Tuesday, June 30, 2015

1873 Letter from Georgie H. Patten at Bath, Maine, to Amory McLellan Houghton on Voyage


July 12, 1873 letter from young George H. Patten, "Georgie", to his friend Amory McLellan Houghton, who had previously written to George from Quebec, while presumably on a voyage with his father, sea captain John Reed Houghton.  The Pattens and Houghtons were seafaring and shipbuilding families from the Bath, Maine, area.

See another letter written to Amory on this same day by John Owen Patten, perhaps a cousin of George H. Patten, who may have been the Georgie mentioned in John's letter.

Read more about the ancestors of the Patten family in midcoast Maine here.

See images of the panes of Georgie's letter, which you can enlarge by clicking on them, and a transcript at the end of this post.

Mentioned in the letter:
  • Amory - Amory McLellan Houghton, son of John Reed Houghton and Emma P. (McLellan) Houghton
  • Dot - presumably Amory's dog
  • The Harts - the family with whom Amory's dog Dot has been staying
  • Margaret
  • Mort - who fell on a picket but survived and enjoyed the write-up in the Bath and Portland papers
  • Georgie - another Georgie, not the letter writer
  • Clara Gannet - who died the previous day
  • August Morse - drowned with Bertie Anderson
  • Bertie Anderson - Herbert Maxwell Anderson, son of Dr. Samuel Anderson - drowned with August Morse
  • Mrs. Richardson - talks of a trip to Moosehead Lake
  • Aunt Kate, cousin Georgie and cousin Cad
  • Georgie H. Patten - letter writer George H. Patten
  • Nan and Mort
George H. Patten, "Georgie", mentions a sad event, the recent drowning of August Morse and Bertie Anderson, who had borrowed a boat from Ned Sewall [presumably Edward Sewall, the father or more likely his son].  Their bodies were found at Harrington's wharf.  Johnnie noted that speculation was that Bertie had fallen overboard and that August drowned trying to save Bertie. 

From an article in the New York Clipper, issue of July 19, 1873:  the boys were Augustus Andre Morse, age 9, son of Captain Warren Morse, and Herbert Maxwell Anderson, "Bertie", age 4, son of Dr. Samuel Anderson.

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

George H. Patten was born May 12, 1860 in Maine, the son of George M. and Fredericka (Camp) Patten.  He served in the U.S. Army and attained the rank of captain and was injured in the line of duty.  He died in 1832 and is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery with other members of the Patten family.

Amory McLellan Houghton was born October 11, 1859 at Bath, Maine, the son of ship builder John Reed Houghton and Emma P. (McLellan) Houghton.  Amory's mother was also from a shipbuilding family; her father, James Henry McLellan, owned a large fleet at Bath, Maine.  The Maine Maritime Museum has items of dress she wore at her wedding to John Reed Houghton; they can be seen here.  The information describing the items mentions that Emma died in childbirth when Amory was seven years old.

On March 11, 1890, Amory married Jane McIlvaine, "Jenny", at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Amory and Jennie lived at Bath, Maine, and had three children, a daughter and two sons.  In 1892 Amory applied for a passport, along with Sydney J. Meeker, with the intention of going to Cuba, presumably for business.  On the 1910 Census, Amory listed his occupation as "salt dealer", and on later censuses as a merchant.  He died in 1926 at Bath, Maine; he and his wife, who died in 1945, are buried at Maple Grove Cemetery at Bath, Maine.




Transcript

I received your letter from Quebec and was glad to hear from you.  Last week I was examined for the High school, and got in on a rank a good deal lower than some of the others, but I got in, and I shall study hard to keep up.  Dot stays at the Harts, your grandmother tried to keep him there, but he did not stay.  He followed Margeret once or twice.  The other day Mort fell upon a picket and hurt him pretty bad.  It was put in Portland & Bath papers and Mort had them cut out and feels quite proud of them.  I received Georgie's letter yesterday.  Were you sick going over?  I suppose you were. Clara Gannet died yesterday.  She has been sick a long time before you went away, I believe.  Do you remember August Morse?  He took a boat and was going out to sail when Bertie Anderson asked to go with him and after teasing August let him go, they were both drowned.  They were grappled for and were both found dead the same night.  The dancing school ball is to be Monday night.  Do you think of us the 4th?  I do not suppose that you spent your fourth much the same way we did.  I miss you both very much and I do not know what to do without you.  It is awful dull.  I shall write to Georgie next week.  I would this week but there is not enough happens for two letters.  Mrs. Richardson talks some of going to Moosehead Lake this summer.  I do not believe we shall go up there because I have got in the High school and I cannot go any way.  I suppose you are having splendid time and seeing and doing everything.  Do you suppose you will go Brighton and see Aunt Kate and cousin Georgie and cousin Cad.  We have got a new croquet and we play about all the time.  I have written quite a long letter so I must close.  Your affectionate friend Georgie H. Patten.
P.S. Nan and Mort send their love.



1908 Photograph of Theodore Saunders Peirce of Milford, New Hampshire, at 10 Months



Photograph, taken on September 11, 1908, of Theodore Saunders Peirce of Milford, New Hampshire, at the age of 10 months.


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

Theodore Saunders Peirce was born November 11, 1907 in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, the son of William E. and Harriet Plummer (Saunders) Peirce of Milford, New Hampshire; they were born in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Waterford, Maine, respectively.

Theodore attended Dartmouth College and worked in the insurance industry.  I believe it was after 1930 that he married Dorothy Murphy, born in Northern Ireland, the daughter of James Richard Murphy and Eleanor (McCance) Murphy.

Theodore died in 1961 and is buried in the Murphy plot at the Riverside Cemetery at Grafton, Massachusetts.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Photograph of the home of Eliza Sampson at Hanson, Massachusetts, Where Julia Marion Tillson and Isaiah Lewis Tillson Were Born


5"x7" photograph of a home, identified on the reverse as the home of Eliza Sampson at Hanson, Massachusetts, "birthplace of Julia Marion and I. Lewis Tillson".


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

I believe the homeowner was Eliza T. Sampson, born June 14, 1842 at Pembroke, Massachusetts, the daughter of Turner and Eunice Sampson.  Eliza's mother died in 1852 and her father, with whom she made her home, in 1893.  Eliza herself, apparently having never married, died in 1923 and is buried with her parents at Mount Zion Cemetery at Whitman, Massachusetts.

Was Eliza a midwife?

Julia Marion Tillson and Isaiah Lewis Tillson were the children of Isaiah Newton Tillson and Julia Anna (Peterson) Tillson.  Julia Marion Tillson, or Marion Julia Tillson, was born November 16, 1871, at Hanson, Massachusetts; she would marry Chester S. Hale.  Sadly, she died young, on August 30, 1891 at Whitman, Massachusetts.

Isaiah Lewis Tillson was born July 18, 1874 at Hanson, Massachusetts.  Isaiah Lewis Tillson married twice: in 1898 he married Nellie Maria Drury, with whom he had, I believe, six children; and about 1924 he married Harriet Elizabeth Westgate.  Isaiah Lewis Tillson died Mary 10, 1955 at Hanson, Massachusetts.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.



c1905 Oversized Photographs of John Burton Dyer and Minnie Rebecca Reed of Augusta, Maine, Presumably Just After their Marriage


Oversized matted photographs of two young adults identified on the reverse as John B. Dyer and Minnie Reed Dyer, presumably not long before or after their marriage of June 21, 1905 at Augusta, Maine.

John's photograph was taken at the J. V. Footman studio at Augusta, Maine.  Minnie's photograph was taken at the Manning studio at Fitchburg, Massachusetts.


Matted, the photographs measure 13-1/2" by 8-1/2" and are rather heavy.  The photographs themselves measure about 9-1/4" by 4-1/4".

Apparently the antique booth seller placed a high value on the woman's style, as her photograph was $15; her husband's was only $6.  I felt the price for the two combined was reasonable, so I bought them both to keep them together.



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

John Burton Dyer was born September 15, 1878 at Augusta, Maine, the son of Leslie A. Dyer and Marie L. (Anderson) Dyer, who were born at Augusta, Maine, and Hallowell, Maine, respectively.  On June 21, 1905, at Augusta, Maine, John Burton Dyer married Minnie Rebecca Reed, daughter of Fred George Reed and Julia (Walker) Reed, who were both Benton, Maine, natives.   Minnie was born about May 1881 at Benton, Maine.

The new couple lived in various places in Maine, including Portland, Bangor and Augusta, Maine.  They had at least one child, a son John Reed Dyer, born in 1918 at Bangor, Maine.  Minnie died in 1960, and I believe her husband John had predeceased her in 1959.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.





c1880 Photograph of a Woman Identified as Mary Heitmann or Mary Heilmann; New York City studio


Circa 1880 cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the reverse as either Mary Heitmann or Mary Heilmann.  The photograph was taken at the De Young studio at 815 Broadway, New York, New York.


If you recognize this woman from your family albums or research, please leave a comment or contact me directly with her family history information.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Family Bible with Records of Alfred Bullock and Wife Hannah (Rimer) Bullock


Section of a Bible with Family Record pages containing information on the family of Alfred Bullock and wife Hannah (Rimer) Bullock, who were married on February 10, 1825.

The Bible is approximately 10-3/4" by 8-1/2" inches and was published in Cooperstown, New York, in 1823.  The section still with the Records pages measures a bit over a 1/2" thick.



Bear in mind that the dates entered on the Records pages may have been entered by someone relying on memory or secondhand information, so may or may not be reliable.  That said, the handwriting is definitely of the style of the early 1800s.

An enlargement of the Marriages page:


According to information gleaned online, it appears that Alfred and Hannah were natives of the State of New York. They lived in Orange County, New York, for at least part of their lives and are buried in the Laurel Grove Cemetery at Port Jervis, New York.

Note: Two different birth dates are shown for Alfred Bullock.   Below, the left of the facing Births pages.  Click on an image to enlarge it.


  • Alfred Bullock was born November 26, 1800 or 1801 [the last two digits are smeared]
  • Hannah Rimer was born September 22, 1802.
  • Sarah Maria Bullock was born November 7, 1825
  • Francis T. Bullock was born December 19, 1829 [shown as Francis Theodore Bullock on the right facing page
  • Eliza Jane Bullock was born January 25, 1834
  • Alfred Bullock, Jr., was born August 22, 1837
  • Emaline Amanda Bullock was born November 17, 1839  [entered twice, presumably as the first entry did not give her surname]
  • John Floid Bullock was born November 14, 1842 [spelled John Floyd in another entry]
The right of the facing Births pages:


  • Alfred Bullock was born November 26, 1799  [different date from the entry on the left facing page]
  • Hannah Rimer was born September 22, 1802
  • Sarah Maria Bullock was born November 7, 1825
  • Francis Theodore Bullock as born December 19, 1829
  • Eliza Jane Bullock was born January 25, 1834
  • Alfred Bullock, Jr., was born August 22, 1837
  • Emaline Amanda Bullock was born November 17, 1839
  • John Floyd Bullock was born November 14, 1842
The Deaths page:


  • Alfred Bullock, Jr., died June 1, 1840
  • Alfred Bullock, Sr., died April 26, 1884
  • Sarah M. Brown died July 25, 1889, age 63  [Sarah Mariah (Bullock) Brown]
  • Hannah Bullock died August 17, 1894  [Hannah (Rimer) Bullock]
If you have alternative and/or additional information on this family, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


1920 Commencement Issue of "The Voice" of Franklin High School at Franklin, Maine


Commencement Number 1920, "The Voice", published by Franklin High School at Franklin, Maine.  Reading between the lines, it appears that the class contained only two female graduates; I don't know the number of male graduates, but it appears it was a small class.

Approximately 10-1/2" by 7-3/4", with 20 numbered pages and several pages of advertising.  Below, the frontispiece, presumably a photograph of the editorial staff.  
A surname list and an alphabetical list of the people mentioned in the issue appear farther below. 

Images of all of the pages, in order, appear at the end of this post.


Names on the title page:

C. W. Perkins, Principal
Cora A. Jordan, Assistant
Mrs. Lula L. Dyer, Commercial Teacher

Clyde Bragdon, '21, Editor-in-Chief
George Bragdon, '21, Assistant Editor
Blanche Eldridge, '21, Literary Editor
Louise Wilbur, '22, Local Editor
Celia Garbett, '21, Alumni Editor
Raymond Fernald, '21, Exchange Editor
Willie Springer, '21, Personal Editor
S. S. DeBeck, Jr., '22, Athletic Editor
H. I. Stover, '21, Business Manager
Effie Workman, '22, Assistant Business Manager


Another photograph, not identified.  It can't be of the graduating class, as it's indicated in the history of the class that only two students were there at the end.  I believe they were Marcia Springer, who penned the Valedictory, and Alice Ryder, originally a member of the Class of 1919, who had had to miss a portion of that school year.

The photograph below might show Principal Perkins, his two assistants and the two graduates, the "band" referenced in the "History" of the class penned by Belva M. Simmons of the Junior Class.


Surnames Mentioned in the Album

AAbbott [3]DDeBeck [5]HHannaNNewmarkTTaylor [2]
AmesDonnellHardison [2]NorcrossThomas
BBeanDriskoHarriman [2]OOrcuttThomassen
Billings [2]Dunham [2]HillgrovePPaineThompson [2]
Blaisdell [5]Dyer [6]HolmesParkerTracy [2]
BlakeEEatonHooper [4]Perkins [2]UUrann
Bragdon [8]EdminsterHulbert [2]RRobbins [2]WWallace
BuckEdmundsJJordan [4]RollinsWarren
Bunker [3]Eldridge [2]JoyRyder [3]Wentworth [4]
BuzzellFFernald [4]LLawrieSSargentWilbur
CCardFraserLordSimmonsWoodsum
ChaseGGarbettMMacomberSmith [4]Woodworth [2]
ClarkGatesMarshallSpragueWorkman
Coombs [2]GinnMayoSprague
CousinsGordon [4]McKenzieSpringer [3]
CrabtreeGravesMerchant [2]Stover
Morse

People Mentioned in the Issue - some mentioned multiple times; given names within a surname are not necessarily in alphabetical order.

  • Carrie Abbott
  • Daisy Abbott of the Sophomore Class - illness
  • Manly Abbott
  • Florice Gordon Ames, Class of 1910; residing at New Sharon, Maine
  • Miss Bean, Commercial Course teacher
  • Harvard Billings
  • Leta Billings, Class of 1919; teaching at Ryefield School at Franklin, Maine
  • Raymond Blaisdell
  • Hazel Blaisdell, Class of 1911; teaching at Montpelier, Vermont
  • Raymond Blaisdell, Class of 1914; graduated Bates College; principal of high school at West Paris, Maine
  • Hilda Blaisdell, Class of 1916; graduated Massachusetts General Hospital; returned to Franklin, Maine
  • Walter Blaisdell, Class of 1916; attending Bates College at Lewiston, Maine
  • Elwood Blake
  • Clyde Bragdon, '21, Editor-in-Chief
  • George Bragdon, '21, Assistant Editor
  • Addie L. Bragdon, '21
  • Leonard Bragdon
  • Helen Bragdon, Class of 1917; sophomore at University of Maine
  • Ervin Bragdon, Class of 1918; employed at Waltham Watch Factory in Massachusetts
  • Leonard Bragdon, Class of 1918; attending the University of Maine
  • Jessie Bragdon, Class of 1919; working at Ellsworth, Maine
  • Hildred Bunker Buck, Class of 1916; residing at Medford Center, Maine
  • Della Bragdon Bunker, Class of 1908, residing at Rockland, Maine
  • Evelyn Dwelley Bunker, Class of 1911; residing at Franklin, Maine
  • Nora Bunker, Class of 1914; teaching at Grand Lake Stream, Maine
  • Lorene Ryder Buzzell, Class of 1913; residing at West Franklin, Maine
  • Meta Springer Card, Class of 1913; residing at Houlton, Maine
  • Hazel Clark Chase, Class of 1912; residing at Lagrange, Maine
  • George Clark, Class of 1916; residing at Egypt, Maine
  • Edna Clark Coombs, Class of 1912; residing at Livermore Falls, Maine
  • Walter Coombs, Class of 1918; employed in a bank at Washington, D.C.
  • Vida Cousins, Class of 1919; working at Ellsworth, Maine
  • Seth Crabtree
  • S. S. DeBeck, Jr., '22, Athletic Editor
  • Leona DeBeck
  • Muriel DeBeck, Class of 1912; graduated UMaine; teaching high school at Belfast, Maine
  • Eirena DeBeck, Class of 1914; graduated UMaine; teaching high school at Belfast, Maine
  • Leona DeBeck, Class of 1918; sophomore at the University of Maine
  • Edna Donnell, Class of 1908; residing at Franklin, Maine
  • Mr. Drisko, Principal
  • Ferol Smith Dunham, Class of 1916; residing at Surry, Maine
  • Lloyd Dunham, Class of 1917; residing at Surry, Maine
  • Mrs. Lula L. Dyer, Commercial Teacher
  • Mrs. Dyer
  • Francis Dyer, Class of 1911; teaching at Bethel, Vermont
  • Estella Dyer, Class of 1911; teaching at Beechland, Maine
  • Norman Dyer, Class of 1917; in the garage business at Franklin, Maine
  • Richard Dyer, Class of 1917; in insurance business at Hartford, Connecticut
  • Verna Lawrie Eaton; Class of 1908; residing at Northeast Harbor, Maine
  • Mr. Edminster
  • Geneva Bragdon Edmunds, Class of 1911; residing at Bethel, Vermont
  • Blanche Eldridge, '21, Literary Editor; penned Presentation of Gifts
  • Ethel Eldridge, Class of 1908, stenographer at Sangerville, Maine
  • Raymond Fernald, '21, Exchange Editor
  • Lloyd Fernald
  • Celia Fernald, Class of 1919; residing at home
  • Isabelle Fernald, Class of 1919; teaching at Magalloway, Maine
  • Margaret Fraser, Class of 1915; working in shoe factory at Ellsworth, Maine
  • Celia Garbett, '21, Alumni Editor; Celia B. Garbet also penned Address to Undergraduates
  • Edna Gates, Class of 1917; teaching at West Franklin, Maine
  • Flora Hulbert Ginn, Class of 1911; residing at Woodland, Maine
  • David Gordon
  • Marcia Gordon, Class of 1908; nurse at Ipswich, Massachusetts
  • Eleanor Dyer Gordon, Class of 1911; residing at Limestone, Maine; her husband pastor, M.E. Church
  • Hattie Gordon, Class of 1919; teaching at Eastbrook, Maine
  • Elwyn Graves
  • Beatrice Gordon Hanna, Class of 1913; teaching at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
  • Gertrude Eldridge Hardison, Class of 1909; residing at Miami, Florida
  • Verna Hardison, Class of 1916; telephone operator at Cleveland, Ohio
  • Marcia Harriman
  • Marcia Harriman, Class of 1919; teaching at Lamoine, Maine
  • Freda Bragdon Hillgrove, Class of 1912; residing at Franklin, Maine
  • Marcia Bragdon Holmes; residing at Guilford, Maine
  • Donald Hooper
  • Evelyn Hooper
  • Ida Hooper, Class of 1919; teaching school at Egypt, Maine
  • Ina Hooper, Class of 1919; teaching at South Bay District
  • Charlie Hulbert, Class of 1911; superintendent of schools at Upton, Maine
  • Lillian Hulbert, Class of 1919; teaching at Upton, presumably Maine
  • Cora A. Jordan, Assistant
  • Miss Jordan, Assistant
  • Carolyn Hooper Jordan, Class of 1909; residing at Waltham, Maine
  • Letitia Williams Jordan, Class of 1917; residing at Waltham, Maine
  • Marcia Gordon Joy, Class of 1914; teaching at Franklin Road
  • Sadie Lawrie, Class of 1913; working at drug store at Northeast Harbor, Maine
  • Miss Lord, Commercial Teacher; married Norman Dyer
  • Marjorie Bragdon Macomber, Class of 1916; residing at Franklin, Maine
  • Herbert Marshall, Class of 1918; telegraph operator at Perry, Maine
  • Mary Mayo, Class of 1913; working at Freese's store at Bangor, Maine
  • Gerald McKenzie, Class of 1915; paper mill chemist at Rumford, Maine
  • Leland Merchant
  • Josie Abbott Merchant, Class of 1912; residing at Beechland, Maine
  • Francis Morse, Class of 1916; working in an automobile factory at Detroit, Michigan
  • Beulah Tracy Newmark, Class of 1916; living at 50 Harwood St, Dorchester, Massachusetts
  • Miss Norcross
  • Hollis Orcutt, Class of 1914; residing at Biddeford
  • Beulah Hooper Paine, Classof 1913; residing at Bar Harbor, Maine
  • Beatrice Coombs Parker; Class of 1917; residing at Pittsfield, Maine
  • C. W. Perkins, Principal
  • Carl Perkins
  • Clarence Robbins
  • Jessie Robbins, Class of 1918; working at Attleboro, Massachusetts
  • Goldie Hardison Rollins, Class of 1916; residing at West Franklin, Maine
  • Alice M. Ryder
  • Alice Rider of Class of 1919 who missed part of the year and graduated in 1920
  • Alice - will she be a teacher or missionary to Mars?  Alice Ryder
  • Nettie Sargent
  • Belva M.Simmons, '21
  • Merle Smith
  • Beulah Hardison Smith, Class of 1913; residing at Orrington, Maine
  • Ola Smith, Class of 1913; attending Castine normal school
  • Otho Smith, Class of 1915; attending Bates Colleges at Lewiston, Maine
  • Bernard Sprague
  • J. Bernard Sprague, Class of 1919; attending Colby College
  • Willie Springer, '21, Personal Editor
  • Marcia M. Springer
  • Marcia - will she become a teacher, nun or bride of the doctor's son?  Marcia M. Springer
  • H. I. Stover, '21, Business Manager
  • Mr. Taylor, State Inspector
  • Daisy Gordon Taylor, Class of 1908; residing at Washington, D.C.
  • Dr. Thomas, State Superintendent of Schools
  • Eva Hardison Thomassen, Class of 1917; on voyage with her husband, a captain
  • Emma E Thompson, '23
  • Mr. Thompson, Principal; then Superintendent
  • Ruth Tracy of the Sophomore Class
  • Dallas Tracy, Class of 1908; conducting grain store at Franklin, Maine
  • Arthur Urann, Class of 1916; attending the University of Maine
  • Velma Wallace; Class of 1914; working at general hospital at Bangor, Maine
  • Hester Clak Warren, Class of 1912; residing at Stonington, Maine
  • Everard Wentworth, Class of 1911; farmer at Rangeley, Maine
  • Fedora Wentworth, Class of 1911; teaching at East Franklin, Maine
  • Marvel Wentworth, Class of 1913; teaching at Princeton, Maine
  • Marion Wentworth, Class of 1914; teaching primary school at Northeast Harbor, Maine
  • Louise Wilbur, '22, Local Editor
  • Marcia Springer Woodsum, Class of 1909; residing at Oakland, Maine
  • Hazel Woodworth, Class of 1917; working in an office at Augusta, Maine
  • Rowena Woodworth, Class of 1918; home, after working at an Augusta, Maine, office
  • Effie Workman, '22, Assistant Business Manager


Click on an image to enlarge it. If you click on the first image, it will open in a new window, with thumbnails of following images at the bottom, which you can click through.