1828 Letter from Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881) at Eastport, Maine, to his brother Joseph Worcester Gale (1809-1889) in Boston, Massachusetts

December 17, 1828 letter from Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881), a Congregational minister in Eastport, Maine, from 1825-1835, to his younger brother Joseph Worcester Gale (1809-1889), then in Boston, Massachusetts.

See other posts:

• 1831 letter - 1831 Document from Ecclesiastical Council at Robbinston, Maine, to Dismiss Rev. Calvin White; addressed to Gen. John Balkam, Postmaster and Deacon - Rev. Gale a member of the Council
• 1835 letter  - from Aaron Hayden (1775-1842) of Eastport, Maine, to Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881), who was then staying with Deacon Daniel Safford (1782-1856) and wife Ann Eliza (Bigelow) Safford (1802-1874), who was the sister of Rev. Gale's wife Mary Louisa (Bigelow) Gale (1806-1861)
• 1835 letter  - from Elizabeth Waldron at Eastport, Maine, to Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881) and wife Mary Louisa (Bigelow) Gale (1806-1861), who were then staying at 7 Montgomery Street in Boston, Massachusetts with Mrs. Gale's sister Ann Eliza (Bigelow) Safford (1802-1874) and her husband Deacon Daniel Safford (1782-1856)

The Gale brothers were Pembroke, New Hampshire, natives, the sons of Deacon Joseph Gale (1768-1851) and Susannah (Frye) Gale (abt 1776-1859)

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

Rev. Gale was the center of a furious controversy in Eastport in the late 1820s, as noted in the booklet Correspondence Between the First Congregational Society in Eastport and Rev. Gale, but he apparently rode it out until leaving in 1835.

More of Rev. Gale's correspondence is held in the Wakefield Gale Family Papers collection at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Mentioned in the letter:

• Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881), a Congregational minister in Eastport, Maine, from 1825-1835; letter writer
• Joseph Worcester Gale (1809-1889), younger brother of Rev. Wakefield Gale; letter recipient, then in Boston, Massachusetts
• Mary and "little Jona. Edwards" - Rev. Gale's wife Mary Louisa (Bigelow) Gale (1806-1861), whom he had married about two months previously. Jonathan Edwards may have been Mary's nephew, Jonathan Edwards (1820-1894), son of Rev. Justin Edwards (1787-1853) and Mary's sister Lydia (Bigelow) Edwards (1789-1868).
• Capt. Rogers and family of Eastport, Maine
• Brother and Sister Susan Ransom, recently arrived at Marietta - after a terrible stage coach accident - Susan (Gale) Ransom (1799-1845) and husband Rev. Calvin Noyes Ransom (1800-1889), to Marietta, Ohio. Susan was a sister of Rev. Wakefield Gale and Joseph Worcester Gale.
• Mother - presumably Susannah (Frye) Gale (abt 1776-1859), mother of brothers Wakefield and Joseph
• Dr. Edwards - possibly the above-mentioned Rev. Justin Edwards (1787-1853)
• Dr. Franklin - presumably Benjamin Franklin, who acquired the moniker Dr.
• Bloomfield, Somerset County, Maine
• Abby Jane Bigelow, sister of Mary Louisa (Bigelow) Gale - Abigail Jane Bigelow (1804-1830), soon to be married to Deacon Daniel Safford (1782-1856). She would die in 1830; Deacon Safford later married Abigal's sister Ann Eliza (Bigelow) Safford (1802-1874)
• Brother John - John Adams Gale (1807-1886), brother of Rev. Wakefield Gale and Joseph Worcester Gale
• Pembroke friends - presumably Pembroke, New Hampshire, where the Gale brothers were born

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

Transcription:

Eastport, December 17th 1828

My Dear Brother

The object of this hasty letter is to confess my fault in not writing you before & to inform you that we had a very quick and pleasant passage to this place after parting with you in Boston Harbor; that our articles of furniture all arrived safe; that Mary& little Jona. Edwards are quite well pleased with this place; that I am quite happy in having a little family of my own; that we live almost wholly by ourselves except taking our meals with Captain Rogers Family; & that the general interests of the little church and Society to which I am preaching are prosperous. We are not yet in the New Meeting House, but hope to be in a few weeks. Seriousness seems to be increasing in the congregation – 12 have attended an inquiry meeting at my study of late. Two are to be added to the church next sabbath. Some efforts are making to promote the cause of temperance here. We are having united meetings, that is, meetings of the several religious societies, in relation to this object. All the clergyman, four in number, are to preach on the subject twice a piece. We received a letter from Brother and Sister Ransom four or five weeks ago. They had arrived safely at Marietta tho their journey was rather longer than they expected. They experienced on their way a remarkable preservation. They with four other passengers were precipitated down a precipice 20 feet, and tho the stage was shivered to pieces, they were uninjured. Susan was pleased with the country, & with her new friends there. She did not regret leaving home - Her object is indeed good and great. I hope she will be faithful as long as she lives - & die in peace with her work done, & well done. We are expecting to hear from home soon. Mrs. G has written them a good long letter. They must be, I think, quite lonesome. But the Lord, I trust, is their ____. He will be with them & comfort them. I hope you will write them as often as convenient. Mother thinks a great deal about all her children. A letter often will be very gratifying. Do you intend going home by & by? How are you prospered in your business? With whom do you work? Where do you board? How do you prosper in religious things? Whose meetings do you attend on the Sabbath? Had you not better make Dr. Edwards meeting yours? Are you careful to maintain secret prayer? O my brother, do not neglect the soul! I hope you improve your leisure hours in useful reading, rather than in gazing at the vain objects of a large and enticing City. Dr. Franklin says, “Time is money”. The habit you now form will go along with you this life it is probable. Mind how you begin in every thing. You are greatly exposed in many ways. But your chief danger at present will be neglect the ___ & remiss ways in the duties of religion. Remember that you are young and inexperienced - & obey Our Saviors direction, to watch & pray but you enter into temptation. A young man of this place has called on me today, who is in trouble, & whose history himself interested me much. He is a school teacher – has studied some with a view of being a physician. He is poor, came here last Spring to get a school, with a view to aid himself in getting his profession. He is 23 years old - He joined the church in Bloomfield, Somerset Co. in this state when only 13 years old. His father died when this son was 12 years old - his mother when he was 15. He had lived like a Christian, till he came here. When he came to this place he concealed the fact ____ [tear in page] was a professor of religion - the youth and his first ____ society were all thoughtless - he engaged in a school but did not pray in it. He did not come to our communions - and no one knew till recently that he was a member of the Church of Christ. He has been round to a sense of his condition. Regrets the course he has taken, mourns... He has been ashamed of Christ - intends to confess his sin to the church before next Sabbath - & on the sabbath return to his duty and privilege in celebrating the love of Christ. He takes an active part now in our Saturday night prayer Meetings. If you have opportunity to take a part in such meetings or in family worship, I hope you will do it. It will be an advantage.Your employment is Honorable. I hope you will be contented with it & strive to excel as a mechanic, especially as a Christian and citizen. I want you to be a reading man and to form the habit and cultivate the taste for reading. Thus you will gradually and almost insensibly improve. 

Abby Jane Bigelow, sister of Mrs. G is expecting to be married next Wednesday evening at Dr. Edwards to Dea. Safford. You probably know Dea. Safford if you attend meetings at Salem Street Church.  Mary unites with me in love to you. Let us be remembered aff. to br. John when you see him or write to him also to Pembroke friends.

1857+ Autograph Album Given to Miss Elizabeth Patten by Rev. George Gordon, President of Iberia College, Iberia, Ohio

1857+ "Jenny Lind" autograph album that was given to Iberia College student Miss Elizabeth Patton by the College's first president Rev. George Gordon (1806-1867).  

Rev. Gordon was, presumably, the G. G. who penned a two-page sentiment on the leaf following a sentiment left by his wife.  See Rev. Gordon's inscription farther below.

Most of the inscriptions are from the 1857 to 1862, with two from 1875. Inscribers hailed from Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and the part of Virginia that would become West Virginia.

The album, which measures approximately 7-3/4" by 6", was printed by J. C. Riker and contains the sentiments of over 20 of Lizzie's fellow students and teachers. Also in the album are several full page engravings and two sheets comprising the lyrics of On the Banks of the Dundee.

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

 

Below, the two page inscription by G. G. at Iberia, Ohio, on May 1, 1858. He was presumably Rev. George Gordon (1806-1867), noted abolitionist and first president of Iberia College. Read more about Rev. Gordon here.

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

Not knowing which State might have been Elizabeth's native home made searching for her difficult, but there might be a clue in one of the two inscriptions from 1875 [sadly, the other one is unsigned]: J. E. Kellogg of Thory [or Wory or perhaps Thorny] Run School House, Ohio; inscribed on March 16, 1875.

There was a John Elton Kellogg (1859-1948), whose mother was Mary (Patton) Kellogg (1837 [on the stone, but other records show 1834 or 1835] -1913), who had a sister Elizabeth Patton (1837-1866).  This Elizabeth had died before the two 1875 inscriptions, but the book may have been passed on, which was then common.

Or album owner Elizabeth Patton was someone else. Hopefully a reader will weigh in with a likely candidate.

One of the pages in the album has the inscriptions of 7 people, two of whom also inscribed individual pages. Inscriptions by: 

• Jennie Blake of Copley, Ohio
• T. H. Graves of Columbus, Ohio
• Lida O. Grisell of Woodbury, Ohio - Lydia O. Grisell
• E. E. Hicks at Iberia College
• Beulah Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana
• Anna R. Moore of Lowellville, Ohio
• William Thompson of Zanesville, Ohio

Lida O. Grisell, whose name appears in the image above, inscribed another page at Iberia College on February 28, 1857. She was Lydia O. Grisell, who would marry Eugene W. Romick and become a noted Society of Friends evangelist. She died in Pasadena, California, in 1879, according to an item in the Morrow County Republican of Morrow County, Ohio.

Excerpt from the March 17, 1883 issue of the St. Paul Globe:  

Ohio furnishes the first instance in this country, and probably in the world, where a lady has officiated as a clergyman at a marriage ceremony. At Columbus Mr. Charles Pim and Miss Emma Bryabt were united in marriage by Mrs. Lydia G. Romick, the evangelist. It was a very pleasant wedding.

In another article, I read that officials and members from other denominations were aghast.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information provided above or in the list below, or if you have a theory as to the identity of Miss Elizabeth Patton, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

 List of Inscribers

• W. T. of Granville, Ohio; inscribed on July 22, 1862. Presumably a student at Iberia College in Iberia, Ohio
• W. Lizzie Retherland - not sure of surname - of West Alexander, Tennessee; inscribed in March 1857
• Possibly Mollie from DeKalb, Ohio or perhaps someone with the surname Mollie
• P. A. Helfrich, or T. A. Helfrich; not sure of surname; inscribed in Butler County, Ohio in 1860
• Unsigned; inscribed on July 29, 1875
• Jennie Blake of Copley, Ohio; shared the page with William Thompson; E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; and Beulah Hadley
• Jane M. Clarke of Mt. Jackson, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, inscribed on March 23, 1857
• W. D. Clarke of Mt. Jackson, Pennsylvania; inscribed on March 23, 1857
• M. J. Ellison; inscribed on April 8, 1857 at Pleasant Ridge in Adams County, Ohio. Inscription is very faint.
• A. E. Gordon; inscribed at Iberia, Ohio, on February 24, 1857. Ann Evans (Finney) Gordon (1808-1896), wife of Rev. George Gordon. 
• Rev. George Gordon (1806-1867), noted abolitionist and first president of Iberia College at Iberia, Ohio; presented the album to Elizabeth Patton in 1857 and inscribed another sentiment, two pages. 
• T. H. Graves of Columbus, Ohio; shared the page with William Thompson; E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• Lida O. Grisell of Woodbury, Ohio; inscribed at Iberia College in Morrow County, Ohio. Lydia O. Grisell would marry Eugene W. Romick and become an evangelist. She also inscribed a shared page with William Thompson, E. E. Hicks; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• Beulah Hadley of Mooresville, Indiana; shared the page with William Thompson; E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; and Jennie Blake
• P. A. Helfrich, or T. A. Helfrich; not sure of surname; inscribed in Butler County, Ohio in 1860
• E. E. Hicks of Iberia College, inscribed on February 14, 1857; shared the page with William Thompson; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• J. E. Kellogg of Thory Run School House, Ohio; inscribed on March 16, 1875
• Jennie Lockheart of Paint Creek, Ohio; inscribed on March 4, 1857
• R. F. Martin of Ripley, Ohio; inscribed a 2 page sentiment at Iberia, Ohio, on March 3, 1858.
• Possibly Mollie from DeKalb, Ohio or perhaps someone with the surname Mollie
• Anna R. Moore of Lowellville, Mahoning County, Ohio; inscribed on March 23, 1857. She also inscribed a page shared with William Thompson, E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley; and Jennie Blake
• E. A. Parmeter; inscribed at Iberia College on March 30, 1857
• Miss Elizabeth Patton; student at Iberia College at Iberia, Ohio; album owner
• W. Lizzie Retherland - not sure of surname - of West Alexander, Tennessee; inscribed in March 1857
• Sarah Tew of Mercer, Pennsylvania; inscribed on June 27, 1860
• William Thompson of Zanesville, Ohio; shared the page with E. E. Hicks; Lida O. Grisell; Anna R. Moore; T. H. Graves; Beulah Hadley and Jennie Blake
• J. W. Torrance; inscribed on May 1, 1858. Possibly Rev. Joseph W. Torrence (1831-1905) if spelling can be resolved.
• G. J. Whitham of Valley Grove, Virginia; inscribed in February 1857
• J. D. Whitham of Virginia; inscribed on March 13, 1857 at Iberia, Ohio; student at Iberia College with album owner Elizabeth Patton, "Lizzie".

1853 Autograph Album of James S. Pegg of Bloomingsport, Indiana; Student at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana

Autograph album started in 1853 by James S. Pegg of Bloomingsport, Indiana, a student at Friends Boarding School in Richmond, Indiana.  Friends Boarding School, established in 1847, changed its name to Earlham College in 1859.

Perhaps Bloomingsport is place now known as Bloomingport, Indiana.

The homemade album measures approximately 6-1/2" by 4" and is missing its back cover and perhaps one or more inscribed pages.  An alphabetical surname list appears below and an alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

	? [6]	F	Foster	P	Patterson
B	Bailey	G	Garretson		Pegg
	Binford [4]	H	Hampton		Pool
	Branson		Harvey		Prichard/Pritchard
	Brown [2]		Hill		Pritchard
	Bruff [2]	J	Johnson	S	Stanley
C	Cox	M	Marmon		Street
	Crow		Mendenhall	W	West
E	Evans [2]		Moore		Wildman

James S. Pegg was born April 24, 1836, or April 24, 1837, in Indiana, the son of David and Jane (possibly Sanders) Pegg.  I found Quaker records for each birth year.  Both parents had connections to North Carolina; read more on the migration of Quakers from North Carolina to Indiana here.

James S. Pegg is buried in the New Garden Friends Cemetery in Wayne County, Indiana, with his parents and sister.  I don't know if this particular James S. Pegg ever married or had children.  Hopefully a reader will share information in the comments.

Sources

U.S. Federal Census

U.S. Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1935

FindaGrave

Four people with the surname Binford inscribed pages in the album:

P. Binford of Damascoville, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853

M. A. Binford of Crawfordsville, presumably Indiana 

Jesse Binford of East Westville, Ohio

Aquila H. Binford of Crawfordsville, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853

The last page showing in the album:

1)  John ? [looks like Winslar; could be Winslow] of Richmond, Virginia; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853

2)  William Cox of Dublin, ?, possibly Dublin, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853

If you have information to share on any of the people mentioned or on Friends Boarding School/Earlham College, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album

• Too faint to decipher
• unsigned
• Melissa of Greensboro, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, on the 9th of the 3rd month of 1853
• too faint to decipher
• Callie
• John ? [looks like Winslar, could be Winslow] of Richmond, Virginia [Virginia is spelled out]; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853; shared the page with William Cox of Dublin ?, possibly Indiana
• ? Bailey, possibly Quiney Bailey, of Cincinnati, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, on the 22nd of the 3rd month 1853
• Aquila H. Binford of Crawfordsville, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853
• Jesse Binford of East Westville, Ohio
• M. A. Binford of Crawfordsville, presumably Indiana
• P. Binford of Damascoville, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853
• Elizabeth R. Branson; inscribed at Chester, possibly Chester, Indiana, on the 20th of the 3rd month of 1853.
• Ann E. Brown; inscribed on Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, on the 10th of the 3rd month in 1853
• Mary Ann Brown of Waynesville, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853
• E. Bruff; inscribed at Friends Boarding School in the 3rd month of 1853
• S. Bruff; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853
• William Cox of Dublin, ?, possibly Dublin, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853; shared the page with John ? of Richmond, Virginia
• Samuel Crow of Paoli, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853
• George T. Evans of Waynesville, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana
• Joseph Evans of Waynesville, Georgia; perhaps a student at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana
• J. C. Foster of Ogden, Indiana; perhaps inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana
• Lizzie Garretson of Waynesville, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana
• Sarah Ann Hampton of Chester, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853
• Charles Harvey of Richmond, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, on March 25, 1853
• Allen Hill of Carthage, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, on the 24th of the 3rd month of 1853.
• Rebecca N. Johnson of Waynesville, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana
• Mollie Marmon of Richmond, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853; shared the page with Sallie Jane Prichard of Raysville, Indiana
• William C. Mendenhall of Centreville, possibly Indiana, inscribed at the Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853
• Joseph Moore of Canton, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School in Richmond, Indiana, in the 8th month of 1853
• James Patterson of Carthage, Pennsylvania; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, on the 22nd day of the 3rd month of 1853.  
• James S. Pegg, album owner, of Bloomingsport, Indiana; presumably a student at the Friends Boarding School, later called Earlham College, at Richmond, Indiana
• Lizzie Ann Pool of Richmond, Indiana, inscribed on March 8, 1853
• Sallie Jane Prichard of Raysville, Indiana; shared the page with Mollie Marmon of Richmond, Indiana
• David Pritchard of Raysville, Indiana; not sure of middle initial, possibly P.
• Vierling K. Stanley of ? Indiana, possibly Speerland; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in the 3rd month of 1853.
• Mary Street of Carthage, Indiana; inscribed at Friends Boarding School in the 3rd month of 1853
• M. D. West of Wilminton, Ohio; possibly a student at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana
• William Wildman of Selma, Ohio; inscribed at Friends Boarding School at Richmond, Indiana, in 1853

19th Century Photograph Album Presumably Related to the Burneau and Seymour Families of Vermont and Massachusetts

Photograph album, measuring approximately 11" by 8" by 2", that appears to be related to the Burneau, Matthews and Seymour families of Middlebury, Vermont, and Worcester, Massachusetts, and beyond.

Note: this family may be related to the Burnor family of the Norwich, Vermont area, the subject of a photograph album featured in another post.  Both surnames are reportedly variants of Bernard, a surname that goes back to 17th century Acadia.

From identifications provided on the pages in which the photographs are inserted and on the reverse of some photographs, I'm guessing that the album originally belonged to Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, "Lena", and was passed on to one of her grandchildren.  Hopefully, a reader with knowledge of these families or Vermont genealogy will weigh in.

The name Lena appears on the reverse of several photographs, but I believe that in most cases her name was there to indicate that the photograph was to be given to her, not to indicate that she is the person in the photograph; i.e. her name appears on the reverse of a man's photograph.

Cabinet photograph of three women, with the women in the middle identified as "Grand mother in the centre at age 14"; she may have been Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena".  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.

A tintype in the album is captioned: "Grand Mother & Grand Dad before marriage, Age 20 and 23"; presumably Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena", and Edward Peter Seymour.

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

Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena", was about March 1878 in Vermont, the daughter of Peter Burneau and Mary Louise (Matthews) Burneau.  About 1900, Lena married Edward Peter Seymour, son of Nelson Seymour and Catherine (Bowes) Seymour.  According to a Vermont birth record, which appears to be in a modern hand and may reflect a misreading of an original date, "Eddie P. Seymour" was born June 8, 1875 at New Haven, Vermont.   However, on his World War I Draft Registration Card, Edward gave his birth date as June 28, 1875.

Lena and Edward lived in Vermont and then settled, apparently at some point after 1913, at Worcester, Massachusetts, though they may have lived briefly at New York City, where their son Bernard was born in the Bronx on May 27, 1901.  Son Daniel J. Seymour was born in 1906 at Burlington, Vermont, and sons Leo James Seymour, Hubert Louis Seymour and John Francis Seymour were born at Middlebury, Vermont, in 1903, 1907 and 1913 respectively.  Edward Peter Seymour worked as a printer and painter in the publishing industry.

Edward P. Seymour's sister, Julia Frances Seymour, appears in two or perhaps 3 photographs, one of them when she was serving as a governess to the son of the U.S. Consul at Livorno (Leghorn), Italy.  Julia, who was born about 1871,  married George Albert McHugh back in Vermont in 1903, so her stint as a governess probably took place in a range from the 1890s to just after the turn of the century.  During that time, the Consuls to Livorno were: Isaac R. Diller; James V. Long; Charles B. Davis; Edward C. Cramer and possibly as late as the term of Francis B. Keene.

I'd dearly love to know more about Julia's adventure in Italy!

Sources

• Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954 - birth record of "Eddie P. Seymour", but it appears to be in a modern hand; may have accidentally written June 8,  1875, rather than June 28, 1875
• United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 - in his own hand, Edward wrote his birth date as June 28, 1875
• U.S. Federal Censuses
• Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954 - birth of son John Francis Seymour
• Massachusetts, Death Index, 1901-1980

The album contains many cabinet photographs, several Cartes de Visite and one tintype.  If you have information on any of them, please leave a comment or contact me directly by the email address under Inquiries in the right margin.

In order:

• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified young woman; by the H. E. Bosworth studio of 380 Main Street, Springfield, Massachusetts
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified woman; by the Bigalow Studio of 3 Church Street, Port Henry, New York
• Cabinet photograph of a young boy and a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Aunt Julia Seymour "Taken when she was in Italy as governess to the son of the U.S. Consul.".  Julia was Julia Frances Seymour, born in 1870 in Vermont.  She was the sister of Edward Peter Seymour, who married Helena Mary Burneau, "Lena", who may have been the original owner of the photograph album.  Julia would marry George Alfred McHugh in 1903.  The photograph was taken by a studio at Livorno, Italy.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman; taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  The name Lena appears on the reverse, as it does on many of the photographs in the album, even men and children.  Consequently, it appears that some of the photographs were meant to be given to Lena and some, perhaps, were of Lena herself.  Helena Mary Burneau was possibly the original owner of this photograph album, before and after her marriage to Edward Peter Seymour.
• Cabinet photograph of a young man; taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  Written on the page below the photograph: "Grandmother's brother age 16 40 years ago."  The name Lena appears on the reverse, along with: "1891" and "Geo".  I believe the young man was George W. Burneau, born about 1874 in Vermont, and brother of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, who was presumably the album owner.
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified baby, captioned: "A fourth cousin (an Angel in Heaven)".  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  The name Lena appears on the reverse, presumably Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour.
• Cabinet photograph of three young women; taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  Captioned on the page containing the photograph: "Grandmother in the centre at age 14".  Written on the reverse of the photograph: "Lena 1892 14 years".  This might be a case where "Lena" might refer to Lena herself, Helena Mary Burneau, future wife of Edward Peter Seymour and presumed owner of the album.
• Cabinet photograph of four young children identified on the page containing the photograph as "Second cousins 35 years ago."  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.  The name Lena is written on the back, presumably referring to the fact that the photograph was directed to Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, presumed album owner.
• Cabinet photograph of four people, either a husband, wife and two children, or a father and three children; identified on the page containing the photograph as "Second and third cousins 35 years ago."  The photograph was taken by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Cabinet photograph of a baby; by the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Miss Daniels 35 years ago."  The photograph was taken by the Jackson Studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman; no studio imprint.  Bears a resemblance to Julia Frances Seymour, who appears in two other photographs in the album.
• Cabinet photograph of a baby identified on the page containing the photograph as "Daddy Age 9 months".  Presumably one of the sons of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour and Edward Peter Seymour.
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified young man; described as "Cousin" on the page  containing the photograph.  The photograph was taken by the Tibert studio of Worcester, Massachusetts.   Lena had nephews named Crane, who lived at or near Worcester, Massachusetts; perhaps the young man was one of them: John Sherman Crane, Allan Raymond Crane or Grant Earl Crane.  Their mother, Lena's sister, was Adella Lizzie (Burneau) Crane Kohler, whose first husband was Theron M. Crane.
• Cabinet photograph of an unidentified young woman; taken by the Hevy studio of 397 Main Street, Worcester, Massachusetts.
• Cabinet photograph of a woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Aunt Della Kohler 30 years ago."  The facing page contains a photograph of Della's second husband, Charles Kohler, mayor of Goshen, Indiana.  Adella Lizzie Burneau, older sister of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour.  Della had first been married to Theron M. Crane and had several children with him, but they apparently divorced.
• Cabinet photograph of a man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Uncle Charles Kohler when he was mayor of Goshen, Ind.".  The photograph was taken by the William Parfitt studio of Goshen, Indiana.  The facing page contains a photograph of Charles' second wife, Adella Lizzie (Burneau) Crane Kohler.  More about Charles Kohler here.
• Cabinet photograph of an older man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Grand father".  The photograph was taken by the Chickering studio of 21 West Street, Boston, Massachusetts.  Was he perhaps Mr. Burneau, Mr. Matthews, Mr. Seymour or Mr. Bowes?
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "Grandmother's Sister Rose 40 years ago.".  The photograph was taken by the Notman Photo Company of 3 Park Street, Boston, Massachusetts.  The name Lena appears on the reverse of the photograph.  Rosalie Burneau was the older sister of Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, presumed owner of the album.   Rose apparently never married.  She died of stomach cancer in 1922 at Goshen, Indiana; her sister Adella Lizzie (Burneau) Crane Kohler was the informant on Rose's death record.
• Cabinet photograph of a young girl identified on the page containing the photograph as "Cousin Edith Nisun 35 years ago."; taken by the Thibault studio of Burlington, Vermont.  Edith Elizabeth Nisun was the daughter of Frank A. Nisun and Minnie E. Delphia, whose mother was a sister to Mary Louise (Matthews) Burneau, mother of presumed album owner Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, "Lena".  Edith would marry William Patrick Casey.
• Cabinet photograph of two boys, identified on the page containing the photograph as "Cousins 45 years ago".  The photograph was taken by the W. I. Rood studio of Spencer, Iowa.  
• Cabinet photograph of two boys and a dog - the boys might be the same boys as noted in the previous photograph; identified as "Cousins" on the page containing the photograph, which was taken by the Medlar studio of Spencer, Iowa.
• Cabinet photograph of a young woman identified on the page containing the photograph as "3rd Cousin May Berringer.  The photograph was taken by the William A. Webster studio of Waltham, Massachusetts.
• Cabinet photograph of a young man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Frank Barrows, 3rd Cousin 40 years ago.".  The photograph was taken by the J. W. Brown studio of 187 Main Street, Norwich, Connecticut and Milford, Massachusetts [most likely the latter site].  Franklin Lewis Barrows was born in 1871 in Vermont, the son of Martin Nailor Barrows and Jennie Lenora (Matthews) Barrows, who was a sister to Mary Louise (Matthews) Burneau, mother of presumed album owner Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, "Lena".
• Cabinet photograph of an older man identified on the page containing the photograph as "Great Uncle Seymour".  The photograph was taken by the A. W. Perkins studio of Claremont, New Hampshire.  Presumably an uncle or brother of Julia Frances Seymour and Edward Peter Seymour, whose wife, Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour, was the presumed album owner.  If he was their father, that would mean that my presumption of ownership of the album by Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour and then to one of her children would be in error.
• Written under an empty space where a cabinet photograph should have been: "Grandmother's Chum Catherine Daly. 40 years ago".  
• Written under an empty space where a cabinet photograph should have been: "Miss Latan 35 years ago"  Not sure of surname.
• Carte de Visite of a young woman in a very fancy hat, identified on the page containing the CDV: "Miss Halnan 35 years ago".  The CDV was made at the Jackson studio of Middlebury, Vermont.
• Written under two empty spaces where there should have been Cartes de Visite or tintypes: "Grandmother Age 6" and "Grandmother Age 3"
• Tintype of a young adult couple, identified on the page containing the tintype "Grand Mother & Grand Dad before marriage, Age 20 and 23".  Assuming I have identified the album owner correctly as Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour and one of her children, the couple in the tintype are presumably Helena Mary Burneau and Edward Peter Seymour.  They were three years apart, so that test is passed.
• CDV of a young woman identified on the page containing the CDV as "Great Aunt Julia Seymour, 43 years ago".  She was presumably the same Julia Seymour as in the photograph from Italy, where she was photographed while serving as a governess to the son of the U.S. Consul.  She was the sister of Edward Peter Seymour, who married presumed album owner Helena Mary (Burneau) Seymour.
• CDV of an unidentified woman; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago."
• CDV of two unidentified young women; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago."
• CDV of two unidentified men; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago".
• CDV of an unidentified child; on a page captioned "Friends 40 years ago"

1890s+ Autograph Album of Cynthia May Chase, "Tinnie", of Buckfield, Maine; Married Perley Everett Wills

Autograph album kept from April 4, 1890 by Cynthia May Chase, "Tinnie", of Buckfield, Maine.  The album apparently later came to light during the youth of Tinnie's daughters, who inscribed pages in 1908.

A number of inscribers gave Brookville, a village in the town of Holbrook, Massachusetts, as their residence, and some appear to have been related to Tinnie.

Tinnie inscribed the first two handwritten pages in the album.

The album measures approximately 8-1/4" x 7" and contains the sentiments of 40 of Tinnie's relatives, friends and schoolmates.  An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Surnames in the Album

	? [2]	I	Irish	W	White
A	Allen [2]	M	Maxim		Whitman [3]
B	Bisbee [2]		Morriss [2]		Wills [3]
	Briggs [6]	R	Record [2]		Winslow
C	Carpenter		Ricker
	Chace		Russell
	Chase	S	Sawyer
G	Gilbert [2]		Shaw [2]
H	Hodge		Small
	Hodsdon	T	Tuttle
	Holland

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

Cynthia May Chase was born April 4, 1875 at Buckfield, Maine, the daughter of Lewis M. Chase and Eva Luella (Bisbee) Chase.  Somewhere along the line, Cynthia acquired the nickname "Tinnie", presumably because of the pronunciation of her name by herself or a sibling.

On September 15, 1897 at Buckfield, Maine, Tinnie married Perley Everett Wills, son of Ruel Wills and Esther (Corliss) Wills.  Tinnie and Perley had at least three children and lived at 225 Knox Street, Rumford Falls, Maine, before moving to the Midwest, where Perley worked for the railroad.

Tinnie's daughter Evelyn Esther Wills of 224 Knox Street, Rumford Falls, Maine, inscribed a page on June 14, 1908, the "day we were christened".

Tinnie's daughter Hazle May Wills, presumably Hazel May Wills, of 224 Knox Street, Rumford Falls, Maine, inscribed a page on June 14, 1908, "the day we were christened"...  

Tinnie died of bronchial pneumonia at Brazil, Indiana, on April 14, 1937.  Tinnie and Perley, who died in 1955, are buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery at Mechanic Falls, Maine.

Sources:

• Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900 - Tinnie's birth record
• Maine, Marriage Index, 1892-1966, 1977-1996  record of marriage of Tinnie and Perley
• U. S. Censuses
• Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 - Tinnie's death record
• FindaGrave.com

Inscribers who mentioned a kinship with Tinnie or where a kinship might be possible:  and there are likely several more - refer to the list of inscribers at the end of this post.

• Aunt Abbie; inscribed at Brookville, Holbrook, Massachusetts, on August 5, 1890. There was an Abigail (McCorrison) Hodge who was living in the household of Hartley Laurington White (who inscribed the left facing page) and his parents Cornelius Laurington White and Elizabeth (Dodge) White at the time of the 1870 Census of Holbrook, Massachusetts, but she, born in 1792, had died in 1881. I'm guessing that inscriber Abbie was related to the White or Dodge families by blood or marriage.  See the list of inscribers for more people who lived at Brookville, Massachusetts.
• I. W. Shaw of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on November 16, 1890.  Tinnie's cousin.  Presumably Isaac Whiting Shaw, whose sister Ellen F. Shaw inscribed the right facing page.  They were the children of Jotham William Shaw and Rosanna B. (Irish) Shaw.
• Ellen F. Shaw of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on November 15, 1890.  Tinnie's cousin.  Her brother Isaac Whiting Shaw inscribed the left facing page.  They were the children of Jotham William Shaw and Rosanna B. (Irish) Shaw
• Ernest Raymond Wills of Skillings, Maine; inscribed on August 13, 1899.  Ernest was a brother to Tinnie's husband Perley Everett Wills.  Skillings is a village in Turner, Maine.
• A page that deserves to be shared, that of H. A. Record, who inscribed his page at Buckfield, Maine, on January 27, 1895 and included a wonderful sketch of birds and cat-o-nine-tails.

And another, the page of Elizabeth Allen, inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on April 22, 1890, that includes a list of the adventures she and Tinnie had shared.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or information on any of the inscribers listed below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Inscribers in the Album

• John
• Aunt Abbie; inscribed at Brookville, Holbrook, Massachusetts, on August 5, 1890.  There was an Abigail (McCorrison) Hodge who was living in the household of Hartley Laurington White (who inscribed the left facing page) and his parents Cornelius Laurington White and Elizabeth (Dodge) White at the time of the 1870 Census of Holbrook, Massachusetts, but she, born in 1792, had died in 1881.  I'm guessing that inscriber Abbie was related to the White or Dodge families by blood or marriage.
• Elizabeth Allen; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on April 22, 1890.  She mentions some adventures she and Tinnie enjoyed: horseback ride; berry picking in a cow pasture where the cows drive them over the "stone-heaps Amongst the briers and thorns"; the night they were "left alone and looked beneath the bed, expecting to find a burglar and how you bumped your head"...
• Lizzie L. Allen; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on June 23, 1890
• Arthur W. Bisbee; inscribed on September 7, 1890 [or September 4, 1890]
• Amanda M. Bisbee; inscribed at Brookville, Holbrook, Massachusetts, on September 1, 1890.  Presumably Amanda Marie (Thayer) Bisbee, wife of Winslow Taylor Bisbee.
• Roland Briggs of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on February 26, 1895
• Abbie C. Briggs; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on July 17, 1890.  "Remember your friends at the 'Thompson Farm'"
• Carlton Briggs of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on February 22, 1891
• Benjamin Briggs of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on February 26, 1892
• Laila K. Briggs; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on February 26, 1895
• Walter Briggs; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on July 16, 1890
• Fred N. Carpenter of East Poland, Maine; inscribed on October 20, 1893
• Winnie B. Chace of Turner, Maine; inscribed on December 17, 1895
• Cynthia May Chase, "Tinnie", album owner, of Buckfield, Maine.  She wrote her name on two of the first pages in the album, one of them dated April 4, 1890
• Meda A. Gilbert; inscribed on August 23, 1892
• Meda A. Gilbert; inscribed on August 23, 1892.  Could she be the Mary Almeida Gilbert who married inscriber Percy Howard Kilbreth?
• Ethel Hodge; inscribed at Brookville, Massachusetts, on August 1, 1890.  Brookville is in Holbrook, Massachusetts.
• Earl B. Hodsdon of Turner, Maine; inscribed on October 27, 1892
• Ella M. Holland of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on August 18, 1892
• Lillian H. Irish of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on November 3, 1891
• F. Z. W. Maxim; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on December 10, 1894
• Henry Morriss; inscribed at Turner, Maine, on July 2, 1890.  Shared the page with Vintie E. Morris
• Vintie E. Morriss; presumably Vincent E. Morriss.  Shared the page with Henry Morriss, who inscribed his page at Turner, Maine
• Charles C. Record of Portland, Maine; inscribed on July 22, 1890
• H. A. Record of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on January 27, 1895.  Sketched a bird with an envelope addressed to Tinnie, with cat-o-nine-tails and ferns in the lower left corner.
• F. A. Ricker; inscribed on April 3, 1892
• C. O. Russell of Chase's Mills, Maine; inscribed on May 24, 1893.  Judging from the context of the autograph album, this is the Chase's Mills in Turner, Maine; not in East Machias, Maine.
• Minnie E. Sawyer; inscribed on February 12, 1891
• I. W. Shaw of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on November 16, 1890.  Tinnie's cousin.  Presumably Isaac Whiting Shaw, whose sister Ellen F. Shaw inscribed the right facing page.  They were the children of Jotham William Shaw and Rosanna B. (Irish) Shaw.
• Ellen F. Shaw of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on November 15, 1890.  Tinnie's cousin.  Her brother Isaac Whiting Shaw inscribed the left facing page.  They were the children of Jotham William Shaw and Rosanna B. (Irish) Shaw
• Ernest W. Small of Biddeford, Maine; inscribed on November 26, 1890
• Annie M. Tuttle; inscribed at Buckfield, Maine, on May 24, 1891
• Hartley L. White of Brookville, Massachusetts; inscribed on August 16, 1890.  Hartley Laurington White.  Brookville is a village in Holbrook, Massachusetts.
• Mrs. Martha Whitman of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on December 15, 1894.  Martha (Dunn) Whitman, wife of Henry W. Whitman, who inscribed the right facing page.
• Henry W. Whitman of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on December 15, 1894.  Henry's wife Martha (Dunn) Whitman inscribed the left facing page.
• Mrs. Leon E. Whitman of Hebron, Maine; inscribed on October 18, 1893.  She was Fannie T. (Cushman) Whitman.
• Hazle May Wills of 224 Knox Street, Rumford Falls, Maine; inscribed on June 14, 1908.  Tinnie's daughter Hazel May Wills with husband Perley E. Wills.
• 2 page sentiment by Evelyn Esther Wills of 224 Knox Street, Rumford Falls, Maine; inscribed a two-page sentiment, on June 14, 1908.  Evelyn was Tinnie's daughter with husband Perley E. Wills.
• Ernest Raymond Wills of Skillings, Maine; inscribed on August 13, 1899.  Ernest was a brother to Tinnie's husband Perley Everett Wills.  Skillings is a village in Turner, Maine.
• Miss Agnes M. Winslow of Buckfield, Maine; inscribed on December 10, 1894.  Tinnie's "friend and scholar".  "But remember the day in December when Etta was hugged so tight"...