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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterJackie Corley, SCRC Staff.
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Stephen and Mary Ann Livermore Papers, Special collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries
Purchase
Arranged and described by Jackie Corley, SCRC Staff, prior to May 2009.
The papers are a collection of letters written to Mary Ann Brigham Livermore and Stephen G. Livermore from friends and family members throughout the New England region. Stephen Livermore originated out of Marlboro, Mass. Some of the papers are letters from him to Mary Ann before their marriage. Many of the letters are from family that live in Massachusetts towns such as Worcester, Boston, Millbury, Marlboro, Harvard, and Holden. Other locations include Dover, N.H., Wells River, Vt., and Avon, Conn. While they were still single Mary Ann lived primarily in Worcester and Stephen traveled around the area searching for work. They spent their early married years in Springfield, Mass. from 1849-1852. Their most recent letters show that they later moved to Dayton, Ohio.
Letters are arranged in chronological order.
1842 [?]. (Saturday afternoon) Stephen G. Livermore to Mary Ann Brigham Worcester, Massachusetts. Mentions living together in the future…He is wooing her and knows she will stay loyal.
1842[?]. (Sunday afternoon) Mindruel Brigham [?] to Mary Ann Brigham Worcester, Massachusetts. Picked berries while Mother went to Harvard and Worcester…Aunt Nancy is ill…making plans for thanksgiving.
Unknown Date. [?] to [?] Unknown location. Brother [Henry?] is very sick…spends last days with the writer until he finally dies.
June 11, 1842. Lydia A. Walker [sister] to Mary Anne Brigham Dover, New Hampshire. Mr. S.W. Brooks has gotten married…she ate a piece of wedding cake…expresses her disappointment with her for not being baptized and speaks of reading the bible every day.
July 29, 1842. A. Brigham [sister] to Mary Ann Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. She is keeping house for Mrs. Reusse who is gone taking care of her fever-sick sister.
October 13, 1842. Lydia A. Walker [sister] to Mary Ann Livermore Dover, New Hampshire. She is in good health…has not heard from home lately, but a visitor from Worcester, Mr. Henry Brooks had informed her that her family is well. Preaches again of faith and prayer.
February 17, 1845. Stephen Livermore to Mary Ann Brigham Worcester, Massachusetts. It has been three weeks since he heard from her, she did not return his letter…a friend, Mrs. Rice wishes Mary to come and visit because she is sick and lonely…He is concerned that maybe he has angered her or done something wrong because she has not written to him.
February 27, 1845. Maria Waters [?] to Bonsin Julia [?] Unknown location. Wants to visit and will try to get William to accompany her.
June 21, 1846. Stephen Livermore to Mary Ann Brigham [?] Marlboro, Massachusetts. Wants her to visit on the fourth and stay.
October 3, 1846. Stephen Livermore to Mary Ann Brigham Worcester, Massachusetts. He misses her very much but he must look for work…working temporarily for Mrs. Biel.
Unknown date. Stephen Livermore to Mary Ann Brigham. Unknown location. He is very worried over her last letter. She said some things about marriage and love that distressed him and he wants her to explain it better to him. He reminds her of his feelings for her and how he suffers is her absence.
June 16, 1848. Stephen Livermore to Mary Ann Brigham Worcester, Massachusetts. He has been working in the shop…a friend is sick.
September 6, 1848. L. M. Leland [?] to Stephen Livermore, brother [?] Unknown location. He let his last hand at work go…will share what he has with his brother, and give him work at the shop when he arrives.
May 10, 1849. Sister of Mary Ann [?] to Mary Ann Livermore, Springfield, Massachusetts. Worried about Stephens health…election day had passed with celebration and cake…mother churned a lot of butter and might send some…advises Mary Ann on how to keep Stephen from getting a cold.
July 8, 1849. Bannabas Brigham (father of Mary) and Mindruel [?] (sister of Mary) to Stephen Livermore and Mary Ann Brigham (It is a double sided paper with two different letters on each side) Marlboro, Massachusetts. First part is about the hired help that [Bannabas] had and the logistics of the payments…also about Stephen working for him. Second part about mother who has a tooth ache…gossips about people in the community and talks a little about the fruits and vegetables that are in growing on their land.
July 13, 1849. Sarah [?] sister of Mary Ann to Mary Ann Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. Talks about an amputee Walter, who is having problems with his leg situation…His "stump" is getting worse and worse.
July 24, [1849?]. Sarah [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. Sorry to hear of Stephen's sickness…talks of her work in Brookfield where she got very worn out and sick…She was very disappointed in the school she taught at and left as soon as it was possible with her uncle.
September 16, 1849. [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Springfield, Massachusetts. Lizzy was very sick…she had an attack of the dysentery and typhoid fever. Many people have been sick in Worcester and there have been a lot of deaths this season.
December 25, 1849. R. Livermore to Stephen Livermore Wells River, Vermont. Wants him to come visit…has no notion of getting married although there are many "pretty and good girls" where he lives.
Month [?] 1849. Mina [Brigham?] to sister [Mary Ann Brigham?] Unknown location. Persists that Stephen comes to visit and says her and her mother will be angry if he does not…chastises her for not working enough and having Stephen do all the work while she plays and eats.
February 4, 1850. Aaron Livermore to Stephen Livermore Millbury, Massachusetts. Describes the death of his little brother on January 18. Also mentions the death and burial of Mr. Preston.
March 3, 1850. P.A. Bliss [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. A cold is going around Worcester and making people sick…sister was sick with the influenza but recovered.
March 8, 1850. Mina[?] to father [?] Worcester, Massachusetts. She had rested in the winter so as to get right to work when she returned home.
April 21, 1850. [?] to Stephen Livermore Wells River, Vermont. [Stephen's] bother is very sick… he advises him to visit because the doctor has said he does not have much longer to live.
May 13, 1850. George W. Livermore to Stephen Livermore Millbury, Massachusetts. He is staying in Millbury this summer…possibly a whole extra year if they give him the farm…but he wants to go to school in that fall.
Unknown Date. Sister[?] to Mary Ann Livermore Springfield, Massachusetts. Father came back from Worcester…grandmother is recovering although still not well enough to travel. Edward is to spend the summer with their family.
June 13, 1850. Sister [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Marlboro, Massachusetts. Went to Worcester…father gave her two dollars…She looked for new shoes and whitened her bonnet. Stephen bought Mary Ann a new dress.
August 23, 1850. Lyman G. and L. H. Marsh [?] to [?] Plainfield, Massachusetts. Aunt Harriet has been sick…Lyman bought a farm for $700…but his health has been poor.
September 29, 1850. Hosea Tarbell [?] to Stephen Livermore Boston, Massachusetts. Plans to travel to California before next spring…his health is great and he is loving his job in Boston.
October 3, 1850. Sister [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Marlboro, Massachusetts. Picked and sold their best peaches…went to Boston last week for a festival.
December 25, 1850. C. Krowther [?] to Stephen Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. News of the death of Mr. Edward B. Rice in California…funeral arranged for next Sabbath afternoon….advises to send his sister home since she should probably like to be with her mother.
Unknown Date. Brother [?] to Stephen Livermore Springfield, Massachusetts. Father wants to know how much he could sell for 15 barrels of apples and pay the freight and what the freight is.
September 29, 1851. Sarah Affard to cousins[?] Avon, Connecticut. Family is in good health…Sarah is married…sends love to their family.
October 2, 1851. Elizabeth [?] and L. H. Marsh to Stephen and Mary Ann Livermore (double sided letter—one from L.H. Marsh and one from Elizabeth Holden, Massachusetts. First part is about their decision to stay in Holden until the spring…would like to know if Henry is getting any better. Second part is about how the family is doing well…they are currently residing in Holden but will leave by next spring.
December 1, 1851. Aunt S. Billings to [?] Harvard, Massachusetts. She is sick with the cold…wants to visit and stay for a while…she describes herself as a lonely widow and her eyes are failing her.
December 7, 1851. P.A.B. to Mary Ann Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. She is going to head for the west this week…at present she has been keeping house, but she is miserable…hopes Mary Ann is not too lonely and that Stephen is not too homesick in their separation.
Month[?] 1851. Mary Ann Livermore to Stephen Livermore Unknown location. She is happy to hear that he is doing fine without her. Wants to visit him…Ella wants to see him too.
March 24, 1852. Stephen Livermore to Mary Ann Livermore Dayton, Ohio. Stephen is trying to get a man's dividend to pay for Mary's visit.
October 2, 1852. H.A.B. (sister) to Mary Ann Livermore Worcester, Massachusetts. Mrs. Newton passes away last week…She Sarah and she was in good health.
November 29, 1852. Aunt S. Billings to [?] Harvard, Massachusetts. Her eye sight is getting worse…she boards with another lady, but does not intend on staying any longer.
March 30, 1855. [?] to [?] Marlboro, Massachusetts. They have a new constitution that provides for a new set of officers each month and he is on the ticket.
October 7, 1855. [?] to Stephen Livermore Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Got the money (two hundred and three dollars) and paid two hundred and fifty cents to buy a new horse.
October 28, 1856. Dan G. Livermore to Stephen Livermore Millbury, Massachusetts. Rufus Barton is dead (an acquaintance)…He could send two barrels of baldwins which he was able to sell for $150.
February 14, 1857. Mini [?] to Stephen Livermore Marlboro, Massachusetts. Mother is getting sick…Father asks for Stephen to come home for a week in May to help fix up their trees.
November 27, 1857. Lyman and Martha to Stephen and Mary Ann Livermore Dayton, Ohio. It is Thanksgiving Day and everyone is enjoying themselves…went to church and there was an excellent sermon…but they are sorry that Stephen and Mary cannot come out to visit.
March 28, 1858. Mother[?] to [?] Marlboro, Massachusetts. She misses her girls but is glad that they are well and healthy…they have been going to many weddings…comments on the price of eggs declining but butter has risen to 23 cents.
April 9, 1858. D.H. Learles to brother and sister [?] Millbury, Massachusetts. Worried about [brother] Henry…he is sick and does not look like he will recover.
May 27, 1858. D. H. Learles to Stephen Livermore Millbury, Massachusetts. Julia has cold or influenza…Henry is still sick and it is a task to care for him. He is worried about Henry.
May 18, 1859. Mina [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Marlboro, Massachusetts. They sent for a doctor for mother, he prescribed her medicine…mother wishes Mary Ann could be at home for Thanksgiving.
July 1, 1859. Mina [?] to Mary Ann Livermore Unknown location. Uncle Edward lost $30, 000 by investing in a railroad company that failed…the family is facing an economically hard time, but they can still rely on corn and potato crops. She will stay home this summer but wants to travel to Worcester during the winter if mother is well.
Unknown Date. N.L. Rice to Mary Ann Livermore Springfield, Massachusetts. She is happy to know that Walter is with Mary Ann—as she was worried about his wellbeing and unsure about his whereabouts—she hopes that he will behave well but is relieved he is safe.