MGJ Postal History

Legal letter to Gorham W. Hoitt settlement of a lawsuit involving Bruce Bollins. Winthrop A. Marston, son of John Marston of Nottingham, where he was born in 1801; read law in the office of Stephen Mitchell, Esq., at Durham; opened an office in Somersworth in 1830; resided there the rest of his life, except two years spent in Dover. During the later years of his life he was in partnership with Royal R. Eastman, Esq. The firm of Marston & Eastman was a very strong one and had a large practice in and out of the courts in Strafford county and York county, Maine. He died March 30, 1851. Full postmark and red numeral 5 for the rate.

Short note from Granger, Hodges Co., to Rogers Ingraham Co. reads: “Gentlemen – your favor was duly received. We are now making a better boot than was ever before which we will sell you delivered in Troy at 23 dollars on four months. Please give us a chance to make this statement good and oblige.” Since Granger, Hodges was an ironworks company, it can be assumed that the boot they refer to is attached to a carriage rather than worn on a foot.

Rogers Ingraham Co. – In 1843 Edwin Childs and David C. Rogers commenced manufacturing boots and shoes in Penniman's row. In 1845, the business extending, they leased and occupied the building now occupied by Tower & Porter, on Eagle Street, and Harvey Ingraham became a partner. In 1847 Mr. Childs retired from the firm. In 1847 Joshua K. Rogers became a partner in the firm of Rogers, Ingraham & Co. In 1850 George Millard bought out this firm, taking as partners Harvey Ingraham and W. F. Waterbury. In 1857 Mr. Millard bought out his partners and conducted the business alone. In 1848 Edwin S. Rogers became connected with the firm.

Granger, Hodges Co. – A furnace for smelting iron ore was built in Pittsford in the fall of 1791, by Israel Keith, from Easton, Mass. On the 4th of July, 1795, Mr. Keith sold the furnace property to Nathan Gibbs. Soon after the death of Mr. Gibbs, the furnace passed into the hands of Andrew Leach, of whom Simeon Granger & Sons purchased it November 30, 1826.

Chester, son of Simeon (2) Granger, was born July 5, 1797, in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. At the age of 28 he became a member of the firm of Simeon Granger & Sons, moving to Grangerville, town of Pittsford, Vermont. He was one of the projectors and original directors in the Rutland & Burlington railroad, also the Western Vermont railroad, and for many years was a director in the Bank of Rutland. After the death of his father his portion of the furnace property was purchased from the heirs by Chester and his brother Edward L., and the business was conducted under the firm name of C. & E. L. Granger until 1846, when at the death of the younger member of the firm the name was again changed to Granger, Hodges & Company.

Very interesting 2 1/2-page letter from Emma Curtis to her Aunt Alsow Roscoe.  Emma seems to have a family business because she says she read a letter from her aunt while she was sitting at the stand between her husband Mark and a cousin.  She talks of a sick grandmother a visit from her father and discusses visiting and/or moving to Vermont.    She inquires about Aunt Nancy.  Nice long letter, easy to read.  Condition very good for this era; having only a hole where the seal was broken.

Small clean cover. Full but light postmark. Addressed to Alice Tilton.