Tuesday, February 11, 2020

1857-1880 Autograph Album of Lavinia Faxon (Damon) Penniman of Windsor, Vermont, and Hartland, Vermont


1857-1880 autograph album of Lavinia Faxon (Damon) Penniman, a native of Windsor, Vermont, who attended Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire, before her marriage to Merit Farnham Penniman.  Inscribers were mostly from Vermont and New Hampshire.

Lavinia wrote her name on the page before the title page.


The album measures approximately 7-1/2" by 5" and contains the sentiments of nearly fifty of Lavinia's relatives, friends, schoolmates and, possibly, teachers.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

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?FordRanney
AdamsGilletteRichards
Alden [2]HallRowe
BartonHaywoodRuss
BatesHoward [2]Russell
BlanchardHoytSmith
CadyKeyesSprague
CarnesKimballStearnes
Colby [4]Long [2]Steele
CushmanMorganStrong
Damon [2]NimsVail
DitsonPennimanWare
DurkeePrentiss [2]Willcox
Wilson
Wood


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

Lavinia Faxon Damon (1836-1896) was born in Windsor, Vermont, the daughter of Luther Damon and Betsey (Thayer) Damon.  In 1862 at Windsor, Vermont, Lavinia married Merit Farnham Penniman.  They had several children, one of whom, Dora Thayer Penniman (1865-1929), inscribed the last page in the album.


If you have information on any of the people listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Alphabetical List of the Inscribers
  • Fanny Steele, inscribed on October 24, 1853; not sure of either name
  • ? S. Adams of Pomfret, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy in the Spring Term of 1857
  • E. H. Alden, inscribed at Windsor, presumably Windsor, Vermont, in December 1858
  • Mary A. Alden, inscribed at Windsor, Vermont, in December 1858. Perhaps Mary Anne Alden (1829-1913)
  • Lucy A. Barton of Hartland, presumably Vermont, inscribed on May 1, 1860; perhaps Elizabeth Lund Colby
  • Mary S. Bates, inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on May 5, 1857
  • Amos Blanchard; inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on October 23, 1858
  • Louise M. Cady, inscribed on July 7, 1857
  • Mary A. Carnes of Windsor, presumably Windsor, Vermont, in October 1880; not sure of surname
  • ? F. Colby, inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on August 10, 1858; first initial possibly W or U
  • E. S. Colby, or E. L. Colby, inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on May 2, 1857. Perhaps Elizabeth Snow Colby, who married Royal Lewis Pingree  and then Eleazer Young; or Elizabeth Lund Colby, who married Ralston Hoit Penniman
  • Ellen L. Colby of Hartland, Vermont; inscribed on May 1, 1860
  • Lizzie L. Colby; inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, in October 1850; perhaps Elizabeth Lund Colby
  • Jennie K. Cushman of Hartland, Vermont; inscribed on May 1, 1860
  • Lavinia Faxon Damon (1836-1896), who would marry Merit Farnham Penniman; album owner
  • Mary J. Damon of Windsor, Vermont; inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on July 17, 1864; daughter of Urias Edgar Damon, brother of album owner Lavinia Faxon Damon.
  • Oliver Ditson
  • H. O. Durkee of Royalton, Vermont
  • Robert Ford of Danbury, New Hampshire
  • Mary E. Gillette of Hartford, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on April 30, 1857
  • Julia M. Hall of Newport, New Hampshire; inscribed on July 28, 1860. Inscribed to "Dear Sister", but not known if blood sister, inlaw or fraternal sister
  • Abbie Haywood of East Jaffrey, New Hampshire; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy, during the Spring Term of 1857 [or 1859]
  • Julia A. Howard of West Hartford, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on May 5, 1857
  • Mary E. Howard of West Hartford, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy during the Spring Term of 1857
  • Mr. George M. Hoyt, 257 Columbus Ave, Boston, Mass.  Written on a paper scrap folded so as to make letter/envelope, but there's no message.
  • Jennie M. Keyes of Hartford, Vermont; inscribed on May 1, 1860
  • Edward D. Kimball; name on a label: Edward D. Kimball, Provision Dealer, Nos. 37 & 39 F. H. Market, Boston
  • Hattie Long; inscribed on August 19, 1857; presumably the wife of inscriber J. Haskell Long
  • J. Haskell Long, inscribed on August 19, 1857. Possibly Jacob Haskell Long (1825-1861); his wife Harriet also inscribed a page.
  • Mary Morgan, inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on Mary 5, 1857
  • Ellen E. Nims of Sullivan, New Hampshire, inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on May 4, 1857
  • Dora Penniman of Windsor, Vermont; inscribed on October 25, 1880. Dora was the daughter of album owner Lavinia Faxon Damon and Merit Farnham Penniman.
  • Lizzie B. Prentiss of Langdon, New Hampshire; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy during the Spring Term of 1857
  • Mary S. Prentiss of Langdon, New Hampshire; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on April 28, 1857
  • Rhoda A. Ranney of Westminster, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on April 29, 1857
  • C. S. Richards, inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on August 16, 1858
  • E. T. Rowe, inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, in 1858; not sure of surname
  • Mary Russ of Queechy, Vermont, now Quechee, Vermont
  • Sarah H. Russell of Bradford, New Hampshire, inscribed at Kimball Union Academy during the Spring Term of 1857. Presumably Sarah Howard Russell
  • Augusta M. Smith of Montpelier, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on May 4, 1857
  • N. M. Sprague of Hartford, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on April 30, 1857; possibly Nancy Maria Sprague
  • Althea M. Stearnes of Hinsdale, New Hampshire, inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on Mary 1, 1857; presumably Althea Merrifield Stearnes
  • Fanny Steele, inscribed on October 24, 1853; not sure of either name
  • M. Nettie Strong of Hartford, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on May 4, 1857; presumably Mary Annette Strong
  • H. Vail; inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on May 1, 1857
  • Julia R. Ware of Pomfret, Vermont; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy during the Spring Term of 1857
  • Helen M. Willcox of Newport, New Hampshire; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy on May 5, 1857
  • Abbie M. Wilson of Sullivan, New Hampshire, inscribed at Meriden, New Hampshire, on May 8, 1857; presumably Abbie Marie Wilson
  • A. Wood; inscribed at Kimball Union Academy in August 1858


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