Thursday, March 24, 2022

Carbon Copy of a Genealogy of the Massachusetts/Maine Branch of the Hazen Family; by John Franklin Hazen (1891-1988)

A carbon copy of a 4 page genealogy on the Massachusetts and Maine branch of the Hazen family, written by John Franklin Hazen (1891-1988), whose identity was confirmed when he called Charles Motley Hazen (1859-1950) his father.    

This copy was directed to "Aunt Josephine", who contributed to the research.  

Note: I haven't independently verified any of this research, so please use it as a guide only.  Further, some of the digits are hard to decipher, so take them with a grain of salt.  What follows is just a sampling.

The genealogy starts with Edward Hazen, who came from England to Rowley, Massachusetts, sometime before 1648.  The surname may have evolved from Heisende.

The genealogy notes that Edward married twice, with no issue from his first marriage to Elizabeth, and 11 children from his marriage to Hannah Grant.  After Edward's death, Hannah married George Browne of Haverhill, Massachusetts.

The genealogy then follows the descent from the third son, Edward, who was born in 1660.  This Edward married Jane Pickard about 1684. The genealogy then follows their son Israel, who married Hannah Chaplin in 1724. Three children are listed, two dying young. 

The surviving child, Jacob, born about 1739, married Abigail (Perley) Spofford on November 16, 1761 in Rowley, Massachusetts. Later, Jacob married widow Jane Harriman. Jacob, who died in 1795 in Boxford, Massachusetts, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War.

Jacob's son William was born May 16, 1766 at Boxford, Massachusetts. He died in August 1840 in Sweden, Maine. William married 1) Sarah Kneeland; 2) Sophronia (Bumpus) Waterhouse (1805-1892) [birth date and place on her FindaGrave memorial are at odds with the information in this genealogy], on November 27, 1834 in Sweden, Maine. Sophronia, the daughter of Silas W. Bumpus and Keziah (Packard) Bumpus, was born June 17, 1803 in Randolph, Maine, and died May 15, 1892 in Norway, Maine. After William's death, Sophronia married John Merrill; she's buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Norway, Maine. "My father Charles Motley Hazen remembers her as smoking a TD pipe and telling him many stories of the civil war."  

John Bunyan Hazen (1836-1918), son of William Hazen and Sophronia (Packard) Hazen Merrill, was born June 12, 1836.  John married Hattie Ricker Motley (abt 1837-1918), daughter of Joshua Ricker, on July 12, 1857 at Westbrook, Maine. John died May 10 [not sure of second digit], 1918 at Auburn, Maine, and is buried in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Norway, Maine. Hattie died April 12, 1918 and is believed to be buried in Harrison, Maine.  John Bunyan Hazen entered the Civil War at Abraham Lincoln's first call and was wounded three times. John built over 100 houses in Norway, Maine, and had a sawmill in Waterford, Maine

Charles Motley Hazen (1859-1950), son of John Bunyan Hazen and Hattie (Ricker) Motley Hazen, was born April 1, 1859 at Westbrook, Maine. Charles had a sister, "Georgie", who died at about age 17, after contracting consumption from her fiancee, who also died of it.

Charles was named for his maternal grandfather, a Quaker and first mate on a privateer in the War of 1812. Charles married Lucia Anna Swain (1857-1940), who was born in Lovell, Maine, on January 9, 1857. They had three children, one of them the author of this genealogy, John Franklin Hazen (1891-1988) born December 15, 1891 in Beverly, Massachusetts.

John Franklin Hazen married Hazel Felton Norton (1894-1989) on April 12, 1916 in Beverly, Massachusetts; they had two children, John Franklin Hazen, Jr., and Charles Samuel Hazen

The genealogy ends with research into other descendants of immigrant Edward Hazen and a list of notable people named Hazen.
  • William Babcock Hazen (1830-1887) of Vermont; soldier and author
  • Henry Allen Hazen (b. 1832) of Vermont; clergyman and author
  • Lucius Allen Hazen (b. 1834) of Vermont; manufacturer, banker, State Senator
  • Marshman Williams Hazen (b. 1845) of Massachusetts; lawyer and civil engineer
  • Henry Allen Hazen (1849-1900) of Vermont; meteorologist and civil engineer
  • William Livingston Hazen (b. 1861) of New Jersey and New York; soldier and eductor
  • Charles Downer Hazen (b. 1868) of Vermont; educator and author
  • Rev. Harvey Crosby Hazen, well-known missionary to India
  • Allen Hazen (1869) of Connecticut; civil engineer and author
  • Joseph Chalmers Hazen (b. 1874) of Pennsylvania; Baptist clergyman
  • Henry Honeyman Hazen (b. 1879) of New Jersey and Washington, D. C.; dermatologist and author
  • Leslie Eugene Hazen (b. 1884) of Kansas; professor of agricultural engineering

If you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.


13 1882-1901 Papers Connected to the Pease family of Franklin County, Maine: Phillips, Avon, Salem

Undated, Albert Pease, D. S. D?

13 papers connected to the Pease family of Franklin County, Maine; 4 undated, the rest from 1882 to 1901

Places Mentioned, in Maine:
  • Phillips
  • Avon
  • Salem
  • Ridlonville

People mentioned:

1882 document: Salem, Maine, October 25, 1882: Alonzo L. Record, Albert Pease; Ebenezer Tyler; Warren T. Hinds, Town Clerk of Salem

Papers:

  1. Undated bill for barley - Albert Pease; D. S. D?
  2. Undated, Received of Charles Pease, $21 rent, signed by Mrs. Weston Toothaker
  3. Undated letter from Weston Toothaker at Ridlonville, Maine, acknowledging receipt of $14 money order from Charles H. Pease
  4. Undated letter from Josiah Pease asking his brother for funds to pay his taxes, which may have been $4.60 or $460 
  5. Promise to Pay, dated October 25, 1882, by Albert Pease in Salem, Maine the sum of $45 to Alonzo Record; witnessed by Ebenezer Tyler - not sure of surname. Pease put up a pair of steers as collateral. Reverse shows the recording by the Town Clerk of Salem, Maine, dated October 25, 1882; recorded in Volume 4, page 30, attested by Warren T. Hinds, Town Clerk of Salem
  6. Receipt from Phillips, Maine, dated May 2, 1891, where Albert Pease acknowledged receipt of $69 from I. H. Davenport for payment in full of birch stumpage cut on Pease's land.
  7. Receipt from Malone, New York, dated June 10, 1891, where Albert J. Pease acknowledges receipt of $125 from Albert Pease of Phillips, Maine
  8. Receipt, dated October 5, 1899 at Phillips, Maine, where Mrs. Weston Toothaker acknowledges receipt of $7 from Charles H. Pease for one month's rent
  9. Letter dated December 31, 1899, where Weston Toothaker acknowledges receipt of the payment of Mr. Pease - presumably Charles H. Pease - for two months rent. Toothaker asks if the chimney is drawing better and if the well is the chimney and the well has plenty of water.
  10. Receipt dated March 1, 1900, where Mrs. Weston Toothaker acknowledges receipt of $14 from Charles H. Pease for house rent.
  11. Letter dated April 27, 1900 at Ridlonville, Maine, to Charles H. Pease, where Weston Toothaker acknowledges receipt of $14 for rent.
  12. Receipt dated September 8, 1900, where W. ? Ross - not sure of surname - acknowledges payment by Charles H. Pease for horse services.
  13. Receipt dated December 14, 1901 at Holliston, Massachusetts, where Edward J. Atwood acknowledges payment by Charles H. Pease of all demands up to date.
If you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

36 Papers, dated 1849 to 1854, Relating to John Kelley Crockett (1830-1854), Musical Instrument Maker of Concord, New Hampshire

Undated, to John Kelley Crockett from H. C. Moore, Treasurer: re" public meeting and uniforms for Lit Aelphi [possibly Adelphi ?]

36 papers, ranging from 1840 to 1854, with two undated, such as the one above, relating to John Kelley Crockett (1830-1854), a musical instrument maker in Concord, New Hampshire.

One of the items is a letter, dated November 6, 1854, from John's brother James S. Crockett (1821-1898) that mentions another brother, organ maker George W. Crockett (1819-1893).  Sadly, neither James nor George would then know that John would die of typhoid fever within the month, on November 29, 1854.  

November 6, 1854 letter to John Kelley Crockett from his brother James S. Crockett (1821-1898); shortly before John's death 

Note: many online trees have John's death as November 2, 1854, but the photograph of his stone shows November 29, and that makes more sense, given James' letter.

After John's death in 1854, his widow, Sally Rebecca (Randall) Crockett (1827-1894) and daughter Anna Rebecca Crockett (1853-1915) lived with David Marston Dearborn (1810-1865), also an instrument maker, and perhaps John's employer and/or mentor. Interestingly, Marston's wife, Helen M. (Randall) Dearborn (1811-1859), was presumably related to Sally. 

In 1873, Sally married William Goss (1820-1887), whose first wife, Maryett (Abbott) Goss, had died earlier that year.  Anna Rebecca Crockett (1853-1915) would become the second wife of James Yeaton (1832-1906).  Yeaton's first wife was Sally's maternal aunt Martha A. (Randall) Yeaton (1832-1869).

The papers:
  1. Undated; Concord, New Hampshire; acknowledgement of payment of John Kelley Crockett to Charles W. Batchelder.  Perhaps Charles Willard Batchelder (1825-1890); work hours
  2. Undated; payment of John Kelley Crockett for expenses of public meeting; acknowledged by H. C. Moore, Treasurer; Aelphi, perhaps Adelphi?
  3. Receipt of payment by John Kelley Crockett on March 4, 1850 for banjo (?); rubbers and boots in 1849; payment acknowledged by Benjamin Gage; presumably Benjamin Gage (1815-1888)
  4. Concord, New Hampshire; June 5, 1850; Receipt of payment of John Kelley Crockett to Brown & Young; wash stand
  5. Received from John K. Crockett thirty dollars for Record of S. J. Crockett, July 19, 1850. Signed by William Crockett.  Perhaps John Kelley Crockett's uncle William S. Crockett (1792-1865)
  6. Concord, New Hampshire; August 7, 1850; Receipt of payment by John Kelley Crockett to Benjamin Gage, signed by him in 1851.  Presumably Benjamin Gage (1815-1888); rubbers, shoes
  7. Concord, New Hampshire; September 19, 1850; Receipt of payment of John Kelley Crockett of invoice of J. Stewart McFarland, signed by John Stewart McFarland, possibly the trotting horse enthusiast; purchase of violin, US maps, etc.
  8. 1849 to December 1850; payment acknowledged by F. C. Edmunds for payment on December 20, 1850 of John Kelley Crockett for shirts and pants; Possibly Frederick Charles Edmunds (1818-1896); purchase of collar, shirt, pants
  9. Concord, New Hampshire; December 27, 1850; acknowledgement of payment by John Kelley Crockett to James Prescott, signed by him.  Perhaps the James Prescott (1803-1865) of Deerfield, New Hampshire.
  10. May 3, 1850 to July 11, 1850; receipt of payment at Concord, New Hampshire, on January 28,  1851, by John Kelley Crockett to R. Merrill, agent for ? [? H. Knight ?]; purchase of knife, paper, pen, envelopes, etc.
  11. Concord, New Hampshire; February 7, 1851; Receipt of payment of John Kelley Crockett to Edmunds & Robinson; purchase of sack coat
  12. February 17, 1851; acknowledgement by Brown & Young of the payment by John Kelley Crockett; purchase of rocking chair (?)
  13. Concord, New Hampshire; February 25, 1851; Receipt of payment by John Kelley Crockett to Benjamin Gage, signed by Gage; presumably Benjamin Gage (1815-1888).
  14. Concord, New Hampshire; March 1, 1851; acknowledgement of Brown & Young of the payment by John Kelley Crockett, for a 3 drawer bureau, $3.50
  15. Concord, New Hampshire; January 25, 1850 [possibly meant 1851] invoice; Receipt of payment on March 1, 1851 by John Kelley Crockett to William H. Kimball for duplicate picture of child; perhaps William Hazen Kimball (1817-1892)
  16. Invoice of Edmunds & Robinson to John Kelley Crockett of Concord, New Hampshire; December 10, 1850 to June 30, 1851; one payment in April and settled up on July 8, 185; purchases of clothing
  17. Concord, New Hampshire, December 8, 1851, invoice from Burnham & Peirce to John Kelley Crockett; purchase of spices and groceries
  18. November 19, 1851 to December 26, 1851; invoice from Page & Fay for December 1851; payment of John Kelley Crockett acknowledged by Page & Fay; purchase of remnant and mat, etc.
  19. December 1, 1851 to December 31, 1851; acknowledgement by Ira Rowell of the payment of John Kelley Crockett; purchase of milk
  20. December 19, 1851 to April 1, 1852, dated April 1, 1852; John K. Crockett, Concord, New Hampshire; from Burnham & Peirce; purchase of groceries
  21. Concord, New Hampshire; January 6, 1852; acknowledgement by C. H. Norton of the payment of John Kelley Crockett - horse and sleigh to Deerfield, $2.50; presumably Charles Henry Norton (1812-1885)
  22. February 20 - April 12, 1852; acknowledgement by John Gear of the payment on account of John Kelley Crockett of Concord, New Hampshire; beef, $3.12. Presumably John Gear (1809-1892)
  23. April 24, 1852 - acknowledgement by David Dunlap of the payment of John Kelley Crockett; purchase of door
  24. May 27, 1852 to June 14, 1852 - items on account; acknowledgement by W. H. Page of the payment by John Kelley Crockett of Concord, New Hampshire. Perhaps William H. Page (1819-1855); basins, custards, matting, etc.
  25. Receipt of payment of June 1852 on account by John Kelley Crockett, acknowledged by E. A. Hill and D. A. Hill [not sure of first initial]. Presumably Elliot A. Hill (1794-1871) and Daniel A. Hill (1811-1878), furniture makers; purchase of furniture
  26. April 10, 1851 to October 21, 1852; invoice from R. Merrill, Agent for ?;  payment of D. M. ? acknowledged as received on November 5, 1852, signed by R. Merrill; purchase of cards, envelopes, violin book, paper, checkerboard, Bible, knife, etc.
  27. November 15, 1852 to January 6, 1853; acknowledgement by E. S. Chadwick of payment for merchandise by John Kelley Crockett; Perhaps produce dealer Edmund Smith Chadwick (1809-1892)
  28. Concord, New HampshireJanuary 7, 1853; receipt of payment by John Kelley Crockett, for a horse and wagon to Deerfield, to Dudley & Corning, signed by H. T. Dudley, perhaps Hubbard Thomas Dudley (1836-1863), son of Peter Dudley of Dudley & Corning livery stable
  29. Concord, New Hampshire; January 11, 1853; acknowledgement by I. F. Gear for John Gear of payment by John Kelley Crockett, bringing him up to date as of that date; John Gear (1809-1892); Isaac F. Gear (1835-1895)
  30. Concord, New Hampshire; July 1, 1853; acknowledgement by N. Knight of the payment of John Kelley Crockett - for 16 quarts of milk in June
  31. Concord, New Hampshire, February 7, 1854Crockett & Gordon invoice to John Kelley Crockett; groceries
  32. Concord, New Hampshire; April 26, 1854; invoice of items purchased by John Kelley Crockett from John Gear; payment acknowledgement signed by John Gear's son Isaac F. Gear.  John Gear (1809-1892)Isaac F. Gear (1835-1895); purchase of lard, sausage, beef, pork, etc,
  33. Concord, New Hampshire; April 24, 1854; acknowledgement by D. M. Dearborn of the payment of John Kelley Crockett for 3 months of house rent.  Presumably David Marston Dearborn (1810-1865), also an instrument maker, and perhaps John's employer and/or mentor.  At the time of enumeration of the 1860 Census of Concord, New Hampshire, John's widow and daughter were living with Dearborn; interestingly, Dearborn's deceased wife was born a Randall, presumably related to Sarah Rebecca (Randall) Crockett.
  34. Concord, New Hampshire; April 26, 1854; Promise to Pay $18.83 by John Kelley Crockett to lender R. ? Osgood
  35. Concord, New Hampshire; October 26, 1854; invoice of Joseph Grover, Whole and Retail Dealer in Furs, Hats, Caps and Buffalo Robes, 178 Main Street, Opposite American House, to John Kelley Crockett. Payment acknowledged by Grover in March 1855 (after John Kelley Crockett's death the previous November); purchase of hats, etc. Presumably Joseph Grover (1806-1865)
  36. Concord, New Hampshire; November 6, 1854; from J. S. Crockett, presumably James S. Crockett (1821-1898) to his brother John Kelley Crockett (1830-1854); mentions pew casing; hat rack; book; pew rent; overshoes; spit cup; also mentions George, presumably oldest sibling George W. Crockett (1819-1893). Note: John died later that month, on November 29, 1854

If you have information to share on any of the people mentioned above, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Saturday, March 19, 2022

24 Photographs of Students at Fredonia State Normal & Training School in Fredonia, New York; 1870s and 1880s: some IDed

Collection of 24 photographs connected to Fredonia State Normal & Training School in Fredonia, New York, Classes of late 1870s, and 1885, 1886 and 1887.  

The institution is now known as State University of New York at Fredonia.

All by two of the photographs were taken by the studio of B. R. Gifford of Dunkirk, New York. One was taken by the Eclipse studio of Jamestown, New York, and the other by the Nason studio of Buffalo, New York.

Most are unidentified; see the names of identified people below, which include surnames of Leworthy, (Wheeler) Leworthy, Durfee, Northrup, Whitney, and foreign students Theodoroff and Popoff.

The photograph at top is the only one from 1885, and a Fredonia historian believes, considering the Leworthy and Class of 1885 connections, that she was likely Caroline Persis Leworthy (1865-1914), who went by "Persis".  Persis would marry Henry Louis Moench in 1889.  

The reverse of the photograph above:


People in the photographs with identification:

Sample photographs:

Paul Theodoroff of Bulgaria Class of 1886.  He is listed in school records as Pavel Theodoroff of Garvanovo, Eastern Roumelia, now Thrace.

Marco N. Popoff of Bansko, Madedonia, East TurkeyClass of 1886

Unidentified woman from the Class of 1887

Unidentified man from the Class of 1887

If you have information to share on any of the named people mentioned above, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers. 

If you have photographs of an identified relative who attended Fredonia State Normal & Training School in Classes 1885-1887, please contact me so that we can compare and perhaps get more of these photographs identified.

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

30+ 1899-1937 letters re: Herbert Francis Hardy (1883-1979) of New York, Pennsylvania and Great Pond, Maine, and his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy (abt 1853-1943)

Collection of over 30 letters, mostly written to Herbert Francis Hardy (1885-1979), with two to Herbert's mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy (abt 1853-1943)

Note: Pauline's name may have been Paulina Louisa. On one of her letters, she wrote on on stationery with the letterhead of J. E. Stolhmann, Publisher, Bookseller & Importer, No. 48 Pearl Street, New York - with that address crossed out and 130 Park Row, presumably her own address, written in its place.

Perhaps a reader will share how this family came to Great Pond, Maine - perhaps a summer residence that became Herbert's retirement dream as a farmer, after his previous career as an engineer. 

Herbert married Ruth Monroe, a Pennsylvania native, about 1925. They had, I believe, 5 children.  By 1935, as implied by the 1940 Census, the family was living in Great Pond, Maine, in Hancock County near Aurora.

Herbert's son Herbert Francis Hardy, Jr., who grew up exploring the woods in and around Great Pond, died in 1964 in Vietnam.

The collection starts with an 1899 letter from Herbert, Sr., who gave his address as New City, New York but was on a visit to Brooklyn, New York - to his mother, whose location is not given - perhaps she was in New City or perhaps on vacation.

I believe Herbert was in the Class of 1908 somewhere, perhaps an engineering school, as one writer, Theo, writing in 1906 had stationery printed with a 1908.

The collection also includes a newspaper clipping of a photograph of a man with the surname Hussey. The clipping is not complete, but it's intimated that Mr. Hussey is the oldest resident of a certain town in New Jersey, or perhaps of the whole state.  "This is Papa is it not ? Theodore"


If you have information on the Hardy, Stolhmann or Moore families, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Included in the collection:

To Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy (Herbert Francis Hardy (1885-1879), "Buzzy"
  • September 25, 1899 letter from Herbert Francis Hardy in New City, New York, to his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy (1853-1943), "Muzzy"

To Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • February 6, 1906 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • February 14, 1906 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann)
  • January 30, 1907 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann)
  • Wednesday, February 1913 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • May 22, 1907 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann)
  • July 7, 1909 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • July 12, 1909 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • July 16, 1909 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • July 31, 1909 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • August 26, 1909 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • November 4, 1909 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy

From Theo in Ithaca, New York, to Herbert Francis Hardy in New City, New York, both possibly in the Class of 1908
  • January 1906 letter to Mr. Herbert Francis Hardy in New City, New York, from Theo in Ithaca, New York; possibly both in the class of 1908

From ? to Herbert Francis Hardy - letter has some missing pieces - writer was possibly C. Pierce ?
  • April 16, 1911 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy at the Y.M.C.A. in Syracuse, New York, from ?, possibly C. Pierce ?, mailed in Kansas City, Missouri

From Luther M. Pease to Herbert Francis Hardy - perhaps Luther Martin Pease (1886-1952)
  • November 26, 1911 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy in Syracuse, New York, from Luther M. Pease, mailed in South Bend, Indiana
  • September 12, 1912 letter to Herbert Francis Hardy in Syracuse, New York, from Luther M. Pease, mailed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

From Cousin Fred in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy in Great Pond, Maine
  • January 1, 1937 letter to Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy in Great Pond, Maine, from her cousin Fred who was living at 7131 Cresheim Road in Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Letter from Eugene Augustus Hardy (1879-1960), Herbert's older brother, to their father Peter Augustus Hardy (1845-1893)
  • Undated letter to Papa from Eugene at Narrowsburg, New York, in Sullivan County, to his father 
Undated letters to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • Undated letter, Wednesday, to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • Undated letter, Monday, to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • Undated letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • June 21, ?, letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy in New City, New York
  • August 5, ?, Thursday Noon, letter to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • Undated letter, Sunday, to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • Undated letter, Friday Noon, to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • Undated letter, Monday, to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • Undated letter, Tuesday, to Herbert Francis Hardy, "Bussy",  from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) 
  • Undated letter, Wednesday, to Herbert Francis Hardy , "Bussy", from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • Undated letter, Wednesday, to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • Undated letter to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy"
  • Undated letter, Tuesday, to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, writing on stationery of J. E. Stolhmann, Publisher, Bookseller & Importer of 130 Park Row, New York, New York
  • Undated letter, Tuesday, to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy
  • Undated letter, Monday, to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy" in New City, New York, in Rockland County
  • Undated letter, Thursday, to Herbert Francis Hardy from his mother Pauline Louise (Stohlmann) Hardy, "Muzzy" in New City, New York, in Rockland County

Newspaper clipping of photograph of an elderly man with the surname Hussey, with handwriting speculating that he is "Papa", also has name Theodore, but not sure if the man is Theodore Hussey or if Theodore was someone else

Friday, March 11, 2022

76 letters, 1902-1925, to Emma A. (Page) Whittier (1857-1934) of Readfield Depot, Readfield, Maine + Clippings, Mementos, Photographs

Collection of 76 letters addressed to Mrs. Emma A. (Page) Whittier (1857-1934) at Readfield Depot in Readfield, Maine, plus clippings, cards, mementos, photographs, etc.  

Emma was the wife of Henry Dudley Whittier (1855-1913), who died before the majority of letters were written.

57 of the letters were from Emma's son George Albert Whittier (1883-1957), "Bert", whose name was sometimes seen as George B. Whittier, using Bert as his middle name rather than Albert. His California death record gives his name as Bert G. Whittier. Bert's letters in the collection date from 1902 to 1925.


Upon the death of Emma's husband, Henry Dudley Whittier (1855-1913)


Other correspondents:
  • Julia (Neischner) Hackenberg (1872-1948), who boarded George at times, in Boston, Massachusetts; San Francisco, California; and, possibly, Providence, Rhode Island.  12 letters 1921-1924.  One of her 1922 letters contained photographs of Julia's nephew Billy on the porch of a home and an unnamed man in a park two streets from Julia's home.
  • Lucy B. (Parks) Peavey (1857-1925) in San Francisco, California, widow of William Albert Peavey, a Maine native. One letter dated 1923, which mentions Emma's mother coming for a visit. Research shows that Emma's mother, Elizabeth (Merrill) Page, died in 1898, after her husband Ezekiel who died in 1894. I'm not sure who "Mother" was.
  • Union Trust Company of San Francisco, California, to "Bert G. Whittier" - George Albert Whitter - on the opening of a new savings account. One letter, dated 1923
  • E. Frances (Cunningham) Tillinghast (1855-1933), a Maine native, writing from California in March 1924; her stationery bears the address RFD 11, Box 112B, Glendale, California, but that is crossed out, with a handwritten update of "La Crescenta".  She also mentions a picnic with 15 Maine people, including former Frederick W. Plaisted and wife Frances (Gulifer) Plaisted.
  • Fanny, spending the Winter in Winter Park, Florida. One letter, 1924. Mentions leaving soon for Hanover, perhaps Hanover, New Hampshire, or Hanover, Maine. Perhaps the E. Frances (Cunningham) Tillinghast (1855-1933) mentioned above.
  • Georgie in Pasadena, California. One letter, 1924. Georgia presumably lived near Emma at one time and asked Emma to give regards to all the old friends; she mentions a few names of people in California that Emma would know.
  • Clifton in Portland, Maine. One letter, 1924
  • Ella M. Flanders, vacationing at the Canaan Inn in Canaan, New Hampshire. One letter, 1924.  

Bert went through a rough patch in the early 1920s and spent a time in prison in Charlestown, Massachusetts, at least some of his stay, if not all, in the prison hospital.  When he was released, he went to San Francisco, California, and stayed with Julia Hackenberg, who had moved there earlier. 

Throughout this whole ordeal, from New England to California, Julia was a great friend in that she lent Bert money and moral support and kept Emma updated on what was happening, even she had never met Emma in person, at least not by Julia's last letter in the collection, dated January 31, 1924.

A sampling of the items tucked in [although most were loose by the time they came into my care]:


If you can guess the identity of any of correspondents Fanny, Georgie, Clifton and Ella M. Flanders, or have other information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

I'm not publishing the letters online or showing images as they are from a later era than I usually feature, and some of the people referenced may be deceased or recently deceased.

Saturday, March 5, 2022

1853 Certificate Attesting to the Suitability of William Webster Allen Heath, or William Allen Webster Heath, as a Teacher by the School Committee of Tremont, Maine


1853 document where Allen Hopkins and A. J. Heath of the Superintending School Committee of Tremont, Maine,  certify the character and teaching ability of W. A. W. Heath, presumably William Allen Webster Heath or William Webster Allen Heath (1834-1912).

A. J. Heath may have been William's older brother Adironam Judson Heath (1820-1892).

A transcription appears at the end of this post.

See another post that features a letter written by William's father, Sea Captain William Heath, Jr. (1793-1864) to wife Catharine (McKenzie) Heath (1799-1875); this letter was written in 1833 before William Allen Webster Heath was born.

Young William, who would become an engineer and civic leader in Tremont, Maine, married Alvena D. McKenzie.

If you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

1833 Letter from Sea Capt. William Heath, Jr., then in Philadelphia with his Brig, to his wife Catharine (McKenzie) Heath back home in Mount Desert, Maine

1833 letter from Sea Captain William Heath, Jr. (1793-1874), then on a voyage to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to his wife Catharine (McKenzie) Heath (1799-1875) back home in Mount Desert, Maine.

A transcription of this loving letter appears at the end of this post.

Capt. Heath addressed the letter to himself, at home.

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

William Heath, Jr., (1793-1864) was the son of Sea Capt. William Heath (1764-1840) and Hannah (Allen) Heath (1768-1854).  William, Jr., married Catherine McKenzie in 1819. His love for Catharine was still strong in 1833, as you can read from his words and from the heart he drew at the top of the letter.

Not all of their children were born by 1833, but those mentioned in the letter are:

The couple would go on to have 4 more children, one of whom was William Allen Webster Heath (1834-1912), who is the subject of another post featuring an 1853 document where the Superintending School Committee of Tremont, Maine, certified him as a qualified teacher.

If you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Loose Transcription
Philadelphia Nov. 11, 1833
[sketch of a heart]

Dear and Affectionate Wife
Tis with the greatest pleasure I set down to talk with you with my pen. We arrived here on the 2d Inst. We had a very pleasant passage - yesterday I received a Letter from you and think I felt thankful to hear that you were all so well. O! what Consolation to hear that Mary Jane was getting so nicely and that all the rest was pretty well. When I read your Letter and in my Imagination see Judson mending your pens and Mary Jane and Herschell Sleeping sweetly and John Wm. asking you to write papa to get him a Box and Louisa and Isabel singing like Nightingales! O if I had wings I would fly and be with you. O Catharine, I long to see you. Tell all the little dears I long to see them. I do not know yet whether I shall go to N.Y. or Boston (likely Boston). I shall be Ready to Sail in three days - as I have made but very little this trip. If I can find anything to do. I do not know as I shall come direct home unless I can meet Capt. Isaac Bartlett and let him take the Brig - my greatest desire is that I may Return home in God's own time and find you all well and Enjoying the Gift the Grace and the Presents of the Blessed Redeemer - Your Loving Husband
William Heath Jr.
Remember me to my Father and Mother and all my Relatives. I hope you have written to Boston and N.Y.

Thursday, March 3, 2022

1884-1902 ME & NH Documents & Correspondence Re: Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) of Steep Falls, Maine, and the Saco Lumber Company

Nineteen 1884-1902 papers, including correspondence and documents, pertaining to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) of Steep Falls, Maine, and the Saco Lumber Company.

See a mill operated by the Saco Lumber Company at Biddeford, Maine, at Digital Commons@UMaine.

Most of the documents relate to lumber negotiations, but one item is an 1896 letter to Coolbroth from his brother Samuel Wilson Coolbroth (1826-1910) in Santa Rosa, California. Samuel's surname may have morphed to Colbroth.

People mentioned:


The documents, from the earliest:
  • May 27, 1884.  To owners of logs now in drives coming down Saco river & owners of booms on said river above Saco.  To owners of logs now in drives coming down Saco river & owners of booms on said river above Saco; signed: Joseph Hobson; Joseph G. Dearing; S. C. Hamilton; C. & L. G. Hanson
  • January 25, 1885 letter to Mark R. Coolbroth(1827-1903) from John W. Thoms (1833-1911); Saco River in Brownfield, Maine
  • April 21, 1885 survey and receipt: Emory Lord (1832-1916) and son George Abraham Lord (1864-1954); Joseph Hobson & Sons, presumably Joseph Hobson (1816-1893) of Saco, Maine; Hiram Gatchell, Surveyor - Hiram Gatchell (1829-1913) of Brownfield, Maine.  Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903)
  • April 21, 1885 survey receipt of payment by Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) to B. W. McKeen, presumably Benjamin Walker McKeen (1817-1894); surveyor: Hiram Gatchell (1829-1913) of Brownfield, Maine; also mentions Joseph Hobson & Sons; lumber on Ballard Brook in Fryeburg, Maine
  • April 24, 1885 - survey and receipt of payment by Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) to B. W. McKeen, presumably Benjamin Walker Mckeen (1817-1894); for Joseph Hobson & Sons, presumably of Saco, Maine; surveyor Hiram Gatchell (1829-1913) of Brownfield, Maine
  • August 25, 1888; agreement between Francisco Weston Walker (1846-1910), "Frank", of Effingham, New Hampshire and Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) of Steep Falls, Maine; mention's Frank's wife Mary Lucretia (Marston) Barker; Edwin Towle and surveyor Parsons
  • August 10, 1889 letter to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) at Steep Falls, Maine, from J. B?, agent for Mr. Emery, presumably Mark Peter Emery (1817-1898); mentions Coolbroth & Keneson; Keneson was, presumably Stephen J. Keneson (1832-1909) of Freedom, New Hampshire
  • August 19, 1892 letter from Stephen J. Keneson (1832-1909) at Freedom, New Hampshire, to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) at Steep Falls, Maine; also mentions Mr. Foss, presumably in Carroll County, New Hampshire; the James and Ed mentioned were presumably the sons of Mr. Foss; the Holland lots, presumably in Carroll County, New Hampshire; Charles Adams
  • 1893 list of fares, meals, telegraphs, etc., paid; mentions Steep Falls, Brownfield, Hiram; Towle bridge (or perhaps Toll Bridge); Walker house for meals; meals provided by John Perkins and Brazier; Chandlers; Cornish; Lovell; hauling logs on Hiram Flats; John Hastings; Kendal & Whitmer
  • December 12, 1894 letter from John D. Bemis of Conway, New Hampshire, presumably John Dana Bemis (1834-1917), to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903), touting the ministrations and medicine of a certain doctor when other doctors had written Bemis off
  • May 4, 1894 bill submitted to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) of Steep Falls, Maine by R. G. Watson, presumably Roscoe Gilbert Watson (abt 1860-1945), of "Rapids, Maine", presumably along the Saco River, perhaps near Limington, Maine 
  • March 1896 to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) of Steep Falls, Maine, from his brother Samuel Wilson Coolbroth/Colbroth (1826-1910) of Santa Rosa, California; mentions Samuel's wife Hattie L. (Lewis) Colbroth (abt 1840-1905) 
  • March 25, 1896 letter from surveyor Hiram Gatchell (1829-1913) at East Brownfield, Maine, to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) at Steep Falls, Maine; mentions Steep Landing; Harmon; Gray, presumably a surveyor; Hiram, Maine
  • June 4 1898 agreement to for Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903) to purchase land in Standish, Maine, from heirs of Amos Boulter (1811-1896), faciliated by lawyer Henry W. Swasey (1842-1917)
  • 9-12-1899 letter from I. P. Quimby (presumably Rev. Israel Paul Quimby, Jr. ( 1849-1925)) in Boston, Massachusetts, to J. B. Gregory, (presumably John Brunswick Gregory (1850-1919)), Agent for the Saco Lumber Company; mentions the Swift (presumably a River on Freedom Road; great Ossipee; old Merrill farm in North Parsonsfield, Maine; J. M. Browne (presumably Quimby's brother in law John Merrill Browne (1839-1925)
  • May 31, 1900 letter to Mark G. Coolbroth (1827-1903) from ? G. Smith in West Buxton, Maine; mentions that Mr. Wells had not received payment for his boom sticks
  • September 13, 1900 letter to Mark G. Coolbroth (1827-1903) at Steep Falls, Maine, from Temperance Swan in Livingston, California. Temperance (Allen) Swan (1829-1902), widow of Joseph Greeley Swan; does not want to sell her land in Maine at present time
  • July 1901 bill for cutting hay; from R. S. Chick, perhaps Ralph S. Chick (1863-1922); to Mark R. Coolbroth (1827-1903)
  • June 20, 1902 letter from C. D. Prince, perhaps Carroll Davee Prince (1859-1920), for S. D. Warren Company in Cumberland Mills, Maine, to Mark D. Coolbroth (1827-1903) in Steep Falls, Maine; regarding delivery of boards

If you have information to share on the history of the Saco Lumber Company or any of the people mentioned here, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.