William S. Morrill Papers, 1843-1918

Title:

William S. Morrill Papers, 1843-1918

Creator:

Morrill, William S., 1821-1905

Accession / Call Number:

2000.016

Object ID:

2000.016

Date:

1943-1918

Physical Description:

1 box ; 0.21 linear feet

Scope and Content:

The William S. Morrill Papers consist of diaries, records, a handwritten memoir, and miscellaneous papers, such as writings and receipts, related to Reverend William S. Morrill and his son, William S. Morrill Jr. The materials in this collection date from 1843 to 1918. A volume of funerals attended by Reverend Morrill is dated 1843 to 1881 and covers a number of towns in New Hampshire, as well as a few in Vermont. These include: Clarksville, Colebrook, Columbia, Danbury, Grafton, Marlow, Pittsburg, Springfield, Stewartstown, and Wilmot, NH; and Canaan, VT. A short list of baptisms is included, dating from 1845 to 1879. An autobiography of Reverend William S. Morrill covers from his birth on January 28, 1821 to November 2, 1868. This volume provides details of his life, travels, where he was living, and his service as minister, noting yearly totals for preaching, funerals, baptisms, and marriages, as well as payments and expenses. This volume also provides comments on the Civil War, noting his brother True Merrill died near New Orleans in 1863, and at the end of 1864, he provides a summary of the war and political situation. A transcription of this volume is available in the library. See: Rev. William S. Morrill: The Life of a New Hampshire Clergyman, 920 M874m. There are three diaries of Reverend William S. Morrill, which cover the period 1879 to 1881, 1886 to 1887, and 1900 to 1902. This last diary lists Morrill as living in Danbury, NH, and all the diaries provide brief entries on daily activities, including the weather, farm work, travel to Springfield and Andover, paying bills, going to the post office, and attending church and town meetings. There are also some entries on funerals he attended. The final entry, dated 1902, provides a brief note on his service in the ministry, stating he had attended more than five hundred funerals and married one hundred and forty couples. Other items in this collection include a diary transcription titled "William S. Morrill, Diaries, Selections, 1899-1920," however, the pages included only contain selections from 1899 to 1903. This transcription is for William S. Morrill Jr., son to Reverend William S. Morrill. There is also a page of a journal titled The Congregationalist and Advance from 1918 and letterhead from the New Hampshire House of Representatives.

Subjects:

Autobiography , Baptism , Clergy , Diaries , Farm life , Farmers , Funeral rites and ceremonies , Politicians , Politics and government , Religion , United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Locations:

Canaan, VT
Clarksville, NH
Colebrook, NH
Columbia, NH
Danbury, NH
Grafton, NH
Marlow, NH
Pittsburg, NH
Springfield, NH
Stewartstown, NH
Wilmot, NH

People:

Morrill, William S., 1821-1905 , Morrill, William S., 1879-1921

Organizations:

New Hampshire. General Court. House of Representatives

Credit Line:

Gift of the great-grandchildren of Rev. W. S. Morrill.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Collection