HISTORICAL NOTE

This book is a palimpsest. It was used as a daybook from about 1803 to 1808 by an unidentified member of the Shed (d) family, possibly Mary (Polly) described as a “ widow of Tewksbury” at the time of her death in Andover in 1809. this first user was a spinner, hand weaver and tailor.

In 1818 the book was taken over by “Master Charles Shed, Aged 10 Years” who used it as a scrapbook for anecdotes cut from newspapers and a daybook. He used the book from 1818 to 1821.

Charles Shed began work at the age of twelve in Richardson and Valpey’s store; for Mark Newman, another store owner and for various Andover farmers riding plough horses.

Charles Shed, b. 6 June 1807, was the son of Jacob and Polly Shed. His mother seems to have been the first of three wives of Jacob Shed. A wife Susanna died in March 1820 and in October Jacob married Hannah Norwell. Charles may have died young as Charlotte Helen Abbott speaks of Jacob’s only son Joel.

Used in the compilation of this note were the Andover Vital Records to 1850 and Charlott Helen Abbott’s typed notes on the Shed(d) family.

The gift of Clara Flint Reed, 1 July 1967, this book was formerly cataloged as Ms 11.

Processed by Mary F. Morgan, January 1983.