The English-Livermore collection consists of the miscellaneous papers of Eli English (1789-1852), of Norwich, Vermont, Eli's son, Nathan Frederick English (1822-1902), and Eli's son-in-law, Benjamin Livermore (1829-1871), both of Hartland, Vermont.

Nathan Frederick English, known as Frederick or Fred, was a machinist, model maker, and inventor. Many of the letters, legal papers and accounts relate to Frederick English's inventions, as well as those of his partner and brother-in-law, Benjamin Livermore. The collection also includes in letters exchanged between Frederick and his wife, Emily Livermore English (b. 1825), as well as other family correspondence.

The papers are shelved in two flip-top archival boxes and occupy one linear feet of shelf space. The papers are part of the Harold G. Rugg manuscript collection and were housed in Doc. 87 before they were reprocessed in 1998.

A handwritten note in the collection indicates that Mr. Rugg acquired the papers from the estate of Ernest A. English, son of Nathan F. English. Ernest English died in Hartland, Vermont, in 1939.

Biographical Sketch

Eli English (March 9, 1789 - Dec. 29, 1852), of Norwich, Vermont, married Emily Amelia Stocking (August 12, 1794 - March 18, 1850).

They had at least two children: Elizabeth (b. Jan. 21, 1833) and Nathan Frederick (June 29, 1822 - March 20, 1902). They moved to Hartland, Vermont, in about 1834.

Elizabeth English married Ezra P. Chandler (d. 1885) of Peru, Vermont, a mechanic respected for his work both with wood and iron.

Nathan Frederick, known as Frederick or Fred, married Emily Livermore (b. Nov. 22, 1825) on December 9, 1845. Among their ten children were two sons: Arnoldo M. (March 2, 1849 - March 20, 1930) and Ernest A. (August 28, 1869 - March, 1939).

Frederick English, a machinist and inventor, went into the shoe machinery business in 1847 or 1848 with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Livermore. They rented a loft in Milford, Massachusetts, and pioneered the introduction of shoe machinery. Around 1850 illness forced English to return to Hartland where he made machinery with his partner Lysander Billings. English experimented with daguerreotypes and in 1862 made a portable "ambertype" machine. In his last years he made microscopes and telescopes in his Hartland shop.

Benjamin Livermore, son of Joseph (?) Livermore, was born in Hartland, Vermont, on August 6, 1818. He died April 4, 1871. His sister, Emily (b. Nov. 22, 1825) married Nathan Frederick English.

Ezra P. Chandler, the son of John Chandler was born in Peru, Vermont, ca. 1820. He was a machinist and wheelwright. He married Elizabeth English (b. January 21, 1833), daughter of Eli and Emily Stocking English. Chandler died in November 1885.

The following inventions are listed in the Vermont Historical Records Survey, Subject Matter Index for Patents of Vermont Inventors, 1790-1873 (VHS 608.743 H629 pt.1):

Nathan F. English

Hatchet, 1858

Photographic apparatus, 1862

Photographic printing frame, 1865

Nathan F. English and Benjamin Livermore

Boot lasting machine, 1847

Nathan F. English and G. Rowland

Wire thread for sewing leather, 1871

Benjamin Livermore

Boot crimp, 1849

Cement drain, 1860

Instrument for lasting boots, 1852

Printing device for hand, 1863

(note: VHS broadside advertising this invention is dated 1857)

Photocopies of biographical information about the English family, Benjamin Livermore, and Ezra P. Chandler from various sources in the VHS collection are located in Folder 0.

The oldest letters in the collection are those written to and by Eli English, ca. 1820. They include letters to his wife, Emily, and letters from a brother-in-law in Griggsville, Illinois, and his son, Frederick.

During 1852, when Frederick English was in Milford, Massachusetts, introducing his shoe machinery, his wife, Emily, remained in Hartland. Their correspondence during this period occupies four folders (MSA 190: 11-14).

Benjamin Livermore, Frederick English's brother-in-law and partner, wrote English detailed and frequent letters from Milford, Massachusetts, between 1846 and 1854 about their mutual business interests. These letters occupy three folders (MSA 191:5-7).

The miscellaneous papers in the collection consist of letters, legal papers and receipts that may or may not be related to the English family or Benjamin Livermore. Some of the family names in this collection are the same as family names in the English papers in the Vermont Historical Society Misc. file #424.

In the VHS museum: