Friday, March 20, 2020

1830s/1840s Autograph Album of Fanny, presumably of the Sangerfield, New York, or Greene, New York, area


Oversized 1830s/1840s autograph album of Fanny, who, judging from many of the inscriptions, lived in New York, presumably in either Sangerfield or Greene.

The album contains the sentiments of 72 of Fanny's friends and at least one teacher.  Sadly, almost twenty of the inscribers used initials or "Friend" or "Anonymous", though the latter might have been copied by Fanny herself.

In a nice touch for family historians, Fanny made notations on many of the pages to note the inscribers' married surnames and a few deaths.  An alphabetical surname list and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appear later in this post.

"The Young Lady's Remembrancer", with marbleized covers, measures approximately 10" by 8" and was printed in Utica, New York, by William Williams, Bookseller, at No. 60, Genesee Street.


Surnames in the Album


? [20]HHamblin [2]OOwen
BBarnard [2]Haven [2]PPatten
Bigelow [2]HillPreston [2]
Bond [2]HoytRRiley
BuddHydeSShattuck
CCadwellJJuliand [2]Sherwood
CarterLLefferSpencer
ClarkLowTTerry [2]
DDewolfMMills [2]Tompkins
DouglassMottVVan Gasbeck
EEdgertonMotte [2]Van Ingen
FFiskNNewberry [2]WWebster
FiskeNorton [2]Williams
FolgerWilson

If you have a theory as to Fanny's identity or information on any of the people mentioned below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

As a sample, Cornelius Van Gasbeck - or variant, as his name appears to have been penciled in by Fanny herself - inscribed a two-page sentiment.  If you can identify which Cornelius he might have been, please advise.



Inscribers in the Album
  • Fanny, album owner; presumably from Sangerfield, New York, or Greene, New York
  • V. B. L. or V. B.C. or V. B. E.
  • Anonymous, in sepia ink
  • Anonymous, not in sepia ink
  • 2-page sentiment of H. M.
  • The unsigned sentiment refers to "Sister" numerous times
  • C. N. R. or C. V. R.
  • Clarinda, inscribed on March 12, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • Ann Elisa; inscribed on March 15, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • L. K. W. - not sure of initials; inscribed on September 18, 1842 at Sullivan, New York.
  • Emily of Bridgewater, New York
  • Harriet; inscribed on March 20, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • A friend
  • A friend
  • A. T. V.; not sure of initials
  • Jane; possibly the Jane C. Norton who inscribed a page at Sangerfield, New York, on March 15, 1837
  • A. W.; not sure of initials; inscribed in 1843
  • Ann E. N.  or Ann E. V.
  • your Teacher
  • Harriet; name on the back of a Happy New Year greeting card tucked in album
  • Julia Ann Barnard;  inscribed at Greene, New York, on September 16, 1837 [or 1839]. Added note: "Thurber".  Presumably Julia Ann (Barnard) Thurber, wife of Benjamin Thurber
  • Julia A. Barnard; inscribed at Greene, New York, on September 15, 1837. Penciled note: Thurber.  Presumably Julia Ann (Barnard) Thurber, wife of Benjamin Thurber
  • M. F. Bigelow; inscribed on February 7, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York. Penciled note: "Beach".  Presumably M. F. (Bigelow) Beach or M. F. (Beach) Bigelow
  • H. R. Bigelow; inscribed on February 9, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • Mary.  Added note:  [Hoyt, crossed out] Bond
  • B. Bond; inscribed on September 5 at Lenox, presumably Lenox, New York
  • Ophelia Budd; inscribed at Ottawa, Illinois, in 1840
  • Phineas Cadwell, inscribed on August 9, 1842 at Oneida Lake
  • Minerva Carter; inscribed on February 14, 1837. Penciled in note: Russel.  Possibly the Minerva (abt 1819-1856) who married George H. Russell. 
  • Eliza Clark; inscribed on March 1, 1837 [not sure of last digit].  Penciled note: "died 1849".  Possibly the first wife of Samuel Clark (1802-1875).  If so, Eliza (?) Clark (abt 1800-1849).  
  • Emily Dewolf; shared the page with Maria Motte
  • M. E. Douglass; inscribed in March 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • Ruth W. Edgerton, mentioned on a sheet of paper tucked in album.  Perhaps Ruth W. (Edgerton) Smith (1851-1931), wife of Willard R. Smith.  Also mentioned on sheet: Mrs. Amoz Low of State Bridge, New York.
  • A Friend, inscribed on August 14, 1842 at Oneida Lake.  Penciled in later: Lucius Fisk
  • H. P. Fiske, inscribed on July 16, 1842 at Oneida Lake, New York
  • Parthenia Ann Folger; inscribed at Greene, New York, on December 6, 1839. Parthenia Ann Folger (1818-1890).  
  • Mrs. M. Hamblin of Bridgeport.  On another part of the page, she wrote Maria. Penciled note: "Died Feb 4th 1843."  There was a Maria Hamlin, or Hamblin, wife of Joshua Hamli/Hamblin, who died on February 4, 1843 and is buried in Manlius, New York. 
  • Miss H. A. Hamblin of Smithfield
  • P. B. Haven, inscribed on February 18, 18- at Sangerfield, New York.  Perhaps Philander Butler Haven (1815-1891), husband of Elizabeth (Putnam) Haven (1816-1883).  
  • C. M. Haven; inscribed in February 1837 at Sangerfield, New York.  Perhaps Caroline Haven (1821-1899), if her middle initial was M.  Caroline married Josiah Stebbins Hitchcock.  
  • Irene, inscribed at Greene, New York, in 1839. Perhaps Irene E. Hill (abt 1818-1887), who married Stoddard S. Nichols (-1861). 
  • H. M. Hoyt, inscribed on June 4, 1837 at Greene, New York.  Penciled note: Philips.  Possibly Hannah Maria (Hoyt) Phillips (1821-1885), who married   Edgar Alonzo Phillips  
  • Maria Hyde
  • J. Juliand; inscribed at Greene, New York, on April 8, 1839
  • C. J. Juliand; perhaps Cornelia Jewel Juliand (1826-1909) of Greene, New York. She married William Frederick Russell. 
  • Mary S. Leffer or Leffers; inscribed on March 11, 1877 at Sangerfield, New York.  Later note: "drowned July 1878"
  • Mrs. Amoz Low of State Bridge, New York, in Madison County; on a sheet of paper tucked in album.  Presumably Amos Low.  The sheet also mentions Ruth W. Edgerton.
  • L. M. Mills; inscribed on March 16, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • C. E. Mills; inscribed on March 16, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York.  Penciled in later: deceased 1849
  • Maria E. Mott; inscribed on February 25, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • Eliza B. Motte; inscribed on February 25, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York.  Perhaps Eliza (Williams) Mott (1799-1890) or her daughter Eliza Mott (1824-1891)
  • Maria Motte; shared the page with Emily Dewolf
  • W. L. Newberry
  • [Active ?] C. Newberry, inscribed on January 11, ? , perhaps January 11, 1846 at Romeo. Romeo may have been Romeo, Michigan, where some of the Newberry family were located. "Active" may not have been part of the name.  The inscriber was possibly Cornelia Parry (Pangborn) Newberry (1799-1866), wife of Amasa Stoughton Newberry.  
  • Jane C. Norton; inscribed at Sangerfield, New York, on March 15, 1837.  
  • Alexander C. Norton; inscribed on March 16, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York
  • M. A. Owen; inscribed in 1839 at Greene, New York
  • J. W. Patten; inscribed at Bridgeport August 29, 1841
  • Mary G. Preston; inscribed at Sangerfield, New York in 1837.  Perhaps Mary C. (Gove) Preston (1806-1876), second wife of Dr. Medina Preston (1794-1875), whose first wife, Elizabeth, died in 1831.
  • Maria C. Preston; inscribed on February 23, 1837.  Written in pencil: "Root". Maria C. Preston was the daughter of Dr. Medina Preston; she married Hiram L. Root, who died during the Civil War.
  • Harriet Riley; inscribed on March 5, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York.  Penciled note: Livermore.  Presumably Harriet (Riley) Livermore (1813-1853), wife of James Livermore (1814-1854).  
  • M. C. Shattuck; inscribed on February 25, 1838 at Greene, New York.  Possibly Mary C. (Shattuck) Hoyt (1822-1911), who married Henry Hoyt.  
  • S. M. Sherwood; inscribed at Greene, New York, on November 24, 1839
  • Philip Spencer, inscribed at Greene, New York, in 1840.  In pencil: deceased.  He is perhaps the P. Spencer who copied a 2-page inscription that John Visger Van Ingen signed.
  • Juliet L. Terry; presumably Juliett Lucretia Terry (1814-1900), who would marry Washington Hill
  • H. C. Terry; inscribed on February 14, 1837 at Sangerfield, New York.  Penciled in: Squires.  She was Harriet Carter Terry (1823-1891), who married Porter S. Squier (1821-1900). 
  • M. Tompkins, inscribed on July 10, 1844, at Bridgeport
  • 2 page sentiment penned, according to a penciled note by Cornelius Van Gasbeck - many possibilities of men with similar surnames
  • J. V. Van Ingen; inscribed Sunday evening, March 15, 1840.  Rev. John Visger Van Ingen (1806-1877), Episcopal minister.  He also signed a 2- page sentiment that was copied by P. Spencer on that same evening.
  • M. Ann Webster; inscribed on March 1 at Sangerfield, New York.  Possibly Mary Ann (Clarke) Webster (1810-1903), wife of Otis Webster.  
  • H. Williams, inscribed on August 12, 1837 at Greene, New York.  Middle initial possibly S or N or V or ?.  Penciled note: [presumably her married surname; looks like Sthrpens"
  • Caroline Wilson, inscribed a page at Sullivan, New York, on September 18, 18?2 and another on September 18, 1842 at Sullivan, New York

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