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Townes Family Papers, 1911-1931, undated

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 349

Scope and Content Note

The Townes Family Papers consists primarily of the correspondence of this African-American family living in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in the early part of the 20th century. The collection includes letters from Moses and Eliza Townes, letters to their families living in Virginia, Maine, and Harlem, New York, as well as overdue bills, letters from creditors, and other financial records.

Dates

  • Creation: 1911-1931, undated

Creator

Restrictions on Access

This collection is open for research use.

Biographical Sketches

Moses Prophet Townes was an African-American man born in Virginia, between 1859, according to his headstone (Vining), and 1862, according to various Federal census records (years 1920, 1930, 1950). His parents were Ottaway and Henrietta Townes. Moses was one of seven children that survived to adulthood (Vining), including, based on correspondence in the collection, Walter, Amanda, and Robertha. There was an extended Townes family residing not only in Newburyport, Massachusetts, but in Finchley, Pennsylvania, and also in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. By 1892, according to the Newburyport directory, Moses was employed as a porter at the Wolfe Tavern in Newburyport and boarded at the Tavern. Moses remained a porter at the Wolfe Tavern at least until 1946-1947. In 1899, Moses married Eliza Ann Dickson/Dixon (Vining). At the time of his marriage he moved from the tavern to a house at 3 Titcomb Street in Newburyport, where he lived with his family for the remainder of his life. Moses died in 1951 (Vining).

Eliza Ann (Dickson/Dixon) Townes was an African-American woman born in Massachusetts, in 1878. Her father was born in Maine and her mother in Virginia. She was a music teacher (Ancestry, 1910 United States Federal Census). Eliza and Moses had two children together, unfortunately, neither survived past infancy (Ancestry, Massachusetts Death Records) .

Thomas Townes, the son of Moses Townes, was born in Massachusetts in 1897. While it is unclear who his mother was, the Federal Census of 1910 says his mother's place of birth was Virginia (Ancestry, 1910 United States Federal Census). By 1916, Thomas had moved to Harlem, New York, and was boarding with his relatives there. He apparently held several different jobs.

The Townes family had several boarders that lived with them throughout the years; one was Donald Jones who boarded with the family for several years; and Louise Gaines and her younger sister, Josephine Gaines who both seem to have resided at 3 Titcomb Street with the family in the 1910s (Ancestry, 1910 United States Federal Census).

Extent

0.25 Linear feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Townes Family Papers consists primarily of the correspondence of this African-American family living in Newburyport, Massachusetts, in the early part of the 20th century.

Physical Location

Phillips Library Stacks

Provenance

The Townes Family Papers were purchased on December 6, 2000 (Acc #2000.030).

Bibliography

Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Ancestry.com. 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022.

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, U.S., Death Records, 1841-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1892-1893, (Newburyport, MA, 1893).

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1900-1901, (Newburyport, MA, 1900).

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1911, (Newburyport, MA, 1911).

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1922, (Newburyport, MA, 1922).

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1942, (Newburyport, MA, 1942).

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1946-1947, (Newburyport, MA, 1946).

The Newburyport and Amesbury Directory, 1953, (Newburyport, MA, 1953).

Thirteenth Federal Census of the United States: 1910—Population for Newburyport City, Massachusetts.

Fourteenth Federal Census of the United States: 1920—Population for Newburyport City, Massachusetts

Fifteenth Federal Census of the United States: 1930—Population for Newburyport City, Massachusetts

Vining, Geordie. "A Landmark Within a Landmark." Newburyport Magazine, Spring 2023. Accessed 24 February 2023. https://newburyportmagazine-cnhi.newsmemory.com/.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Frances Malamy, May 2005. Updated by Nicholas Long, April 2015.

Title
TOWNES FAMILY PAPERS, 1911-1931
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by: Frances Malamy; Updated by: Nicholas Long; machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan.
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Phillips Library Repository

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