Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)--American author, lecturer, naturalist, student of Native American artifacts and life, land surveyor, pencil-maker, active opponent of slavery, social critic, and almost life-long resident of Concord, Massachusetts--was one of four children born to storekeeper and pencil-maker John Thoreau (1757-1859) and his wife, Cynthia (Dunbar) Thoreau (1787-1872), who were married in 1812. John and Cynthia Thoreau's other children were Helen (1812-1849), John (1815-1842), and Sophia (1819-1876). Henry Thoreau's mother, sisters, and aunts were ardent abolitionists. His musical younger sister Sophia played the piano. None of the four Thoreau children married.
From the description of Thoreau Family collection, 1828-1858. (Concord Public Library). WorldCat record id: 62896665
