McCleary Family Papers 1735-1955; bulk: 1809-1904 Guide to the Collection

Table of Contents Collection Summary Biographical Sketch Collection Description Related Materials Acquisition Information Organization Detailed Description of the Collection Preferred Citation Access Terms Materials Removed

Collection Summary

Biographical Sketch

Samuel F. McCleary (1780-1855), son of Samuel (b. 1745) and Mary Luckis McCleary, was the first city clerk of Boston, from 1822 to 1852. Prior to that position he was a Boston lawyer and clerk of the State Senate. An active member of the Federalist Party, Samuel remained as city clerk until resigning on account of ill health. In 1819 he married Jane Walter (d. 1819). Following Jane's death, Samuel married her sister Maria Lynde Walter in 1821.

Maria Lynde Walter McCleary (1794-1881), born in Nova Scotia, was the daughter of Lynde (1767-1844) and Maria Van Buskirk Walter. She married Samuel F. McCleary in 1821. They had at least two children, Samuel F. McCleary, Jr. and Maria Louisa McCleary (b. 1825).

Samuel F. McCleary, Jr. (1822-1901), the eldest son of Samuel and Maria Lynde, was educated at the Boston Public Latin School and Harvard. Like his father, Samuel, Jr. first practiced law and then became the second city clerk of Boston after his father's resignation in 1852. Samuel, Jr. held the position of city clerk until 1883. Following his removal from office he managed the New York Equitable Life Assurance Society's Boston office. He retired in 1888. He served as treasurer of the Franklin Fund and president of the Bunker Hill Monument Association. In 1855, Samuel, Jr. married Emily Thurston Barnard (d. 1876) of Nantucket. They had five children, including Emily, Cornelia, Helen, and Samuel Foster (1865-1892).

Helen C. McCleary (b. 1873) was the daughter of Samuel, Jr. and Emily McCleary.

Thomas Luckis (b. 1722) of Boston was the maternal uncle of Samuel F. McCleary. He married Mary Lewis in 1748.

Collection Description

This collection consists of the papers, 1735-1955, of the McCleary family of Boston, including Samuel F. McCleary (1780-1855) and Samuel F. McCleary, Jr. (1822-1901), the first and second city clerks of Boston, respectively. The bulk of the collection is from 1809-1904.

The collection includes legal papers kept by both Samuel and Samuel, Jr., which contain appointments to administer estates, receipts, affidavits, depositions, indentures, real-estate papers, and deeds. It also contains the personal papers of father and son, including the elder Samuel's math notebook, French copybook, writing book with notes on the Federal Street Theater, and line-a-day diary. Samuel, Jr.'s personal papers include letters on family and personal matters, extensive correspondence with members of the Harvard Class of 1841 and his class papers, addresses and essays, notes on literature and history, and biographical information in an autobiography and a memorial. His scrapbook contains notes on the Franklin Fund and his time as city clerk.

Other family papers include a commonplace-book from Maria Lynde Walter McCleary, her letterbook, which consists of copies of correspondence from John Quincy Adams to his son George Washington Adams, a commonplace-book by Maria Louisa McCleary, and a school book from Thomas Luckis.

The papers of Helen C. McCleary include notes on McCleary genealogy. Helen donated the collection, and she occasionally penciled in remarks on family materials.

The McCleary family papers contain relatively few documents in relation to either Samuel or Samuel, Jr. as city clerk. There are a few letters to Samuel, Jr. as city clerk in his legal papers. Most of the materials on the McCleary's as city clerks were written after Samuel, Jr. was removed from office and are in his autobiography, scrapbook, and memoir.

Related Materials

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the McCleary family papers:

McCleary family photographs, ca. 1921. Photo. Coll. 500.73.

Samuel Foster McCleary photographs, ca. 1863-1872. Photo. Coll. 76.

Samuel Foster McCleary papers, 1704-1899. Ms. N-1613

Mitchel Raiders' autographs, 1882-1883. Ms. S-613

Samuel Foster McCleary classbook, 1857-1906. Ms. N-1614

Lynde Walter diaries, 1799-1800. Ms. S-116

Lynde Walter account book, 1801-1814. Ms. S-84

Mount Vernon Review proofs, 1840. Ms. SBd-95

Richards family papers, 1680-1924. Ms. N-789

Acquisition Information

This collection was acquired through several gifts of Helen C. McCleary in February 1921, May 1934, September 1952, and May 1953. The 1813 line-a-day diary of Samuel F. McCleary was donated by Samuel F. McCleary, Jr. in March 1899.

Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:

Detailed Description of the Collection

Preferred Citation

McCleary family papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

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.

Photographs Removed from the Collection

Photographs from this collection have been removed to the McCleary family photographs, ca. 1921. Photo. Coll. 500.73.