Larkin Turner

Date of Birth

Dec. 7, 1781

Date of Death

Unknown

Letters Authored

1

Letters Received

0

Larkin Turner was born 241 years ago.

Letters Authored in Collection

History

INTRODUCTION
Larkin Turner was born in the home of his grandfather, Col. Luke Drury, in Worcester County, Massachusetts. He had very little education and at the age of fourteen he apprenticed as a shoemaker. He was not happy with this occupation and he went to live with his uncle in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Dr. John Drury. While in Charlestown, he began a new career as a mariner and he eventually became a rather renowned ship’s captain, as well as a successful businessman. He captained ships for William Gray, an extraordinarily wealthy merchant and politician who served as a state senator and lieutenant governor for Massachusetts. In the letter, Larkin refers to Mr. Gray.

In the years 1836 and 1837, Larkin Turner was a representative for Charlestown, Massachusetts in the Massachusetts Legislature.

THE LETTER
Larkin Turner writes his grandfather, Colonel Luke Drury before he is scheduled to make a voyage.

FAMILY
Larkin TURNER was born on 7 Dec 1781 in Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts. His father was Captain Joshua Turner (1757-1820) and his mother was Lydia Drury. (b. 3 December 1763, d. 25 March 1849). He had ten siblings: Lydia Turner (1783), Joshua Turner (1786-1851), Mary Turner (1788), Luke Turner (1790), Joseph Turner (1792), Lucy Turner (1794), Thomas Turner (1796), Martha Turner (1800), Lucius Turner (1802), and Alden Howland Turner (1805-1823).

He was married to Sally Gould 21 August 1808 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts and they had the following children: Sarah Eaton Turner (1810), Thomas Larkin Turner (b. 1812, d. 1897), Lydia Drury Turner (1820), Helen Georgianna Turner (b. 1826) and Josephine Maria Turner (1831-1834). Sally Gould was born in 1791 and died in 1832.

He was married to Lucy Pierce 13 April 1833 in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Larkin and Lucy had two daughters, Harriet Josephine Turner (1834) and Grace Ardelle Turner, who was born 1 Jul 1838 in Grafton, Worcester, Massachusetts. They had one son, Eugene Drury Turner (1842-1843)

Larkin’s grandfather to whom he is writing, Colonel Luke Drury (b. 11 March 1737, d. 1 April 1811), was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and Shays Rebellion and later became a state legislator and local politician from both Grafton and Marlboro, Massachusetts.

1850 CENSUS
Larkin Turner, 67, is enumerated in the 1850 Census in Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. In his household are listed: Lucy, 47, Helen Georgianna, 24, Josephine, 16, Grace, 12, Patrick, 28, (birthplace Ireland), Margaret Doland, 25. Larkin’s occupation is Yeoman.

1860 CENSUS
Larkin Turner, 78, is enumerated in the 1860 Census living in Lexington, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Listed as living in the household are Lucy Turner, 57, and Harriet J. Turner, 36.

1870
Lucy Turner, 67, is enumerated in the 1870 Census living in Lexington, Middlesex County. Listed as living in the household are Grace A.Turner, 32, Geo.W. Turner, 5, and H. B. Sampson, 42, male, occupation salesman. Larkin Turner is not listed.