HISTORY BY HAND

original historic handwritten manuscripts, documents and letters

a division of Jonathan Sheppard Books

Item Number: DM4101

The Letter: 1854 Letter from J.A. Harrison of Paw Paw, Michigan, addressed to the Edward Richmond, of North Adams, Massachusetts, administrator of the estate of David Darling. In the letter, Harrison asks Richmond to forward bank drafts to Michigan for his wife Jane E. (Darling) Harrison as well as his sister-in-law Frances N. Darling, a Michigan schoolteacher. Jane and Frances are sisters and the daughters of the late William Darling, son of the deceased David Darling of Berkshire County. The letter also identifies the sisters’ two brothers, Charles and Edgar Darling, as well as their mother, now Mrs. Kaywood, of Leoni, Jackson County, Michigan.

Written on blue paper and addressed to “Capt. Ed. Richmond, No Adams Mass”, and folded for mailing, the letter is postmarked “Paw Paw” and stamped “PAID 3”. There are a few separations at folds and a few small tears on the edges of the letter. There is also a small hole (about one inch X ¾ inch) where the wax used to seal the letter was removed. This affects part of a word on the third leaf. Overall, the letter is in very good condition. Also included is a small note written on the same paper containing an order to pay Frances Darling’s portion of the estate of David Darling. This note was originally sent as an enclosure with the main letter.

Size: Letter is 15"wide by 9 3/4" high, folded to 7 1/2" wide by 9 3/4" high with writing on pages 1, 2, and 3. Note is 7 1/2" wide x 5" high.

The letter contains important genealogical content of interest to the Darling family, documenting William Darling’s descent from David Darling of North Adams, Massachusetts, his move west to Michigan, the names and whereabouts of all of his living children in 1854, the name of one daughter’s husband, the other daughter’s occupation, and his widow’s new married name. It also provides the name of the administrator of David Darling’s estate.

Background Information: According to information contained in Hamilton Child’s 1885 Gazetteer of Berkshire County, the first David Darling came to North Adams from Rhode Island after the Revolution. A blacksmith and large landowner in North Adams, he was the father of David Darling, Jr., who was also born in Rhode Island, according to Child.

Both David Darlings are found in the 1790 Berkshire County Federal Census, each adult males with families. Like his father, the son was also a blacksmith and in addition, owned a tavern. David Darling, Jr. was the father of George Darling, also a North Adams blacksmith. The David Darling referred to in this letter is likely David Darling, Jr. who died prior to 1850. David Darling served on the local Baptist Church building committee with Edward Richmond, who was later the administrator of his estate and recipient of this letter.

William Darling, father of the four surviving heirs, died sometime prior to 1849. His widow Cynthia (born circa 1807) then married Jacob Kaywood, and is enumerated with him and her 15-year-old daughter Frances Darling in the 1850 census of Leoni, Jackson County, Michigan.

By 1870, both brothers Edgar and Charles Darling have moved to Paw Paw, Van Buren County, Michigan and are married with children. In 1880, Edgar is a prosperous brick mason, living in Paw Paw with his wife Phebe, their three children, his wife’s parents and two servants.
 

Books    Coming Soon     Order Form    Ordering Instructions    Terms and Conditions
Home     Personal Name Index    Place Index    Topic Index    Date Index

Visit Jonathan Sheppard Books for our complete selection of out-of-print books and historic map reprints.

Website last updated: 11/24/07