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Nathaniel Rochester family papers

 Collection
Identifier: A.R66

Biographical/Historical note

A.R66, the Rochester (Nathaniel) Family Papers, 1777-1888, is one of five collections relating to the Rochester family in the Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. The other collections are: D.236, the Rochester Family Papers, which include letters to Nathaniel Rochester from his sons John Cornelius and William Beatty Rochester concerning defenses and maneuvers on the Niagara frontier and at Sackets Harbor and Plattsburg; CX.28, three diaries kept by Nathaniel Thrift Rochester (1802-1883), eighth child of Nathaniel Rochester, between 1833 and 1861. The diaries describe a trip to Europe in 1833-34, family events, religious feeling, the weather, church attendance, illnesses, etc; D.240, the papers of William Beatty Rochester (1789-1838) a son of Nathaniel Rochester; D.211, the papers of Henry Elie Rochester (1806-1889), another son of Nathaniel Rochester.

Scope and Contents note

The collection contains biographical information and legal documents relating to Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831), a founder of the city of Rochester, N.Y., and to his wife, Sophia (Beatty) Rochester (1768-1845). Also included are a number of documents relating to Harvey Montgomery ( -1869), the husband of Nathaniel and Sophia Rochester's fifth child, Mary Eleanor (Rochester) Montgomery (1796-1849). In addition, one folder contains personal correspondence written between 1841 and 1849 to Mary G. (Whitney) Montogomery (?-1882), wife of Harvey and Mary Eleanor Montgomery's fifth child, Thomas Colman Montgomery (1820-1906).

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1777-1888

Language of Materials

English

Extent

2 box(es)

Restrictions on Access

The Nathaniel Rochester Family Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Books Special Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Restrictions on Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

This collection was mainly the gift of Mrs. Joseph Roby, March 26, 1956, and was partially purchased on NEH-General, October 31, 1980, from Norman Bellows.

On March 25, 1988, R. Ross Roby gave a small notebook kept by his great great grandfather Nathaniel Rochester in 1776 during his service in the Revolutionary War, and the papers of his great grandfather, Henry Elie Rochester (1806-1889), the son of Nathaniel Rochester.

The Nathaniel Rochester notebook has been added to this collection as folder 13 of box 2; the Henry Elie Rochester Papers have been processed as collection D.211. Two folders in this collection (box 2, folders 5 and 9) relating to Henry Elie Rochester have been removed and added to the Henry Elie Rochester Papers.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Nathaniel Rochester Family Papers, A.R66, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Related collections

Three collections in the Western Maryland Regional Library include records related to Nathaniel Rochester. These include the Tax Records for Washington County (1803-1804), the Court Records for Washington County (1778-1793), and the Jail and Other Law Enforcement Records of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester, Sheriff of Washington County (1804-1806). These are available online at www.whilbr.org.

Title
Nathaniel Rochester family papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • 2017-11: EAD revision

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA