1882 Meeting of the Montague Family at Hadley, Mass., Aug. 2, 1882

Description

First Edition, Publishers' Original Binding, Very Scarce, With Letter

The first edition of this very scarce work, in which Richard Montague provides an account of the American Montague family's meeting in Massachusetts, to commemorate the birth of their first American ancestor in 1602.

Presented by another American Montague, named George William Montague, to John Montagu, 7th Earl of Sandwich, a member of the English branch of the family, and a British peer and Conservative politician.

George William's letter, written in 1883, explains that 'I have taken the liberty to forward to your address by this mail a copy of the Report of the "Montague Family at Hadley, Mass" at their meeting'. He explains 'it was voted at that family gathering that a genealogical record of the American family be prepared and a committee was appointed for the purpose'.

They ask Sandwich for further information about the British branch of the family, stating 'we have taken perhaps an unwarranted liberty in addressing your Lordship upon this subject, which can possess but little, if any, interest to you', and asks that this letter be passed to anyone with further information.

A second loosely inserted letter is addressed far less formally to 'my dear Sandwich', and sent in 1885, states that 'when I was in America last year I was invited to the family meeting of the American Montague's (as they write it) but I did not attend it. I was also asked for information which I could not give, for I know nothing of the patriarchs to whom they refer'. The letter is signed 'Manchester'.

With a number of ink notations throughout the text, in the hand of George William Montague.

Illustrated with a frontispiece, and one further plate.