Collection number: MC 238
Size: 2 boxes
(0.45 cu.ft.)
About the Dowst Family
Henry Dowst, Jr. was born on August 17, 1820 in Allenstown, near Manchester, New Hampshire to Henry Dowst, Sr. (Jan. 14, 1784-March 4, 1867) and Abigail Brown (May 19, 1783-Nov. 24, 1840). Henry Sr. was the son of John Dowst and Mary Dow. Abigail Brown was the daughter of Joseph Brown and Abigail Dolbeer.
Henry Jr. grew up in Allenstown learning his father's farming business. He married Hannah Fowler Davis on May 2, 1847 in Manchester, New Hampshire and died in 1910. Henry and Hannah had six children, all born in Allenstown: John (Jan 12, 1848), Frank H. (April 3, 1850), Henry, 3rd (May 14, 1854), Ada M. (Nov 4, 1858), Annette L. (Dec 16, 1859), and George (Sept. 15, 1862).
Frank Dowst, the second son, worked as a building contractor, first for Mead Mason & Co. of Concord and then, at age 21, he formed a partnership with Natt and W.F. Head of Hooksett and established a business, Head & Dowst, in Manchester, New Hampshire, where also resided. He was the Democrats' candidate for mayor of Manchester in 1880. He was appointed a member of the Manchester Water Board in 1899 and served until his death. He was an active member of the Derryfield Club and identified with business interests. He married Martha A. Tallant on March 5, 1872 and died Nov. 27, 1905.
Henry Dowst 3rd, the third son, worked on the family farm until at least 1870, but also resided with his older brother Frank in Manchester. He married Harriet Frances Ring on Dec. 5, 1888 in Manchester and died April 6, 1929 in Allenstown.
Henry Dowst 4th was born on Jan. 11, 1890 in Manchester, N.H., the first son of Henry Dowst, 3rd and Harriet Frances Ring. On Feb 21, 1920 he married Emma Mathilda Dauth in West Haven, Connecticut. He died on Oct 7, 1961.
About the Dowst Family papers
The collection includes 37 pocket diaries and one larger dairy for the calendar years 1839-1866 (except for 1853 and 1863), 1870-1875, and then 1877, 1890, 1896 and 1902-03. The vast majority of them (31) were kept by Henry Dowst, Jr. (1820-1910), and they detail the daily weather and a variety of farm chores, as well as shingling, cutting wood for the school house,and working on roads and bridges. One diary, for 1872, was kept by his son Frank Dowst, who remarks on his various projects in and around Manchester. Four diaries belonged to his son Henry, 3rd, and two to his grandson, Henry, 4th.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Dowst Family Papers, 1839-1903, MC 238, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Purchased: Carmen Valentino, Philadelphia, PA, 2011 (Accession number: 2011.12)
Collection Contents
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1839 | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1840 | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1841 | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1842 | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1843 | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1844 | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1845 | |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1846 | |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1847 | |
| Box 1, Folder 10 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1848 | |
| Box 1, Folder 11 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1849 | |
| Box 1, Folder 12 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1850 | |
| Box 1, Folder 13 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1851 | |
| Box 1, Folder 14 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1852 | |
| Box 1, Folder 15 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1854 | |
| Box 1, Folder 16 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1855 | |
| Box 1, Folder 17 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1856 | |
| Box 1, Folder 18 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1857 | |
| Box 1, Folder 19 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1858 | |
| Box 1, Folder 20 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1859 | |
| Box 1, Folder 21 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1860 | |
| Box 1, Folder 22 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1861 | |
| Box 1, Folder 23 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1862 | |
| Box 1, Folder 24 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1864 | |
| Box 1, Folder 25 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1865 | |
| Box 1, Folder 26 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1866 | |
| Box 1, Folder 27 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1870 | |
| Box 1, Folder 28 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1871 | |
| Box 1, Folder 29 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1871 | |
| Box 1, Folder 30 | Diary of Frank H. Dowst, 1872 | |
| Box 1, Folder 31 | Diary of Henry Dowst, Jr., 1873 | |
| Box 2 | ||
| Box 2, Folder 1 | Diary of Henry Dowst, son, 1874 | |
| Box 2, Folder 2 | Diary of Henry Dowst, son, 1874 | |
| Box 2, Folder 3 | Diary of Henry Dowst, son, 1875 | |
| Box 2, Folder 4 | Diary of Henry Dowst, son, 1877 | |
| Box 2, Folder 5 | Diary of Henry Dowst, grandson, 1890 | |
| Box 2, Folder 6 | Diary of Henry Dowst, grandson, 1902-1903 | |
| Box 2, Folder 7 | Two photographs, Thought to be Henry Dowst, Jr. and perhaps his wife Hannah Fowler Davis? 2.5×4 sepia cards, undated | |
| Box 2, Folder 8 | Diary of Henry Dowst, grandson, 1896 | |
