1878 letter from Joanna (Keen) Milliken in San Francisco, California, to her Cousin Gowin Wilson, Jr., in Columbia Falls, Maine

Note: This photocopy of a letter was sent to me as a bonus when I purchased an 1864 letter written to Gowin's daughter Frances Emily Wilson (abt 1848-1921) by her one-time schoolmate Edna Pope (1849-1865) at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine.

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1878 letter sent by Joanna (Keen) Milliken (1802-1888), widow of Seth Milliken, in San Francisco, California, to her cousin Gowin Wilson (1807-1883) in Columbia Falls, Maine.  Joanna's mother, Anna Wilson, was a sister to Gowen's father, also named Gowin Wilson.  

It's a friendly letter with mention of a money order gone wrong; apparently Gowin helped out his widowed cousin on occasion.

Mentioned:

• Joanna (Keen) Milliken (1802-1888), letter writer; widow of Seth Milliken (1796-1867), who, before his move to California, was postmaster at Montville, Maine. They married at Columbia, Maine, in 1824 or 1825, based on their Intention to Marry of November 24, 1824.
• Gowin Wilson (1807-1883), letter recipient
• Gowin's wife - Ann Eliza (Wass) Wilson (1812-1884)
• Fanny - Frances Emily Wilson (abt 1848-1921) , daughter of Gowin Wilson and Ann Eliza (Wass) Wilson

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

Transcription, modified for clarify

San Francisco Sep 13 1878

Dear Cousin

Your kind letter was duly received with the Post office order and also one of the date of 26 of August most welcomely received by me. The post office order was presented but from some little defect in the signature the Post ___ note to the Postmaster at Machias. no fault of you. You in all probability you have been notified before this time as the Post master home often did to it immediately and money would be ready for me. I should have answered your letters before.

I not been not able to use my hand but have improved and am all right. Now we are having fine weather at San Francisco summer than in most summer. I am thinking how pleasant it would be to have your and your wife or Fanny to come and make us a visit. I would be perfectly delighted to see you. It seems hard I cannot see one of my one dear friends but I have often thought it was hard I not have the pleasure granted me to see one of you alike others people living home I will hope still on.  I am happy to receive a letter of you and am so much gratified in reading it over and over again. I hope to pay you for all your trouble. if thing is not right, please inform me. Please do write when you can oblige your Cousin. Please give my love to wife, daughters.

Joan Milliken

Ten 1832-1907 Documents from the Bucknam Family of the Columbia, Maine, area

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Collection of ten papers, dating from 1832-1907, relating to the business of the Bucknam family of Columbia, Maine and vicinity.

• undated; A. W. Bucknam account; mentions G. Tinney; C. Smith; Leonard Magee; James Tabbut, driving.  
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)
• presumably George Tinney or his son of the same name, the latter born about 1820
• perhaps Leonard Magee (abt 1819-1902)
• perhaps James Tabbut(t) (1804-1866)

• Columbia, Maine, July 7, 1832 - letter to George M. Chase Esq. from Ichabod Bucknam attesting to the good qualities of Mr. Gad Townsley for the position of deputy sheriff.  See an image farther below.
• perhaps George Monroe Chase (1806-abt 1857) of Calais, who later became American Consul to Hawaii where he died
• presumably Ichabod Bucknam (1784-1846)
• this Gad Townsley (abt 1854-1836) seems a bit old to be a deputy sheriff but if not him, then perhaps a son or grandson

• August 1843 to September 1845 invoice: Ichabod Bucknam, William A. Crocker; Chamberlain; Kendrick, Trundy & Co., Boston.  
• presumably Ichabod Bucknam (1784-1846)
• perhaps Deacon William A. Crocker (1793-1863)
• Chamberlain
• Kendrick, Trundy & Co. of Boston, Massachusetts
• S. J. Bowles - perhaps Stephen Jones Bowles (1793-1846)

• 1845 plan of the marsh [see an image of the description farther below] sold by Plummer of N. Allen; Asa Webb; Isaiah Nash.  
• perhaps Asa Dyer Webb (1808-1894)
• perhaps Isaiah Nash, Jr. (1780-1868) 
• 
  

• 1845 Arthur W. Bucknam - Machias River Co. - transporting logs.
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)

• June 26, 1845 - Account of Lumber Sold by Arthur Bucknam: Surveyor Levi Bowker [Jr. ?]; Signed by Nathan Longfellow.
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)
• perhaps related to, if not Levi Bowker (1795-1887)
• perhaps Nathan Longfellow (1798-aft 1870)

• Winter 1845 - Scaled from Township No. 24 to A. W. Bucknam: Elijah T. Fitts, Scaylor.
• presumably Arthur Wellington Bucknam (1820-1885)
• perhaps Elijah T. Fitts (1809-1885)

• Columbia Falls, August 19, 1887. Hauled from G. A. Bucknam gravel bank ___ for repairs on highway in Columbia Falls, one hundred and thirty loads of gravel in June 1887 on : H. F. Allen, Surveyor.   
• perhaps George A. Bucknam (1818-1889)
• perhaps Horace F. Allen (1846-1905)

• Columbia Falls, Maine, October 22, 1906. Mrs. Geo. Bucknam please pay W. E. Sinclair $5 and charge to my account - signed George H. Bowles (by mark) and his witness Ralph Nash.  
• perhaps Mrs. Julia Frances (Ruggles) Bucknam (1836-1909) or her daughter in law Eva Priscilla (Allen) Bucknam (1874-1945)
• W. E. Sinclair, presumably of Columbia Falls or Columbia, Maine
• perhaps George H. Bowles (abt 1858-abt 1941)
• perhaps Ralph Augustus Nash (1885-1940) or Ralph Eastman Nash (1887-1971) or ?

• Harrington, Maine, 1907 - Received of Geo. W. Bucknam $22 payment in full for two sheep sold him. Signed by A. B. Larrabee per David A. Young.
• perhaps George Wilson Bucknam (1870-1945)
• perhaps Alvin B. Larrabee (1853-1929)
• perhaps David Augustus Young (1894-1967) or his father David Augustus Young (1852-1910)

Boundaries of the marsh sold in 1845

Ichabod Bucknam vouches to George M. Chase, Esq., for Gad Townsley for Deputy Sheriff

If you have a theory as to the correct identity of any of the people mentioned above and/or corrections or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

1864 letter from Edna, possibly Edna Pope (1849-1865), a Student or Student/Teacher at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, to Miss Fannie E. Wilson, Teaching in Columbia Falls, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

February 13, 1864 letter from Edna, presumably student or student/teacher, at Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine, to Miss Fannie Emily Wilson, who was teaching at Columbia Falls, Maine, and who had also attended or taught at Washington Academy.  

A lively letter, full of school gossip and goings-on.  A transcription appears at the end of this post.

Mentioned in the letter - Teachers and Students.  If you can identify people, correct mistakes and/or share information on any of the people below, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers

• Edna, a student, or possibly student/teacher, at, presumably, Washington Academy in East Machias, Maine; letter writer.  Perhaps Edna Pope (1849-1865) of East Machias, Maine, who possessed a finely balanced nature, and gave great promise of unusual attainments*, and would die of typhoid the following year in Boston, Massachusetts. Presumably the same Edna Pope who attended Abbott Female Academy in Andover, Massachusetts in 1864-1865 and Comer's Commercial Collage in Boston, Massachusetts. Her epitaph appears on the her record in the Faylene Hutton Cemetery Collection: "Not dead, not sleeping, not even gone. But with us still. These were her days of springtime bloom. Her summer lies beyond the tomb."

* In the event that Edna was actually Edna Pope (1849-1865)), read more about her parents Samuel Ward Pope and Betsey (Jones) Pope and their family in A History of the Dorchester Pope Family. 1634-1888, pages 243-247

• Miss Fannie Emily Wilson, "Fan", at Columbia Falls, Maine; letter recipient - perhaps music teacher Frances E. Wilson (abt 1848-1921) of Columbia Falls, Maine; had presumably also attended or taught at Washington Academy

• Lowell Talbot - possibly Capt. Lowell Talbot (1840-1907) of Trescott, Maine

• Mattie Campbell - possibly Matilda Jane Campbell (1846-1943), who became a teacher in Minnesota, married George F. Wilkin; her older brother Lewis William Campbell was also a student at Washington Academy - see a letter he wrote in 1861

• Alfred - Alfred Laws (1831-1904), a New Hampshire native, who moved from East Machias to Massachusetts to become principal at North Bridgewater High School and later engaged in insurance at Brockton

• Rhoda Townsend - perhaps teacher Rhoda Townsend (1835-unk)

• Sarah Church - perhaps teacher Sarah Church (abt 1841-unk) of Cherryfield, Maine

• Frank Sanborn - possibly Francis A. Sanborn (1843-1931)

• Joe Bacheller - perhaps Joseph Allen Bacheller (1845-1915)

• Mr. Laws - presumably Alfred Laws (1831-1904), a New Hampshire native, who moved from East Machias to Massachusetts to take the principalship at North Bridgewater High School and later engaged in insurance at Brockton.

• Rhoda - perhaps Rhoda Townsend (1835-unk)

• Miss Church - perhaps teacher Sarah Church (abt 1841-unk) of Cherryfield, Maine

• Herbert and Lot, presumably Lottie/Charlotte - "having a great flirtation".  Hopefully a reader can identify these two - a great story!

• ___ [Liz or Lin ?] Burrall and Seth G. - perhaps Elizabeth Turner Burrall (1848-1932), who would marry James Rich Talbot.  Seth G. might have been Seth Green (1844-1915)

• Selina - perhaps Selina Huntington Davison (1845-1928), a Nova Scotia native, who came to Maine, then to Minnesota where she was teaching school when she met her future husband, Salisbury Rowell (1835-1898), also a Maine native.

• ___ [Ellen or Abbie ?] Sanborn 

• Em Chaloner - Emma Chaloner (1847-1925); would marry 1) Thomas Hovey Gage Marston II; 2) Dr. Edward M. Harding

• Fred Foster - presumably Frederick Augustus Foster (1846-1944) of East Machias, Maine; would marry Abbie Mary Weston (1846-1888)

• Abbie Weston - presumably Abbie Mary Weston (1846-1888) of East Machias, Maine; would marry Frederick Augustus Foster (1846-1944)

For some reason, Edna felt it necessary to write sideways on the front and interior panes but left the back pane blank.

Transcription - please leave a comment if you spot errors and/or can fill in the blanks:

Ea. Machias Feb 13/64

Dear Fan

A week has passed since I left Columbia Falls, with the promise of writing immediately, but you have been here and know how it is and only a week has passed since I promised to write to you, while you promised to write when you went home and I have no heard yet. We had a splendid ride home. I got home at half past one, and was as warm as could be when I arrived. We were the first home. Lowell Talbot got home at two and the rest at half past. 

I was awful sleepy before I got home and just before I came into town I took a nap about two minutes long. The next morning I found a letter from Mattie Campbell. I guess she concluded that she would have to write if she wished to hear from school. All your friends inquire for you at school. Poor Alfred has been greatly tried this week, indeed for the whole term. He has been obliged to give us a long "lecture" for "boistrus" [sic] conduct, such as not coming to order when the second bell rung, rattling slates, etc. Yesterday was "composition" day & did you ever see such a day? We had great time. Rhoda Townsend, Sarah Church, Frank Sanborn and several others were in. We were up in the hall. When he asked Joe Bacheller to declaim he said he ____ [was, had ?] not prepared. Mr. Laws told him he knew he was, and he must speak. Mr. Laws fussed with him for about quarter an hour and Joe would not give up. And Mr. L. asked what reason he could give, Joe said that there was so much _____ [company ?] he thought he would not speak. Then Rhoda & Miss Church got up to go, but Mr. Laws would not let them. Oh, Fan ! it was a great time I can tell you. I could not help laughing, tho I felt bad for both of them. Mr. L. told him he should report him to the ___ [Trustees ?]. I don't know whether they will turn  him out or not. Alfred could hardly keep from crying.

Herbert and Lot are having a great flirtation, and Lin Burrall and "Seth G.". She has cut Selina out. They practice with the "dramatic" club, and ____ [Ellen or Abbie ?] Sanborn and Em Chaloner & Fred Foster and Abbie Weston. They all go to the "club" and this is the order in which they go away from it. The dramatic give an entertainment a week from Tuesday and your school will be done by that time, and I want you to come over and and make me a visit and be ___ to it. I don't have a great deal of time out of school, but I think you know so many here that you need not be homesick and I will do all I can to make you have a good time.

The entertainment is on the 23d and you will have to come the day before so as to be rested. I hope you will excuse this dull letter for as I told you over there I should tell you all there was to tell. I suppose you perceive that I have not improved much in writing since the time when we could ___ write on the board instead of dangerous examples.

Write soon & ___ me you will come & see me. Yours in haste,

Edna

1908 letter from Walter E. Libby (1871-1934) at Logging Camp in Edmunds, Maine, near Dennysville; to sister-in-law Lucie (Mack) Libby in Deblois, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1908 letter postmarked February 3 at 7pm at Dennysville, Maine, from Walter E. Libby (1871-1934) to, presumably, his sister-in-law Lucie C. (Mack) Libby (1885-1957), wife of his brother George Everett Libby (1881-1943), in Deblois, Maine. 

Note: George's gravestone gives his year of birth as 1885, but other records - birth, WWI Draft Registration card, etc. - give his year of birth as 1881.

Walter was working in a lumber camp, presumably in or near Edmunds, Maine.  Dennysville would have been the nearest post office.

Mentioned:

• Walter E. Libby (1871-1934), letter writer
• Lucie C. (Mack) Libby (1885-1957), letter recipient, Walter's sister-in-law, wife of George Everett Libby
• Harry
• Father, presumably widowed George Raymond Libby (1848-1925)
• Birt
• ? - perhaps George; if so, perhaps Lucie's husband George Everett Libby (1881-1943)

Transcription at the end of this post - if you have corrections and/or information to share, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Transcription

Edmonds, Feb 2, 1908

Dear Lucie

I will now try and answer your letter. We have some Snow here at last. I have been hauling logs three days. Harry went up home last night. I have  white horse and a black one. We have got seven Horses in here now and we had 26 men here, but Harry sent one Home and 9 more followed them.

I had a pretty bad foot last week. I had a lot fall on it but it is better now. Harry tells me that Birt wanted to come back. He did not make much by staying at home. How is Father's hand getting along?  I suppose ____ [George ?] makes things lively for you people now. Well, I must close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon.

Walter

1909-1922 Postcards Sent to Shut-in Lucie Fish or Fishe and Sisters Georgia and Beth of Jonesboro, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

7 postcards sent to the Fish or Fishe sisters of Jonesboro, Maine - five to shut-in Lucia L. Fish, "Lucie" - and one each to Georgia Lindsey Fish and Elizabeth M. Fish, "Beth".  

They were the daughters of George Washington Gates Smith and Lizzie Madge (Drisko) Fish of Jonesboro, Maine.

The postcard sent to Georgia shows a Bird's Eye View of Barre, Vermont and contains a long message.  See the card and a transcript at the end of this post.

Arthur's Home Magazine, Volume 53 of 1885, contains an article that described the founding and mission of the Shut-in Society in 1885, most likely by its first president, Mrs. Helen E. Brown.  The second president was a shut-in herself, a Mrs. J. M. D. Conklin.  Other members included Miss E. E. Burge; Mrs. May S. Dickinson; Miss Annie E. Fuller; Miss E. Proudfit; Miss Jennie Cassidy; Mr. W. C. Mather; Mrs. M. E. Sangster; Miss Hester Bates; Miss M. Hitchen; Mrs. Kate S. Burr; Annie S. Bartlett.

Mrs. May S. Dickinson may have been the author, educator and humanitarian Mary Lowe Dickinson, a Fitchburg, Massachusetts, native, who married New York City banker John Dickinson.

Another article about the Shut-In Society appeared in the Cambridge Tribune issue of July 4, 1896.   At that time, the secretary of the organization was Miss Mary Hamilton Hartley of 14 Lincoln Street, New Haven, Connecticut.

Lucia Leigh Fish, "Lucie", was born February 26, 1890.  She died in 1956.  Georgia Lindsey Fish was born January 14, 1895.  She married William Noland Morris, "Willie", at Jonesboro, Maine, on August 15, 1915.  Willie died in 1972 and Georgia in 1982.  The postcards sent to her were dated 1909, 1919 and 1922.

Georgia Lindsey Fish was born January 14, 1895.  She married William Noland Morris, "Willie", at Jonesboro, on August 15, 1915.  Willie died in 1972 and Georgia in 1982.

Elizabeth M. Fish, "Beth", was born October 28, 1903.  She died in 1988.

There was another daughter, Cecile or Cecilia, born in 1899, but she died in 1903, before these cards were sent.

Card sent by Ethel Ladd, a shut-in at Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba.  She notes that her father raises strawberries for market.

Ethel Arline Ladd was born October 22, 1897 in Vermont, daughter of William Porter Ladd and his second wife Sarah Agnes (Sanborn) Ladd.   Her father, according to an online reference, once lived on a pineapple farm at Santiago de las Vegas.  The family later moved to Volusia County, Florida.  Ethel must have fought through whatever kept her a shut-in, as she went on to marry Albert C. Tyler and have at least one child.  Ethel died in 1982 and is buried with her brother Eugene Philip Ladd in the DeLand Memorial Gardens cemetery at DeLand, Florida.  Hopefully a reader will have more information.

Card sent to Miss Lucie Fishe by Alice M., postmarked 1908 in Bangor, Pennsylvania, with a photograph of the United Evangelical Church of Bangor, Pennsylvania, on the message side.

Card sent to Lucia Fish in 1909 by Alonzo Cole, Superintendent of the Shut-in Society Boys at 21 Wolcott Street, Dorchester, Massachusetts

Card sent to Miss Lucie Fishe by Leo Clark, 120 Pearl Street, New York, New York, in 1919.

Card sent to Miss Lucie Fish by Mrs. W. F. Hampe at 604 McCabe Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, in 1922

  Card sent to Miss Beth Fish with no sender information and the postmark obstructed.

Card sent in what appears to be 1913 by "Sister" to Miss Georgia L. Fishe at Salem Depot, New Hampshire, in care of E. B. Hall, R.F.D. 1.  "Sister" may have been either Lucia or Beth.

"The show that is here is just the same as when it was here last year.  Al Martz is to be here the 17th.  Ruth's cold is about the same.  Mina gets our mail for us at night.  Last eve she and H was up and talked to me quite a while.  Mina is going away next Friday.  I can't bear to think of hr going - now there is a ray of comfort in seeing her but if she goes!!  Had a note from Aunt Cora last eve.  Yes they miss you at school and everybody asks for you.  Have a lot to tell you in my letter.  Mina said last night she was going to send you a card.  Mama will write tomorrow and she sends you her bestest love.  And she says give her love to Ploma and Hannah.  I have a __ for P when I write.  I've been sewing two forty.
It doesn't seem possible you have been gone only a week.  To us it seems years.  How kind people are to you, dear, and we feel so grateful to them.  Tata, til tomorrow."

If you can supply the missing word in the message above or provide more information on the people mentioned or the Fish or Fishe sisters themselves, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

A label for L. A. Fish & Company of Jonesboro, Maine:

1861 Letter from William W. Bradbury, "Willie", in Machias, Maine, to his brother James True Bradbury, serving in Company A at Fort Sullivan, Maine; Effigy of Jefferson Davis

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

June 7, 1861 letter from William Wyer Bradbury (1843-1901), "Willie", in Machias, Maine, to his brother James True Bradbury (1840-1863), serving in Company A at Fort Sullivan in Eastport, Maine.

The letter features a sketch by Willie of Jefferson Davis hanging in effigy. The letter was written after the attack of April 1861 on Fort Sumter in South Carolina, and contains the implication that James would be leaving Fort Sullivan, presumably for war. 

Sadly, James did not survive the war; he died in the Second Battle of Rappahannock Station in Virginia, in November of 1863.

Mentioned in the letter:

• James True Bradbury (1840-1863)
• William Wyer Bradbury (1843-1901), "Willie"
• Hen's cap - perhaps the brothers' infant brother Henry W. Bradbury (1860-1862) or a soldier serving with James
• Ike - perhaps Isaac Snow Bradbury (1840-1866), lost at sea while in the U.S. Navy
• George Allen - he may have been George H. Allen (abt 1842-1915), who also served in the Civil War and was wounded at Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia
• Mother - presumably Eliza (Webber) Bradbury (1810-1893)
• Father - Wyer Bradbury (1814-1882)

If you have information to share on the Bradbury and Webber families or information on a likely prospect for George Allen, please leave a comment for the benefit of fellow researchers.

Despite the map below, bear in mind that travel between Machias and Eastport was just as likely to have occurred by sea.

2 1835 or 1855 Letters from J. ? B. traveling in Boston, Massachusetts, to Lizzie back home, presumably Machias, Maine area

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Two letters, either from 1835 or 1855, from J.? B., possibly J. V. B., traveling in Boston, Massachusetts, to Lizzie, his wife, sweetheart or sister back home, presumably in the Machias, Maine, area.

Transcriptions of both letters appear at the end of this post.

Clues:

• letter writer - J.? B., possibly J.V. B., on a trip to Boston, Massachusetts
• letter recipient - Lizzie, presumably in Machias, Maine, or the immediate area, and presumably the wife, sweetheart or dear friend of the letter writer
• J. ? B.'s uncle - who lives in Boston, Massachusetts, or environs
• William Train of Roxbury, Massachusetts
• Cohassett [sic] - has a connection to both the letter writer and to Joseph, perhaps Lizzie's brother
• Lizzie's Mother - apparently has family living in Boston, Massachusetts
• Mother, Sarah & Jos. or Joe - presumably Lizzie's family

The letter at top is dated February 15, 1835 [or 1855]. There's nothing written on the reverse.

The letter below is dated either July 1835, or 1855, or January 1835, or 1855.

This letter has Lizzie written on the reverse.

If you have a theory as to the identity of J. ? B. who had a habit of traveling to Boston, Massachusetts from the Machias, Maine, area, and had a Lizzie in his life, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Transcriptions - please leave a comment with any corrections and/or additions

February letter

Boston February 15, 1835 [or 1855]

My dear Lizzie,

I made my calculations to be at home Saturday night, but it has rained all day & I have not been able to settle all up - I shall get through tomorrow & at present I intend to go to Bangor on Saturday & get to Machias on Monday. I am getting quite homesick. In fact, I have had rather a dull time & shall be glad when I get through with it. I have been to E. Boston any number of times. The Henry has become quite familiar to me. Machias is gayety itself to Boston. Everyone seems poor and wears a long face.

I have seen none of your acquaintance. I went to the Museum one eve, which is the extent of my amusements. I have not received a word from Machias since I left. 

It is now raining torrents & a deluge threatens the city. Fifteen inches of snow in the streets to melt besides any quantity sliding from the roofs of buildings .

I took tea last evening at my uncle's. I have been busy during the day time, therefore the old clothes have had to go it.

Yours truly,

J. ? B.

July or January letter

Boston July 22, 1833 [or July 1833 or January 1835 or January 1855]

Dear Lizzie

I got here very comfortably on Friday as per arrangements & as usual I found myself at the American. Eastern people are very scarce. I have hardly seen an Eastern countenance. I must make one exception. This morning at breakfast I met Lieut. Stevens of the U.S.N., his bride formerly known & some what distinguished as "Mary Mae" [or "Mary Mac"]. They arrived here yesterday in the Eastport boat & are bound I don't know where. Mary looked very well, but does not look much like Mary Mae of old.

I have received a note inviting me to dine at the house of William Train in Roxbury this day. But I think it doubtful if I am able to go. I looks to me as if it would warm this afternoon & if so (tell Joe) I may go to Cohassett.

I delivered your Mother's package as per orders & received for an answer "all right". Shall probably return Tuesday evening via Rockland. Remember me to your Mother, Sarah & Jos.

Yours truly.

J.? B.

The map below shows the inland route from Machias to Boston, but in the 1830s or 1850s the letter writer would have traveled by sea, or, in the case of Bangor, by the Penobscot River.

1909 Postcard Commemorating George Washington's Birthday, from Caroline B. Cox, a Calais, Maine, native then in Pennsylvania, to Miss Hattie Wharf in Calais, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1909 postcard from Caroline B. Cox, a Calais, Maine, native, then living in Easton, Pennsylvania, to Miss Hattie Wharf in Calais, Maine. 

The picture side is a tribute to the birthday of President George Washington.

Caroline B. Cox - Caroline Isabel (Boardman) Cox (1873-1945), a Calais, Maine, native, who would marry Herbert Bailey Cox in 1907 at Calais, Maine.  He became assistant to the president of the Empire Steel & Iron Company of Pennsylvania.  They later moved to New Jersey and then to Winchester, Massachusetts.

Hattie Wharf - presumably Harriet Louise Wharff (1873-1941), daughter of Thomas E. Wharff and Maria N. (Dyer) Wharff of Calais, Maine.  Hattie would marry George R. Gardner in 1922 at Calais, Maine.

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

1936 Postcard Showing Site of Tidal Power Project - from Ellen in Eastport, Maine, to Miss Madeline Conlon at Hotel Wellesley in Wellesley, Massachusetts

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

Postcard postmarked 1936 at Eastport, Maine, from Ellen to "Blondie", Miss Madelyn Conlon at Hotel Wellesley on Grove Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Ellen mentions "Fran", who is presumably also in Wellesley.

The picture side shows the site of the proposed $100,000,000 tidal power project in Passamaquoddy and Cobscook Bays, around Eastport.

Blondie,

Are you still at the grind or has Fran mapped out a new life for you by now. Let's hear all about everything. Kinda miss the fun we had - though everything is grand here. Remember me to everyone & drop me a line when you have a chance.

Ellen

If you have a theory as to the identities of Ellen, Fran or Miss Madelyn Conlon or if you have information to share on them, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

1893 Letter from John N. Young in Calais, Maine, to D. M. Gardner; re: Estate of B. Young

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

December 11, 1893 letter from John N. Young in Calais, Maine, to D. M. Gardner, regarding the estate of B. Young.

Nothing written on reverse, but the paper scrap used for the letter was a form from the Custom-House, Collector's Office at Eastport, Maine.

Transcription:

Calais Dec 11.93

D. M. Gardner

Please pay Estate of B. Young twenty dollars for pasturage due me and charge same to me.

John N. Young

• John N. Young - presumably John Nelson Young (1842-1912)
• D. M. Gardner - perhaps Daniel Morgan Gardner (1834-1897)
• B. Young - possibly Benjamin Young (1813-1892)

If you have corrections and/or information to share on any of these men, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

1885 letter from L. F. Lambert & Co. Clothiers, Gent's Furnishing Goods, in Calais, Maine to George D. Perry & Co. in Machias, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

September 22, 1885 letter from L. F. Lambert & Co. Clothiers, Gent's Furnishing Goods, in Calais, Maine to George D. Perry & Co. in Machias, Maine.

The letter concerns the receipt of a suit in the wrong color and the non receipt of other items.  Transcription at the end of this post.

L. F. Lambert - Loring F. Lambert (abt 1850-1900)

George D. Perry - presumably George D. Perry (1862-1943), whose mother's maiden name was Dudley - George's middle name may have been Dudley.

If you have information to share on these men, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

1835 Letter from Elizabeth Waldron in Eastport, Maine, to Rev. & Mrs. Wakefield Gale in Boston, Massachusetts - Controversy

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

October 7, 1835 letter from Elizabeth Waldron in Eastport, Maine, to Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881) and Wife Mary Louisa (Bigelow) Gale (1806-1861) in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Gales were staying with Mary's sister Ann Eliza (Bigelow) Safford (1802-1874) and brother-in-law Deacon Daniel Safford (1792-1856) at 7 Montgomery Street in Boston.

The letter hints of the displeasure of some in town with Rev. Gale, with Elizabeth stressing her loyalty to him. According to a bio on his FindaGrave Memorial, Rev. Gale was dismissed from his pastorate in November of 1835, a month after Elizabeth started her letter.  Elizabeth mentions Rev. Gale's future return to Eastport, but perhaps he intended to return only to settle his affairs there.

A transcription appears at the end of this post.

See other letters regarding Rev. Gale:

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

There were two women named Elizabeth Waldron in Eastport, Maine, during this time, according to FindaGrave memorials, both born in 1786 and born dead in the same year as well, 1874.

They are: 

• Elizabeth (Emmons) Waldron (1786-1874), "Betsey", wife of Dr. Timothy Waldron
• Elizabeth (Rumble) Waldron (1786-1874), wife of Ezra Waldron

People mentioned in the letter - some multiple times

• Elizabeth Waldron, letter writer; Eastport, Maine, presumably one of the two women mentioned above
• Rev. Wakefield Gale (1797-1881) and Wife Mary Louisa (Bigelow) Gale (1806-1861)
• Deacon Daniel Safford (1792-1856) and wife Abigail Jane (Biglow) Safford (1804-1830), at whose home at 7 Montgomery Street, Boston, Massachusetts, the Gales are staying
• Mrs. Weston; Eastport, Maine - perhaps Jane (Nelson) Weston (1781-1864), widow of Jonathan Delesdernier Weston (1782-1834)
• Mr. L.; Eastport, Maine - if L for Leavitt, perhaps Benjamin Brackett Leavitt (1798-1881)
• Shays, lay reader at Eastport, Maine
• Mr. Holcome, Minister; Eastport, Maine - Elizabeth likes him personally but doesn't think much of his preaching - she called him "Mr. Halfcome"
• Mr. Chute preached; Eastport, Maine - Mrs. Weston thinks he would be a good candidate to replace Rev. Gale
• Widow Buckman or Bucknam; Eastport, Maine - thinks that Rev. Gale's brother-in-law Deacon Daniel Safford encouraged Rev. Gale to leave Eastport
• Deacon Wheeler, Eastport, Maine
• Capt. Childs and Mrs. Childs; Eastport, Maine
• Mrs. Whitcom
• Deacon Prince; Eastport, Maine
• Emma (Hayden); Eastport, Maine - perhaps Emma Lincoln (Hayden) Hathorne, who died 21 October 1835 not long after her marriage to Benjamin Herbert Hathorne
• Mr. Green has moved to Calais, Maine
• Mr. Shaw; Eastport, Maine
• Mrs. Levett has another daughter, 2 weeks old; Eastport, Maine - perhaps Harriet (Lamprey) Leavitt (1802-1840), wife of Benjamin Brackett Leavitt (1798-1881) and mother of Mary Louisa Leavitt, born in 1835 but died the following year
• Mary Ann; presumably Eastport, Maine
• Emeline; Eastport, Maine
• Miss Ann Eliza, presumably Boston, Massachusetts - not a Miss, but perhaps Ann Eliza (Bigelow) Safford (1802-1874), wife of Deacon Daniel Safford (1792-1856), with whom the Gales were staying.

If you have a theory as to the identity of Elizabeth Waldron or any of the other people mentioned, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

Transcription - loose, some misspellings left intact, some punctuation added for comprehension - suggest corrections and/or additions in the comments sections

Eastport Oct 7 1835

My Dear Mr and Mrs. Gale

I have been waiting to try to learn, what god intended to do with this people, and as I was informed last evening by Mrs. Weston that you should give up your house in six weeks, from this I think we may say as she of old did, the glory is departed from Eastport, and learn that god intends to take a away our greatest blessing and bestow them on those who will better praise his worth, but I blame you not, for I believe unering wisdom is your guide and that you have sought it with deliberation. I have often thought that you was too bright a light to be Extinguished on this remote Island and Mrs. Weston has the same mind. but we were selfish and gain yet. I shall not attempt to discribe my feelings. Go on on thou man of god in the way He directs you,and I have a hope at the end of our race I shall meet you in that Kingdom of glory where sin can have no control and where you will receive your reward for all your labours of love to us. I can so no more.

After you left us, I thought our case much like the children of Israel when they saw Pharaoh and his host pursuing them after they had left Egypt, but I thought you would remain a Moses and intended for us and I believe you did, and in answer to prayer we still remain a church. that affair is not settled yet. I have done all that I can do without telling a falsehood that I shall not do I hope while I have my reason. I think if Mr. L had no more earthly riches then myself it would have come to a conclusion long before this. You will understand my meening, but is it not better to put our trust in Him who has all the money and the cattle upon a thousand hills at his disposal, then to place any confidence in man that has nothing but ungovernable temper to guide him. It has been said that we cannot support a Minister if Mr. L. withdraws his assistance, but I say we did have the gospel preached to us in its purity before he united with us and better is a little with the fear of the Lord then great treasures and trouble therewith. but you will say no more of this and I will forbare and strive to do right and keep under subjection all wrong feelings.

We were without preaching 4 sabbaths after your departure. In that time we meet once at our Meeting house and ___ Shays read to us, and then came Mr. Holcome and I am at a loss what to say of him. He is pleasant man, and in his preaching you would think he was coming right to the point and he will slide of so unpenceivable that one cannot trace the way he went. he tells us what we must be, before we can be admitted into heaven but what the sinner must do to acquire those attainments he does not clearly set forth. I have been thinking every sermon the whole would come but as yet it has not. but don't say that I do not like him, but as yet he has not enlarged nor united our society and would all our people speak the truth they would say they are disappointed in him. He has made me a visit and I should take him to be any thing but a minister if I did not know.  Mr. Chute preached one Sabbath and Mrs. Weston thinks he is the man for this place if you don't come back again. She says he came from a good soul and your recommendation we think much of, but I ___ [dare ?] not express my opinion for they say I like to much depravity so I say I like them both. 

The widow Buckman told me she thought Deacon Safford encouraged you to leave here. I told her she was misinformed and I presume she was. The Baptist have their Minister and are so pleased with him that they are not willing for him to come into our meeting house, for they have withdrawn from us altogether. They hold the monthly concert in their own house and we in ours. No great harm done yet. I believe Dea. Wheeler is at the head of the sepperation. Our vestry is ocupied every night in the week of singing and 3 meetings. Mr. Holcome or Mr. Halfcome gives us a sermon on Thursday eve'g. The meetings are very well attended. I have heard every sermon he has preached. Capt.Childs sought to see me out evenings. He knows my Motive. It was thought I should not go because you was away but they get disappointed in all their conjectures. You know who I mean. I shall not loose any friends. I have not attended any of the Maternal meetings, since you left and don't know when I shall. They have done a little to have me come in in an underhanded way, that is, Mrs. Childs told Mrs. L. that she ought to come and see me and invite me to attend. And I wanted to see Mrs. L on other business and I sent for her to come in which she did, and just as she was going I mentioned about her husband and told her I wish her to converse with him and let me know what he said. She said she would. I heard nothing more from her until meeting day. About 4 o'clock Mrs. Whitcom came in and asked why I was not to meeting. Said I, you know the reason. She says why. Mrs. L. says you can come but she had been so busy that she had forgot to say anything to her husband. From that Mrs. L. said she had been to see me and she did not know why I did not come. You understand the Matter. Now I was cast out publickly and I must be brought in more Publicky, that he or she must give me an inventation, the prayer meeting at this house has been well attended and only one refusal. There sisters down ____ attend and the young sisters have joined with us, and you have been remembered in every prayer that has been offered in this room since you left it and the ___ has been that you might be restored to us again in god's own time. The ___ is quite heavy. Deacon Prince has just left here; he sends his love to you and says he hopes God will bless you wherever you are and that he shall write you as soon as his eye gets better. It is now very sore, his heart was to full for ___ but says he feels resigned to his heavenly Father's will. I went over to your garden once and got some squash and turnips and but I could not go again it was too much for me to pluck up what My Minister had planted and in his absence to.  She that was Emma Hayden sends her love to you. She is quite low but appears very much resigned and composed. Mr. Green has moved to Calais. Mr. Shaw has moved in where they lived. Mrs. Levett has another daughter about 2 weeks old and is very comfortable. Mrs. Weston sends her love you and says she wants to write you an ___ soon. Mary Ann wrote you, 4 weeks ago but presumes you have not received. Emeline is working Mrs. G's watch mat but will not send it until Mr. Gale comes.Will Mr. Gale be so kind as to stop the Youths Companion when this year is out for we cannot take it longer. I believe it is paid for until then. Give our love to Miss Ann Eliza and tell her we should be glad to hear some of her interesting conversation. I must now think of drawing to a close, my best love to Mr. and Mrs. Safford and tell them that I do feel thankful that my Dear friends are under the protection of such worthy people - I shall expect to see Mr. G in about six weeks. I hope you will ever bear this church on your minds at the throne of grace and intercede for us that we may not be left without a teacher and one that shall declare the whole truth if we were delt with according to our deserts we should be shut up in heathenish darkness. I believe god will over  rule all things for his own glory and our best and I hope that all his dealings with us will prove for our everlasting good. I have written you both together for what interests one will the other. You must rectify all mistakes and imperfections in reading and pardon the writer who is your affectionate sister in the Lord.

Elizabeth Waldron