1868 - 1900s SUPER ARCHIVE OF FAMILY DIARIES DETAILING OVER 30 YEARS OF NEW ENGLAND LIFE AND TIMES
On offer is an absolutely outstanding collection of diaries from one family that span 33 years. These diaries paint a warm and intimate look at the life of a very fine woman and he re family. In addition, there are 2 account books that cover a 12 year period. The dates, sizes, completion and general condition of the volumes are as follows: Diary 1868 measures 6'x3', has 60 pages, is 100% complete and in good condition; Diary 1869 measures 4.75 x 3.0, has 60 pages, is 100% complete and in fair condition, covers are missing; Diary 1870 measures 4.75 x 3.0, has 60 pages, is 100% complete and in good condition; Diary 1882 measures 5.0' x 3.0', has 365 pages, is 100% complete, and in good condition except a tear in the front cover; Diary 1892 measures 4.75' x 3.0', has 91 pages, 100% complete and in good condition; Diary 1902 - 4.0' x 2.5', 365 pages, 20% complete and in good condition, except worn and damaged cover in one corner; Diary 1884 - 4.0' x 3.0', 60 pages, 90% complete and n good condition; Diary 1888 - 6.0' x 3.0', 60 pages, 20% complete, in good condition; Diary 1876 - 4.75' x 3.0', 60 pages, 50% complete, in very good condition; Accounts book 1899 - 1905 - 5.0' x 3.0', 60 pages, 90% complete in good condition; Accounts book 1911-1916 is 5.0' x 3.0', 88 pages, 90% complete, in good condition. The first six diaries belong to Caroline Lucinda Tappan Carr. She was born in 1819 in Bradford, NH and passed away in 1898 at the age of 79. Her father was Weare Tappan, a noted Merrimack County resident, a lawyer and anti-slavery lecturer, whose house served a home for fugitive slaves. She was the second of 7 children and was quite close to her siblings throughout her life. Her elder brother was Mason Weare Tappan (1817-1886), a New Hampshire state representative, a U.S. Congressman from 1855 to 1861, a colonel during the American Civil War and the New Hampshire Attorney General. She was married to Daniel Carr from Newbury, Massachusetts. These diaries were written when she was 49, 50, 51, 63, 65 and 82. Over these 33 years, the reader gets a remarkable picture of this woman's life and the environment in which she lived. Caroline Carr is a literate and educated woman. She enjoys reading and participating in literary events such as attending plays. This is reflected in her diaries as they are well-written and expressive. Life in post civil war New England is not easy. Her diaries record the deaths of many friends and family members and her entries reflect the pain those caused her. She remained very very close to her daughter Kate and son Frank and their spouses after they were married. She was active in her community and took part in many activities. Among the various groups she was associated with were the Masonic Order (most likely through her husband) and the Temperance Movement. The following excerpts are taken from entries over a number of years: 'Splendid morning! - Abby Morse and Frank to dinner - Sue Sanborn came at night everyone had a good time played backgammon [ ] Bob went out to join the Good Templars" [Jan 7, 1868]; "Squally Lorrie went to Manchester to see Mary. Staid with Pa nearly all day talked of dead mother. Oh how we missed her! Big sleigh ride from Willsboro - Evening we danced at the Hall. James Presly called to bid us goodbye" [Feb 6, 1868]; "Snowstorm. Went out to Helen's. Kate went out to help trim the Hall for the Ball. Evening - made [ ] for the lodge. Kate went to rehearsal. I made regalia for G.T. Staid down with Pa all night". [Feb 17, 1868]; "Rain. Tired enough of it! Cannot help having the Blues! Have lost sight entirely of my 'Castles in Spirit" ..." [Mar 20, 1868]; "Rain. Glad to be in my chamber all day with Kate - read aloud!! "Currents and Counter Currents in Medical Science" by O.W. Holmes Kate and Dr C played chess [July 24, 1868]. Dr. C is Dr. Charles Augustus Carlton whom her daughter Kate would later marrying. The year ended with a melancholy sigh and a hopeful note: "Last day of the year! So many sad days to remember. Some dear friends gone that we mourn for daily. But some good friends that we have found that I trust will always remain ... " [Dec 31, 1868]; "121/2 o'clock Kate and I have watched the old year out and the new one in. Wished each other a Happy New Year. Reach one chapter Matt 6 and went to bed" [Jan 1, 1869]; "Splendid day! Such a sunshine! Frank came over after me with Dr. & Kate. So glad to see them! Evening - went up to the party with Mr. & Mrs. Fowler for a short time." [Feb 12, 1869]. She might refer to a prominent New Hampshire lawyer Asa Fowler and his wife. "Snow in big drifts yet. So terrible staying in the house. Great time with hair combs - fun enough with Kate evening played chess" [Apr 14, 1869]; "Never saw such beautiful weather. All went to ride. Dr. And Mrs. Thurston called - but I felt sad - had a good cry after they were gone" [Jan 21, 1870]; "High winds. I did not sleep well last night. I had a long cry over my letter from Kate and Dr. I cannot bear the idea of his going away". [Mar 2, 1870]; "Went out to Helen's to help dear Charlie pack up his things. It was sad because I tried not to cry but my heart ached so!" [Apr 30, 1870]. 'Charlie' could refer to her young brother. "Beautiful day. Mrs. Donnelly washing. I am so tired trotting round! No end to the care. Not much time to read or sew. - all housework - I hate it!" [Oct 24, 1870]; "Beautiful morning All ready to start for home with Kate and Baby. Arrived at the dear old home about 5 o'clock. Found Grandpa, Nellie and Mason with his span of greys at the depot ready to take us up. Everything seems so pleasant and everybody so glad to see us. Baby has been so happy" [Apr 12, 1882]; "Kate and darling Frankie came today. Oh how happy I am to see them". [July 28, 1882]. Frankie was her grandson and only grandchild. He grew up to become a doctor like his father. "Very cold. The Dr. took us all up to Boston to the Theatre - "Domby & Son" [a play based on the Charles Dickens novel Dombey & Son"] to celebrate his 51 st birthday. We had a good time all together. I wish we could have many more". [Feb 27, 1892]. Her last diary reflects her age (83). "... I enjoy reading. My eyes trouble me. I wish I could read all the time as I go out so little very slippery and many are breaking their bones. I am afraid I will be laid up for life" [Jan 11, 1902]. "Am quite alone this morning and feel like writing what is in my mind. What is my greatest desire that Helen [her daughter in law] will be ever kind to George Blaisdell [Blaisdell is most likely Helen's sister's husband] If his health fails and he cannot support his family, let him go down to the home farm and live for I know that would have been his Grandfather's wish. I think what money I have will pay my board and bills as according to the course of nature I cannot be here but a short time longer ..." [June 12, 1902].. These 5 diaries are a remarkable record of this woman's life. They are very well-written. The next diary in the collection belonged to her daughter-in-law, Helen Frances Carr, for the year 1884. Her diary is a record of the daily events in her life. She spends her days cleaning, sewing, and cooking. She certainly visits around with family and close friends. As one would expect, in many entries, she references the same family members and friends that her mother-in-law, Caroline, mentions in her diaries: "Another rainy day knitting and sewing Mrs Ropes called went out for walk ..." [Feb 12, 1884]; "Celebrating all day with firecrackers [ ]. Georgie came up and spent the day. In evening fireworks down in the little square with lots of people to see them. A good time. Rained in the night." [July 4, 1884]; "A cool beautiful day. George gone to church. Mother rode up to the Howlett place with father to see the cattle. Uncle [ ] and I took a drive in town. Called at our house. Also Aunt Mary's" [July 20, 1884]; "Frank commenced work in the store. I suppose he dreads it but I am glad he gets the chance to earn a little" [Aug 4, 1884]. The next diary in the collection is Frank Carr's journal of 1888. Considering that he gave both his wife Helen and his mother Caroline their diaries as gifts over the years, his diary is rather sparse. The entries are exclusively business entries - records of stock taken, sales made and accounts: "Note against Frank M Tappan for $36.75 [ ] Check 71882 payable to Daniel Carr ..." [Jan 29, 1888]; "Christmas trade over and I finished up my work at the store for Will tonight. Had a large and very successful Christmas sale" [Dec 28, 1888]. In addition, he has a very detailed list of cash expenses. The last diary in the collection belongs to John Harriman Collins. It records events in his life during 1876. John Harriman Collins was the father of Helen Frances Collins, the wife of Frank Tappan Carr. Collins was born in Warner, NH in 1815 and passed away in 1900 at the age of 85.He was 61 when he kept this diary. Collins is a farmer and his days are filled with the hard work involved in running his farm: "Cold and windy I went to Bradford to cary pig to F.M Tappan's. Weight of pig 223 1/2 lbs at 10 cts per lb $22.35 by order from Gillinghan the butcher" [Jan 4, 1876]; "Weather pleasant I went the village to carry EP [refers to his wife Esther P] to the School Examination. Come home and mended my Buffalow [Buffalow refers to the buffalo coat, a heavy winter garment made from the hide of a bison] and split some wood" [Feb 18, 1876]; "Rain and pleasant thawing very fast water rising I boiled sap in the forenoon a man came along going to North Sutton wanted me to carry him across the deep water water up to the bottom of the waggon water up to the barn still rising" [Apr 15, 1876]. In the back of his diary, he keeps a ledger recording cash transactions and expenditures. The remaining 2 volumes are account books. Spanning 17 years, they detail hundreds and hundreds of dollars of income and expenses - from taxes ($21.53 for 1902) to groceries ($7.61). He also records the account balances for many people the stare presumably did business with. He invested his money and there are numerous entries for purchases of share certificates. Taken as a whole, these diaries offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of a family and through them, their community. They are very well-written and convey real warmth and feeling. Collins diary gives a very detailed description of the many daily tasks involved in operating a farm at this time. The entire collection is a treasure trove for a historian. It is an excellent resource for a genealogist as so many people are referenced by their full names. As the diaries cover over 30 years, many relationships can be charted. With diaries from several family members, the relationship connections are woven throughout. It is valuable for examining the role of women in the latter part of the 19th century, as it follows the life and experiences of the women who wrote them and the women they knew. The financial data gives an excellent picture of the cost of items over a 17 year period. This is an excellent collection.; Manuscript; 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF; 19TH CENTURY; 20TH CENTURY; UNITED STATES; NEW ENGLAND; NEW HAMPSHIRE; MERRIMACK COUNTY; CAROLINE TAPPAN CARR; FRANK TAPPAN CARR, JOHN HARRIMAN COLLINS; HELEN FRANCES CARR, BRADFORD, NH; HOPKINTON, NH; MERRIMACK COUNTY GENEALOGY; SOCIAL LIFE IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY; AMERICAN WOMEN IN THE MID- AND LATE 19TH CENTURY; NEW ENGLAND 19TH CENTURY LAWYERS; NEW ENGLAND FAMILIES IN THE 19TH CENTURY; FARMERS IN 19TH CENTURY NEW ENGLAND; FARMING OPERATIONS IN 1880S; ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY; AMERICANA, HANDWRITTEN, MANUSCRIPT, DOCUMENT, LETTER, AUTOGRAPH, WRITER, HAND WRITTEN, DOCUMENTS, SIGNED, LETTERS, MANUSCRIPTS, DIARY, DIARIES, JOURNALS, PERSONAL HISTORY, SOCIAL HISTORY, HISTORICAL, HOLOGRAPH, WRITERS, AUTOGRAPHS, PERSONAL, MEMOIR, MEMORIAL, ANTIQUITÉ, CONTRAT, VÉLIN, DOCUMENT, MANUSCRIT, PAPIER ANTIKE, BRIEF, PERGAMENT, DOKUMENT, MANUSKRIPT, PAPIER OGGETTO D'ANTIQUARIATO, ATTO, VELINA, DOCUMENTO, MANOSCRITTO, CARTA ANTIGÜEDAD, HECHO, VITELA, DOCUMENTO, MANUSCRITO, PAPEL