Mount Auburn Cemetery

33 School St Boston Jany 20, 1862

Dear Sir,

I see not impropriety in considering that Lot 790 in Mount Auburn, in accordance with your wish, passed directly to your son Wells, Mr. Mr Wells. But as he the sole heir at law of this late father which I was not aware of I sent the blank petition, that form becomes unneccessary and instead thereof he is entitled to file his affidavit that he is sole heir at law, which as is noted upon our records and the name entered in the catalogue.

I have therefore prepared said affidavit, and if he will call at this office. I need desire him but in short time . The [?] fee therefor is $1.-

Very respy yours A.J. Coolidge

Hon R.C. Winthrop

33 School St Boston Jany. 16,1862

Miss E.M Gridley

Dear Madam,

I have drawn up a document as nearly in accordance with our conversation and your supposed wishes as I have been able to make it.

I was not quite sure of the Christian name of your sister, and you will see that I have inserted it in pencil.

If it is satisfactory, I will wait upon you at your house, or you can come down, as you prefer.- If you desire any further alterations I shall be happy to listen to what you may wish.

If you should come down prepared to finish, you will need your policy, and the deed of the lot.

Very respl.y yours A.J. Coolidge

40

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Boston Jany. 30. 1862

Hon. R. C. Winthrop.

My dear Sir,

I ought ere this to have replied to your punctual and obliging notes of the 16^th and 25^th just, in relation to the lot of the late Arnold F. Welles, besides which I learn, you were at the trouble to call twice at my office. I inferred from the expression on the petition-"son and only surviving child" - although the inference was not a necessary one, that Mr Welles died intestate, leaving but one child; and after learning there was a will, had intended writing you that the affidavit was not the proper course in such cases, when I received your [?]

I have the proper extract from the Records at the Probate office, and therefore need not trouble you to send me a copy of the will, for the purpose of making a record of the special transfer under the operation of the will and in accordance with our by-laws.

This I can make. But if you will send me the deed of the lot, I will endorse thereon the

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certificate of record.

It is doubtless, as you remark, unusual for one to put on record the evidence of his title, to real estate. This usually becomes apparent from his possession. But it is a matter of great convenience to proprietors to be able to so with reference to lots in our Cemetery, where there are upwards of 3000 proprietors, each of whom has a fee, it is true, but whose interest is limited by, and must be held in subordination to such by-laws as are made by the Trustees. Every lot owner, I think, will see, upon a moment's reflection, how necessary is the proper record of these titles, that the officers and servants of the Corporation may have the requisite knowledge to guide them in their duties, as none of them can be supposed to have so wide an acquaintence with mankind as to remove this necessity.

That George Derby W. is the only surviving child of the late Mr Welles does not appear from the will itself, and, hence, an affidavit, in addition to the record of the clause of the will, might seem to be necessary. Indeed it could be the course in almost every case where there is no documentary evidence at hand. I have no right, as recording officer,

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Lot 790

Laura D. Winthrop of Boston, late widow of Arnold F. Welles to represent his lot no. 790. _

" [Lot] 813

Ira Stratton of Cambridgeport son in law of late Flavel Coolidge to represent his lot, no. 813. _

" [Lot] 818

Joseph Fagnani of New York, son in law of late Thomas J. Goodwin to represent his lot no. 818. _

" [Lot] 857

Ruth Reed of Boston, widow of late Caleb Reed to represent his lot no. 857. _

" [Lot] 944

Sylvia Rotch of Pittsford Vt. widow of late William Rotch to represent his lot no. 944. _

" [Lot] 958

Eliza Ann Morey of Boston, daughter of late Deborah Torrey, to represent her lot no. 958.

" [Lot] 971

Ambrose Wellington of Cambridge, son of late Benj. O. Wellington to represent his lot no. 971. _

" [Lot] 987

Mary T. Forster of Charlestown widow & guardian of minor children of ^^late Henry Forster, to represent his lot no. 987. _

" [Lot] 1023

Tho^s J. Herring of Quincy only son of late Roger Herring to represent his lot no. 1023. _

" [Lot] 1126

Mary D. Brown of Watertown widow of late James Brown, to represent his lot, no. 1126. _