1889 Letter from Calvin Rubin Gardner (abt 1834-1909) of Pembroke, Maine, to John Keller Ames (1834-1901) of Machias, Maine; re: Bricks

July 15, 1889 letter from Calvin Rubin Gardner (abt 1834-1909) to lumberman John Keller Ames (1834-1901) in Machias, Maine, regarding Gardner's delivery of bricks to Ames.

According to the letterhead, Gardner was a manufacturer of bricks, a dealer in mowing machines and farming implements and the proprietor of the Gardner House lodging establishment.  

This auction site features a postcard of the Gardner House, although the house depicted may have been a private home.

Gardner mentions delivering bricks to Ames via the Schooner Osias. I wasn't able to find information about a schooner named Osias (Ozias or Osiris ?). Interestingly, there were several people named Ozias in the area. Hopefully a reader will weigh in.

Perhaps the current-day Brickyard Road (map below) was named for Gardner's brickyard, which, if so, was presumably located along it, perhaps close to a wharf.  

If you have information to share on Calvin Rubin Gardner, John Keller Ames or the Schooner Osias (sp?), please leave a comment for the benefit of other family researchers.

Photograph of an Older Woman, possibly Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur (abt 1821-1899) of Pembroke, Maine

Photograph of an older woman identified on the reverse as Mary Wilbur; no studio imprint.

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

I was told she is Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur (abt 1821-1899) of Pembroke, Maine,  wife of Josiah Wilbur (1821-1902), but hope that a reader will provide confirmation. 

Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur was born in Pembroke, Maine, about 1821, the daughter of John Leighton and Sarah (Maker) Leighton, as shown on her death record - although in some places her birth year is given as 1826.

Mary Jane and Josiah Wilbur, who declared their intention to marry on 18 April 1844, had at least 8 children, as shown in a town record, which also shows that two sons died in 1861 and another son in 1885.

If you have family photographs of Mary Jane (Leighton) Wilbur or have come across a likeness of her in your research, please leave a comment below.  

1846 Sampler Wrought by Sarah Ann Cheeney (1835-1895), then of Eastport, Maine

 Tilly Laskey, curator at Maine Historical Society, has sent along a link to the sales offering of a wonderful family record sampler wrought in 1846 by Sarah Ann Cheeney (1835-1895), then in Eastport, Maine.

https://www.antiquesamplers.com/samplers/cheeney,-sarah-a.htm

Sarah was born in Pembroke, Maine, on April 27, 1835 to George Cheeney and his wife Mary A., natives of Derry, New Hampshire, and Salem, Massachusetts, respectively.  George and Mary had married in Dennysville, Maine, on July 28, 1834.

Children listed on the sampler:

• Sarah Ann Cheeney, born in Pembroke, Maine, on April 27, 1835 [Sarah's gravestone gives her year of birth as 1836 but that does not reconcile with the birth of her next younger sibling]
• Emma Sophia Cheeney, born in Pembroke, Maine, on November 14, 1836
• George Alvin Cheeney, born in Robbinston, Maine, on January 12, 1839
• James William Cheeney, born in Eastport, Maine, on April 12, 1843
• Lemuel G. Cheeney, born in Eastport, Maine, on May 12, 1849

Sarah Ann Cheeney married George Kilborn, Jr., in 1858 in Boston, Massachusetts. She and George are buried in the Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.

If you have information on the Cheeney family, please leave a comment for the benefit of other researchers.

1893 Booklet "Souvenir of Quoddy"; scenes around Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine and New Brunswick

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog.

"Souvenir of Quoddy", a booklet of scenes from around Passamaquoddy Bay in Maine and New Brunswick, published in 1893 by Charles E. Brown at the Loring Studio in Eastport, Maine. The booklet was printed in Boston, Massachusetts, by John Andrew & Son.

The Loring studio was founded by Davis Franklin Loring (1819-1891), father-in-law of Charles E. Brown.

The photographs depict scenes from:

• Eastport, Maine
• Lubec, Maine
• Robbinston, Maine
• Pembroke, Maine
• Perry, Maine
• St. George, New Brunswick
• Islands in Passamaquoddy Bay
• Eastport, Maine, on Moose Island
• Cherry Island, New Brunswick
• Campobello Island, New Brunswick
• Allan's Island (now Treat Island), Maine
• Grand Manan, New Brunswick   

Images of all of the pages appear at the end of this post.

Scenes include:

• a page with two photographs of the Eastport, Maine, waterfront, taken from the Bay
• a page with three photographs Eastport, Maine: the Toll Bridge, Goudy's Point and Carrying Place
• a page with four photographs of Eastport, Maine: Frontier National Bank, the Savings Bank; Boynton High School and the Custom House
• a page with ten photographs, entitled "Eastport of Former Days"
• a page with three photographs: of fishing boats; Estes Head in Eastport, Maine; Cherry Island, New Brunswick
• a page with a photograph of Pulpit Rock in Robbinston, Maine
• a page with a photograph of "Old Friar" on Campobello Island, New Brunswick
• a page with 4 photographs of Campobello Island, New Brunswick: Head Harbor; Herring Cove; Lake Glensevern; Meadow Brook
• a page with 5 photographs of Campobello Island, New Brunswick, including Friar's Bay, Harbor DeLute, Echo Lake
• a page with two photographs of the Lubec, Maine, waterfront, taken from the Bay or from Campobello Island, New Brunswick
• a page with 3 photographs of Lubec, Maine: the Landing; Looking South; Hotel Ne-Mat-Ta-No
• a page with a photograph of Sail Rock, just off West Quoddy in Lubec, Maine; easternmost point in the lower 48
• a page with a photograph of West Quoddy Light in Lubec, Maine; from the rocky shore with the lighthouse in the distance
• a page with a photograph taken on Allan's Island looking south toward Lubec, Maine, and Grand Manan, New Brunswick - now Treat Island in Eastport, Main. The photographs shows numerous buildings no longer there
• a page with two photographs, of Pembroke, Maine, and of Perry, Maine
• a page with a photograph of the Indian Village at Pleasant Point in Perry, Maine
• a page with a photograph of Dark Harbor, Grand Manan, New Brunswick
• a page with a photograph of Southern Head Light, Grand Manan, New Brunswick
• a page with three photographs of St. George, New Brunswick: the Landing, the Village and the Falls
• a page with five photographs of Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick: Swallow Tail Light; Southern Head; Flagg's Cove; Dark Harbor Bar; Southern Cross

 

Pembroke, Maine: 1834 & 1841 Docs/Letters: Adna Leighton, Dennerson James Haynes (Smithfield ME); William Woodworth, Ephraim Woodworth, Jacob Gardner, Ebenezer Swan, Mr. Tarbill

One 1834 document and two 1841 letters concerning people from the Pembroke, Maine, area and Smithfield, Maine.

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog.

Names: [some appear multiple times]

• Adna Leighton (1801-1891) of Pembroke, Maine
• Dennerson James Haynes (1784-1868) of Smithfield, Maine
• Jacob Gardner, who may have been Jacob Dunbar Gardner (1797-1844) of Charlotte, Maine
• Ebenezer Swan, who may have been Ebenezer Swan (1775-1880)
• Mr. Tarbill, presumably Mr. Tarbell
• William Lewis Woodworth, Sr. (1796-1879), a Nova Scotia native who moved to Pembroke, Maine
• Ephraim Woodworth, who may have been the Ephraim Woodworth (abt 1826-abt 1901), who was the son of William Lewis Woodworth, Sr. (1796-1879)
• Leonard - possibly Leonard Woodworth, who was a brother to William Lewis Woodworth, Sr. (1796-1879)

The Leighton, Haynes and Woodworth families were connected through marriage.  Dennerson James Haynes and Adna Leighton married sisters, Rebecca (Woodworth) and Amy (Woodworth), respectively. William Lewis Woodworth, Sr. was a brother to Rebecca and Amy.

Shown at top:

Document with dates of January 29, 1834 and February 8, 1834, acknowledging receipt by Dennerson James Haynes (1784-1868) of Smithfield, Maine, of $34.47, comprising the notes owed by Jacob Gardener [Gardner] and Ebenezer Swan, and signed by Adna Leighton (1801-1891) of Pembroke, Maine.  

Jacob Gardner may have been Jacob Dunbar Gardner (1797-1844) of Charlotte, Maine. Ebenezer Swan may have been Ebenezer Swan (1775-1880).  [Either Ebenezer's birth year is incorrect or the newspaper clipping quoted on his FindaGrave memorial as noting his age of 104 is incorrect.]

Reverse of document at top:

Below:

Letter dated August 12, 1841, from Adna Leighton (1801-1891) at Pembroke, Maine, to Dennerson James Haynes (1784-1868) at Smithfield, Maine.  Adna mentions Mr. Tarbill [perhaps Tarbell] and Ephraim Woodworth, who may have been the son of William Lewis Woodworth, Sr., who was a brother to the wives of Adna Leighton and Dennerson James Haynes.  

Transcription:

Pembro. Aug 12 1841

Dear Brother [Brother-in-law]

An apology is due you from me for not informing you concerning your business entrusted to me. I wrote a letter which you will find enclosed, acknowledging the receipt of your letter and ___ I see no chance to get anything from Mr. Tarbill. I understand he owns no property, but I do not know for certainty. I wish you to write by Ephraim Woodworth the bearer of this letter what you wish me to do. We are all well and our folks here.

Yours in haste

A. Leighton

Below:

Letter dated August 12, 1841 from William Woodworth (1796-1879) at Pembroke, Maine, to Dennerson James Haynes (1784-1868) at Smithfield, Maine. Mentions Adna Leighton (1801-1891) and Ephraim Woodworth, who may have been William's son but is not described as such.  William Lewis Woodworth was a brother to the wives of Dennerson James Haynes and Adna Leighton. No writing on the reverse.

Transcription:

Pembroke August 12, 1841

Dear Friend [or Friends]

I Received your letter yesterday and take this opportunity to write you a few lines in answer. My family are as well as could be expected. My wife was confined the sixth. We have got another girl [Amelia Rebecca Woodworth (1841-1917)] and she is comfortable as could be expected. You inform me that you have been to see Leonard. I am glad to hear from him. I should have wrote to him before this, but was not sure what town he lived in. I have spoken to Adna Leighton concerning the business you mentioned in your letter and you will receive a letter from him at the same time you receive this. My health is pretty good this summer. The last summer I was unable to do any work the whole season. As to our crops, Hay is remarkable good but it is found that on account of the drouth grain and potato crops will be light. My wife and family join me in wishing to be remembered to you all. I send this by Ephraim Woodworth and write in haste as the stage is expected any minute. 

Mr. Dennerson Haynes

Affectionately yours,

William Woodworth

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

1907 Photograph of the Grand Jury Panel of Washington County, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the Heirlooms Reunited blog

1907 photograph, measuring 5" by 7", of the members of the Grand Jury of Washington County, Maine, taken in front of the Calais Court House.

The names of the men appear on an accompanying paper, image below, but only as a list, not matching names to faces.

If you recognize any of these men from your family photographs or research, please leave a comment, in the hope that the men can eventually be identified by face.

Grand Jury for Washington County, Impanelled October Term, 1906.

In alphabetical order:

• George Pearson Bogue (1879-1950), East Machias
• Scott Philson Bradish (1873-1952), Clerk, Eastport
• Earl Leopold Bridges (1871-1907), Pembroke - died that year *
• Jotham Sewell Buzzell (1845-1926), Cherryfield
• George Evander Carle (1861-1939), Princeton
• Clement B. Donworth (1848-1937), County Attorney
• George B. Gray (1867-1913), Robbinston
• Samuel W. Hill (1858-1934), Machias
• Elisha T. Holbrook (1833-1911), Foreman, Vanceboro
• John Lincoln Norton (1855-1929), Jonesport
• Elden Noyes Palmer (1874-1964), Machiasport
• Walter Dyer Ramsdell (1869-1951), Harrington
• Lester Charles Selwood (1878-1941), Perry
• Edmund Burke Sheahan (1845-1919), Dennysville
• Nathaniel Allen Smith, Jr. (1878-1942), Edmunds
• George Albert Stanwood (1856-1932), Steuben
• John F. Tracy (1872-1946), Addison
• Robert Bunten Tyler (1846-1912), Calais
• Frederick Wallace [middle name Almar or Elmer] (1867-), Talmadge
• Frank Whalen, Lubec - perhaps Frank W. Whalen (1870-1943)

*  This photograph was taken in front of the Court House at Calais, Wednesday, April 24, A.D. 1907.  Juror Bogue does not appear in the picture, he having been unable to attend Court at the April Term on account of sickness.

Some of the towns mentioned

Payments made by Robbinston, Maine, to Families of Soldiers and Sailors Serving in the Civil War

Many pages in a ledger listing the payments made by the Town of Robbinston, Maine, to the families of about 50 soldiers and sailors serving in the Civil War.  

Note: Some of the servicemen were born in Maritime Canada and may have returned to Canada after the War.  

The ledger, measuring about 13" by 8", contains 178 pages in all, about half full, not only listing the payments to families but also tracking other municipal business, including expenses for building the Phelps Bridge, bridges at Nash's and Low's, town officers' accounts, etc., in the 1860s up to 1872.

Most pages tracking payments to the families of men serving in the Civil War show one family individually, as you see above, in the case of the family of unmarried Frederick Stanhope (1846-1898).  These pages usually include the serviceman's unit as well as his family members' names and ages, and, in a few cases, information about service, battles and death.  

Alphabetized List - Click on a name to see a separate blog post on each, showing an image of his page in the ledger, along with further information on his life, family and service, with links to primary sources, when available.  If you have information on any of the men listed below, please leave a comment.

The number in parentheses after a name indicates a specific page in the ledger.

• Sumner Anderson (page 12), age 22; 6th Regiment, Company D - reportedly killed in the Battle of Spotsylvania on May 10, 1864
• Philip H. Andrews (page 45); 11th Regiment, Company B.  
• Benjamin S. Apt (1846-1906), (page 44); age 18; 31st Regiment, Company B.  
• George E. Bean (page 6); age 19; 3rd Maine Battery
• John M. Bean (1832-1905), (page 15), age 32; 6th Regiment Company F.  
• Samuel Boyden (abt 1828-1891), (page 24), age 35; 6th Regiment; Company G.  
• Albert Gallatin Buck (1822-1901) (page 7); age 41; 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Company D
• Daniel Bugbee (page 55) - perhaps not a serviceman but rather Daniel Bugbee (1810-1875, North Dakota ?)
• Philip Caffrey (page 9), age 20; on US Gunboat Ossipee.  Could he be the Navy veteran Philip Caffrey (-1887) buried in the Hampton National Cemetery at Hampton, Virginia?
• Hugh H. Cameron (page 2), age 28; 9th Maine Regiment, Company E; mustered in October 1, 1864
• William H. Campbell (page 8); 11th Maine, Company G
• Thomas Chester (page 10), age 32; 30th Regiment; Company F
• William Embleton, age 41 (page 16); 15th Regiment; Company E.  Presumably the William Henry Embleton (1823-1873) who died in a fall to the rocks when building the bridge at Grand Falls, New Brunswick
• Henry H. Frost (page 27), a3-18ge 21; 1st Regular Heavy Artillery, Company D
• John T. Garnett (1843-1933), (page 6); age 21; 15th Regiment
• Rufus Gates (page 49); State Aid Account with Town of Robbinston - perhaps not a soldier and perhaps Legislator Rufus Gates (1816-1887)
• Allen T. Gow (1846-1893), (page 11); 31st Regiment, Company A.  
• Ebenezer D. Harlow (page 18), age 28; 18th Regiment, Company D.  Ebenezer D. Harlow (1836-1921), son of Jirah Harlow and Lydia (Johnson) Harlow
• Madison B. Hayman (1842-1923), (page 32), age 21; 6th Regiment, Company K. 
• John R. Hickey (page 3); age 39; U.S. Navy; transferred from 18th Regt
• Joseph Hinton, Jr. (page 25), age 22; 15th Regiment, Company K 
• Frank E. Johnson (1843-1909), (page 34), age 21; 6th Regiment; Company K.  Frank Ernest Johnson.
• George E. Johnson (page 17), age 27; 18th Regiment, Company D
• William H. Johnson (page 38), age 21; 15th Regiment, Company A
• William Johnson (page 22); 1st Artillery, Company M.  Possibly the William P. Johnson who is shown as having deserted in March 1865 - though there may be another explanation
• Thomas N. Kerr (page 31), age 29; 6th Regiment, Company K; discharged for disability April 18, 1864 with rank of corporal
• George L. Laskey (page 39); 7th Regiment.  George L. Laskey (1844-possibly 1867), was "transferred to the Invalid Corps Sept. 7, 1863". This record, from Maine, Veterans Cemetery Records, 1676-1918, gives a birth year of 1844 but no death year.
• Frank R. Leach (page 26), age 23; 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, Company D.  Franklin Rodney Leach (1840-1912)
• Frederick Leighton (page 30), age 20; 15th Regiment, Company K; re-enlisted March 1864
• Samuel Leighton (page 29), age 24; 11th Regiment, Company D.; enlisted in October 21, 1864 at Belfast, Maine
• Henry P. Low (page 33), age 22; 1st Maine Battery
• James E. Merry (page 13), age 46; 6th Regiment, Company F; discharged for disability 18 Dec 1864
• Benjamin C. Morrell (page 23), age 24; 1st Regiment Cavalry; Company D; discharged November 20, 1864.  Presumably Benjamin Charles Morrell (1840-1911)
• James Morrell (page 20), age 25; 18th Regiment or 1st Heavy Artillery, Company D. Did not survive the war; Ebenezer D. Harlow named guardian of his child.  Presumably the James "Morrill" buried in the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Dinwiddie County, Virginia
• John E. Morrell (page 40), age 21; 11th Regiment, Company F. "Enlisted Novr. 7 /64"
• Maine, State of (page 51); State Aid Account with Town of Robbinston
• Simon O'Brien (page 48); State Aid Account with Town of Robbinston - perhaps not a serviceman
• George Phelps (1840-1923) (page 1); 1864, First Maine Battery, 24 years of age.  George Nelson Phelps
• Q?  Name partially erased - James Qu?
• Curtis Robbinson [sic] (page 36); 31st Regiment, Company A.  He was Curtis Robinson (1846-1865)
• Samuel Ross (page 28), age 29; 11th Regiment, Company D, Mustered in 21 October 1864 at Belfast, Maine.  Samuel L. Ross (abt 1832-1914)
• Samuel S. Seeley 2d (page 14)
• Frederick Stanhope (page 35); 18th Regiment, Company M.  Presumably Frederick Stanhope (abt 1844-1898)
• George A. Stanhope (1839-1919), (page 19), age 24; 18th Regiment or 1st heavy artillery
• Levi Pierce Stanhope (1840-1922), (page 4); age 26; 9th Maine Regiment, Company A
• Edwin Stanton (page 41); 1st Artillery. "Joseph Stanton died 21 Feb. 1864 at home. Edwin S. was killed in front of Petersburg June 18 /64"
• Charles E. Taylor (page 37), age 25; 6th Regiment, Company G. "Wounded 7th Nov. 1863 at Rappahannock & soon died". 
• John Taylor (page 21); 6th Regiment, Company G.  "Nurse in a regimental hospital", in the book Maine at Gettysburg, published Lakeside Press in 1898.  Possibly this John Taylor (abt 1835/6-1904) 
• Thomas Trimble (1846-1914), (page 43); age 19; 31st Regiment, Company A. "enlisted Feb 26/64
• James William Tucker (page 5), age 19; 3rd Maine Battery
• Joseph E. Tucker (1846-1912), (page 42); 3rd Battery.  Joseph Edwin Tucker (1846-1912)  
• Elisha Vose (1841-1896), (page 9); age 22; Company E of First Maine Cavalry
• Lyman Vose (1839-1929), (page 9), age 24; Company E of First Maine Cavalry

1856 Invoice from S. P. Bradbury Grave Stones, Bangor, Maine, to Caleb Hersey, Jr. of Pembroke, Maine

May 17, 1856 invoice from S. P. Bradbury & Co. Grave Stones, at Bangor, Maine, to Mr. Caleb Hersey, Jr., at Pembroke, Maine.  The invoice notes that the stone is intended for the grave of Mr. Hersey's daughter.

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

Caleb Hersey, Jr. (1799-1866) was born 13 March 1799 at Dennysville, Maine, or at Passamaquoddy, Maine, son of Caleb and Lydia (Dunbar) Hersey, Hingham, who were Massachusetts natives who had moved to Pembroke, Maine.  

On 21 December 1823 at Dennysville, Maine, Caleb, Jr. married Eliza DeForest (1805-1853), daughter of Henry and Sarah (Woodworth) DeForest of Nova Scotia. Henry may have been born in Connecticut, or in Nova Scotia, of Loyalist immigrants from Connecticut. Sarah Woodworth was born at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

Caleb, Jr., and Eliza had at least five sons and two daughters:

•  Elizabeth Ann (Hersey) Hersey (1825-1865)
•  Caleb Washington Hersey (1827-1905)
•  Sarah Lydia Hersey (1830-1856)
•  Henry Jackson Hersey (1833-1853)
•  Heman Nickerson Hersey (1836-1892), twin
•  Charles Emerson Hersey (1836-1896), twin
•  Darius DeForest Hersey (1841-1925)

The gravestone was presumably intended for the grave of daughter Sarah Lydia Hersey.

If you have any corrections or additional information regarding the Hersey or DeForest families, please leave a comment.

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1851 Certification that Seaman Isaac N. Sprague of Pembroke, Maine, is an American Citizen

Document inscribed on March 6 1851 by Daniel Kilby, Customs Collector of the District of Passamaquoddy, where he certifies that Isaac N. Sprague, an American Seaman and a native of Pembroke, Maine, about the age of 16, is a Citizen of the United States.

Isaac was about 5'6", with a light complexion, flaxen hair and blue eyes.

From brief online research, hopefully correct - corrections and/or additions gratefully requested in the comments:

Isaac N. Sprague 

Isaac N. Sprague may have been Isaac Noble Sprague (1834-1880), born 22 September 1834 at Pembroke, Maine, son of William and Tamar (Clark) Sprague.  

In light of the certificate above, it's tempting to think that Isaac might have crewed on one of the many vessels carrying hopeful miners from the East to the goldfields of California.  And, like many other seamen, at some point took stock of the situation and decided to try his own luck at finding gold rather than return East as part of the crew.

Isaac appears in the California Great Register of 1867, where he's listed as a miner in Rose's Bar Township. In the 1870 Census Isaac, shown as Isaac M., was living in Santa Cruz, California, adjacent to brothers Levi Woodward Sprague (abt 1841-1908), Cyrus Elwood Sprague (1849-1914) and Benjamin Franklin Sprague (1851-1913).  

On June 27, 1871 in Calaveras County, California, Isaac married Mrs. Hannah Burnham; the marriage, apparently, didn't last.

In the 1880 Census of San Jose, California, Isaac was enumerated in brother Levi's household and was engaged in farming. He died in San Luis Obispo, California, later that year, on November 22, 1880.

  

Daniel Kilby (1791-1860) 

According to a mention in Eastport and Passamaquoddy: A Collection of Historical and Biographical Sketches, compiled by Daniel Kilby's son William Henry Kilby (1820-1898) and published by E. E. Shead in 1888:

Daniel Kilby was born May 21, 1791 at Perry, Maine, the son of William and Mary (Wilder) Kilby.  Daniel served in the militia during the War of 1812.  He and a friend went from the mainland to nearly Moose Island on the fateful day when a British fleet arrived and captured Fort Sullivan, the town and the island.  After being searched, Daniel and his friend, and others, were let go.

After the war, Kilby became a shipowner and merchant.  In 1818 he married Joanna Hobart (abt 1800-1848), daughter of Isaac Hobart and Joanna (Hersey) Hobart.  

In 1849, President Zachary Taylor appointed Daniel Kilby to the post of customs collector for the District of Passamaquoddy. He served until the administration of President Franklin Pierce in 1853.  Daniel, who died on January 3, 1860,  and Joanna, who predeceased him in 1848, are buried in Hillside Cemetery at Eastport, Maine, with at least one of their children, Isaac Hobart Kilby.

From Eastport and Passamaquoddy: A Collection of Historical and Biographical Sketches:

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

Letter dated 1852 from Joann Mayo Hersey & Mother Constance (Mayo) Hersey at Pembroke, Maine, to Constance's Sister Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey at Tremont, Maine

Reprinted, with permission, from the blog Heirlooms Reunited

Letter dated May 23, 1852 and postmarked May 24, from Joann Mayo Hersey and her mother Constance (Mayo) Hersey at Pembroke, Maine, to Constance's sister Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey at Tremont, Southwest Harbor, Maine.

The letter consists of two pages of interest to family historians of the Hersey, Mayo, Lurvey and Lurchin families of Maine's Washington County and Hancock County.

Also of interest, in this new era of DNA testing of artifacts, is the postage stamp - possibly a brick wall buster!

A transcription of the letter appears at the end of this post.  If you notice errors or can fill in any blanks, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

People mentioned in the letter, in alphabetical order.

• Aunt Eliza; possibly the sister of John Henry Hersey
• Livona Ann
• Adelaide Veola Hersey; daughter of Zadoc Lewis Hersey and Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey; Adelaide was born in February 1852 and would marry Alden Bradford Kendrick in 1878.
• Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey (1820-1900); wife of Zadoc Lewis Hersey; they married April 21, 1844
• Constance Young (Mayo) Hersey (1806-1856); letter writer; mother of fellow letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey
• Grandma; has been well this winter but fell on the ice and hurt her arm; possibly Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey, wife of the older Zadoc, though online trees have her death as 1850
• Henry H. Hersey (1848-1902); son of Zadoc Lewis Hersey and Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey; age 5, behind in vocabulary and/or pronunciation
• Joann Mayo Hersey (1835-1912), letter writer and daughter of fellow letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey; future wife of Leonard Shaw Lurchin, whom she married in 1854.
• John Edwin Hersey (1850-1921), "Edwin", son of John Henry Hersey and letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and brother of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey; Edwin would marry Jennie E. Lurvey (1862-1913), daughter of Levi Lurvey and Lydia (Marshall) Lurvey
• John Henry Hersey (1810-1885), husband of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and father of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey
• Reuben F. Hersey, son of Zadoc L. Hersey and brother of Zadoc Lewis Hersey; married Mary L. Crane; was living with his family and father at Galesburg, Illinois at time of 1850 Census.
• Salome Hersey; either the mother Salome (Hersey) Hersey or her daughter of that name; has had a lame leg since a fever the previous fall. The link is for the FindaGrave memorial for the mother, Salome (Hersey) Hersey (1808-1885)
• Zadoc L. Hersey (1779-abt 1854); he was unwell, according to a letter from his son Reuben, with whose family he was living in Galesburg, Illinois but Reuben indicated Zadoc wanted to return home.
• Zadoc Lewis Hersey (1815-1888); clerk at Foster's store, son of Zadoc Hersey and Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey
• "Mother Lurvey"; Abigail (Gilley) Lurvey (1789-1866), mother of Samuel Lurvey
• Jacob; possibly Jacob William Lurvey, brother of Samuel Lurvey, husband of Joanna H. (Mayo) Lurvey, or Jacob Shoppy Mayo, brother of Constance (Mayo) Hersey
• Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey (1815-1907), letter recipient; sister of Constance (Mayo) Hersey
• Samuel Lurvey (1817-1893), husband of letter recipient Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey
• Henry E. Mayo (1825-1905); brother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and husband of Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo, whom he married in 1850
• Isaac Pepper Mayo (1773-1866); father of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey
• Jacob; possibly Jacob Shoppy Mayo, brother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey - or Jacob William Lurvey, brother of Samuel Lurvey, husband of letter recipient Joanna H. (Mayo) Lurvey
• Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo (1830-1899), wife of Henry Mayo, brother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey; Constance wants to know what Father and Mother think of her
• Rosanna (Young) Mayo (1782-1865); mother of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey
• Aunt Rebeckah; possibly Rebecca Pepper (Mayo) Robinson (1812-1892), sister of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and wife of Ezra D. Robinson

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Loose Transcription

Pembroke, May the 23 1852
Dear Aunt
I now sit down to write a few lines to you to let you know that we are all well at present and hope you are the same. I received a letter from you in January and wrote back to you again but we have got no answer and I thought I would write again. I have no particular news to tell you. Pa [John Henry Hersey] is to work on the vessel now and when he is down there he is going to work on the ship for six months. Zedok [presumably Zadoc Lewis Hersey] is clerk in Foster's store. Catherine [Catherine (Stoddard) Hersey, wife of Zadoc Lewis Hersey] has got a baby born in February. She calls it Aderlade [Adelaide Veola Hersey]. She has three children now. Henry [Henry H. Hersey], is five years old and he can't talk so well as Edwin [John Edwin Hersey, "Edwin", son of letter writer Constance (Mayo) Hersey and brother of letter writer Joann Mayo Hersey]. He can say but a few words plain. Mr. Hersey [Zadoc L. Hersey (1779-abt 1854, the aforementioned Zadoc's father] has been very sick. They did not expect he would live for some time but he was better the last time Reuben [Reuben F. Hersey, son of the elder Zadoc, then at Galesburg, Illinois] wrote. He [presumably the father Zadoc] wants to see Zedok very much and he talks of moving there this fall.
Grandma [possibly Mercy (Dunbar) Hersey, wife of the older Zadoc, though online trees have her death as 1850] is well and has been well this winter. She fell down on the ice and hurt her arm and this winter Salome Hersey [presumably mother Salome (Hersey) Hersey (1808-1885) or her daughter of that name] has had a lame leg since a fever the previous fall. Aunt Eliza [possibly sister of John Henry Hersey] is not very well this summer. Mother has not weaned Edwin yet. I want you to write as soon as you conveniently can and tell us the news and if you have not any I want you to write. We had a letter from Aunt Rebeckah  [presumably Rebeckah Pepper (Mayo) Robinson] in January and the folks was all well there then. When you write, tell me if Livona Ann is married and where she is. I have no more to write now I believe. This is from your niece. Joann M. [Joann Mayo Hersey]

Dear sister [Joann H. (Mayo) Lurvey]

It is some time since I heard from you and we want to know how do so we write you again, hoping you will answer this soon. Through the Blessing of God we are all in good health and you are the same.  I do wish you could come and see me. I want you to Come and all the ___ rest. Tell Jacob [possibly either Jacob Shoppy Mayo or Jacob Lurvey] if he Comes to Calis [Calais] or Eastport to Call and see us, Three minutes if no more. Tell all the folks to write to us and we will answer them. Give my love to father and Mother [Isaac Pepper Mayo and Rosanna (Young) Mayo]. Tell them I want to see them and hope I shall once more. Our Children send their love to you and Granpa, Granma and all their uncles and Aunts. I want you to tell me how father and Mother likes Henry's wife [Henry Mayo and Nancy F. (Smith) Atherton Mayo] and how Henry's health is now and how all the folks do and what they will do this summer. Joann, don't forget me and not answer my questions. If you can't, tell your husband [Samuel Lurvey] to write. If he won't get some of the rest to. I do not know how to hear from you if you will not answer my letter. Tell me about Rebeckah [presumably Rebecca Pepper (Mayo) Robinson]and her family and all you can think of. Give my love to all enquiring friends & Your Mother Lurvey [Abigail (Gilley) Lurvey]. I want to see her so. I remain your affectionate Sister Constance Hersey [Constance Young (Mayo) Hersey]. Do write to me soon and not fail.

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