Place of Origin

United States ➔ Massachusetts ➔ Salem

Date of Composition

book compiled 1812-1836, recipes presumed ca. 1836

Description

This book is written in a small volume covered in marbled paper, with the title "Common Place" embossed in gold. The title page bears two inscriptions, in two different hands: "Salem April 23, 1812" and "Charlotte Safford 1836." The book is written both from the front  and the back.

The first half of the front of the book is in the hand of the first inscription. The unidentified writer of this section of the book, evidently originally from Salem, Massachusetts, lists botanical and medical facts, notes a trip from Salem to Philadelphia, where he went to study medicine and where he began reading in materia medica and botany, and transcribes many pages of quotations from various authorities and much poetry.

The second half of the front of the book is written in the hand of the second inscription on the title page, the hand of Charlotte Safford. This portion of the book begins with two pages of religious notes, followed by eighteen pages that bear faint impressions of dried leaves, now missing, as well identifications of the leaves in light pencil. A letter written in pencil, dated March 18, begins "Dear Aunt...." and continues with news of family and friends, a bad influenza epidemic, and a merchandise depot built by Stephen C. Philips, in Salem. Charlotte then reveals that she married "Charles" when he got home and that, shortly thereafter, Charles was off again, rounding Cape Horn in ninety-five days. She notes that his ship was slow and heavily laden and would be in California before leaving for Calcutta. More news about Charlotte's friends follows.

The portion of the book written from the back contains a number of cake recipes, presumably compiled by Charlotte Safford.