Creator: Presson Family
Dates:  1642-1949
Quantity: 1.5 linear feet (2 document boxes)
Acquisition: Accession #: 2005.17 ; Donated by: Susan Presson
Identification: A38 ; Archive Collection #38
Citation: [Document Title]. The Presson Family Papers, [Box #, Folder #, Item #], Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives, Gloucester, MA.
Copyright: Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be addressed to the Librarian/Archivist.
Language: English
Finding Aid: 

Howard Thomas, December, 2005; supervisor, Stephanie Buck.

Addenda I: Howard Thomas, April 14, 2006, supervisor, Stephanie Buck.

Addenda II: Stephanie Buck, September, 11, 2008.

 

 

VARIANT SPELLINGS OF PRESSON

Presson versus Preston: Both names appear frequently in the correspondence, bills and other documents that comprise the Presson Papers. A detailed review of all the documents in the collection however evidences to the processor that the original spelling of the name was “Presson”. The name Preston seems to be primarily related to a son, William Presson, during the period that he served in the maritime industry. Correspondence, bills of lading, receipts, etc. Are usually addressed to “Captain William Preston”. It is clear that he was named William Presson at the time of his birth. A person tracing the family genealogy probably best explained the spelling of the name as follows: “Generally the more elderly people write it Presson, while the younger branches of families write it Preston.”

PERTINENT PART OF GENEALOGY

William Presson (1775-1830) married Sarah E. Parran October 22, 1803. Children by this marriage were:

William – born April 13, 1805; died at Monrovia, West Coast of Africa, May 14, 1842, unmarried

Alfred – born February 10, 1807, died October 17, 1873, married Mary A. Moore November 19, 1837

Charles Parran – born January 26, 1809, died November 6, 1868, unmarried

Leonard Jarvis – born October 25, 1812, died January 5, 1864, married Caroline M. Winchester, November 25, 1833

Sarah – born November 3, 1815, died September 18, 1857, unmarried

 

I - Sarah Presson

II - William Presson

III - Alfred Presson

IV - Charles, Leonard, and Herbert Presson

V - Eveleth Genealogy

VI - Presson Genealogy

VII – Ephemera

 

Box #1

Series I Sarah Presson

Folder 1:

A. Letters 1824-1859 B. Bills 1830 – 1859

C. Account with son Alfred 1833 – 1836

D. Account with Abraham Babson 1834

E. Agreement with Silas Bray et al 1837

F. Deed to City of Gloucester 1837

G. Agreement with Alexander T. Davis 1842 (3 copies)

H. Account of Sarah E. Presson 1/11/1838-9/16/1839 [April 2006 Addendum]

I. Bill to estate, 1860 [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

Series II William Presson

Folder 2:

A. Letters 1822 –1841

B. Bills 1767 – 1860

C. Deeds 1761 – 1836

D. Receipts for Release of Dower 1822 – 1831

Folder 3:

E. Probate Documents 1815 – 1831

F. Probate Documents, Capt. Wm. Preston 1842 – 1843

G. Copy of Liberia Herald, may 1842: obituary Capt. Preston

H. Order by Referees 1826

I. Original composition and poetry, n.d.

Box #2

Series III Alfred Presson

Folder 1:

A. Letters 1830 – 1848

B. Letters from his mother, Sarah 1863 – 1866

C. Bills 1827 – 1898

Folder 2:

D. Account re: Estate of Wm. Presson 1831 – 1832

E. Account re: High Street Cemetery 1838

F. Account book 1846 – 1852

G. Agreement and sketch of land 1885

H. Deeds 1887 – 1895

I. Misc.: High School Commission 1898; obituary 1921

J. Letters, Alfred Presson, Jr. 1859 – 1901

K. Estate of Elisa Davis 1869

L. Leather wallets (2)

M. Cape Ann Savings Bank Deposit Book, Alfred Presson Jr. son of Alfred Presson 8/14/1847-6/28/1895 (stamped 1913-1949) [April 2006 Addendum]

N. Western Union Telegram to Albert Presson Jr. from A. Presson (father) advising of death of his Uncle Charles 11/6/1868 [April 2006 Addendum]

O. Receipt signed by heirs of the Estate of Charles P. Presson, Alfred Presson, Administrator 10/1869 [April 2006 Addendum]

P. Ledger Account of Alfred Presson Jr. 7/31/1873-12/31/1889 [April 2006 Addendum]

Box #2 

Series III

Folder 2A Alfred Presson Jr. [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

A. Letters to 1855-1857 (7 items)

B. Letters from 1855 (6 items)

Series IV Charles, Leonard, Herbert Presson

Folder 3: 

 A. Charles

a. Letters 1824 – 1863

b. Bills 1859

c. Poems 1827

d. Letters 1825, 1829 [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

B. Leonard

a. Deed 1840

C. Herbert

a. Letters 1863 – 1875

Box #3

Series V Genealogy – Eveleth Family

Folder 1:

A. Documents

a. Deeds and Right of Dower 1699 – 1816

b. Order of Probate 1816

c. Will of Susanna Eveleth 1816

d. Power of Attorney, James Eveleth 1831

e. Court Records 1644 – 1793

f. Papers re: Susan Dennan 1832 – 1838

B. Genealogy research – “Book D” 1805 – 1864

C. Title search – “Book F” 1643 – 1745

Folder 2:

D. Title search – Land Records 1642 – 1745

E. Register, Eveleth Family in New England 1860

F. Sylvester Eveleth, et al 1642 – 1795

G. Copies of letters 1820 – 1855

H. Accounts with Timothy Davis, 1815-1816 [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

I. Accounts with Edward Bray, 1813 [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

J. Tax receipts 1812, 1815 [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

Series VI Genealogy – Presson/Preston Family

Folder 3: 

A. Preston/Presson Families 1641 – 1888

B. Preston/Geery Families 1635 – 1775

C. Preston Family 1341 – 1775

D. Presson Family1737 – 1873

Box #3

Series VII Ephemera

Folder 4: 

A. Deed, Kuetville to Honnours 1742

B. Poems and cloth patterns 1801 – 1879

C. Expense Account and bills, 1830-`839

D. Pamphlet, Rudyard Kipling 1898

E. Scrap Book (small) and calling cards (3) 1832 – 1841

F. Receipts, accounts and estate papers 1876 – 1877

G. Affidavit, Andres Giddings, brig “Fair Play” 1779

H. Letters, misc., includes civil war 1861 – 1862

I. Rooms and apartments for rent in Boston 1864 – 1871

J. Minutes of meetings, Glou 1719 and Glou. Ins. Co. 1841 – 1847

K. Account book, refers to S. E. Presson 1834 – 1842

L. Account book, John Tyler 1721 – 1757

M. Newspaper, The Telegraph, Glou. Mass 9/25/1841

N. Newspaper, Gloucester Telegraph 2/20/1864

O. Newspaper, Gloucester Daily Times 8/13/1913

P. Bankruptcy notice, John Tyler David, 9/12/1844 [April 2006 Addendum]

Q. Newspaper, The Daily Bee, vol. 1 no. 3 4/27/1842 [April 2006 Addendum]

R. Ruling Account of Timothy Beddington 8/20/1829-1/1/1830 [April 2006 Addendum]

S. Book on Rules of Masonry, 1749 [April 2006 Addendum]

T. Farmer’s Almanack, 1866 [April 2006 Addendum]

U. Prisoner of War Cert. John Moore, 1813 [Sept. 2008 Addendum]

Back Room Storage

R974.45 B11 History of the Town of Gloucester, John J. Babson, 1860 [April 2006 Addendum]

 

PRESSON ADDENDUM I 

April 14, 2006

The following items have been added to PRESSON FAMILY LETTERS AND PAPERS, Archive Collection #38

 

Box #1

Folder 1: Sarah Presson

H. Account of Sarah E. Presson 1/11/1838-9/16/1839

Box #2

Folder 2: Alfred Presson

M. Cape Ann Savings Bank Deposit Book, Alfred Presson Jr. son of Alfred Presson 8/14/1847- 6/28/1895 (stamped 1913-1949)

N. Western Union Telegram to Albert Presson Jr. from A. Presson (father) advising of death of his Uncle Charles 11/6/1868

O. Receipt signed by heirs of the Estate of Charles P. Presson, Alfred Presson, Administrator 10/1869

P. Ledger Account of Alfred Presson Jr. 7/31/1873-12/31/1889

Folder 3: Charles, Leonard, Herbert Presson

A. Charles

a. [Additional] Letters 1824 – 1863

Box #3

Folder 4: Ephemera

P. Bankruptcy notice, John Tyler David, 9/12/1844

Q. Newspaper, The Daily Bee, vol. 1 no. 3 4/27/1842

R. Ruling Account of Timothy Beddington 8/20/1829-1/1/1830

S. Book on Rules of Masonry, 1749

T. Farmer’s Almanack, 1866

Back Room Storage

R974.45 B11 History of the Town of Gloucester, John J. Babson, 1860

 

PRESSON COLLECTION ADDENDUM II 

REGISTER # 38 September 11, 2008

 

Box # 1

Series I: Bill to estate of Sarah Presson, 1860

Box # 2

Series III

Folder 2A Alfred Presson Jr.

A - Letters to Alfred Presson Jr. from:

a. Alfred Presson Sr., June 16, 1855, re: local news, closing of Pavilion & Gloucester House, Mr. Peabody, Liquor laws.

b. Alfred Presson Sr., July 2, 1855, re: local news

c. Edward C. Jones, New Bedford, March 2, 1856 re: wages

d. Chas. Brewer, Boston, July 9, 1857, re: site on the Polynesia.

e. Henry C. Brooks & Co., Boston, Nov. 29, 1857, re: site of the ship Fleet.

f. Jacob Stanwood, Boston, Dec. 22, 1857, re: site on ship Richard Busteed.

g. Ship Black Prince (sp?), Boston, Dec 31, 1857, re: site on voyage to California.

B. - Letters from Alfred Presson Jr. to:

a. Father & Mother, Honolulu, Aug. 28, 1855 First trip (at age 17) on the John Gilpin (see Oct. 2 letter) Doesn’t like it, talks of conditions on board & Capt. Ring. Ship Shooting Star in port.

b. Father & Mother, Honolulu, Sept. 13, 1855 Prices of food, boys Adams, Charlie Davis, & Friend. Reminds him of Dogtown.

c. Father & Mother, Honolulu, Sept. 22, 1855 Some boys suffering from Boohoo fever (Dengue). Talks of conditions & medicines. Adams’ father George losing a ship (Somerville), murder at Squam. Talks of the natives. Fred Low lives on Attawoi Island.

d. Uncle (in Boston), Honolulu, Sept. 22, 1855 Description of Honolulu & of docking the vessel in Honolulu harbor.

e. Father & Mother, Honolulu, Sept. 29, 1855 Has had Boohoo fever. Is to come home on the whaler Gov. Troop. Has a miniature of his father (& mother?)

f. Father & Mother, Honolulu, Oct. 2, 1855 On board the Gov. Troop. Finances.

Box #2

Series IV Folder 3

A - d: Letters to Charles P. Presson from:

R.P.H. Williams, 1825, regarding an apprenticeship.

Abby B (unreadable), Boston, 1829

Box #3

Series V Folder 2

H: Accounts with Timothy Davis

Abigail Eveleth, 1815

Susannah Eveleth, 1816

I: Accounts with Edward Bray

Abigail Eveleth, 1813

J: State & County Tax Receipts

Abigail & Susan Eveleth, 1812

Abigail & Susan Eveleth, 1815

Box #3

Series VII Folder 4 

U: Prisoner of War certificate for John Moore, 1813