A Friendship Album Belonging to Mary Ann Pratt, Livonia, 19 Oct. 1829

friendship album, poetry, women's history, motherhood, infant death

A friendship album belonging to Mary Ann Pratt (1813- c.1880) who lived in Livonia, NY, dating from 1829-1835. The majority of the album entries are from 1830-1832 and appear to be from her local friends from the surrounding towns of Mt. Morris, and Dansville, NY, though there are a few entries from 1834-1835 after her marriage to Frederick Stanley (c. 1807- c. 1870). The entries mostly consists of poems, with some original works, as well as short notes, whose general themes touch on memory, friendship, morality, heaven, and time. There is a acrostic poem of Mary's full name done by her friend, Bradner. There are three (3) pages of tucked in the pages with different verses dealing with the death of an infant child. It is unclear who wrote these poems as they are neither addressed to Mary Ann, or signed and or dated by a friend or family member. Additionally, no record of Mary Ann losing an infant child could be found, though that is not uncommon.

Although the poems are sometimes titled incorrectly on the page, they were able to be properly attributed to their originally authors, in doing so, it was noted that in one poem the physical descriptions of the dead child within the poem were changed (blue eyed to black eyed). The poems used are, with incorrect titles in [ ]: "To a Young Mother" by Charles Sprague, "Death of an Infant [The Dead Infant]" By Charles Sprague, and "Lines on the Death of My Much Loved Infant [On the Death of My Dear Little Babe]" by Charlotte. Brown marbled covers. Red and brown marbled end papers. Nearly completely filled. Measures 9" x 7".

Below are some excerpts from the entries in the album:

"Be assured dear Miss Pratt, that I feel a deep and tender interest in your present and future welfare. That you may be so happy as to secure the favour [sic] of that blessed 'One', whose outstretched arms are ready to encircle you in the embrace of everlasting love, is the sincere desire of your friend."
- Excerpt from entry by Austus E. Stow, Livonia, NY, October, 29, 1829

"In summer's beauteous sky afar I view the lovely evening star Its beam ray The poets say Illumes [sic] the path for Cupid's ear Perhaps its course may sometimes be the star-lit path But love would see A fairer light More pure and bright in J.....'s eyes So guide to me."
- Entry by 'C. N. B.', inferred to C. N. Beecher based on other entries, Dansville Village, NY, October 19, 1829. The excerpt is from the poem a 'Trifle from the French' published in the American Masonic Record and Albany Saturday Magazine

"Thou rarest a tribute, from my pen A tribute due to friendship shrine White pleasure I will grant the boon; And tender forth my thoughts in rhyme. The time I've set a part to thee, Shall not be spent in flattery, I will not say that in thee are combined..."
- Entry from original poem by Bingham, Mt. Morris, January 31, 1830.

"There is a world we have not seen That time shall never dare destroy; Where mortal footsteps hath not been Nor earth hath caught tis sound of joy."
- Excerpt from entry by Almira Bacon, Mt. Morris, February, 22, 1830, attributed to a poem or hymn called 'The World We Have Not Seen'

"I laid my hands upon her brow and it was damp and cold, her black [sic, blue] eye was glazed and fixed, the fearful tale was told, I gently pressed her little lips, I felt her parting breath, I gazed upon her little face, I asked can this be death?"
- Excerpt from Interfoliata entitled "On the Death of my Dear Little Babe", it is actually from a poem entitled "Lines on the Death of My Much Loved Infant" by Charlotte

Mary Ann Pratt was born in or around 1813 to Jedediah Pratt (1786-1821) and Parna Barker (?-?) mostly like in Albany County, NY. She lived in Livonia, NY in the 1830s. She married Frederick Stanley (c. 1807- before 1870) in or around 1835 and had several children together: Emily Caroline Stanley Parshall (1836-1908), Cornelia Amanda Stanley (1842-1926), William W. Stanley (1845-1926). Mary Ann's exact date of death is unknown, but it appears that she died sometime before 1880, and is buried with her husband in Waverly, NY. Moderate rubbing and edge wear. Some pages are detached. General soiling due to age.