Appleton-Foster Family Papers: Finding Aid mssHM 27635-27708
Finding aid prepared by Huntington Library staff and updated by Diann Benti.
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Finding aid last updated on March 13, 2024 by Melissa Haley.
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: Appleton-Foster Family Papers
Identifier/Call Number: mssHM 27635-27708
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear Feet
(1 box )
Date (inclusive): 1717-1897
Date (bulk): 1797-1849
Abstract: This collection contains 79 items related to the Appleton family of Massachusetts and the Foster family of Portsmouth, New
Hampshire, chiefly dating from 1797-1849. Letters reflect the family affairs; social life and customs of New England society
and family life. Some letters contain references to the War of 1812 and to the activities of the Unitarian Church in New England
and Baltimore.
Language of Material: English.
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[Identification of item]. Appleton-Foster Family Papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Purchased from Patricia Dykstra in 1957.
The Appleton family of Massachusetts and the Foster family of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, were related through the marriage
of Mary Appleton to John Welch Foster in 1824. Mary Foster's mother, Sarah (Greenleaf) Appleton Haven (died 1838) married,
first in 1780, Dr. Nathaniel Walker Appleton (d. 1795), a Boston physician. The names of five of their seven children appear
in the baptismal records of the First Church of Boston as Charles, George, Mary, William Greenleaf, and Sally. Following Dr.
Appleton's death, Mary Foster married a first cousin of her first husband, Joseph Have of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, around
1815. He was the son of the Rev. Samuel Haven and Mehitabel (Appleton) Haven, aunt of Dr. Appleton.
Mary (Appleton) Foster, daughter of Sarah Haven, married John Welch Foster of Portsmouth (Aug. 31, 1824).
This collection contains 79 items related to the Appleton family of Massachusetts and the Foster family of Portsmouth, New
Hampshire. Letters reflect the family affairs; social life and customs of New England society and family life. Some letters
contain references to the War of 1812 and to the activities of the Unitarian Church in New England and Baltimore.
Some notable items include:
- Letter from James Robertson to Charles Fenton Mercer re Presidential election of 1812. 1813, Feb. 14
- Letter from Mary to Mary (Appleton) Foster, describing social life at Cheltenham, England, and the attendance of the Duke and Duchess of Wellington at an evening party there. 1816, Aug. 6
- List of the members of South Church, Portsmouth, N. H., compiled by Elizabeth Haven (Wardrobe) Thacher and others. c. 1819-1847
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Unitarian churches -- New England
Unitarian churches -- Maryland
New England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century
United States -- History -- War of 1812 -- Personal narratives
Letters (correspondence) -- United States
Family papers -- United States
Box 1
mssHM 27635-27708
Ephemera. Approximately 1760-1899
29 items including 21 miscellaneous fragments chiefly with autographs; small notebook containing a handwritten ca. 1760 sermon
in shorthand; a 1775 treasury note (reproduction?); 1817 stock certificate; 1 page manuscript chart: "Chronological Epitome
of the History of England, from the Norman Conquest to the present time [1820]"; 1862 Army of the Potomac pass for Joseph
Foster and family; 1862 telegraph note from D.E.D. Cranch to J.H. Foster, with envelope; and an 1899 Italian art export license.