Mount Auburn Cemetery

Aug. 16 [186]4

Cha^s. F. Shimmin Esq.

Dear Sir,

Your deed had not come to me when I saw you the other day. Since then it was handed in for record together with a very scaly looking deed from Garder to Mrs Hood. -- As you executed it as the Ex^orof Mrs Parkman, I feared you had made an error therein and went to the Probate office here to see if I could trace the title. Not finding it, & remembering being once shown a place in Brighton, when I was a little boy, as that of David Parkman, I thought I would refer to the records in Middlesex county: and there found a will of David Parkman, of Cambridge, in which all his personal estate was given absolutely to his widow, Mary George Parkman, and "all real ^ ^{& personal} estate in reversion or expectancy, to my wife Mary G., to be held and endorsed by her during her natural life, and after her decease to be divided equally between my two youngest children, Charles M. & Mary H. Parkman," &c. -- In the inventory, to which I turned, with a view if possible of further inden-- tification (for I had never heard of his living in Camb.) I found returned "no real estate". & under the head of personal, 2^nd item -- "Lot in Mt Auburn $75." -- This I dare say was the source of your error. The charter of our Corpⁿ declares every lot to be real estate, and no inven-- tory or other process could change it to personal. Real estate then goes directly to the heirs. If the second clause above quoted "real estate in reversion or expectancy" does not cover it -- by which it went to your wife & Mr Chas. M. upon the decease of Mrs P., still it would go as real estate in possession and not referred to in the will, to his heirs general; and I infer from the assent of C.M. & M.H. as the only heirs of Mrs P. to the probate of her will, that Edward B. has deceased, without issue. If that is the case, then the same persons are ^^now heirs general of

168

without first taking from him the proper authorization of the pro-- prietor.

Will you please bring in the key of W^m W. Stone's lot -- no 358, on Narcissus Path. He has just written me requesting it to be sent viz express. He left it when here to have lock repaired, and a duplicate to be made and kept at the Gate. If this has been done, let the key and bill be sent: if not, have the order executed forthwith, and we will then send key and bill.

Yours truly

A.J. Coolidge Sec.y

Sept. 13 [186]4

C.F. Shimmin Esq

Dear Sir,

I have just received the deed of lot 76 in the Cemetery from you, and presume you overlooked a suggestion that I made in my first note that I should feel obliged to make you the small charge of $3 for examining into the facts and preparing deed. --

I now send the bill, trusting that as it was an indispensable service, the charge will be satisfactory.

Most respy yours,

A.J. Coolidge Sec.y Mt Auburn

174

S T