
Maria Jane Peeples (nicknamed “Rida” by her family) was the daughter of Thomas Peeples and Jane Rogers of Nova Scotia. She married Willard Binnie Publicover at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Gloucester, Essex, Mass., 24 January 1894, by Rev. John Alvey Mills.
From 1889-1900, she kept an autograph book in which her friends, family members – and a presumably courting Willard B. Publicover (he has several signatures and notes over the years) – signed their names and wrote her notes and poems – funny, poignant, sage, or straight to the point. She began keeping the autograph book while a resident of Gloucester, Mass. – several of her relatives moved to Hartford, Conn., as the autograph book shows. Below are photographs of the individual pages of the book, accompanied by transcriptions.
The autograph book cover:


To Rida,
I wish you joy, I wish you peace, I wish your friends may still increase and may you ever remain the same unchanged in all except the name.
Your sister, Mary, Hartford, Conn. Oct. the 12, 1891
______________________________________________________

When far from you I go, will you one thought on me bestow. And let your memory often past In good times had in Gloucester, Mass.
From Your Cousin, Hattie Rogers. Aug. 14, 1891
______________________________________________________
Hap[p]y thoughts makes a pleasant day
E.R. [possibly brother-in-law Ernest Robinson?]
______________________________________________________

Jennie M. Campbell Gloucester, Mass. November 3, 1891
______________________________________________________

To Rida,
Remember me for can you must, as long as you can bite a crust
And when you can no longer bite, think of me if you think it rite.
Eldridge Peeples, Hartford, Conn. Oct. 11, 1891
______________________________________________________

Madie A. Campbell, Gloucester, Mass. Nov. 3, 1891
______________________________________________________

When scattered abroad are land and sea
’tis if truly we owe to each other
to write a firm line and say something kind
this is the [idea?] of your brother
J.D. Peeples, Hartford, Conn. October 11th 1891. [brother James D. Peeples]
______________________________________________________
In friendships fond garden
In some sacred spot
Plant for me a fond forget-me-not
Bessie M. Wilkinson, Charlestown, Mass. Aug. 11, 1891
______________________________________________________

May heaven’s blessing be always yours, I shall ever pray
Your true friend and rector, Charles A. Hayden. Gloucester, Nov. 13th 1889
______________________________________________________

Let bygones be bygones, I foolishly say
And let you be wise and forget them
But old recollections may be active today
And you can do naught but regret them
Though the present be pleasant, joyous and gay
And promising well for tomorrow
Yet you may love to look back on the years right away
Embalming your bygones in sorrow.
Advice from your friend, Richard L. Morey
Dec. 15th 1889.
______________________________________________________
To Maria
May gladness be your portion
May mirth come at your call
May you be glad & happy
And blessed in dower & hall,
Rhoda M. Rogers, #15 Mt. Vernon St., Gloucester, Mass. Aug. 12th 1891
______________________________________________________

Lewis R. Martin, 55 Elm St., Charlestown, Mass.
______________________________________________________
Your loving morther, Mrs. Thomas D. Peeples
Pirate Harbor
[U.S. Carried?] N[ova] S[cotia]
______________________________________________________

“Let the casket of memory contain one pearl for me”
Yours truly, Ella F. Welsh Gloucester, Sept. 25, 1889
______________________________________________________
Willard B. Publicover
Brattle Sq. Hotel
32-34 Brattle Sq. Cambridge, Mass.
______________________________________________________

May hope in its surety and peace in its calm
Descend on thy spirit and bring to it calm
Mrs. W. Engelhard, Hartford, Conn. Oct. 12th 1891
______________________________________________________

Go show you that my thought of your still lives
Eva Englehart, Hartford, Conn. Oct. 12th 1891
______________________________________________________
To Maria,
If you your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care
Of whom you speak to whom you speak and how and when and where
Your friend, W. B. Publicover
______________________________________________________

Remember me when “far, far off, where the wood-chuck die of the whooping cough”
Maggie W. McPhee, Gloucester, Mass. Oct. 15th 1891
______________________________________________________
To Rida,
To write in your album dear sister you ask
It’s well it is not such a difficult task
All I can say is contained in one line
May the blessing of heaven forever be thine
Gertie E. Robinson [sister Gertrude E. (Peeples) Robinson]
______________________________________________________


Henry A. Calder [future brother-in-law Henry Calder]
______________________________________________________
When you are supping tea with B.
Think of your poor old sister E.
Ella E. Peeples
Sept. 14th 1889 [possibly sister Drusilla Peeples?]
______________________________________________________

In memories wreath of roses
Twine one bud for me
Mrs. Lizzie Adams
Gloucester, Mass. Sept. 27, 1889
______________________________________________________

“I shall not die but live & declare the works of the Lord”
Helena M Gibert
Gloucester, Mass.
______________________________________________________

Nellie C. Donovan
Beverly Farms, Mass.
Feb. 17, 1900
______________________________________________________

Prove your friends.
Yours, B. Phalen
Gloucester, Mass. Sept. 26th /89
______________________________________________________


[Printed card, perhaps a calling card or dance card?]
Maria J. Peeples
______________________________________________________

To Maria
Curved is the line of beauty
Straight is the line of duty
Walk by the last and thou shalt see
The other ever follow thee
A Friend,
October 12th 1890
______________________________________________________

Memory is dearer, when pleasures trouble does mar
Life’s charities, like light
Spread smilingly afar,
Blend us as friends together
With a life of sweet content
And may the future be for you,
In glorious sunshine spent.
J. P. Mac Innis,
Gloucester, Mass.
August 17, 1891
______________________________________________________


Maggie A. Martin
55 Elm St., Charlestown, Mass.
______________________________________________________

[Words in each corner:] Love, Hope, Faith, Charity
Oct. 3rd 1896
Dear Maria
Remember me when far away
And your words I cannot hear
But hope that we will meet some day
In our home beyond the skies
Your friend,
Lena P. Mackie
[numbers written in pencil, perhaps Maria’s attempts at decoding the following page:] 111191101718
23114
1515
410
______________________________________________________
[note written in code]
Jin. u. a.nsy
W. B. P5bl3c4v2r.
ia. C12v2l1nd. 87.
G145c2972r. M199.
[possible translation: January, W. B. Publicover, [#?] Cleveland St., Gloucester, Mass.]
______________________________________________________

Maria J. Peeples
Gloucester, Mass.
______________________________________________________
One line is sufficient for memory
Hattie Rogers, Gloucester, Mass.
Aug. 13, 1891
______________________________________________________

Not enjoyment and not sorrow
Is our [destined great?] and way;
But to act that each tomorrow
Finds us father than today
Very truly, Nellie B. B. Phelan,
Mill Village, Nova Scotia
Gloucester, Mass. Sept. 26th 1889
______________________________________________________
To Maria,
Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you is the advice of your friend,
M. C. Pernette
Mar. 19th/94
Gloucester

Autograph books are a lovely way to capture a better understanding of the community around one person’s life, which can often be difficult to reconstruct when pursuing genealogical research. If anyone out there has additional details or stories about the individuals who signed this autograph book, please feel free to share!
Nicely presented. I have an autograph book from my gray grandmother and this gives me a good idea of how to present it on my site.
What a gret book and welcome to Geneabloggers.
Regards, Jim
Genealogy Blog at Hidden Genealogy Nuggets
It was fun reminiscing about autograph books! I haven’t seen one or heard anyone talking about them for years! Enjoyed reading the transcripts and seeing the scans of Maria Peeple’s book.
Just found your blog today, thanks to GeneaBloggers. Looking forward to reading more here!
Really long entry… very nice… but very long… 😉
Welcome to the GeneaBloggers family. Hope you find the association fruitful; I sure do. I have found it most stimulating, especially some of the Daily Themes.
May you keep sharing your ancestor stories!
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What a great autograph book. Truly a treasure for you.
Regards,
Theresa (Tangled Trees)
WOW…. What a treasure !!!! Maria Jane Peeples is my 1st Cousin 3x removed. I absolutely LOVED seeing this as well as the signatures, entries and photos…. I am hoping that I will be able to match some of the old photos I have of the family from the area to some of the unidentified pics you have. Thank You so much for sharing this with us all.
Darlene Peebles, Nova Scotia, Canada
HI Darlene! I am Maria Jane’s grand daughter in Massachusetts. Was wondering if you can take the name Peeples back past her father David. Having problems with the Peepls line and where they went. Thanks
Maria – like her -pronounced with a long ī.
Sorry. Meant can’t go back past James, father of David.
Hi. I think she is in my family tree. I will try to do some research when I can, but I am pretty sure she was married to an ancestor of mine with the last name Publicover from Lunenburg NS. I will try to look further when I have a minute. But I am pretty certain she’s with us.
E. Publicover