Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Archives Epp, Ronald File CHD From: Bouvier, Elizabeth [elizabeth.bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us] Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 11:22 AM To: Epp, Ronald Subject: Re: Charles H. Dorr will Yesterday I looked at the Charles H. Dorr will. He leaves all his personal and real property to his wife Mary. However if she should die before him he leaves his entire estate to his son George B. And if both his wife and son pre-deceased him then his executor Charles P. Bowditch was to establish a trust (and empowered essentially to liqudiate all of his - Charles - assets ). At his death Charles left a personal estate of $19,155.11 (included furniture and silver valued at $8,000. and various accounts) It may be useful to trace the Thomas Wren Ward probate (Administration #42632) and who is heirs were and how much his estate was valued at. Then trace those heirs, including his daughter Mary G. Dorr. Sincerely, Elizabeth Bouvier Head of Archives MA Supreme Judicial Court 1 Epp, Ronald From: Bouvier, Elizabeth [elizabeth.bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2006 4:40 PM To: Epp, Ronald Cc: 'warner_m@jud.state.ma.us' Subject: RE: DORR Research Dear Professor Epp: Your recent e-mail to Marnie Warner was forward to my attention by Ms. Warner. Our office oversees the permanent records of the state court system, including the Probate records, First Series (1643 -1894) for Suffolk County. You indicate that you have seen the probate record filed in Hancock County, ME for Charles H. Dorr and that the same will was also filed in Suffolk County, MA. Were the provisions in the will concerning his property, real and personal, at 18 Commonwealth Ave. in this same will? You indicate that Charles H. Dorr's widow, Mary continued to retain the above property until her death in October, 1901 when the Commonwealth Ave. property was bequeathed in her will to her son George Bucknam Dorr. I assume that you have already read through the entire probates for both the Dorr's which were filed at the Suffolk County Probate Department (docket #92160 Charles Hazen and docket # 118788 Mary G. W. Dorr) .> You might also want to look at the Docket Book for each probate to see what was filed and compare it against what you have already seen. (There may have been a schedule A and B filed that gave some information on the value of the estate) Given that there appears not to be other real or potential direct heirs to place claims on the estate it would not be unusual for there not to be an inventory of the estate or appraisal of its worth. Furthermore, since there were no liens or other actions against either estate for unpaid debts there would be no requirement to list property, personal or real which could be sold at auction to satisfy creditors. Regarding the Commonwealth property. You might want to start with who the current owners are and then go backwards in a search of the Grantee/Grantor indices at the Registry of Deeds office. You might first check Boston City Directories to note whether George B. Dorr gave #18 as his legal residence and then see when he was last listed at that address. Or he may have had a caretaker and not lived there at all. If I can be of any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, Elizabeth Bouvier Head of Archives MA Supreme Judicial Court 3 Pemberton Sq. 16th Fl. Boston, MA 02108-1701 (617) 557.1082 1 10/27/2015 XHINIIY Connect XFINITY Connect eppster2@comcast.net + Font Size = RE: Permissions Request From : Sabina Beauchard Tue, Oct 27, 2015 01:43 PM Subject : RE: Permissions Request To : "eppster2@comcast.net" Dear Dr. Epp, Congratulations on your forthcoming book, and thank you for contacting the Massachusetts Historical Society to confirm citation/quotation permission for materials held here in the MHS collection! We will be happy to grant it. I apologize for the lag in response; our Librarian, Elaine Heavey (née Grublin) is currently out on maternity leave. Since you last visited, the library has implemented a new automated request system (Portal1791) which we use for all requests including permissions. To initiate use permission requests for the three collections, you can take the following steps: 1. Create a Portal1791 account here: https://aeon.masshist.org/. 2. Open the collection guides for each collection, which I'll link to: Thomas Wren Ward papers Award family papers Endicott family papers 3. Click on the red "Request Items" button at the top of the guides. 4. Check any red "request" box. NOTE: the MHS grants citation permission at the collection level so you do not need to select multiple boxes for multiple items or provide detailed sample citations. 5. Click on "Continue" at the bottom of your screen for each. 6. In the pop-up windows, select "Request Reproductions" and complete the form for "citation/quotation" permission. 7. Submit your requests (you may need to login to your Portal1791 account to complete your request if your session has timed out). There is no fee, and as there are no restrictions on the collections notification of use permission granted will be delivered via email to the email on record for your Portal1791 account. I will keep an eye out for any incoming requests. In the meantime let me know if you have any follow-up questions! Sincerely, Sabina Sabina Beauchard Reproductions Coordinator Massachusetts Historical Society From: Ronald Epp [mailto:eppster2@comcast.net] Sent: Sunday, October 25, 2015 8:04 PM To: Dan Hinchen Subject: Permissions Request https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=331084&tz=America/New_York&xim=1 1/3 10/27/2015 XFINITY Connect Greetings, Two weeks ago I sent (below) this request to the reference librarian who assisted me many years ago but since I have not received an acknowledgment of the request, I am contacting the reference staff about this member permission request. Please see below. Ronald H. Epp From: "Ronald Epp" To: egrublin@masshist.org Sent: Monday, October 12, 2015 6:00:12 PM Subject: Permissions Request Dear Ms. Grublin: In May 2008 you assisted me in accessing manuscripts for a work that will be published in March 2016: Creating Acadia National Park: The Biography of George B. Dorr. I am requesting permission to paraphrase or quote non-consecutive sentences from the Ward Family Papers, the Thomas Wren Ward Papers, and the Endicott Family Papers. Only 3 of 22 chapters chapters refer to these manuscript collections. The Friends of Acadia, a non-profit, in Bar Harbor Maine will publish an initial paperback print run of 1,500 copies. Attribution to the MHS manuscripts appears in the Acknowledgements and the endnotes. MHS Trustee William Clendaniel is currently reading the manuscript in preparation for a writing a cover blurb. If additional information is needed please notify me. Thank you. Ronald H. Epp, Ph.D. 532 Sassafras Dr. Lebanon, PA 17042 717-272-0801 eppster2@comcast.net MHS Member -- Sabina Beauchard, Reproductions Coordinator Massachusetts Historical Society 1154 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02215 Tel: 617-646-0542, Fax: 617-859-0074 www.masshist.org - America's First Historical Society - Founded 1791 https://web.mail.comcast.net/zimbra/h/printmessage?id=331084&tz=America/New_York&xima 2/3 amous - eppstez(wvenzon.net Page 1 of 2 Verizon Yahoo! Mail Verizon Central Yahoo! Search: Web Search Welcome, eppster2@verizon Mail Home Tutorials Help YAHOO! [Sign Out, Member Center 1 verizon MAIL Mail Addresses Calendar Notepad + What's New - Mail For Mobile - Options Check Mail Compose Search Mail Search the Web Folders [Add - Edit] Previous Next I Back to Messages Inbox Delete Reply Forward Move Draft This message is not flagged. [ Flag Message - Mark as Unread Printable View Sent Date: Thu, 3 Aug 2006 05:30:07 -0700 (PDT) Bulk [Empty] "ELIZABETH and RONALD EPP" Add to Trash [Empty] From: Address Book Add Mobile Alert My Folders [Hide] Subject: Re: DORR Probate Records Follow-Up Eliz messages To: elizabeth.bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us Member Information Ron messages ELIZABETH and RONALD EPP wrote: Search Shortcuts My Photos Dear Elizabeth, My Attachments On January 16th, 2006 you were kind enough to assist me with a research problem that I outlined to Marnie Warner. Would you consider responding to three follow-up questions: 1. Your email message referred to "Second Series Probate Records," a concept unfamiliar to me. Please explain. 2. Since I am desperately trying to determine the extent of the family wealth that George Bucknam Dorr inherited from his mother, Mary Gray Ward Dorr (1820-October 28, 1901), do you have any suggestion of where there might be a specification of the cumulative assets inherited? 3. Your January message refers to the Probate record for Mary Dorr (#118788) in the Probate and Family Court Department and that you might "be able to find the time at some point to go and look at the file and request copies." Is that still feasible and might I send you a check to cover such expenses in advance? Thank you for your interest in this matter. Ron Epp 47 Pond View Drive Merrimack, NH 03054 (603) 424-6149 eppster2@verizon.net http://us.f841.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=8207_5945188_50186_661_1031_.. 8/13/2006 Epp, Ronald From: Epp, Ronald Sent: Friday, January 06, 2006 12:11 PM To: 'Bouvier, Elizabeth' Subject: RE: Charles H. Dorr will Dear Elizabeth, Thank you SO very much for this research effort. You have provided me with information that is very helpful to my efforts to account for the supposed wealth of the Dorr family. Perhaps you could offer a judgment of two related questions. I have before me a copy of Charles Hazen Dorr's will dated July 11, 1891 in which no mention is made of either his wife or son but all his personal "effects, apparel, furniture, ornaments, works of art, books etc. is given to Charles P. Bowditch. This was probated in Hancock County (ME) on three occasions (Mar. 2, 8, and "the second Wednesday of May 1893") with no specification of value or inventory of possessions. Would it be possible for you to have the Charles Hazen Dorr will in your possession copied and billed to me, since it appears that we have two different wills before us? You make note of Mary Gray Ward Dorr's will. I have a copy of that document signed April 20, 1897 but no probate documents following her death on October 21, 1901 (curiously, she died on my birthday while her husband died on the date of my wife's birthday!) Could those documents be unearthed, copied, and sent to me with a bill for research costs, copying, and mailing? If all of this is too much of an imposition, I fully understand and will make arrangements to journey to Boston to meet with you directly. Ronald H. Epp Ph.D. University Library Director & Associate Professor of Philosophy Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH 03106 603-668-2211 x2164 r.epp@snhu.edu Original Message From: Bouvier, Elizabeth [mailto:elizabeth.bouvier@sjc.state.ma.us] Sent: Thursday, January 05, 2006 11:22 AM To: Epp, Ronald Subject: Re: Charles H. Dorr will Yesterday I looked at the Charles H. Dorr will. He leaves all his personal and real property to his wife Mary. However if she should die before him he leaves his entire estate to his son George B. And if both his wife and son pre-deceased him then his executor Charles P. Bowditch was to establish a trust (and empowered essentially to liqudiate all of his - Charles - assets ) At his death Charles left a personal estate of $19,155.11 (included furniture and silver valued at $8,000. and various accounts) It may be useful to trace the Thomas Wren Ward probate (Administration #42632) and who is heirs were and how much his estate was (valued at. Then trace those heirs, including his daughter Mary G. Dorr. Sincerely, Elizabeth Bouvier Head of Archives MA Supreme Judicial Court 1 MASSACHUSETTS TRIAL COURT LAW LIBRARIES MARNIE WARNER Epp, Ronald Law Library Coordinator From: Epp, Ronald ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 2 Center Plaza, 9th Floor Sent: Friday, December 02, 2005 10:05 AM Boston, MA 02108 t) 617.878.0338 To: "warner_m@jud.state.ma.us f) 617.723.8821 Subject: NELINET, Ron Epp & Dorr Research e) warner_m@jud.state.ma.us w) www.lawlib.state.ma.us Dear Marnie, First off, I've heard back from Florentine Films that my NELINET Award invitation will be passed along to Ken Burns. Regarding our sidewalk conversation on my research challenges in unearthing the inheritance issue of the subject of the biography that I am now writing, let me outline the particulars. George Bucknam Dorr (1853-1944) is widely recognized as the Founder and first Superintendent of Acadia National Park. Much of the Mount Desert Island (ME) land gifted to the United States he purchased directly or as an intermediary. Secondary sources attribute to him an inheritance in 1901 or 1902 of anywhere from one to ten million dollars following the death of his mother. I am trying to validate that claim, to track the money. Mr. Dorr was the son of Charles Hazen Dorr (1821-1893) and Mary Gray Ward Dorr (1820-1901) who resided since 1863 at 18 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston. Both the Ward and Dorr families were prominent and socially connected families with Brahmin associations since many family members on both sides were Harvard College graduates. George B. Dorr graduated from Harvard, class of 1874. It appears that family wealth came primarily from his maternal family on the death in 1858 of Thomas Wren Ward of 3 Park Street, Boston, the American agent for the Baring Brothers Banking empire. The family also had a summer "cottage" called Old Farm in Bar Harbor, ME. which was built in 1881 at a cost of $70,000, a not modest sum for that era. Mr. George B. Dorr retained the 18 Commonwealth Avenue residence for at least twenty years following his mother's death in 1901. How might I determine when this property transferred to another owner? I have seen the probated will on file in Hancock County ME (Ellsworth Maine) following the death of Mr. Dorr's father, January 28, 1893. A family friend named Charles Pickering Bowditch was the executor/sole trustee who is empowered to dispose of his real estate and to whom is given "all my personal effects, apparel, furniture, ornaments, works of art, books. in a will dated July 11, 1891. No mention or provision is made for his wife or his son! Would it have been customary for the era to have such an arrangement whereby Mr. Bowditch was implicitly the intermediary to transfer these assets to his wife and son? This will was also probated in Suffolk County. On the death of Mary Gray Ward Dorr on October 21, 1901 her Suffolk County will dated April 20, 1897 was probated on March 5, 1893 by Elijah George, Register of the Suffolk County probate Court. She bequeaths to her sole surviving son "all my estate real and personal and I appoint to him all property over which I may have any power of testamentary appointment." For both these documents there is no estate inventory or appraisal of worth. Is it possible to uncover this information? Any assistance that you could provide would be very much appreciated and subsequently acknowledged. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you. Ron Ronald H. Epp Ph.D. University Library Director & Associate Professor of Philosophy Southern New Hampshire University