The Atwood-Carlton-Millett Family

The Westford Family consisted of a doctor, a nurse, a lawyer, and an artist, with connections to other locations such as Cape Cod and Florida. Lillian, Mary, and Sarah “Carrie” Atwood were lifelong residents of Westford. Grace (Atwood) Millett worked as a nurse in Westford until the 1950s and was featured in the museum’s medical exhibit.

Her son, William “Bill” Millett, was a local artist and the last member of the family to live in Westford. Bill passed away in 2007, and his estate, managed by his relative Deborah Stein Sharpe, donated a significant portion of his belongings to the museum in 2008. The items on display are part of this collection unless otherwise noted.

External Links:

Atwood-Carlton-Millett Archive
Atwood Diaries
2017 House Tour
Video on Bill Millett

Please click on blue buttons for more info on objects.

4 Graniteville - atwood house photo

4 Graniteville Road

Daniel Atwood (1822-1902) and Caroline (Carlton) Atwood (1821-1911) moved to Westford by the 1850s, running a farm off Concord Rd. By the 1880s, Daniel retired from farming and built the family home on Graniteville Rd. His son, also Daniel (1850-1931), stayed on the family farm. William Atwood Millett (1922-2007) lived in the family home on and off throughout his life, often traveling for his art, and was the last of the family to live in Westford. The Atwood Collection were items found in this family home.

The house today

Family Gallery






Oval framed portrait of the Atwood brothers, the sons of Daniel and Caroline Atwood. Left to right: Edward Carlton Atwood (1848-1925); Daniel Elliott Atwood (1850-1931); William Atwood (1847-1942).

Ca. 1850
Photo 63/4 x 83/4″
Frame 10 x 13.75″
W.2008.13.11.6






A framed photo of Sarah (Lowell) Carlton (1795-1860), wife of Edward Carlton. Enhanced by painting. She was the grandmother of Daniel E. Atwood.

Ca. 1860
Oval photo 16 x 12″
Wooden frame 24 1/4 x 28″
W.2008.13.11.3






A framed photo of Edward Carlton (1798-1876), husband of Sarah Carlton. Enhanced by painting. He was the grandfather of Daniel E. Atwood.

Ca. 1860
Oval photo 16 x 12″
Wood frame 24 1/4 x 28″
W.2008.13.11.4






This collage represents the Atwood-Carlton family. It is within a wooden frame with twelve metal framed daguerreotypes surrounded by a velvet grid. At least four photographs were done by S. Shattuck of Lowell, Mass.
The Daguerreotype was invented in 1839 by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre. They are a positive image on a polished copper plate, often with a silver coating. The technology was succeeded by the less expensive Ambrotype and Tintype.

The two-cent stamps on the reverse helped date this collage. From 1864 to 1866, the US Government taxed photographs. The two-cent stamp was for photographs selling for less than twenty-five cents.
Ca. 1864
Wooden frame
Velvet Grid
Twelve 2 x 2″
W.2008.13.11.5






Framed photograph of the Millett family. Seated in front: on the left is Mary E. (French) Millett (ca. 1844-?), and on the right is Henry Seymour Millett (1842-1909). Standing left to right: Nathan Walton Millett (1871-1955), William French Millett (1869-1889), and Henry Seymour Millett Jr (1873-1959).

Nathan, whose platform shoe is visible, was the father of William Atwood Millett (1922 – 2008).

Ca. 1882
Photo 15.5 x 12″
Original wood frame 25.25 x 21.25″
W.2008.13.11.1

Oval framed photograph of Daniel Elliot Atwood (1850 – 1931) and Eliza “Lizzie” (Davidson) Atwood (1855 – 1932). Probably taken at the family farm on Hildreth Street.

Ca. 1910
Photo (curved) 19 x 13″
Oval frame 23 5/8 x 18″
W.2008.13.11.2






The group photo shows women from multiple Westford families, including Atwood. Sisters Sarah Caroline “Carry” Atwood (1853-1945), Lillian “Lilly” Atwood (1856-1940), and Mary “May” Atwood (1860-1951) are there (probably middle row seated with Ada Day). The three sisters, who never married, stayed in Westford throughout their lives.

Others identified are Mrs. Patterson (with her mother and daughter), Mrs. Ada Day, Mrs. Roudenbush, Miss Loker, Mrs Felch, Mrs. Janet Wright, Mrs. Zina Ingalls, and Mrs. Alice Lambert. Ada is related to Marilyn Day, who donated the picture. William Roudenbush served as a principal of the Westford Academy (high school) for twenty-five years. The high school now runs out of another building, but “his” building is now the town’s community center named after him.

Taken before 1935
Black and white
Marilyn Day Collection
W.2000.89

Object Gallery

  • Daniel Atwood Stool
  • Daniel Atwood Stool
  • Atwood Sampler






The four-legged stool is marked “Daniel Atwood Jr.” (1850-1931) on the bottom. Two of the legs were repaired with metal nails. Daniel Sr (1822-1902) and his wife Caroline (1821-1911) moved to Westford in the 1850s and ran a farm off Concord Rd. When Daniel retired from farming in the 1880s, he built the family home on 4 Graniteville Rd. His son, Daniel Jr., stayed on the family farm.

Ca. 1850s
Wood 
Reddish Brown
W.2008.13.3.1






A sampler textile with sewn letters of the alphabet was wrought by Daniel’s wife, Caroline (Carlton) Atwood, who was born in Orange, NH.

Ca. 1820
Textile, Linen
W.2008.13.1.2

Atwood Music Cabinet






The centennial program of the past Union Congregational Church in Westford, MA, lists the Atwood sisters (Sarah, Lillian, and Mary), while Mary (“May”) is listed as a Deaconess. The family was known to be active members of this church.

The organization began as the First Parish Church and was founded before the 1729 founding of Westford, according to the organization’s website. The presently used meetinghouse at the common was built in 1794. The organization split into two after 1826, and the historic building pictured on the program was built in 1829 on the other side of the town common. Then, the two organizations started to come back together in the 1930s and became the First Parish Church United of Westford in 1955. No longer needing two buildings, the 1829 building was purchased by the Westford Historical Society in December 1998 and leased by the Parish Center for the Arts.

1928
Paper
12 x 11″
W.2008.13.12.1

The cabinet is from the Atwood House. There are seven shelves inside. The object possibly stored much of the music played by Mary Atwood, who was known for her music.

Updated
Wood with brown laminate
Brass hinges
51 ½ x 20 ½ x 13 ¾”
W.2008.13.1.5

Atwood Wallet

The leather wallet has several compartments under the flap. It is stamped in gold “May Atwood,” who was also known as Mary.

1900
Black leather
3 ¼” x 5” (folded)
W.2008.13.6.36​

Atwood Quilt






This quilt was presented to Caroline (Carlton) Atwood (1821-1911) by her friends from New Hampshire when the Atwood family moved to Westford in the 1850s. It has 42 squares of white muslin. Despite the aged condition, the names of 41 friends and of Caroline’s three sons are still visible on the fabric. “Written 25th of October 1851” is also visible.

Ca. 1845-1851
Textile
91 x 91″ (Unfolded)
W.2008.13.6.39

Atwood Medical Bag






Grace (Atwood) Millett (1889-1971) used the black cowhide bag. Grace was a nurse in the town and practiced from 1912 to as late as 1954. Grace’s uncle, Edward Atwood (1848-1925), was a doctor who practiced primarily in Dayton, FL. The bag was also used for general travel, and it was used by her aunt Lillian Atwood for a trip on the White Star Line ship Adriatic to Liverpool. The trip occurred before the ship’s scrapping in 1934. The travel stickers are visible on the bottom of the bag.

1900
Black leather
W.2008.13.6.14






Hand-crocheted granny square afghan with multi-colored squares and black edging. Found in Atwood House. Attributed to Grace (Atwood) Millett, who may have made it in the 1960s.

Textile
Aprox. 60×45″
W.2008.13.2.8

Atwood Crochet






Twelve crocheted diamonds are attributed to one of the Atwood sisters (Sarah, Lillian, or Mary). They were made to be sewn together in a coverlet (bedspread).

Updated
Textile
Approx. 2 ¾” diameter
W.2008.13.2.2

Atwood Flag






This US flag from the Atwood House is attached to a wood pole. It has 46 stars, which indicates that it was made prior to the statehood of Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Between 1902-1912
Machine stitched
27″ x 46 (flag)
60″ (Wood Pole)
W.2008.13.17

The Bill Millet Art Gallery

  • Self Portrait. Not accessioned
  • Still Life with Coffee Pot. Image courtesy J.V. Fletcher Library
  • Atwood House Interior. Watercolor. W.2012.39.2
  • The Artist’s Studio. Watercolor. W.2012.39.1
  • Portrait of Woman in Lavender Sweater. Watercolor. Image courtesy of J.V. Fletcher Library
  • School Bus at Town Center. Watercolor. W.2012.39.3
  • Self Portrait. Watercolor. Image courtesy J.V. Fletcher Library

The framed artwork are by William Atwood Millett (1922-2007). They are primarily watercolors, but one self-portrait is a charcoal sketch.

Bill Millett, born in Brockton, MA, was the last of the family to live in Westford. He was the son of Grace (1889-1971) and Nathan Walton Millett (1871-1955). Bill served during WWII in the US Navy, and professionally trained to be an artist in Paris after his honorable discharge in 1946. He lived in the family home in Westford on and off throughout his life, traveling to places such as Hampton Beach, NH, to paint. Much of his artwork was signed “WM” or “Millet,” the more traditional spelling of his surname. He did not sell his later works, but after their discovery in the family home after his death, many were exhibited by Westford’s Parish Center for the Arts and Guild of Boston Arts between 2012 and 2013.

The work depicting the artist’s studio at his house (undated), the interior of his house (undated), and Town Common before 1970 are from the museum’s collection.

All other undated works are from the J.V. Fletcher Library, with permission.

W.2012.39.1-3
&
Courtesy J.V. Fletcher Library