This collection includes the papers of the Benjamin and John Upton branches of the North Reading, Massachusetts, Uptons. The papers represent three generations of Uptons, with the bulk of the papers being from Benjamin Upton’s son, Elijah Upton, and grandson, Elijah Wood Upton, along with Elijah Upton’s stepson, Richard Downing. The bulk of the papers from Elijah Upton Sr., Elijah Upton Jr., and Richard Downing are from 1824 to 1855, with the majority being from their respective businesses. The material has been organized into five series.

To respect original order, business invoices, receipts, and correspondence bundled with personal and family accounts by the creators were kept together so that the researcher will discover household accounts along with those of the business in both Elijah Upton Sr. and Elijah Wood Upton Jr.’s files. In some cases, there may be a letter of a more personal nature written by a supplier or business partner that appears after a business order, but on the same paper. Copies of newspaper clippings have been made; the originals are not available for viewing.

Series I. Elijah Upton Papers is divided into three subseries. Subseries A. Personal and Business Accounts, Bills, Receipts, and Business Correspondence includes business correspondence from Simpson and Otis dated 1831 to 1833. Box 1, folder 2 contains accounts pertaining to Elijah Upton’s second wife and her children including items purchased from Ruth’s late husband’s estate. Subseries B. Personal Correspondence is primarily from Elijah Upton’s sister-in-law Polly. Subseries C. Religious and Community Activities consists of correspondence from local and visiting clergy including John Shillaber and Sewall Harding, as well as notes of local committee appointments from John Procter.

Series II. Elijah Wood Upton Papers is divided into two subseries. Subseries A. Personal and Business Accounts, Bills, Receipts, and Business Correspondence includes correspondence from a New York partner, Peter Cooper, letters of inquiry and disputes. Box 1, folder 7 contains examples of tax forms and letters of audit from the Internal Revenue Services (IRS). Subseries B. Personal Correspondence consists primarily of letters between Elijah Wood Upton and his father.

Series III. Richard Downing Papers almost exclusively pertains to the omnibus business he started with two partners in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Speare, Downing & Company. There are several business agreements, loan agreements, repayment of debt notices, along with examples of tickets from early weigh stations for goods being transported.

Series IV. John and Mercy Upton Family Papers contains family correspondence, genealogy notes, and photographic materials. Included are letters from John Upton to his wife Mercy while at sea. Genealogy notes includes pages from a family book, potentially a family Bible along with handwritten notes from several family members. This information was used to verify information obtained from other sources for the attached family tree. The notes extend to the Wilbore/ Wilbur and Fenno families as John Upton’s granddaughter married into the Fenno family. Papers in box 2, folder 2 contain examples of U.S. citizenship documents, mortgages, wills and probates, and other legal documents. Also included in this series are three journals written by Kathrine Jackson Upton, and a leather bound journal from John Upton’s brother Samuel. The contents of the journal are housed in a separate folder with the original order maintained. Papers include letters, notice of apprenticeship hours fulfilled, and newspaper clippings. Photographic materials in this series include tintypes and cabinet cards of members of the Upton and Fenno families including several of Katherine Upton from childhood through adulthood.

Series V. Other Family Papers includes papers for Benjamin Upton, the Upton women, and others. Box 2, folder 3 includes a letter from a doctor describing Benjamin Upton’s gunshot wound injury during the war of 1812, along with prognosis and treatment, as well as the lease agreement for the family farm. Additional genealogical notes can be found in this folder as well. Box 1, folder 9 includes letters written to and from the Upton women, including a bounty land claim response letter, original poetry, and a ticket from the Boston Music Hall. Box 1, folder 10 contains personal correspondence as well as papers documenting legal proceedings. It is unclear how these papers are connected to the members of the Upton family.