Sunday, April 10, 2016

Autograph Album Presented in 1856 to Susannah Ann Marie Naill of Linganore, Maryland


Autograph album presented by I. W. W. on January 1, 1856 to Susannah Ann Marie Naill, "Susie", of Linganore, Maryland.


See another post that features a similar autograph album presented by I. W. W. on January 1, 1856 to Susannah's sister Martha Washington Naill, "Mattie".

The album  measures approximately 7-1/2" by 6-1/4" and contains the sentiments of over 20 of Susie's relatives and friends.  It was published by J. C. Riker of New York, New York, and contains 6 full page engravings.

An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

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

Susannah Ann Marie Naill, "Susie" or "Sue", was born August 6, 1839 in Frederick County, Maryland, the daughter of David Washington Naill and Susannah (Maurier ?) Naill.  Susie had several siblings other than sister Martha; the Washington who inscribed a page may have been their brother Washington Maurer Naill.

On March 4, 1862 at Frederick, Maryland, or in Frederick County, Maryland, Susie married Basil Pinkney DeVilbiss, who was likely the "Pinkney" who inscribed a page in her album in December 1861 and presumably also "friend P", who inscribed a page in November 1861.  Tucked in with the page inscribed by Pinkney is a poem clipped from a newspaper.





















Susie and Pinkney had 5 children, I believe, before Susie died on September 22, 1878 at Johnsville, Maryland.  Pinkney married Sarah Eugenia Booker on December 19, 1882; he died January 7, 1899, also at Johnsville, Maryland.

Several of Susie's cousins inscribed pages in her album:
  • A cousin at Park Hall, Maryland, possibly with the nickname "Pet", possibly a sister to inscribers Margaret A. Snader, "Maggie", and Elizabeth Ann Snader, "Lizzie".
  • Washington, possibly Susie's brother Washington Maurer Naill, who inscribed a page on September 8, but didn't indicate a year; perhaps 1858, as other inscribers mentioned that date.
  • Susie's cousin P. S., though I'm not sure of the initials, of Zanesville, Ohio, who inscribed a page on September 8, 1858
  • Susie's cousin A. M. S. or A. W. S. of Zanesville, Ohio
  • Susie's cousin Maggie at Park Hall, Maryland; presumably Margaret A. Snader, daughter of Jacob Snader and Mariah (Naill) Snader, sister of Susie's father David Washington Naill.
  • Cousin E. A. Snader at Park Hall, Maryland; presumably Elizabeth A. Snader, "Lizzie", daughter of Jacob Snader and Mariah (Naill) Snader, sister of Susie's father David Washington Naill.
If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

One sentiment, a particularly sad one, is a copy of a poem by British poet Letitia Elizabeth Landon.  The last sentence is particularly sad.  Landon was born in 1802 at Chelsea, London and died in 1838 off the coast of Ghana, "from an overdose of hydrocyanic acid, which is said to have been accidental".   


Inscribers in the Album
  • R. D. or R. S. or R. ?, inscribed at Linganore, Maryland, on December 10, 1861
  • Friend P., inscribed at Linganore, Maryland, on November 25, 1866.  Perhaps Susie's future husband Basil Pinkney DeVilbiss
  • Friend, unnamed
  • Friend Pinkney, inscribed at Linganore [presumably in Maryland], on December 1, 1861.  Susie's future husband Basil Pinkney DeVilbiss.  He inscribed another page as Friend P., at Linganore, Maryland, on November 25, 1866
  • Augusta, inscribed at Oak Orchard [presumably in Linganore, Maryland] on November 27, 1859
  • Barbara, inscribed at Sams Creek [Presumably in Maryland], on January 1, 1860
  • Friend Annie or Arnie or ?, inscribed at Lewistown, Maryland, on August 15, 1859
  • Inscribed by Susie's cousin at Park Hall, Maryland; possibly someone nicknamed Pet.  Perhaps a sister to inscriber Elizabeth Ann Snader
  • Friend I.  Perhaps the I. W. W. who presented the album to Susannah Ann Marie Naill 
  • Inscribed by an unnamed person on April 19, no year written; very cynical inscription, presumably stemming from a devastating experience
B
  • Lu... Clay Ba..., inscribed at Oak Orchard [presumably at Linganore, Maryland], on November 27, 1859.  Possibly Lucretia Clay Barnes (1846-1919), who lived at Linganore, Maryland.
D
  • H. A. D., inscribed at Sams Creek [presumably in Maryland], on January 1, 1860
  • Wesley R. Davis
  • Friend Pinkney, inscribed at Linganore [presumably in Maryland], on December 1, 1861.  Susie's future husband Basil Pinkney DeVilbiss.  He inscribed another page as Friend P., at Linganore, Maryland, on November 25, 1866
E
  • M. E. E., inscribed at New Windsor [presumably in Maryland], in April, no year written
  • Susannah Ann Marie Naill, "Susie", of Linganore, Maryland, album owner
N
  • Washington, inscribed on September 8, no year written.   Presumably Susie's brother Washington Naill.
S
  • P. S. at Zanesville, Ohio, inscribed to Cousin Susie on September 8, 1858; not sure of initials
  • R. D. or R. S. or R. ?, inscribed at Linganore, Maryland, on December 10, 1861
  • J. D. S., inscribed at Sams Creek [presumably in Maryland], on October 12, 1859
  • A. M. S., or A. W. S., inscribed to Cousin Sue at Zanesville, Ohio
  • Maggie at Park Hall [presumably in Maryland], inscribed to Cousin Sue.  Presumably Margaret A. Snader, daughter of Jacob Snader and Mariah (Naill) Snader, who was a sister to Susie's father David Washington Naill.
  • E. A. Snader at Park Hall [presumably in Maryland], inscribed to Cousin Susie.  Presumably Elizabeth Ann Snader, daughter of Jacob Snader and Maria Naill, sister of Susie's father David Washington Naill
  • Inscribed by Susie's cousin at Park Hall, Maryland; possibly someone nicknamed Pet.  Perhaps a sister to inscriber Elizabeth Ann Snader
T
  • B. J. T., inscribed at Oak Orchard [presumably at Linganore, Maryland] in November, no year written
W
  • I. W. W. presented the album to Susanah Ann Marie Naill, inscribed at Baltimore, Maryland, on January 1, 1856

1 comment:

  1. I have an ambrotype of Sarah eugenia's mother Sarah booker. Would be neat to reunite the items. My email is deereneecox@gmail.com

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