Drawing, Family Record

Title:

A Record of Permelia H. Dow's Age

Object Name:

Drawing, Family Record

Object ID:

2021.023

Creator:

Murray, James (1801-1888)

Place of Origin:

Barnstead, NH

Date:

1821

Description:

Birth Record of Permelia H. Dow, Barnstead, NH, 1821. Watercolor and ink on paper. Written in ink in large circle, center right: "A / Record of / Permelia H. Dows Age. She Was / Born December 1st 1818 In Barnstead / County of Strafford state of New Hampshire." Large compass, center left. Signed in circle, center bottom: "James / Murray / Scripscit / February 16 / 1821". Decorated with three birds, foliage garlands, stars, and other designs. Matted and framed.

Material:

Paper

Dimensions:

H-14.3 W-11.5 inches

Provenance:

Permelia H. Dow (1818-1875) was born in Barnstead, NH, the daughter of Gen. Timothy Dow and Mary P. Hodgdon. Permelia married Jacob B. Locke (1818-1860) in 1840, farmed, and raised a family in Barnstead. Permelia's father, General Timothy Dow (1796-1861), was the son of Simon Dow and Abigail Murray of Durham and Barnstead. The birth record was drawn by James Murray (1801-1888) of Farmington, NH, who married Permelia H. Dow's aunt, Margaret M. Dow (1800-1888) of Barnstead, in 1822. He was the son of John Murray and Rose Canney of Farmington. Margaret M. Dow was a younger sister of Permelia's father. It is also significant that siblings Timothy and Margaret Dow were both children of Abigail Murray (1765-1820), a cousin of the artist. James and Margaret Murray next appear in public records as residents of Franklin, NH, in 1830, where they remained until 1839-40, when they moved to Menard County, Illinois. Murray served as deputy sheriff of Merrimack County, a justice of the peace, and was a captain in the New Hampshire militia, before moving to Illinois.

Credit Line:

Gift of William W. Upton and Mr. and Mrs. James L. Garvin

People:

Dow, Permelia H. (1818-1875), Murray, James (1801-1888)

Subjects:

Family records, Pictorial, Birds, Compasses