manoscmr20 Butler Family Correspondence, 1817-1848 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Melvin Carlson, Jr.. Mortimer Rare Book Room, William Allan Neilson Library, Smith College

Northampton, MA

2007

Finding aid encoded in NoteTab Pro. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. 2007-05-31 Finding aid written in English Smith CollegeWilliam Allan Neilson LibraryMortimer Rare Book Room Butler Family Correspondence, 1817-1848 Finding Aid MS 242 Melvin Carlson, Jr. 2007

Collection Overview Butler Family Butler Family Correspondence1817-1848 MS 242 1 box (21 items) English Mortimer Rare Book Room

Smith College Northampton, MA

Letters from Thomas Butler and Sarah Denison Butler to their daughter Caroline H. Butler and correspondence between Caroline and her husband Edward Butler between 1817 and 1848. Also included are a few documents related to Edward Butler's commercial activities in China and Singapore. Biographical Note

Edward Butler was in the mercantile business and involved with trade from China and Singapore in the 19th century. He married Caroline H. Butler (no relative) in 1822 and the couple settled in Northampton, Massachusetts, the hometown of Mr. Butler, even though he was mostly elsewhere carrying out his business interests. They kept in touch through correspondence. Between 1822 and1834 the couple had five children. In 1836 as a result of poor health (likely consumption), Caroline Butler joined her husband, Edward, on a journey to China. Upon her return to Northampton she subsequently gave birth to four more children.

Edward died in July 1849, and Caroline turned to writing in an attempt to support her family. Her short fiction was published in Graham's Magazine, and she published a number of novels (The Little Messenger Birds, or The Chime of the Silver Bells in 1850 and The Ice King, and the Sweet South Wind in 1851). In 1851 she married Hugh Laing and relocated to Brooklyn, New York. She died in 1892.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Butler Family Correspondence contains letters from Thomas Butler and Sarah Denison Butler to their daughter Caroline H. Butler and letters between Caroline and her husband Edward Butler between 1817 and 1848. Also included are a few documents related to Edward Butler's commercial activities in the Far East especially China and Singapore. These papers deal with matters before Edward's death in 1849.

Information on Use Terms of Access and Use

The collection is open to research according to the regulations of the Mortimer Rare Book Room.

The Butler Family Correspondence is the physical property of the Mortimer Rare Book Room, Smith College. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors of the works or their legal representatives.

Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Butler Family Correspondence, Mortimer Rare Book Room, Smith College.

History of the Collection

Processed by Melvin Carlson, Jr., 2007

Search Terms Laing, Caroline H. Butler (Caroline Hyde Butler), 1804-1892 Butler, Edward, 1797-1849 Butler, Thomas, 1769-1822 Butler, Sarah Denison Silk industry China -- Commerce -- United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources Northampton (Mass.) -- Social life and customs Laing, Caroline H. Butler (Caroline Hyde Butler), 1804-1892 Butler, Edward, 1797-1849 Butler, Thomas, 1769-1822 Butler, Sarah Denison Additional Information 1 1 Letter from [Sarah Denison Butler], Plainfield, [Ct.?], to Caroline H. Butler, c/o Mr. Charles D. Rhode, merchant, Boston, 18-- Jan 21. 3 p. 1 2 Letter from Caroline Butler to [Edward Butler?], [18--?] Mar 23-25. (Incomplete: pages 5-8 only.) 1 3 Letter from Thomas Butler, New York City, to Caroline H. Butler, c/o Mr. Charles D. Rhody, merchant, Boston, 1817 Nov 24. 3 p. 1 4 Letter from [Sarah Denison Butler], New York, to Caroline H. Butler, Boston, c/o Mr. Lane, 1818 Mar 29. (1 p. written by Thomas Butler.) 3 p. (damaged) 1 5 Letter from [Thomas Butler] to Caroline H. Butler c/o Mr. Charles D. Rhody, Boston, 1821 Jan 4 (?). 3 p. 1 6 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/o Messrs. Carnes, New York, 1834 Sep 4 (?). 3 p. 1 7 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward [Butler], 1837 Sep 3. 2 p. (Postscript signed, Sally B.) 1 8 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/o Messrs. Carnes, New York, 1837 Nov 5. 2 p. 1 9 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/o Messrs. Carnes, New York, 1838 Jul 22. 2 p. 1 10 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/o Messrs. Carnes, New York, 1839 Mar 29. 4 p. 1 11 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/o Messrs. Carnes, New York, 1839 Apr 14. 3 p. 1 12 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/o Messrs. Carnes, New York, 1839 Dec 21. 3 p. 1 13 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, Stockport, New York, 1840 May 3. 3 p. 1 14 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward Butler, c/oE. B. jr., American Exchange Bk., New York, 1847 Feb 12. 4 p. 1 15 Letter from Caroline Butler, Northampton, [Mass.], to Edward [Butler], 1848 Jan 30. 1 16 Canton price current, [China], 1832 Apr 2. 4 p. (most of p. 3-4 lacking). 1 17 [Canton register, [China], 1832 Mar 23(?)]. (Fragement, 1 p.) 1 18 Commerical register, Singapore, 1834 May 22, 1 p. (damaged) 1 19 Commerical register, Singapore, 1834 Nov 27. 1 p. (damaged) 1 20 Invoice of merchandise shipped by Edward Butler on board the barque Mary Ballard … bound to New York, Canton, [China], 1835 Oct 31. 3 p. 1 21 Invoice of merchandise shipped by Edward Butler on board the barque Mary Ballard … bound to New York, Canton, [China], 1835 Oct. 31. 2 p.