Temporary record

The Masters-Taylor correspondence consists largely of letters written by Thomas Masters, his wife, daughter Sarah Wilbur, and son-in-law Jeremiah Wilbur to daughter Martha, wife of H.W. Taylor of Canandaigua, New York and Marshall, Michigan. Masters, a New York City retail merchant in the partnership of Masters and Markoe, also owned an interest in a counting house (bank) and served for a time as a director of the Manhattan Company, predecessor of the Chase Manhattan Bank. His sons-in-law, Jeremiah Wilbur and H.W. Taylor, appear to have been associated with him in business matters.

The letters are rich in details of family life; many are written as combined letters in which various family members each contributed a part. They reflect the Masters' conservative Protestant religious convictions and participation in religious-inspired social reform. Son-in-law Jeremiah Wilbur was especially interested in the anti-slavery movement and in political matters. Illnesses, diseases, and cures are much discussed in the correspondence, as are family events such as weddings and notable occurrances like the cholera epidemic of 1832 and a disastrous fire in 1835. Due to the family's extensive business interests there is also some information to be gleaned on the New York financial market and economic climate.

The related Wilbur papers comprise some 94 items divided into small groups of correspondence. There are 16 letters to Jeremiah Wilbur from family members and business associates, 17 similar letters to Thomas Masters (individually and in his various business partnerships), 8 letters to merchant Marcus Wilbur from brother Backus Wilbur, 8 letters to Masters daughter Martha previous to her marriage, and 44 items which appear to be unrelated or marginally related to the collection. Many of the Wilbur papers are routine business correspondence, though some are revealing of financial and economic conditions. Others detail family and religious matters.

M-2819 and M-2917.15

Subjects

Business enterprises--New York (state)
Business enterprises--Finance
Diseases
Family--New York (State)
Family--Religious life (Christianity)
New York State--Religion; Masters, Thomas
Taylor, Martha Masters
Wilbur, Sarah Masters
Wilbur, Jeremiah

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