[Letter from Thankful Smith to Mary Dunster], [ca. 1767] Digital
Scope and Contents
Handwritten one-page undated letter from Thankful Smith to Mary Dunster of Harwick, Mass. The letter is witnessed by Judith Smith, Elisha Parker, and Caleb Gannett. The short letter is playful and provides cryptic details about Smith's life. Though the letter is closed, "I remain your dutiful Parent," the author appears to be Thankful Smith writing to her sister Mary Dunster.
Dates
- Creation: [ca. 1767]
Researcher Access
The Papers of Caleb Gannett are open for research.
Extent
.26 cubic feet (1 half-legal document box)Biographical / Historical
Thankful Smith (b. 1749) and Mary Smith Dunster (1739-1796) were the daughters of Reverend Thomas Smith (Harvard AB 1725) and his wife Judith Smith of Pembroke, Mass. Mary married Rev. Isaiah Dunster (1720-1791; Harvard AB 1741) in November 1766. Caleb Gannett, before leaving for Nova Scotia in June 1768, was a member of the Pembroke church, suggesting the letter was written at some point between Mary's marriage in 1766 and his departure from Pembroke in 1768.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Michael R. Gannett in 1981.
Repository Details
Part of the Harvard University Archives Repository
Holding nearly four centuries of materials, the Harvard University Archives is the principal repository for the institutional records of Harvard University and the personal archives of Harvard faculty, as well as collections related to students, alumni, Harvard-affiliates and other associated topics. The collections document the intellectual, cultural, administrative and social life of Harvard and the influence of the University as it emerged across the globe.
Pusey Library
Harvard Yard
Cambridge MA 02138 USA
(617) 495-2461
archives_reference@harvard.edu