Thursday, October 22, 2020

1854-1856 Autograph Album of Nancy Elizabeth (Wallace) Cunningham (1834-1909) of Newcastle, Maine



1854-1856 autograph album that belonged to Nancy Elizabeth (Wallace) Cunningham (1834-1909), "Lizzie", apparently started not long after her marriage to George Cunningham (1832-1905).

The album appears to have been given to Lizzie by P. J. or P. G. or ?, at Bath, Maine, on 6 March 1854.   If the P. can be construed as an R, with G as the surname initial, the gifter could have been multiple inscriber Roxanna T. (Given) Kelley Blake (about 1834-1875).

The album measures approximately 8" by 6-1/4" and contains nearly 40 sentiments, although several of the inscribers contributed multiple inscriptions. An alphabetical list of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post. Inscribers appear, mostly, to have been Lizzie's contemporaries, born in the 1820s and 1830s.

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

Nancy Elizabeth (Wallace) Cunningham was born 5 January 1834 at Bristol, Maine, the daughter of mariner Josiah Wallace and Sarah (Curtis) Wallace. I haven't found a marriage record, but it's assumed that Lizzie and George Cunningham married about the time that the album was gifted, in March 1854.  George's parents were Alexander Cunningham and Charlotte (Campbell) Cunningham.

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, or to the information provided in the alphabetical list of inscribers below, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Alphabetical List of Inscribers

  • P. G. or P. J. [not sure of either initial]; inscribed a religious saying on the ownership page - perhaps the person who gifted the album to Nancy Elizabeth (Wallace) Cunningham (1834-1909). If the P. can be construed as an R, with G as the surname initial, the gifter could have been multiple inscriber Roxanna T. (Given) Kelley Blake (about 1834-1875)
  • Unsigned, a "Good Bye"; inscribed at Bath, Maine, on March 6, 1854. Perhaps upon the marriage of album owner Nancy Elizabeth (Wallace) Cunningham (1834-1909
  • S. N. D., not sure of middle initial; inscribed possibly in 1854 written backwards.  Perhaps Sarah N. Decker (1835-1924) who married William H. Vivian in 1861.
  • Unsigned
  • S. H. C.; not sure of middle initial.
  • N. G. L., presumably Nathaniel G. Light (1810-1886), husband of inscriber Mary Ann (Kelley) Light (1820-1904).  
  • A Friend; inscribed at Topsham, Maine, on February 26, 1854
  • Lines from a Sister
  • Cordelia, "Your Sister"; inscribed at Pleasant Cove on March 18, presumably the Pleasant Cove in Boothbay, Maine. Presumably Cordelia A. (Reed) Kelley Pinkham Welch (1829-1885), wife of, or widow of, depending on when inscribed, of Benjamin Kelley (1824-1854). She later married Paul Giles Pinkham and John H. Welch. 
  • Une Amie; inscribed in Alna, Maine, in 1854
  • Name written in ancient Greek; inscribed at Bath, Maine, on March 6, 1854. The word means "Theophile", in case that's a clue. Perhaps Theophilus?
  • Unsigned
  • Isabelle; inscribed on June 14, 1856
  • Mae; shared the page with Sae
  • Sae; shared the page with Mae. Sae might have been inscriber Sarah Neal Decker or inscriber Helen Sae Campbell
  • Emma
  • Lydia Jane Averill, inscribed at Bath, Maine, on March 5, 1854; Lydia Jane (Kelley) Averill (1828-1873), wife of John W. Averill and sister of several inscribers. Shared the page with Sae Neal
  • Car Fran Campbell; perhaps Caroline Frances Campbell (about 1835-1910), who would marry Daniel P. Haggett. 
  • Hellen S. Campbell; inscribed at Edgecomb, Maine, on August 29, 1854. Perhaps Sarah Helen Campbell (abt 1838-), sister of Caroline Frances (Campbell) Haggett (abt 1835-1910)
  • Helen Sae Campbell.  Perhaps Sarah Helen Campbell (abt 1838-), sister of Caroline Frances (Campbell) Haggett (abt 1835-1910)
  • E. ? Carney; perhaps a member of the Carney family that lived in Newcastle, Maine. If E. W. Carney, the inscriber may have been Eliza Wheeler Carney (1826-1861), who married Parker C. Harley in 1859. 
  • Nancy Elizabeth (Wallace) Cunningham (1834-1909) of Newcastle, Maine; album owner, her name on a page inscribed in 1854 by herself or by the person who gifted her the album
  • Clara M. Decker at Alna, Maine, on July 20, 1854. Perhaps the Clara M. Decker (abt 1838-1905) who married Henry Martyn Pearson. 
  • S. N. D., not sure of middle initial; inscribed possibly in 1854 written backwards.  Perhaps Sarah N. Decker (1835-1924) who married William H. Vivian in 1861.
  • Sae or Sar Neal and, on the same page, Sae or Sar Neal Decker, at Alna, Maine, in July 1854. Shared the page with Margaret Rideout. Perhaps the Sarah N. Decker (1835-1924) who married William H. Vivian in 1861.
  • 2 page inscription by Sarah N. Decker; perhaps the Sarah N. Decker (abt 1835-1924) who married William H. Vivian in 1861. 
  • Sae Neal Decker; inscribed at Alna, Maine, in May 1854. Perhaps the Sarah N. Decker (abt 1835-1924) who married William Henry Vivian (1816-1884).  
  • Lettice S. Given; inscribed at Bowdoinham, Maine, on March 1, 1854. Presumably Lettice Sandford Given (1838-1878) who married Asa D. Fox (abt 1837-1893). 
  • Roxanna T. Given; inscribed at Topsham, Maine, on February 25, 1854. Roxanna T. Given (about 1834-1875) first married inscriber Dexter Kelley, who died shortly thereafter in 1856; she then married Sylvanus C. Blake in 1861.
  • Roxanna T. Given; inscribed  at Topsham, Maine, on January 21, 1855. Roxanna T. Given (about 1834-1875) first married inscriber Dexter Kelley, who died shortly thereafter in 1856; she then married Sylvanus C. Blake in 1861.
  • Roxanna T. Given, inscribed at Topsham, Maine, on March 1, 1854.  "Let your memory oft  ___ the hours we have spent in Bath Maine". Roxanna T. Given (about 1834-1875) first married inscriber Dexter Kelley, who died shortly thereafter in 1856; she then married Sylvanus C. Blake in 1861.
  • Roxanna T. Given, signed in two places on the page. Roxanna T. Given (about 1834-1875) first married inscriber Dexter Kelley, who died shortly thereafter in 1856; she then married Sylvanus C. Blake in 1861.
  • Samuel Given; inscribed at Bath, Maine, on March 19, 1854.  There were several men by that name in that era in the area of Bath, Maine, and Topsham, Maine.
  • C. A. Kelley, or C. R. Kelley; inscribed at Pleasant Cove on March 18, presumably in 1854-1856 and presumably the Pleasant Cove in the Boothbay, Maine, area. Perhaps Cordelia (Reed) Kelley (1829-1885), wife of, or widow of, depending on when inscribed, of Benjamin Kelley (1824-1854). She later married Paul Giles Pinkham and John H. Welch. 
  • Cordelia, "Your Sister"; inscribed at Pleasant Cove on March 18, presumably the Pleasant Cove in Boothbay, Maine. Presumably Cordelia (Reed) Kelley (1829-1885), wife of, or widow of, depending on when inscribed, of Benjamin Kelley (1824-1854). She later married Paul Giles Pinkham and John H. Welch. 
  • Dexter W. Kelley, presumably the Dexter Kelley (abt 1834-1856) who would marry multiple inscriber Roxanna T. Given (about 1834-1875)
  • Frances S. Kelley; inscribed at Boothbay, Maine, on January 21, 1855. Perhaps Sarah Frances Kelley (1835-1863), who would marry Benjamin P. Reed later on in 1855. 
  • Sarah Frances Kelley; inscribed at Newcastle, Maine, on May 14, 1854 [or May 19, 1854]. Perhaps Sarah Frances Kelley (1835-1863), who would marry Benjamin P. Reed later on in 1855. 
  • M. A. Light; inscribed at Boothbay, Maine, on March 16, 1854.  Perhaps Mary Ann (Kelley) Light (1820-1904), wife of Nathaniel G. Light (1810-1886) and sister of several inscribers.  
  • N. G. L., presumably Nathaniel G. Light (1810-1886), husband of inscriber Mary Ann (Kelley) Light (1820-1904).  
  • N. G. Light, inscribed at Boothbay, Maine, on March 15, 1854. Presumably Nathaniel G. Light (1810-1886), husband of inscriber Mary Ann (Kelley) Light (1820-1904).  
  • Margaret Rideout (middle initial possibly I or J), inscribed on March 4, 1854 at Bath, Maine; shared the page with Sae Neal Decker
  • Anna C. Swanton. Perhaps Anna Catherine Swanton (1835-1920) of Bath, Maine.  
Again, if you have corrections and/or additions to any of the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


Monday, October 19, 2020

1864 Wedding Certificate of Isaac P. Francis and Annie Bradford Weeks, at New Bedford, Massachusetts


 Certificate signed by Rev. Nathan P. Philbrook at the 19 July 1864 wedding in New Bedford, Massachusetts, of Isaac P. Francis of Brookline, Massachusetts, and Annie B. Weeks of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

Witnesses: Miss Laura W. Sanborn and Miss Edith Humphrey

The certificate measures approximately 11-1/2" by 9-1/2", too large for my scanner to capture the margins.

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

Isaac P. Francis (1840-1912) was the son of Isaac Francis and Sophia (Little) Francis. Annie Bradford Weeks (1843-1924) was the daughter of Reuben Weeks and Drusilla (Trafford) Weeks. 

Isaac, then a conductor, and Annie married, as the certificate notes, on 19 July 1864 at New Bedford, Massachusetts. They lived in New Bedford and nearby Fairhaven and had at least two children. After Isaac died in 1912, Annie married Harry C. Vaughan in 1914. 

Rev. Nathan Page Philbrook (1823-1918), a New Hampshire native, was a Methodist minister who served in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Hopefully a reader will provide information on witnesses Laura W. Sanborn and Edith Humphrey.


1886 Wedding Announcement of Harry F. Hayes and Kate A. (Howe) Hayes; Receiving Guests at 50 Newhall Street in Lynn, Massachusetts

Announcement of the 13 April 1886 marriage of jeweler Harry F. Hayes and Kate J. Howe, with their invitation to visit on May 4 and May 12 at their home at 50 Newhall Street in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Approximately 8-1/2" by 3" when unfolded.

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

Harry Fairfield Hayes (1863-1919) was born at Great Falls, New Hampshire, now Somersworth, the son of Hiram Ansel Hayes and Mary Eliza (Plummer) Hayes.  Kate Jane (Howe) Hayes (1857-1914), was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, the daughter of George Howe and Sarah Jane (Wilkins) Howe. 

Harry and Kate raised their family of at least two children in Lynn, Massachusetts.


 If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


1819 Intention of Marriage between Moses Mandell of Dorchester, Massachusetts and Miss Ann Pierce of Bridgewater, Massachusetts

 

1819 Intention of Marriage: Mr. Moses Mandell of Dorchester, Massachusetts, and Miss Ann Pierce of Bridgewater, Massachusetts

Published and certified in the town of Bridgewater on 20 February 1819 by Eliakim Howard (1739-1827), who was town clerk from 1779 to 1822, the year the town divided, per the link embedded in Howard's name.

Nothing on reverse.

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

Moses Mandell (1793-1866) and Ann Pierce (1797-1841) went on to marry the next month on 21 March 1819. They had at least 7 children before Ann died in 1841. In 1843, Moses married Miss Anna Jennison Clark (1803-1892).

Moses was the son of Major Moses Mandell (1751-1826) and his second wife Abigal (Mason) Mandell (1758-1840).  Ann Pierce was the daughter of Samuel Pierce (1766-1796) and Mary Polly (Lothrop) Pierce (abt 1771-1838). Note: the FindaGrave memorial gives Mary Polly a maiden name of Briggs; hopefully a reader will clarify. 

If you have corrections and/or additions to the information above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


1910s era Photograph Album; 2 IDed Places, Islesboro, Maine, and Swetts Pond, Orrington, Maine

1910s era Photograph album, approximately 10-1/4" by 7-1/4", with photographs presumably from the Maine coastal area, possibly taken on or near the island of Islesboro, Maine.  

Read a history of Islesboro on the Maine Memory Network website. 

Sadly, the photographs are pasted on the pages.  Of the few hanging loose, no information in written on the reverse.

There's a photograph of the F. S. Pendleton Ship Chandlery shop on Islesboro island and another of Swetts Pond, presumably the one in Orrington, Maine, about 50 miles from Islesboro by car and ferry.

Lower left: F. S. Pendleton Ship Chandlery on the island of Islesboro, Maine

Lower right: Swetts Pond, presumably the one in Orrington, Maine

The album contains over a hundred photographs of people, buildings and scenery, to include coastal scenes and what appears to be several photographs of what might be part of a lighthouse or vessel. Someone noted the resemblance of the man in the photographs at right, below, to Islesboro master mariner Phineas Leslie Rolerson (1856-1946).

Man in photographs at right tentatively identified as Phineas L. Rolerson, master mariner

Phineas Leslie Rolerson (1856-1946)

Phineas Leslie Rolerson (1856-1946) in a painting by Charles Dana Gibson, who summered in the area. The painting hangs in the lighthouse at Islesboro, Maine.

Other photographs that might trigger an identification:  [Please leave a comment or contact me directly if you recognize a person, building or scene.]











If you recognize a person, place or building in the photographs above, please leave a comment or contact me directly. If you have ancestors from Islesboro and send images, I'll gladly compare to see if these people appear in the album.


Wednesday, October 14, 2020

1870s Autograph Album of Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913) of Portland, Maine; Maine and New Hampshire inscriptions


1870s autograph album that belonged to Mary Isadora (Dodge) Leighton (1852-1913), wife of Adam Phillips Leighton (1851-1922), a mayor and businessman of Portland, Maine. 

See a photograph of the Leighton home, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, in the Wikipedia entry of Adam Phillips Leighton, who, in addition to serving as Mayor, manufactured picture post cards and chewing gum and was involved in the banking industry.

The album measures approximately 8-1/4" by 6-3/4" and contains the sentiments of over 30 of Mary Isadora's relatives, in-laws and friends.  An alphabetical list of the names of the inscribers, together with any personal information they offered, appears at the end of this post.

Most of the inscriptions were penned by people in Portland, Maine, or the area and in the area of Weare, New Hampshire, where Mary Isadora's mother, Mary (Dodge) Butler was born.

Mary Isadora inscribed the first page of handwriting in the album, on August 9, 1873, not long after her marriage in June.


Mary Isadora's husband Adam Phillips Leighton inscribed a page on October 18, 1873 at Concord, New Hampshire.


Other close relatives who inscribed pages were: [more relatives, in addition to these, inscribed pages]

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

Alphabetical List of the Inscribers

?
  • Aunt Nell of Concord, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 19. 1873
A
  • Frank C. Abbott. His wife inscribed the following page.
  • Mrs. F. C. Abbott; inscribed on September 11, 1873. Victorian sticker. Her husband inscribed the previous page.
  • Calling card of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ames, with Addie C. Neville printed below. And an inscription by Addie C. Neville of New Boston, New HampshireAsgil Henry Ames (abt 1842-1910) and second wife Adelaide C. (Neville) Ames (abt 1852-), "Addie", who married in 1874 in Wilton or New Boston, New Hampshire.
B
C
  • Hattie M. Chase of North Weare, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 18, 1873. "Your New Hampshire Sister".  Hattie May Chase (abt 1852-1943) of North Weare, New Hampshire; she married Herbert Warren Lull in 1878. Hattie named their daughter Isadore, perhaps in honor of album owner Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913)
  • Henrietta Cobb; inscribed at Buxton, Maine, on July 30, 1876.  Possibly Henrietta Cobb (1846-1922) of Buxton, Maine, who married George Clark Gordon in 1880.
  • Helene L. Coe; inscribed at No. 211 Cumberland Street, Portland, Maine, on December 28, 1874.  Teacher Helen L. Coe (abt 1851-1927), daughter of George H. Coe and Lydia (Hersey) Coe. 
D
  • Clarence H. Dodge of New Boston, New Hampshire; inscribed on October 9, 1873. Presumably Clarence Hervey Dodge (1848-1928). His father, Capt. Benjamin Dodge, and album owner Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton's mother, Mary (Dodge) Leighton, were siblings.
  • Martial M. Duroy, Jr., of Portland, Maine; inscribed at OKO's in July 1876. Martial Marcie De Labord Duroy (abt 1803-1895), Portland, Maine, Confectioner. His second wife, Clara Ann (Lord) Duroy, inscribed the following page. 
  • Mrs. M. M. Duroy, Jr. of Portland, Maine.  Clara Ann (Lord) Duroy (-1916), second wife of Martial Marcie De Labord Duroy (abt 1803-1895). 
F
  • Julia E. Fenderson; inscribed on August 15, 1873; Victorian sticker
  • R. L. Foster; inscribed on February 19, 1874. Perhaps Rosa L. Foster (abt 1851-1914) who married Joseph Lunt Whitmore in 1875. 
H
J
  • Fannie M. Jenkins of Portland, Maine; inscribed on December 8, 1874
  • Gertrude Jenkins of Portland, Maine; inscribed on December 8, 1874. Initials P.H.S. at top; perhaps Portland High School. Perhaps Gertrude M. Jenkins (abt 1859-1933), daughter of Horatio and Frances Jenkins.
  • Helen M. Johnson of 88 Spring Street, presumably in Portland, Maine; inscribed on October 24, 1873. Perhaps Helen Marion Johnson (1854-1926), who married John Robbins Little in 1881.  
L
  • Adam P. Leighton; "Your Affect Husband", inscribed on October 19, 1873 at Concord, New Hampshire. Victorian sticker. Adams Phillips Leighton, Sr. (1851-1922), husband of album owner Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913)
  • Ambrose P. Leighton of Portland, Maine; inscribed on October 3, 1873. Ambrose P. Leighton (1853-1950), brother of Adam Phillips Leighton (1851-1922), who was the husband of album owner Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913)
  • Mrs. Julia A. Leighton; inscribed on January 18, 1880. She was Julia Ann (Leighton) Leighton (abt 1816-1898), mother of Adam Phillips Leighton (abt 1851-1922), husband of album owner Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913)
  • Mrs. A. P. Leighton; inscribed on August 8, 1873, album owner. Victorian sticker.  Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913), wife of Adam Phillips Leighton (1851-1922), who also inscribed a page.
  • Nettie May Leighton of Portland, Maine, aged 10 years. "Your daughter". Victorian sticker. Nettie May Leighton (1874-1911), daughter of album owner Mary Isadora (Butler) Leighton (1852-1913) and Adam Phillips Leighton (1851-1922). In 1900 at Portland, Maine, Nettie married Dr.Thomas Warren Luce (1870-1936).  
M
  • Cyrus E. Maxfield of Deering, Maine [now Portland, Maine]; inscribed on August 27, 1875. Cyrus Estes Maxfield (1855-1923), brother of inscriber Hattie Sybil Maxfield (1853-1929)
  • Hattie S. Maxfield of Deering, Maine [now Portland, Maine]; inscribed on August 28, 1873.  Hattie Sybil Maxfield (1853-1929), who married Elias Leander Baker in 1887.  Older sister of inscriber Cyrus Estes Maxfield (1855-1923). Photograph as elderly woman on her FindaGrave memorial. 
  • Calling card of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ames, with Addie C. Neville printed below. And an inscription by Addie C. Neville of New Boston, New Hampshire.  Asgil Henry Ames (abt 1842-1910) and second wife Adelaide C. (Neville) Ames (abt 1852-), "Addie", who married in 1874 in Wilton or New Boston, New Hampshire.
P
  • H. E. Phinney of Portland, Maine; inscribed on September 25, 1873.  Harmon Edmund Phinney (1850-1926), who would marry Etta May Whitney (1854-1927), who inscribed the following page in 1873 before their 1875 marriage.
R
  • M. Fannie Ring of Orono, Maine; inscribed on December 11, 1874 at Westbrook Seminary in Stevens Plains, Maine. Presumably Mary Frances Ring (1854-), who married Joseph W. Parker in 1884. Westbrook Seminary is located on Stevens Avenue in what is now Portland, Maine.
  • Sara Rolfe
S
  • Jennie Sawyer of Boston, Massachusetts; inscribed in 1873. Victorian sticker
  • George W. Sylvester; inscribed at Deering, Maine [now Portland, Maine], on August 24, 1875. Perhaps City Marshall George W. Sylvester (1850-1928).  
 
Again, if you have corrections and/or additions, please leave a comment or contact me directly.


Wednesday, October 7, 2020

1840s/60s Calling Cards Received by Thomas C. Farris & Anna Leonard (Webb) Farris of Bangor, Maine


Large collection - approximately 150 - of 1840s/60s calling cards received by merchant, grocer and cooperage owner (Thomas C. Farris (abt 1820-1891) and first wife Anna Leonard (Webb) Farris (1821-1868) at their home on First Street in Bangor, Maine.  

Note: Thomas' birth year of 1814 on the linked document differs from what was indicated as his approximate year of birth on most Census documents - about 1820.

An alphabetical list of those who left calling cards appears at the end of this post.

Most of the calling cards, many of which have handwritten names, appear to have been left by families associated with the mercantile and professional trades, as well as some associated with Bangor Theological Seminary. They hailed from:

  • Bangor, Maine and surrounding towns
  • Coastal Maine - Bucksport, Ellsworth, Steuben, Midcoast, Portland
  • Massachusetts

Additionally, and overlapping, many of the calling cards were left by people related to Anna Leonard (Webb) Farris (1821-1868).  Read more about her family in the finding aid of a collection of papers relating to the Shaw, Webb and Farris families - many of the names mentioned in the finding aid are reflected in the calling card collection.

Interestingly, two calling cards in the collection were those of Thomas and Anna themselves. Anna's card dates from before her 1846 marriage to Thomas.

Among his other enterprises, Thomas was in business with Anna's younger brother Jahaziah Shaw Webb (1844-1890) in the Farris-Webb Produce Company in Bangor.

Some of the calling cards were enclosed in envelopes, such as the one at top, which contained calling cards from 

See another post with more information on the Hobbs (sometimes seen as Hobbes) and Allen families.

Also included in the collection is an envelope containing an 1866 letter written to Anna Leonard (Webb) Farris by E. A. Lane, who was presumably Emma [or Elizabeth] Ann (Lufkin) Lane (1827-1899), wife of John Lane.



"Dear Mrs. Farris, Before I left Boston, I several times looked at books thinking of you but feared as I should get something you already had. So if you will accept the enclosed "ten" (and appropriate as you prefer) with my best wishes for you & yours - you will much oblige yrs - very gratefully, E. A. Lane, March 22nd 1866".  

Alphabetical list of people who left calling cards at the Farris home.  If you have information on anyone mentioned, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Again, if you have corrections and/or information on any of the people mentioned above, or different identities for them, please leave a comment or contact me directly.