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Conant Family Papers, 1800-1904

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 218

Scope and Content Note

The Conant Family Papers contain financial records of Aaron, his son Nathaniel, and Nathaniel's son, Elbridge Fiske. Although tailoring entries are included in Aaron's ledger, the bulk of his daybooks and ledger account record rum, molasses, and sugar sales suggesting that he maintained a distillery in addition to his tailor business. Nathaniel's ledger (Folder 2) documents his activities as a shoemaker. The beginning of this volume also contains masonry accounts for an unknown Gloucester resident. Elbridge Fiske Conant's account book (Folder 3) calendars his watch repair business in Exeter, New Hampshire. The family papers (Folder 4) include photographs and a certificate (1904) from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions for one share "in the new missionary vessel for Micronesia", owned by William M. Conant.

Dates

  • Creation: 1800-1904

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Biographical Sketch

Aaron Conant (1752-1816) was born on November 25, 1752 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He was a tailor. He married Eunice Dorman on March 18, 1779. They had four children: Samuel; Aaron; Nathaniel; and William. He moved from Ipswich to Topsfield, Massachusetts, where he died January 14, 1816 from a wound inflicted by his shears. He served in the Revolutionary War in Capt. John Dodge's company of Colonel Gerrish's regiment.

Aaron Conant (1787-1880) was born on May 13, 1787 in Topsfield, Massachusetts. He was a stagecoach driver for 30 years for the Eastern Stage Company on the Portsmouth to Boston route. After the advent of railroads, he became a shoemaker. He married Mehitable Merriam in November, 1815 and they had three children: William; Nathaniel; and Aaron Franklin. He died in Ipswich on December 12, 1880.

Nathaniel Conant (1795-1872) was born in Topsfield, Massachusetts on October 5, 1795. On October 4, 1819 he married Elizabeth Kilham Dodge. They had 5 children: Abraham; Hannah; Rebecca; Elbridge; Albert. He died in Topsfield on March 10, 1872.

Elbridge Fiske Conant (born 1829) married Belinda Rogers Whitnall on July 10, 1858. He died sometime before 1884.

Extent

0.5 linear feet (1 box; 2 volumes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Conant Family Papers contain financial records of Aaron, his son Nathaniel, and Nathaniel's son, Elbridge Fiske.

Physical Location

Phillips Library Stacks

Provenance

The account books were placed on permanent deposit by the Topsfield Historical Society, November 11, 1969. The folder of family papers was a gift from Elmer M. Hills, November 19, 1965.

Bibliography

Conant, Frederick Odel. A History and Genealogy of the Conant Family in England and America. Portland: privately printed (by Harris & Williams), 1887.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Prudence Backman, May 1987. Updated by Tamara Gaydos, May 2011.

Title
CONANT FAMILY PAPERS, 1800-1904
Author
Processed by: Prudence Backman; Updated by: Tamara Gaydos; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Processing and re-housing of the account books was funded by a grant from the Topsfield Historical Society.

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

Contact:
Peabody Essex Museum
306 Newburyport Turnpike
Rowley MA 01969 USA