Bryant-Mason-Smith Family Papers

1767-1861

Guide to the Collection

Table of Contents

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketches

Collection Description

Related Materials

Acquisition Information

Organization

Detailed Description of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Access Terms

Materials Removed

Collection Summary

Title:	Bryant-Mason-Smith family papers
Dates:	1767-1861
Physical Description:	4 boxes
Call Number:	Ms. N-249
Microfilm Call Number:	P-481, 1 reel (microfilm) (Capt. John Bryant papers only)
Repository:	Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215 library@masshist.org

Abstract:

This collection consists of the papers of the interrelated Bryant, Mason, and Smith families, including personal and military correspondence. The collection also contains genealogical and biographical information on the Bryant, Mason, Symmes, Smith, and Cleveland families.

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Biographical Sketches

Col. David Mason (1726-1794) was the son of David and Susanna (Stevens) Mason. During the American Revolution, he was an officer in Crane's Artificer Regiment and was stationed at Springfield, MA as Lt. Col. of Artillery artificers and Director of Ordnance. He was succeeded in the position by his son-in-law John Bryant. With his wife Hannah (Symmes) Mason (d. 1788), he had five children who are represented in this collection: Hannah Mason, married Capt. John Bryant (see below); Susan Mason, married Rev. John Smith (see below); Sally Mason (1770-1798), married Capt. Lyman; Mary Mason (married David Tuttle) and David Mason, Jr. (1751-1795).

Rev. John Smith (1752-1809) was a tutor (1774-78), Professor of Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Oriental Languages (1778-1809), librarian (1779-1809), minister of the College Church (1782-1805), and a trustee (1788-1809) of Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. With his first wife Mary (Cleveland) Smith (1759-84), the daughter of Ebenezer Cleveland (1725-1805), he had two children: Abigail (later Perkins, 1781-1870) and Mary Cleveland (later Smith, 1784-1860), wife of John Bryant (the merchant, see below). With his second wife Susan Mason Smith (1763-1845), daughter of David and Hannah Mason (see above), he had three children represented in this collection: Sarah Smith (1789-1812), Samuel Mason Smith (d. 1813), and John Wheelock Smith (d. 1814).

Capt. John Bryant (1742-1816), Deputy Commissary of Military Stores at the Springfield (Mass.) Armory, married Hannah Mason (1757-1829), the daughter of David and Hannah Mason and sister of Susan Mason Smith (see above). Their son John Bryant (1780-1865), a Boston merchant in the firm of Bryant and Sturgis, married Mary Cleveland Smith (1784-1860), the daughter of Rev. John Smith and his first wife, Mary Cleveland Smith (see above). Their children included Mary Cleveland Bryant (1808-1876), Julia Bryant (1822-1842), and Sarah Smith Bryant (b. 1812). John Bryant the merchant, then, was the nephew of Susan Mason and Rev. John Smith through Hannah Mason Bryant, and their son in law and step son in law, respectively, because he married the daughter of Smith's first wife, Mary Cleveland Smith. See the Curator of Manuscripts for genealogical chart.

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Collection Description

The Bryant-Mason-Smith family papers encompass the years 1767-1861. Each of the collection's fourteen series contains either the papers of an individual family member or papers relating to the family as a whole, as well as printed material. The papers of Capt. John Bryant and Col. David Mason relate primarily to their military service. The remainder of the papers are primarily personal correspondence and receipts, as well as some personal writings and poetry.

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Related Materials

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the Bryant-Mason-Smith family papers:

Bryant-Mason-Smith family photographs, ca. 1885-1910 . Photo. Coll. 500.38.

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Acquisition Information

This collection was placed on deposit by Mrs. H. Thomas Ballantine, in March 1993. The papers of Rev. John Smith were originally part of this collection but were donated to the Dartmouth College Special Collections in 1935.

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Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:


	I. Captain John Bryant papers
		A. Military receipts and correspondence, 1767-1798
		B. Military correspondence, 1782-1795
		C. Personal papers, 1785-1816
		D. Letterbook, 1786-1798
	II. John Bryant papers
		A. Bills and receipts, 1806-1841
		B. Tuition bills for children, 1812-1841
		C. Correspondence, 1803-1864
	III. Mary Cleaveland Bryant correspondence, 1810-1831
	IV. Col. David Mason papers
		A. Papers, 1764-1779
		B. Notebook
	V. David Mason, Jr. and Hannah Mason letters, 1792-1798
	VI. Susan Mason Smith papers
		A. Correspondence, 1796-1845
		B. Writings
		C. Miscellaneous receipts, etc.
	VII. Sarah Smith papers
		A. Letters, 1805-1812
		B. Writings and poetry
	VIII. David Mason Bryant letters, 1829-1830
	IX. Additional Smith family papers
		A. Samuel Mason Smith papers
		B. John Wheelock Smith papers
		C. Abigail Smith Perkins / Cyrus Perkins papers
	X. Cleveland family papers, 1786-1802, 1860-1861
	XI. Genealogical / Biographical Materials
		A. Bryant family
		B. Mason / Symmes family
		C. Smith / Cleveland
	XII. Miscellaneous
	XIII. Printed Materials

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Detailed Description of the Collection


Box	Folder	Contents
		I. Capt. John Bryant papers, 1767-1816
Box 1	Folder 1-9		A. Military receipts and records, 1767-1798 Arranged chronologically Documents related to his work as Deputy Commissary of Military Stores at the Springfield Armory, 1782-1798. Includes payrolls, enlistment lists, accounts, disbursements, returns, and receipts from the U.S. for military stores.
Box 1	Folder 10		B. Military correspondence, 1782-1795 Arranged chronologically Official letters to Bryant as Deputy Commissary from Samuel Hodgdon, Colonel of Military Stores. Also included is a set of instructions issued to Capt. Bryant.
Box 1	Folder 11-13		C. Personal papers, 1785-1816 Arranged chronologically Primarily receipts for accounts with Byers and Bliss, William Smith, Frances Lipton, and John Cotton for various items and services. Also included are letter from Bryant to his brother in law, Rev. John Smith.
Box 1	Folder 14		D. Letterbook, 1786-1798 Arranged chronologically Letterbook containing retained copies of Capt. Bryant's military correspondence, including letters to Henry Knox, Samuel Hodgdon, Alexander Hamilton, Samuel Meredith, and Joseph Howard. The letters are primarily regarding ordnance supplies and the payment of wages to Bryant's men.
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		II. John Bryant, 1803-1864
Box 2	Folder 1		A. Bills and receipts, 1806-1847 Arranged chronologically Personal receipts for advertisements in a newspaper, payment of taxes, furniture, linens, and other goods. Also contains a receipt of money from Daniel Tuttle for the care of his son John, a cousin of John Bryant.
Box 2	Folder 2-10		B. Tuition bills, 1812-1841 Arranged chronologically Receipts for the education of John Bryant's children.
Box 2	Folder 11		C. Correspondence, 1803-1864 Arranged chronologically Personal letters written to his daughters Mary and Julia, uncle Rev. John Smith, aunt (and stepmother) Susan Smith, and one from his sister, S. Hatch. Also included are a letter and response from John Richards regarding cemetery plots and a letter from Josiah Quincy, Jr.
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Box 2	Folder 12	III. Mary (Cleveland) Bryant correspondence, 1810-1831 Arranged chronologically Primarily contains letters to her daughters, Mary Cleveland Bryant and Julia Bryant. Other letters are to her sister Hannah, from Dr. William Ellery Channing, from relations in St. Louis, as well as correspondence between her daughters, Mary Cleveland Bryant and Sarah Smith Bryant.
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		IV. Col. David Mason papers, 1764-1779
Box 2	Folder 13		A. Papers, 1764-1779 Arranged chronologically Relating mostly to his military service, Mason's papers include a receipt for Prospect Hill ammunition (1776), a letter to Gen. Putnam (1777), orders from Major General Horatio Gates (1779), a transfer order for Robert Bancroft (1779), and a letter from Mason to his daughter, Susan Smith (1784).
Box 2	Folder 14		B. Notebook [177?-178?] Mason's notebook kept during his service in the Revolution, containing measurements, calculations and notes relating to his position in the Artillery.
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Box 2	Folder 15	V. David Mason, Jr. and Hannah Mason letters, 1792-1798 Arranged chronologically Personal letters from siblings David Mason, Jr. and Hannah Mason to their parents, Col. David and Hannah Mason, and to their brothers in law Daniel Tuttle and Rev. John Smith.
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		VI. Susan Mason Smith papers 1796-1845
Box 3	Folder 1-6		A. Correspondence, 1796-1845 Arranged chronologically Letters to her sister Hannah, nephew and stepson in law John Bryant, stepdaughter Mary (Cleveland Bryant), granddaughter Mary Cleveland Bryant, and grandson John Bryant, as well as a letter from Daniel Tuttle, primarily concerning family matters.
Box 3	Folder 7		B. Writings Personal writings, mostly relating to reflections on and questions pertaining to religion.
Box 3	Folder 8		C. Miscellaneous receipts, etc., 1822-1842 Receipt for fabric and other goods, as well as documents for the lease of her property.
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		VII. Sarah Smith papers, 1805-1812
Box 3	Folder 9-11		A. Letters, 1805-1812 Arranged chronologically Letters to her stepsister Mary Cleveland Bryant, brothers John Wheelock Smith and Samuel Smith, mother Susan Smith, and friends Miss Millen, Miss Kent, and Maria Malleville Wheelock. Also included is a letter written after her death addressed to Mary Cleveland Bryant, probably from one of her admirers.
Box 3	Folder 12-16		B. Writings and poetry Poems dedicated to family and friends as well as stories and personal reflections.
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Box 4	Folder 1	VIII. David Mason Bryant letters, 1829-1830 Arranged chronologically Letters from Chicopee to brother John Bryant regarding the death of their mother, their father's estate, and other family matters.
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		IX. Additional Smith family papers
Box 4	Folder 2		A. Samuel Mason Smith papers, 1809-1812 Arranged chronologically Contains a geometry diagram, reward for application to study at Berwick Academy, letter to his sister in law Mary Cleveland Bryant, and a letter from his cousin, William Bryant.
Box 4	Folder 3		B. John Wheelock Smith papers, 1803-1814 Arranged chronologically Contains letters to his parents, Rev. John Smith and Susan Smith; to William Sturgis, business partner of his cousin John Bryant; to a friend in New York; and from Robert Dickson. Also included are an oration, a commencement speech, his Dartmouth diploma signed by President John Wheelock, some personal receipts, a silhouette cut out and an inventory of his belongings taken after his death in London in 1814.
Box 4	Folder 4		C. Abigail Smith Perkins and Cyrus Perkins papers, 1802-1812 Arranged chronologically. Letters to Abigail's sister Mary Cleveland Bryant, her father Rev. John Smith, her stepmother Susan Smith, and stepbrother John Wheelock Smith in London.
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Box 4	Folder 5	X. Cleveland family papers, 1786-1802, 1860-1861 Arranged chronologically. Letters from Ebenezer Cleveland to his daughter Mary Cleveland Smith and son in law Rev. John Smith. The other family letters are signed Mary Cleveland, presumably a relation from another branch of the family.
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		XI. Genealogical/biographical materials arranged by family
Box 4	Folder 6-7		A. Bryant family Loose papers include epitaphs from gravestones, accounts of family history and a genealogical chart. A journal kept by Mary Cleveland Bryant contains birthdates of family members and accounts of family history.
Box 4	Folder 8-10		B. Mason/Symmes family Accounts of family history and newspaper articles relating to Col. David Mason's role in the Revolution.
Box 4	Folder 11-13		C. Smith/Cleveland family Contains a genealogical chart, character sketch of Polly (Mary) Cleveland, an account of the Smith family history, an address to Dartmouth students given by Susan Smith, and a sermon delivered at her funeral.
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Box 4	Folder 14	XII. Miscellaneous This folder contains a map by Jeremy Belknap, A New Map of New Hampshire, 1791, fragments of notes, some with lists of dates of baptisms; newspaper clippings; "Dementions of a fine wall for the Magazine at Springfield..."; unidentified letters; an unidentified manuscript map; and "history of the desent of Samuel Phillips Prescot Fay through fifteen generations..."
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Box 4	Folder 15-24	XIII. Printed materials Arranged alphabetically.
			Allen, Samuel C. Eulogy on the Hon. John Wheelock, LL.D. Hanover, NH: David Watson, June 1817.
			Brown, John. Funeral Sermon For the Reverend Mr. Thomas Symmes. Boston: T. Fleet, 1726.
			Bryant, William Sohier. Records By Rev. John Smith. D.D., of Hanover, N.H. Boston: reprinted from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register for April 1916.
			"A Course of Experiments in that Instructive and Entertaining Branch of natural Philosophy, called Electricity, To be accompanied with Methodical Lectures on the Nature and properties of that Wonderful Element, by David Mason. . ." n.p.: n.d. (Broadside).
			"Description of the View of Moscow, Now Exhibiting at Barker's Panorama Strand, Near Surrey Street..." London: J. Adlard, 1813.
			Gale, Wakefield. A Sermon Preached at the Re opening of the Congregational Meeting House in Rockport, Massachusetts. Boston: Perkins & Marvin, 1840.
			The Panopolist and Missionary Magazine, Vol. 9, no. 9, November, (Part 1) 1813.
			Smith, John. The Duty, Advantages, and Pleasure of Public Worship, Illustrated in a Sermon. Preached at the Dedication of the Meeting House, in the Vicinity of Dartmouth College. Hanover, NH: Dunham and True, 1795.
			Smith, John. A Grammar of the Greek Language... n.p.: n.d.
			Smith, John. The New Hampshire Latin Grammar... n.p.: n.d.
			Swett, S. Defence of Col Timothy Pickering, gainst Bancroft'g History. Boston: Crocker and Brewster, 1859.
			Wheelock, John. Eulogium on the Rev. John Smith. D.D. Hanover, NH: C. & W.S. Spear, 1809.

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Preferred Citation

Bryant-Mason-Smith family papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

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Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.


	Persons:
		Bryant, Hannah Mason, 1727-1829.
		Bryant, John, 1743-1816.
		Bryant, John, 1780-1865.
		Bryant, Mary Cleveland, 1808-1876.
		Bryant, Mary Cleveland Smith, 1784-1860.
		Bryant family.
		Bryant family -- Genealogy.
		Cleveland, Ebenezer, 1725-1805.
		Cleveland family.
		Cleveland family -- Genealogy.
		Hodgdon, Samuel, 1745-1824.
		Knox, Henry, 1750-1806.
		Mason, David, 1726-1794.
		Mason, David, 1751-1795.
		Mason family.
		Mason family -- Genealogy.
		Perkins family.
		Smith, John Wheelock, d. 1814.
		Smith, Sarah, 1789-1812.
		Smith, Susan Mason, 1763-1845.
		Smith family.
		Smith family -- Genealogy.
		Symmes family -- Genealogy.


	Organizations:
		Springfield Armory (U.S.)
		United States. Army. Artillery.
		United States. Army -- Firearms.
		United States. Continental Army. Continental Artillery Regiment, 3rd (John Crane's).


	Subjects:
		Artillery.
		Education -- Finance.
		Poetry.
		United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Artillery operations.
		Women authors.
		Women poets.

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Materials Removed from the Collection

Photographs Removed

Photographs have been removed to the Bryant-Mason-Smith family photographs, ca. 1885-1910. Photo. Coll. 500.38.

Fiscal Papers Removed

The following currency was removed to the MHS Fiscal Papers collection.

Five dollars, Continental Currency : Printed by Hall and Sellers, 1775

Sixty dollars, Continental Currency : Printed by Hall and Sellers, 1778.

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http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0145
Send reference questions to library@masshist.org.

Collection processed by Erica Pierson, June 1993.
Revised 21 July 2005
Encoded by Aimée Primeaux, March 2005