Place of Origin

United States ➔ Massachusetts ➔ Salem

Date of Composition

1823-1875

Description

This book bears the name of the author, Jane Lawrence, and "Salem Sept. 1823." In that year, Jane Lawrence married Benjamin Perkins, who was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1797. The couple moved to Hanover, New Hampshire, and then to Boston, where Benjamin established the publishing firm of Perkins & Marvin. They had five children, two of whom lived to adulthood, Charles (1824-1887) and Mary (1826-1891). The family was affiliated with the Congregational Church and Benjamin Perkins served for 40 years as Treasurer of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society. Jane Lawrence lived from 1799 to 1890. The Perkins Family Papers are held by the William L. Clements Library.

Jane Lawrence's 62-page book contains approximately 144 recipes. The book includes many recipes for cakes (Shrewsbury, Presbyterian, election, whortleberry); puddings (bread and butter, Shaker's, coconut, Marlborough, Sunderland, custard); desserts (whips, custards, blancmange, snow pancakes); and tea cakes (waffles, muffins, biscuits, buns). There are also recipes for cookies and for "Eliza's ginger beer.". Among the savory dishes outlined are many dishes featuring seafood, meat dishes (including several pigeon dishes), turtle soup, parsley butter, pies (including spinach and mincemeat), and bacon. Two medical recipes are given.  One newspaper clipping provides a recipe for Taylor Cake and an inserted sheet contains a recipe for calf's foot jelly.

This book is part of the library's "Manuscript Recipe Book Collection, 1793-1959." The catalog record contains a link to a useful finding aid.