The Winterthur Library

 The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

 

Creator:          Alonzo P. Megrath, 1804-1850                                   

Title:               Papers

Dates:             1825-1905

Call No.:         Col. 651          

Acc. No.:         02x57

Quantity:        85 items

Location:        34 J 2  

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Alonzo P. Megrath and his son Alonzo Wright Megrath ran the first harness shop in Greenfield, Massachusetts; the shop was in business for over seventy years.  Alonzo P. was born on August 31, 1804.  He married Mary Ann Wright of Northampton, Massachusetts, on or around April 10, 1827.  The Megrath children were Alonzo Wright (born April 11, 1828), Noah A., Mary Ann, Christopher, Austin W., Louisa, and Harriet.  Alonzo P. Megrath died from consumption on May 25, 1850.

 

The son Alonzo W. Megrath was married to Ellen L. Barton in 1859.  He is reported to have made the first baby carriage in the area, which was the start of the baby carriage industry in Greenfield.  (The baby carriage he made was donated to Memorial Hall in Deerfield, Massachusetts, but it is not known whether it is still there.)  The younger Megrath also worked for the harness maker S. B. Payne.  After 1895, he was listed in the town directories as a mechanic, rather than a harness maker or saddler.  Megrath died on February 10, 1905.

 

The son Noah moved to Bibb County, Georgia.  Nothing is known about the other children.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

The papers reflect several aspects of the Megraths’ lives.  A few documents are from the harness business of Alonzo P., including indentures for apprentices.  A newspaper carries an ad for an apprentice.  The Megrath property was struck by fire in 1835, and the collection includes a memorandum of their losses, plus lists of materials used to repair the damage to the house and rebuild the barn, and instructions for the finishing of the buildings.  Another group of papers relates to the estates of Alonzo P. and Alonzo W., including a copy of Alonzo P.’s will and an inventory of his estate.  (Alonzo W. inherited his father’s harness-making tools.  All the children were given trunks, perhaps ones made by their father.)  The Megraths bought and sold land in the Greenfield area as evidenced by the deeds in this collection.  Lastly, there are copies of fire insurance policies and receipts for payments of premiums for a life insurance policy. 

           

 

ORGANIZATION

           

The materials are arranged by subject: harness business; fire claims and rebuilding after the fire; deeds, bonds, and leases, most of which pertain to real estate; papers relating to the estates of Alonzo P. and Alonzo W. Megrath; and insurance papers.

 

 

PROVENANCE

           

Purchased from Dan Casavant Rare Books, Waterville, Maine.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

            People:

                        Megrath, Alonzo W., 1828-1905

 

Topics:

            Harness making and trade - Massachusetts - Greenfield.

            Harness makers.

            Harness – Inventories.

            Apprentices - Massachusetts - Greenfield

            Patent licenses.

            Insurance, Fire.

            Fire insurance claims.

            Fires - Massachusetts - Greenfield.

            Dwellings – Maintenance and repair – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

            Barns – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

            Barns – Designs and plans.

            Carpentry – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

            Deeds – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

                        Mortgages – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

                        Wills – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

                        Inventories of decedents’ estates – Massachusetts – Greenfield.

                        Insurance policies.

                        Insurance, Life.

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 34 J 2

 

[note: all accession numbers begin with 02x57]

 

 

Folder 1: Harness business, 1825-1850

 

.1         Agreement between Alonzo P. Megrath and Ira Atkins to establish a co-partnership to make saddles, harness, and trunks in Greenfield, Mass., September 2, 1825

 

.2         “Sketch of inventory, close of co Business,” settling accounts between Megrath and Atkins, August 1826

 

.3         Indenture, apprenticing Thomas Rockwood, the son of Thomas Rockwood, to Alonzo P. Megrath, September 6, 1826

 

.4         Indenture, apprenticing Edward P. Graves, son of Timothy Graves and ward of Elisha Graves, to Alonzo P. Megrath, July 23, 1830

 

.5         Indenture, apprenticing Lewis L. Graves, son of Timothy Graves and ward of Elisha Graves, to Alonzo P. Megrath, December 1, 1832

 

.6         Document from Elijah Webster granting Alonzo P. Megrath the right to make, construct, use, and vend an improved horse collar patented by Horace Holton, February 28, 1835

 

.7         Document from Olonzo R. Dinsmoor granting Alonzo P. Megrath the right to make, construct, use, and vend an improved riding saddle, October 25, 1835; attached to this is a copy of Dinsmoor’s letters patent for the saddle

 

.8         Letter from Ira Atkins, enclosing pattern for an improved lock, June 6, 1837

 

.9-.11   patterns for the lock referred to in the letter above

 

.12-.13             Documents from Horatio Robinson, Lyman S. Paine, and Chester Snow (attorney for Horatio and Noah Robinson) granting Alonzo P. Megrath the right to make, construct, use, and vend an improved buckle patented by Issac B. Verplank, June 9, 1846

 

.14a-b              A promissory note from A. P. Megrath to A. W. Megrath, June 2, 1849, attached to an account for work done by A. W. Megrath for A. P. Megrath, dated September 1850

 

 

Folder 2: Newspaper, 1834

 

.85       a copy of the Greenfield Gazette & Franklin Herald, November 18, 1834, on page 3 of which is an ad placed by A. P. Megrath seeking an apprentice

 

 

Folder 3: Fire losses, 1835

 

.15       “List of Articles Lost by Fire,” dated September 22, 1835

            The list also includes values for the items lost.  Among the items on the list: hay, tools, coal, wagon and sled, some food stuffs, nails, etc.  Also included are the values of the lost barn and woodhouse, and damage to the main house.  On the last page is a rough sketch, perhaps of the house showing the damaged areas.

 

.16       “To the President and Directors of the Franklin Mutual Fire Insurance Company,” October 5, 1835

            A list of the items lost in the fire, but most of these do not have a value assigned to them.  Towards the back of the memo book will be found the dimensions of buildings lost in the fire: barn, woodhouse, back kitchen, well house, and back house.

 

 

Folder 4: Rebuilding after the fire, 1836-1837

 

.17a-b              Lists of sills, joists, scantling, planks, boards, posts, beams, plates, rafters, floor boards, clapboards, and other wood used in repairing the damaged and burned buildings (two identical lists)

 

.18       Bill for timber used in reconstruction of woodhouse and barn

 

.19       Agreement between Thomas Rockwood and Alonzo P. Megrath, for Rockwood to build a barn, woodhouse, back house, back kitchen, mealroom, and clothes press according to the plan of Hiram Bardwell, March 18, 1836

            The agreement includes specifications for the finishing of the buildings.

 

.20       Bill for “Extra work on A. P. Megrath’s Buildings,” from Thomas Rockwood, January 14, 1837

 

 

Folder 5: Deeds, bonds, leases (mostly real estate), 1828-1873

 

.21       Record of sale of property in Greenfield by Hooker Leavitt, to Alonzo P. Megrath, June 10, 1828

 

.22       Record of sale of property in Greenfield by Thaddeus Coleman, Sylvester Allen, and Daniel Wells, to Alonzo P. Megrath, April 30, 1831

 

.23a-b              Record of sale of property in Greenfield by John J. Pierce, Alanson Clark, and Henry W. Cushman, trustees of David Willard, to Alonzo P. Megrath, February 13, 1835; attached to the record of sale is a plat map drawn by Ozias Roberts on May 7, 1835

 

.24       Lease of property, Alonzo P. Megrath leasing to Joseph Knuland(? Kneeland?), May 10, 1838

 

.25       Agreement signed by Joseph C. Knuland to pay Alonzo P. Megrath for land 5 rods in width

 

.26       Plat map for land owned by Jonathan Russell in Greenfield, survery by Ozias Roberts for Alonzo P. Megrath, June 5, 1843

 

.27       Memorandum of an agreement between Alonzo P. Megrath and Amasa Wells and Horace Wells, renting rooms to Amasa Wells, April 9, 1844

 

.28       A promise to pay Christopher and Austin Wright, April 15, 1844; the name of the person who signed the document has been torn off but it was probably Alonzo P. Megrath; on back is a record of interest payments made 1845-1850

 

.29       Record of sale of property in Greenfield by Alonzo P. Megrath to Christopher Wright and Austin Wright, June 11, 1844

 

.30       Record of sale of property in Greenfield by George W. Potter and Wendell T. Davis, to Alonzo P. Megrath, April 1, 1847

 

.31       Agreement that Alonzo W. Megrath will support Polly Jones, furnishing her with clothes, provisions, lodging, etc., during her lifetime, November 15, 1852

 

.32       Mortgage deed from Alonzo W. Megrath to Marcus S. Robinson, June 7, 1867

 

.33       Agreement between Alonzo W. Megrath and Marcus S. Robinson, June 7, 1867, that Robinson will support the widow Mary Ann Megrath [wife of Alonzo P. Megrath] during her lifetime, but Alonzo W. is to pay Robinson for her support

 

.34       Quitclaim, Noah Megrath gives his right to real estate inherited from his father Alonzo P. Megrath to his brother Alonzo W. Megrath; Noah is in Bibb County, Georgia; April 11, 1873

 

 

Folder 6: Estates of Alonzo P. and Alonzo W. Megrath, 1847-1905

 

.35       Mary A. Megrath received one dollar form Alonzo W. Megrath, August 24, 1847

 

.36       Copy of the will of Alonzo P. Megrath, March 21, 1850

 

.37       Copy of the inventory of the estate of Alonzo P. Megrath, n.d.

            The inventory gives values for the goods.  There are a number of saddles, pieces of harness, trunks, and the materials needed to make those goods.  As well, there are some tools, furniture, and assorted household goods.

 

.38       Receipt, E. P. Graves received money from Alonzo W. Megrath on behalf of Alonzo P. Megrath, March 22, 1850

 

.39       Notice that John J. Pierce and A. W. Megrath are named executors of the will of Alonzo P. Megrath, August 27, 1850

 

.40       Notice giving permission to the executors to sell the personal estate of Alonzo P. Megrath, October 8, 1850

 

.41       Receipt, E. P. Graves received money from Alonzo W. Megrath on behalf of estate of Alonzo P. Megrath, October 28, 1850

 

.42       notes about money, relating to the estate of Alonzo P. Megrath, ca. June 14, 1851

 

.43       note about bank stock, including names of some of children of Alonzo P. Megrath, ca.1852

 

.44       Mary Ann Megrath, widow, appoints Alonzo W. Megrath to act as her attorney in securing her portion of the estate of Austin Wright of Northampton, Mass., October 16, 1852

 

.45       L. A. Megrath promises to pay money to Mary Ann Megrath, March 12, 1853; on back are recorded interest payments, 1853-1861; front is marked “paid April 27, 1865 by renewal”

 

.46       List of items purchased by Alonzo W. Megrath from estate of Alonzo P. Megrath, September 24, 1854; mostly he bought harness and materials for making harnesses

 

.47       N[oah] A. Megrath received money to fulfill his claim upon the estate of his father, the money being paid by the executors, April 27, 1865

 

.48       Austin W. Megrath received money to fulfill his claim upon the estate of his father, the money being paid by the executors, June 30, 1866

 

.49       Document stating that will of Alonzo W. Megrath has been proved, March 21, 1905

 

.50       Document stating that Lorinda E. Megrath has been appointed executor of the will of Alonzo W. Megrath, March 21, 1905

 

 

Folder 7: Insurance policies, 1830, 1848

 

.51       Franklin Mutual Fire Insurance Company, policy issued to Daniel Wells, Thaddeus Coleman, and Sylvester Allen, covering January 1, 1830 to January 1, 1837

 

.52       New England Mutual Fire Insurance Company, policy issued to Alonzo P. Megrath, February 1, 1847 to February 1, 1849

 

 

Folder 8: Insurance payment receipts, 1847-1896              

 

.53-.57             New England Mutual Fire Insurance Company, receipts for 1847-1849

 

.58-.78             Home Life Insurance Co., receipts and notices of payment due, 1865-1867, 1872-1876, 1881-1882, 1891, 1894-1896

 

 

Folder 9: Home Life Insurance Co. printed materials

 

.79       ad for the Home Life Insurance Co.

 

.80       “Practical Thoughts on Life Insurance,” published by the company, ca.1861

 

.81       14th annual report, 1874

 

.82       24th annual report, 1884

 

.83       statement verifying the financial soundness of the company

 

.84       37th annual statement, 1897