This series contains the papers of the following families: Howards, Meekers, Aikens, Roberts, and Rosenblatts. The Howard Family papers, 1699-1960, are perhaps the most historically important papers in the collection because of their completeness and the extensive time period they cover. The papers came into the collection through Mrs. Stephen Martindale III who was the daughter of Major E. S. Howard. The Howards lived in Benson, Vermont, for many generations and appear to have been prosperous and well-educated farmers and active members in the community. As a result of the Howards' long standing and involvement in the area, their papers are of potential interest to genealogists and local historians. The papers for family members before Major E. S. Howard consist of legal documents, estate papers (including those for one Elijah Rising whose estate Samuel Howard III executed) and business and farm papers. The estate papers for Samuel Howard III also include those for Samuel Howard IV who died in the same year. Among the business, farm, and estate papers are land deeds, quit-claims, surveys, mortgages, wills, probate records, property inventories, tax records, bills, receipts, and other papers which reveal not only the names and business affairs of numerous Benson residents but also the value of land, farm and household properties, labor and so forth. Beginning with Major E. S. Howard, who was also a horse breeder and trader, the papers include correspondence as well as legal documents, estate papers and more complete and detailed business and farm records. The non-correspondence consists of the same types of materials as those found in the earlier Howard papers, but is complimented by notebooks, circa 1826-circa 1899, which contain detailed farm records. Daybooks and account records covering over fifty years reveal how much milk, fruit, livestock, and other items sold for; how much labor such as one half day's work was worth; and the price of groceries, household goods, lumber, mill use, farming tools, etc. There is also a composition book, an autograph book, an inventory of household contents, and a book containing a record of the deaths in Benson from 1893-1898. The correspondence of the separate family members is primarily outgoing to various Martindales from Stephen III and family to Katharine Martindale herself, and it concerns family and Benson news and business matters. There is also correspondence among various Howards and some correspondence to Howards from miscellaneous friends and relatives. The letters of Daniel Howard, an 1858 Middlebury College graduate, contain correspondence including at least one letter which reflects the events of the Civil War. Other papers of special interest among the Howard family papers are those of Timothy Watson, apparently an in-law whose estate E. S. Howard settled. His papers extend from 1784 to 1850 and contain correspondence, deeds, contracts, bills, receipts, quit-claims, surveys, adoption and guardianship agreements, a license to manufacture leather, an 1815 town meeting record concerned with acquiring arms, and estate papers. The names of many Benson area residents appear in the papers. The Rumsey Family papers contain correspondence and items of genealogical interest. General information about the Howard family may be found in the genealogy folder at the beginning of the collection and on the genealogical chart.

The Meeker Family papers, 1817-1859, consist of correspondence among various Meekers and their relatives and in-laws and miscellaneous business papers, primarily from 1824-1827. The family is related through Anna Meeker Howard, wife of Major E. S. Howard and daughter of Daniel Meeker. There are some accounts, deeds, estate records, bills, and receipts among the business papers, but the majority of the papers--and by far the most interesting--are the letters from J. D. Meeker who settled in Ohio in the early 1820s. His letters home to Vermont vividly describe his travels, early Ohio settlements and their problems, the trials of establishing a business in relatively unsettled areas, and a lively and detailed account of General LaFayette's unexpected visit to Marietta when his boat sank in the Ohio River during his 1824 grand tour of America.

The Aiken Family was connected to the Martindales and Howards through Katharine Howard Martindale's (Mrs. Stephen Martindale III) sister Harriet “Hattie” Ann Howard, who married James E. Aiken in 1846. The early Aikens lived in Chicago, but later members of the family settled in Colorado. The Aiken papers, 1852-1960, are virtually all correspondence, primarily to Martindales, from Stephen III and family through Katharine, and to the Howards. The letters discuss weather, family matters such as births, deaths, illnesses, accomplishments, events of daily life, and family business affairs, especially loans, stocks, and property transactions. There are occasional references to matters of general social, political and economic interest.

The Roberts Family was related to the Martindales through the sister of Stephen III, Caroline, who married Daniel Roberts. Both Daniel and his son Robert were prominent Vermont lawyers, sharing a practice in Burlington. Daniel Roberts, who graduated from Middlebury, was a judge, state bank commissioner, and city attorney of Burlington at different times. Robert Roberts was a member of both the Vermont House and Senate and the mayor of Burlington for a number of years. The papers, 1847-1939, are primarily correspondence but also contain some business papers and records such as deeds, mortgages, bills, receipts, copies of court documents--including a summons and a complaint against Martindale and Pettibone by Daniel Roberts. The correspondence is mostly to Stephen III's family and descendants. There are also some letters to the Howards and a few others written by the Roberts to each other. The correspondence pertains to the usual personal family matters such as births, deaths, illnesses, travels, events of daily life and to family business affairs, especially La Crosse area property which Stephen III bought and managed for the Roberts. There are occasional references to broader social, political, and economic issues. Among the “Miscellaneous Roberts” are two Carolines, “Carries,” whose correspondence must be distinguished. One is Mrs. Daniel Roberts; the other is her daughter.

The Rosenblatt Family is connected to the Martindales through Sophie Rosenblatt Martindale, wife of Stephen IV and daughter of Heinemann and Mary Rosenblatt. Most of the family lived in Beloit where Sophie's father owned H. Rosenblatt and Sons, a company manufacturing overalls, shirts, pants and leather coats. The papers, 1890-1949, consist of correspondence and estate papers, primarily generated by Sophie's father and brothers and sisters. The correspondence, which is mostly outgoing to Sophie and her children, concerns events of daily life such as birthdays, illnesses, travels, and family news as well as family business matters. Estate papers include correspondence among concerned family members and to and from lawyers, receipts, bills, inventories, and probate papers. The estates of Estelle and Lillie, Sophie's sisters, were merged because they died within a year of each other and the settlement of their estates was done more or less simultaneously by the heirs.