Table of Contents
Timothy M. Allyn papers
A Guide to the collection at the Connecticut Historical Society
Collection Overview |
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| Repository: | Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut |
| Creator : | Allyn, Timothy M. |
| Title : | Timothy M. Allyn Papers |
| Dates : | 1849-1864 |
| Extent : | 0.25 linear foot (1/2 box) |
| Location: | Ms 98101 |
| Language: | English |
Biographical Sketch
Timothy M. Allyn was a Hartford dry goods merchant, one time mayor of the city (1858-1860) , an entrepreneur and an astute businessman. He founded his dry goods business in Hartford about 1830 and retired in 1848, after amassing a large fortune, to pursue other interests. Allyn served on the Board of Directors of numerous businesses in Hartford and was named president of the Hartford Carpet Company in 1854. He was born in Hartford in 1800 and died in the same city in August 1882. He married Susan Pratt and they had five children, including Arthur W., Robert, and Joseph Pratt Allyn.
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Scope and Content
The collection consists primarily of business correspondence concerning court cases to collect debts, selling land in Connecticut and Wisconsin, proposing a development project, discussing financial issues, and investing and divesting of shares in different companies. The letters have been arranged chronologically.
There are several items of note. On April 29, 1850 the company Sayles, Merriam & Brewer of Boston, sent Allyn a price list of Amoskeag Manufacturing Company’s “domestics” that they carried for sale. In 1855 Allyn, as president of the Hartford Carpet Company, was sent a notice that the company needed more capital to say in business. The company had opened its doors in 1854.
Allyn received a letter from his son, Joseph, in 1851 describing in great detail a visit to Niagara Falls. Three years later he wrote from Wisconsin describing his business in that state and eleven months later he described financial problems in Ohio. Neither of the business ventures is described in any detail.
Among the more personal correspondence Allyn received was a May 15, 1850 letter asking him to pay the Unitarian Society’s debt. That same year, in February, Allyn received a missive from Boston concerning casting a bell for use in a stone tower. In December 1850 the New Haven Musical Association offered to purchase the oratorio “Seven Sleepers” that Allyn obviously owned.
One letter does not belong to the Allyn family. Jonathan G. Pratt in Louisiana wrote in 1852 to his brother Joseph Pratt in Hartford about their father’s failing health. These men were probably related to Allyn’s wife, Susan Pratt.
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Restrictions
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions on access to the collection.
Use Restrictions
Use of the material requires compliance with the Connecticut Historical Society's Research Center regulations.
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Subject Headings
Personal Names
Subjects
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Item, Collection Title, Collection number (Box #, Folder #). Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Connecticut.
Processing Details
EAD Finding Aid created February 2011.
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Contents:
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Return to the Table of Contents Timothy Allyn papers |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | 1849 - January 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | February 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | March 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | April 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | May 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | June - July 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | August - December 1850 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | 1851-1853 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | 1854-1855 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | 1856-1858, 1864 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Letter from Jonathan Pratt to brother Joseph Pratt, 1852 | |||||||||