McNary family papers

Collection — Container: Col-0028

Identifier: Col-0028

Summary

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Contains a variety of documents, though mostly letters and poems. The collection gives insights into personal and family matters, shows relationships between the McNary family and the Butler family, and reveals facets of American political and educational life during the 1800s. Most of the letters contain greetings to and updates regarding distant family members. Samuel McNary's 1853 appointment to the Springfield, MA school committee is included; as is an invitation to an inaugural ball for William Henry Harrison in 1841; also, a form letter reply from New York Governor Theodore Roosevelt. Legal papers include a quitclaim deed, probate papers, and letters of appointment. A letter (undelivered?) and poem "To Charles Dickens" is also included. The collection also includes two copies of "The Springfield Musket" from December 1864, apparently an ephemeral newspaper printed for distribution at a fair in that city.

The collection includes an account book kept by an unknown milliner in 1850. Blank pages in the volume were used by M. McNary Spencer for writing poems. The milliner sold bonnets, hats, ribbons, buttons, and lace. Among the school-related items are an invitation to the Springfield High School alumni meeting of 1855 and a pale turquoise ribbon stamped with a picture of the school, the dates 1848-1855, and the word "Alumna." Printed eulogies to the memory of Elihu Burritt (died 1879) and James C. Butler (killed in battle in 1821) are found. In addition to her poems, there are a number of compositions written by Martha A. McNary, including tributes to her pets. An undated (but probably late 19th century) inventory of the estate of Sarah A. McNary of Hartford, Connecticut, is a room-by-room listing of furniture, carpets, tablewares, and other household goods.

Dates

Creation: 1791-1910

Creator

McNary family. (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.

Biographical / Historical

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This branch of the McNary family resided or had contacts in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania, with Springfield, Mass. as a focus of their activity. Margarette McNary Spencer and Martha A. McNary both wrote poetry, at least some of which was published in newspapers.

Samuel McNary (1768-1815) married Martha Beach (1766-1815) in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1791. Samuel died in Somers, Tolland County, Connecticut, in 1815. Their children were Martin, Samuel (1793-1860), Isaac (1802-1860, married Polly, who died 1877), Sarah, Martha, Margarette (1809-1886; married James Spencer [1815-1888]), and John.

The son Samuel McNary (1793-1860) married Aurelia Butler (1798-1882; daughter of Anna Easton and John Butler). Their children were Elizabeth (1823-1891; married Joseph Lyman Chandler), James Martin Beach (1827-1908; married Abbie Spencer Clark), Martha Ann (1835-1918; married Joshua Newell Oviatt), and Samuel Rutledge (1829-1883; married Sarah Adelaide Preston [1832-1894]). This family lived in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Aurelia Butler, who married Samuel McNary (1793-1860) was the youngest child of Anna Easton and John Butler. Her siblings included Anna (1779-1848), Lemuel (1781-1872), William (1782-1868), Katherine (born 1784; not mentioned in this collection), Harriet (discrepancy in dates; born 1786; or 1794-circa 1832), James Chandler (1788-1821), Charles Frederick (born 1790), and John Bartlett (1793-1870).

Martha Ann McNary and her husband Joshua Newell Oviatt (1832-1915) moved to New Britain, Connecticut, where he established the newspaper New Britain Record. Newell Oviatt may have been associated with Elihu Burritt through the printing business, as well as in church; Oviatt was a deacon of the Congregational Church. Martha Ann and Newell had two children, Annie McNary and Edward Mason. Newell was the son of Catherine Mason and John Oviatt.

Elihu Burritt (1810-1879) is the subject of a Wikipedia article. He lived in New Britain, Hartford County, Connecticut, and was known for his promotion of pacifism. He was a lecturer and author, and often was called “The Learned Blacksmith,” because as a young man, he worked as a blacksmith.