Wednesday, April 1, 2020

1880s Autograph Album of Henrietta Mary Clark (1875-1981), "Etta", of West Acton, Massachusetts; with Inscriptions from Thomaston, Maine


1880s Autograph Album of Henrietta Mary Clark (1875-1981), "Etta", of West Acton, Massachusetts; with Inscriptions from Thomaston, Maine.


This album was found with two others that belonged to Etta's future sister-in-law, Marion Hadley Hapgood (1876-1951), "Mamie", and her mother Catherine (Hadley) Hapgood (1852-1936), widow of Rev. Ephraim Hapgood (1848-1922).  Mamie would marry Etta's brother, Emery William Clark (1870-1923).


The album measures approximately 5-1/4" by 3-3/4" and contains the sentiments of 21 of Etta's relatives and friends in Massachusetts and Maine. An alphabetical list of the inscribers, and any information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Etta was born 27 May 1875 in West Acton, Massachusetts, the daughter of Herbert T. Clark (1843-1914) and Mary Jane (Kelleran) Clark (1840-1920), who were natives of Quebec and Maine respectively. Etta's mother inscribed a page in Etta's album on March 5, 1886 at West Acton, Massachusetts.


Etta married Andrew Jacob W. Torsleff (1864-1953).

Perhaps a reader will be able to supply the given names and identities of the two inscribers below; if so, please leave a comment.

Aunt Sa Cushing, or Aunt Su Cushing; inscribed at Thomaston, Maine, on November 5, 1886 [or 1885].  Possibly Sarah Chapman (Paine) Cushing (1813-1901) or her daughter Sarah E. Cushing (1837-1892)

? Cushing; inscribed at Thomaston, Maine, on November 5, 1886.  Tate Cushing?

If you have corrections to the information here or if you have information on any of the people mentioned below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album
  • Unsigned
  • Hellen A. Anderson; inscribed on November 5, 1886. Presumably Hellen A. (Hyler) Anderson (1821-1900), widow of Simon H. Leeds (1821-1842) and Rasmus Anderson (1817-1852). 
  • Lilla C. Blanchard of Lowell, Massachusetts; inscribed on July 2, 1889
  • Miss Etta Clark; album owner; it was presented to her by Josie M. Fletcher.  Henrietta Mary Clark (1875-1981), "Etta", daughter of Herbert T. Clark and Mary J. (Kelleran) Clark. Etta married Andrew Jacob W. Torsleff (1864-1953).  
  • Aunt Kate Clark
  • Mary J. Clark, "Your Mother",  of West Acton, Massachusetts, inscribed on March 5, 1886.  Mary Jane (Kelleran) Clark (1840-1920), Etta's mother, widow of Herbert T. Clark (1843-1914). 
  • Clara J. Copeland of Thomaston, Maine. Clara Jane Shibles (1857-1928), who married 1) Charles E Copeland; Everett A.  Andrews. 
  • Mrs. Abbie A. Currier of Thomaston, Maine.  Abbie A. (Thorndike) Currier (1837-1899), wife of John D. Currier (1838-1864), who died in Virginia during the Civil War. 
  • Aunt Sa Cushing; inscribed at Thomaston, Maine, on November 5, 1886 [or 1885]. Sa - Sarah?  If Sarah, there were Sarah Chapman (Paine) Cushing (1813-1901) and her daughter Sarah E. Cushing (1837-1892) 
  • ? Cushing; inscribed at Thomaston, Maine, on November 5, 1886.  Tate Cushing ?
  • C. B. Fernald of Thomaston, Maine.  Catherine B. (Paine) Fernald (1833-1915), wife of George S. Fernald (1835-1904).
  • Fred H. Fernald of Thomaston, Maine; inscribed on November 5, 1886.  Frederick H. Fernald (1870-), son of George S. Fernald (1835-1904) and Catherine B. (Paine) Fernald (1833-1915). 
  • G. S. Fernald of Thomaston, Maine; inscribed on November 5, 1886.  George S. Fernald (1835-1904), husband of inscriber Catherine B. (Paine) Fernald (1833-1915). 
  • Josie M. Fletcher; inscribed at West Acton, Massachusetts, on January 1, 1886
  • James H. Kelleran of Thomaston, Maine, inscribed on November 5, 1886. Sea Capt. James H. Kelleran (1813-1892), husband of Margaret McCall (Huse) Kelleran (1821-1909). James was a brother to Etta's maternal grandfather Edward Francis Kelleran (1805-1885)
  • Margaret McCall Kelleran, "Your Great Aunt", of Thomaston, Maine.  Margaret McCall (Huse) Kelleran (1821-1909), wife of Sea Capt. James H. Kelleran (1813-1892), who was a brother to Etta's maternal grandfather, Edward Francis Kelleran (1805-1885)
  • C. Lettie Newton of Northboro, Massachusetts
  • Susan G. Paine of Thomaston, Maine; inscribed on November 4, 1886.  Susan Gray Paine (abt 1828-1896)
  • Mrs. Carrie Shibles of Thomaston, Maine; inscribed on November 5, 1886. Carrie A. (Sidelinger) Shibles (1857-1923), wife of Daniel R. Shibles (1850-1906). 
  • Matthew C. Webb of Thomaston, Maine.  Matthew C. Webb (1833-1901), husband of Jane P. Shibles (1837-1920). 
  • Mrs. William Whitney of Thomaston, Maine; inscribed on November 5, 1886; several possibilities
  • Sarah J. Wyman of Westminster, Massachusetts; inscribed at West Acton, Massachusetts, on March 3, 1886.  Presumably teacher Sarah Jane Wyman (1848-), daughter of Benjamin Wyman and Lovey (Hazen) Wyman


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