J. M. Forbes and Co. Estate Papers

1777-1986; bulk: 1845-1940

Guide to the Collection

The J. M. Forbes and Co. estate papers are stored offsite and must be requested at least one business day in advance. Contact the Library at library@masshist.org or (617) 536-1608 to request materials. Please discuss your request with the reading room staff before requesting cartons by barcode.

There are restrictions on the use of this collection. Users must sign an agreement stating that they understand these restrictions before they will be given access to the collection.

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Collection Summary

Collection Description

Related Materials

Acquisition Information

Restrictions on Access

Restrictions on Use

Organization

Detailed Description of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Access Terms

Collection Summary

Creator:	J. M. Forbes and Co.
Title:	J. M. Forbes and Co. estate papers
Dates:	1777-1986
Bulk Dates:	1845-1940
Physical Description:	5 record cartons
Call Number:	OFFSITE STORAGE
Repository:	Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215 library@masshist.org

Abstract:

This collection consists of papers of J. M. Forbes and Co., a private investment and trust management firm, related to its management of the estates of Forbes family members.

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Collection Description

The J. M. Forbes and Co. estate papers consist of wills, codicils, inventories, appraisals, deeds, receipts, correspondence, and other papers held by J. M. Forbes and Co., a private investment and trust management firm, pertaining to the firm's management of the estates of John Murray Forbes; Sarah Swain (Hathaway) Forbes; John Malcolm Forbes, Sr.; John Malcolm Forbes, Jr.; Rose (Dabney) Forbes; Edith (Emerson) Forbes; William Hathaway Forbes; Waldo Emerson Forbes; Ralph Emerson Forbes; Sarah (Forbes) Hughes; and Paul Revere Forbes. While the papers were sorted and identified as belonging to particular individuals' estates, there is some overlap of materials among the different series.

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Related Materials

The Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) holds the following collections related to the J. M. Forbes and Co. estate papers:

Edith Emerson Forbes and William Hathaway Forbes papers and additions. OFFSITE STORAGE; Ms. N-2306. Finding aid available at: http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0225.

Forbes family papers. Ms. N-49; P-55. Finding aid available at: http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0269.

John Murray Forbes papers. OFFSITE STORAGE; Ms. N-500. Finding aid available at: http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0228.

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Acquisition Information

Deposited by the J. M. Forbes Family Archives Committee, Jan. 2009.

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Restrictions on Access

There are restrictions on the use of this collection. Users must sign an agreement stating that they understand these restrictions before they will be given access to the collection.

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Restrictions on Use

The Massachusetts Historical Society does not claim ownership to the J. M. Forbes and Co. estate papers, which have been placed on deposit at the Historical Society by the J. M. Forbes Archives Committee. The collection contains the private papers of a large extended family that retains copyright of the documents. Some materials in the collection refer to people still alive, or survived by children and grandchildren. A researcher planning to base major research on this collection is advised to consult the J. M. Forbes Family Archives Committee in advance.

The Massachusetts Historical Society cannot give permission to publish or cite documents by individuals for whom it does not hold literary rights. Use of the collection (including photocopying or any form of reproduction) does not imply permission to publish, all or in part, documents in the collection. It is the sole responsibility of the researcher to contact the Historical Society in writing to request permission to cite documents in this collection. The Historical Society will then forward the formal written request to the J. M. Forbes Archives Committee.

Photocopies are for personal use only. Personal use photocopies may not be donated or deposited in other libraries or archives, or made available to other researchers without the written permission of the J. M. Forbes Archives Committee.

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Organization of the Collection

The collection is organized into the following series:


	I. John Murray Forbes estate, 1845-1947
	II. Swain (Hathaway) Forbes estate, 1900-1901
	III. John Malcolm Forbes, Sr. estate, 1837-1946
	IV. John Malcolm Forbes, Jr. estate, 1931-1970
	V. Rose (Dabney) Forbes estate, 1904-1949
	VI. Edith (Emerson) Forbes estate, 1900-1975
	VII. William Hathaway Forbes estate, 1845-1930
	VIII. Waldo Emerson Forbes estate, 1777-1934
	IX. Ralph Emerson Forbes estate, 1846-1986
	X. Sarah (Forbes) Hughes estate, 1902-1957
	XI. Paul Revere Forbes estate, 1934-1937

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Detailed Description of the Collection


Carton	Barcode	Folder	Contents
Carton 1	SH 1845 K	Folder 1-47	I. John Murray Forbes estate, 1845-1947 Will, Naushon clause, memoranda, instructions, appointments, legacies and legatees, debts, notes, receipts, certifications, taxes, land associations, real estate papers, share holdings, trusts, distributions, papers pertaining to other people's estates, cemetery information, and miscellaneous matter.
Carton 1	SH 1845 K	Folder 48	II. Sarah Swain (Hathaway) Forbes estate, 1900-1901 Summary of estate holdings and account with J. M. Forbes and Co.
Carton 2	SH 1846 L	Folder 1-20	III. John Malcolm Forbes, Sr. estate, 1837-1946 Wills, accounts, inventories, schedules, clauses, trusts, securities, memoranda, cemetery information, Forbes Farm, Edward C. Jones estate, real estate, Louise Davenport, Will Hale, yachts, Walter Baker Company, horses, and miscellaneous matter.
Carton 2	SH 1846 L	Folder 21-52	IV. John Malcolm Forbes, Jr. estate, 1931-1970 Wills, affidavits, probate documents, inventories, appraisals, schedules, securities, real estate, land associations, guardian ad litem, taxes and valuations, income, debts, expenses, receipts, allowances, distributions, Clark Dodge & Co., banks, Naushon and Pasque Islands, Ethel Forbes Trust, Raymond Emerson, Cambridge School Guaranty, Barbara L. T. Miller, Worldover Press, and miscellaneous notes and correspondence.
Carton 2	SH 1846 L	Folder 53-62	V. Rose (Dabney) Forbes estate, 1904-1949 Wills, inventories, deed of trust, distributions, receipts, debts, expenses, taxes, cemetery information, and Naushon Timber Project.
Carton 3	SH 1847 M		VI. Edith (Emerson) Forbes estate, 1900-1975 Wills and codicils, certificate of death, probate appointments, inventories, schedules, appraisals, land associations, securities, taxes, expenses, valuations, receipts, bequests, legacies, distributions, past employees, Beckton Stock Farm, executors' accounts, bank statements, royalties, lands in Milton, William H. Forbes Special Fund, yachts, and rental income.
Carton 4	SH 1848 N	Folder 1-26	VII. William Hathaway Forbes estate, 1845-1930 Wills and codicils, probate appointments, appraisals, real estate holdings, Naushon Island, mining companies and other investments, William Hathaway Forbes's account as executor of Sarah J. Forbes estate, Weld Boat Club, yachts, and Jeremiah W. Gay estate.
Carton 4	SH 1848 N	Folder 27-60	VIII. Waldo Emerson Forbes estate, 1777-1934 Wills, death certificate, appraisals, schedules, inventories, bank statements, debts, expenses, distributions, releases, stocks, bonds, taxes, real estate, Nashawena Island, yachts, Samuel Vernon estate, and Atlantic Monthly.
Carton 5	SH 1849 O	Folder 1-29	IX. Ralph Emerson Forbes estate, 1846-1986 Will and codicil, inventories, memoranda, correspondence, bonds, real estate, bank statements, trusts, funds, distributions, Ellen T. Emerson will, papers relative to Edith E. Forbes estate, petition, and taxes.
Carton 5	SH 1849 O	Folder 30-47	X. Sarah (Forbes) Hughes estate, 1902-1957 Will and codicil, income and expenses, stocks, securities, trusts, distributions, Children's Fund Trust, San Antonio Water Company, and G. Loring Briggs.
Carton 5	SH 1849 O	Folder 48	XI. Paul Revere Forbes estate, 1934-1937 Will and correspondence regarding his death and his estate.

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Preferred Citation

J. M. Forbes and Co. estate 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:
		Forbes, Edith Emerson, 1841-1929.
		Forbes, John Malcolm, 1847-1904.
		Forbes, John Malcolm, 1901-1941.
		Forbes, John Murray, 1813-1898.
		Forbes, Paul Revere, 1860-1936.
		Forbes, Ralph Emerson, 1866-1937.
		Forbes, Rose Dabney, 1864-1947.
		Forbes, Sarah Swain Hathaway, 1813-1900.
		Forbes, Waldo Emerson, 1879-1917.
		Forbes, William Hathaway, 1840-1897.
		Hughes, Sarah Forbes.


	Subjects:
		Decedents' estates.
		Inventories of decedents' estates.
		Nashawena Island (Mass.).
		Naushon Island (Mass.).
		Pasque Island (Mass.).
		Trusts and trustees.
		Wills.

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http://www.masshist.org/findingaids/doc.cfm?fa=fa0331
Send reference questions to library@masshist.org.

Collection processed by Katherine H. Griffin, December 2009.
Encoded by Susan Martin, January 2010