Sub-Series III: Papers of the Montgomery Family and associates, 1832-1918, Undated
Scope and Contents
This sub-series consists mostle of correspondence from collateral members of the Montgomery family and their associates. These include members of the Rochester, Talman, Ward and Sawyer families. Other materials include wills and Surrogate Court documents (Louisa Pitkin). The materials in this sub-series date between 1832 and 1918.
Dates
- Creation: 1832-1918, Undated
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the collection.
Biographical Note
Louisa Lucinda Rochester
Louisa Lucinda Rochester was born on September 22, 1810 in Dansville, New York, the twelfth child of Nathaniel and Sophia Rochester. In 1818, her family moved to her father’s namesake city. In 1848, she married William Pitkin, a successful merchant and nursery owner who had been Mayor of Rochester from 1845 to 1846. They had no children together, but Pitkin brought into the marriage his 5 surviving children from his first marriage. Pitkin passed away in 1869. Louisa Rochester was a leader in charitable causes and an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She passed away on July 2, 1903 and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Nathaniel Thrift Rochester
Nathaniel Thrift Rochester was the child of Col. Nathaniel and Sophia Rochester, born on March 4. 1802 in Hagerstown, Maryland. He moved to the Genesee Country with his family at a young age, coming to Rochester in April 1818. According to his obituary, Nathaniel Thrift Rochester was a quiet man who engaged business, first in the iron trade with his brother Henry E. Rochester and William H. Ritter, then with J. M. Whitney Co. in running the Shawmut Mills. He also served for many years on the Board of Supervisors, including a term as its clerk, along with one term as City Clerk. A lifelong member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, he was elected warden in 1851. Nathaniel Thrift Rochester married Catharine Ann Cummings of New York City on June 15, 1836. They had 6 children together, only one of whom survived to maturity – and even that child passed away over 20 years before his father. Nathaniel Thrift Rochester passed away at Saratoga Springs on June 14, 1883, and is buried in the Rochester family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery.
Margaret (Sawyer) Ward
Margaret Sawyer was born February 7, 1835 to James W. and Margaret Caldwell Sawyer. Her father, a Scottish immigrant, was a successful dry goods merchant. Margaret married William Hand Ward, a successful businessman and member of the prominent Ward family of Grove Place, on June 1, 1861. They had no children. Due to both her upbringing and her marriage, Margaret was a member of Rochester’s social elite, and a prominent member of Rochester society for decades. She passed away on November 5, 1916 and was interred in Mount Hope Cemetery; her husband lived on until 1927.
Extent
From the Collection: 10.6 Cubic Feet (24 boxes, 4 OS ledgers)
From the Collection: 2.0 Cubic Feet
From the Collection: 1.0 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Bibliography
Louisa Rochester Pitkin
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7611722/louisa-l-pitkin : accessed 9 September 2021), memorial page for Louisa L Rochester Pitkin (22 Sep 1810–1903), Find a Grave Memorial ID 7611722, citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Mount Hope NY (contributor 219) .
”Mrs. Louisa Lucinda Rochester Pitkin.” American Monthly Magazine. Volume 23, No. 3, September 1903, page 199. Accessed September 9, 2021 from https://books.google.com/books?id=dNQQAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA199&lpg=PA199&dq=louisa+rochester+pitkin&source=bl&ots=WB6AnO5fif&sig=ACfU3U3SaHXmbKhKb-rrCW5t-SsmxNj-mA&hl=en&sa=X&oved=2ahUKEwjLrem35fLyAhVSnuAKHcPuBuMQ6AF6BAgZEAM#v=onepage&q=louisa%20rochester%20pitkin&f=false
Nathaniel Thrift Rochester
“Death of Nathaniel T. Rochester.” Union & Advertiser (newspaper), Rochester, New York, June 15, 1883, page 2.
Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/11569304/nathaniel-thrift-rochester : accessed 16 July 2021), memorial page for Nathaniel Thrift Rochester (4 Mar 1802–14 Jun 1883), Find a Grave Memorial ID 11569304, citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Mount Hope NY (contributor 219) .
Margaret (Sawyer) Ward
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147586740/margaret-ward : accessed 9 September 2021), memorial page for Margaret Sawyer Ward (7 Feb 1835–5 Nov 1916), Find a Grave Memorial ID 147586740, citing Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Virginia D (contributor 48327939) .
Repository Details
Part of the Local History & Genealogy Division Repository
115 South Ave.
Rochester 14604 USA
585-428-8370
585-428-8353 (Fax)
lochistref@libraryweb.org