The Currier & Ives Connection

Have you ever wondered how Nathaniel Currier of Currier & Ives fame was connected to our family tree?

Here’s the scoop . . .

The parents of famous lithographer Nathaniel Currier were distant cousins Nathaniel Currier and Hannah Currier. His parents were both descended (7th generation) from Richard Currier who was the first Currier in Newbury, MA. (Link content at currieronline has been temporarily removed for maintenance.)

Richard Currier’s parents were Thomas James Currier of Strawberry Banks, Scotland and Martha Osborne of Salisbury, England. Richard was born in Scotland and married Anne. It is reported that Richard came to New England as the indentured servant of a Mr. Dove, a caretaker of his land. In later years Richard acquired much real estate of his own. Richard and Anne had three children – Samuel, Hannah, and Thomas.

Descendants of Jennie Currier Walton are from the line extending from Samuel Currier to George E. Currier, Jr.

Nathaniel, Jr., the artist, descended from Samuel’s brother, Thomas Currier. Among Thomas’ twelve children were Richard and Thomas, Jr. who who were Hannah and Nathaniel, Sr.’s great-grandfathers respectively.

George E. Currier’s grandfather, Amos, was about eleven years older than his cousin, Nathaniel. While George lived in Roxbury, MA, George, his father George, Sr. and Amos were living in Newburyport.

Nathaniel’s father died when he was only eight leaving him and his eleven year old brother, Lorenzo to care for two younger siblings. Nat took a number of odd jobs and eventually apprenticed in Boston as a lithographer where his career began. Together with his business partner James Merritt Ives, he produced more than 7,000 different prints illustrating American life and tradition, each signed “Currier & Ives.”

Nathaniel Currier enjoyed visits to his summer home, “Lion’s Gate”, in Amesbury.

NATHANIEL CURRIER (NATHANIEL, LEVI, EZEKIEL, THOMAS CURRIER JR., THOMAS CURRIER, RICHARD, THOMAS JAMES) was born March 27, 1813 in Roxbury, MA, and died November 20, 1888 in New York City, NY.He married Eliza Farnsworth on April 23, 1840.

AMOS CURRIER (NATHANIEL, WILLIAM, SAMUEL CURRIER JR., SAMUEL CURRIER, RICHARD, THOMAS JAMES) was born January 8, 1802 in Newburyport, MA, and diedSeptember 30, 1846 in Newburyport, MA. He married Jane White Gurney on April 13, 1884. One of their sons was George E. Currier, Sr., born September 17, 1834.

Links:

Nathaniel Currier (1813-1888)

The History of the Firm

Currier & Ives