere, even in Vermont.  Or it might have taken on the meaning of an "eastern normal school", which equated with an academy.

On January 10, 1894, Mary Burt married Clyde R. Brown, son of Henry and Nancy (Chatterton) Brown of Whiting, Vermont.  Clyde had earlier signed a page in Mary's album, on February 10, 1890.


Mary and Clyde had at least one child, a son Charles.  They lived at Whiting, Vermont, and Brandon, Vermont.

Many other signers indicated a relationship with Mary; refer to the lists below.  If you notice that I've erred in describing their relationship to Mary, please let me know.  If you have corrections and/or additions, or information on any of the signers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Surname list

?     [2]
Baker     [3]
Ball
Bissette
Blodgett
Bluett
Bromley
Brown     [4]
Brownson
Burt     [3]
Campbell
Church     [2]
Farr     [13]
Fisher     [3]
Fuller
Hamer
Hieder
Hubbard
Irish     [2]
Kelsey
Marsh
Mason     [3]
Mather     [6]
Morrison
Newell
Oliver     [2]
Oliver
Packard
Palmer     [2]
Ransom     [2]
Rawson     [2]
Rogers
Rowley
Schofield     [5]
Simonds
Smith
Smythe
Thompson
Thrall
Trout     [2]
Tucker
Webb
Webster
Wells
Williams
Winslow

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

?
  • The page is full of sentiments, with crisscrossed words, so it's hard to tease out a name; there may be more than one signer. Possibly Finn, signed on September 22, 1885
  • E.U.P. ; not sure of last initial; shared the page with Martha L. Farr; Carl T. Farr; Hugh Schofield
B
  • Leon L. Baker of Essex, New York, signed on September 24, 1885
  • Mary Baker, signed on September 22, 1885 at E.N.S., presumably a normal school
  • Leo W. Baker of Essex, New York, signed on September 22, 1885
  • Cora Ida Ball of North Ferrisburgh, Vermont, signed on August 29, 1889; "your loving cousin"
  • Cora A. Bissette of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 8, 1890
  • Orville W. Blodgett of Whitehall, New York, signed on March 29, 1891
  • Walter Francis Bluett of No. 1 Charles Street, High Holborn, London W. E. England, signed on June 1, 1895
  • Emmet A. Bromley of Brighton, Colorado, signed on January 10, 1892. Presumably Emmet Ayers Bromley, born in New York in 1858
  • F. C. Brown; shared the page with Gratia M. Schofield; Lillie Mather; F. C. Brown; Clyde Brown; Leslie E. Farr; Willie B. Mather
  • Clyde Brown; middle initial could be R or B; shared the page with Gratia M. Schofield; Lillie Mather; F. C. Brown; Leslie E. Farr; Willie B. Mather
  • Fred C. Brown of Whiting, Vermont, signed on February 16, 1890
  • Clyde R. Brown of Whiting, Vermont, signed on February 10, 1890
  • Roxa Brownson, signed at Parishville, on August 15, 1887; "your aunt". Presumably Roxa P. (Fales) Brownson, wife of Dean Brownson of Brandon, Vermont
  • Mary Burt, album owner, of Essex, New York
  • Nancy Lenora (Farr) Burt, who presented the album to her daughter Mary at Christmas in 1884
  • John Burt, signed January 10, 1886; Mary's father. Mary's note: "Died March 11, 1892"
C
  • Mrs. Dr. Campbell of Sudbury, Vermont, signed on January 26, 1890. Presumably the wife of Dr. George Campbell
  • C. O. Church of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 15, 1890
  • Harry R. Church of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 17, 1890.
F
  • George V. Farr of Brandon, Vermont, signed on October 30, 1889. George Volney Farr (1841-1909), whose wife Lillian Abigail (Crooks) Farr signed the right facing page. Alternatively, this could be George Volney Farr, Jr.
  • Lillian A. Farr of Brandon, Vermont, signed on October 30, 1889. She was Lillian Abigail (Crooks) Farr, whose husband, George Volney Farr, or son of the same name, signed the left facing page.
  • Martha L. Farr of Brandon, Vermont, signed on October 31, 1889; "your cousin". She was the daughter of George Volney Farr and Lillian Adelaide (Crooks) Farr. George was a brother to Mary's mother Nancy L. (Farr) Burt.
  • Volney G. Farr of Brandon, Vermont, signed on October 31, 1889. Corporal Co. C, 1st Regt, V.N.G. He was George Volney Farr, son of George Volney Farr and Lillian Abigail (Crooks) Farr. George Sr. was a brother to Mary's mother Nancy L. (Farr) Burt.
  • Leslie E. Farr of Springfield, Ohio, signed on June 20, 1886; shared the page with Gratia M. Schofield; Lillie Mather; F. C. Brown; Clyde Brown; Willie B. Mather
  • Martha L. Farr of Brandon, Vermont, signed on October 30, 1889; "your cousin"; shared the page with Carl T. Farr; Hugh Schofield; E.U.P.
  • Carl T. Farr of Brandon, Vermont, signed on October 30, 1889; shared the page with Martha L. Farr; Hugh Schofield; E.U.P.
  • Leslie E. Farr of Springfield, Ohio, signed on August 11, 1885
  • Aunt Jannette, signed at Brandon, Vermont, on November 10, 1889. Presumably Mary's mother's sister Janette Farr.
  • "Your loving Grand Mother, signed on April 1, 1890. I believe the signer was Martha (Fales) Farr, as Mary's other grandmother, Susannah (Sherman) Burt, died in 1886. Martha (Fales) Farr, wife of Thomas Gibbs Farr, lived until 1907.
  • V. A. Farr, signed on September 16, 1891; not sure of first initial. Possibly Volney A. Farr.
  • Uncle Volney of Springfield, Ohio, signed on August 11, 1885; "67 yrs". Presumably Volney A. Farr, brother of Mary's maternal grandfather Thomas Gibbs Farr.
  • V. A. Farr, signed on September 7, 1891; presumably another page signed by Volney A. Farr, brother of Mary's maternal grandfather Thomas Gibbs Farr. Volney died in 1892.
  • William J. Fisher of Whallonsburgh, New York, signed on January 13, 1885
  • J. Burt Fisher of Essex, New York, signed on November 28, 1895; your nephew. He was John Burt Fisher, born October 15, 1883, son of William O. Fisher and Frances (Burt) Fisher, "Fanny". Fanny was Mary's sister.
  • Mrs. Helen Fisher Blinn of Antigo, Wisconsin, signed on February 16, 1885. Wife of William H. Blinn.
  • Zena E. Fuller, signed on April 2, 1887
H
  • F. Spencer Hamer of Champaign Co., Illinois, "Born July 12, 1852"
  • Mrs. C. N. Hieder, signed on October 22, 1896. "Just as a breath from the prairies I come".
  • Charlie Hubbard of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 16, 1890
I
  • William Norman Irish, Rector of St. John's Church, Essex, New York, signed during Easter Week in 1885. His wife Emma Juliet (Lewin) Irish signed the overleaf.
  • Emma J. Irish of Essex, New York, signed in April 1885. She was Emma J. (Lewin) Irish, wife of Rector William Norman Irish, who signed the overleaf.
K
  • Allie A. Kelsey, signed on February 28, 1890. She attached a spray of wheat and ribbon, in keeping with her sentiment: "May our friendship not be as the chaff, Which is recognized only to be cast away, But as the golden wheat, which is useful. And the Crystalized grass which is beautiful."
M
  • Lettie Marsh of Essex, New York, signed on September 14, 1885
  • E. Lottie Mason, signed at Whiting, Vermont, on March 5, 1890
  • Matta Mason of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 4, 1890
  • Frankie Mason of Whitney, Vermont, signed on March 4, 1890
  • John R. Mather, signed at Whallonsburgh, New York, on January 21, 1885. Perhaps John Royce Mather - if so, the Mrs. J. R. Mather who signed the facing page would be Amy Safrona (Brasted) Mather.
  • Mrs. J. R. Mather, signed on January 20, 1885. If her husband, who signed the left facing page as John R. Mather, was John Royce Mather, then she was Amy Safrona (Brasted) Mather.
  • N. E. Mather of Whallonsburgh, New York, signed on February 10, 1885. Possibly Nelson E. Mather of Essex, New York.
  • Lillie Mather of Whallonsburg, Essex, New York, signed on June 20, 1885; shared the page with Gratia M. Schofield; F. C. Brown; Clyde Brown; Leslie E. Farr; Willie B. Mather
  • Willie B. Mather; schoolmate; shared the page with Gratia M. Schofield; Lillie Mather; F. C. Brown; Clyde Brown; Leslie E. Farr
  • Ernest R. Mather of Whallonsburg, Essex, New York, signed on January 26, 1885
  • Edwin S. Morrison, Attorney at Law, signed on October 1, 1893, at Blanchardville, Wisconsin. Mary's cousin
N
  • F. N. Newell, signed on "11th - 10th - 1889"
O
  • C. H. Oliver of 163 S Union St, Burlington, Vermont; signed at Essex, New York, on April 22, 1888
  • John N. Oliver of Essex, New York, signed on Aprtil 23, 1888
  • Martha A. Oliver of 153 South Union Street, Burlington, Vermont.
P
  • Mrs. Addie F. Packard of Brookline Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, signed on August 30, 1889
  • Mrs. ? A. Palmer, signed at Whallonsburg, in Essex, New York, on February 18, 1885. First initial might be I or J or ?
  • Carrie A. Palmer , signed at Whallonsburg, Essex, New York, on February 18, 1885
R
  • J. C. Ransom of Whiting, Vermont, signed on December 31, 1889. Joshua Corson Ransom, whose wife Mary H. (Lowell) Ransom signed the right facing page.
  • Mary H. Ransom of Whiting, Vermont, signed on January 1, 1890. She was Mary H. (Lowell) Ransom, whose husband Joshua Corson Ransom signed the left facing page.
  • Addison B. Rawson of Rochester, New York, signed on November 24, 1889
  • Lottie M. Rawson, signed at Whiting, Vermont, on December 3, 1889
  • Mary W. Rogers of Whallonsburg, Essex, New York, signed on September 10, 1886
  • Charles H. Rowley of Willsboro, New York, signed on October 30, 1887
S
  • Almira Schofield of Greenwood, Wisconsin, signed on September 10, 1886; Mary's cousin
  • Gratia M. Schofield of Greenwood, Wisconsin, signed on August 21, 1886; shared the page with Lillie Mather; F. C. Brown; Clyde Brown; Leslie E. Fgarr; Willie B. Mather
  • Hugh Schofield of Greenwood, Wisconsin; shared the page with Martha L. Farr; Carl T. Farr; E.U.P.
  • Gratia Schofield of Greenwood, Wisconsin, signed on August 21, 1886
  • Hugh Schofield of Greenwood, Wisconsin, signed on September 10 [or 18], 1886
  • Carrie Simonds of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 16, 1890
  • Clayton H. Smith of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 23, 1890
  • M. Smythe of Sudbury, Vermont, signed on March 22, 1890
T
  • E. H. Thompson, signed on August 18, 1885
  • Cora J. Tucker, signed at E.N.S. on October 7, 1885; presumably a normal school
  • A. P. Trout of Springfield, Ohio, signed on June 20, 1886. Aaron P. Trout, who shared the page with his wife Mabel Dean (Farr) Trout.
  • Mrs. A. P. Trout, signed on August 16, 1892; your cousin. She was Mabel Dean (Farr) Trout, daughter of Volney A. Farr; shared the page with her husband Aaron P. Trout, a brother or cousin of Mary's mother Nancy L. (Farr) Burt.
  • Cora J. Tucker, signed at E.N.S. on October 7, 1885; presumably a normal school.
W
  • Marcia A. Webb of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, signed on August 15, 1887.  She was Marcia Ann (Fales) Webb, wife of English immigrant Francis C. Webb, and younger sister of Mary's mother, Martha (Fales) Farr.
  • Kate M. H. Webster, signed on January 15, 1893. Note: "Mother of Christine A. Eastman" Presumably Kate Mary (Hubbard) Webster, wife of Luther Allison Webster. They were the parents of Christine Jane (Webster) Eastman, wife of Irving Willard Eastman.
  • Henry Wells of Whiting, Vermont, signed on January 26, 1890
  • Annie Williams of Whiting, Vermont, signed on March 2, 1890. Note: "Robb Woods' Mother, Brandon". Annie Williams married Frank J. Wood in 1895.
  • D. E. Winslow of Whallonsburgh, New York. Mary's note: "Died Mar 19 1887". Dean Edson Winslow.


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