Parrott-Spalding Family Papers, 1955 – MS079
Provenance: The Parrott-Spalding materials were purchased by the Portsmouth Athenaeum in 2004 from dealer, DeWolfe and Wood in Alfred, Maine.
Citation: Parrott-Spalding Family Papers (MS079), Portsmouth Athenaeum
Size: 5 Hollinger boxes [2.5 linear feet]
Scope and Content
The Parrott-Spalding Family Papers consist primarily of materials related to four siblings, the children of Susan Parker Parrott and Lyman D. Spalding. The primary individuals are: Lyman Greenleaf Spalding, Elizabeth Tocan Spalding, Susan Parker Spalding and James Alfred Spalding. The materials in the collection are primarily diaries of these four individuals and an unpublished autobiography of James Spalding. The diaries discuss daily activities including school, lessons [painting, music and sewing], and daily activities while the family lived in Portsmouth at 99 State Street. One diary also includes the brief period of time that the family lived in Texas. The Lyman G. Spalding diaries include naval activities including his time spent in Japan on the USS Santee as well as time spent in Zanzibar and on the USS Marion.
The James Spalding manuscript contains a great deal of information about everyday life in 19 th century Portsmouth. Spalding includes details about the members of his family including extended family. He discusses his education, daily life, and recreation as a child in Portsmouth. Chapters I and II also contain genealogical anecdotes about the Spaulding, Coues, Parrott and Parker families. He includes information about various family members’ connections with local notables such as Ichabod Goodwin, Daniel Webster and John Langdon. The later chapters include information about James Spalding’s college education, career as an optometrist and later life in Portland, Maine.
Biographical Notes
Lyman Greenleaf Spalding [1845-1881]
Served in the US Navy. Killed while stationed in Newport, RI from the accidental exploding of a torpedo. He was the son of Susan Parker Parrott Spalding and Lyman Dyer Spalding. He was the grandson of Lyman Spalding, MD of Portsmouth. He never married.
Elizabeth Toscan Spalding [1853-1932]
Lived in Portsmouth. She was the daughter of Susan Parker Parrott Spalding and Lyman Dyer Spalding. She was the granddaughter of Lyman Spalding, MD of Portsmouth. She never married.
Susan Parker Spalding [1850-1904]
Lived in Portsmouth. She was the daughter of Susan Parker Parrott Spalding and Lyman Dyer Spalding. She was the granddaughter of Lyman Spalding, MD of Portsmouth. She married Charles C. Hall of Portsmouth in 1903, and died less than a year later.
James Alfred Spalding [1846- ]
Lived in Portsmouth. He was an ophthalmologist and aural surgeon in Portland, Maine. Researched and authored genealogical works about the Spalding and Parrott families. He was the son of Susan Parker Parrott Spalding and Lyman Dyer Spalding. He was the grandson of Lyman Spalding, MD of Portsmouth. James Spalding donated a great deal of his materials to the New Hampshire Historical Society. The American Antiquarian Society also has materials that likely came from his collection. [See attached collection descriptions.]
Related Materials
S802 and S748 – 2 letters related to the Ship Isaac Newton under Lyman Dyer Spalding
S357 – Notes on Navigation [1878-1879] by Lyman G. Spalding
S780 – Susan Parker Parrott account book [1780-1852]
Enoch G. Parrott [1780-1828] account book while on the Brig. George Washington 1803
Series List
I. James Spalding Manuscript
II. Diaries and bound volumes: Lyman Greenleaf Spalding, Elizabeth Toscan Parrott, Susan Parker Spalding, and James Alfred Spalding
III. Miscellaneous
I. James Spalding Manuscript
The James Spalding manuscript is an unpublished autobiography containing a great deal of information about everyday life in 19 th century Portsmouth. Spalding includes details about the members of his family, including extended family. He discusses his education, daily life, and recreation as a child in Portsmouth. Chapters I and II also contain genealogical anecdotes about the Spalding, Coues, Parrott, and Parker families. He includes information and various family members’ connections with local notables such as Ichabod Goodwin, Daniel Webster and John Langdon. The later chapters include information about James Spalding’s college education, career as an optometrist and later life in Portland, Maine.
There are two copies of the manuscript at slightly different period of revision.
Box I
Folder 1 Preface
Folder 2 Chapter I Handfuls of People Pages 1-45
Folder 3 Chapter II My Mother, Some Uncles and Aunts Pages 46-81
Folder 4 Chapter II All Aboard Pages 82-121
Folder 5 Chapter IV High School Years Pages 122-167
Folder 6 Chapter V Dartmouth Pages 168-205
Folder 7 Chapter VI Medicine-Harvard Pages 206-244
Folder 8 Chapter VII Europe Pages 245-283
Folder 9 Chapter VIII The First Obstacles Pages 284-298
Folder 10 Chapter IX First years in Portland Pages 299-371
Folder 11 Chapter X Army Friends and Others Pages 372-387
Folder 12 Chapter XI Medical Travels Pages 388-407
Folder 13 Chapter Work or Play Pages 408-426 [Week Days and Sundays is crossed out]
Folder 14 Chapter XIII Three of Us to Europe Pages 427-448
Folder 15 Chapter XIV Working Together Pages 449-485
Folder 16 Chapter XV More Pleasant Thoughts – Mostly Sallie Pages 486-515
Folder 17 Chapter XVI Nevermets Pages 516-558
Folder 18 Chapter XVII Languages Pages 560–575
Folder 19 Chapter XVIII Music and Gypsies Pages 576-603
Folder 20 Chapter XIX Likes and Dislikes Pages 604-636
Folder 21 Chapter XX Cooks and Maids Pages 638-638
Folder 22 Chapter XXI A Postage Stamp Voyage to Europe Pages 659-696
Folder 23 Chapter XXII Medical Adventures Pages 697-642
Folder 24 Chapter XXIII Jamaica Pages 743-753
Folder 25 Chapter XXIV Waiting Pages 754-773
Box 2
Folder 1 Chapter I A Handful of People Pages 1-33
Folder 2 Pages 2-50
Folder 3 Chapter II My Mother and Some Uncles and Aunts Pages 50-50
Folder 4 Pages 61-75
Folder 5 Pages 75-120
Folder 6 Chapter VI A Good Many Obstacles Pages 1-17
Folder 7 Chapter VII A Hard Road to Travel Pages 1-87
Folder 8 Chapter VIII Sweethearting for Thirty Years Pages 1-16
Folder 9 Chapter IX A Medical Interlude Pages 1-21
Folder 10 Chapter X Weekdays and Sundays Pages 1-21
Folder 11 Chapter XI Three of us to Europe Pages 1-23
Folder 12 Chapter XII Working Together Pages 1-41
Folder 13 Chapter XIII More Pleasant Thoughts Pages 42, 2-29
Folder 14 Chapter XIV Nevermets Pages 1-48
Folder 15 Chapter XV Languages Pages 1-20
Folder 16 Chapter XVI Music Pages 1-30 Folder 17 Chapter XVII Likes and Dislikes Pages 1-36
Folder 18 Chapter XVIII Cooks and Maids Pages 1-23
Folder 19 Chapter XIX A Postage Stamp Voyage to Europe Pates 1-41
Folder 20 Chapter XX Medical Adventures Pages 1-53
Folder 21 Chapter XXI Jamaica Pages 1-12
Folder 22 The Presidential Campaign of 1840
Folder 23 The Campaign of 1840
Folder 24 Daniel Austin
Folder 25 Davina
Folder 26 Miscellaneous
Folder 27 High School
Folder 28 St. Johns
II Bound Volumes
Box 3
Lyman Greenleaf Spaulding [1845-1881]
Folder 1 1863 Diary
A cruise on the U.S.S. Marion [in same book is school work possibly by Lyman D. Spalding, Merrill’s father]. The book may have also been used by Merrill Spaulding, as his name is written in the front.
Folder 2 1868 Diary
Daily activities and accounts while in Portsmouth
Folder 3 1870 Diary
Daily activities and accounts while in Portsmouth
Folder 4 1870-1873 Diary
While in Zanzibar with the navy
Folder 5 1872-1873 Diary
Description of naval activities
Folder 6 1875 Diary
While in Japan with the navy on the USS Santee
Folder 7 undated
While in Japan on the USS Santee
Elizabeth Toscan Spalding [1853-1932]
Folder 8 1877 Diary
Very little content [few pages only]
Folder 9 1904
Detailed lists of what Elizabeth was buying at the store and how much was being paid
Box 4
Susan Parker Spalding [1859-1904]
Diaries below were kept while the Spalding family was living at 99 State Street in Portsmouth, entries include local events, social calls, daily activities [painting, sewing and music lessons], and family matters. Great content for everyday life for a upper middle class Portsmouth young woman. Some of the diaries contain pencil sketches. Most of the diaries also include addresses and accounts in the back.
Folder 1 1881 Diary
Folder 2 1882 Diary
Folder 3 1883 Diary
Folder 4 1884 Diary
Folder 5 1885 Diary
Folder 6 1886 Diary
Folder 7 1897-1900 Account book
James Alfred Spalding [1846- ]
Diaries and account books primarily while practicing medicine in Portland, Maine. Diaries do describe family in Portsmouth and visits to Portsmouth.
Folder 8 1867 Diary [may belong to Lyman G. Spalding]
Folder 9 1873 Diary
Folder 10 1915 Medical Book
Folder 11 1920 Diary
Folder 12 1920 Accounts
Folder 13 1921 Accounts
Folder 14 1922 Diary
Folder 15 1923 Diary
Folder 16 1924 Diary
Folder 17 1928-1931 Accounts
Folder 18 1936 Diary
Folder 19 Updates note pad
Unidentified bound volumes
Folder 20 Unidentified child’s diary
Folder 21 Unidentified address book
Folder 22 1863 Diary
DeWolfe and Wood identified in # 5 as belonging to James A. Spalding. Although James name is in the front cover, it is not likely to belong to him as he was not in the military during the Civil War. The book is identified in the front as belonging to William N. Whelen while on the USS Marion
Folder 23
Notebook containing flag signals and general notes about outfitting naval ships. Possibly belonged to Enoch G. Parrott
Folder 24 Notebook titled “Irish” with very little content
III. Miscellaneous
Box 5
Folder 1 Manuscript music book ca. 1830-1840, possibly belonging to Susan Parker Parrott
Folder 2 Miscellaneous short correspondence of Enoch G. Parrott while off the coast of Charlestown, South Carolina during the Civil War
Folder 3 Genealogy
Folder 4 Newspaper clippings