Samuel Osgood, Stone Cutter

Nova Scotia # 10 with top marginal piece on inter-provincial July 26, 1866 cover from Aylsford, Nova Scotia to St John, New Brunswick. Addressed to S. P. Osgood Esq. St Johns [sic] NB. Black barred oval cancellation with four backstamps AYLESFORD, NS, illegible date; KENTVILLE, NS, JY __ 66; WINDSOR, NS, illegible date; and ST JOHN, NB, AU __ 1866. Manuscript "Alexr Patterson, Aylesford, July 26/66" on front

Five copies of Nova Scotia # 8 (one pair and three singles) on January 7, 1867 inter-provincial cover from Margaretsville, Nova Scotia to St John, New Brunswick. Multiple black barred oval cancellations. Backstamps from WILMOT, NS, JA __ 1867; H(alifax), JA 11, 1867; and SAINT JOHN, N.B. JA 14, 1867. Manuscript "Mrs M Harris Margaretsville" Jany 7/67" on front.

Samuel Pearse Osgood was a marble headstone maker; thousands of marble headstones throughout New Brunswick bare his name: S. P. Osgood. He was born 17 September 1811 in Bluehill, Maine the son of Jonathan Osgood and Susan "Sukey" Bartlett and a grandson of Ezekiel Osgood. He was a descendent of John Osgood of Wherwell, Hampshire, England who emigrated to New England in 1638 and died in Andover, Massachusetts in 1651. (A genealogy of the descendants of John, Christopher and William Osgood, who came from England and settled in New England early in the Seventeenth Century, 1894.) Samuel Pearce Osgood emigrated to St John in 1848 where he established a marble cutting business. He married a widow, Susan R. Smith of Portland, Maine on 1 Aug 1858 in Boston. They had one daughter, Eugenie Maud Osgood. Samuel died 22 November 1890 and is buried in Fernhill Cemetery, St John, NB.

Hutchinson’s New Brunswick Directory, 1865-1866, for St John lists Osgood, Samuel P., stonecutter, Kings Square, h(ome) 25 Pitt.

S.P. Osgood's shop was on King Square near the Old Burial Ground in north central St. John.

1871 census for St John, Osgood, Samuel P., 58, born in the United States, marble dealer, living with his wife, Susan R, 49, his 7-year old daughter, Eugenie M, and a female servant, 18-year old Cass Rannihan.

The Saint John Daily Sun for November 24 1890 reported

The death of S.P. OSGOOD took place at his home 190 Germain street, St. John Saturday. The deceased, age 79, came to St. John from Bangor where he had served several years in the employ of Paul R. BARKER, marble dealer and commenced the marble business in company with J.W. SMITH on the site of the works, south side of King Square, occupied by Mr. O. up to the time of his death. Mr. Smith continued a partner in the marble cutting business until 1856 when Mr. Osgood became sole proprietor. Mrs. Osgood, who survives her husband, has been an invalid for some time. Deceased had a brother, Fred P. OSGOOD who resides just out of Bangor. A letter announcing the death of a half sister was received on Saturday. Mr. Osgood leaves no children. The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon.

That same day The Saint John Daily Telegraph reported

S.P. OSGOOD, one of St. John's oldest residents, passed peacefully to his rest Saturday afternoon. Mr. Osgood came to the city from Bangor, Maine in 1848 and started the well known marble business which has since borne his name. He was at first associated with J.W. SMITH who died in 1856. Fred P. OSGOOD of Bangor is a brother. His wife, Susan R. OSGOOD survives him.

And on November 26 1890 The Daily Telegraph

The remains of S.P. OSGOOD were laid away in their last resting place in Rural (Fernhill) Cemetery yesterday. From the house the remains were taken to Trinity Church where Rev. Canon Brigstocke conducted the burial services. John SEARS, C.W. WELDON, M.P., J. DeWolfe SPURR, E.C. JONES, Lt. Col. BLAINE and Hon. J.D. LEWIN were pall bearers.

The 1866 cover was sent to S.P. Osgood by Alexander M. Patterson III, a 60-year old farmer in Aylesford, NS. He was the son of Alexander Patterson, Jr., who was born in Armaugh, Ireland in 1767 and died in Aylesford on July 31, 1845. Alexander may have been ordering a tombstone for his daughter, Abigail who had died in 1863 at age 34.

The Provincial Wesleyan - Wednesday, 27 May 1863 contains her obituary -

Mrs. A.T. Robertson, Aylesford -

Died, at her residence, South Mountain, in Aylesford, on 15th Feb. last, Mrs. Abigail Tupper Robertson, aged 34 years. She was the daughter of Alexander and Deborah Patterson. Sister Robertson was converted to God in the 14th year of her age, but did not unite with the Methodist Church until during the Ministry of the Rev. C. Lockhart on the Aylesford Circuit. – The even, consistent and upright piety which marked her daily walk, caused her to be held in high esteem, not only by the members of her own Church, but also among other denominations. She was very unobtrusive, but "showed piety at home," in the godly care which she exercised over her family, endeavouring to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It was in a good degree by her domestic care and industry – combined with judicious management – that her family have attained to a very respectable social standing in the community where they reside. She has left behind, to mourn their loss, an affectionate husband, six interesting children, a widowed mother, and an extensive circle of relatives. The respect entertained for her was evinced on the day of her funeral by an unusually large congregation, many of whom came a long distance in order to be present on the occasion.

"Rejoice for a sister deceased,

Our loss is her infinite gain;

A soul out of prison released,

And freed from her bodily pain."

Her marble gravestone in the Old Morristown Cemetery lists her as Abigail Tupper Robinson, 1st wife of Benjamin Enoch Robinson, and daughter of Alexander and Deborah (Tupper) Patterson.

The 1867 cover may have been written by Edward Harris to order a tombstone for his wife, Mary Cann Harris who died in 1866, also aged 34. The notation by Samuel Osgood of "M Harris" on the front of the envelope probably indicates the name of the person for whom the tombstone was ordered.

Gravestone of Mary Cann Harris

Her fine granite grave marker is in the Evergreen Baptist Cemetery in East Margaretsville, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia.

Edward Harris was a ship captain of some means, owing the Brig "Hamilton" registered in Windsor, Nova Scotia in 1865. He remarried Sarah Downey shortly after Mary's death, having a young daughter, Edith, to care for. Edward and Sarah subsequently had five children of their own.

Edward G. Harris

Margaretsville is located on the Bay of Fundy, and was named for Margaret Inglis by her husband the Honourable Brenton Halliburton, 8th Chief Justice of Nova Scotia. Margaret was the daughter of Bishop Inglis, the first Anglican Bishop of Nova Scotia. When they married her father gave them an estate on the shore which included all the area around where present day Margaretsville sets. This estate sat next to Sir Brenton's father's estate. The Halliburtons had built their summer home in the area in 1802. Halliburton would go on to become the eighth Chief Justice of Nova Scotia.

The town was first called "Margaretville", but after the post office was established in 1856, the region was officially named Margaretsville. The backstamp from Wilmot indicates the letter was placed on the train to Halifax there.

During Maragrestville’s heyday, the town featured a hotel, two general stores, a customs office, and a vital shipyard which contributed to its greatest prosperity. The town became a significant port on the Bay of Fundy and a centre for the construction of two- and three-masted sailing ships, including brigantines, barks, and schooners, as well as eventually coastal steamships, as the age of sail transitioned to steam.

The vessels built in Margaretsville ranged in size from small ships of around 50 tons to large two- and three-masted brigs and schooners. Mr. Moody of Margaretsville, built the sailing ship Spray in which Capt. Joshua Slocum made his famous solo voyage around the world.

Margaretsville in the late 1800s