Mount Auburn Cemetery

Daniel Parkman, as the parties named in the will. --

From the foregoing, you therefore perceive that your deed gives no title to the lot. I send you a transfer, which, as I understand the facts, when executed, will straighten the matter.

I have been at so much trouble in the matter because I could not inform you without investigating the facts, and I knew you would wish the purchaser to have a valid title. I have said nothing to Gardner about it, and, I presume he knows nothing about, and he needs to know nothing. We can substitute the new deed for the one which you gave him. To save expense of stamp, I have transferred the stamp from the old to the new deed. -- Please get it executed (your wife's acknowledgement will do, and save expense of coin -- in Baltimore) and destroy the old deed, which I send you. -- As a partial compensation for my trouble in the matter, you may, if you please, send me $3.00, as I have been to the Probate office, ransacked the records, copied one will & show [minutes?] of another, drawn transfer, advised you & so.

I sent for Gardner & made him execute a new deed, and that is all we need of him, but it was as I said, before I ascertained about the title.

Yours truly

A. J. Coolidge, Sec.y

After the return of the transfer we can cut off the first, & annex that to the original deed.

Aug. 16 [186]4

Josiah O. Stearns Esq Elizabeth City, N.J.

Dear Sir,

Three or four weeks since, I sent you some blank orders for interments of Obed & Mary A. Stearns & for their removal to your lot, which, although I enclosed with a note from our Sup^t to you, I requested should be returned me at this office and not to Mt Auburn, as it is my duty to make the record of interments. I also requested you to fill the blanks in the order for the interment of Mary A. Stearns -- viz. of late residence-- and date of death. She is reported to us as having died at Corning, N.Y. ^^{aged 31 years}. Please reply to me. -- What was her residence at the time of her death, and what was the date of her death? If you had noticed my re-- quest particularly, and not returned my papers to the Cemetery, you would have been saved the trouble of my writing you again. If you can ^^not give these answers, please obtain them for me, or direct me to one who can.

Yours respectfully

A.J. Coolidge

169

April 12 5 [1865]

Capt Winsor

Dear Sir,

I am informed by a lady that Haliburton Fales of New York Rep. of lot 518 Beech Av^e, met H.N. Gardner a few days ago at the Gate, who represented himself as "the Gardener", and engaged him to take charge of his lot. The lady says she [orders?] Fales (I do not understand which as I did not see her) is very indignant to learn that he is not "the Gardener", and she desires me to ask you to see that he does not enter upon the lot. She positively forbids his touching it. She wishes the Corporation to take care of it.

I think you will have to put the permit rule in force. Gardner has not been after one, this year.

Will you please ask Mr Safford to have the March orders of interm^t ready for me tomorrow morn (Fast Day.)

Truly yours

A.J. Coolidge

April 14 5 [1865]

Capt. Winsor

Dear Sir,

Mrs Anne Richards who purchased a little lot of 50 ft. on Linden Path, (no 3545) last fall, wishes to remove the body of her husband from Lot no. 1254 to that lot -- together with the headstone. His name was Thomas Bates. She is in very modest circumstances, and as the remains have been desposited about 16 yrs. a rough ^^small board box will be sufficient.

1^st Can you make one at the shop? 2^d Will you please look at the stone before you come in tomorrow, and estimate the whole expense, and inform me when you come in, & she will send in for the same --

If the rule ^^case will admit, make the charge for removal less than price of two interments, & other expenses as low as possible. She intends to pay the bill of grading in a few days.

Yours truly

A.J. Coolidge

Mr Murdock will meet you here tomorrow at 1 o'clock on the subject of your note to him.

251

April 7 [186]6

F.H. Bradlee Esq

Dear Sir,

One Henry N. Gardner came here today with a paper signed by you requesting a permit to issue to you to authorize him to paint the fence on your lot. I informed him that the rule required you to come in person to sign this application; & he then said -- "you refuse to give me one -- do you?" I said -- "certainly; I treat you as all others. This is the rule which I am required to observe." He then called to one with him -- "Sam! you hear do you". He was quite drunk, and I called the porter to put him out, but he agreed to go himself. He then said, he should go there Monday, & paint the fence, at all events.

I have thought it my duty to inform [this line of letter faded] a violation of the rules, openly and avowedly. -- He is well informed of this being the rule.

Very Resp.y yrs

A.J. Coolidge

69

Com. on Grounds authorized to Expend $500 in trees, shrubs, &c

On motion of Mr Rand,

Voted that the Committee on Grounds be authorized to expend a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars in renewing and introducing trees, shrubs, plants and flowers during the present year. _

Communicaton of Sup^t respecting H.N. Gardner _

A communication from the Superintendent representing Henry N. Gardner of Belmont, who has heretofore assumed the care of lots solicited by him of proprietors - as an unsuitable man to do any work in the Cemetery, was read: _

The Board being satisfied from fact, coming to the knowledge of the Trustees that the Statement of the Superintendent were true: _

Gardner Excluded from working in the Cem.y

On motion of Mr Rand, it was

Voted that the Secretary be instructed not to issue any permit for the employment of Henry N. Gardner on any lot in the Cemetery.

Communication of John H. Jenks respecting piece of land adjoining his lot, 1845 _

A communication from Mr John H. Jenks, proprietor of lot numbered 1845, representing that a small triangular piece of ground contiguous to his lot to which he claimed as belonging to said lot, but which he had never designated with boundary posts, had been sold as lot numbered 3276 to M.B. Markham _ was referred to the Committee on Lots with full power. _