On November 25, 1888, Abner R Shackford, the son of William and Mercy (Rose) responded to a letter from Samuel Shackford. We’re very fortunate that this letter was kept by Samuel and preserved by the Winnetka Historical Society. because the enclosed Family Record page he completed included information about his family that we have not found elsewhere in our Shackford Family History Research. From the letter we learn:
That Abner lived in Roslindale when he wrote to Samuel.
Abner was impressed with Samuel’s letter and hoped to meet him someday and ends his letter saying he hoped to hear from Samuel again.
The reference to Thomas Joseph and probably refers to Abner’s uncles Thomas G Shackford and Joseph Shackford who lived in Newburyport. Thomas did have a son George who died at the age of nine months.
Abner did not know the death dates of his two sisters Caroline and Louisa May.
Samuel’s letter probably mentioned William Brown Shackford, his wife Catherine and their children as Abner tells Samuel that their daughter May who married a Mr Lougrin had died, that Catherine is living in Dorcester (interesting — as we find her in the 1887 and 1890 Syracuse directories living with her son – perhaps she was visiting someone in Dorcester), and that Joe has two boys ages 14 and 8.
Abner has a wife and daughter.
The Family Record page includes the first information of birth and death dates for Abner’s parents that we’ve seen and lists siblings that we have not yet hear of.
We’ll spend the next few weeks focusing on these families – sometimes when you have dates it’s easier to find more information about the families.
Roslindale Nov 25th 1888
Mr Samuel Shackford
Dear Sir
Received
your kind letter was glad to
hear from you although I
have never seen you but would
like to have you come and see
us if you are east. I will give
you all the information I can.
I don’t know anything about
Thomas Shackford and his
son, there are some Shackford’s
living in Newburyport Mass
perhaps if you write there you
can find out something about
them. I will send you a list
of my Father’s family the name
you wanted to know about is
Joseph. There are two more deaths
that I will try and find out –
about they are my sister Caroline’s
and Louisa’s death I will write
and let you know when I find
out. May K. Shackford is dead
she married a Mr Loughrin
she only lived 13 months after
she was married. I would like
to have you write to me again
and tell me some more about
the Shackford’s. Mays mother
is living in Dorchester. her son
Joe lives in Syracuse N. Y.
he has two little boys about
14 and 8 years old. There are
only 3 of us myself wife
and daughter. I will close
hoping to hear from you again
Your’s Truly
Abner R. Shackford
Attached Family Record Page [note: appears to be annotated in pen by Samuel before sending and after he received the document]
Please fill up the following Family Record as fully as possible with all the details you have in your own possession, or can gain access to in the possession of others, and return as soon as possible to [hand written] Samuel Shackford Chicago Ill
Family Record of William Shackford – Your Father
NAMES OF HEADS OF FAMILY,
with the children in order of birth BORN DIED
William Shackford July 22ed 1789 v
Married (give date left blank]
Mercy Rose Jan 24th 1795
Page 85
New Book
Children
William B Shackford Aug 10th 1812
Joseph Shackford Aug 5th 1814
Thomas Shackford Oct 20th 1815
Abner Shackford Nov 16th 1817
Mary B Shackford July 4th 1819
Louise Shackford July 18th 1821 m Cushing L1 child, Ms Louth [added]
Caroline E Shackford Dec 19th 1823 m. Varney; Whitmore; Palmer no child
Abner R Shackford Jan 19th 1827
Lucinda W Shackford April 21st 1828 married July 28 1839 [added but not correct, jsp]
Emeline Shackford Feb 7th 1830
Abner Shackford Oct 15th 1818
William B Shackford May 16th 1831 father
Lucinda W Shackford July 20 1839
Joseph Shackford Sept 14th 1839
Mary B Shackford Dec 27th 1841
William B Shackford Nov 13th 1866
Thomas Shackford Jan 29th 1874
Mercy Rose Shackford Mar 1875 mother
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SOURCES:
“Letter from Abner R Shackford to Samuel Shackford Nov 25, 1888,” 1988.325.1, [Research on Shackford family genealogy], ; Samuel Shackford, Winnetka Historical Society, Winnetka Illinois.
Correction made 10/7/2016: changed William Shackford’s birth date to July 22, 1789 as it was improperly transcribed in the earlier version of this blog
Correction made 7/19/2017: changed Mercy Rose Shackford’s death date to March 1875 as it was improperly transcribed in the earlier version of this blog
Copyright 2017 Joanne Shackford Parkes (sharing a link to this post is appreciated but please do not copy this material and paste it elsewhere)
SHACKFORD Family History 