Wednesday, June 25, 2014

1884 Autograph Album, Presumably of Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale of Massachusetts and California


From a few clues found in this album, I believe it belonged to Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale, "Lizzie", of Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Stockton, California.  She was the wife of Joseph Poole, a Rockport, Massachusetts, native who had moved to California in 1850.


Most of the autographs were collected in 1884 when it appears that Lizzie traveled coast to coast to visit her Massachusetts family, judging from the page inscribed by Francis Proctor, who signed a page at Gloucester, Massachusetts, on October 10, 1884.  Francis had gone to visit Lizzie in California in 1881.


The album is approximately 7-3/4" x 5" and contains the sentiments of about 104 people who left individual sentiments or shared the page with a spouse.  In addition, there are 9 pages of multiple autographs at the beginning of the album, such as these:



The many iconic Gloucester and Rockport surnames are listed alphabetically farther below. Hopefully a reader who has studied these families or the history of the area can provide relationships between Lizzie and many of the signers and the reasons for their dispersal to the Midwest and West.  If I'm wrong about Lizzie's identity, I'd like to be corrected.

From online research, hopefully correct:  [corrections and additions welcome!]

Elizabeth Dennison Poole, "Lizzie", was born 20 March 1833 at Gloucester, Massachusetts, the daughter of Zebulon and Elizabeth Giddings (Woodbury) Poole.

One signer in the album called herself Lizzie's sister.  She was presumably Eliza Giddings Poole, born 13 March 1823 at Rockport, Massachusetts; she married Alfred B. Choate on 7 August 1844 at Gloucester, Massachusetts.


It appears that Lizzie's family may have moved to or visited California, as on 29 May 1857 at San Francisco, California, Lizzie married merchant and farmer Joseph Hale, son of Stephen and Amelia (Wheeler) Hale.  Joseph was born 8 March 1827 at Rockport, Massachusetts.   According to the California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950, Joseph Hale arrived in California in May 1850 on the vessel Euphrasia, from Massachusetts around Cape Horn.  He was the first to attempt swampland farming, on Grizzley Island in Suisun Bay.



By 1860, the couple was enumerated at Stockton, California; they had a child Warden Eaton Hale, born about 1858, but, sadly, Warden died young in December 1860.   Joseph Hale was listed as a farmer.

The 1880 Census found Joseph and Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale still farming at Stockton, California.  By then they had three more children:
  1. Joseph Shurtliff Hale, born 30 September 1862 at Stockton, California; married Mary Emma Higgins
  2. Grace Farnsworth Hale, born 8 December 1867 at Stockton, California; married William Langdon Buckley, M.D.
  3. Elizabeth Woodbury Hale, born 24 June 1871 at Stockton, California; married Robert Inglis
They may have had other children who did not survive to adulthood.  Joseph Hale died on 3 April 1898 at Stockton, California.  Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale died at Linden, California, on 16 June 1910.

Three people mentioned that they were Lizzie's cousin.  The Frank C. Hale of Topeka, Kansas, who called Lizzie a cousin, may have been Francis (Cook) Hale, wife of George Dennison Hale, who perhaps was the cousin of Lizzie's husband Joseph Hale, though he may have been related to Lizzie also, through the Dennison line.



The other cousin was Martha L. Pickering of Rockport, Massachusetts, who signed her page on October 25, 1884.


Though they may not have stated a family relationship, many more of the signers were relatives or in-laws of Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale and her husband Joseph Hale.

The Massachusetts Historical Society has an archive of the Hale and Low families of Massachusetts, including 158 portrait photographs.  It's possible that the collection includes photographs of Joseph Hale and Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale and their children, sent from California.  Joseph Hale's sister, Annie Gale Woodbury Hale married George W. Low, a Cambridge, Massachusetts, merchant.  Two of their children signed pages in Lizzie's album: Joseph Herbert Low, born 1860; and Louis Frederick Low, born 1863.

Surnames in the album

Bramhall
Choate     [6]
Cook
Cross     [4]
Davis
Dennison
Gardner
Griffin
Hale     [20]
Harriman     [3]
Hartwell
Hill
Howard
Johnson
Knowlton     [2]
Knutsford
Lane     [10]
Leighton     [2]
Low     [2]
Lufkin
Merrill     [2]
Nichols     [5]
Parsons     [3]
Pickering     [2]
Poole
Proctor     [2]
Sayward     [3]
Smith     [2]
Spiller
Story     [2]
Tarr     [4]
Torrey
Walen
Ward
Williams     [3]
Woodbury     [7]
Wright     [2]
Wyman
York

Signers in the album    [Note: Given names within a specific surname may not be in alphabetical order.]

B
  • Eliza J. Bramhall of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 13, 1884
C
  • Mary W. Choate of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 19, 1884
  • Nellie H. Choate of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1884
  • Ellen F. Choate of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1884
  • Alice C. Choate of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1884
  • William A. Choate of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 19, 1884
  • Annie L. Choate of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
  • Mary W. Cook of Topeka, Kansas, signed on June 4, 1884
  • Lester Cross, signed at Stockton, California, on May 13, 1884; "Aged 81"
  • Imogene A. Cross, signed at Stockton, California, on May 18, 1884
  • Edith Cross, signed at Stockton, California, on May 13, 1884
  • Mary A. Cross, signed at Salem, Massachusetts, on September 20, 1884
D
  • S. H. Davis of Sacramento, California, signed on November 25, 1881
  • Ada B. Dennison of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts
G
  • S. A. Gardner of Milford, Massachusetts; "Fruit-eater"
  • Emeline P. Griffin of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
H
  • Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale, wife of Joseph Hale, and presumably the owner of the album
  • Frank C. Hale, signed at Topeka, Kansas, on June 4, 1884; "your cousin". She may have been Frances (Cook) Hale, wife of George Dennison Hale, who was related to Lizzie's husband Joseph Hale and may have been related to Lizzie as well, through the Dennison line.
  • George D. Hale of Topeka, Kansas, signed on June 4, 1884. "Cousin". He was George Dennison Hale, husband of signer Frank C. Hale, who was Frances (Cook) Hale. He was likely a cousin of Lizzie's husband Joseph Hale, but may have been related to Lizzie as well, through her Dennison line.
  • Charles T. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 14, 1884. Presumably Charles Thomas Hale, a nephew to Lizzie's husband Joseph Hale.
  • Lucy C. Hale
  • Mattie H. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 18, 1884
  • Albert W. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1884. He was Albert William Hale, whose wife Sarah Jane (Goodrich) Hale signed the right facing page.
  • Sarah Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1886. She was Sarah Jane (Goodrich) Hale, whose husband Albert W. Hale signed the left facing page.
  • Albert G. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 18, 1884; son of signers Albert W. Hale and Sarah Jane (Goodrich) Hale.
  • Frank G. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts
  • John P. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 19, 1884; son of signers Albert William Hale and Sarah Jane (Goodrich) Hale.
  • Thomas Hale of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts, signed on October 19, 1884
  • Albert G. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts, "Aged 71 years". Albert Giddings Hale (1813-1896), whose wife Mary Choate (Blatchford) Giddings signed the right facing page.
  • Mary C. Hale; "Aged 69 years". She was Mary Choate (Blatchford) Hale (1821-1897), whose husband Albert Giddings Hale signed the left facing page.
  • Nellie F. Hale of Rockport, Massachusetts
  • James C. Hale of Monson, Massachusetts
  • Anna J. Hale of Monson, Massachusetts, signed on October 12, 1884
  • Grace F. Hale of Cambridge, Massachusetts, signed on September 24, 1884.
  • Grace F. Hale, signed on December 30, 1884
  • Catherine E. Hale of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts, signed on October 19, 1884
  • George W. R. Harriman of Dedham, Massachusetts, signed on September 22, 1884. He was George Winsor Richardson Harriman of Dedham, Massachusetts.
  • Sarah J. W. Harriman, signed on September 22, 1884 at Dedham, Massachusetts. She was Sarah Jane (Wheeler) Harriman, wife of John Emery Harriman.
  • John Emery Harriman, Jr., of Dedham, Massachusetts, signed on September 22, 1884
  • Adelia B. Hartwell of Boston, Massachusetts, signed on October 16, 1884
  • Lydia C. Hill of Belmont, Massachusetts, signed on October 1, 1884
  • Miss Alma Howard of East Saginaw, Michigan, signed at Stockton, California, on May 14, 1884
J
  • Iva N. Johnson of San Jose, California, signed on November 14, 1891; middle initial might be W or ?
K
  • Margie S. Knowlton of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 18, 1884; shared the page with Mary C. Knowlton
  • Mary C. Knowlton of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 18, 1884; shared the page with Margie S. Knowlton.
  • Lucy A. Knutsford of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 15, 1884.
L
  • Florence Lane of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 18, 1884
  • Louise Lane
  • Mary Augusta Lane of Lanesville [village in Gloucester, Massachusetts] on October 12, 1884.
  • Arthur Lane of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
  • Mary C. Lane of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
  • Andrew Lane, Jr. of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 19, 1884
  • Eliza B. Lane of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
  • Laura R. Lane of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
  • Andrew H. Lane of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
  • Maria Lane of Lanesville, Massachusetts [presumably the village in Gloucester, Massachusetts], signed on October 19, 1884
  • Jane Leighton of Malden, Massachusetts, signed on September 26, 1884
  • Lizzie C. Leighton of Malden, Massachusetts, signed on September 26, 1884
  • J. H. Low of Cambridge, Massachusetts, signed on September 24, 1884
  • L. Fred Low of Cambridge, Massachusetts, signed on September 24, 1884
  • Albert Lufkin of Newton, Iowa
M
  • W. Harvey Merrill, signed on September 19, 1884, at Salem, Massachusetts
  • Sophie P. Merrill of Salem, Massachusetts, signed on September 20, 1884.
N
  • L. M. Nichols, signed on June 8, 1884; "your friend and neighbor. The right facing page was signed by H. P. Nichols at Chicago, Illinois, on June 8, 1884. Presumably Harrison P. Nichols.
  • H. P. Nichols, signed at Chicago, Illinois, on June 8, 1884; presumably Harrison P. Nichols, brother of signer William Thomas Nichols.
  • Mrs. Helen S. Nichols of Haywood, Illinois. Helen Sereptah (Crampton) Nichols, second wife of signer William Thomas Nichols, and mother of Harry Hayward Nichols, who signed the overleaf.
  • Harry H. Nichols of Maywood, Illinois; son of signers William Thomas Nichols and Helen Sereptah (Crampton) Nichols
  • Edward C. Nichols of Maywood, Illinois, signed on June 9, 1884; son of signers William Thomas Nichols and Helen Sereptah (Crampton) Nichols
P
  • Fredrich Parsons of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 13, 1884
  • Theodore Parsons of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on October 14, 1884.
  • Susie P. Parsons of Rockport, Massachusetts
  • Cora A. Pickering of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 15, 1884
  • Martha L. Pickering, signed at Rockport, Massachusetts, on October 25, 1884; Lizzie's cousin.
  • Your loving sister, Eliza.  Presumably Eliza Giddings Poole, Elizabeth's older sister who married Alfred B. Choate
  • Mrs. Francis Proctor of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on October 10, 1884. Her husband Francis Proctor signed the right facing page.
  • Francis Proctor, signed at Gloucester, Massachusetts, on October 10, 1884. I don't know if he was Francis Proctor the father or Francis Proctor the son. "In memory of my pleasant visit to your home at Stockton in May 1881. Also of your visit to my home."
S
  • Joseph Sayward of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on October 11, 1884; his wife Mary (Williams) Sayward signed the right facing page.
  • Mary W. Sayward of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on October 10, 1884. She was Mary (Williams) Sayward, whose husband Joseph Sayward ; her husband Joseph Sayward signed the left facing page.
  • Joseph H. Sayward of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on October 10, 1884
  • Clarissa C. Smith of Rockport, Massachusetts, on a page signed on Octobert 18, 1884 and shared with Margaret B. Woodbury; Helen B. Woodbury; and Nathaniel Woodbury
  • Anna H. Smith of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts, signed on October 13, 1884; "your niece"
  • Sarah M. Spiller of Salem, Massachusetts, signed at Gloucester, Massachusetts, on October 20, 1884
  • Martha A. Story of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts, signed in October 1884
  • Margaret A. Story of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts
T
  • Miss Carrie Tarr of Rockport, Massachusetts
  • Ida A. Tarr of Rockport, Massachusetts, on September 17, 1884; she wrote on the page upside down.
  • George J. Tarr of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1884; his wife Oresa (Sanborn) Tarr shared the page.  They wrote on the page upside down.
  • Oresa Tarr of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on September 17, 1884.  She was Oresa (Sanborn) Tarr; her husband George J. Tarr shared the page.  They wrote on the page upside down.
  • Susanna N. Torrey of Rockport, Massachusetts
W
  • Ann E. Walen of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on October 14, 1884
  • E. H. Ward, signed at Stockton, California, on May 27, 1885
  • William Williams of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on July 3, 1884. "Your old (90th year) friend". William wrote his name, shakily, but someone else wrote the rest. He was the husband of signer Mary R. Williams.
  • Mary R. Williams of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on July 3, 1884. "Your old (86th year) friend". Like her husband William Williams, she signed her name only, and someone else inscribed the rest. She was Mary Ring (Steele) Williams, wife of signer William Williams.
  • W. H. Williams of Gloucester, Massachusetts, signed on July 3, 1884. He was the son of signers William and Mary Ring (Steele) Williams. "A-lo-ha!". I wonder if he or Lizzie had been to or were going to Hawaii? He may have been the mayor of Gloucester, Massachusetts: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-1879-Gloucester-MA-Mayor-William-Williams-Speech-Address-Book-/360793523265
  • Margaret B. Woodbury of Folly Cove, Massachusetts, on a page signed on October 18, 1884 and shared with Helen B. Woodbury; Nathaniel Woodbury; and Clarissa C. Smith
  • Helen B. Woodbury, on a page signed on October 18, 1884 and shared with Margaret B. Woodbury; Nathaniel Woodbury;and Clarissa C. Smith
  • Nathaniel Woodbury, on a page signed on October 18, 1884 and shared with Margaret B. Woodbury; Helen B. Woodbury; and Clarissa C. Smith
  • Isaac De. Woodbury of Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts, signed on September 29, 1884.  He was Isaac De Saint Croix Woodbury; his wife Martha Elizabeth (Parmelee) Woodbury shared the page.
  • M. E. Woodbury of Melrose Highlands, Massachusetts, signed on September 29, 1884.  She was Martha Elizabeth (Parmelee) Woodbury; her husband Isaac De Saint Croix Woodbury shared the page.
  • Alphonso Woodbury; he shared the page with his wife Susan (Woodbury) Woodbury of Folly Cove, Massachusetts, who signed the page on October 19, 1884.
  • Susan Woodbury of Folly Cove, Massachusetts, signed on October 19, 1884.  She was Susan (Woodbury) Woodbury of Gloucester, Massachusetts, wife of Alphonso Woodbury, who shared the page.
  • W. F. Wright of San Jose, California, signed on November 14, 1891.  William F. Wright, husband of signer Linnie M. Wright.
  • Linnie M. Wright of San Jose, California, signed on November 14, 1891. Wife of signer William F. Wright.
  • Matilda F. Wyman, signed on September 20, 1884
Y
  • Edith S. York of Rockport, Massachusetts, signed on October 20, 1884
Gloucester, Massachusetts, and Rockport, Massachusetts


Stockton, California


Thanks for stopping by!


2 comments:

  1. Pam, I was so hoping I was related to Elizabeth, but, unfortunately, I'm not, nor am I to any of the others listed (many of whom are familiar surnames). Great ressearch, it must have taken quite a bit of time.
    Where did you find, " According to the California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790-1950?" I have an ancestor out there abt. 1850, a Poole surveyor, and I'd like to check out this source..
    Thanks.

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    Replies
    1. Believe it or not, that file is on Ancestry.com. Might be other places, too, but that is where I tapped into it. The record I found for Joseph and Elizabeth Dennison (Poole) Hale was on an index card dated January 1927 - great project undertaken by an individual or society, no doubt. To get to the file on Ancestry, by design rather than by chance, click on the Card Catalog and then type in the title. It looks as though there are 6,979 records in the file - hope what you're looking for is in there! And I'm hoping that someday I can show you the handwriting of an ancestor...

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