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ABEL VEIL SHOTWELL : 1881 - 1885 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY THE SCION OF A LONG ESTABLISHED [1709] NEW JERSEY FAMILY WITH ROOTS TO THE MAYFLOWER

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer is a super, significant original 1881 - 1885 manuscript diary handwritten by Abel Veil Shotwell the then scion of a many, many generations established in New Jersey family and whose ancestors crossed from England on the second Mayflower, after their original ship the Speedwell was turned back, landing at Plymouth Massachusetts in the later half of the 17th Century but eventually settling on the banks of the Rahway River in New Jersey around 1709. Abel's father was a tanner but Abel's path began as a clerk in a mercantile house, then insurance settling into banking. He was also a Director and on the Board of a number of financial institutions. The Shotwell history is enthusiastically written in the "History of Union County New Jersey". [See the bio notes after the description.] The diary is a superb effort by Abel to detail his life; a largish 258 page 7¾ x 12 inch ledger was used and well filled beginning March 3rd, 1881 through August 11th, 1885. Able never missed a day and provides long detailed entries and fascinating events some of which he witnessed personally such as the May 30th 1883 opening of the Brooklyn Bridge as it is known today when a large crowd panicked thinking the bridge might collapse and 12 people were killed and over a hundred injured; a trip to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket Island, and Salem Massachusetts where he details many of the great historical artefacts he sees and what he learns about the Witch Trials, the awful death of his sister-in-law Margaret, President Garfield's death, elections, fires and explosions around town, town meetings concerning the debt of the town, a large flood, he also attends the trial of a woman who robbed his house, his near death overdose of medicine and much, much more. To add even further depth to this diary at each year's end summarizes all of the names of the folks who have passed away and who they were in the community and their relationship with him. Abel was a super diarist. Here is a snippet: "August 3rd, Clear. At 12:45 with R. and I left for Portland in New York. Got on board steamship Eleanor, Pier 38 and then found Jones and wife of Plainfield who had ticket for same berth that R. and I had when then Jones had to procure another berth. Also found on board Thomas Raynor and grandson of late Robert Amerson. On the passage R. and I and Mary became quite sick caused of the rolling of the ship, not a fast sailor." "August 4th, Reached Martha's Vineyard before 11 A.M. and rode across the island to Sea View House, a large one at which was a great many people with scarcely a chair to sit on except those in the dining room. The rooms are beautiful and smooth and very fine cottages with fine surroundings. A small R. Road (railroad) starts from this place and makes frequent trips along the shore and returns. The engine and cars are very small." "August 5th, left in forenoon for steamboat for Nantucket. Have fine passage and reached there about noon and went to the Sherburne House and found it a good but not showy place. Afternoon went to the museum and saw many curiosities and walked about the town. Fell in with the lady residing there who came from Staten Island and enquired after Dr. Drake." "August 7th, Called at a house to see Bric a brac and found the _____ to see the woman who sat in the galley by the name of Paddock. Went in cars to opposite side of the island and found good bathing beach and saw fishing boats land. Visited the Wine Mill built in 746 and saw it in operation. The owner said he'd run it generally in the winter and could grind 60 ___ ____ per day. Also visited the museum……" BIO NOTES: Abel Vail Shotwell was born October 18, 1814, in Rahway, New Jersey. His parents were Abel and Elizabeth (Vail) Shotwell. His father did an extensive business as a tanner, in Rahway. His mother was a native of Somerset County, New Jersey, and was the fifth in descent from Edward Fitz Randolph, a native of Nottinghamshire, England, who was born about 1617 and came to Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1630. Edward Fitz Randolph was married May 10, 1637, to Elizabeth Blossom, born in Leyden, 1620, her parents having left England to escape persecution. They came to America the same year on the Mayflower. In 1830 he became a clerk in a mercantile house, and later began business on his own account, in church he was actively engaged until 1868. In 1868 he became connected with the Rahway Fire Insurance Company. He was for many years second vice-president of the Rahway Savings Bank, also secretary of the board of directors of the national Bank of Rahway and was for a long period director in the old Farmers and Mechanics Bank, of Rahway. In 1858, when Rahway became a city, he was chosen to represent the first ward in the city council. He was married November 2, 1859, to his second cousin, Rosetta Shotwell Ebert, of Hamilton, Ohio, granddaughter of Hugh Shotwell, formerly of Scotch Plains, New Jersey. On her father's side she was a great-granddaughter of Colonel Smyser, of York County Pennsylvania, an officer in the Revolutionary war. Colonel Smyser was a captain in Colonel Swope's regiment, and was captured at Fort Washington, on the Hudson, November 16, 1766. Mr. Shotwell died December 17, 1893." The covers are detached but present, there a couple of loose pages but all accounted for and otherwise overall better than Fair.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Fair+

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